OnePlus Open Review: Can The New Kid Outshine The King?
The foldable smartphone market is heating up, with Samsung firmly established as the reigning champion. However, OnePlus, a brand known for challenging the status quo with its innovative and value-packed devices, has finally entered the arena with its first foldable offering: the OnePlus Open. This begs the question: Can OnePlus dethrone Samsung, or is it simply a worthy contender in a market dominated by a singular force? Let’s delve into the OnePlus Open and see if it possesses the power to disrupt the status quo.
OnePlus Open Price In India: Eyeing Value
The OnePlus Open is priced at ₹1,39,999 in India, making it a more affordable option than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. This aggressive pricing strategy highlights OnePlus’ commitment to delivering value in the premium segment. The device comes with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, offering ample space for demanding users.
OnePlus Open Design: Blending Classic and Contemporary
OnePlus devices are traditionally known for their modern, rounded designs. However, the Open takes a bold departure from this familiar aesthetic. The Voyager Black finish, which we reviewed, embodies a retro camera-like appearance, reminiscent of classic photography equipment. The faux leather texture on the back adds a touch of elegance and enhances grip, while the soft-finish metal frame further contributes to the premium feel.
This unique design sets the Open apart from Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5, which adopts a more conventional smartphone aesthetic. However, the hinge design on the Open, while polished, can feel slightly uncomfortable when held in the left hand due to its prominence.
The button layout also presents an interesting departure from standard OnePlus practice. The alert slider, power button, and volume controls are situated in unconventional locations, requiring some adjustment for users familiar with the typical OnePlus arrangement.
OnePlus Open Specifications and Software: Powering Performance
OnePlus has equipped the Open with impressive hardware, including the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of internal storage. The lack of expandable storage might be a drawback for some, but the availability of dual SIM slots caters to power users.
The 7.82-inch main display boasts an impressive 2,268 x 2,440 pixel resolution, AMOLED technology, a 120Hz refresh rate with LTPO 3.0 support, and UTG protection. The 6.31-inch cover display also features AMOLED technology, a 120Hz refresh rate with LTPO 3.0, and a 2,484 x 1,116 pixel resolution. A remarkable feature is the 240Hz touch sampling rate, which enhances responsiveness for demanding gaming experiences.
The Open runs on OxygenOS 13, which is optimized for the foldable format. While the customisations share similarities with the OnePlus Pad, the new Open Canvas software is a standout feature. This innovative feature enables users to run up to three apps simultaneously in a split-screen-like layout, maximizing the utilization of the large main display.
However, the lack of OxygenOS 14, based on Android 14, is a bit of a disappointment, considering Samsung has already begun its roll-out for the Galaxy Z Fold 5.
OnePlus Open Performance: A Seamless Multitasking Experience
The Open’s performance is smooth and seamless thanks to the powerful hardware and optimized software. Multitasking is a breeze, with no noticeable lag or stutter. While many apps support tablet-like layouts, it’s important to note that some require a landscape orientation to activate this mode.
The cover display is sufficiently large and comfortable for single-handed use and gaming thanks to its 20:9 aspect ratio. While it doesn’t match the width of a typical smartphone, it provides a significant improvement over the narrower aspect ratio of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5’s cover display.
The display crease, created by the hinge, is barely noticeable, demonstrating OnePlus’ engineering prowess in minimizing this common foldable annoyance.
OnePlus Open Cameras: A Step Up For Foldables
The OnePlus Open features an impressive camera setup, comprising a 48-megapixel primary camera with OIS, a 64-megapixel telephoto camera with 3X optical zoom and OIS, and a 48-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera. The primary camera incorporates Sony’s LYTIA series sensor, offering enhanced light capture and performance.
Image quality across the board is impressive, particularly after recent software updates that have enhanced the portrait mode and telephoto camera. While the images exhibit slightly saturated colors, they showcase good contrast and ample detail. The telephoto camera proves to be a standout performer, delivering sharp and detailed images at 3X optical zoom.
The ultrawide angle camera captures good detail and dynamic range, although some purple fringing may be observed in brighter areas. Low light performance from this camera appears a little soft.
OnePlus Open Battery Life and Charging: A Flagship Standard
The OnePlus Open pushes the boundaries of battery life in the foldable category. With average usage, the phone can easily last over a day and a half on a single charge. Even with heavy usage, including gaming, streaming, and video recording, the device typically retains 40 percent battery life after a full day.
This extraordinary battery performance is further enhanced by the 80W wired charging capabilities. The accompanying charger can charge the phone to 67 percent in just 30 minutes and completely charge the device in a mere 53 minutes.
While wireless charging is absent, OnePlus compensates with the blazing-fast wired charging speeds, surpassing Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5 in this regard.
OnePlus Open Review: Verdict
The OnePlus Open is a game-changer for the foldable smartphone market. It breaks free from the typical compromises associated with previous foldables, offering a premium experience that rivals traditional flagship devices.
The large, high-resolution displays, optimized software, powerful hardware, excellent cameras, fast charging, and exceptional battery life set the Open apart from the competition. With its more affordable price point, the OnePlus Open presents a compelling alternative to Samsung’s reigning Fold series, offering a premium experience without the premium price tag.
Ultimately, the OnePlus Open is not just a contender; it’s a formidable challenger, proving that the future of foldable smartphones is rich with innovation and competition. The battle for the foldable throne is on, and the OnePlus Open has declared its unwavering presence in this exciting new era.
