OnePlus Foldable Phone Coming 2nd Half of 2023, COO Confirms

Teejay Boris, Tech Times 28 February 2023, 07:02 am

OnePlus's first foldable phone is set for release sometime in late 2023, no less than its Chief Operating Officer (COO) and president, Kinder Liu, confirmed.

Later this year OnePlus is dipping its toes into the emerging world of foldable devices, competing against the folding devices of Samsung, such as the Galaxy Z Flip and the Galaxy Z Fold.

Meanwhile, it shouild be noted that the parent firm of OnePlus, Oppo, also recently debuted a new clamshell foldable device, the Find N2 Flip.

(Photo : by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
BERLIN, GERMANY - JUNE 21: Shoppers buy the new OnePlus 5 smartphone at a OnePlus pop-up store at the Bikini Berlin shopping mall on June 21, 2017 in Berlin, Germany. Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus is launching the OnePlus 5 today in Europe at pop-up stores in Berlin, Amsterdam and London.

And now, it would not take long before a new foldable offering hits the market this 2023, as OnePlus gears up to launch its first-ever foldable device.

OnePlus Foldable Phone Releases Late 2023

As per a recent report by Tech Crunch, the Chinese tech firm not only hinted at the release date of its foldable device, it also gave us a glimpse of what to expect from it.

The OnePlus COO, Liu, confirmed that they are finally entering the foldable phone maker later this year after rumors have consistently predicted it.

Liu tells Tech Crunch they are set to "release [their] foldable phone in the second half of this year." The tech exec failed to give a more specific timeline. So it should get the shimmer of the spotlight sometime in late 2023.

Why did it take so long?

Samsung is expected to debut the fifth-generation Galaxy foldable devices in August this year, whereas the next-generation Motorola Razr 2023 might launch in the next few months.

The Chinese phone maker Oppo, which also owns OnePlus, had its fair share of foldable phones already. There is the Oppo Find N and Oppo Find N Flip.

On the flip side, OnePlus has yet to enter the foldable market, lagging behind other phone makers. So Liu explained why it took them some time before dipping their toes in this burgeoning market.

(Photo : by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
BERLIN, GERMANY - JUNE 21: Brand new boxed OnePlus 5 smartphones await customers at a OnePlus pop-up store at the Bikini Berlin shopping mall on June 21, 2017 in Berlin, Germany. Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus is launching the OnePlus 5 today in Europe at pop-up stores in Berlin, Amsterdam and London.

The COO states that "the reason why we haven't released any foldable phones in the past several years. Because we really wanted to release the best one."

Liu further notes that their first-ever foldable "will also be a flagship phone, as with the other top-positioned products in our portfolio." As such, top-notch specs are expected to be on their way.

What to Expect from the First OnePlus Foldable

Not much has been confirmed about the upcoming foldable Android phone. Yet, according to XDA Developers, Liu gave a few vague details about their next device. He touts that it "will have the signature OnePlus fast and smooth experience."

The OnePlus boss goes on to add that they are looking to "launch a device that aims to be at the pinnacle experience of today's foldable market."