- OnePlus is all set to enter the fast-expanding foldable phones market with the OnePlus Open.
- The OnePlus Open will mainly take on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 smartphone in India.
- The foldable phones market is expected to more than double by the end of 2025, as per reports.
Samsung has been ruling the foldable phones segment since the launch of its first foldable smartphone, due to limited competition, especially in countries like India. With the launch of the OnePlus Open in the country, the competition is all set to heat up.
The OnePlus Open is expected to be priced at ₹1,39,999 in India as per a tipster. The device will compete with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, which has been priced starting at ₹1,54,999 in India. The difference in price will give an edge to the OnePlus Open.
The OnePlus Open will feature an Alert Slider, seen on several OnePlus smartphones. Additionally, it will come with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, just like the Galaxy Z Fold 5. The alert slider has been one of the signature features of OnePlus smartphones.
The OnePlus Fold is expected to feature a large 7.8-inch OLED display on the inside and a 6.31-inch OLED display on the outside. Both the displays are slightly bigger than what Samsung is offering with the Galaxy Z Fold 5.
The OnePlus Open is expected to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. Samsung offers the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset with its foldable smartphones.
At the back, the Open will come with a large circular camera module, featuring a triple camera setup, consisting of a 48MP primary camera, a 48MP ultra-wide-angle camera and a 64MP telephoto lens.
Finally, it is expected to be powered by a 4,805mAh battery with 67W fast charging support. The battery is not only bigger than the Galaxy Z Fold 5’s 4,400mAh battery, it is also ahead in terms of charging compared to the 25W charging offered by Samsung.
While Android smartphones have formed a bulk of the Indian smartphone market, iPhones have always been seen as a status symbol. iPhone have now become more accessible, due to various factors such as discounts being offered during sales, no cost EMI options and easier access to credit.
They are no longer the status symbol they once were, especially the older generations of iPhones and the non-Pro variants. Here’s where foldable smartphones come in.
“In the ultra-premium segment, owning a foldable provides differentiation value as even iPhones are now widely owned,” said Prachir Singh, Senior Analyst, Counterpoint Research.
The main use-case of the foldable phones has always been to replace laptops and tablets. Foldable phones offer a much larger display when compared to traditional smartphones, while offering a compact form factor. Unlike tablets and laptops, they can fit in a pocket and allow you to use them for work, entertainment or gaming.
“The most common use case for foldables is an alternative to laptops and tablets especially for business meetings. Entertainment (video content consumption), multitasking, and playing games are some of the areas where foldables provide better utility than normal smartphones,” Singh added.
In 2023, foldable phones make up around 13% of the market share in the premium phones segment, which is phones above ₹45,000. This number is expected to more than double to 35% by the end of 2025, meaning every third premium phone sold in India will be a foldable smartphone.
This may further increase with more companies entering the foldable market and increasing competition.
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