The limited edition OnePlus Open is the most impressive foldable phone yet

Based on all the leaks and Google marketing, we already know that the design of the upcoming Pixel 9 Pro Fold is similar to last year’s OnePlus Open. OnePlus doesn’t (yet) have a new foldable phone that can compete with recent developments from Google and Samsung, so for now it will release a limited edition of the Open in crimson red. That’s one way to get more juice out of this thing, right?

The OnePlus Open Apex Edition is priced at $1,899.99 and comes complete with 1TB of storage and 16GB of RAM. In addition to the color, the company has made some minor changes to the hardware in this version: for example, the alarm button has become thinner and has an orange spot in the middle.

“The dark, almost hidden color conveys a sense of mystery and excitement, suggesting eternal timelessness,” said a OnePlus press release about the “Crimson Shadow” color. Red paint has been applied to the leatherette back and camera ring, and OnePlus has included a matching case with the device.

I’ve been carrying the Apex Edition phone around New York City for a few days and I’ve been getting a lot of questions about it. It’s a great phone and it’s the first time I’ve encountered the open design after using the Pixel Fold for months. This is the wayAnd I’m very happy now that Google is going the same way.

In fact, this company has developed an amazing multitasking system. Alison covers this a lot in her review, so check it out. The bottom line is that OnePlus’ gesture and multi-app experience feels surprisingly intuitive in no time.

But there are a few things about OnePlus’ software that I find confusing. Here are some of them:

• You can’t have more than four apps on each row of the home screen, and it ruins my usual layout. Where are the network customization options? I can’t even put the Gmail app on the taskbar.
• There is no way to disable the Google Discover feed on the left side of the home screen. It’s strange. Most other Android phones let you turn it off with a simple tap.
• Whenever I close all apps — yes, I still do that — the phone displays a useless message: “Your system is now in optimal condition.” thank you
• The alphabetical order of the app bar doesn’t matter. Since Craigslist uses lowercase letters, it was placed in front of the calculator. Make it logical.
• Just like iOS, OnePlus puts a dot next to recently updated or newly installed apps. It annoys me and can’t be stopped, so I have no choice but to open all apps to clear the spots and restore the system.

The software has a new feature called VIP mode, which is only available in the Apex version. I would say it is an added advantage. If you slide the notification bar to the top position, you will enter this mode. Here’s what OnePlus claims:

VIP mode locks the security chip to create a completely secure and private environment where all the phone’s microphones and cameras are disabled and ad tracking is highly limited by chip-level permission encryption supported by the secure chip. VIP mode prevents apps from viewing or recording chat information without permission

I’m not an experienced CEO, so I don’t fully appreciate the VIP status. However, I wish I could customize the notification bar to do something different instead of being stuck in this mode that I rarely need.

But back to the hardware: the OnePlus Open has a lot to offer in just a few days. The inner screen protector is anti-reflective and therefore easy to see in different lighting conditions. The speakers sound significantly better than the Pixel Fold. And I’m once again impressed with OnePlus’ wired charging speed.

The Apex Edition of the OnePlus Open will be available “while supplies last” when it goes on sale on August 8 for $1,899.99. If you don’t need the premium red color, you can temporarily save a bit on the standard model with 512GB of storage on sale from August 8th to August 30th for $1,399. have you seen The company is clearly trying to attract some buyers of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

Photography by Chris Welch/The Verge