OnePlus initially established its reputation by offering affordable options to some of the most potent mobile phones on the market. The phrase “flagship killer” was for a long time associated with the brand. For a while, that tactic was very effective. However, things are starting to change. It is tough to view the brand’s most recent mobile phone, the OnePlus 11, as anything other than a genuine flagship given its price tag of almost $700. However, the Chinese tech behemoth may introduce a brand-new “killer” in 2023. The majority of reports indicate that OnePlus will introduce two folding mobile phones this year. These devices will be purportedly known as the OnePlus V Fold and OnePlus V Flip. They are expected to make their global premiere in Q3 2023. This will make them direct rivals of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5.
So, we have to wonder: Will OnePlus introduce the first real Samsung Galaxy Z rivals? The likelihood that Samsung, the company that first popularized foldable tech, will be ousted by the Chinese tech behemoth is covered in the lines that follow.
OnePlus V Fold and OnePlus V Flip
After the ousting of Huawei from the foldable market due to the U.S. ban., it’s hard to believe that Samsung will have any rival from China. In fact, it is difficult t conceive the idea that Samsung’s Z series could be defeated by a first-gen foldable, even from a company with the weight of OnePlus. No doubt, Samsung’s foldable phones are not flawless but they are years of upgrade. It’s hard for a newbie to just come and displace them.
However, the OnePlus V Fold and OnePlus V Flip won’t be first-gen mobile phones in the traditional sense. To put it mildly, they will be heavily influenced by a pair of incredibly remarkable foldable, the Oppo Find N2 and the Oppo Find N2 Flip.
Why is OnePlus capable of launching a Galaxy Z killer?
We need to grasp the connection between OnePlus and Oppo in order to comprehend why the company is actually capable of releasing a workable foldable phone in the first place. OnePlus is a formal division of Oppo. This indicates that the firms utilize the same tools and supplier networks. As a result, OnePlus will be able to effectively utilize Oppo’s prior flexible device expertise.
Also, one technique that OnePlus has successfully used in the past is rebranding. Due to the fact that the majority of Oppo devices are only available in a few countries, OnePlus has already turned some Oppo devices in the past, most notably the most recent OnePlus Pad. Thus, OnePlus may not be working on a new foldable phone. It may only be upgrading a pre-existing Oppo foldable phone for markets that the Galax Z Folds holds sway.
Because of this, some reports suggest that the OnePlus V Flip and OnePlus V Fold are merely rebranded Oppo Find N2 and Oppo Find N2 Flip devices under the OnePlus moniker. This is not always a negative thing, though, as both of these products have a variety of benefits over their Samsung rivals.
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Oppo Find N2 and Oppo Find N2 Flip are not regular foldable
First off, specs shouldn’t be an issue because the Find N2 and Find N2 Flip both have some amazing specs. In addition, they are less pricey than the Galaxy Z rivals (at least in China). And hence, we are already considering the first possible selling point, a lower price. Naturally, the renamed OnePlus V Fold and V Flip might wind up costing more, but competitive pricing is a possibility.
Secondly, unlike Samsung, which has yet to resolve a number of long-standing flexible form factor problems, Oppo foldable (and, by implication, their OnePlus rebranded counterparts) have done so. The crease issue that has dogged foldable since its inception has been (almost) completely eliminated by the Oppo Find series. Furthermore, thanks to the innovative hinge system, Oppo’s devices are lighter and more streamlined when folded due to the absence of a crevice.
So, theoretically, the OnePlus V Flip and OnePlus V Fold could debut as lightweight, less expensive foldable that is also crease- and gap-free. What do you think of that as a useful alternative?
OnePlus V Fold and OnePlus V Flip will not be “blind copies”
More recently, a new report stated that the OnePlus foldable will not be an exact replica of the Oppo Find N2. Instead, the upcoming OnePlus device will come with a 2K screen. Even though a better resolution wouldn’t really alter the game, the report, if accurate, would have much more profound effects.
A Mediatek processor is not commonly found in high-end products on the Western market. This is why having such a CPU could be problematic, at least in terms of how consumers perceive it. Historically, most brands, including OnePlus, have preferred Snapdragon SoCs due to their higher efficiency. If OnePlus is successful in replacing the Mediatek Dimensity chipset with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, this could remove a possible deal-breaker and guarantee that the performance of the V Flip and V Fold is at least comparable to that of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5.
Last but not least, OnePlus will almost likely use OxygenOS, its own exclusive Android-based operating system, on the two foldables. Given the foldable form factor, some modifications will probably be required. However, the finished product will almost definitely appeal to Western customers more than Oppo’s ColorOS.
Conclusion: An effective foldable
In conclusion, OnePlus has a better brand image than most Chinese options in the Western market. In the worst-case scenario, the OnePlus V Fold and V Flip will cause some trouble in the folding phone market. Although they may not be true “killers,” they really don’t have to be in order to make an impact. They have the potential to compete with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5. This is enough for a start.
