As much as OnePlus prides itself on its “no compromises” tagline, a number of compromises would have been welcome for its first foldable phone. OnePlus’s new bendable smartphone, called the Open, gets a lot right. But some missing features and a high price make it hard to fully recommend.
The Open is thin and lightweight when closed, feeling as natural as a regular phone. Its screen is wide like a normal device too. When open, the crease in the middle hardly shows. And it works great for split viewing apps or zooming in on pictures.
Performance is fast thanks to the latest chip. The screen looks amazing indoors or out. It also lasts over a full day on a charge. The software helps multitask across the big screen. All this makes the Open a pleasure to use.
However, the price is very high at $1,700. Rivals from Samsung and Google cost just $100 more yet include useful extras like waterproofing and wireless charging. The Open also lacks full protection against water or dust. Its hinge feels a bit looser too.
These factors mean the Open isn’t as future-proof or worth the cost. While a trade-in lowers the price some, competitors regularly discount further. OnePlus should have cut a few corners to make the phone cheaper rather than pushing the limits.
The Open shows bendable phones can find a great middle ground. But at this price, its compromises feel too few while others offer too much. With adjustments, OnePlus could make foldables accessible instead of just appealing. For now, its first flexible phone is right-sized but wrong-priced.
