The OnePlus Open: A Comprehensive Review of the Foldable That Reimagines the Category

Introduction: The Bold New Challenger

For years, the foldable smartphone market was dominated by Samsung and, more recently, Google. Then came the OnePlus Open, a bold and assertive new challenger. Unveiled on October 19, 2023, and released on October 26, 2023, the OnePlus Open was co-developed with its parent company, Oppo, which markets the same device as the Oppo Find N3. Priced at $1,699.99 for the 16GB RAM and 512GB ROM configuration, it entered the market as a compelling, and in some markets, more affordable, alternative to its key competitors. Its arrival forced a crucial conversation about what a book-style foldable should be, challenging the established norms of form, function, and photographic capability.

The OnePlus Open's core idea is that a foldable device should not feel like a compromise. The device redefines the category by directly addressing the most significant user frustrations with earlier models: the awkward, narrow cover screen and the consistently inferior camera systems. While not without its own trade-offs, the OnePlus Open delivers an experience that is, in many ways, superior to its rivals. Its immediate impact was to inject genuine competition into a stagnant market, and its user-centric design has already been observed to influence the design of subsequent competitor models.

Part I: The Hardware Deep Dive

A Tale of Two Brilliant Displays: A Masterclass in Human-Centric Design

The most striking feature of the OnePlus Open is its pair of displays. It has a large 7.82-inch main display and a practical 6.31-inch cover screen, both of which are 2K-resolution AMOLED panels. The panels use LTPO 3.0 technology, providing a dynamic refresh rate that ranges from 1-120 Hz on the main screen and 10-120 Hz on the cover screen, which is essential for both smooth visuals and power efficiency. The screens are also exceptionally bright, with a typical high-brightness mode (HBM) reaching 1,400 nits and a peak brightness of 2,800 nits. This level of brightness is a significant advantage, particularly in direct sunlight, and far surpasses the peak brightness of its main competitors, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 (1,750 nits) and the Google Pixel Fold (1,450 nits). The main display is protected by Ultra Thin Glass, while the cover screen uses Ceramic Guard, a durable material.

The true genius of the OnePlus Open's display engineering extends beyond specifications. The most profound aspect is the human-centric design philosophy behind their aspect ratios. The outer screen's 20:9 ratio makes it feel and function like a normal smartphone when the device is closed. This directly addresses and corrects the "cramped remote control" experience of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold's skinny display. This crucial improvement ensures the device can serve as a seamless daily driver.

Furthermore, a significant engineering achievement is the minimization of the inner screen crease. While all foldable phones have a crease, the OnePlus Open's is described as "nearly invisible and barely tactile." Professional reviewers consistently highlight that it is difficult to see and not noticeable to the touch. This represents a massive leap forward in user experience, as it makes unfolding the device feel less like a chore and more like a seamless transition to a genuine tablet-like experience. The combination of the wider cover screen and the minimal inner screen crease redefines the entire foldable form factor. The design choice to fix the folded experience makes the device a viable primary phone, while the minimal crease makes the unfolded experience more immersive and complete. This is a deliberate, user-centric engineering decision that directly challenges the established design of the market leader.

Performance & Power: A Beast Uncaged

At its core, the OnePlus Open is a performance powerhouse. It is driven by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform, which is paired with a substantial 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a massive 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage. It is important to note that there is no option for storage expansion, but the 512GB base is generous and sufficient for most users. The device also incorporates a powerful X-axis haptic motor.

In real-world use, the phone's performance is flawless. The device blazes through any task, from intensive gaming sessions to juggling dozens of apps with multi-window support, all without stuttering or overheating. The 16GB of RAM is particularly instrumental in ensuring a fluid, lag-free experience, even when utilizing heavy multitasking features like the "Open Canvas" feature. The selection of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the same high-end processor found in the Galaxy Z Fold 5, shows that OnePlus is competing on a level playing field in terms of raw power. However, while the hardware is top-tier, some professional reviewers gave it a 4/5 rating for performance and user comments about gaming not being as impressive as the iPhone 15, suggests that there may still be room for further software optimization for specific high-performance use cases like gaming.

The Hasselblad Camera System: A Foldable's First

The camera system, co-engineered with Hasselblad, is a standout feature that represents a significant leap forward for the foldable category. The triple-camera array consists of a 48MP main camera with a Sony LYT-T808 "Pixel Stacked" sensor, a 64MP telephoto lens with 3X optical zoom and 6X in-sensor zoom, and a 48MP ultra-wide camera with a 114° field of view and macro capabilities. This is an "impressive lineup indeed," far exceeding the specifications of other devices at its launch. The main camera's large sensor and the Hasselblad partnership result in image quality that is widely touted as the "best camera you'll find on any foldable." The image quality comes "close to being as good as the best flat camera phones." The telephoto lens is a major asset, with a 6x in-sensor zoom and a massive 120x digital zoom.

The OnePlus Open's camera system isn't just an improvement; it's a paradigm shift. For years, buyers had to choose between the form factor of a foldable and the photographic excellence of a traditional flagship. The Open is the first device to significantly close this gap. This raises the bar for all future foldable phones, making poor camera performance no longer an acceptable trade-off at a flagship price point. A notable nuance is that while the cameras are excellent, some user comments point out that they can be improved by using a "master mode" to reduce AI over-processing.

Design & Durability: An Elegant Compromise

In terms of physical design, the OnePlus Open is a marvel of engineering. It is remarkably thin at just 11.7 mm when folded and light at 239 grams for the Voyager Black variant. This makes it noticeably lighter than both the Galaxy Z Fold 5 (253 g) and the Google Pixel Fold (283 g). The phone is available in two finishes: Emerald Dusk, which has a glass back, and Voyager Black, which has a leatherette back.

The "Flexion Hinge" is widely praised for its ability to fold flat and its gapless design when closed, which gives it a more refined and complete feel than previous-generation foldables. This design, combined with its light weight, makes it feel more elegant and polished in the hand.

However, the phone's IPX4 splash resistance rating is a significant drawback. This means the phone can only handle splashes of water, a far cry from the IPX8 ratings of its Samsung and Google rivals, which can be submerged. This is a notable compromise that prospective consumers must be aware of. Additionally, the large, protruding camera bump prevents the phone from lying completely flat on a table, which can be an annoyance.

While professional reviewers laud the phone's design and durability, describing it as "rock solid," a darker and more cautionary narrative exists within user communities. Multiple users have reported catastrophic display failures, including dead pixels and lines appearing along the crease, often with no clear cause other than regular folding and unfolding. Even an early reviewer, Marques Brownlee, reported a dead pixel issue within a week of using the phone. The most alarming part of this is the reported warranty experience, where OnePlus support attributes these failures to "external pressure" or "an object trapped inside," thereby denying warranty claims. This creates a significant contradiction between the "tank-like" feel of the phone in hand and its apparent long-term fragility under the surface. This is a major risk for a consumer making a $1,700 purchase and demands a transparent discussion. While the phone feels premium and durable, the documented reports of spontaneous display failures raise serious questions about its long-term reliability.

Part II: The Software & User Experience

OxygenOS: A Masterclass in Multitasking

The OnePlus Open runs on OxygenOS 13.2 based on Android 13, with a Crimson Shadow variant on OxygenOS 14. The software suite is designed to take full advantage of the expansive inner display with a suite of thoughtful multitasking features. The flagship feature is "Open Canvas," which allows for up to three apps to be displayed simultaneously, with the ability to "hover" a third app on the side of the display for quick access. This offers a more elegant and intuitive solution than the feature-packed but often complex multitasking on Samsung devices. The software experience on the Open is a reflection of OnePlus's historical philosophy: elegant, simple, and functional over a sheer quantity of features.

A highly praised feature is the two-finger swipe-down gesture on the main screen to instantly split the view. This provides a "muscle memory" shortcut that is far more efficient than navigating traditional menus. Additionally, floating windows can be resized and minimized to a tab on the side of the screen, providing a seamless workflow. The software experience will resonate with users who find Samsung's One UI overwhelming but may feel "less feature-packed" to others.

However, user-reported contradictions regarding software updates highlight a key area where OnePlus must improve to truly rival its competitors. While some users praise the software's optimization and fluidity, others criticize delayed Android updates and the tendency for OnePlus to strip down features by the time the updates finally arrive. This suggests that while the current user experience is excellent, the long-term software support remains a concern for some.

The Power Couple: Battery & 67W SUPERVOOC Charging

The OnePlus Open is equipped with a 4,805 mAh dual-cell battery. This capacity, which is larger than the 4,400 mAh battery of the Galaxy Z Fold 5, is a major contributor to the phone's excellent battery life. Reviewers and long-term users praise its longevity, stating that it "comfortably powers through a day and then some." The device averages 6-7 hours of screen-on time, which is impressive given the two large displays and constant 5G connectivity.

The most significant and oft-cited drawback of the OnePlus Open is the complete absence of wireless charging. This is a surprising omission for a flagship device in this price bracket, as most competitors and even many mid-range phones now offer the feature.

However, OnePlus has a powerful counter-argument to this omission: the inclusion of a 67W SUPERVOOC charger in the box. This is a rarity in today's flagship market, where manufacturers often require users to purchase a separate charger. The fast charging capability is an absolute "killer feature." It can top up the device from 0 to 100% in around 40 minutes and achieve a 50% charge in under 20 minutes. The battery and charging story is a classic OnePlus trade-off: the company has opted for a "less is more" approach, sacrificing the convenience of slow wireless charging for the revolutionary speed of wired charging. For users with irregular charging habits, this is a massive win and offers an entirely new way of thinking about battery management.

Part III: Verdict & Comparison

The OnePlus Open is a compelling and formidable competitor to the current market leaders. To provide a clear picture of how it stacks up, a side-by-side comparison is essential.

| Attribute | OnePlus Open | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 | Google Pixel Fold |

|---|---|---|---|

| Release Date & Price | Oct 26, 2023, $1,699.99 | August 11, 2023, Starts at $1,799 | June 29, 2023, Starts at $1,799 |

| Weight | 239 g (Voyager Black) | 253 g | 283 g |

| Cover Screen Size | 6.31 in | 6.2 in | 5.8 in |

| Cover Screen Aspect Ratio | 20:9 | 23.1:9 | Wider, shorter form factor |

| Inner Screen Size | 7.82 in | 7.6 in | 7.6 in |

| Peak Brightness (Inner) | 2,800 nits | 1,750 nits | 1,450 nits |

| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy | Google Tensor G2 |

| Battery & Charging | 4,805 mAh, 67W wired | 4,400 mAh, 25W wired | 4,821 mAh, 21W wired |

| IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX8 | IPX8 |

| Camera (Main, Tele, UW) | 48 MP, 64 MP (3x opt), 48 MP | 50 MP, 10 MP (3x opt), 12 MP | 48 MP, 10.8 MP (5x opt), 10.8 MP |

The data makes it clear why the OnePlus Open impresses in so many ways. It is the lightest of the three, yet it boasts the largest external and internal displays. The displays are not only larger but also significantly brighter, a clear advantage in a variety of lighting conditions. The camera system, a traditional weakness of foldables, is a major strength of the Open, surpassing both the Samsung and Google offerings with a superior combination of sensors and zoom capabilities. The Open's hardware is also a direct competitor in terms of raw power with the use of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, puttin

g it on a level playing field with Samsung.