It's not even been a month since Samsung released the Galaxy Z Fold 6, and the competition is closing in fast. Google is gearing up for the official release of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold next week, which is sure to provide some stiff competition. Not to be outdone, OnePlus is back with an unexpected offering: a remix of last year's truly amazing OnePlus Open. I've been playing with it for the past few days, and I have to say that even after almost a year, I'm still totally in love with this foldable smartphone.
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Last year's hardware given a fresh coat of paint.
New look, same great taste
Let's start with what's new. The most obvious change is this striking new Crimson Shadow color. It might sound like an easy way to avoid calling a red phone “red,” but I think it's actually an apt description. The renders don't do the color justice; the phone is closer to burgundy than it looks in photos. It may be disappointing for those expecting a cherry-colored foldable, but I think it looks really nice. The same goes for the matching dark gray frame.
Other design changes include a new orange alert slider (more on that in a moment) and an upgrade to 1 terabyte of storage. Having a mobile device with the same amount of storage as the laptop you use every day feels totally liberating. I started downloading endless playlists on Spotify. Just because I canIt's a feeling you don't experience very often anymore, considering the complete lack of SD card slots in the flagship market these days.
Other than that, this is pretty much the same phone I loved last year. The Open was named AP's favorite foldable phone of 2023, and nine months later, I stand by that decision more than ever. It also nearly beat out the Pixel 8 Pro in our overall smartphone of the year poll. It still suffers from some of the shortcomings attributable to OxygenOS, but its strengths remain.
OnePlus' foldable experience continues to feel best in class
Both in hardware and software
In fact, this new version of the Open feels like a move by OnePlus to take on newer devices from Google and Samsung, but I'd argue that despite its older specs, it may still be my favorite foldable device of 2024. At 11.7mm thick, the Open outweighs the 12.1mm Galaxy Z Fold 6 and weighs a respectable 239 grams. And indeed, if the leaked weight of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is correct, this device will be still Despite being a generation behind, it is expected to be lighter than Google's upcoming device.
Meanwhile, OxygenOS continues to power my favorite foldables, mainly thanks to Open Canvas. The ability to switch between apps on the left, right, or even bottom of the display makes the 7.82-inch panel feel even larger. While I completely understand why some users prefer the grid design Samsung employs with One UI, I feel the wider layout is worth moving some content off-screen. Meanwhile, Google Have The Pixel Fold has improved split-screen multitasking, but it's still a distant third place when it comes to true productivity.
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OnePlus says I'm a VIP, but I'm not sure if that's true
This security-focused change has a major drawback
If I have one complaint about this re-released Open, it's all about the alert slider. OnePlus has included a new “VIP mode” just for this device, taking up one of the three spaces you can set the slider to. This is paired with a new security chip that's CC EAL5+ certified. If you're opening a new tab and searching “EAL5+” on Google right now, you're not alone. Don't worry too much. Unless you're running for office, I can't imagine you care about international standards for security testing.
VIP mode is just a renamed DND mode, which disables the camera and microphone and limits app tracking. It also comes with a flashy splash screen and a tweaked always-on display so you always know this mode is enabled. It leaves the other two modes as silent and ring only, and moves vibration to the quick settings menu. (As an aside, OnePlus ships this phone without a vibrate mode option. orEven more oddly, Wi-Fi is listed in the quick settings by default and must be added manually – I've never understood why, and don't recall this being an issue with the original Open.
To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of this change. VIP mode just doesn't seem like much sense to have on a consumer-level device. I'd understand if OnePlus was keeping this Open variant exclusive to B2B channels where there might be executives considering this phone. But as it stands, it's a strange addition to an otherwise excellent re-release.
The folding style that I've always loved is now easier to use than ever.
But is that enough to get you to open your wallet?
The limited edition OnePlus Open goes on sale starting today for $1,900, which is $100 more than the original model, but you can save $300 by using a coupon code. 1TBFORLIFESome readers will baulk at spending over $1,000 on year-old hardware, but for those who've had their eye on the device for the past few months, this is a great entry-level device — and if it actually serves as a stopgap until a true open successor is released in the coming months, it will cement its rightful place in the Android hall of fame.
OnePlus Open Apex Edition
The OnePlus Open Apex Edition is based on the standard OnePlus Open but with a modern twist. Aside from the color, the foldable smartphone also comes with a dedicated security chip and a new VIP mode for added security and privacy. Other specs are the same as the regular Open.