I used the OnePlus Open for a whole year – why it’s still the foldable phone to beat in 2025

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The OnePlus Open is available for $1,300
• OnePlus also offers various trade-in deals on a range of existing phones, saving up to $900
• This foldable phone has a vibrant large main display, customizable ringer switch, ample RAM and storage, and three powerful rear cameras
• While the hardware supports a stylus, OnePlus doesn’t provide access to one; it only supports an IPX4 water-resistant rating; and there is no wireless charging capability.

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In 2019, after driving eight hours to buy the first Samsung Galaxy Fold, I was immediately hooked on foldables. A phone that turned into a mini tablet proved perfect for my train commute and business travel. After buying a few other Samsung Folds over the years, I decided in October 2023 to try out the OnePlus Open.  Since then — for 16 months — I’ve not found a single reason to switch from this lovely foldable engineering marvel.

Also: Best Android phones 2025: Expert tested (including foldables)

Because I’d experienced a display failure with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 — and because this was OnePlus’ first foray into foldables — I decided to purchase a one-year accident protection plan for the Open. I’m happy to report that the $199 was a waste of money as the Open has performed flawlessly and remains in nearly mint condition. OnePlus hit it out of the ballpark with the Open; in addition to its hardware durability, the device runs Android 15 flawlessly.

I should start by highlighting the OnePlus Open feature I use the most: Open Canvas. As much as Samsung has spent marketing its various multitasking features on the Z Fold, Open Canvas has served me well for nearly a year and a half. I love simply dragging up an app icon to open it side-by-side or single-tapping on an app pair to launch two apps at once in seconds. With Samsung, I often have to perform too many steps to get multiple apps to display properly.

A major difference between the OnePlus Open and the Samsung Fold is the Open’s lack of obvious stylus support. Although the OnePlus Open does support the Oppo Find N2 stylus (on the cover and main displays), there’s no easy way to purchase this in the US; my stylus order ended up being canceled and refunded after I’d waited several months for delivery.

I’m not convinced I’d use the stylus that much on the Open, but it would be great for OnePlus to offer it in the US, given that its hardware and software support stylus input.

The crease on the Open’s main display is nearly non-existent (something that Samsung still has not resolved), and the anti-reflective layer makes the big display a complete joy to use daily while commuting on the train and working in the office.

Typically, I use the phone with the fold closed while walking around and performing basic communications. I open it up while on the train and in meetings at the office. The wide-cover display mimics standard smartphones, so there is no compromise on use. However, the quick transition into a mini-tablet is the key to improved productivity.

Also: The best foldable phones you can buy: Expert tested

Samsung established the standard when it comes to foldables and using several apps at once, but OnePlus has perfected it with the Open. I thoroughly enjoy using apps like Outlook, Telegram, Messages, and Weather that show the list of items on the left and then the details of those messages on the right. Gmail requires that I rotate the OnePlus Open to enjoy this display orientation, so there are a few outliers, but overall, it’s a fantastic experience.

The OnePlus 13 is available now, and rumors suggest a OnePlus Open 2 is coming this spring. The new model could use titanium materials with a thinner form factor, add wireless charging, incorporate Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, and possibly offer larger battery capacity. 

Also: I replaced my Google Pixel 9 Pro with the OnePlus 13 – and it set a new standard for me

Given that OnePlus includes IP68 and IP69 in the OnePlus 13 and focuses heavily on that phone’s durability, we may see increased durability in the Open 2. I’ll keep an eye on trade-in offers, but there is currently no compelling reason for me to upgrade, and the OnePlus Open is one of the few phones that has kept me satisfied for more than a year.

ZDNET’s buying advice

The OnePlus Open, available now for $1,300, is arguably the best foldable phone available today, even 16 months after its release. More than three years of security updates and two more major Android updates (Android 16 and 17) remain, which should be enough for most users — but doesn’t set the industry standard by any means.

The multitasking experience is fantastic, the cameras perform well, and the battery lasts at least a full day. Keep an eye out: When the next model is released, you may find even better deals on the original OnePlus Open.

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