OnePlus Open review: Big screen, bigger productivity.

OnePlus Open review: The ultimate foldable for university students

Why the OnePlus Open is the most powerful multitasking device for back-to-school success

A foldable phone that gets it right

The OpenPlus Open is OnePlus’s first foldable smartphone but it arrives as a polished, confident device thanks to experience passed down from its parent company, Oppo. Designed to meet the everyday demands of a multitasking lifestyle, it offers a refined blend of style, speed, and functionality. For university students returning to school, it’s a versatile powerhouse that combines a traditional smartphone form factor with a fold-out tablet display that unlocks serious productivity.

While other foldables from brands historically been riddled with compromises awkward cover displays, weak cameras, short battery life the OnePlus Open rethinks nearly every feature. This phone is technically advanced, highly capable, and student-friendly in ways that will directly benefit academic life, creative projects, and even mobile gaming.

OnePlus Open

16 GB RAM + 512 GB ROM

Voyager Black

~~Was US$1,699.99~~ Now US$1,499.99

Ideal for multitasking on campus

One of the OpenPlus Open’s most useful features for students is its multitasking capability, powered by Open Canvas on OxygenOS 13.2. When folded, the phone behaves like a premium 6.3″ smartphone. When opened, it becomes a compact tablet ideal for taking notes during lectures, researching online, reading PDFs, and running multiple apps side-by-side.

Open Canvas lets you expand split-screen apps beyond the visible screen. Imagine running Microsoft Word, Google Chrome, and WhatsApp all at once then simply sliding between them without closing anything. Whether you’re switching from academic research to your music player, or jumping between lecture notes and your group chat, it all feels natural and seamless.

The multitasking experience mirrors that of a desktop computer. And it’s all fast, smooth, and responsive, thanks to 16GB LPDDR5X RAM and Snapdragon® 8 Gen 2 performance. The phone is designed to keep up with the workload of university life, whether you’re in a café typing an essay or attending virtual classes.

Foldable display that makes a difference

The OpenPlus Open uses a 7.82″ AMOLED main display that folds shut, plus a 6.3″ AMOLED outer screen. While the internal display is shorter and wider than competing foldables, that makes it more ergonomic and more useful in practical scenarios. For students, this means better grip for one-handed reading and browsing when folded, and more usable screen area when opened for eBooks, academic journals, and video lectures.

It’s not just the size it’s also the quality of the panels. Both displays are sharp, bright, and vibrant, with smooth refresh rates ideal for fast scrolling and gaming. The design feels premium, from the satin-finished glass back to the metal frame and satisfying hinge click. Although the device only has an IPX4 water-resistance rating (less than Samsung’s IPX8), it still handles everyday use with confidence.

Hasselblad camera: A photographer’s dream

Where most foldable phones compromise on camera quality, the OpenPlus Open delivers. Co-developed with Hasselblad, the rear camera setup includes:

48MP Sony LYT-T808 sensor with a revolutionary “2-Layer Transistor Pixel” design
48MP ultra-wide
64MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom and periscope lens

This means you get flagship camera performance in a foldable form. For students studying digital media, photography, journalism, or content creation, this is huge. Whether you’re capturing campus events, creating social content, or recording lectures for review, the OnePlus Open provides flexibility and quality.

You can even use the main camera for selfies by utilising the outer screen as a viewfinder ideal for high-resolution video calls and professional-looking content. It’s a practical solution that makes this device stand out among foldables.

Battery and charging: Built for busy days

Foldables are notorious for weak battery life, but the OnePlus Open performs impressively. Its 4805 mAh battery routinely delivers all-day performance even with heavy use.

Students streaming lectures, attending virtual classes, gaming in their downtime, and texting throughout the day can expect 20–30% battery left at night. That’s a strong showing, especially considering the device’s high-performance internals.

Even better, charging is quick. The 67W wired charging tops up the phone in around 45 minutes. Unfortunately, OnePlus has once again left out wireless charging, which may frustrate users with Qi pads at home or in libraries. Still, the fast-wired charge offsets this omission somewhat.

Built to handle everything students throw at it

Academic life demands a lot from your phone. From productivity to entertainment, and from photography to daily communication, the OnePlus Open excels in real-world student use cases:

Real-world test case 1: Lecture hall

Use the unfolded screen to view slides, take notes in split-screen mode, and respond to class messages without switching apps.

Real-world test case 2: Library study session

The multitasking layout allows simultaneous access to cloud storage, Google Docs, and research databases, all while messaging study partners.

Real-world test case 3: Fieldwork or campus journalism

Snap detailed shots with the Hasselblad camera system, edit photos on the big screen, and publish stories or social posts immediately.

Real-world test case 4: Relaxation after class

Switch to gaming on Wild Rift with full screen performance, stream Netflix or YouTube on the high-res internal screen, or scroll Instagram while a document loads in the background.

Storage and performance without limits

The OnePlus Open ships with 512GB of ultra-fast UFS 4.0 storage, which is generous even by premium phone standards. This is more than enough space for university students to store PDFs, apps, course videos, photos, games, and even 4K video projects.

Combined with the Snapdragon® 8 Gen 2 chip, it powers through demanding tasks. Apps launch instantly, gaming is smooth, and multitasking never lags. OxygenOS 13.2 runs cleanly and stably, avoiding the bloatware found on many other Android skins.

The software optimisations for foldables are intuitive. Features like floating apps, drag-and-drop files, and the taskbar dock make this phone feel like a small desktop in your hands.

Price, trade-ins and student value

Retailing at US$1,499, the OnePlus Open is clearly a premium device. But OnePlus offers US$200 off with any trade-in even if your old phone is from decades ago. That makes it effectively US$1,300, placing it below the Galaxy Z Fold in price while exceeding it in flexibility and camera capability.

While not cheap, it’s a worthwhile investment for students who will get daily productivity gains from the phone’s multitasking and expanded screen space.

OnePlus Nord 5

12GB RAM 512GB Memory, 6.83 Inch, 144Hz AMOLED, Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, 5200mAh Battery, with 80W Charger

Verdict: A game-changer for foldables and student life

The OnePlus Open is the most well-rounded foldable phone yet. With a strong balance of performance, durability, multitasking features, and camera quality, it genuinely enhances productivity and entertainment.

For students, it’s an all-in-one tool: a smartphone, a tablet, a camera, a notepad, a gaming console, and a desktop replacement. It’s more than a phone it’s a campus companion.

If you’re going back to school and want a device that won’t slow you down, the OnePlus Open is more than ready to keep up.

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