With OnePlus’ first foldable phone expected to be launched in the market, Samsung India will soon have a real competitor in the foldable phone segment. The new foldable device is expected to come with flagship specifications, which would put it on par with the only two domestic vendors to launch premium horizontal foldable devices – Samsung and Tecno. We recently saw actress Anushka Sharma using what appears to be a OnePlus Open, following several leaked renders. With the expected global launch date set for October 19, OnePlus has decided to go ahead with a big reveal to show off the design of its first foldable phone.
YouTuber Lewis Hilsenteger revealed the upcoming foldable device, and the host also interviewed OnePlus co-founder and CEO Pete Lau while revealing the device. OnePlus CEO video It also explains how the OnePlus Open basically combines the best technological strengths of OnePlus and Oppo into one device.
The focus of the video is obviously the phone’s new design language, which looks significantly different from any recent OnePlus smartphone. The metal frame has flat sides, and the overall shape is quite different from the Oppo Find N2’s passport-sized wider inner and outer displays. At the same time, its appearance does not appear similar to Samsung’s slim remote control design, which makes the use of external monitors a bit cramped. On the front, the display glass extends to the edge of the slender metal frame, which together with the flat front and rear panels gives it a very modern look.
Lau claimed that the company holds around 600 patents related to foldable technology and explained how it achieved the gapless design that first debuted on the Oppo Find N. As demonstrated in the video, the hinge is strong enough to even hang a piece of paper placed between the foldable halves.
Liu also claimed in the video that OnePlus holds 35 patents for new hinge designs. This new hinge is an improvement over the Oppo Find N2 as it has fewer components, making it not only lighter but also more compact and durable. The hinge is 37% smaller than the one on the upcoming Oppo Find N2 model.
In addition to the hinge, OnePlus also made room for its unique alert slider, which it has been using on its high-end devices for years. However, its presence also implies a lack of IP rating, and its highest-end smartphone offering, the OnePlus 11 5G, doesn’t have an IP rating either.
Beyond design, Liu also talked about adapting apps to the foldable display inside, something only Samsung has done well with the Galaxy Z series’ horizontal foldable displays so far. The CEO claimed that the company has worked with Google to ensure that apps work well when used on both displays.
Another detail revealed by Liu in the video is that OnePlus will ensure different product strategies for different regions. Doing so will allow the company to ensure the product gets maximum coverage.
One detail to remember is that the equipment in the film is an early sample. So, things are expected to change when the final production units are ready for release. Another detail to keep in mind is that the phone is not turned on during the entire video session, which may be a sign that the software isn’t ready yet. According to the latest news, the device will be officially launched on October 19, 2023. The device is expected to be priced lower than Samsung’s high-end foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 5, which you can read our review here.
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