Oppo has launched its first folding flip phone, the Find N2 Flip, outside China, aiming to challenge Samsung’s Z Flip 4. The Android clamshell costs £849, £50 less than Samsung, and boasts a different hinge design to solve a key issue with foldable devices – the crease on the screen. The phone has a metal and glass design and a bright 6.8in screen that appears like a standard phone when open. Oppo’s hinge design creates a “water drop” shape at its centre, producing a less tight fold and reducing the depth of the crease on the display surface. Although still visible, the depression is shallower and less noticeable than on other foldable phones.
When fully opened, the N2 Flip’s hinge feels sturdy and produces a satisfying snap sound upon closing, but compared to Samsung’s folding phones, it offers less resistance and has more play. While the phone can hold the screen open at angles between 45 and 110 degrees, it tends to wobble during use. The device is splash-resistant, but it does not have a submersion rating, which is an industry standard. While Oppo has not provided a formal dust-resistance rating for the N2 Flip, the company has incorporated various dust protections at the back of the hinge. The phone is designed to last for more than 400,000 folds, equivalent to more than 100 openings and closings every day for a decade.
Specifications
- Main screen: 6.8in FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED (403ppi)
- Cover screen: 3.3in AMOLED (250ppi)
- Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 9000+
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 256GB
- Operating system: ColorOS 13 based on Android 13
- Camera: 50MP+8MP rear, 32MP front
- Connectivity: 5G, nano sim + esim, wifi6, NFC, Bluetooth 5.3 and GNSS
- Water resistance: IPX4 splash
- Folded dimensions: 85.5 x 75.2 x 16mm
- Unfolded dimensions: 166.2 x 75.2 x 7.5mm
- Weight: 191g
The N2 Flip stands out from other Android phones in its price range by using a MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ chip instead of a Qualcomm chip. While the chip may appear slower on paper compared to rivals from the past two years, the phone performed well overall, feeling snappy and carrying out tasks without issue, though there were occasional stutters in some graphically demanding games.
In terms of battery life, the N2 Flip is impressive for a folding phone, lasting up to approximately two days between charges when used mostly on wifi with the main screen on for about five hours and a few hours on 5G while on the go. Using the phone for longer periods on 5G in congested areas reduced battery life by around half a day, but it still outlasts the Samsung Z Flip 4, which only lasts for 31 hours under similar conditions.
ColorOS, Oppo’s Android-based operating system, features a vibrant design and incorporates functionalities that are more common in Asian markets, which sets it apart from most Android phones available in the West.
The phone functions well, but its interface lacks finesse. The whole system displays minor issues, such as requesting a “password” on the lockscreen when it needs a passcode with a number pad, and the translations from Chinese to English appear slightly off. Although these are minor complaints, they shouldn’t occur in a phone of this caliber produced by a large manufacturer like Oppo.
What’s more, the camera cannot be quickly opened with a double press of the power button as with most Western Android phones, including Oppo’s subsidiary, OnePlus. Instead, you must double-press one of the volume buttons, which doesn’t work if the screen is on or if music is playing.
Although the cover screen generally works well, the display is often upside down when the phone is folded or picked up from a desk, requiring a second or two to rotate itself.
The N2 Flip features a 50-megapixel main and 8-megapixel ultrawide camera on the exterior, and a 32-megapixel camera on the interior screen.
The main camera is capable of capturing well-detailed and properly exposed images in good and medium lighting conditions, although pictures may appear a bit dull in dimmer settings. The camera’s low-light performance is decent, and portrait shots are also satisfactory, but it doesn’t offer a macrophotography mode.
On the other hand, the ultrawide camera is subpar, taking dark and dull shots that would only be suitable for use in bright lighting conditions.
As for the 32-megapixel selfie camera, it performs well and offers the option of capturing images using the main camera with the phone closed. Overall, while the N2 Flip’s cameras are not particularly noteworthy, they are sufficient for general photography, though they lag behind high-end competitors in this price range.
The Oppo Find N2 Flip will be available for purchase on March 2 in black or purple for a price of £849. In comparison, Samsung’s Z Flip 4 is priced at £899, the Oppo Find X5 Pro at £799, and the OnePlus 11 at £729.
Conclusion:
Advantages of the Oppo Find N2 Flip include its impressive large foldable screen, the water-drop hinge that reduces the visibility of creases, a large cover screen, good battery life, and dual-nano sim and esim capability. Additionally, it is more affordable compared to its competitors.
On the downside, it is less durable than regular phones and only offers splash-resistance with no dust-resistance rating. Its cameras are average with no optical zoom, and its software requires some polishing. Finally, it is not the fastest phone available on the market.
