Representing each company’s first foray into foldables, we’re comparing the OnePlus Open vs the Pixel Fold to weigh up which one is better. The launch of the Pixel Fold cemented Google’s place in the folding smartphone market, and was a strong first attempt at creating a foldable that’s both a phone and a tablet. However, the recent release of the OnePlus Open has made a surprisingly good impression, and positions OnePlus as one to watch.
Both foldable smartphones offer cutting-edge technology and impressive features, but which is more worthy of your investment? In this comparison article, we’ll delve into the specifications, design, display, camera, and price to help you make an informed decision between either the OnePlus Open or the Pixel Fold.
OnePlus Open vs Pixel Fold specs
| Specs | OnePlus Open | Google Pixel Fold |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | Unfolded: 153.4 x 143.1 x 5.8 mm Folded: 153.4 x 73.3 x 11.7 mm | Folded: 139.7 x 79.5 x 12.1 mm Unfolded: 139.7 x 158.7 x 5.8 mm |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Google Tensor G2, Titan M2 co-processor |
| Display | Cover: 6.3-inch LTPO3, AMOLED ProXDR, 120Hz, 2800 nits | Cover: 5.8-inch, FHD+, OLED, 120Hz, 1,550 nits |
| RAM | 16GB | 12GB RAM (LPDDR5) |
| Storage | 512GB | 256GB, 512GB (UFS 3.1) |
| Battery | 4,805 mAh | 4,821 mAh |
| Ports | USB-C | USB-C |
| Operating System | Oxygen OS 13.2 based on Android 13 | Android 13, Foldable optimizations |
| Front Camera | Cover display: 32MP, f/2.4 Inner display: 20MP, f/2.2 | Cover Display: 9.5MP, f/2.2, fixed focus Inner display: 8MP, f/2.0, fixed focus |
| Rear Camera | Primary: 48MP, f/1.7, PDAF, OIS Ultrawide: 48MP, f/2.2, 144-degree FoV Telephoto: 64MP, f/2.6, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom | Primary: 48MP, OIS, f/1.7 Ultra-wide: 10.8MP, 121.1-degree FoV, f/2.2 Telephoto: 10.8MP, f/3.05, 5x optical zoom, digital zoom up to 20x |
| Connectivity | 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC | 5G (mmWave and sub-6GHz), Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC |
| Weight | 8.43 oz (239 g) | 283 grams |
| Charge Speed | 67W fast wired | 30W fast wired charging, wireless charging |
OnePlus Open vs Pixel Fold features
Design
When it comes to design, the OnePlus Open and the Google Pixel Fold share a similar basic structure – both devices feature a passport form factor, with a traditional slab phone-like screen on the front that opens up like a book to reveal the inner foldable tablet-like screen. However, there are, of course, some notable differences between the two.
These differences are in both the size and aesthetics of the devices. The cover screen of the Pixel Fold is wider compared to the OnePlus Open, emphasizing outer display usage and an inner display that’s more catered to being landscape. For the OnePlus, its slimmer display compares more directly to the Z Fold 5. In terms of design aesthetic, the Pixel Fold showcases the signature Pixel camera visor on its back, while the OnePlus Open sports a big circular camera module with three sensors, a Hasselblad logo, and a flash in the top-left corner. Though the Open is slightly slimmer when folded, when in the unfolded state the phones have a pretty similar thickness.
OnePlus doesn’t push boundaries when it comes to colorways, and the OnePlus Open comes in the classic glass-backed Emerald Dusk and the leather-cased Voyager Black. For the Pixel Fold, you also get a smart black Obsidian option, or a classy cream Porcelain. When it comes to form factor and durability, the use of Ceramic Guard and an aluminum frame give the Open a premium feel, yet only an IP rating of IPX4 compared to the IPX8 rating of the Pixel Fold. Neither are prepped to be fully waterproof, and the folding nature of these designs means that a bit of extra care has to be taken.
Display
The Pixel Fold features a slightly smaller 5.8-inch OLED cover display with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. This cover screen boasts a high pixel density of 408 PPI and can reach a maximum peak brightness of 1,550 nits. When unfolded, the Pixel Fold reveals a 7.6-inch OLED inner display with HDR10+ playback and the same 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. Although its front display is smaller, its aspect ratio of 17.4:9 still allows for a full app experience.
On the other hand, the OnePlus Open comes with a larger 6.31-inch 2K OLED cover display that also supports a 120Hz refresh rate. The OnePlus Open’s cover display has an even higher pixel density of 431 PPI and a peak brightness of 2,800 nits. Unfolding the OnePlus Open unveils an even bigger 7.82-inch inner foldable display with LTPO3 technology, a 120Hz refresh rate, and the same 2800 nits peak brightness as the outer screen, so it comes on top over Google here.
Camera
The Pixel Fold features a 48MP main camera with optical image stabilization (OIS), a 10.8MP ultra-wide lens with a 121.1-degree field of view, and a 10.8MP telephoto shooter with 5x optical zoom capability. These cameras work together to capture stunning photos with excellent detail and dynamic range.
On the other hand, the OnePlus Open boasts a similar configuration, with a 48MP primary camera featuring OIS, a 48MP ultra-wide camera, and a 64MP telephoto lens with OIS and 6x “lossless zoom.” The partnership with Hasselblad has further enhanced the camera experience on the OnePlus Open, ensuring exceptional image quality and color accuracy. However, Google’s post-processing and camera interface are known to be good, and the Pixel Fold doesn’t disappoint. OnePlus’s collaboration with Hasselblad is impressive, but it hasn’t overtaken Google when it comes to camera performance this time.
OnePlus Open vs Pixel Fold performance
While both the OnePlus Open and Google’s Pixel Fold feature top-of-the-line chipsets, one slight difference is that the Open is powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, while the Pixel Fold has the slightly less powerful, albeit still capable, Google Tensor G2. Despite being the older of the two, updates have further optimized the Tensor G2 to still hold its own against the capabilities of the Snapdragon alternative. Regardless, real-world performance on both devices is still pretty remarkable, and can handle the demanding apps and multitasking users will be expecting from a folding phone.
Battery life is also comparable, though the Pixel Fold may have a small edge with its higher 4355mAh total capacity versus the OnePlus Open’s 4300mAh. However, with restrained use, both phones should comfortably deliver all-day battery runtimes. Not that charging times will be an issue, as Open has impressive fast charging speeds of 67W wired charging. The Pixel’s charging speeds may only reach 30W, but it does have the wireless charging capabilities notably missing from the Open.
OnePlus Open vs Pixel Fold price
The OnePlus Open is available in only one variant with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. It is priced at $1,699 (EUR 1,799) and can be purchased from OnePlus’ official website, Amazon, and Best Buy.
The Pixel Fold comes in two storage variants: 256GB and 512GB. The base model starts at $1,799 in the US, while the 512GB variant sells for $1,919.
Is the OnePlus Open better than the Pixel Fold?
Ultimately, both foldable devices have been designed to impress with their gorgeous flexible displays that transition seamlessly from phone to tablet-sized, powerful performance for multitasking, and battery life to match their versatility. It’s hard to make a verdict, as the Pixel Fold does win on camera performance, but for many, the Snapdragon-powered OnePlus Open may be the more appealing package.
Overall, the first foldable phone from OnePlus offers an attractive price point that still brings many of the impressive capabilities and designs you’d expect from a device that’s matched in cost to the Pixel Fold or the Galaxy Z Fold 5. As the brand makes its way into the smartphone mainstream market, it established itself as not just a rival for folding phones: the OnePlus 12 is a strong competitor for other flagships including the Pixel 8 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 series. If you’re only just looking to get into the foldable market, the OnePlus Open is a serious contender to consider.
