Maybe it’s time to try something new in the new year – how about a foldable phone? If you always feel like you need a larger display, something like the OnePlus Open will give you a tablet-sized 7.82” inner display to work with. And it’s a high-quality LTPO panel with 120Hz maximum refresh rate and 10-bit colors with Dolby Vision and 2,800 nits peak brightness.
The outer display is pretty good too, a 6.31” panel with sightly above FHD+ resolution (20:9 aspect ratio). It’s the same type of LTPO 120Hz 10-bit panel with 2,800 nits peak brightness. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and a 4,805mAh battery with 67W wired-only charging (1-100% in 42 minutes).
The cameras are better than the average foldable with a 48MP main (1/1.43” sensor, OIS), 64MP tele (70mm, 3x) and 48MP ultra wide (114°), plus a 32MP outer selfie camera and a 20MP unit inside. OnePlus promises four OS updates, the first one of which is Android 14.
Maybe you want to go smaller instead of bigger – then a flip foldable like the Motorola razr+ is a better pick. The 6.9” FHD+ inner display (a 165Hz LTPO panel with 10-bit colors and 1,400 nits peak brightness) folds down to a 88.4 x 74.0 x 15.1mm body. The 3.6” 144Hz cover display (1,056 x 1,066px resolution) is quite useful when the phone is closed.
The razr+ is powered by the older Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and a 3,800mAh battery with 30W wired and 5W wireless charging. The cameras are pretty uninspired with a 12MP main (with a tiny 1/2.55” sensor and OIS) and a 13MP ultra wide, plus a 32MP selfie cam inside (the main camera is usable with the cover display as a viewfinder too). Motorola has committed to 3 OS updates staring with Android 14.
The razr+ is one of the cheapest foldables that you can buy, but it’s not quite as cheap as its sibling – the Motorola razr. This one is just $500, which is basically mid-range territory. And the phone’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chip definitely says “mid-range”, though the aluminum frame and stainless steel hinge promise durability.
The phone’s inner display is effectively the same as on the razr+, except that the chipset can only run it at 144Hz (still faster than most). The cover display fits a few lines of text, but that’s it. The regular razr has a 64MP main camera and 13MP ultra wide. The battery is bigger at 4,200mAh while having the same 30W wired and 5W wireless charging.
Not everyone wants a foldable, so Motorola has some interesting slabs too. The Motorola ThinkPhone is one for fans of the ThinkPad series. It has an aluminum frame and an aramid fiber back with IP68 dust and water resistance plus MIL-STD-810H compliance and has been drop tested (onto concrete) from 4ft.
The hardware includes a 6.6” 144Hz 10-bit display (FHD+, 20:9) and a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. The software is a mostly clean Android with some helpful and unobtrusive Motorola enhancements. This one in particular has added security features and “enterprise-friendly” connectivity. It does have Ready For too, Motorola’s desktop mode.
The ThinkPhone is equipped with a 50MP main camera (1/1.5” sensor, OIS) and a 13MP ultra wide (120°), plus a 32MP selfie. It is powered by a 5,000mAh battery with 68W wired and 15W wireless charging.
The Motorola Edge (2023) is $50 cheaper and has the same 6.6” 144Hz 10-bit display (FHD+, 20:9) and IP68 rating. However, this one is more “play” than “work”. The aluminum frame is backed by eco leather and there is no drop resistance.
The camera is the same too – a 50MP main (1/1.5” sensor, OIS) with a 13MP ultra wide. Crucially, the rest of the hardware is weaker – a mid-range Dimensity 7030 chipset and a 4,400mAh battery with 68W wired and 15W wireless charging.
The traditional way to get a larger display is to buy a tablet, not a foldable. If you’re in that camp, the OnePlus Pad offers an 11.61” display with 2,800 x 2,000xpx resolution, 144Hz refresh rate, 10-bit colors and Dolby Vision. Note that this is an IPS LCD rather than an OLED panel.
The tablet is powered by the Dimensity 9000 chipset and a 9,510mAh battery with 67W wired charging. It has quad speakers. You can optionally buy a magnetic keyboard ($150) and/or a stylus ($100) for the Pad.
While you’re shopping OnePlus products, you can also grab a pair of TWS buds. The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 offer better noise cancellation, longer battery life and lower latency than the original Pros, but don’t improve the audio quality, which wasn’t perfect.
For a third of the price you can have the OnePlus Nord Buds 2. Despite their low price these do have ANC as well, though it’s as basic as it comes. The sound quality isn’t great either, but it is good enough for entry-level buds.
We will wrap up with a gaming monitor, the 27” Samsung Odyssey G6 (G65B). This is a curved monitor (1000R) with DisplayHDR 600, it has 2,560 x 1,440px resolution and 240Hz refresh rate. It supports AMD FreeSync Premium. The stands is height adjustable and you can also swivel and tilt the monitor (and it can be turned 90° too). There is built-in Samsung smart TV functionality built in for when you are ready to relax and stream some shows.
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Haslinda has worked with some of the largest telcos in North America and Asia. She loves tech and doesn’t like iPhone
