OnePlus Open is Awesome - A New Entry to the Folding Phones

All About Folding Phones

Let's take a moment to discuss folding phones because they have come a long way since the last time we talked about them. OnePlus just launched its inaugural folding phone, the OnePlus Flexi, not long ago. Even though the name might not be the catchiest, this initial foray into foldable technology is undeniably impressive. I've had the pleasure of using it for roughly three weeks, and I'm genuinely impressed. Still, it leaves me pondering what it will take for everyday consumers to embrace folding phones, it doesn't necessarily translate into mainstream adoption.

Phone Details

The OnePlus Open is a super high-end phone in every way, with a well-considered design. On the outside, it is basically the same size as a normal phone. It features a 6.3-inch, 20:9 cover display with just over 1080p resolution. The display is LPTO and can go down to a 10Hz refresh rate. With a maximum brightness of 2800 nits, it has the brightest display I have ever seen in a smartphone. It also competes with the Pixel Fold for the title of best foldable to use while closed.

• Flat sides all around for a clean look
• Alert slider at the top of the phone for easy access
• The power button doubles as a fingerprint reader

The back of the phone has a mixed design. It features a fake leather finish, which may not appeal to everyone, but it does hide fingerprints. The phone comes in other colors as well, such as green, which looks cleaner. The standout feature on the back is the gigantic camera bump, which happens to be exactly where your index finger rests when holding the phone closed. This provides a natural grip and adds to the overall experience.

The Foldable Display

When you open the phone, you'll see why OnePlus took its time to release its first foldable. The 7.8-inch, corner-to-corner display is a huge improvement over earlier foldable screens. It has thin bezels, a hole punch in the top corner, and one of the least visible sensors on a folding phone. The display is impressive from almost every angle and has a hinge that stays at any angle you hold it. The phone also has a satisfying spring-loaded clap shut and is impressively thin, making it a remarkable piece of hardware.

Software and Features

The OnePlus Open runs OxygenOS 13.2, which is tailored for power users. It offers various tweaks and features that enhance the user experience. The phone excels in providing continuity between the open and closed screens. When you're done using a big app, you can close it and continue where you left off on the outside screen. The home screen setup automatically mirrors between the cover screen and the inside screen, keeping things organized.

The inside screen offers multitasking features for having multiple apps open at once. You can have one app open full screen, or two apps side by side, with the option to add a third app. The triple panel view allows you to move things between apps quickly, and a four-finger pinch gesture shows all open apps. Combined with the dock for quick access to apps and recent files, the OnePlus Open is a well-considered hub for productivity.

Conclusion

The OnePlus Open excels in all aspects of a great smartphone: screen, battery, build, performance, and camera. It truly delivers on these pillars and provides an exceptional user experience. While folding phones may still have a way to go before becoming mainstream, the OnePlus Open sets a high standard for future foldable devices.

The OnePlus 9 Pro is a fantastic phone both inside and outside. It offers great performance with high-end specifications like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. The pair of 120Hz LTPO displays with a 240Hz touch sample rate are super responsive, making the phone feel very futureproof. The battery life is excellent, thanks to the 4800mAh battery and 67W fast charging. However, it lacks wireless charging, which is disappointing considering its competitors have it.

The camera setup on the back is decent. It features a new stacked sensor for the primary camera, a 3x telephoto lens, and an ultra-wide lens. While it performs well in capturing still subjects, it struggles with freezing motion. This can be an issue when taking photos of people or animals in motion, as getting a fast enough shutter speed can be challenging without switching to action mode. On a positive note, the microphone on this phone is surprisingly good.

Despite its impressive features, there are three factors that hinder the widespread adoption of folding phones. Firstly, the price is a major deterrent. The OnePlus 9 Pro is priced at $1700, which is quite steep compared to other smartphones. Secondly, the durability of folding phones is still questionable, even though they undergo extensive testing. Issues like dead pixels appearing near the hinge raise concerns. Lastly, folding phones cater more to power users, and their features may not appeal to the average consumer.

Folding phones, although they have made significant progress, are yet to achieve mainstream success. They are considered power-user phones, and such devices typically do not sell as well as mainstream smartphones. Companies like LG and Sony, which focused on power user features in their smartphones, faced challenges in terms of sales. While there are more affordable folding phones entering the market, such as the Samsung Z Flip 5 and Motorola Razr 40, they still have a long way to go to become more accessible to the general public.

In conclusion, folding phones have come a long way but still have room for improvement. Until then, they remain popular among tech enthusiasts.

Thank you for reading this article and hope you find some useful information to make your decision to buy this phone.