Moving on from my OnePlus Open, but I don't want to...(Z-Fold 8 Comparison)
I am in the parking lot of an AT&T store right now typing this. I just went to check out the new Z Fold Phones as I was planning to sell my OnePlus Open and get a phone with long term support because of OnePlus pulling out of the US Market and support will be ending after 2028. Plus I got inundated by my YouTube feed about how awesome the new Z Fold 8 form factor is. So I just spent about a half hour playing with the 8 and the 8 Ultra. I did a bunch of side by side comparisons. Tested the cameras against each other and the Open. Watched YouTube. Tested the sound. Did multi-tasking etc.. I will say the triple side by side window feature on the Z Fold 8 is pretty cool. Not sure why it's not on the 8. The Open actually has it too but it's not great as the windows stay small vertically and everything is too tiny.
As for form factor, I think the hype was a little overblown. It's interesting but not game changing. Videos are ever so slightly bigger. You would never know unless you had each side by side. But the whole punch is a little annoying on the ultra.
The left-sided sound is placement on the regular 8 is also annoying.
As for cameras it didn't surprise me but the OnePlus open was the superior setup. To me the cameras are really important so it's disappointing the ultra couldn't top the open. I compared every lens, and the open had more detail in every shot. Especially in zoom. However they were comparable enough in most instances that only when zooming past 10x, or cropping into the photo after that you would you notice there's a difference.
It's hard to tell because of the contraptions that connected to the phone but I would say the OnePlus was the most comfortable to hold especially with how the cameras place my finger rest perfectly underneath it and it feels very stable unlike either of the z-folds.
The thing I was most surprised about but shouldn't be shocked by because this happens every time I compare the OnePlus open to other phones, is that I take the case off this phone and I love how it looks and how it feels. My case isn't even that bulky but it makes the phone feel thick and heavy, but with the case off it's a beautiful device and the weight just feels premium not overbearing. And I love the look of this phone without a case. It looks and feels modern. I prefer it over either of the z-folds.
So if you're thinking about upgrading and you always keep a case on your OnePlus open I would take it out of the case and hold it for a little bit and use it that way because it really makes you appreciate how beautiful and amazing this phone is.
Now I'm second-guessing if I want to sell my OnePlus open or not. I got caught up in the hype train and my anxiety about having a device that's going to start losing value once updates stop along with OnePlus leaving the US market. But they say they are going to continue to support it as long as they originally promised. Unfortunately I already bought a used iPhone to trade in because AT&t has a trade-in program where they'll cover up to $1,900 over 36 months with certain trade-ins and qualifications for unlimited plans. So I kind of feel pressured into having to buy the z fold 8 ultra now.
It's truly a shame that one plus left the US market and that all these other overseas brands aren't here either. There's not enough competition. Apple and Samsung are almost like they're in cahoots with each other and only incrementally improving their phones each year just barely enough and then over hyping it so everyone feels the pressure to upgrade.
All I know is if one plus was still here in the US and guaranteed at least another 3 years of support I would not be looking to sell this phone. The only US market phone that compares camera wise in terms of foldables is the Motorola. But I'm afraid to invest in a phone that might rarely get updates and is buggy. Plus I'm not a fan of that camera bump on the back that's a big square.
I feel like I just had deja Vu because I did the same exact thing last year with the z-fold 7. I brought my One Plus in there expecting to be swayed by how thin and light the z-fold seven was but when I took my One Plus open out of the case and compared it along with the cameras I couldn't part ways with it. I think I have an old post actually out there somewhere on Reddit where I did the same thing too close to my reaction.
So that's my little story or should I say long story. It seems like for now I probably will be going through with this and getting the z-fold ultra, but this is truly a bittersweet and into my run with the One Plus open. It's a fantastic phone. The best I've ever owned and I've gone through more than I could count on 4 hands. If I was rich I would keep it just for nostalgia sake.
If anyone is looking to purchase their first foldable phone and doesn't want to spend the crazy amounts that the new fixing phones are costing these days, I still recommend picking up a one plus open used if you can find one in great condition. I've been seeing them on swappa for around 600 to 650. Which is a steal. And realistically it's going to have 2 years of support although only one more operating system update I believe. But right now I don't know how much I would even need a new operating system. It's got Gemini built in and a lot of apps just update these days without needing an OS upgrade.
I think I'm talking myself into keeping the One Plus open. Oops. Wish me luck in this decision. There's also the new iPhone ultra that's coming out this fall supposedly. But I'm pretty heavy into the Google's services and I don't know if I can go to Siri over Gemini so I'm pretty sure I'm going to skip that. And it has no telephoto camera just like the regular z-fold eight.
How much longer are you guys planning on holding on to your OnePlus Opens?
Apologies for any typos I use voice texting for all this.