OnePlus Open or Galaxy Z Fold 5, which foldable smartphone should you go for?

OnePlus has officially introduced its debut foldable phone in India on October 19 with sales starting October 27. The device shares similarities with Oppo's recently revealed Find N3, which is also available in China. Here is how the latest foldable device compares with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. 

Pricing 

The Oneplus Open has been launched at a starting price of Rs 1,39,999, while the Galaxy Z Fold 5 starts from Rs 1,54,999, as per the company websites. 

Design 

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 has a sleek and minimalist appearance with a triple-camera setup. When closed, the device has a slim profile, akin to holding a TV remote.

On the other hand, the OnePlus Open has a large disc-shaped camera module on the back. OnePlus has also experimented with different materials, including a leather back for the black variant.

In terms of weight and thickness, both devices are relatively similar, with the OnePlus Open being slightly lighter. Weighing 239 grams, it is a bit lighter than the Galaxy Z Fold 5, which weighs 253 grams. OnePlus has emphasized this weight difference, comparing it favourably to the iPhone 14 Pro Max. The OnePlus Open is also thinner at 5.8mm, compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 5's 6.1mm, although this difference may not be very noticeable.

Display 

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 has faced criticism for its narrow 6.2-inch cover display. In contrast, the OnePlus Open features a more traditional 20:9 aspect ratio with a 6.31-inch cover display that resembles a regular smartphone when folded.

Samsung's choice of a narrow cover display might be related to how the phone unfolds. It allows the Galaxy Z Fold 5 to open into a more manageable 7.6-inch display on the inside, accommodating various aspect ratios for different activities, such as watching movies or YouTube videos. The OnePlus Open has a more square-shaped 7.82-inch display, resulting in larger black bars when viewing videos.

The preference for either display depends on the intended use. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 encourages the use of the inner display for media consumption or gaming, while the OnePlus Open's cover display is versatile for a range of tasks.

The OnePlus Open's display specifications surpass those of the Galaxy Z Fold 5. It offers a brighter screen, supports adaptive refresh rates with LTPO technology, and features a nearly invisible crease.

Camera 

OnePlus claims that the Open boasts "3 main cameras" with high megapixel counts. Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 5, however, features camera specs closer to the Galaxy S23+, with the most advanced camera hardware reserved for the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Both devices feature the high-performance Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, ensuring fast performance. However, the OnePlus Open outperforms the Galaxy Z Fold 5 in terms of battery life, with a larger battery and faster charging speeds.