OnePlus made its mark in 2023 by launching the OnePlus Open, its first foldable smartphone. The Chinese manufacturer's first attempt had us salivating and, like many observers, we were eagerly awaiting the sequel. The announcement by Oppo, OnePlus' parent company, of the arrival of a thinner-than-ever Find N5 led many observers to believe that this model would be renamed the OnePlus Open 2 internationally. Unfortunately, the manufacturer has just put an end to this possibility by indicating that it would not launch a new foldable model this year.
In an official message published by Vale Gu, Head of Product at OnePlus, dashes the hopes of anyone expecting an Open 2 this year. “At OnePlus, our core strength and passion lies in setting new benchmarks and challenging the status quo across all product categories. With this in mind, we have carefully considered the timeline and our next steps in the foldable space, and we have made the decision not to release a foldable this year," the company said.
OnePlus wants to take a "break"
The brand knows that its decision may come as a surprise and believes that "this is the right approach" for it at this time. However, OnePlus' announcement does not reassure its future in the foldable space. "Our decision to take a break from foldables for this generation does not mean that we are abandoning this category. “OPPO’s Find N5 demonstrates remarkable advancements in foldable technology, including the use of new cutting-edge materials and more sophisticated engineering. We remain committed to incorporating these breakthroughs into our future products,” OnePlus said. And to add: "it is not a step backwards, but a recalibration".
Is OnePlus going to give way to Oppo for foldable smartphones?
The strategy of the group behind Oppo and OnePlus is not the easiest to follow, and we remember Oppo's resounding departure from certain markets. OnePlus had taken over by staying in France and the rest of Europe, so we expected to see OnePlus offer the European versions of Oppo products launched in China. However, the return of Oppo indicates that the parent company is ready to find itself at the forefront of the battle against Samsung, Honor and Huawei.
Remember that the Find N5 is announced as the thinnest folding – in book format – in the world, doing better than the 4.35 mm thickness of the Honor Magic V3 when folded. Despite its thinness, it would have a powerful processor (Snapdragon 8 Elite with 7 cores), a 5600 mAh battery and a triple camera. This part would benefit from the expertise of Hasselblad and a main module of 50 Mpx is expected. Finally, this smartphone will offer a triple certification of resistance to water (IPX6, IPX8 and IPX9). It should not fear strong water splashes, immersion and high-pressure cleaning.
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