Grab our favorite foldable phone for as low as $599 and score free earbuds – here's how

When OnePlus first released its flagship foldable phone last fall, ZDNET’s Kerry Wan marveled at the device’s sleek and satisfying form factor, noting that the Open was a wholly unique phone, different from anything else on the market.

Also: OnePlus back-to-school deals: Save on top phones (and get a free pair of Buds Pro 2)

Having tried every mainstream foldable phone that had dropped over the course of the past few years, he noted that the OnePlus Open occupies the perfect middle-ground between Google’s small but heavy Pixel Fold and Samsung’s tall and thin Galaxy Z Fold.

Also: 3 reasons why I ditched my Samsung Galaxy foldable for the OnePlus Open

Now, OnePlus is dropping the price of the Open foldable phone to its lowest yet, at just $1,399 (reg. $1,699), making it much cheaper than the Galaxy which starts at $1,800, and will run you upwards of $2,000 for the 1TB version. Plus, OnePlus is sweetening the end of summer savings with some back-to-school deals that we’re giving top marks. Here’s how to save the most and take advantage of these smart savings. 

Two ways to save 

Thanks to a top-of-the-class offer, right now anyone can grab the OnePlus Open with an instant $300 discount, dropping the foldable phone to $1,399. If you want to save even more, you can trade in any phone in any condition, and get an additional $100 off. Students can save an extra 10%, too, but anyone who purchases a OnePlus Open smartphone can choose to receive a pair of Buds 2 Pro earbuds or a Keyboard 81 Pro — totally free. That’s either an $180 or $219 value for free, on top of $300 instant savings, and $100 more off if you’ve got an old phone to trade-in. 

But this deal gets even sweeter if you’re a new customer and currently own a Samsung Z Fold 4 or 5, Galaxy S24 Ultra, or a Pixel Fold device you want to offload. Right now you can trade it in for up to an additional $800 off, bringing the Open down to as low as $599. Plus, you’ll still be eligible to receive a pair of Buds Pro 2 earbuds or the Keyboard 81 Pro with your purchase. Just be sure to select “trade in eligible device” instead of “trade in any device, in any condition.” 

If you’re looking for a new take on the foldable form factor, and not happy with Google’s or Samsung’s devices, there couldn’t be a better time to spring for the Open, which ZDNET’s Matt Miller says has taken the lead as the superior foldable device that’s a smartphone and a mini tablet combined in one. 

Also: Save up to $1,200 on new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 phones. Here’s how

The Open also has a better battery capacity compared to the competitors, boasting a 4,400mAh capacity that should easily last all day. In addition, its fast charging feature allows the device go from zero to fully charged in just around 45 minutes, which is pretty fast for any smartphone, never mind one with a foldable display.

In addition to the sale price, OnePlus also offers a handful of additional perks with purchase of the Open, including 30% off the OnePlus Watch 2R if you’re looking for a new smartwatch, or 50% off the Nord Buds 3 Pro. 

Additionally, you can get up to three months free of Microsoft 365 Personal with purchase of the OnePlus Open. If you’re looking to shop other OnePlus deals, the OnePlus 12 and 12R have similar offers available now.