OnePlus Open vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: Which Foldable Wins?

Let me start with a confession: I love foldable phones. Not in a "this is the future" way — more like a "this fits in my pocket and also works as a mini tablet" way. When the OnePlus Open launched last year, I assumed it would be a nice try but ultimately fall short of Samsung's refined Fold line. After using both for a month straight, I was wrong.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is a great phone. The OnePlus Open is a better foldable. Here's why.

Weight and Feel: You'll Notice the Difference

The Z Fold 6 weighs 239 grams. The Open weighs 245 grams. That's basically the same on paper. But the difference in how they feel in hand is dramatic. The Open is thinner when unfolded — just 5.9mm vs. the Fold's 6.6mm. It sounds minor, but when you're holding it open like a mini tablet, that extra thinness makes it feel much more natural. The Fold, by contrast, feels a bit chunky, like a paperback you've left in the rain.

The hinge also matters. The Open's hinge is smoother and has less resistance. The Fold's hinge feels tighter and more deliberate. Some people prefer that. I don't. The Open opens and closes with one hand effortlessly. The Fold requires two hands most of the time.

The Cameras: Not Even Close

Samsung has always struggled with camera consistency on the Fold series. The Fold 6 uses a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide, and a 10MP telephoto (3x). The OnePlus Open uses a 48MP main, a 48MP ultrawide, and a 64MP telephoto (3x). But specs only tell half the story.

In real-world shooting, the Open produces more natural colors and better dynamic range. The Fold tends to oversaturate and sometimes blows out highlights. I took photos of a sunset in Golden Gate Park. The Fold made the sky look cartoonishly orange. The Open captured the actual warm tones I saw with my eyes. Night mode is also noticeably better on the Open — less noise, more detail.

There's a reason professional photographers have started carrying the Open as a backup camera. The Fold just doesn't compete.

Software: One UI vs. OxygenOS

This is where personal preference really kicks in. Samsung's One UI is feature-rich but bloated. It has DeX, Good Lock customization, and a ton of multitasking options. But it also has duplicate apps, Samsung Pass, Samsung Health, Samsung Wallet, and about 47 other Samsung-branded things you probably don't need.

OxygenOS on the Open is cleaner. It's closer to stock Android with a few thoughtful additions. The multitasking is actually better — you can have three apps open at once, and the app pairs feature lets you save a split-screen layout for later. The Open also has a proper taskbar that stays accessible, while Samsung's is hidden behind a swipe gesture. Small thing? Maybe. But I used it constantly.

Both phones support stylus input, but the Samsung S Pen Fold Edition is tiny and uncomfortable. The Open doesn't have a built-in silo, but I'd rather carry a Bluetooth stylus than use Samsung's weird stub.

Battery and Charging: OnePlus Dominates

The Z Fold 6 has a 4,400mAh battery. The Open has a 4,805mAh battery. And OnePlus's 67W charging is brutally fast — 0 to 100% in about 45 minutes. Samsung's 25W charging takes almost twice as long. In daily use, the Open consistently got me through a full day with 20-30% remaining. The Fold often needed a top-up by 7 PM.

If you travel a lot or just hate waiting for your phone to charge, this alone might tip the scales.

The Screen: Crease Wars

Every foldable has a crease. Samsung's crease on the Fold 6 is slightly less visible than on previous models, but it's still there. OnePlus uses a different hinge design that makes the crease almost invisible when the screen is on. When it's off, you can feel it, but it's less pronounced than the Fold's. For reading, watching video, or gaming, the Open's screen just feels more seamless.

Both have 120Hz refresh rates and excellent brightness. I'll call this one a tie, with a slight edge to OnePlus for crease reduction.

Durability and Repairability

Samsung has been making foldables for years, and it shows in the build quality. The Fold 6 has an IP48 rating (dust resistance is limited, but it can survive splashes). The Open has an IPX4 rating — basically splash-proof, but no dust certification. Samsung is also clearer about repair options and parts availability.

That said, I've dropped the Open twice (once on concrete) and it survived with just a tiny scuff on the hinge. Neither phone feels fragile, but if you're clumsy, the Fold might be a safer bet long-term.

Price: You'll Pay Either Way

The Z Fold 6 starts at $1,899. The Open is $1,799. That's $100 less for OnePlus, but both are expensive enough that the difference barely matters. Samsung runs better trade-in deals, so if you have an older phone, the Fold might end up cheaper.

If you're buying outright with no trade-in, the Open is the better value.

The Verdict: OnePlus Open

I genuinely wanted to recommend the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Samsung's ecosystem is more mature, and if you already own Galaxy Buds and a Galaxy Watch, the Fold is the obvious choice. But as a standalone foldable, the OnePlus Open does almost everything better. Better cameras, faster charging, more comfortable to hold, better software experience.

It's not a landslide. Samsung still wins on repairability and ecosystem integration. But for most people, the OnePlus Open is the foldable to buy right now. I've been using mine for a month, and I'm not going back.