OnePlus Open Review: Probably the best foldable phone of 2023،
OnePlus Open Intro
Well, the phone market is very different these days, but OnePlus is once again aiming to disrupt it. This time around, the sights are set on the relatively new “smartphone genre” of foldable phones, which the brand-new OnePlus Open will try to unsettle.
*Disclaimer: You may notice review scores have changed on PhoneArena! Since September 20th, we have started using a new scoring system. Learn more about the new PhoneArena Smartphone Review Rating system here.
What’s new about the device
- First OnePlus foldable on the market
- Exceptionally light and easy to use
- Large and bright 7.8″ main display
- Wide and useful 6.32″ OLED display
- First foldable phone with dual LTPO 3.0 displays
- Triple camera setup: 48MP main + 48MP ultra-wde + 64MP 3X telephoto (6X in-sensor zoom, 120X max zoom)
- 4,805mAh battery that lasts a long time
- Super-quick 67W charging (charger is included in the box)
Table of Contents:
OnePlus Open Unboxing
Red ones go faster
(Image credit – PhoneArena) Inside the OnePlus Open box
The OnePlus Open arrives in a large and stunning red box, which is full of goodies! Inside, you will find the following paraphernalia:
- OnePlus Open w/ pre-applied screen protectors
- SuperVOOC charging brick
- Type-A to Type-C charging/data cable
- Protective case
- SIM tray ejector
- OnePlus Red Cable Club cards
- Booklets and manuals
- Logo stickers
OnePlus Open Specs
A truly powerful foldable
Specs | OnePlus Open |
---|---|
Size and Weight | Unfolded: 153.4 x 143.1 x 5.8mm (Emerald Dusk) | 153.4 x 143.1 x 5.9mm (Voyager Black) Folded: 153.4 x 73.3 x 11.7mm (Emerald Dusk) | 153.4 x 73.3 x 11.9mm (Voyager Black) Weight: 245gr (Emerald Dusk) | 239gr (Voyager Black) |
Colors | Emerald Dusk, Voyager Black |
Display | Main screen: 7.82″ AMOLED, 2440×2268, LTPO 3.0 (1-120Hz), sRGB, DCI-P3 Cover screen: 6.31″ AMOLED, 2484×1116, LTPO 3.0 (1-120Hz), sRGB, DCI-P3 |
Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, Adreno 740 |
RAM, Storage and Price | 16GB LPDDR5X RAM 512GB UFS 4.0 |
Software | OxygenOS 13.2 based on Android 13 |
Cameras | Main: 48MP, f/1.7, Sony LYT-T808 1/1.43″ sensor, 24mm equivalent, OIS, EIS, PDAF+CAF Ultra-wide: 48MP, f/2.2, Sony IMX581 1/2″ sensor, 114-degree FOV, EIS, AF, Macro Telephoto: 64MP, f/2.6, OmniVision OV64B 1/.2″ sensor, 3X optical zoom (70mm equivalent), 6X in-sensor crop, 120X maximum zoom, OIS, EIS, AF Internal selfie camera: 20MP, f/2.2, 1/4″ sensor, fixed focus |
Battery Size | 4,805mAh |
Charging Speeds | 67W SUPERVOOC charging (charger in box) |
OnePlus Open Design & Colors
Unmistakably OnePlus!
The first time you pick up the OnePlus Open, its weight will shock you. Actually, it’s the lack thereof that provides the shock. Weighing 239gr or 245gr depending on the version (see the specs table above), this OnePlus device is substantially lighter than the Pixel Fold‘s 283gr, but pretty much in the same ballpark as the the Galaxy Z Fold 5, which tips the scales at 253gr.
(Image credit – PhoneArena)
Speaking of the hinge, OnePlus says it has used a single-spine mechanism consisting of just 69 components, making it light but robust. Apparently, the OnePlus Open has been successfully tested for up to a million foldings and unfoldings, so you should have the peace of mind that it’s more likely you’ll switch phones before the hinge mechanism will give out.
(Image credit – PhoneArena) No crease, no problem
In terms of size, the OnePlus Open is a large and wide foldable. The main display spans 7.82 inches across, while the outer screen measures at 6.32 inches. Overall, the foldables is slightly wider than, say, the Galaxy Z Fold 5, so it’s not as easy to use with a single hand. But, looking on the bright side, the wider outer screen means that you can use the OnePlus Open just like a regular candybar phone without having to unfold it so often as it offers so much screen real estate. That feels like a definite win to me!
The device is rated as IPX4 splash resistant, which means that it can withstand splashes from all directions, but dunking it in water is a big no-no. OnePlus says it has applied waterproof protection to the critical hardware components inside the phone and also added two drainage holes on the hinge’s spindle so that water can go out, but again, we wouldn’t put the phone anywhere near liquids.
Oh, and how could we forget one of the signature OnePlus features––the alert slider! It’s right here on the OnePlus Open, allowing you to quickly and easily switch between ring, vibrate, and silent modes on your foldable.
OnePlus Open Display
Bright and smooth, and most importantly–no crease!
When it comes to displays, the OnePlus Open hardly disappoints.
There’s a 20:9 outer display that spans 6.31″ inches across and is protected by OnePlus’ Ceramic Guard and a pre-installed screen protector. The external screen it’s actually very usable as it’s nearly as wide as most standard candybar phones. Mundane everyday tasks are easily conducted on the outer screen, minimizing the need to unfold the phone and make use of its main display. The outer screen is super-smooth thanks to the LTPO 3.0 support on deck, allowing it to dynamically keep its refresh rate in the 10-120Hz range.
Unfold the OnePlus Open and you will be greeted by a nearly-square 7.82″ AMOLED display with LTPO 3.0 support that is protected by a Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG) layer, as well as a regular TPU screen protector. Unlike the outer screen, the refresh rate here drops all the way down to 1Hz, making for an even smoother experience.
(Image credit – PhoneArena) Watching HDR videos on the OnePlus Open is a delight
Both the outer and inner displays are HDR and Dolby Vision-compliant, and OnePlus actually calls them “ProXDR”. Opening an HDR picture on either screen previews it in the full dynamic range, and a ProXDR button appears at the bottom, indicating that you’re viewing the media in HDR mode. Tapping this button allows you to temporarily disable the HDR preview, but you will be missing out.
The main screen fares well in our display tests. It’s a bit colder than what we’d like to see, clocking in well above 7000K, but you can fine-tune the display warmth if that’s an issue. We measured a maximum brightness at above 1,000 nits, which is in the same ballpark as its main foldable rivals. Outdoor legibility is perfect, no issues even in direct sunlight. At the same time, the minimum brightness of less than 2 nits is good, but we’ve seen dimmer phones.
When it comes to biometrics, OnePlus has put its faith into the ol’ reliable: a capacitive fingerprint sensor rests inside the protruding side-positioned power button. It’s fast and accurate and works every time, but the power button is a bit thin, so you have to make sure you place your finger correctly every time. Thankfully, there’s also a less secure face unlock on board, which allows for quicker unlocking with either the external or internal selfie cameras.
OnePlus Open Camera
Probably the best camera on a foldable
(Image credit – PhoneArena)
The imposing rear camera island consists of a 48MP camera with a large 1/1.43″ Sony LYTIA-T808 stacked sensor. This new sensor boasts an innovative pixel architecture which allows it to capture more light and deliver much better dynamics than much larger traditional camera sensors. OnePlus boasts that the main camera on the OnePlus Open is just as good as phones with 1-inch camera sensors.
The telephoto camera on the phone is a 64MP one with native 3.0X optical zoom. However, thanks to its high resolution, this camera is also capable of delivering 6.0X lossless zoom by cropping the center of the 64MP camera sensor. The deceitfully humble telephoto camera is capable of zooming up to 120X, which is giving it some well-deserved bragging rights.
The ultra-wide camera of the OnePlus Open is fairly wide, with a 114-degree field of view, and also can focus at just 3.5cm away, making it a decent macro performer.
Main Camera – Day
In good lighting conditions, the OnePlus Open truly shines (no pun intended!). The main camera and its innovative dual-layer deliver great dynamics, though excessive highlights (like the sun) can be easily burnt out. By default, the phone takes binned photos, and if you opt to manually enable the high-res mode and use the entirety of the camera sensor to capture a 48MP photo, the details are more than excellent.
Main Camera – Low-light
When the light goes down, the OnePlus Open continues its good-dynamics streak. There is tons of information in the dark and shadowy areas on the low-light shots, while at the same time, highlights and neon lights are curtailed, appearing lively and very natural. Night mode automatically turns on when the phone detects low-light conditions; it would normally default to a 2 to 3-second long exposure shot, but the results are almost always worth it.
Zoom Quality
The 64MP telephoto camera offers 3X optical zoom, but it also offers 6X optical-grade, and up to 120X digital zoom. That’s great for bragging rights, but anything past 20X is barely usable, even that much is seriously pushing it in terms of acceptable image quality. Sure, the phone automatically smooths out your long-zoomed photos, but this functionality simply can’t create magical results.
Otherwise, at 3X and 6X, photos taken with the OnePlus Open are excellent. You get a ton of details, definition, and natural-looking colors that are mostly consistent with what the main camera delivers, so you can expect uniformity when switching between cameras.
Ultra-wide Camera
The ultra-wide camera is fairly wide, though we’ve seen wider. However, don’t let that fool you that it’s something to scoff about: it isn’t. It is quite sharp and delivers lovely colors, as well as great dynamic range that’s just awesome when you take landscape shots.
Selfies
Both the inner and outer selfie cameras take good selfies. The external one is easier to use as maneuvering the phone in its folded state is much easier in comparison with the alternative.
OnePlus Open Performance & Benchmarks
A very consistent powerhouse
(Image credit – PhoneArena)
When it comes to performance, OnePlus flagships have never disappointed as the company has always secured the latest Qualcomm chipsets. Thankfully, the OnePlus Open is no different. Powered by the top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the OnePlus Open is one snappy phone with loads of potential performance seemingly always in reserve, waiting for just the right occasion to unleash its might.
Our OnePlus Open performance benchmarks are consistent with what other phones equipped with the chip have achieved. However, it seems that OnePlus has nailed the thermals as the heat dissipation on board seemingly does wonders for the sustained performance of the OnePlus Open.
Real-life performance is excellent. Not only is the phone outfitted with top-tier hardware, but the seemingly lightweight interface helps it
(Image credit – PhoneArena)
In the 3DMark Extreme Stress Test, one of the more taxing synthetic benchmarks out there. Starting off high with a top score of 3634 points is great, but the achieved minimum of 2488 points indicated very little throttling and well-sustained performance after a lengthy benchmarking session.
At the same time, the internally reported temperature during the benchmarking test varied between 27 degrees Celsius at the beginning of the test and only went up to 34 degrees Celsius at the end of the run.
OnePlus Open Connectivity
When it comes to connectivity, OnePlus hasn’t dropped the ball. All major 5G and LTE bands are supported, but the phone also comes with the newest Wi-Fi 7 connectivity standard, which delivers potential data throughput speeds of up to 46Gbps (!), a serious increase over Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E’s 9.6Gbps data throughput rate.
OnePlus Open OS / Android version
First and foremost, the inner display’s app compatibility is more than excellent. OnePlus says that 95% of all mainstream apps will fully utilize the large inner screen, without having to accommodate weird aspect ratio adjustments or black bars.
Multi-tasking has been the focus of OxygenOS 13.2, with OnePlus introducing a so-called Open Canvas solution for multi-window handling. With Open Canvas, you can resize and stretch active displays as you see fit.
You can have up to three apps simultaneously running in split-screen: two are running side by side at all times, while a third one remains as a visual cue to the side, always a tap away. While not remotely similar, this feature somewhat reminded me of Apple’s Stage Manager on the iPad and Mac, which offers a vaguely similar multitasking experience.
Open Canvas actually does a good job at providing a decent multi-tasking experience. As someone who doesn’t enjoy squinting eyes to juggle between all the small windows that other foldables might grace you with during multitasking, the Open Canvas way of nailing multitasking is right up my alley and feels actually usable.
First, we have a new dock at the bottom of the screen, which houses an app dock, a few customizable shortcuts to your favorite apps, your three recent apps, as well as a “Recent” folder housing all of your latest downloads, images, documents, and other files. Not only you have quick access to these from the new Recent folder, but also share any file to an app by simple dragging. This certainly boosts the productivity potential of the phone’s main screen, giving a more complete desktop-like experience.
OnePlus Open Battery
Great battery life and excellent charging speeds
My anecdotal experience is that the OnePlus Open easily lasts a full day of mixed usage every day. By mixed, I mean a balanced use of both the external and internal displays. Sure, if you watch a lot of videos on the inner screen, your mileage may vary, especially if we are talking about HDR videos.
PhoneArena Battery Test Results:
OnePlus Open Charging Speeds
Fortunately for most consumers, OnePlus is one of the last holdouts that include chargers in the box. Yes, it’s 2023, and no, you’re not dreaming––there’s a 67W SuperVOOC charging brick in the glorious OnePlus Open box, along with the now iconic red OnePlus cable.
PhoneArena Charging Test Results:
OnePlus Open Audio Quality and Haptics
The OnePlus Open comes forth with a triple-speaker spatial audio setup, which shines when you listen to Dolby Atmos content, with sound hitting you from all three dimensions. Dolby Atmos is also supported through wireless earbuds as well. The OnePlus Open delivers rich sound with clear mids and highs, though base could have been more pronounced.
Haptics-wise, the OnePlus Open arrives with an X-axis vibrator motor, which provides strong and precise haptic feedback that delivers a very rewarding experience.
OnePlus Open Competitors
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is mostly the same as its predecessor, which was also similar to its predecessor. This stagnation works rather well for the OnePlus Open, which looks and feels like a much more advanced phone than Samsung’s latest attempt. Sure, it might have S Pen support, but isn’t as advanced as the OnePlus Open.
Then we have the Google Pixel Fold, another relatively fresh foldable juggernaut. It gives you the signature Pixel camera style in a foldable form factor as well as equally usable large external screen as the OnePlus Open. However, the Pixel Fold also has a more pronounced display crease, and might get hot during more intense tasks.
OnePlus Open Summary and Final Verdict
There you have it, the OnePlus Open is surely a runner-up for the best foldable phone right now.
You get bright and large screens, a very customizable and lightweight, but at the same time feature-rich interface that makes the multitasking a very pleasant experience, you get very capable cameras that are great all-around performers, you get very decent performance with great thermal management, and finally, you get more than reliable battery life paired with ultra-fast charging that’s in a class of its own.
Are those enough to crown the OnePlus Open as the foldable phone to beat? Yes, it feels as if OnePlus has nailed it from the get-go. What’s more, it’s a phone that excites with its simplicity even though it lacks a wildcard feature, like an S Pen.
With a starting price of around $1,500 after trade-in, the OnePlus Open is affordable when compared to its direct competitors, but you can probably find deals on those that will equalize the playing field. Still, the OnePlus Open is probably the best value among all foldable phones available in the US.
*Disclaimer: You may notice review scores have changed on PhoneArena! Since September 20th, we have started using a new scoring system. Learn more about the new PhoneArena Smartphone Review Rating system here.