The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs OnePlus Open showdown should happen sooner rather than later. And we can't wait to see the outcome of the battle between what is currently our favorite foldable phone and what sounds like the biggest update ever to Samsung's foldable model.

The first generation of foldable phones was historically a rather iffy proposition. However, the OnePlus Open was a brilliant first attempt, and I was surprised at how well designed it was. Aside from some camera glitches in low light, there was little to complain about.

But Samsung has been in the game much longer, and the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 6 is sure to be very good, if not great, thanks to rumored upgrades. So which foldable will win out? Let's compare the two based on the information known so far.

The OnePlus Open will be available starting in October 2023 and will cost $1,699 (although you can get $200 off if you trade in a phone in any condition, making it actually $1,499).

Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 6 will likely appear this summer, a bit earlier than past foldables. Due to Samsung's sponsorship of the Olympics, there are reports that the Z Fold 6 will be released in the second week of July.

Prices for Galaxy Fold devices have come down significantly since the first generation at $1,980, but this time they are unlikely to drop below the starting price of $1,699. Even if Samsung maintains the current $1,800 price point for the large foldable, we would be satisfied with that as long as there are other rumored upgrades.

The OnePlus Open mimics the design of past Galaxy Folds, with a regular (albeit thick) smartphone that unfolds to reveal a small tablet-sized display inside.

The differences lie in screen size, resolution, and aspect ratio; the OnePlus Open's external OLED display is 6.31" with a resolution of 2,484 x 1,116 and a refresh rate of up to 240 Hz. The internal tablet display is a 7.82" OLED panel with a resolution of 2,440 x 2,268 and a refresh rate between 1 and 120 Hz.

Details on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 are still unknown, but there are reports that it will be a different size than the previous model. According to reliable tipster Ice Universe, the external screen will expand to 6.3 inches (from 6.2 inches) and have a 22:9 aspect ratio, while the internal screen will remain 7.6 inches diagonally.

Samsung appears to have made the foldable thinner and lighter than ever, with a thickness of 12.1 mm when folded and 5.6 mm when unfolded; from 8.92 oz/253 g to 8.43 oz/239 g, 0.21 oz/6 g less than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra It is said to be only 0.21 oz/6g lighter and the same weight as the OnePlus Open.

One area where Samsung is almost certain to have the upper hand is performance, which is almost inevitable in a new phone in this price range.

While the OnePlus Open uses Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 will likely use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and all its AI smarts. In fact, it would be quite surprising if the Galaxy Z Fold 6 did not employ the same Galaxy AI tricks showcased in the Galaxy S24 series.

It also has improved speed. Below is a comparative benchmark between the OnePlus Open and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, which already uses the 8 Gen 3 chip.

Yes, the OnePlus Open likely has 4GB more RAM, but in our experience, there is no discernible difference in day-to-day performance for most people. At this point, 16GB RAM is excessive for a smartphone unless you are using multiple incredibly demanding apps at once.

It is also worth noting that past Galaxy Z Fold devices supported the S Pen. There doesn't appear to be a docking place yet for Samsung's next foldable, but compatibility alone would make the Galaxy Z Fold 6 a strong selling point for scribblers and note-takers.

The OnePlus Open has a triple camera array with a 48MP (f/1.7) main lens, a 48MP (f/2.2) ultra-wide snapper, and a 64MP (f/2.6) 3x telephoto lens. According to two leakers (Revegnus and Ice Universe), the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 will continue the same camera hardware as the previous model. This means a 50MP (f/1.8) main camera, a 12MP (f/2.2) ultra-wide sensor, and a 10MP (f/2.4) telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.

A direct camera showdown between the Z Fold 5 and OnePlus Open has already taken place, and comparison photos are shown below.

Yes, Samsung may improve its image processing, but given that our assistant phone editor, Richard Priday, has already given the Z Fold 5 the edge in this matchup, it is probably safe to assume that the Z Fold 6 will again be the photographer's choice.

We will likely have two very evenly matched models, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the OnePlus Open. OnePlus is likely to win in terms of design and price, but Samsung is likely to win in terms of performance and photo quality.

Needless to say, our analysis of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is based on rumors, and rumors can be wrong. Fortunately, however, in a few months the Z Fold 6 specs will be confirmed, followed by a definitive review, which should settle this issue once and for all.