Samsung is lord and master when it comes to foldable smartphones. The superpower from South Korea started the game first, has now mastered it best and so far did not come across a competitor that did it better. Several Android manufacturers are doing their best, but is it going to be OnePlus that turns the market on its head?
China’s OnePlus may just become the next big player in the field of foldable Android smartphones. Earlier this week we got to see the first images of the device and now some key specifications are leaking out.
Foldable Android smartphone from OnePlus
For the first part of the story, we have to go back to early this year. That was when OnePlus announced to the world that it was working on a foldable Android smartphone. On what date or in what month we could get started was not yet made clear. However, there was an indication: in the third quarter of 2023 it was supposed to appear.
As we get closer and closer to that, more information also seems to be surfacing. Ten days ago OnLeaks and Smartprix, two big names in the Android market, published renders of the much-discussed device. Simply put, these images were created from the information available through rumors and test units.
The Fold from China (Image: OnLeaks x Smartprix)
While it gives us a nice idea of exactly what OnePlus wants to offer us, these images should be taken with a grain of salt. Although, of course, that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy them.
If OnePlus actually does launch a foldable Android smartphone with this design, Samsung has at least found a new school of learning.
The Fold from China (Image: OnLeaks x Smartprix)
Samsung faces stiff competition in Android market
After we enjoyed the images for a while, OnLeaks comes out with even more information. Together with the website MySmartPrice, it drops important specifications of the OnePlus smartphone that should challenge Samsung and Google.
Android users will get their hands on a 6.3-inch AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120 Hz with OnePlus’ foldable phone. When they unfold the device, a 7.7-inch AMOLED display with the same speed reveals itself. So something this model is already doing better than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4.
Furthermore, the device reportedly features a 4800 mAh battery that can be charged at a maximum speed of 67W. Thus, the 100W fast charging technology from the OnePlus 11 will not be present.
On the camera front, one can expect a 48-megapixel wide-angle lens, 48-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens and 64-megapixel telephoto lens. Two selfie cameras are in play: one with 32 megapixels on the outside and one with 20 megapixels on the inside. The latter will be below the device’s screen.
The Fold from China (Image: OnLeaks x Smartprix)
OnePlus is slowly getting back on its feet
Although OnePlus has been in quite a dip and is still not itself, the company is doing reasonably well again. The OnePlus 11 is among the better Android phones right now, the Nord CE 3 Lite offers a lot for little money and the OnePlus Pad is a tablet that many people are happy with.
The arrival of a foldable Android smartphone may be a striking move, but OnePlus seems to be really getting it right. We know by now what the company has to offer and that it can challenge big players like Android and Google.
It will be some time before we actually get to see the device, but I won’t deny that I am particularly excited about this particular model. Let the fun begin!
