2023 has been a significant year for the foldable smartphone, with the scene getting even more innovative and boundary-pushing devices: we’re comparing two standouts, the OnePlus Open vs the Galaxy Z Fold 5. As Samsung’s fifth-generation Fold series, the Z Fold 5 presents refined hardware and a sleek design that has kept it in the spotlight since its first iteration back in 2019. However, the debut folding phone from OnePlus has made a surprisingly good impression on the market, and the Z Fold’s reign as the best foldable smartphone might have come to an end.
As the Galaxy Z Fold becomes old news, there’s a lot of room for exciting innovations in the folding smartphone market – and has the OnePlus Open filled that gap? Clearly, both devices offer unique features and capabilities that make it hard to decipher which one is actually the better phone. In this article, we’ll compare the OnePlus Open and the Galaxy Z Fold 5 regarding specs, design, displays, and more. By the end, you should have a clearer understanding of which device is the better choice for you.
OnePlus Open vs Galaxy Z Fold 5 Specs
| Specification | OnePlus Open | Galaxy Z Fold 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Inner display | 7.82-inch 2K (2440 x 2268) OLED | 7.6-inch QXGA+ (2176 x 1812) OLED |
| Outer display | 6.3-inch 2K (2484 x 1116) OLED | 6.2-inch HD+ (2316 x 904) OLED |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| Battery | 4,805 mAh, 67W wired charging | 4,400 mAh, 25W wired charging, 15W wireless |
| RAM | 16GB | 12GB |
| Storage | 512GB | 256GB/512GB/1TB |
| Rear cameras | 48MP main (f/1.7), 48MP ultrawide (f/2.2), 64MP 3x telephoto (f/2.6) | 50MP main (f/1.8), 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2), 10MP 3x optical telephoto (f/2.4) |
| Front cameras | 32MP outer (f/2.4), 20MP inner (f/2.2), 10MP outer (f/2.2), 4MP inner under-display (f/1.8) | 10MP punch-hole selfie camera (outer display), 4MP under-display selfie camera (inner display) |
OnePlus Open vs Galaxy Z Fold 5 features
Design
When it comes to design, both the OnePlus Open and the Galaxy Z Fold 5 offer unique and stylish aesthetics. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 follows the traditional Samsung foldable design with a narrow profile that opens up to reveal a square inner display and vertically arranged cameras on the back. On the other hand, the OnePlus Open stands out with its rounder and squatter body, housing a square inner display and a large circular camera block in partnership with Hasselblad, that’s now somewhat iconic for OnePlus phones. Somehow, the OnePlus Open still manages to be the lighter and thinner of the two at just 239 grams, an impressive feat for a foldable device.
When it comes to colorways, OnePlus hasn’t been known to push the boat out and the Open is no exception. You have two options, Emerald Dusk featuring a glass back panel, or Voyager Black which employs a vegan leather back cover. For the Z Fold 5, you also get a classy Phantom Black, as well as Cream and Icy Blue, giving buyers three attractive options to choose from.
Displays
The OnePlus Open features a 6.3-inch outer display and a 7.8-inch inner main display, both offering high resolutions and vibrant OLED panels that set it slightly ahead of the Z Fold 5 here. Diving deeper into the screen specs, the Open uses the technically superior LTPO3 panels, offering an adaptable refresh rate down to as low as 1Hz depending on the content. The aspect ratio of the OnePlus Open’s displays is wider and shorter, resembling a regular phone when closed. Notably, the OnePlus Open also has a less obvious display crease, making it one of the least conspicuous folding smartphones.
On the other hand, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 comes with a slightly smaller 6.2-inch outer display and a 7.6-inch inner display. The aspect ratio of the Galaxy Z Fold 5’s displays is taller and thinner, making it easier to use with one hand when closed, although there have been complaints about it being too narrow. In terms of display quality, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 has the edge with its higher peak brightness and superior color gamut coverage. The OnePlus Open, however, offers a more familiar and user-friendly aspect ratio, which may be advantageous for certain applications (such as texting).
Another notable advantage the Z Fold 5 has here regarding display is its native stylus support, specifically for the S Pen Fold Edition stylus. While the Open has compatibility with the OPPO Pen, this is not really a solution for the international market given that the stylus is only available in China. At their price points, it’s a shame that neither phone comes with a stylus straight out of the box, but at least for Samsung users the S Pen is more readily available.
Cameras
Both the OnePlus Open and the Galaxy Z Fold 5 come equipped with a total of five cameras, serving various purposes. The OnePlus Open boasts a 48MP main camera, a 48MP ultrawide shooter, and a 64MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom on the back. It also features a 32MP outer front-facing camera, a 20MP inner front-facing camera, and a 4MP under-display front-facing camera.
The Galaxy Z Fold 5, on the other hand, features a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultrawide camera, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom on the back. It offers a 10MP punch-hole selfie camera on the outer display and a 4MP under-display selfie camera on the inner display. While the Fold offers Samsung’s signature triple camera setup that’s primed for vibrant and eye-catching photos, OnePlus’s partnership with Hasselblad brings a whole new color science into the mix, giving the Open the advantage here when it comes to camera capabilities.
IP Rating and durability
Both devices come with an IP rating for water and dust protection. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 has an IPX8 rating, which offers the same level of water protection as non-foldable phones. The OnePlus Open, on the other hand, has an IPX4 rating, indicating splash-proof protection but not full immersion resistance like the Galaxy Z Fold 5.
Durability is a factor that’s especially important when it comes to foldables, as buyers will be expecting their hefty investment to last them a good few years. Samsung adopts the Gorilla Glass Victus, whereas the OnePlus Open uses Ceramic Guard, which is quoted by OnePlus to be 20% more impact resistant than the Gorilla Glass of the Z Fold.
OnePlus Open vs Galaxy Z Fold 5 performance
The OnePlus Open and Galaxy Z Fold 5 are powered by similar processors, with the OnePlus Open using the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and the Z Fold 5 using the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip customized for Galaxy devices. There are slight differences between the two chipsets, with the Snapdragon for Galaxy being the more powerful of the two. However, these powerful chips have primed these devices to be able to handle pretty much whatever users throw at them. In terms of software, both phones run optimized versions of Android 13, with the OnePlus Open running OxygenOS 13 for a clean, near-stock Android experience, and the Galaxy getting the Samsung One UI.
In terms of battery and charging performance, the OnePlus Open packs a bigger 4,805 mAh battery compared to the Z Fold 5’s 4,400 mAh capacity. However, while the OnePlus Open delivers extremely fast charging speeds with its 67W SUPERVOOC wired charging, it lacks wireless charging capabilities – something the Z Fold 5 does support. Ultimately, the OnePlus Open promises longer battery life between charges and blindingly quick wired charging but falls short for wireless charging functionality compared to the Z Fold 5.
OnePlus Open vs Galaxy Z Fold 5 price
The OnePlus Open was launched on October 26th, 2023, with a starting price of $1,699/£1,599, making it slightly cheaper than the Galaxy Z Fold 5, which is priced at $1,799/£1,749. With its different variants for storage, the Z Fold 5 can reach prices of up to $2000. However, it’s worth noting that the Galaxy Z Fold 5 has been on the market for a good few months now, and you may be able to find deals that lower its price to keep it competitive alongside new launches such as the OnePlus Open.
Is the OnePlus Open better than the Galaxy Z Fold 5?
After carefully comparing the OnePlus Open and the Galaxy Z Fold 5, it’s clear that both devices have their strengths and weaknesses, and I think we’re yet to see a foldable phone that achieves overall perfection. The OnePlus Open offers a more affordable price, larger size, superior battery life, faster charging, and enhanced multitasking capabilities. On the other hand, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 excels in photography, display quality, and overall performance.
Samsung may have been doing foldable phones for longer, but OnePlus’s first addition to the folding phone industry certainly gives the Z Fold lineup a run for its money with its design, form factor, and performance. In terms of value for money, design, and performance, I would say the verdict is that the OnePlus Open emerges as today’s winner.
