Design and Build Quality
The OnePlus Open immediately distinguishes itself with a remarkably slim and lightweight profile, challenging preconceptions about foldable bulk. Weighing just 239 grams and measuring a mere 5.8mm thin when unfolded (11.7mm folded), it feels significantly more manageable in hand than many competitors. OnePlus achieved this through an innovative hinge mechanism, dubbed the “OnePlus Flexion Hinge.” This patented design utilizes fewer components than typical foldable hinges, resulting in a lighter structure and a near-invisible crease. The hinge operates with satisfying smoothness, offering firm resistance at any angle for effective Flex Mode usage. Durability is paramount, featuring a titanium alloy skeleton for the hinge, reinforced carbon fiber supporting the displays, and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protecting the outer screen. The vegan leather back options (Emerald Dusk or Voyager Black) provide excellent grip and a premium feel, while also contributing to the weight reduction. The phone feels solid, meticulously crafted, and importantly, designed for everyday pocketability without compromise.
Display Technology: Unfolding Brilliance
Visual excellence is central to the OnePlus Open experience. The primary internal display is a stunning 7.82-inch Flexi-fluid AMOLED panel with a sharp 2K resolution (2440 x 2268 pixels), a smooth 120Hz refresh rate (1-120Hz LTPO for efficiency), and an impressive peak brightness of 2800 nits – ensuring perfect visibility even under harsh sunlight. Colors are vibrant and accurate, supported by a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage and Dolby Vision HDR. Crucially, the crease is exceptionally minimal, virtually disappearing during regular use, a testament to the hinge engineering. The external cover screen is equally impressive: a large 6.31-inch Super Fluid AMOLED panel with a conventional 20:9 aspect ratio (2484 x 1116 pixels), matching the 120Hz LTPO refresh rate and 2800-nit peak brightness. This means the cover screen isn’t a compromise; it’s a flagship-grade display suitable for full-time use, eliminating the frequent need to unfold. Both screens feature advanced ProXDR technology for enhanced HDR rendering and Aqua Touch functionality for reliable use with wet fingers.
Performance and Hardware: Uncompromised Power
Under the hood, the OnePlus Open leaves nothing to chance, equipped with the top-tier Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. This platform, coupled with a generous 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of ultra-fast UFS 4.0 storage, delivers raw performance that rivals, and often surpasses, the best traditional flagship smartphones. Whether juggling demanding productivity apps, editing high-resolution photos or videos directly on the device, or playing graphically intensive games, the Open handles everything with effortless fluidity and zero perceptible lag. Thermal management is robust, ensuring sustained peak performance without excessive throttling. Connectivity is future-proofed with Wi-Fi 7 support, Bluetooth 5.3, and NFC. The inclusion of the alert slider, a signature OnePlus feature, is a welcome touch for quickly managing notification profiles. This powerhouse hardware foundation ensures the Open isn’t just a novelty; it’s a genuine productivity and entertainment workhorse capable of replacing both a phone and a tablet.
Software Experience: OxygenOS Optimized for Foldables
OnePlus leverages its clean and customizable OxygenOS, now finely tuned as OxygenOS 13.2 for the unique demands of foldable form factors. The software shines in multitasking. The innovative “Open Canvas” feature reimagines app switching and window management. Instead of rigid splits, it allows for flexible, free-form window resizing and positioning across the expansive inner display. Running three apps simultaneously is fluid and intuitive. Contextual taskbar suggestions intelligently recommend apps based on usage patterns, streamlining workflow transitions. App continuity is generally excellent – apps seamlessly transition between the cover screen and the main display when folding or unfolding. OnePlus has worked closely with popular app developers to optimize experiences for the larger canvas, though as with all foldables, some third-party app support is still evolving. The overall interface remains fast, bloatware-free, and true to the OxygenOS ethos, making the foldable experience feel polished and genuinely useful rather than gimmicky.
Camera Capabilities: Flagship-Grade Imaging
Defying the trend of camera compromises in early foldables, the OnePlus Open boasts a co-engineered triple-camera system developed with Hasselblad, delivering results that compete head-on with premium slab phones. The primary sensor is a large 48MP Sony LYTIA-T808 “Pixel Stacked” CMOS, utilizing innovative folded pixel technology similar to periscope lenses to capture significantly more light for superior dynamic range and low-light performance. It’s paired with a 48MP ultra-wide lens with a 114-degree field of view and a remarkable 64MP periscope telephoto lens offering 3x optical zoom and up to 120x digital zoom with impressive stabilization. Hasselblad tuning provides natural color science and dedicated professional modes, including a unique “XPAN” mode recreating the cinematic aspect ratio of the classic film camera. The unique form factor unlocks creative possibilities: the rear cameras can be used for high-quality selfies via the main displays, and the phone can stand on its own for group shots or long exposures using the Flex Mode hinge. Autofocus is swift and accurate, and video capabilities extend up to 4K 60fps across all lenses with Dolby Vision HDR support.
Battery Life and Charging: All-Day Power, Blazing Speeds
Powering the expansive dual displays and flagship chipset is a substantial 4805mAh dual-cell battery. Real-world usage consistently delivers a full day of heavy use, encompassing multitasking, video streaming, camera use, and web browsing across both screens. This endurance is crucial for a device aiming to be a primary productivity tool. When it’s time to recharge, the OnePlus Open showcases another signature strength: incredibly fast charging. The included 80W SUPERVOOC power adapter can take the battery from 1% to 100% in approximately 45 minutes, significantly outpacing most foldable competitors. This rapid top-up capability minimizes downtime and alleviates battery anxiety. While wireless charging is notably absent, a common compromise in this generation of OnePlus flagships, the sheer speed of the wired charging offers a compelling trade-off for many users prioritizing quick power restoration.
Pricing and Value Proposition: Redefining the Foldable Market
Perhaps the most disruptive aspect of the OnePlus Open is its aggressive pricing strategy. Launching at $1,699, it undercuts its primary rivals like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Google Pixel Fold by a considerable margin – often $300 to $500 less. This positions the Open not just as a technological marvel, but as a significantly more accessible entry point into the premium foldable segment. When evaluating its proposition, the value becomes starkly apparent: it matches or exceeds competitors in core areas like display quality (brightness, crease minimization), performance, hinge innovation, and camera versatility, while offering a lighter, thinner design and faster charging. By eliminating the typical “foldable premium” to such a degree, OnePlus has fundamentally altered the market calculus. It forces consumers and competitors alike to re-evaluate the perceived cost barrier associated with cutting-edge foldable technology, making the high-end foldable experience attainable for a broader audience and truly living up to its “Open” name by opening the door wider than ever before.