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The Best OnePlus Phones In 2024: These Are The Ones To Buy
Though it seems like the Android smartphone market is dominated by Samsung and Google, OnePlus is a very strong competitor that you should not ignore. Since the company launched the OnePlus One in 2014, OnePlus has remained a strong brand name for Android phones.
With OnePlus devices, you usually get blazing fast performance, super fast charging over the competition, long lasting and reliable battery life, and — best of all — designs that are unique and stand out from the crowd. With all of these factors combined, it's no wonder that OnePlus is one of the best Android phone makers around.
But which OnePlus phone should you choose? Here are the best OnePlus phones to buy in 2024.
Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends OnePlus 12 The best OnePlus phone overall Pros
Cons
Why you should buy this: Dollar for dollar and spec for spec, the OnePlus 12 is the best OnePlus phone you can buy.
Who it's for: Someone who wants the very best of what OnePlus has to offer in 2024.
Why we picked the OnePlus 12:
The OnePlus 12 has the latest and greatest that OnePlus has to offer, and its price puts it at a much better value than other competing flagship devices.
Though the OnePlus 12 largely has the same overall design as its predecessor, the color options this year are absolutely gorgeous, especially the Flowy Emerald color. It's a color that will easily stand out, and it's just beautiful — especially the silver shimmer throughout the back glass. The camera module is also color-matched to the rest of the body, and it also has that shimmer effect. If green isn't your color, there is also a Silky Black option.
The 6.8-inch LTPO AMOLED curved display looks incredibly good. It has 1440 x 3168-pixel resolution at a density of 510 pixels per inch, so everything looks incredibly sharp and crisp. Colors are also bright and vibrant with deep, rich blacks. The refresh rate caps out at 120Hz for smooth scrolling, and there is support for Dolby Vision and HDR10+. Plus, the peak brightness can reach an insane eye-popping 4,500 nits, so you should never have trouble using the device, even in bright sunlight.
On the inside, the OnePlus 12 packs Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, and depending on the model you get, it has 12GB or 16GB of RAM. Storage capacities range from 256GB all the way to 512GB. What does all of this mean? Blazing fast performance that will never skip a beat. With Android 14 and OxygenOS 14, navigating through the phone is pretty easy and straightforward, and OnePlus' multitasking is unmatched.
Like previous flagships from OnePlus, the OnePlus 12 has Hasselblad-tuned cameras. The triple-lens camera system includes a 50MP main camera, a 64MP periscope telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, and a 48MP ultrawide camera. The selfie camera is an impressive 32MP lens. With Hasselblad, the colors are tweaked to be realistic with more accurate white balance and exposure levels. And with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, capturing images is fast and happens immediately once you press that shutter button.
The most impressive part about the OnePlus 12 is the battery. It has a 5,400mAh battery inside, which means about two days of battery life on a single charge. It also has 80W wired fast charging in the U.S. And even 50W wireless charging. That's faster than all the current competition.
The OnePlus 12 starts at $800 and has a lot of bang for your buck. It's one of the best Android phones overall for 2024, and definitely one of the best OnePlus phones that has come out in recent years.
OnePlus 12
The best OnePlus phone overall
Pros
Cons
Why you should buy this: It offers the makings of an expensive flagship Android phone from 2023, but for half the price.
Who it's for: Anyone who wants a powerful and capable smartphone at a mid-level price.
Why we picked the OnePlus 12R:
The OnePlus 12R closely resembles the OnePlus 11 from 2023. In fact, it has all the makings of a flagship phone from 2023 but for half the cost.
On the surface, the OnePlus 12R looks like the OnePlus 11, but there are a few minor tweaks. It's slightly thicker and heavier than that phone, and the alert slider is on the left instead of the right. The camera circle has a notched design along the edge, and there's a subtle pattern underneath the glass. But otherwise, it has the same curved display and flat aluminum frame at the top and bottom.
You get a gorgeous 6.78-inch AMOLED display with 2780 x 1264-pixel resolution and 450 pixels per inch density. The refresh rate goes from 1Hz to 120Hz, and you get insanely bright 4,500 nits of peak brightness, making this useful in every scenario. The display looks great; the colors are bright and vivid, everything looks sharp and crisp, and the scrolling is smooth. You'd expect all this from a phone that costs at least $1,000, not $500.
The OnePlus 12R has Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, so it's not packed with the latest silicon, but it has the power of flagships from last year, which is still pretty damn good. There are two models for the OnePlus 12R, so you can get either 8GB RAM or 16GB. Either way, they're both pretty fast, and with OnePlus' new cooling system, the phone won't overheat.
Of course, the OnePlus 12R does have to make some compromises, and that's with the camera system. It has a 50MP main camera, with an 8MP ultrawide camera and a 2MP macro camera. The front has a 16MP selfie camera. Unfortunately, there is no Hasselblad processing on this one. You can get pretty good photos in the right lighting conditions, but sometimes, you can get blurry photos or colors that don't look quite right. It's definitely a bit hit or miss here.
OnePlus put in a massive 5,500mAh battery in the OnePlus 12R, and it can get around two days on a single charge. And like the OnePlus 12, you get 80W fast wired charging in the U.S. Unlike the OnePlus 12, though, you do not get wireless charging.
Again, this is a fantastic phone with all the makings of a 2023 flagship for half the price. You're getting a lot of power and performance for just $500. It's just a tremendous value all around.
OnePlus 12R
The best value OnePlus phone
Pros
Cons
Why you should buy this: The OnePlus Open is one of the best foldables on the market, hands down. It even costs less than the competition.
Who it's for: Anyone who wants a phone that can fold out into a mini-tablet for extra productivity.
Why we picked the OnePlus Open:
The OnePlus Open is simply one of the best OnePlus phones you can get, and it's also one of the best folding phones out there.
For one, the OnePlus Open has an elegant and unique design thanks to the signature Hasselblad circular camera module. When closed, the Open is about the same as a regular smartphone, and OnePlus used proprietary cobalt molybdenum alloy and titanium alloy, making it one of the most lightweight foldables out there. It also has no gap when closed, and it is easy to open up completely flat. Just be warned — the hinge isn't as firm as other foldables, so using it in a clamshell mode may be annoying.
The cover display is 6.3 inches, which is a fairly normal size that is pretty manageable to use one-handed. The cover screen is a Super Fluid AMOLED with LTPO 3.0 and a 2484 x 111 resolution at 431 pixels per inch. The refresh rate goes from 10Hz to 120Hz with 1,400 nits HDR brightness or 2,800 nits peak brightness. The inner display is 7.82 inches and features a Flexi-fluid AMOLED panel with LTPO 3.0 technology and a 2440 x 2268 resolution at 426 pixels per inch. Here, the dynamic refresh rate is 1Hz to 120Hz and has the same brightness levels.
But the best part about the OnePlus Open inner display is that it has an anti-reflective coating, making it much more usable outdoors. It minimizes reflections and glare, which can be a problem on other foldables.
OnePlus Open uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and has 16GB RAM with 512GB storage. It ships with Android 13 and OxygenOS 13.2. The main feature of OxygenOS 13.2 is Open Canvas, which is a brand new way of multitasking on the OnePlus Open. Basically, you can do multi-window operations or use split-screen mode, and it's not restricted to the physical size of the screen. Instead, you get a virtual canvas and can stretch and resize the active windows as you see fit, with secondary windows sliding in and out of the canvas when you need them to. It's like having unlimited space, rather than being limited to the physical size of your screen. This takes multitasking to an entirely new level.
On top of everything, the OnePlus Open cameras are pretty impressive. You have a 48MP main lens, a 48MP ultrawide camera, and a 64MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, 6x in-sensor zoom, and up to 120x Ultra Res zoom. The cover selfie camera is 32MP, while the inner display is 20MP. You can also use the rear cameras to take selfies.
The 4,805mAh battery of the OnePlus Open should last over a day with moderate to heavy use. It also supports 67W fast charging. Unfortunately, it does not have wireless charging, which is surprising given the price.
Whether you're a folding phone veteran or someone who just wants to try out a foldable, the OnePlus Open is one of the best you can get.
OnePlus Open
The best folding OnePlus phone
Pros
Cons
Why you should buy this: It's the best OnePlus phone for under $300.
Who it's for: Anyone who loves OnePlus' phones but doesn't want to spend a lot of money.
Why we picked the OnePlus Nord N30 5G:
While it has some drawbacks, there's a lot to love about the OnePlus Nord N30 5G, and that makes it a fantastic phone to grab for under $300 if you love OnePlus.
We'll start with the design. While it's on the more boring side where smartphones are concerned, OnePlus has made this rather large phone quite manageable. It's not slippery, the edges offer good grip, and it's well weighted for single-hand use. That's a real achievement when you consider the screen is a rather large 6.72 inches. It also has dual stereo speakers for surprisingly great sound, and it even has a headphone jack and a microSD card slot.
The display isn't just big — it's good too. It has a 120Hz refresh rate, an extremely welcome and surprising addition, and even though it's an LCD panel, it's clear and colorful and looks great. You won't be able to take advantage of all those frames in gaming, but it's no slouch either. The Snapdragon 695 is a solid chip, and while it won't make your phone a gaming monster, it's still able to handle most of the latest games without too many issues or hitches.
The 5,000mAh battery is something of a monster. Expect it to last over a day on a single charge, and when it comes time to charge, the 50W superfast charging will mean you're not having to stay tethered for very long. There's no wireless charging, but that's forgivable on a $300 phone, and especially on one that offers this much.
It's not perfect, though. The camera is easily the worst part of this phone, and it risks seriously dragging the phone down. The camera is so poor that it's actually a reason not to buy this phone. The main 108MP lens sounds good on paper, but it underperforms in real life. Pictures in good lighting are flat and lacking in character, and once lighting becomes more challenging, you'll get a lot of noisy and smudged photos. The two 2MP depth and macro lenses are acceptable, but they don't save this phone's camera from being a real letdown.
This is very much the best cheap OnePlus phone you can buy, even with the weaker camera. If a good camera isn't a big factor for you, then consider those caveats pushed aside. With good performance, a strong battery, and a 120Hz display, the OnePlus Nord N30 5G is a fantastic purchase.
OnePlus Nord N30 5G
The best cheap OnePlus phone
Editors' RecommendationsThe Best Folding Phones In 2024: The 6 Best You Can Buy
Folding smartphones have taken the world by storm. Initially, they appeared futuristic and exciting. With time, they have been refined and improved to cater to everyday use. Their prices are gradually decreasing as the technology advances, but they still remain expensive purchases, making it crucial to make the right buying decision.
Currently, there are two types of folding smartphones available in the market. The first type resembles a regular non-folding phone, which can be unfolded into a larger tablet-like device. The second type is similar to the classic Motorola Razr clamshell phones, where a normal-sized phone can be folded in half to become more compact and pocketable. Although both use the same screen and hinge technology, they cater to different needs.
In the future, other styles will likely arrive, but for now you must choose which of these two designs best suits your lifestyle. Whichever you choose, those first few weeks and months with your new folding smartphone are exciting, fun, and genuinely transformative. Now, let's get you to that stage with our list of the best folding phones you can buy in 2024.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 The best folding phone Pros
Cons
Why you should buy this: It's big and powerful, and has some slight improvements that really elevate its performance.
Who's it for: Anyone who wants a tablet and smartphone in their pocket.
Why we picked the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5:
Samsung has been in the foldable game longer than almost everyone else, and it's easily made the most folding devices so far, with each iteration adding something new. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 isn't the biggest leap in foldable tech, but it does introduce some major changes that make it even better than ever before.
The design isn't a huge change from the Galaxy Z Fold 4, with the displays and specs being largely the same, But there are some key differences: the Z Fold 5 is significantly lighter and thinner than its predecessor, and Samsung has finally created a hinge design that folds completely flat. Yes, there's no more gap between the displays at the hinge, and that makes the phone's design so much more polished and finished. The thinner and lighter design also makes the phone much less unwieldy, which is a big bonus when handling a phone this expensive. There's a 6.2-inch display on the cover, and a huge 7.6-inch display on the inside, both with Samsung's Dynamic AMOLED 2X tech and 120Hz refresh rates.
Flagship smartphones have long since reached the point where processors are simply stupendously powerful and capable of running almost everything, but that hasn't stopped Samsung from shoving a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy in this phone. In fairness, upgrades make more sense in the Z Fold 5, which is capable of running multiple apps at once, and needs a lot of grunt to display everything on the big inner screen. It's a powerhouse, whether you use it for work or play. It starts at 256GB of storage, and goes all the way up to 1TB if you really need the space.
The camera isn't quite a match for the one on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, but it's still more than acceptable. It has a 50-megapixel main camera, a 12MP wide-angle camera, and a 10MP telephoto with a 3x optical zoom, the same as the Z Fold 4. It's a good set of cameras, and while it suffers from Samsung's usual oversaturation, it's unlikely to let you down. There's a 10MP selfie camera on the front cover, and a 4MP Under Display Camera (UDC) is still experimental tech, but it's acceptable for video calls, even if it's not the best selfie snapper. Our Galaxy Z Fold 5 versus Fold 4 camera comparison goes into a lot more detail on the Fold 5's imaging capabilities.
The 4,400mAh battery will give you a full day and some change on a single charge, and the 25-watt fast charging is good, even if you won't get that speed with the charger in the box. The phone is fully compatible with the S Pen stylus (though it doesn't come with one), making it a good choice for sketching when combined with the larger inner screen.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
The best folding phone
Pros
Cons
Why you should buy this: For a company just getting into the folding device business, OnePlus has hit a home run. The OnePlus is innovative and fun to use.
Who's it for: Anyone who wants a unique phone experience.
Why we picked the OnePlus Open:
The OnePlus Open is a remarkable device that has managed to capture the attention of many people. It is the company's first-ever foldable device and it has been built with meticulous attention to detail. The use of titanium and other materials has made it lightweight and compact when folded, making it a great choice for those who are looking for a more portable and user-friendly device.
One of the standout features of the OnePlus Open is its high-quality cover and inner display. The cover display is about the size of a typical smartphone, making it very easy to use. The anti-reflective layer on the inner display is a great addition, making it more comfortable to use than other foldable devices like the Google Pixel Fold, which has a highly reflective inner display. The overall design of the OnePlus Open is quite attractive too, and it has been well-received by those who value aesthetics and design.
In terms of performance, the OnePlus Open is a top-notch device that is capable of handling even the most demanding tasks with ease — thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. It comes equipped with the latest hardware and software, and the user interface is intuitive and easy to navigate. The battery life is also impressive, lasting for hours on a single charge. And when you need to recharge, the 67W wired charging is among the fastest you'll find on a folding phone today, even if it's not close to the 80W charging from the OnePlus 12.
Overall, the OnePlus Open is a great choice for those who are looking for a high-quality, well-built, and user-friendly foldable device. Its lightweight and compact design, combined with its high-quality display and impressive performance, make it a great investment for anyone who values quality and innovation.
OnePlus Open
The best folding phone runner-up
Pros
Cons
Why you should buy this: Not everyone wants everything you could possibly get on a foldable phone. If you're one of these people, this is the one for you.
Who's it for: Anyone who wants a no-hassle foldable smartphone experience.
Why we picked the Motorola Razr (2023):
The latest Motorola Razr has turned heads with its unique and compact flip design and minimalistic features. The phone's simple yet reliable design has helped Motorola keep the price low and make it perfect for everyday use. You don't have to worry about learning how to use numerous features that you may never need. It's a folding flip phone that runs Android, and it's a lovely one at that. The vegan leather back is a great touch, the hinge feels reliable, and Motorola's Moo character is a pure joy.
There are a couple of downsides to the phone as well. The cover screen does not have an always-on option, which can be a little inconvenient for some users. Additionally, the wireless charging feature is not very efficient, and the phone's processor may struggle when overloaded.
Despite these minor drawbacks, the Motorola Razr is an excellent purchase for anyone looking for a budget folding phone or for a fantastic buy. It's currently one of the cheapest ways to get into foldable smartphones, which makes it an excellent option for those who want to experience this new technology without breaking the bank. So, if you're looking for a sleek and unique smartphone that's easy to use and affordable, the Motorola Razr could be the perfect choice for you.
Motorola Razr (2023)
The best cheap folding phone
Pros
Cons
Why you should buy this: It's a powerful folding phone with a clean stock Android experience and multitasking capabilities. It's also noted for having a short and wide cover screen, which some might be seeking.
Who's it for: Anyone who wants a foldable phone with a normal-feeling cover display.
Why we picked the Google Pixel Fold:
Google entered the foldable smartphone market with a strong contender in the form of the Pixel Fold. If you don't appreciate the Z Fold 5's narrow cover display or prefer a cleaner, more stock Android experience, then the Pixel Fold could be a good option for you. It boasts a short and wide cover screen, which sets it apart from similar handsets on the market.
The Pixel Fold's 5.8-inch OLED cover display looks stunning and is similar to most smartphones, so it's comfortable to use and type on. Due to its size, it is also easy to use one-handed, and there is no gap when the device is closed, as seen on the Z Fold 5. On the inside, the device features a 7.6-inch inner OLED display that is positioned in landscape orientation by default, but can be rotated to portrait orientation. Both screens have a 120Hz refresh rate and are sufficiently bright for outdoor use. However, the inner display can be quite reflective due to the built-in plastic screen protector.
Like the Pixel 8 Pro, the Pixel Fold is
The Pixel Fold comes with a 4,821mAh battery that lasts for about a full day with moderate to heavy use. Charging speeds can reach up to 30W, but Google does not provide a power adapter, so you will need to use your own. While wireless charging is supported, its max speeds of 7.5W are a little underwhelming, and there is no reverse wireless charging feature.
Google Pixel Fold
The best compact folding phone
Pros
Cons
Why you should buy this: Samsung's best flip phone just got even better.
Who's it for: People who miss the clamshell fold, but don't want to sacrifice the "smart" part of their phones.
Why we picked the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5:
I's not perfect, but it's a lot closer to perfect than Samsung has managed before. Samsung has taken everything we loved about the Motorola Razr Plus and added it to the already excellent Z Flip 4, making the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 a truly excellent flip/foldable smartphone.
As with the Z Fold 5, Samsung has eradicated the gap where the displays meet at the hinge, so the Z Flip 5 now sits completely flat when folded shut. This also means the phone is slightly thinner than before, which helps it to sit better in pockets. There's also a stronger sense of quality in the Z Flip 5, with parts just feeling more solid than before, and even more so than the Motorola Razr Plus.
The other big change is the new cover screen. The Z Flip 5's cover screen stretches to 3.4-inches (up from 1.9-inches), and can do much more than before with a big selection of useful widgets. Apps are a bit more of a challenge though, and it's here you'll find one of the Z Flip 5's few problems. Getting most apps to run involves some workarounds using apps from the Galaxy Store, which is never really explained on the device, so it's a bit fiddly. However, it's still a big improvement from the Z Flip 4's small display.
The cameras are largely unchanged from the Z Flip 4, and that's not a bad thing. The image signal processor has been upgraded for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and there's a new clear lens coating, but otherwise, it's as good as the camera on its predecessor. Yes, some images are oversaturated and not true to life, but it's also a lot more reliable than the Motorola Razr Plus.
The battery life isn't hugely positive. Like 2022's model, the Z Flip 5 is a one day-only affair, and heavy users may find themselves needing to top up before the day is over. It recharges at 25W, though, so it won't spend too long on the charger for top-ups, though you don't get a 25W charger in the box.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
The best folding flip phone
Pros
Cons
Why you should buy this: Motorola's Razr Plus is one of the few competitors for Samsung in the flip smartphone market, and it's a great phone in its own right.
Who's it for: Anyone who wants a powerful phone in a compact and small package that's also fun to use.
Why we picked the Motorola Razr Plus:
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 may have taken its throne, but the Motorola Razr Plus was definitely one of the best compact flip phones we used in 2023. It has a solid hinge, though it's not as stiff as that of the Z Flip 5, so you can't keep it propped up at any angle like the competition, but it's still easy to open and it can still hold the phone upright when you need it to. The Viva Magenta color is bright and eye-catching, and also has a unique leather back that adds grip. The other two colors, Infinite Black and Glacier Blue, look nice as well, but don't come with the leather backing. Instead, those two have frosted glass. The Motorola Razr Plus also has impressive IP52 dust and water resistance.
The screens on the Razr Plus are impressive. The exterior has a 3.6-inch pOLED display that is HDR10+ certified. It has a 1066 x 1056 resolution at 413 pixels per inch (ppi) and a 144Hz refresh rate. Plus, it can do so much more than just show you notifications and simple widgets. You can access Quick Settings and have a cover display "home screen" with panels. But the best feature is that you can run any Android app on the cover screen. Sure, it may not be the most optimized way to use some apps, but being able to access them on a 3.6-inch display without having to open up the phone is a feat in itself and makes the cover screen vastly more usable.
When you open up the Razr Plus, you get a 6.9-inch pOLED display with a 2640 x 1080 resolution, 1,400 nits of peak brightness, HDR10+ support, and a 165Hz refresh rate. In other words, it's lovely. Colors are bright and vivid, text is crisp and sharp, and it's bright enough to use outdoors in direct sunlight without issue. And if you're worried about the crease, don't be! It's very minimal compared to other foldables on the market, including the Z Flip 5.
The cameras aren't super great, as you only get a 12MP main camera, a 13MP ultrawide camera, and a 32MP selfie camera. Pictures will come out fine for the most part, but the colors may be slightly off from what you see in reality, and the phone may not capture motion shots very well.
On the inside, the Razr Plus has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, which packs in plenty of power despite coming out in 2022. It also has 8GB of RAM, so the Razr Plus should handle pretty much any task with ease. But be warned — it does tend to get warm after prolonged use.
The 3,800mAh battery lasts around one full day. It reaches charging speeds of up to 30W through wired charging and 5W wireless charging. There is no reverse wireless charging, however.
Motorola Razr Plus
The best folding flip phone runner-up
Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat makes a foldable phone different from a normal phone?
A foldable smartphone does everything a normal smartphone does, including taking calls, snapping pictures, playing games, all the usual stuff. But what it does have is versatility, as foldable smartphone displays are a lot more versatile than non-folding phones.
If you choose a large folding smartphone like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, the open screen's large size makes it great for watching videos, playing games, reading, and multitasking — just like on a tablet. Once you're done, you can close the phone so it's a "normal" size and easier to carry around than a tablet, yet still usable like a non-folding phone.
Models like the Galaxy Z Flip 5 are also versatile, just in a different way. Open, the screen is the same size as a large non-folding smartphone, but you can fold the phone in half when it's not in use. It's the perfect phone for anyone who values convenience but doesn't want to sacrifice a useful, modern, big screen in their quest for a more pocketable device. Non-folding smartphones can't match this level of versatility.
It's surprisingly difficult to imagine how transformative owning a folding smartphone can be, so we really recommend trying one out in a shop before buying. Often, just the action of folding and unfolding the phone is often enough to fire your imagination, and you'll start to understand how helpful this new wave of smartphones can be. Not everyone will benefit from the technology, but don't dismiss them until you've held one in your hands.
Who should buy a foldable phone?
Anyone with a strong interest in mobile technology will appreciate owning a folding smartphone, as it really does feel completely different from a non-folding phone. If you're always keen to try out the latest tech, then you should consider making a foldable your next phone.
If you use your phone for a lot of reading, watching videos, emails, and endless messaging, a big-screen foldable is likely to save you time and increase your enjoyment. Think of it as a phone and a tablet, all in one. Rather than swapping to a tablet at the end of the day for the ease of the big screen, you can just open up your phone for a similar experience.
Smaller flip phones like the Z Flip 5 aren't useful in the exact same way, of course, as they unfold into a more regular phone display size. But these are more aimed at those who want a smaller, more conveniently sized phone. While a flip phone is going to be thicker than a regular phone, when folded it's much shorter, making it easy to keep in a bag or pocket. If your current phone often gets in the way or frustrates due to its size, then a small foldable may be what you need.
Which type of foldable phone should I pick?
When deciding which foldable phone you want, first decide what functions are most important to you. Are you looking for productivity? Or are you looking for the most convenient small device that fits in your pants pocket? Sometimes it's not an either/or question. If you want to use your mobile device for reading, either size makes for a great reader, but for larger-format documents, a fold-out phone makes more sense. While it may seem like a larger screen is best for video watching, a clamshell is both lighter and more widescreen compatible. Depending on your favorite games, you may pick the size based on your gameplay preferences.
What can you expect to pay for a foldable phone?
Folding smartphones used to be exclusively flagship devices with the latest technology, and so were very expensive. That's started to change recently, with phones like the Motorola Razr (2023) starting at $700, and seeing discounts down to $500. While other foldables, like the Z Fold 5 and Flip 5, have stayed at flagship prices, it's clear foldables are starting to become more accessible to more people.
As ever with smartphones, savvy shopping is your friend. Keeping an eye out for generous carrier trade-in deals or contracts can net you a saving, as can waiting until big sales holidays like Black Friday or Prime Day. Also, keep in mind that refurbished phones also come with a big discount, and so do older phones. Grabbing the Z Fold 4 or even Z Fold 3 will still get you an advanced device, just without the latest bells and whistles, at a much lower price.
Does only Samsung make foldable smartphones?
Folding smartphones are still very new, and they represent big investments for manufacturers. However, it's an expanding market, and now we're seeing many more manufacturers jumping on the bandwagon. Samsung is best known for its foldable smartphones, but 2023 saw the launch of foldables from Motorola, OnePlus, and even Google. So while Samsung was among the first to the party (and crucially, kept releasing folding phones throughout the tough early years) others are bringing their devices to the market, and we're all benefiting as a result.
The situation is even more competitive once you leave the U.S., with a number of manufacturers not commonly seen on American shores making their own foldables. Oppo has the Find N and Find N2, Honor has the Magic Vs, and Xiaomi has the Mix Fold 2, but these suffered from a lack of availability in wider markets.
Expect to see even more devices hit local markets in coming years, too, as those international devices aren't staying international. Honor released the Magic Vs globally in May 2023, while Oppo launched its Find N2 Flip to global markets too. Huawei also sells the Mate Xs 2 and the P50 Pocket in regions other than China, showing that they all have designs outside of just China.
Editors' RecommendationsHistory Of OnePlus Flagship Smartphones – Updated February 2024
OnePlus is a relatively young company compared to a number of other mobile tech giants in the market, but this China-based company managed to rise extremely fast thanks to releasing extremely compelling flagship-grade smartphones at affordable price tags. The company has been using the "Never Settle" motto from the start. It has managed to sell quite a few devices to date and establish itself as one of the best smartphone manufacturers in the market.
The company's first smartphone, the OnePlus One made quite a splash in the tech community. OnePlus wasn't exactly all that well-known back there, but all of that changed over the years. The company's initial practice of invite-only purchases also changed. Such practice was in place due to low smartphone stock. If you'd like to take a trip down memory lane, read on. In this article we'll take a look at OnePlus' flagship smartphones one by one, starting with the OnePlus One. It is also worth noting that this article will be updated as new OnePlus flagship phones arrive.
OnePlus One
The OnePlus One is the company's very first smartphone, and it was referred to as the "Flagship Killer" back when it launched, mainly due to its flagship-grade specs and qualities, and not a huge price tag. This smartphone was announced back in April 2014, and it was priced at $299 and $349 for 16GB and 64GB storage variants. The OnePlus One came with a Sandstone back, and it shipped with a commercial variant of CyanogenMod on it, CyanogenOS, which ran on top of Android 4.4.2 KitKat.
This smartphone features a 5.5-inch fullHD display, along with 3GB of RAM and 16GB / 64GB of storage. The phone is fueled by the Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor, while it sports a single 13-megapixel camera on the back. A 5-megapixel unit is included on the phone's front side. A 3,100mAh battery is also a part of the package. The phone does sport a 3.5mm headphone jack, in case you were wondering.
OnePlus 2
The OnePlus 2 arrived in July of 2015, while it was released in August that same year. That handset does resemble the OnePlus One to a degree, but it features a fingerprint scanner below its display. That fingerprint scanner is flanked by two capacitive keys, which are customizable. The phone still includes a single camera on the back, and the Sandstone material made a comeback here.
The OnePlus 2 shipped with Android 5.1 Lollipop and OnePlus' OxygenOS skin on top of it. This happened because OnePlus and Cyanogen decided to terminate their cooperation. Luckily for OnePlus, OxygenOS ended up being a truly compelling skin for Android. It's a close-to-stock one with a number of useful additions. The OnePlus 2 features a 5.5-inch fullHD display, 3GB / 4GB of RAM and 16GB / 64GB of storage. The phone is fueled by the Snapdragon 810 SoC, while it ships with a 3,300mAh battery.
OnePlus 3
The OnePlus 3 was the very first OnePlus-branded phone to sport a metal unibody build, and the phone was announced in June 2016. The device sports a single camera on the back, which does protrude a bit. A front-facing fingerprint scanner made a comeback here, along with capacitive buttons that flank it. The OnePlus 3 ships with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow out of the box, with OnePlus' custom UI.
The device retained a 5.5-inch fullHD display size from the OnePlus 2, but unlike the OnePlus 2, this phone came with an OLED panel, and Optic AMOLED display, to be exact, which made it the first OnePlus flagship to include an OLED panel. The OnePlus 3 also shipped with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of non-expandable storage. It features a 16-megapixel camera on the back and is fueled by the Snapdragon 820. A 3,000mAh battery is included in this package, as are two SIM card slots (2x nano SIM).
OnePlus 3T
The OnePlus 3T looked the same as the OnePlus 3, save for a new color variant that was available, and it was announced in November 2016. This was the first time OnePlus released a "T" variant of a smartphone. The OnePlus 3T did bring some improvements over the OnePlus 3, including a more powerful processor (the Snapdragon 821), a larger battery, and several other improvements.
Other than that, this phone is the same as the OnePlus 3 in the spec department as well. The phone features the same display, same RAM count, same software, same camera setups, and so
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