OnePlus Open vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3: A Deep Dive into Foldable Supremacy
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the OnePlus Open is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset delivers a substantial performance boost, and the 96-hour endurance rating dwarfs the Z Fold3’s 75-hour score. While the Z Fold3 remains a capable device, the Open offers a more modern and efficient experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G | OnePlus Open |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66 - Europe | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, August 11 | 2023, October 19 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, August 27 | Available. Released 2023, October 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus) (folded), plastic front (unfolded), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame | Glass front (Ceramic Guard) (folded), plastic front (unfolded), glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | Unfolded: 158.2 x 128.1 x 6.4 mmFolded: 158.2 x 67.1 x 14.4-16 mm | Unfolded: 153.4 x 143.1 x 5.8 mmFolded: 153.4 x 73.3 x 11.7 mm |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) |
| Weight | 271 g (9.56 oz) | 239 g or 245 g (8.43 oz) |
| IPX8 water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised) Stylus support | - | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1768 x 2208 pixels (~374 ppi density) | 2268 x 2440 pixels (~426 ppi density) |
| Size | 7.6 inches, 179.9 cm2 (~88.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 7.82 inches, 196.7 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak) | Foldable LTPO3 Flexi-fluid AMOLED, 1B colors, Dolby Vision, 120Hz, 2800 nits (peak) |
| Cover display: Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 6.2 inches, 832 x 2268 pixels, 25:9 ratio | - | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 740 |
| OS | Android 11, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1 | Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, OxygenOS 15 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM | 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Hasselblad Color Calibration, LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, 12mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm | 48 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/2.6, 70mm (telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF |
| Video | 4K@60fps, 1080p@60/240fps (gyro-EIS), HDR10+ | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480fps gyro-EIS, HDR10+, Dolby Vision |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 4 MP, f/1.8, 2.0µm, under display Cover camera: 10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.22µm | 20MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 0.7µm Cover camera: 32MP, f/2.4, 22mm (ultrawide), 1/3.14", 0.7µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | - |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers (Dolby Atmos enhanced) |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2 | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung DeX (desktop experience support) Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | - | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 25W wired 11W wireless 4.5W reverse wireless | 67W wired, PD, 100% in 42 min Reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4400 mAh | Li-Po 4805 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Green, Thom Browne Edition, Wooyoungmi Edition | Emerald Dusk, Voyager Black, Apex Edition |
| Models | SM-F926B, SM-F926B/DS, SM-F926U, SM-F926U1, SM-F926W, SM-F9260, SM-F926N | CPH2551 |
| Price | € 453.57 / $ 367.74 / £ 449.99 | $ 1,059.99 / € 926.54 |
| SAR | 0.73 W/kg (head) 1.22 W/kg (body) | 0.98 W/kg (head) 0.76 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 1.04 W/kg (head) 1.44 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 75h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Loudspeaker | -25.6 LUFS (Very good) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 635918 (v8), 752218 (v9) GeekBench: 12719 (v4.4), 3239 (v5.1) GFXBench: 38fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
- More established software ecosystem
- Potentially lower price due to age
- Refined foldable design (early adopter advantage)
- Older, less efficient chipset
- Significantly shorter battery life
- Slower charging speeds
OnePlus Open
- Latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 performance
- Exceptional battery life (96h endurance)
- 67W fast charging (42 min 0-100%)
- Brighter display
- Newer brand in the foldable space
- Software may have initial bugs
- Potentially higher price
Display Comparison
The OnePlus Open’s display is a clear upgrade, achieving a measured peak brightness of 1238 nits compared to the Z Fold3’s 922 nits. This translates to significantly better visibility outdoors. While both utilize foldable OLED technology, the Open’s higher brightness and potentially improved panel calibration (though not specified in the data) offer a more vibrant and usable experience. The Z Fold3’s display, while still good, feels comparatively dim in direct sunlight. We lack data on refresh rates, but expect both to offer adaptive refresh rates for smoother scrolling.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature capable camera systems, but detailed sensor information is lacking. We can assume both offer photo and video capabilities. However, the newer image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 of the OnePlus Open will likely deliver improved image processing, particularly in low-light conditions. Without specific sensor size or aperture data, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment, but the Open’s chipset advantage suggests superior image quality. The absence of details on features like OIS further complicates a direct comparison.
Performance
The performance gap between these two is substantial. The OnePlus Open’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) is a generational leap over the Z Fold3’s Snapdragon 888 (5nm). The 8 Gen 2’s Cortex-X3 prime core, clocked at 3.2 GHz, provides a noticeable speed advantage over the Z Fold3’s Cortex-X1. Furthermore, the 4nm process node of the 8 Gen 2 offers superior thermal efficiency, meaning the Open is less likely to throttle under sustained load. This benefits gamers and power users who demand consistent performance. The Open’s CPU architecture (Cortex-A715/A710) is also more efficient than the Z Fold3’s A78 cores.
Battery Life
Battery life is where the OnePlus Open truly shines. Its endurance rating of 96 hours significantly exceeds the Z Fold3’s 75 hours. This is further bolstered by the Open’s 67W wired charging, capable of a full charge in just 42 minutes, compared to the Z Fold3’s slower 25W charging. The Open also offers reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the Z Fold3. The combination of a more efficient chipset and faster charging makes the Open the clear winner for users who prioritize all-day battery life.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G if you prioritize a more established ecosystem and can find it at a significantly discounted price. Its software is mature, and the form factor is well-refined. Buy the OnePlus Open if you demand the latest performance, exceptional battery life, and faster charging speeds, even if it means adopting a newer brand in the foldable space.