This year which has just begun will be the year that folding phones grow in popularity and options. Last year we saw proposals from companies such as Xiaomi or Huawei, but OPPO allowed us to test its first folding smartphone, the OPPO Find N, which was announced in China a month ago.
This device has not yet confirmed its distribution in Spain, but we have been able to test it for a week with Google services to offer you an analysis of what day-to-day life is like with this model.
It does not have the best processor, nor does it need it
When OPPO presented this model, Qualcomm had already announced the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, but the Chinese company opted for the previous model, the Snapdragon 888. There are two versions of memory, one with 8 and 256 GB and another with 12 and 512 GB, which is what we have been able to test.
The experience has been outstanding at all times, without any problem, neither for the hardware nor the software.
The change of screen moved the content without problem, and only once have we seen that the external screen has not turned on when pressing the button with the fingerprint sensor. It is the only fault detected.
And speaking of the fingerprint sensor, we have to say that it is undoubtedly the fastest side sensor we have tested by far. It’s a delight to use an item with this speed of response.
Using the closed terminal causes the weight to be concentrated, which is strange, especially when typing on the external screen. It does not become a problem and is still more comfortable than the Samsung Z Fold 3, but it is still striking.
Two top-tier screens
Foldable phones are sometimes known as dual-screen phones, and it makes sense. Given their form factor, it is almost mandatory to have a screen outside and another inside.
In this case, the external screen is 5.49 inches and takes us back to a time when mobile phones were much smaller. It has FHD + resolution and a refresh rate of 60 Hz. As you can see, there are no impressive figures here.
But there are two that should be mentioned. On the one hand, we have an 18:9 screen ratio, which makes the content fit perfectly, which doesn’t always happen on phones like the Z Fold 3.
On the other hand, the maximum brightness is 1100 nits, something to value because outdoor use will be a joy, as we have seen.
Designed to be used in one hand without opening
OPPO Find N
What attracts attention, or at least the first thing that does, is the shape of this device. OPPO has explained that they wanted to reproduce the user experience of the past decade when we could use a mobile phone with one hand without having to juggle.
This is possible since the external screen has a slightly elongated ratio and a diagonal of 5.49 inches. The phone seems much more compact in hand than in photos and videos.
Of course, the thickness when it is closed is high, 16 mm, something very logical since it is, in fact, a combination of two halves. But the problem is not so much the thickness as the weight, and the 283 grams of this Find N are a lot even considering that it is a folding mobile.
OPPO Find N
Part of the reason for this is that the model we have analyzed is the version with a ceramic finish, in white, which weighs 8 grams more than the others. In exchange, it has a more resistant rear. In this area is the camera module, which rises with a slope formed by the rear finish that OPPO already used in the Find X3 Pro suits it well. Of course, the module has a piece that stands out and does not give the same impression as in the Find X last year.
On the perimeter, made of metal, we have the volume buttons on the left side and the power button (which is where the fingerprint sensor is located) on the right side. At the top, there is only a microphone; at the bottom, we have the SIM slot, the charging connector, and the two speakers.
OPPO Find N
This decision is strange because to try to have the best sound; the logical thing would have been to put a speaker at the top and another at the bottom. Of course, we can not complain about the volume, which is absurdly powerful.
When we open the phone, the internal screen is exposed, 7.1 inches with a perforation for the camera and more noticeable frames than in Samsung mobiles.
OPPO Find N
Where it improves, and a lot, the OPPO Find N is in the central wrinkle. Visually it is almost invisible, and we are not exaggerating, and to the touch, it is appreciated only if we pay close attention. It is incredible what they have achieved in the Chinese company with their first folding. Also, OPPO CPO Pete Lau (one of the OnePlus co-founders) has shown a drive on Weibo with more than 100,000 openings and closings. And still no wrinkle.
As if that were not enough, when we close the mobile again, we see that there is no clearance between the two areas since the hinge moves internally to fold the screen and form a drop of water, similar to what we do when we fold a sheet of paper, but we did not finish tightening it.
