OnePlus justifies its decision to delay the launch of the OnePlus Open 2, stating that it will be years before foldable phones become mainstream.

The launch of the OnePlus Open in October 2023 was met with enthusiasm, as it stood out as "the only foldable phone that doesn't compromise" in our reviews. However, the news that the anticipated OnePlus Open 2 will not be available in the near future has caused some disappointment. In a statement shared on the OnePlus community forum in February, the company announced that it had decided not to launch a foldable device in 2025. They clarified that their sister company, Oppo, is now "leading the foldable segment" with the Oppo Find N5, which, curiously, has not yet left China as of now.

OnePlus communicated that this decision does not represent a setback, but rather a "recalibration," although the precise interpretation of this statement was not entirely clear. During a recent visit to OnePlus headquarters in Guangdong, China, efforts were made to clarify this stance. Rudolf Xu, Senior Product Marketing Manager for OnePlus, explained that the foldable phone industry faces the overarching challenge of creating thinner and lighter devices without compromising the quality of their components.

Xu emphasized that at OnePlus, they want to offer the best possible experience to users. He stated that the OnePlus Open still possesses very competitive specifications, and the choice not to launch a new model this year is based on timing issues and how to better address the aforementioned challenges.

Economic factors must also be considered. Xu mentioned that, according to the latest research from Counterpoint, the shipment of foldable devices increased by 2.9% year-on-year in 2024, which was less than anticipated. Although the foldable market is growing, it has not yet reached a size that makes it viable for regular product launches, especially for OnePlus.

On the other hand, Samsung continues to present its foldable devices annually, such as the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Galaxy Z Flip 7, thanks to its greater resource capacity and significantly larger user base. Despite this, OnePlus confirmed that their decision does not imply a withdrawal from the foldable market. They highlighted that the pause in current launches does not mean they are completely disengaging from this category.

Thus, it can be trusted that when the OnePlus Open 2 does finally arrive, it will not simply be a rebranded version of the Oppo Find N5, although appreciation for that device is recognized.