OnePlus Open supports stylus input, but should Galaxy Z Fold owners care?

According to OnePlus, its first foldable phone doesn't support stylus input, which obviously gives Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 5, one of the few direct competitors to the OnePlus Open, an advantage. But it turns out the OnePlus Open does support stylus input because the Oppo Find N3 supports it.

If you aren't already aware, the OnePlus Open is just a rebranded Oppo Find N3 with different software (the Find N3 has Oppo's ColorOS, the Open has OxygenOS). Since the Find N3 is compatible with the Oppo Pen that was launched for the Find N2, so the OnePlus Open supports it as well.

And unlike Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold lineup, the Oppo and OnePlus foldables allow stylus input on both the inner and outer screen. Samsung has a special S Pen designed for the Galaxy Z Fold with a softer tip that can be used on the plastic foldable display without damaging it, but that S Pen doesn't work on the cover screen, and nor does a regular S Pen.

Galaxy Z Fold lineup still has the best stylus experience

However, there's no denying the fact that Samsung's stylus-related features are simply unmatched by any other manufacturer in the Android landscape. The OnePlus Open, on the other hand, isn't officially designed for use with a stylus so it will provide an inferior experience.

OnePlus Open customers will also find it hard to get their hands on the Oppo Pen, as it is only available in select markets. So, if you're looking for a foldable phone with the best stylus experience, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the device you should be looking at. Just keep in mind that the S Pen is a separate purchase and doesn't come bundled with the Galaxy Z Fold 5.

In addition to official stylus support, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 has advantages such as a proper water-resistant design and wireless charging that the OnePlus Open lacks. And while some of the Z Fold 5's specs, such as battery capacity and display brightness, are not as impressive as the OnePlus Open's on paper, tests have shown Samsung's foldable still edges out the Open in real-world use.

The OnePlus Open has its benefits, like a wider outer screen, considerably faster wired charging, a lower price, and a retail box that isn't depressingly empty. It also offers many of the same software features that you get on Samsung One UI. But we don't think it has what it takes to give Samsung sleepless nights or put a dent on the experience you get with a Galaxy Z Fold 5.