Design and Build: A Refined, Lighter Approach
The OnePlus Open immediately distinguishes itself from the foldable competition through its meticulous design philosophy, which prioritizes ergonomics and a premium in-hand feel. Weighing in at just 239 grams and measuring a remarkably thin 11.7mm when folded, it undercuts the weight and, in some dimensions, the thickness of key rivals like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Google Pixel Fold. This achievement is not merely a statistical win; it translates directly into a device that feels significantly less cumbersome in a pocket and more comfortable during prolonged one-handed use.
The signature OnePlus Alert Slider makes its triumphant return on the right spine, a beloved feature for its tactile utility in quickly switching between sound profiles. This is a notable differentiator, as no other major foldable offers this hardware control. The hinge mechanism, branded as the “OnePlus Flexion Hinge,” is a marvel of engineering. It employs a single-spine architecture with over 31 precision components, including a proprietary ceramic carbon fiber layer, to create a mechanism that is not only incredibly slim but also responsible for the device’s ability to fold completely flat with virtually no gap. The hinge offers a satisfying, fluid resistance, allowing the phone to be held open at a wide range of angles for hands-free use. The chassis utilizes a high-grade cobalt alloy, enhancing structural integrity without adding weight.
The choice of materials further elevates the experience. The vegan leather back on the Voyager Black model provides an exceptional grip that resists fingerprints, while the Emerald Dusk model features a shimmering glass back. Both are complemented by a large, circular camera housing that is distinctly OnePlus, echoing the design language of the OnePlus 11.
Displays: Uncompromising Brilliance Inside and Out
A critical pitfall of many early foldables was an inferior external cover screen that felt like a compromise. The OnePlus Open obliterates this notion. It features a magnificent 6.31-inch Super Fluid AMOLED cover display with a 20:9 aspect ratio. This is a transformative detail. Unlike the tall, narrow screens on some competitors, the Open’s cover screen has proportions nearly identical to a standard premium smartphone. It is a 2484 x 1116 resolution, 120Hz panel with Dolby Vision support and exceptional peak brightness of 2800 nits, making it utterly usable and enjoyable for every task without ever needing to open the device. This eliminates the “obligation to unfold” that plagues other form factors.
Upon opening, users are greeted by a stunning 7.82-inch Flexi-fluid AMOLED inner display. With a resolution of 2440 x 2268 and a fast 120Hz refresh rate, it is every bit as sharp, colorful, and responsive as the best slab-style phones on the market. The ultra-thin UTG (Ultra-Thin Glass) provides a writing and touch experience that feels like glass, not plastic. Crucially, the crease is the most imperceptible yet on any foldable. While not completely invisible from every angle under direct light, it is a dramatic improvement, becoming virtually undetectable to the finger during swipes and to the eye during typical content consumption. Both displays support ProXDR, enhancing the dynamic range for compatible photos and videos.
Performance and Software: Raw Power Meets Thoughtful Adaptation
At its core, the OnePlus Open is powered by the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 platform, coupled with a whopping 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage. This is a no-compromise specification sheet that ensures blistering performance in every scenario, from intensive multitasking and gaming to lightning-fast app launches. The device handles graphic-intensive titles with ease, and the large internal display provides an immersive gaming canvas.
The true magic, however, lies in its software experience. OxygenOS 13.2, based on Android 13, is one of the most refined and intuitive software layers on a foldable to date. OnePlus’s approach is minimalist and focused on enhancing productivity without clutter. Key features include:
- Open Canvas: This is a revolutionary multitasking interface that reimagines the recent apps menu. It presents all open apps in a cascading, panoramic view, allowing users to visually manage, group, and resize app pairs with unparalleled ease. Dragging an app to the top creates a full-screen view, while dragging it to the side creates a split-screen pair.
- Three-Way Multi-Active Window: Users can effortlessly run three apps simultaneously on the large canvas, with intuitive resizing handles to adjust the split.
- App Pairs: Users can save frequent two-app combinations (e.g., Gmail and Calendar, Chrome and Notes) for one-tap launching from the home screen or dock.
- Seamless Handoff: Transitioning an app from the cover screen to the inner display is fluid, with most apps gracefully adapting their layout to the larger canvas. The software feels mature, stable, and purpose-built for the form factor from day one.
Camera System: The Hasselblad Partnership Elevates Foldables
The OnePlus Open boasts what is arguably the most versatile and capable camera system on a foldable phone, a traditional weak point for the category. The Hasselblad partnership is in full effect here, tuning the color science, providing dedicated professional modes, and including signature XPAN and Hasselblad Watermark features.
The triple-rear array is formidable:
- Main Camera: A flagship 48MP Sony LYT-T808 “Pixel Stacked” sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS) and an f/1.7 aperture. This large sensor captures immense light, resulting in detailed, vibrant photos with excellent dynamic range in both day and night.
- Ultra-Wide Camera: A capable 48MP sensor with a 114-degree field of view, perfect for capturing landscapes and architecture without sacrificing resolution.
- Periscope Telephoto: A high-resolution 64MP sensor with 3x optical zoom and OIS. This is a critical differentiator, offering lossless zoom capabilities that far exceed the digital cropping of many rivals. It can also produce clean 6x “in-sensor” zoom shots.
The camera experience is enhanced by the foldable form factor. The phone can be bent into a laptop-like shape for hands-free group photos or video calls, and the cover screen provides a perfect high-quality viewfinder for subjects when taking self-portraits with the superior rear cameras. Low-light performance is exceptional, and the video capabilities extend to 4K resolution at 60fps across all lenses with Dolby Vision HDR support.
Battery Life and Charging: All-Day Power with SuperVOOC Speed
Powering the two displays and high-performance chipset is a substantial 4,805mAh dual-cell battery. In real-world usage, the device consistently delivers a full day of heavy use, encompassing tasks on both screens, photography, and multimedia consumption. This battery endurance is a testament to efficient software and hardware optimization.
When it does need a top-up, the OnePlus Open showcases another area of superiority: charging speed. It supports 67W SUPERVOOC wired charging, capable of refueling the large battery from 1% to 100% in approximately 42 minutes. This dwarfs the charging speeds of Samsung and Google’s foldables. Notably, the charger is included in the box in most regions. There is no support for wireless charging, a deliberate omission likely to save on weight and thickness.
Market Position and Final Analysis
The OnePlus Open enters a market segment once considered a niche but is now fiercely contested. It positions itself not as a follower, but as a definitive challenger that re-evaluates the very premise of a large-foldable phone. It addresses common user grievances head-on: it’s lighter, thinner, has a usable cover screen, a nearly invisible crease, a superior telephoto camera, and vastly faster charging. By packaging these improvements with a cohesive and powerful software experience and a competitive price point, OnePlus has not just created another foldable; it has created a new benchmark. It compellingly argues that a foldable phone should not demand compromises in core smartphone experiences but should instead enhance them, offering a true seamless transition between a premium standard phone and a expansive productivity tablet.