The once-beloved OnePlus brand used to be viewed by many as a real threat to Samsung's dominance. Although the brand remains somewhat popular today, over the years, OnePlus phones lost some things that helped them stand out. Firmware support is no longer what it used to be now that Samsung dominates this facet of the Android segment, and the custom OxygenOS launcher lost its pizazz since its merger with Oppo's ColorOS. But interestingly enough, OnePlus may turn over a new leaf, as it will soon try to challenge Samsung on the foldable phone front.
OnePlus is developing its first foldable phone. It doesn't have an official name yet, but leaks hint at the “OnePlus V Fold” and, more recently, the “OnePlus Open” brands. While Samsung is set to unveil the Galaxy Z Fold 5 on July 26, the OnePlus Open will reportedly become official in August (via AndroidPolice). And like the Z Fold 5, the so-called Open will have a book-like form factor. Here's what this potential Samsung rival might have to offer.
Rumored OnePlus Open design
Following the trend established by other OEMs from China, the OnePlus Open might have an oversized circular camera housing that holds three almost comically small (in comparison) sensors next to the Hasselblad branding. Likewise, the back panel appears to have a faux leather texture, the latter of which is a design cue Samsung used, particularly for its Galaxy Note series, close to a decade ago.
Aside from these arguably outdated aesthetic choices, fan-made renders based on leaked dimensions show that the OnePlus Open has a slick shape. It has a thin profile, flat edges, and slim bezels for the cover and the foldable display. Its hinge allows it to fold completely flat, with no gaps between the two folding halves of the phone.
Perhaps the more interesting design aspect of the OnePlus Open is that it appears to have a wider cover display than the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. Whether this form factor will cause issues for apps running on the larger screen, as it does for the Google Pixel Fold, remains to be determined.
There's no concrete data on the phone's IP rating, materials, hinge durability and build quality.
OnePlus Open leaked hardware specs
According to leaks, the OnePlus Open, a.k.a. OnePlus V Fold, will feature the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage.
The device should sport a 6.3-inch OLED cover screen and a 7.8-inch 2K foldable OLED. Both panels should support 120Hz refresh rates. The device is said to be powered by a 4,800mAh battery with 67W fast-charging capabilities.
In terms of cameras, the foldable OnePlus phone will supposedly have a 48MP primary unit, a 48MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 64MP telephoto camera, as well as a 32MP selfie shooter embedded in the cover screen and a 20MP selfie unit in the upper-left corner of the foldable panel.
Last but not least, OnePlus may try to undercut Samsung and Google by pricing its first foldable phone close to $1,500, some rumors say. If this turns out to be true, the first OnePlus foldable phone could challenge Samsung for the first time in years.
At least, that's the theory. In practice, Samsung's been winning over its Android rivals through solid software experiences optimized for the foldable form factor, superior build quality, stellar firmware support, and the best interconnectivity with other Samsung devices, such as tablets, wearables, TVs, and smart home products. We'll have to wait for August and beyond to see if the OnePlus Open can really take on the Z Fold 5.
