OnePlus Open Vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: A Really Close Call
OnePlus has officially entered the foldable phone battle against Samsung. In fact, OnePlus seems to have done a surprisingly impressive job on its first effort, blending refined hardware with a finely tuned software experience. OnePlus' foldable phone is called the OnePlus Open and is the main competitor to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5.
OnePlus has packed some ambitious camera hardware into the OnePlus Open, putting it on par with dedicated camera flagships. It also builds on the company's leadership in battery charging technology, especially compared to advanced phones from premium brands like Apple, Samsung and Google. Is this the real Galaxy Z Fold 5 killer? Keep reading to find out.
OnePlus Open Vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: specifications
| Unlocked OnePlus | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| measure: | 153.4 x 143.1 x 5.8 mm | Unfolded: 6.11 x 5.12 x 0.25 inches Folded: 6.11 x 2.64 x 0.62 inches |
| weight | 239 grams | 263 grams |
| DISPLAY | Main: 7.82-inch Flexi Liquid AMOLED internal display Cover: Super Fluid AMOLED 6.31-inch internal display | Main: 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Coverage: 6.2 inches Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| screen resolution | primary: 2440 x 2268 pixels (426 ppi) Resolution: 2484 x 1116 pixels (431 ppi) | primary: 2176 x 1812 pixels (372 ppi) Resolution: 2316 x 904 pixels (402 ppi) |
| Operating system | Android 13 with OxygenOS 13.2 operating system | Android 13 with One UI 5.1 interface |
| STORAGE | 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB |
| Micro memory card slots | No. | No. |
| Services Click to pay. | Google Pay | Google Pay, Samsung Pay |
| Healer: | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Second Generation | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Second Generation |
| cAMERA | Rear: 48MP primary + 48MP ultra-wide + 64MP telephoto Front: 32 MP (cover screen) and 20 MP (inner screen) | Rear: 50 MP main, 12 MP ultra-wide and 10 MP telephoto forward. Bottom screen of 4 megapixels on the main screen and 10 megapixels on the cover screen; |
| video | 4K at 30/60 fps 1080p at 30/60 fps 30/60 fps Dolby Vision with 4K HDR, 30 fps; 1080p, 30fps Slow motion video in 1080p 240/480 fps; | 8K: 24 fps 4K UHD at 30/60 fps 1080p Full HD 30/60 fps HD 720p at 30 fps Super slow motion in 720p 960fps Slow motion in 1080p 240fps |
| COMMUNICATION | 2 x 2 MIMO 2.4g/5g/5.8g Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 7 Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ac Channel 2/ax/be, 8 spatial streams It looks like MU-MIMO | 2G GSM, 3G WCDMA, 4G LTE FDD, 4G LTE TDD, 5G Sub6 FDD, 5G Sub6 TDD |
| Bluetooth option | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| ports | USB-C: | USB-C: |
| Waterproof | IPX4 | IPX8 |
| battery: | 4805 mAh SUPERVOOC 67W wired charging | 4400 mAh 25W fast charging Wireless charging and reverse wireless charging |
| Application market | Google Play Store | Google Play Store |
| colors | Twilight Emerald, Voyager Black | Green Grey, Phantom Black, Beige, Burgundy (Samsung Exclusive) |
| price: | Starting at $1,699 | From $1,800 |
OnePlus Open Vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: Design and hardware
One of the biggest design flaws that Samsung has addressed with its current generation of foldable devices is the corner of the screen, which has been removed. All of Samsung's previous foldable devices had a significant gap when both halves closed. This area was an open invitation to dirt, liquids and other unwanted elements. The Z Fold 5 lays completely flat when closed and doesn't have this problem.
Samsung has made progress this time by paying special attention to the foldable inner screen and the stability of the hinge. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 offers IPX8 dust protection and water resistance, while the OnePlus Open is limited to IPX4 certification and is less flexible. However, if history and my experience are to be believed, the bent plate and hinges underneath are still vulnerable. Worse yet, the repair is expensive.
In its first attempt, OnePlus solved this problematic part of the equation with a flawless design. When the phone is closed, there are no gaps on either edge. Both phones rest on a metal and glass base, but OnePlus has once again opted for a more subtle combination. Where Samsung uses stainless steel and Gorilla Glass Victus, the OnePlus Open features a molybdenum-cobalt-titanium alloy said to be four times stronger than surgical stainless steel.
In terms of screen technology, the base is identical: flexible ultra-thin glass (UTG). But that's where the similarities end. Where Samsung takes Corning's Gorilla Glass Victus, the OnePlus Open follows Apple's approach. The Chinese smartphone maker used what it calls Ceramic Guard, which is 20% stronger than Gorilla Glass Victus, on the Galaxy Z Fold 5.
Even in the aesthetic sector, OnePlus has surpassed its rival Samsung. The OnePlus Open sticks to the brand's iconic green color with frosted glass. But it's the second model, with the extra leather, that stands out. There aren't many phones, certainly not mainstream brands sold in the West, that offer a leather look to their phones.
Winner: OnePlus Unlocked
OnePlus Open Vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. Screens
One of the biggest compromises Samsung has made to make foldable phones more comfortable is to make them bigger, so one-handed use isn't too complicated. But in doing so, the company used a high aspect ratio for the overlay screen, which negatively affects the user experience due to weird scaling of apps due to the horizontal space. The OnePlus Open's external display has a native 20:9 aspect ratio, which means you won't have any problem resizing apps on this panel.
Other than that, both panels are as good as you can find on a phone. In the Galaxy Z Fold 5, you get a 6.2-inch HD+ display and a 7.6-inch foldable inner panel with QXGA+ resolution. But the screens are AMOLED and offer a maximum frequency of 120 Hz. On the OnePlus Open, the 6.3-inch external screen offers a higher 2K resolution, while the internal screen has a slightly larger 7.82-inch diagonal with a significantly higher resolution of 2440 x 2268 pixels. Again, you're looking at OLED panels with a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz.
OnePlus and Samsung have made their own system-level changes to app window management. But the Galaxy Z Fold 5 takes the lead with tricks like DeX, which essentially turns your phone into a PC that delivers an Android-derived computing experience on a bigger screen. Samsung also makes it easy to use your phone as a secondary display for your computer with its Smart View system.
It's hard to pick a winner here in terms of quality, as both phones offer displays with a vibrant color profile, good brightness and exceptional viewing angles. But if you bite into it, the Galaxy Z Fold's foldable display is even more immersive, thanks to under-display camera technology that practically hides the round selfie camera and offers an all-screen experience. However, we still call it a draw.
Winner: tie
OnePlus Open Vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. Cameras
If we evaluate the technical specifications, the camera equipment of the OnePlus Open is superior to that of the Galaxy Z Fold 5. In its first foldable phone, OnePlus has integrated a completely new Sony sensor with a rethinking of the photodiode architecture completely in pixel level. The result is more detailed images and stronger color control. It's a 48MP optically stabilized sensor that sits alongside another 48MP electronically stabilized camera for ultra-wide shots.
The perspective camera is the most interesting element here. Despite the phone's ultra-slim profile, OnePlus has managed to squeeze in a massive 64-megapixel periscope-style telephoto lens that offers a range of 3x optical zoom, 6x sensor zoom and up to 120x Ultra Res digital zoom. There is a 20 MP selfie camera on the lid display and the inner folding panel is a 32 MP sensor.
On the Galaxy Z Fold 5, you get a 50MP telephoto lens, a 10MP ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 10MP telephoto lens that offers 3x optical and 30x digital zoom. This is a classic pancake telephoto lens, unlike the folding lens system you get on the OnePlus Open, which guarantees much greater zoom.
For selfies, Samsung's foldable device offers a 10-megapixel front-facing camera and a 4-megapixel camera under the display between the two halves of the foldable panel. But in the latter case, innovation comes at a price. Because the camera is covered with a layer of pixels, the final image is noticeably softer, with loss of detail and lots of software reconstruction.
Winner: OnePlus Unlocked
OnePlus Open Vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. Interior:
Samsung's flagship foldable phone is powered by a Qualcomm 8 Gen 2 chip, paired with 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of internal storage. The OnePlus Open is based on the same processor, but offers 16GB of RAM and half the maximum storage at 512GB. There is also a virtual RAM device on the table that borrows from UV 4.0 storage and uses it as dynamic RAM.
OnePlus is a pioneer in the energy sector. The Chinese brand's foldable phone has a larger 4,805 mAh battery. It supports 67W fast charging and OnePlus claims you can charge the phone from a 100% empty battery in 42 minutes. There is no wireless charging support here.
In the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, you get a smaller 4,400mAh battery that only charges up to 25W. However, it offers support for 15W wireless charging, as well as other accessories like the ability to charge headphones at 5W by placed them simply on the back of the phone.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
OnePlus Open Vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. Programming
Software can make or break a foldable phone, and ultimately it matters a lot whether you prefer Samsung's One UI experience or OnePlus' OxygenOS experience. Both foldable phones offer their own version of split-screen app multitasking, allowing up to three apps to run simultaneously. Native Android apps take full advantage of the big screen real estate and open to a two-page view.
OxygenOS has its own customization fans, but it doesn't offer the same flexibility in customizing the UI and app behavior as One UI 5.1 (or later). The Samsung Labs toolkit and Good Lock modules are excellent examples of deep system-level customization not available on any regular phone, foldable or otherwise.
The biggest feature the Galaxy Z Fold 5 offers from a power user's perspective is DeX, which essentially gives the phone ChromeOS-like superpowers, especially when it comes to handling the biggest screen you get from a mobile phone . OnePlus Open, like its Samsung competitor, offers easy-to-use screen mirroring tools, but Samsung makes accessing them more convenient.
What works on OxygenOS is an active community, and thus OnePlus has been quicker to abandon software features than with One UI. Both phones come with four years of software updates. It's not as good as the iPhones or Google's seven-year update promise for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, but four years is still one of the best warranties Android manufacturers can offer.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
OnePlus Open Vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: Verdict
There's only a $100 difference between the $1,699 OnePlus Open and the $1,800 Galaxy Z Fold 5. This isn't a huge gap by any means, but there are three important aspects to consider before deciding to switch to one or the other. First, Samsung has partnered with almost every major carrier and retailer, all offering attractive deals on its foldable phone. Samsung's trade-in process and the free gifts it offers (or store credits) significantly reduce the net impact on your wallet.
Another aspect to consider is the fact that Samsung has a much larger presence in the US market than OnePlus, so if you are faced with repair and replacement situations, it will be more convenient to do so with Samsung foldable. . Experience compared to OnePlus. Finally, the IPX8 certification tips the scales in favor of the Galaxy Z Fold 5, which is an important consideration when it comes to foldable phones.
Digital Trends has reached out to OnePlus about OnePlus' open brand repair and replacement policy and will update this article once we hear back. In terms of value, both phones offer their advantages, but here are the following.
If you're looking for the best camera experience and a great design that's as close to the classic phone experience as possible, the OnePlus Open is the place to look. If you value the brand's warranty, can't live without the convenience of wireless charging, and appreciate what Samsung has to offer in terms of software, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 should be your next foldable phone.
