OnePlus Open Vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: Which foldable phone should you buy? 

OnePlus has entered the foldable phone arena with its debut model, the OnePlus Open, aiming to challenge the dominance of Samsung in the foldable market. What's interesting is that both the OnePlus Open and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 share a similar book-style foldable design. They stand out with exceptionally bright displays, but there are some key differences. The OnePlus Open features a slightly wider cover screen and a notably slimmer form factor. I have had the opportunity to get my hands on both phones, and I'd like to share my thoughts on how the OnePlus Open compares to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5.

OnePlus Open vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: Display

In my hands-on experience with the OnePlus Open, I was immediately struck by its impressive display. The external or "cover" screen measures 6.3 inches and boasts a super-smooth 120Hz refresh rate. What's more, it can reach a peak brightness of 2800 nits, making it incredibly easy to read and use even in direct sunlight. OnePlus seems to have gone the extra mile in ensuring that the cover screen is not just an afterthought but a fully functional display, which is a refreshing change from what we've seen with other foldable phones.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, on the other hand, offers a similar-sized cover screen at 6.2 inches, and it shares a resolution of 2316x904 pixels with the OnePlus Open. When it comes to the crease issue, both phones have made improvements. The OnePlus Open's crease is practically invisible, even when you run your fingers up and down the center of the screen. In my experience, this is one of the best implementations of a foldable display crease I've seen. It's subtle and doesn't disrupt daily usage.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5's crease is also less noticeable during regular use, especially when watching videos or playing games. However, when the phone is placed entirely flat, you might spot it, but it's not a significant concern.

While both phones offer impressive displays with unique features, the OnePlus Open stands out with its cover screen's exceptional peak brightness and almost invisible crease. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, on the other hand, excels with its large and immersive main display, making it a top choice for multimedia enthusiasts.

OnePlus Open vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5:Performance

In terms of performance, both the OnePlus Open and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 are equipped with powerful hardware.
The OnePlus Open is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, coupled with a substantial 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. This hardware combination ensures smooth and lag-free performance for various tasks. I didn't encounter any hiccups or lags, whether I was switching between apps, gaming, or multitasking. It also handled gaming exceptionally well, staying cool without overheating during extended gaming sessions. However, like many smartphones, it did get slightly warm when using the camera app extensively, which is a common issue.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is no slouch in the performance department either. It runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, paired with up to 12GB of RAM. During testing, it handled everyday tasks and multitasking with ease, thanks to Samsung's smart design that allows you to treat each screen independently. App continuity between the cover screen and the main screen is a standout feature, providing a seamless transition for specific apps. Benchmark scores for the Galaxy Z Fold 5 indicate strong single-core and multi-core performance, which translates into a smooth and responsive user experience.

While both phones offer top-tier performance, the OnePlus Open boasts a higher RAM capacity, which could benefit users who demand more multitasking capabilities. The Galaxy Z Fold 5, on the other hand, excels in handling multiple apps simultaneously, thanks to its optimized software and smart design for app continuity.

OnePlus Open vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: Camera

Moving on to the camera performance, the OnePlus Open and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 come equipped with versatile camera setups.
The OnePlus Open features a comprehensive camera system, including a 48-megapixel main camera, a 64-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, a 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and both 32-megapixel and 20-megapixel selfie cameras. The inclusion of Hasselblad tuning and color science enhances the camera's capabilities, particularly in broad daylight. Photos captured with the main camera exhibit vibrant colors and impressive detail. The 64-megapixel telephoto lens excels in capturing details, but it requires subjects to remain still. The wide-angle camera impresses with true-to-life colors and sharpness. The camera system performs well in low light, delivering bright and detailed photos. Selfies from the 32-megapixel camera are warm and detailed, while the under-display camera handles the front display's selfies, though it may lack some sharpness.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 maintains the camera specifications of its predecessor, the Fold 4. It features a 50-megapixel main camera with OIS, a 10-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x zoom and OIS, and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera at the rear. The cover screen hosts a 10-megapixel selfie camera, while there's a 4-megapixel under-display camera behind the main screen. The camera performance in daylight is impressive, with vibrant but slightly oversaturated colors. The 3x zoom captures sharp details, although stability is crucial. Low-light photography is decent, with bright and detailed results in dark conditions. The 10-megapixel selfie camera provides warm and detailed selfies, while the under-display camera could be improved.

Now the burning question– Which foldable should you buy?

Both the OnePlus Open and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 offer capable camera systems with their own strengths and weaknesses. The OnePlus Open provides a versatile camera setup with Hasselblad enhancements, making it a solid choice for photography enthusiasts. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 offers a reliable camera system with decent low-light performance and a unique under-display camera, but it may benefit from improvements in sharpness and color accuracy.

In conclusion, the OnePlus Open and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 are both strong contenders in the foldable smartphone market, each offering distinct advantages. The OnePlus Open excels in display quality with its remarkable peak brightness and nearly invisible crease, making it ideal for outdoor usage. Its performance is commendable, with a high RAM capacity and efficient multitasking capabilities. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 shines with its large and immersive main display, excellent app optimization, and strong camera performance in daylight. Its design improvements, such as the lighter build and seamless folding, enhance its everyday usability.

Ultimately, the choice between these two foldable smartphones will depend on your priorities. If display quality and performance are your top considerations, the OnePlus Open might be the better choice. However, if you value a large and versatile display, along with strong overall performance and an improved design, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a compelling option. Both phones demonstrate the continued evolution and innovation in the foldable smartphone market, offering unique features and capabilities to suit different user preferences.