OnePlus Open: Thin folding phone optimised for multitasking

Foldables are still at a clear disadvantage when it comes to shape. Compared to regular smartphones in bar form, a foldable - not to be confused with the small, collapsible ones - is usually "twice as thick and heavy" or has other disadvantages. OnePlus has changed this and presents an open 5.8 millimetre slim foldable phone that is nevertheless equipped with flagship hardware and cameras with up to 64 megapixels.

The development was carried out in close cooperation with Oppo so that "all the advantages of the two brands from the same house come together", it said. The two have already been working under one roof for some time. That's probably why Oppo unveiled the foldable Oppo Find N3 Flip for international sale just a few hours earlier.

Slimmer than the competition

When it comes to foldables that can be opened up into a mini tablet, the market is not yet very large and the disadvantages are evident in the shape, hardware and price. Compared to current foldable phones, the OnePlus Open seems competitive, at least on paper. The Honor Magic V2, which is set to come to Europe in 2024, will soon join the fray as an exciting competitor. Here is a cross-comparison of current folding phones.

• OnePlus Open: 11.6 mm, 238 g
• Oppo Find N2: 14.6 mm, 233 g
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: 13.4 mm, 253 g
• Google Pixel Fold: 12.1 mm, 283 g
• Huawei Mate X3: 11.8 mm, 239 g
• Honor Magic V2: 10.1 mm, 237 grams

For context: Normal smartphones are usually around 6-8 mm thick and weigh around 200 grams. As an example, the Oneplus 11 measures 8.5 millimetres and weighs 205 grams.

Equipment

The OnePlus Open is at flagship level when it comes to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip from Qualcomm or the 2K AMOLED display. The 4,805 mAh battery is also equipped with the Supervooc fast charging function. This should charge the foldable from zero to 100 per cent in just under 40 minutes - thanks to the 67-watt power adapter supplied. The Android-based Oxygen 13.2 software is said to be optimised for the Foldable and is perfect for multitasking, according to OnePlus.

OnePlus is not cutting back on the cameras either, as the OnePlus Open is generously equipped. The result of this in practice would be particularly exciting. Here is a quick run-through of all the features to date:

• SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
• Display: closed: 6.31 inches, open: 7.82 inches, AMOLED, 2K, 120 Hz,
• Memory: 512 GB internal, 16 GB RAM
• Cameras: Main camera: 48 MP, ultra-wide angle: 48 MP, telephoto camera: 64 MP, front camera: 32 MP, selfie inside: 20 MP
• Videos: 4K, 60 fps
• IP protection class: IP64
• Battery: 4805 mAh
• Operating system: Android 13 with OxygenOS 13.2

Protected and tested for durability

Foldables have a reputation for being more fragile than a typical smartphone in bar form. OnePlus therefore explains in detail which tests the phone has undergone and what materials are used in it

For example, the front display is protected with Ceramig Guard. This material is said to have been processed in such a way that it is up to 20 per cent more impact-resistant than Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. The inner display consists of three protective layers. Ultra-Thin Glass over a flexible OLED display, a TPU layer to protect against physical impacts and finally an anti-reflective screen protector. The latter is designed to reduce daily wear and tear. Incidentally, OnePlus has touted remarkable durability here. The manufacturer has tested the locking mechanism for one million operations. This means you can open and close the phone around 100 times a day over a period of ten years. Even if OnePlus is able to honour this durability with a TÜV certificate, such tests are always laboratory conditions. A small disadvantage is that it is somewhat water-resistant with IP64 certification. This means it is only protected against dust and splash water.

OnePlus presented the OpenCanvas programme as part of the new Foldable. It is said to be directly integrated and perfect for multitasking with the Foldable. You should be able to open up to four different windows side by side. These are not tied to the physical display size. For example, you can open two large windows next to each other and drag in the cut-off window when it is needed. Several scenarios were demonstrated at the launch event. For example, if you are playing the smartphone game Genshin Impact and are stuck, you can add a second window for a YouTube walkthrough. And as a third window, you open a Genshin Impact chat in which you can discuss the most important points. If it runs as smoothly and flexibly as OnePlus presented it at the launch, that sounds like a lot of possibilities.

Price and availability

OnePlus has a difficult position in Europe due to a patent dispute with Nokia. The manufacturer has so far withdrawn from Germany, France and the Netherlands, for example. The future in Switzerland is also looking bleak. Availability in this country is therefore still a long time coming. The manufacturer is at least reassuring Switzerland with the statement that it intends to sell the foldable here as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, it will be available in other parts of Europe at a price of 1799 euros and in North America for 1699 dollars from 26 October. Until then, pre-orderers will receive the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 for free on the official website.