A couple of month ago I got the chance to borrow a OnePlus Open from OnePlus… There have been foldables on the market for a long time and one thing they have in common is that they are not very inexpensive. They are also a completely new take on the traditional smartphone. I was really looking forward to testing it. It had really good review and also… I have never used a foldable before.
While foldables have come a long way since their inception, durability is still a concern for many users. The OnePlus Open feels solid and well-built, with a hinge that operates smoothly and holds its position well. However, as with all foldables, extra care is needed compared to traditional smartphones. The crease on the inner display is minimal and less noticeable than on some competing devices, which is a plus for both aesthetics and usability. The phone is also remarkably thin when folded. With its thickness of 12 mm (excluding camera bump) it is only 3 mm thicker, when folded than the Google Pixel 8 Pro (also excluding camera bump. When unfolded, it is just 6 mm think, which is really impressive.
Software and User Experience
OxygenOS, OnePlus’s custom Android skin, works well on the foldable form factor. The software adjustments made to accommodate the folding design are thoughtful and add to the overall user experience. Features like the ability to use the outer display as a viewfinder for the main camera when taking selfies are clever and practical.
My test unit had the OxygenOS version based on Android 14.
Battery Life and Charging
As mentioned earlier, battery life is impressive considering the power requirements of the two displays. The phone easily lasts a full day with mixed use of both screens. OnePlus’s fast charging technology is also a boon, allowing you to quickly top up the battery when needed.
Then we come to charging… If you use the included OnePlus charger it charges at 67W. You can also use a standard PD (Power Delivery) but then the OnePlus open will only charge at around 15W. I have had OnePlus phones and the OnePlus proprietary charging is truly impressive… however, it is still proprietary, which I personally feel is a negative.
Multitasking and Productivity
One of the standout features of the OnePlus Open is its multitasking capabilities. The ability to run multiple apps side by side, coupled with the larger inner display, makes it a productivity powerhouse. Whether you’re comparing documents, taking notes while watching a video, or monitoring your email while browsing the web, the OnePlus Open handles it all smoothly.
OxygeneOS has a couple tricks up its sleave when it comes to making it multitask easier. The Open Canvas means that even though the inner screen (aka Tablet) is not huge, the canvas means that you can have 3 app running side by side. OnePlus has solved almost like virtual desktop on a computer. The Canvas is larger than the screen and you can pan from left to right and see either the two left-most or the the two right-most apps.
The app pairs feature is also particularly useful, allowing you to save combinations of apps that you frequently use together. This saves time and streamlines your workflow, making the transition from phone to tablet mode more purposeful and efficient. You can add a pair as a “new app” on the home screen and use that app shortcut to always launch those apps a pair.
Value Proposition
While the OnePlus Open is undoubtedly expensive, as are most foldables, it offers a compelling package for those who can make use of its versatility. If you find yourself frequently carrying both a phone and a tablet, or if you often wish for a larger screen on your smartphone, the OnePlus Open could potentially replace both devices, justifying its higher price point.
In order to justify the higher price of a foldable, it is not enough that it is “new cool technology”, it also have to add something to the phone experience. To do this it also adds requirements on the person using it, you need to change your way of working.
OnePlus Open as a phone
As a phone, the OnePlus Open is very good. It has a one of the best cameras on the market, a great screen and it has enough power to……. In my usage I have not had any kind of problems with battery capacity. The phone makes it through the day easily, even if I use the inner screen occasionally.
As you might expect, since it is a foldable, the One Plus open is not a small phone, not by any means. But comparing it to other foldables and next to my Pixel 8 Pro it is still an OK size. (See images).
Being a foldable means that it has a couple of really cool features even as a phone. For instance, being able to use the main camera as a selfie camera means a better quality camera that is available in more cases. This feature uses the cover screen as a view finder when taking a selfie.
Oneplus Open as a Tablet
To be fully honest.. the absolute best part of the OnePlus Open is the fact that it is also a tablet. Getting the extra screen real estate when you are on the go, without you needing to bring a tablet (and a bag for tablet). On the below images you will see the size comparison with a Pixel 8 Pro. As you can see it is (almost) abit smaller than the pixel and when it is unfolded, it is a lot larger than the Pixel.
Over the years, I have had a couple of tablets. Everything from a Google Nexus 7 to a Samsung Galaxy Tab 6 Lite and I have always not bringing them due to the size… even if the Nexus 7 was small, it had fairly big bezels which meant that either you needed cargo pants or a jacket with a inside pocket to bring it without noticing it. And at least for me it almost defeats the purpose is I always need to bring a bag… In that case I might as well bring a small and light laptop (my current laptops are a Surface Pro 6 and a HP Elitebook Dragonfly G3) since that will have a real keyboard. I am old enough to still appreciate a real keyboard before a screen keyboard #boomer even for just answering an email. Many applications, these days, are able to use the larger screen in a good way and are not just scaling the app up. Since I am mostly in the Microsoft ecosystem the ones I have mostly tried are Outlook and Teams but also apps like Feedly, Beeper, LinkedIn Discord and a lot of others. Watching videos and reading is of course also an obvious upside.
With a stock Android tablet you are able to place two different application side by side if you are using them simultaneously. One plus is enhancing this with a really cool features of the OnePlus Android implementation is that you are able to add more that two apps side by side and you can scroll sideways to see them all instead of having to open them up again. As mentioned above, the canvas and app pairs really makes the tablet mode stand out. I am really hoping Google will adopt this in stock Android in the future, for use in all foldables and tablets.
OnePlus Open as a Laptop
I guess that if you really did not want to bring a laptop, you could use the OnePlus Open with an external keyboard (I know Apple is taunting the iPad Pro as a laptop replacement, but I still think that there are certain benefits to an old school computer). I have tried it with a Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard and except for the fact that you would need some way to prop the “tablet” up it would work providing you do not need “real” applications. Using it in a way where I can have for instance a list on the left side and the message on the right or having LinkedIn on the left and have it open a video for instance on the right really makes sense.
However, while the OnePlus Open will probably work OK to the average knowledge worker, it’s important to note that while the OnePlus Open can handle many tasks traditionally done on a laptop, it’s not a full replacement for everyone. Complex tasks like video editing, coding, or running specialized software might still require a traditional laptop or desktop.
Conclusion
The OnePlus Open represents a significant step forward in the foldable smartphone market. It successfully combines the functionality of a smartphone and tablet in a well-designed package. Its strengths lie in its versatility, impressive camera system, and thoughtful software features that take advantage of the foldable form factor.
However, it’s not without its drawbacks. The price point will be a barrier for many, and despite improvements in durability, foldables still require more careful handling than traditional smartphones. Additionally, while it can handle many laptop-like tasks, it’s not a full replacement for a traditional computer for all users.
For those who value the flexibility of a larger screen in a pocketable device and can afford the premium, the OnePlus Open is an excellent choice. It pushes the boundaries of what we expect from our mobile devices and offers a glimpse into a future where the lines between our various gadgets continue to blur.
In the end, whether the OnePlus Open is right for you depends on your specific needs and use cases. But one thing is clear: it’s a impressive device that showcases the potential of foldable technology. Personally, I’m am a bit old school… I actually like my laptop. In my work I usually by a screen. I have a 13″ laptop which usually is connected to a docking station with an external monitor and that for me is the perfect setup with a lot of screen real-estate makes me handle the tasks of the day and when I am out and about, the small form factor is extremely portable.
And for all you OnePlus fans… Yes, the mute switch is still there 🙂