Introduction
The OnePlus Open is set to introduce many changes in the foldable smartphone market. While products previously released by OnePlus were characterized by great specifications but were poor in other aspects, the OnePlus Open is an emphatic entry into the market of foldable phones. With this particular model, OnePlus seeks to redefine its brand in a manner that will make waves in the market, especially in Saudi Arabia, where tech lovers look up to new devices.
Over the last three weeks, I have had a chance to try out the OnePlus Open in-depth; more especially, the Hasselblad camera and the new Open Canvas multitasking got me raving. That really appealed to me: this device served as a first-generation foldable phone, unlike others having several iterations to really get things right. For instance, it took even Samsung up to its fifth try, with the Galaxy Z Fold 5, to finally manage a gapless hinge. Meanwhile, the OnePlus Open managed it, along with a few other things, on its maiden run.
Although I have a lot more to write about my experience with the OnePlus Open, this review in terms of taking in points on most things of the device, its highs, and its lows. It's still decent in terms of being a foldable phone contender because of how it continues pushing the design, functionality, and price further than previous options.
Price and Availability
The OnePlus Open is priced at around SAR 6,372, which significantly undercuts most of its competitors in the same market, such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the Google Pixel Fold. While I would want to have an even more competing price, this being OnePlus and normally undercutting its competition, an analysis of the value should find the Open more accessible to the mainstream Saudi consumer. In a very unique move to give SAR 750 credit for any phone, no matter what condition the device will be, OnePlus launched its trade-in program. Such an offer should actually give just fantastic value for those upgrading from a device from perhaps just ten years ago.
This reduces the purchase price to SAR 5,625 for the span of the OnePlus Open's lifecycle, which has much appeal when considering its features.
The OnePlus Open is already up for pre-order through a number of different outlets—both in the high street and online. It's due to go on general release on October 26 in Emerald Dusk and Voyager Black shades. It comes with a single 512GB storage option, though this is then supported by a not insignificant 16GB of RAM, going some way beyond rivals like the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Pixel Fold.
Design and Build Quality
While it is still a tad thick for a classic smartphone design, the Open has avoided the very wide form factor when closed of the Pixel Fold and the narrow profile of the Galaxy Z Fold 5. In fact, it strikes a balance, thus making the OnePlus Open comfortable to hold and use.
Though unfolded, the OnePlus Open is a bit larger than most foldables, which isn't exactly a drawback to it. The build quality of this model is first-class, sleekly designed to only 0.22 inches thick and weighing just 8.43 ounces. This thin and light design does not come at the cost of durability, with one of the finest hinge designs on any foldable phone.
The Flexion Hinge provides this nice snap when it's closed and reduces the crease on the display to the point where it is far less noticeable than the ones in either the Pixel Fold or the Galaxy Z Fold 5.
But one visual design feature truly bothers, arguably more than it does on the OnePlus 11: the big camera hump on the back. Now, while its intentions are good for the photographic capabilities of the phone, this makes the device somewhat top-heavy and unpleasant to handle while lying flat. As compared to the competitors which make an IPX8 rating, this phone holds an IPX4 rating, making it water-resistant up to a certain degree.
Display Quality
In display terms, the OnePlus Open has it in the bag. The main display is 7.82 inches, made from the flexible Fluid AMOLED technology, and has a 2K resolution of 2440 by 2268 pixels, together with an additional external 6.31-inch Super Fluid AMOLED (2484 by 1116). Both displays are slightly sharper and advanced in brightness from Pixel Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 5, hence making the OnePlus Open an excellent medium for media and everyday use.
Benchmark tests showed the main display hits 1,158 nits at its peak — bright enough for use outside in Saudi Arabia. It doesn't quite hit the Galaxy Z Fold 5's 1,346-nit brightness peak, but simply tops the Pixel Fold, which is rated at 1,000 nits. The outer display has a peak level of 721 nits, which is similar to its rivals.
One of the worrying factors was the almost magic yet kind of exaggeration in the Ceramic Guard on its outer display, claimed to be 20% stronger than the Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. But, in my experience, the screen seemed to pick up those little scratches notwithstanding pretty careful usage. This, of course, could well be a consideration for those looking at a device that may take rough handling.
Camera Performance
The setup regarding the OnePlus Open's camera happens to be quite formidable. For taking care of the shooting, there features a 48MP-primary shooter, accompanied by a 64MP telephoto lens supporting up to 3x optical zoom. With up to 6x lossless in-sensor zoom and a maximum of 120x Ultra Res Zoom, shoot scenes or objects in a distance perfectly.
When it comes to camera performance, the OnePlus Open particularly nails good lighting conditions. These are images that look aplomb in color vibrancy and detailing and hold their own next to those captured with the Pixel Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 5. The same can't call for the 48MP ultra-wide though, that's equally impressive if slightly over-vibrant in its color whereas those Pixel Fold images show off more natural tones.
The telephoto 64MP allows it to zoom a bit further than the Pixel Fold's 5x optical zoom and is still more than usable in day-to-day shots. I found the difference in quality to be rather marginal, a remarkable achievement for a device priced as low as the OnePlus Open. With the camera system, however, one of the cons lies in low light photography. This OnePlus tends to give off an orange hue, which usually affects image quality, at night. Yet, it copes well with great contrast at night and can reach weak stars in the sky, which is good news for many photo enthusiasts out there.
Software and Performance
The OnePlus Open runs OxygenOS 13.2, which is based on Android and is a very clean, productive UI. The cool thing here, though, is that the Open Canvas multitasking tool can run up to three apps simultaneously, no matter whether they have been optimized for that kind of foldable screen. Herein, it's way more productive compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the Pixel Fold.
In terms of performance, the OnePlus Open is based on a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset that performs quite powerfully in everyday work and games. Place it against the Galaxy Z Fold 5 in Geekbench scores; it lags but in processing graphics, the device can hold up quite well with heavy games and other graphic-intensive applications. Then there is video-out through USB-C, a feature not present in the Pixel Fold. While it is not as feature-packed as Samsung's DeX is, this comes in quite handy for someone who wants their phone to replace their PC.
Battery Life and Charging
With a really powerful 4,805 mAh battery under this shell, the OnePlus Open packs power enough to remain dependable all through the day, use off the charger. The battery life, in my day-to-day usage, amounted to so much more than I had expected. After a full day of surfing, streaming, and gaming, there was easily around 10% remaining.
This endures better than most foldable phones on the market, from rivals such as the Pixel Fold, and can even look the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 in the face. That makes it quite an achievement. Further, the OnePlus Open supports up to fast charging of 67W, which should be through the charger and charge to a level of 50% in just 15 minutes and hit up to 85% within 30 minutes. Quick charging mechanized in this capacity is quite a solace for people on the move, further reducing their idle time.
However, there is no option for wireless charging—a feature that could be a turn-off for some who fancy the convenience that comes with a cable-free experience in charging. Although this omission may come as a bit of a disappointment, particularly in respect to the device's modern design and capabilities, it is supposed to be one of those compromises gladly accepted by many who want outright performance in a phone at a relatively competitive pricing in its segment.
Conclusion
The OnePlus Open will be a really strong contender in the foldable smartphone market, particularly in a price-sensitive country such as Saudi Arabia, where there is a fine balance between design, performance, and cost.
While there might be minor areas to correct, like its camera performance in low-light conditions and how it missed the wireless option for charging, OnePlus Open gives balance in its offerings to both geeky and casual users. It has top-notch build quality, like higher-end devices, and at the same time brings in radical improvements related to multitasking capabilities to increase usefulness and efficiency.
A key factor further cementing its lure is its competitive pricing, where it tends to offer a top-notch value-for-money equation in a market segment where prices are often high. Top among these—a trait embodied by the OnePlus Open- is a device that is one of the best alternatives when transitioning to a foldable phone. Definitely not flawless, yet its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses—the OnePlus Open is surely one to have on the radar for anybody shopping for a new foldable device.
FAQs
1. What will the price be for the OnePlus Open be in Saudi Arabia?
The OnePlus Open is already out for sale in Saudi Arabia for around SAR 6,372. These are stratospheric price tags for a smartphone, but they rightfully position the device in the steeply rising premium category of smartphones with high-end specs and the foldable form factor. For those pinching pennies on the purchase, there is OnePlus' trade-in program that will greatly reduce the cost. On the other hand, buyers can effectively bring the price down to SAR 5,625 by exchanging an eligible device, hence making OnePlus Open a more appealing option for consumers looking to avail of top technology but at a price that's lighter on the pocket.
2. Does OnePlus Open support wireless charging?
The OnePlus Open does not make provisions for wireless charging, which can be a turn-off for people who like throwing their phones onto a pad for juice. Instead, it has focused on the charging tech via wire, packing a 67W fast-charging ability intricately into the device. This enables the OnePlus Open to juice up quite efficiently and get to a high battery threshold in barely any time.
Although it might disappoint some that it doesn't feature wireless charging, the wired charging refill is so fast that users can quickly power the device the moment they need to.
3. How exactly does the OnePlus Open fare in the dark?
The OnePlus Open uses the camera systems that are really high-tech and very maturely designed to perform in various lighting conditions. It rarely falters, but in good light, performance is anything other than mixed. The device captures clear pictures, but they are sometimes plagued with an orange tone that could have an impact on the general color representation. However, the camera does well to maintain detail and offer relatively low noise in poor lighting conditions, such that it is recommendable for users who take photos in such dark environments most of the time, just not to be among the leading cameras in that category.
4. How long does the OnePlus Open last on a battery charge?
The OnePlus Open carriers with it a 4,805 mAh battery life that can be really trusted to pass day after day. On average, the battery is rated to last just over a day with moderate use: activities such as browsing, streaming, and use of social media. With most users being at about 10% battery by the end of the day, it is a rare case of having a dead phone by then. This proves to be a real longevity factor for users who need their devices to be continuously functioning and not wasting time on charging.
5. What is special about the multitasking feature in OnePlus Open?
This device's veil multitasking capabilities are more enhanced by its OnePlus Open feature, Open Canvas, which allows a user to run three applications at the same time with its foldable screen. This feature makes it handling multiple tasks at the same time compared to any other device dynamic and unique in the market. Whether watching a video, browsing the web, chatting to friends, all will be done at the same time but will be easier to manage thanks to Open OnePlus. This multitasking is unique and, therefore, most suitable for the power user who wants to work at high productivity and flexibility from their devices.
