OnePlus Open Intro
We've known for a while that OnePlus is following into the footsteps of its major rivals and is developing a foldable phone. This, of course, will bring OnePlus to yet another blooming market that's ripe for the taking. Yes, foldables truly are the final frontier (for now), with the never-settling company joining Google and bringing some much-needed competition to Samsung.
Now, while we do know that a OnePlus foldable phone is coming, and while we seem to know much, we still have some major blank spots in our perceived knowledge about the potential device. Initially, most anticipated that OnePlus wouldn't shy away from the overused "Fold" name, but interestingly enough, recent rumors point out that the never-settling company has, hm, settled on the "OnePlus Open" name, which sounds delightfully fresh.
What’s new about the device
- First OnePlus foldable on the market
- Large 7.8-inch inner display with QHD resolution and 120Hz refresh rate
- Triple camera setup: 48MP wide + 48MP ultra-wde + 64MP telephoto
- Two selfie cameras: 32MP external + 20MP internal
Table of Contents:
OnePlus Open Release date
While official info coming straight from OnePlus revealed that we will see its foldable phone released in the second half of 2023, rumors have it that the OnePlus Open will be unveiled to the public before the end of the summer. Remains to be seen when exactly as we are yet to hear a specific believable announcement/release date.
OnePlus will likely wait a bit after the Galaxy Z Fold 5's market release so that it could captivate more of the the public's attention. Given that we don't actually expect any more foldables to be released until the end of the year, it has free reign as to when the OnePlus Open will break cover.
OnePlus Open Specs
A truly powerful foldable
Unlike some other foldable phones, OnePlus seems to be bringing in the big guns when it comes to the hardware inside the OnePlus Open. The phone will be equipped with proper flagship specs, much in a OnePlus fashion.
| Specs | iPhone 13 Pro Max |
|---|---|
| Size and Weight | - |
| Display | 7.8-inch internal, OLED, QHD, 120Hz |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2* |
| RAM, Storage and Price | 16GB RAM + 256GB of storage |
| Software | OxygenOS 13* |
| Cameras | Main: 48MP Ultra-wide: 48MP Telephoto: 64MP External selfie: 32MP Internal selfie: 20MP |
| Battery Size | 4,800mAh |
| Charging Speeds | 67W charging |
OnePlus Open Design & Colors
Unmistakably OnePlus!
Based on the leaked design renders of the phone, we can say one thing: the Open will be unmistakably a OnePlus device, closely following the signature design language that OnePlus has been building upon for years!
OnePlus would utilize the inward-folding type of foldable, akin to the Galaxy Z Fold lineup and Google's Pixel Fold, which would protect the larger inner display from external damage. However, OnePlus is reportedly willing to one up the ante by employing a marginally larger display than its two other competitors. The OnePlus Open will reportedly score a 7.8-inch internal screen, but we don't have the exact numbers on the external display.
(Image credit - OnLeaks)
Judging from the renders, the phone could utilize an aluminum frame with chamfered edges and slightly curved edges. The rear of the phone seems to be using a faux leather or coarse sandstone back, which would give a neat twist to the phone's design.
We anticipate that the OnePlus Open wouldn't be the most compact book-shaped foldable out there, but we hope that OnePlus manages to keep the weight down. No word on any potential ingress protection.
Similarly to the OnePlus 11, we expect the OnePlus Open to score an optical fingerprint scanner, along with Face Unlock.
OnePlus Open Display
(Image credit - OnLeaks)
When it comes to the display situation on the OnePlus Open, we have some blank spaces in our knowledge. The specs of the external display are pretty much unknown at this point. Yet, we know that the phone will be housing a 7.8-inch internal OLED display, which is 0.2-inch larger than the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the Pixel Fold, and possibly the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 5.
Moreover, the display will sport a QHD resolution of 2560 by 1440 pixels, as well as 1-120Hz refresh rate which will make for a very smooth and rewarding scrolling experience that will dynamically switch based on on-screen content. We hope that OnePlus will use a bright OLED display that will be easy to view in broad daylight conditions.
mechanisms.
In terms of biometrics, we have a pretty strong hunch that a optical in-display fingerprint would be used, most probably on the external display, but the internal one could potentially score such a sensor as well.
OnePlus Open Camera
A promising setup
Rumors have it that the OnePlus Open will be utilizing the following camera setup: a main 48MP wide-angle camera with largely unknown specs will be joined by a 48MP ultra-wide snapper, and finally, completing the rear setup, will be a 64MP telephoto lens with unknown zooming capabilities.
The cameras will be housed in a circular camera island, akin to the one on the OnePlus 11, and will most likely be tuned by iconic photography house and OnePlus partner Hasselblad.
You will be able to take selfies with an external 32MP camera or an internal 20MP one. It doesn't seem that any of the cameras will be tucked away under the display like on the latest Galaxy Z Fold phones. OnePlus will use a much simpler punch-hole design, but we don't mind.
OnePlus Open Performance & Benchmarks
Possible powerhouse
Of course, the rumor mill seems dead-set that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 will be powering the upcoming foldable phone. That's pretty certain and also quite logical, as OnePlus flagships always come with the newest Qualcomm chips available. The OnePlus Open will hardly differ in this regard.
However, with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2 just around the corner, we wouldn't be surprised but probably very delighted to find the upcoming chips powering OnePlus' first foldable phone.
This chip has a slightly faster 3.36GHz clock speed in comparison with the 3.2GHz regular Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and interestingly matches the specs of the Samsung-exclusive Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy that powered the Galaxy S23 series in all regions around the world.
In terms of memory and storage, it seems that OnePlus might rely on a single combination: 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, most certainly without a microSD card slot for additional expansion. We hope that a 512GB storage version also makes the rounds, eventually.
OnePlus Open Connectivity
The OnePlus Open will most certainly be a 5G-capable phone. Judging by previous OnePlus devices, we expect Wi-Fi 6, and hopefully Wi-Fi 6E to make an appearance.
OnePlus Open OS / Android version
Although Android 14 will most probably have been released to all eligible Pixel devices, we doubt that OnePlus will arrive with the upcoming major software version out of the box. Chances are slim that OnePlus has cut a deal with Google and got a head-start on developing the Android 14-version of its OxygenOS interface, but there's always some chance.
If the OnePlus Open follows the OnePlus 11 in terms of software support policy, we'd expect it to receive four years of major Android updates, as well as five years of security updates. This means that it will be supported until 2027 and receive Android 14, 15, 16, and 17; security updates will be released until 2028.
OnePlus Open Battery
Potentially excellent battery life!
Rumors have it that a 4,800mAh battery will be keeping the lights on the OnePlus Open. If true, that will put it 400mAh ahead of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and, potentially, the Galaxy Z Fold 5. Paired with the efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, this could provide very decent battery life to the OnePlus foldable.
OnePlus Open Charging Speeds
According to the rumor mill, the OnePlus Open will support charging speeds up to 67W, which could easily make it one of the fastest-charging foldables out there. OnePlus already sells some of the faster-charging devices in the US (the OnePlus 11 charges fully in half an hour), so we are pretty stoked about the potential sub-hour charging times of the OnePlus Open.
And, hopefully, the never-settling company will be bundling in the charger into the OnePlus One box!
OnePlus Open Audio Quality and Haptics
OnePlus phones have had great sounding loudspeakers, so we have really high hopes about OnePlus Open's potential in this aspect. We hope that the novel form factor doesn't result in deteriorated audio quality.
OnePlus Open Competitors
At this point, it's rather clear which devices will be going head to head with the OnePlus One, and those are the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the Google Pixel Fold. Sure, the Galaxy Fold 5 is largely expected to come with S Pen support like the Galaxy Z Fold 4, and the Pixel Fold delivers the unmistakable Google experience.
Both are employing the same book form factor, with large internal displays and potentially great cameras, so it's up to the OnePlus One to one-up the competition.
One thing is certain: more competition never hurt nobody, especially the regular customer. If anything, we really do hope that the OnePlus One will disturb the existing status quo and force both Samsung and Google to throw some extra effort into their next foldable juggernauts.
OnePlus Open Summary and Final Verdict
OnePlus Open has all the potential to not only disturb the foldable establishment, but also to come on top and become the foldable to beat. Yes, the OnePlus One has all the makings of an industry disruptor.
Price-wise, we aren't really sure what to expect from the OnePlus Open, but we doubt that it will be available on the cheap. Still, given OnePlus's penchant for slightly more aggressively priced devices, we harbor a slight sliver of hope that the OnePlus Open would cost less than either the Galaxy Z Fold 5 or the Pixel Fold.
Rumors have it that the OnePlus Open will see the light of day before this summer ends, so it will be quite interesting to see it clash with both the Pixel Fold and the Galaxy Z Fold 5.
