On the other side of the foldable spectrum, the OnePlus Open is a welcome addition to the mix with the best screen format on a book-style folding phone. It’s thin and light, and the software includes some thoughtful approaches to multi-tasking — a crucial part of the folding phone experience. At $1,700, it’s just $100 shy of the Pixel Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 5 and misses a couple of key features that both of those other options include: wireless charging and an IPX8 rating.
Does anyone really care about these though? Wireless charging is really niche and worse than wired in every way, and water resistance is one of those things phones love advertising but nobody ever notices.
Couldn’t disagree more. Both are huge selling points for me, and have virtually no downsides, unlike other phone features.
Wireless charging has huge downsides. What do you even mean? Slower charging, huge energy waste, heats up like mad
I used to think the same way until my wife’s phone stopped charging via cable because the USB port failed. The fact that it can charge wirelessly has kept the device usable.
My wants:
- ROM-friendly w/ active development
- flagship specs
- No hole-punch
Seems I can get two of three, but not all three with the latest phones.
EDIT: I currently rock a Oneplus 7 Pro running crDroid 9 (Android 13).
Remember the days when we had the notification led? :(
I cheaped out and got the smaller version of my phone with no led.
Regretted it ever since. Been 5 years and vowed to never do that again. :(
I really want a notification led
I’ve got a Pixel 6 Pro and if Google keeps providing current updates for it, I can see myself using it for three more years. It’s just a solid piece of tech.
I have a 6a and can’t wait to get rid of it. The cellular connections drops often and doesn’t reconnect without rebooting the phone, the GPS takes forerto figure out where I am making it very frustrating to use for navigation, and the fingerprint sensor doesn’t work great in the dark. Might give the s23 a shot next.
The “a” models are a different animal. We tested it when my wife wanted a “small” phone and she hated it. She has the S23 and loves it. Even then, my Pixel 6 Pro feels snappier, more feature rich, and takes significantly better pictures than her S23.
PS: We’re both on Google Fi and neither of us have connectivity issues. I’m fact, I often have better coverage on the 6 Pro than she does on her S23. That might have to do with the phone size though. (Bigger phone means larger antenna)
Thanks for this additional info. The “smallness” was something I was after with this phone, as well, but it definitely doesn’t feel as good in my hand as the s23. The pixel pro versions have some intriguing features, but they’re just too big for my liking.
I think you’ll like the S23. I haven’t heard a single complaint from my wife about hers.
Pixel 7 pro here and it’s a total piece of shit. Garbage cell connection on tmo and spectrum. Random Bluetooth issues. Battery that can’t last even close to a full day and incredibly slow charging speed. Only decent feature is the camera/photo software.
Unfortunately not many options left. Oneplus is dead to me after they removed wireless charging. Asus is just dead. Samsung ruined otherwise great hardware with worst software of any other Android phone. I never considered other phones seriously, but I’m open to suggestions.
I just need a reliable phone with wireless charging and decent camera.
I’ve never had any connection issues with the 6 Pro, but it could be because I’m on Google Fi. Also, the battery on my phone lasts the entire day. I use a high watt charger so I don’t know how the charge speed would compare if I used a 2a charger.
It’s a shame that the 7 Pro isn’t up to par.