In the rapidly evolving world of book-style foldable smartphones, 2024 is shaping up to be the year of choice. No longer dominated by just a couple of options like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold and the OnePlus Open, the market now features more players, including Vivo’s X Fold 3 Pro and the soon-to-be-released Pixel 9 Pro Fold. OnePlus has added to this excitement by introducing the OnePlus Open Apex Edition—a new variant that offers some noteworthy extras over the existing models.
A New Color and Design Tweaks
The OnePlus Open Apex Edition introduces a fresh Crimson Shadow colorway, which adds a premium touch to the foldable lineup. The frame, unlike the matte finish on the Voyager Black variant, sports a shiny, chrome-like finish, reminiscent of the Emerald Dusk variant. The rear panel is covered in vegan leather, but this time in an eye-catching crimson red with a shiny OnePlus logo embedded at the center. The camera module now features a crimson red insert, adding a unique flair to the design.
The Alert Slider on the Apex Edition has also been redesigned. It now mirrors the three-stage slider seen on the Oppo Find X7 Ultra, complete with an orange accent and a diamond pattern for better grip. This new Alert Slider not only improves usability but also introduces a new feature called VIP mode.
Introducing VIP Mode
The OnePlus Open Apex Edition debuts a new VIP mode, a first for OnePlus smartphones. This feature is designed to enhance privacy by cutting off permissions to the microphones and cameras at the hardware level. When VIP mode is activated, the phone’s dialer and camera apps will prompt you to exit VIP mode if they require access to the mic or camera, ensuring that no app can use these features without your explicit permission.
More Storage for Power Users
One of the key upgrades in the Apex Edition is the increased storage capacity. While the standard OnePlus Open offers 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of internal storage, the Apex Edition doubles the storage to 1TB. This is particularly useful for users who record a lot of Dolby Vision video in 4K. With this upgrade, OnePlus aligns its offering with Samsung’s Galaxy Fold models, which also feature a 1TB storage option but are limited to 12GB of RAM.
A Sturdier Case
The OnePlus Open Apex Edition also comes with a redesigned case that addresses some of the shortcomings of the previous models. The new case is sturdier and features a soft-touch, leather-like finish on the rear panel, which feels more premium. Additionally, a USB port protector has been added to prevent dust from entering the port.
