Inside The OnePlus Open – And The Machines That Torture It [Exclusive]

In an exclusive behind-the-scenes look, OnePlus took us deep inside their headquarters in China to explore the OnePlus Open, the company’s first phone featuring a flexible display. The journey wasn’t just about seeing a new device, but about understanding the rigorous testing and design that goes into making a phone that can survive the harshest real-world conditions. Here’s an in-depth look at the OnePlus Open and the machines that help ensure its durability.

A Journey to China for the OnePlus Open

OnePlus flew me halfway around the world to give me an exclusive first look at the OnePlus Open—and the machines used to torture it. While I’m not allowed to show everything just yet, this tour provided a fascinating glimpse into the development of a phone that has ambitious goals in the foldable space. As expected, there were some things I couldn’t show, including the camera bump on the back and the software under the lock screen, both of which OnePlus plans to debut officially on October 19th.

Upon arriving at OnePlus HQ in Shenzhen, China, the environment felt like something out of a tech enthusiast’s dream. The company’s headquarters towers over the bay in the posh Nanshan district. The cafeteria offered iced coffee with built-in lemonade, and meals were served on fancy Lazy Susans. With the comfort of plush Playmates on the seats during business-class flights, it became clear that OnePlus was serious about making an impact with this launch.

The OnePlus Open: A Bold Entry into Foldables

The OnePlus Open represents OnePlus’s first venture into foldable devices, and the company is confident it has something special. The phone is designed to challenge the likes of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Google’s Pixel Fold, both of which feature deeper creases on their displays. OnePlus aims to stand out by minimizing this crease, a common issue in foldables, using a refined approach similar to its sister company Oppo’s foldables.

The phone’s hinge is a key element of this design. OnePlus claims to have improved on the existing Oppo hinge technology, reducing the number of parts from 100 to just 69, which significantly reduces the complexity and weight of the device. The materials used in the hinge are lightweight alloys, including titanium, zirconium, and cobalt malum steel. These are complemented by a support layer made of carbon fiber, which sheds 13g from the phone’s overall weight.

Durability Testing: Pushing the OnePlus Open to Its Limits

After seeing the design and construction up close, I was taken to a facility north of Shenzhen to witness the torture testing that the OnePlus Open goes through before it’s deemed ready for the market. OnePlus put the device through various tests, simulating real-world abuse and stress.

The Drop Shop is the first stop in the factory tour, where the phone is dropped repeatedly in a rotating drum, falling onto solid steel. Phones are dropped twice per rotation, and they pass if they withstand 30 rotations with no cosmetic damage and 75 with no functional impairments. But the testing doesn’t stop there. Devices are also subjected to drops from just 10 cm to simulate careless drops.

Another grueling test is the Button and Butt test, where robots press the volume keys 100,000 times and the power button 200,000 times. Additionally, the USB port is inserted and removed 20,000 times. The phone also undergoes a Soft Pressure Test, simulating sitting on the device when it’s in a back pocket, applying 50 lbs of force 1,000 times. To test the device’s resistance to twisting, the phone is rotated with 2 newton meters of force for 500 twists.

Perhaps the most intense part of the testing process is the Drowning Machine, which simulates water exposure. Phones are placed on a rotating turntable at a 75° angle and blasted with water for 2.5 minutes. The process is repeated until all four sides of the device have been drenched. There are drainage holes built into the hinge of the OnePlus Open, allowing any water that enters the phone to escape. This helps improve the device’s water resistance.

The OnePlus Open passed these tests, including the IPX2 and IPX4 water resistance tests, proving that the phone can handle more than just a drop in the pool.

The Intricacies of the OnePlus Open’s Design

What sets the OnePlus Open apart from other foldables isn’t just the design or the hinge but also the water resistance and attention to detail. For example, lubricating oil plays a crucial role in reducing friction within the hinge and improving water resistance. OnePlus has also applied adhesive coatings to parts of the hinge to capture dust before it causes any damage.

All in all, OnePlus has invested a significant amount of time and resources—over a year and a half of research and 92 prototypes—into ensuring that the OnePlus Open is not just a functional device but one that is durable enough to survive daily wear and tear.

Conclusion: The OnePlus Open Is Ready for the Real World

In conclusion, the OnePlus Open has undergone an exhaustive series of tests to ensure it stands up to the challenges of daily use. From drop tests to water resistance tests and more, this phone is built to last. While the final camera bump and software features are still under wraps, OnePlus has already demonstrated its commitment to quality and durability.

Stay tuned for the full review, as we’ll dive deeper into the camera features, display quality, and performance once the device is officially launched. OnePlus has clearly spent years perfecting this foldable device, and it’s exciting to see where this will go in the highly competitive foldable market.