OnePlus Open review: Embracing the open-source spirit

Based on my own experience, the OnePlus Open stands out as a cutting-edge folding phone that really gets it right. Having used some of its predecessors, such as the Pixel Fold and the Galaxy Z Fold 5, I have to say that I always wished they were more stylish and useful. The OnePlus Open, on the other hand, really gets the design right, which is probably the most important thing about any flexible device. The changes that OnePlus has made to this form factor are very good, because when you spend a lot of money on a phone, you shouldn’t always feel like it’s the wrong size.

When you unfold the OnePlus Open, you’ll see a beautiful screen that is not only the biggest but also the brightest and best for viewing angles. Some people can see the gap, but most people won’t even notice it. You won’t even feel it when you touch the screen. The OnePlus Open stands out because it is easy to use. The Galaxy can be stiff when first unfolded, but the Pixel Fold often needs a second push that feels awkward, which makes me afraid I’ll break it. The OnePlus Open, on the other hand, opens easily and quickly. Compared to other foldable computers, it is better in every way.

But OnePlus didn’t just stop there when they improved the folding hinge. By putting truly amazing cameras in the OnePlus Open, they took a brave step into new territory. The folding design of most other flexible phones makes it hard for the cameras to work well, making them less than ideal. The OnePlus Open has one of the best cameras of any phone in its class, and it can even compete with some of the best non-foldable cameras on the market. From what I’ve seen, this is the only folding phone that comes close to having the same camera quality as a regular smartphone.

OnePlus Open Specifications

OnePlus Open review: Displays

My own experience with the OnePlus Open has confirmed to me that this particular piece of technology is nothing short of a technological miracle. It features a one-of-a-kind dual-display configuration, with one screen on the outer shell reaching a generous 6.3 inches and the foldable display on the inside measuring an astonishing 7.8 inches in length and width combined. This cutting-edge design draws parallels with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series, which lends it an air of sophistication and makes it instantly recognized.

The OnePlus Open, on the other hand, is distinguished not only by its wide screens but also by the remarkable performance of those screens. Both displays boast an incredible refresh rate of 120Hz, which is superior to that of even the panels featured on the most recent model of the Z Fold 5. Nevertheless, the remarkable brightness capabilities of the OnePlus device were the real highlight of the show for me.

It is able to effortlessly achieve over 1,400 nits of brightness under normal usage conditions, which is outstanding on its own. On the other hand, it reaches its full potential when HDR content is viewed in natural settings, like as outdoors, where it may amazingly achieve up to 2,800 nits. You did not make a mistake when you read that; the brightness of both displays is an astounding 2,800 nits.

OnePlus Open review: Design

OnePlus does an excellent job with the design of the phone, despite the fact that the Open is still chunkier than a conventional tablet. It is neither as wide as the Pixel Fold when it is closed, nor is it uncharacteristically narrow like the Z Fold 5; hence, you could argue that it has that ‘just perfect’ size. However, when it is opened, the OnePlus Open has the largest footprint in a foldable that I have tried. However, considering the great build quality of the device, this is not a significant problem. To begin, it has a more slimline profile than either of its primary competitors, measuring in at only 0.22-inches thick and weighing in at 8.43 ounces.

This is supported by the fact that it is thinner overall. The fact that it is both thin and light in construction does not make it flimsy, which is perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the design because it unquestionably possesses the most superior hinge design of any foldable notebook-style device. Its Flexion Hinge design not only provides that wonderful snap sensation every time I close it, but it also minimizes the crease that forms down the display.

In point of fact, the creases are not nearly as obvious or as deep as those that I’ve observed with the Pixel Fold and the Z Fold 5. In spite of the fact that the phone‘s Emerald Green hue contributes to its high-end appearance, the design of the device has only one major flaw in my opinion.

OnePlus Open review: Performance

The performance of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip included in the OnePlus Open is comparable to that of the Galaxy Z Fold 5. Because of its quicker clock rates, the Samsung phone enjoys a 5–10% advantage over its competitors in Geekbench 6. The benefit, on the other hand, is not noticeable in regular use. On the other hand, the OnePlus provides 16GB of RAM and 512GB of basic storage, which is twice as much as Samsung and Google offer.

My favorite Open feature is the ability to multitask. Obviously, you can divide the screen between two different applications. The Open Canvas software that comes preinstalled on OnePlus devices allows users to run three applications concurrently, each of which has tabs that can be rearranged with the press of a button. It works remarkably well, giving the impression that each program is a card that can be brought into and hidden from view at will.

When you swipe up and hold, opening recently used apps takes longer, but opening recent apps is faster. OnePlus modified the taskbars used by Samsung and Google by adding an icon that indicated the most recently used file. This made it simpler to drag and drop files into messages and emails.

OnePlus Open review: Cameras

Since OnePlus began working with Hasselblad to improve the quality of its cameras, the modules that are attached to the backs of the company’s smartphones have become increasingly more substantial. The massive camera hump on the back of the Open isn’t there for no reason, despite the fact that it’s a bit of an ugly. It houses a large 1/1.43-inch 64-megapixel LYTIA T808 primary sensor manufactured by Sony.

This sensor has a novel pixel architecture that was meant to improve the amount of light it can collect for even better nighttime shots. Although I won’t go quite that far, I will say that the image quality of the OnePlus folding camera is comparable to that of the Pixel Fold camera.

This is despite the fact that OnePlus claims its camera has the highest image quality of any foldable device now on the market. Photos taken with the OnePlus 6 have a high level of clarity and detail; however, the low-light processing on this device is not quite on par with that of Google’s Night Sight. However, in comparison to the pictures taken by the Z Fold 5, the Open’s pictures often had a wider dynamic range and less extreme sharpness.

OnePlus Open review: Software

On the OnePlus Open, the OnePlus Oxygen OS interface is clean and beautiful, more like Google’s Pixel version of Android than Samsung’s One UI interface. If that doesn’t mean much to you, know that the Open is simple to set up and use, and there are no problems or mistakes that happen by accident. For example, The OnePlus Open doesn’t mind if you start an app while the phone is closed and then open it. On the Pixel Fold, this often doesn’t work right, but on the Open, it does. In fact, apps look great on both the smaller and bigger screens, which isn’t the case on the Pixel.

Samsung fans, on the other hand, have a huge arsenal of features that they can use against any rival. Some of these features are definitely helpful. The OnePlus Open can’t be used as a desktop computer like Samsung’s DeX software can. You won’t have a second virtual helper like Bixby to be able to control everything on your phone. On the Open’s screen, you can’t use a fine-tipped pen. I could keep going.

OnePlus Open review: Battery

The battery life of OnePlus’ flagship phones has always left me amazed, and the Open is not an exception to this rule in my experience. When you look at its thin appearance, it’s hard to believe that the Open packs a 4,805 mAh battery. However, I found this capacity to be more than sufficient to last me through a full day of using the device normally.

It’s not uncommon for the battery meter on my Open to be hovering somewhere around 10% capacity by the time I’m about ready to turn in for the night. Other foldable that I’ve used typically run out of juice sooner, necessitating frequent recharging throughout the day.

Final Words

I was impressed by OnePlus’ first folding smartphone. I must admit that this unique technology exceeds my expectations and offers a rewarding package full of surprises. OnePlus’ first foldable phone outperforms the Pixel Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 5 with a superior design. The attention to detail makes this foldable phone stand out in terms of looks and build quality.

My favorite feature is how OnePlus perfected multitasking with Open Canvas. It’s similar to Google and Samsung’s foldable devices, but OnePlus’ boasts more functions. The screen’s flexibility to support three apps at once is amazing. It’s clear that OnePlus has mastered the art of making a premium folding phone and focused on user experience. In a world where multitasking is common, Open Canvas’s smooth performance stands out.

OnePlus Open review: The Good and Bad

The only major foldable phone without compromise is the OnePlus Open. It feels like a phone and has the finest folding camera. A Galaxy-equipped foldable has more functions, but the OnePlus Open’s beautiful, capable multitasking and amazing folding experience are plenty. The Open is better than the rest, and the greatest thing is that it costs less. Performance and battery life could be better.

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