This week the world welcomed the OnePlus Open, so we have a look at its pre-order offers and how it compares with other horizontal foldables. There are flip foldables too, some of them at tempting prices, and no shortage of bar phones in the flagship and mid-range categories.
USA
The OnePlus Open was announced this week and there is a short pre-order period before the company’s first foldable becomes available next week. You can put down a $100 deposit now to secure a $200 discount when sales start. You will also score a free pair of OnePlus Buds Pro 2 headphones.
You can check out our review of the Open for details on how the phone performs. It is particularly interesting in the US market as it is only the third horizontal foldable after the Galaxy Z Folds and the recent Google Pixel Fold, both of which have higher MSRPs, even ignoring that the OnePlus has 16GB of RAM and 512GB storage, while its opponents start at 12/256GB.
The Open has an amazing main camera and the best ultra wide of the bunch (48MP vs. 10.8MP and 12MP). The 70mm 64MP tele camera is promising too, but it needs to do a better job in the dark. Still, it’s up against a 112mm 10.8mm periscope on the Pixel and a 3x 10MP tele on the Galaxy.
Moving on to the other form of foldable, the Motorola Razr+ flaunts a 6.9” 165Hz LTPO AMOLED display with 10-bit colors and FHD+ resolution. Even the 3.6” cover display runs at 144Hz and has the same 413ppi pixel density. The displays are as good as it gets on flip foldables, but chipset is second best – Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. Still, not bad for $800.
But it’s the other Moto that could really push flips into the mainstream – the Motorola Razr is just $600. That’s the crossover point between mid-range and flagship prices. The vanilla model drops down to the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1, which can only do 144Hz on the main display, but it’s the same hardware otherwise. This one is a bit thicker at 15.8mm when folded (vs. 15.1mm), but comes with a larger 4,200mAh battery (vs. 3,800mAh) and the same 30W wired and 5W wireless charging.
For comparison, a Galaxy Z Flip5 goes for $890. This one features the more powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy (which is leagues ahead of the SD 7 Gen 1) and it has the superior water resistance, though it costs considerably more too.
These two should be familiar enough – the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and Galaxy S23+. The Ultra has a good case of being the best camera phone in this market right now, though we’ll see how the Pixel 8 Pro performs.
While the S23 Ultra has its camera (and display and S Pen and so on) to lean on, the S23+ doesn’t quite have cutting edge tech to show for its price. So why not get a OnePlus 11? It has the slower version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, but it’s not that much slower. On the plus side, you get a higher resolution 6.7” QHD+ display and it’s an LTPO panel to boot. The 32MP 2x camera is competitive with the 10MP 3x camera of the S23+ and so is the 5,000mAh battery (108h vs. 111h Endurance rating), but the Oneplus charges faster at 80W (wired only).
In the mid-range segment there is the Motorola Edge (2023). It has a 6.6” 144Hz OLED display, an FHD+ 10-bit panel. It’s powered by the Dimensity 7030 chipset and a 4,400mAh battery with 68W wired and 15W wireless charging.
If you prefer iOS and don’t mind something older, the iPhone 13 is down to a decent price. You will miss out on the 48MP camera of the iPhone 15, but it’s not like that one has a high refresh rate display (it does have a Dynamic Island, for what that is worth). To put a positive spin on the port situation, at least you don’t have to switch all your Lightning cables to USB-C.
You should think of the Sony Xperia Pro-I as more of a smart, 5G-connected camera than a phone. It’s a much better camera than it is a phone (especially when put against other $1,000 phones). Best Buy offers a few different combos – the Pro-I on its own is $1,000, phone plus the shooting grip and remote controller is $90 more and there is the ultimate combo of phone, grip, remote and Vlog display for $1,290.
The Amazon Fire HD 10 is a cheap tablet for video streaming, social networking, schoolwork and light gaming. You can pick up the Plus model for an extra gig of RAM and support for wireless charging (this is intended to be used as a smart display with the optional dock). Note that the slates at these prices are ad-supported.
Samsung recently launched the first TWS buds in the FE series and they have ANC like the pricier buds. However, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro are just $20 at the moment and these have better sound with dual-drivers. So, unless you’ve been pining for the grippy wing tips like on the original Buds, the Pro buds are the way to go.
Samsung recently launched the T9 generation of its portable SSDs. It uses a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 port, so if your PC supports it (and not all do), you can get up to 2,000MB/s sequential read and write speeds with this one.
Alternatively, the Crucial X10 Pro promises the same blazing fast speed but costs a bit less. Both SSDs have protection against drops, so your data should be safe even if you fumble the drive while on the go.
Next up, a couple of gaming monitors. The first is the Odyssey G32A, a 1080p 165Hz monitor with FreeSync Premium and a height-adjustable stand. It’s available in 24”, 27” and 32” sizes.
If you have money to spend on your rig, the Odyssey CRG9 is a curved 49” ultra-wide monitor. It’s basically two QHD monitors side by side (and without the bezel in the middle). This one is a QLED panel with 120Hz refresh rate and also has a stand with adjustable height.
Instead of a monitor, why not get a VR headset? The Meta Quest 3 can play games and run apps on its own but can also be used with a PC for games that have more advanced graphics. This one also has better passthrough than the Quest 2, so some AR applications are available as well.
UK
The OnePlus Open was announced this week and there is a short pre-order period before the company’s first foldable becomes available next week. You can put down a £100 deposit now to secure a £250 discount when sales start. You will also score a free pair of OnePlus Buds Pro 2 headphones and a free 80W SuperVOOC charger.
You can check out our review of the Open for details on how the phone performs. Alternatives in the UK market include Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold5 and Google’s Pixel Fold. Note that the Open has 16GB of RAM and 512GB storage.
The Open has an amazing main camera and the best ultra wide of the bunch (48MP vs. 10.8MP and 12MP). The 70mm 64MP tele camera is promising too, but it needs to do a better job in the dark. Still, it’s up against a 112mm 10.8mm periscope on the Pixel and a 3x 10MP tele on the Galaxy.
The new Pixel 8 and 8 Pro are at the office and we already posted a hands-on review and will have more to share soon as well. The current prices aren’t a great deal, but they are already slipping below MSRP, so you might want to wait a bit longer. After all, with 7 years of software updates (and 7 years of availability for spare parts), what’s a few months?
The Xiaomi 13T is a “flagship lite” type of device. It has a great quality 6.67” AMOLED display with higher than FHD+ resolution, 144Hz refresh rate and 12-bit colors, plus a peak brightness of 2,600 nits. The camera setup is great too with a 50MP main (1/1.28”, OIS), 50MP 2x portrait cam and a 12MP ultra wide. The 5,000mAh battery is fast to charge at 67W (and got a solid 101h Endurance rating), while the Dimensity 8200 is merely okay – it’s a mid-range chip.
You can pick up a Poco F4 GT for less money. This one is over a year old at this point, but the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 will still handily beat the Dimensity. You will be giving up a lot on the screen front (6.67” 120Hz FHD+ 10-bit) and the camera (64MP main without OIS, 8MP ultra wide, no tele), but the 4,700mAh battery is even faster to charge at 120W (unfortunately, it depletes faster too and only got an 81h in our Endurance test).
Still, it comes well against something like the Poco X5 Pro, which has a weaker Snapdragon 778G chipset despite being newer. This one has a 108MP main camera, which does alleviate the need for a dedicated tele camera. The display is the same as on the F4 GT. The battery’s 5,000mAh capacity lasts longer (113h Endurance) while still being fast to charge at 67W.
Alternatively, you can get the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ for a bit more. This one boasts a 200MP camera for even more pixel binning goodness in the dark (and better in-sensor zoom), but still only has an 8MP ultra wide. This one is powered by the Dimensity 1080 and has the same display as the F4 GT and X5 Pro. The battery, however, combines the best of both worlds as it has both 5,000mAh capacity and 120W charging (the Endurance rating is just 88h, though).
There’s always the Samsung Galaxy A54. This is such a well-rounded mid-ranger that it will probably end up one of Samsung’s best releases of 2023. It has S-series software support and the Exynos 1380 is much better than previous mid-range Samsung chips. The 50MP main and 12MP ultra wide cameras are solid, as is the 6.4” 120Hz FHD+ AMOLED display. The 5,000mAh battery goes a long way (119h Endurance), charging takes patience as it is capped at 25W.
Germany
The Motorola Edge 40 Pro pairs a flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 with a fast 165Hz 6.67” OLED display (FHD+ resolution, 10-bit colors), all at a reasonable price. While the battery is small at 4,600mAh, it posted an Endurance rating of 117h in our tests, which is quite impressive. And while gaming will certainly drain it faster than that, the phone supports fast 125W wired charging (and 15W wireless). The 40 Pro has a good camera setup too with a 50MP main (1/1.55”, OIS), 50MP ultra wide and 12MP 2x telephoto, along with a 60MP selfie camera.
Then there’s the cheaper and slightly smaller Motorola Edge 40. Without a “pro” suffix to justify, this one is equipped with a Dimensity 8020 chipset and a 6.55” 144Hz screen (still FHD+, 10-bit). The main camera is the same (50MP 1/1.55” with OIS), but the ultra wide has only a 13MP sensor and there is no tele module. Also, the selfie camera has a 32MP sensor. The battery is smaller and doesn’t last as long (4,400mAh, 98h), but the charging options are good (68W wired, 15W wireless).
The Realme 11 Pro+ and Realme 11 Pro share most of their hardware – the 6.7” FHD+ 120Hz display, the Dimensity 7050 chipset, the 5,000mAh battery and so on. The differences are that the Pro has 200MP main camera vs. 100MP on the vanilla model (both with OIS) and an 8MP ultra wide (vs. none). The selfie camera has a higher resolution too (32MP vs. 16MP) and charging is faster (100W vs. 67W).
The Samsung Galaxy A54 is such a well-rounded mid-ranger that it will probably end up one of Samsung’s best releases of 2023. It has S-series software support and the Exynos 1380 is much better than previous mid-range Samsung chips. The 50MP main and 12MP ultra wide cameras are solid, as is the 6.4” 120Hz FHD+ AMOLED display. The 5,000mAh battery goes a long way (119h Endurance), charging takes patience as it is capped at 25W.
The Samsung Galaxy A34 costs less but has a larger 6.6” display (FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED). The main 48MP camera has a smaller sensor (1/2.0” vs. 1/1.56”) while the ultra wide and selfie cameras have lower resolution sensors (8MP and 13MP, respectively). The battery is the same at 5,000mAh (with 25W charging), but the Dimensity 1080 outlasts the Exynos with 133h Endurance rating.
There are no good deals on the new Pixel 8 and 8 Pro phones at the moment, but consider the Pixel 7a while you wait. It’s much cheaper than the Pixel 8 (£700), but lacks its future-proof design – this one is officially slated for only 5 years of support (during which it will get 3 OS updates). You’re getting a 6.1” 90Hz display instead of 6.2” 120Hz that the Pixel 8 brings (but both are FHD+ non-LTPO panels) and the older Tensor G2 chip. Still, it’s worth a look considering the lower cost.
The Realme C55 is a 4G phone with a Helio G88 chipset and a 5,000mAh battery with 33W charging. It has a large 6.72” display, a 90Hz IPS LCD with FHD+ resolution, and a 64MP camera. There are basics like a microSD slot and 3.5mm headphone jack too.
The Realme Narzo 50i Prime is a low-cost option with a 6.5” HD+ display (60Hz IPS LCD). It is powered by the Unisoc T612 chipset and a 5,000mAh battery (with a glacial 10W charging). The camera is pretty basic – 8MP on the back, 5MP on the front. You still get the microSD slot and 3.5mm headphone jack, however.
India
Prime Day may be over, but Amazon’s Great Indian Festival is still in full swing. This brings a number of big discounts for phones old and new. But before we get to Amazon, let’s look at India’s newest foldable.
The OnePlus Open was announced this week and there is a short pre-order period before the company’s first foldable becomes available next week. You can get a ₹5,000 instant discount with select bank cards and get a ₹9,000 bonus when trading in an old device.
You can check out our review of the Open for details on how the phone performs. Considering the configuration with 16GB of RAM and 512GB storage, the Open is cheaper than the Galaxy Z Fold, though not as cheap as the
The Open has an amazing main camera and the best telephoto of the bunch 64MP 3x vs. 50MP 2x on the Phantom and 10MP 3x on the Galaxy. It has the best ultra wide too at 48MP (vs. 13MP and 12MP, though the Open’s lens is a bit narrow).
The new Samsung Galaxy S23 FE brings the Exynos 2200 chipset to the Indian market after the S22 series last year picked Snapdragon instead. This phone has a 6.4” FHD+ 120Hz display, a 50MP main camera, 8MP 3x tele and 12MP ultra wide, plus a 4,500mAh battery with 25W wired charging (wireless charging is an option too). As an S phone, this one supports Samsung DeX and will get 4 OS updates and an extra year of security patches.
The Apple iPhone 14 will also have long-term support, if you think you can live with the 6.1” 60Hz display for the next few years (and that notch too). This one lacks the 48MP camera of the iPhone 15 and the upgraded chipset, but it’s not like the 2023 model has a better than 60Hz display (it does have the Dynamic Island, for what that’s worth). Oh, and no USB-C – the iPhone 14 still lives in a Lightning world.
The OnePlus Nord 3 is a popular mid-ranger and we suspect that the flagship Dimensity 9000 has a lot to do with that (it’s an old flagship chip, but the CPU and GPU performance are still stellar for the price). The large 6.72” display with 1,240 x 2,772px resolution, 120Hz refresh rate and 10-bit colors helps too. The camera setup is solid with a 50MP main (1/1.56” with OIS) and 8MP ultra wide, plus a 16MP selfie. The phone is powered by a 5,000mAh battery with fast 80W charging.
The Tecno Pova 5 and Pova 5 Pro are a pair of budget gaming phones. The Pro model has the more powerful chipset (Dimensity 6080 with 5G connectivity) and RGB lighting system on the back.
The regular Pova 5 uses the Dimensity G99 instead (4G only), but has a larger 6,000mAh battery with 45W charging (vs. 5,000mAh/68W). Both phones use the same 6.78” 120Hz IPS LCD display and the same 50MP main camera.
The Xiaomi Redmi 12 also has a large IPS LCD, a 6.79” 90Hz panel. It uses the Helio G88 with a weaker CPU and GPU. This one has a 50MP main camera too, but adds an 8MP ultra wide to the mix. The battery has 5,000mAh capacity and charges at only 18W.
In the sub-₹10,000 category there is the Tecno Camon 19 Neo. It has an expansive 6.8” IPS LCD and while it’s only a 60Hz panel, it has FHD+ resolution, which isn’t a given in this price range. It’s powered by the similar Helio G85 chipset and combines a 48MP rear with a 32MP front camera. The battery is the same as the Redmi 12 with 5,000mAh capacity and 18W charging.
Finally, the Apple iPad Air (2022) runs on the Apple M1 chipset, which gives it access to Stage Manager for multitasking, including on an external display over the USB-C port. Its own display is 10.9” with 1,640 x 2,360px resolution and support for the Apple Pencil.
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