OPPO Find N2 Flip review: My new favorite flip phone

While Samsung received all of the early momentum within the foldable class, that is altering in 2023. Chinese manufacturers are lastly began to launch their merchandise outdoors their house market, with the likes of the Honor Magic Vs showcasing a stunning design with a light-weight hinge and nice cameras.Another model that is increasing its foldable push is OPPO. It confirmed off the second-gen Find N2 on the finish of final yr, and whereas that foldable remains to be restricted to China, the corporate is now launching the Find N2 Flip in international markets, and that is an enormous deal. What’s notably attention-grabbing in regards to the Find N2 Flip is that it folds in half — identical to the Galaxy Z Flip 4 — and also you get a big 3.2-inch outer display screen, giving it a definite edge over Samsung’s providing.I used the Find N2 Flip for just below a month now, utilizing it initially a secondary system and switching to it as my each day driver. While OPPO nonetheless has just a few issues to tweak on the software program entrance, I’m not exaggerating after I say that the Find N2 Flip is  my favourite flip telephone.OPPO Find N2 Flip: Availability(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)OPPO launched the Find N2 Flip in China again in December 2022, and the foldable was unveiled for international markets at MWC. The telephone is on the market in a single variant with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and it’s now up on the market within the U.Ok. for £849 and in France  for €1,099. You can decide up the foldable immediately at OPPO’s storefront, Amazon, or through native carriers.The Find N2 Flip launched in India on March 13, and it’s offered in an 8GB/256GB possibility.OPPO Find N2 Flip: Design(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)The most hanging design facet of the Find N2 Flip is the outer display screen, and it dominates consideration when the foldable is closed. OPPO did not stray too removed from the design aesthetic of the fold-out Find N2, with the flip variant providing an identical look. The system seems to be effortlessly upmarket, and the most effective half in regards to the design is that it folds absolutely flat with no seen hole between the screens.That offers the Find N2 Flip an edge over the Galaxy Z Flip 4, which has a noticeable hole between the 2 halves of the display screen due to the distinctive nature of Samsung’s hinge. For its half, OPPO is utilizing a model of the Flexion Hinge that it debuted on the Find N2, and it’s sensible. You get a clean articulation with little resistance, and though it would not want as a lot power because the Galaxy Z Flip 4, it nonetheless manages to remain half-folded between 45 to 110 levels, supplying you with the power to shoot photographs at attention-grabbing angles.(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)While that is good, what you may recognize extra is the truth that the Find N2 Flip has the least seen crease of any of the foldables. OPPO did an impressive job on this space, and whereas there’s nonetheless a crease right here, it is not wherever as pronounced in each day use as Samsung’s foldable. You simply do not discover the crease whereas scrolling or navigating the interface, and I believe this explicit trait goes a great distance in making the foldable really feel extra like a standard system.As for the design itself, OPPO did not veer an excessive amount of off the crushed path, and the Find N2 Flip options two halves joined collectively by the hinge. The telephone is offered in two colour choices — Astral Black and Moonlit Purple — and having used each, I’m keen on the Astral Black mannequin. It has a silky sample that is almost an identical to the OnePlus 11, and feels good in each day use. Although the purple model seems to be higher, it has a shiny coat that is not as thrilling.(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)You’ll discover the OPPO branding throughout the hinge, and the producer added a wave sample alongside the size of the hinge to make it stand out a bit. The foldable has an identical design for the cameras on the again, with the sensors decked out in particular person rings. The design provides to the commercial look of the telephone, and would not make it look busy within the least.The system is a smidgen taller than the Galaxy Z Flip 4, however it’s nonetheless manageable when unfolded. But it is the added width that makes utilizing the foldable a bit of simpler; I discovered the Z Flip 4 to be a tad too slim, and that is not a difficulty right here because the Find N2 Flip is 3.3mm wider. While it has a considerably bigger battery, the foldable nonetheless is available in at a really respectable 191g.(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)My largest grievance with the Find N2 Flip has to do with the dimensions of the outer display screen. While I like the actual fact that it’s the largest of any of the flip telephones to date, the truth that it extends nearly to your entire size of the half meant my index finger inevitably rested on the display screen when utilizing the system unfolded, resulting in lots of smudges.A detailed second is the authentication system. The Find N2 Flip has a fingerprint sensor that is baked into the facility button on the aspect, and it really works simply as reliably as different modules of this nature — when the telephone is unfolded. It is far more difficult when the telephone is closed, and for the primary two weeks I simply couldn’t get the system to unlock with my fingerprint when it was closed.(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)That’s as a result of the sensor is successfully the wrong way up when the telephone is folded. OPPO suggests organising the fingerprint each methods — one with the interior display screen dealing with you, and the opposite dealing with away — in order that the module works the identical when the system is closed and unfolded. Setting it up like this was a bit awkward, however it made unlocking the system a lot much less of a problem. Even so, I simply switched to face unlock because it was far more simple.Image 1 of 4(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)The Find N2 Flip has the amount button above the facility button, and you will find the dual-SIM tray on the backside subsequent to the USB-C charging port. Like each foldable that is not made by Samsung, the Find N2 Flip misses out on an IP score, and whilst you’ll discover the standard rubber gaskets, you aren’t getting any official assure round mud and water ingress.Other that than omission, there is not a lot lacking right here. OPPO is gunning for Samsung with the Find N2 Flip, and it has managed to ship the products — after utilizing the system for almost a month, I just like the design and in-hand really feel greater than Samsung’s foldable.OPPO Find N2 Flip: Display(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)With a 3.26-inch AMOLED panel, the Find N2 Flip has the most important outer display screen of any of the flip telephones up to now, and it makes a distinction in each day use. The bigger display screen is nice for viewing notifications, however the most effective use case is as a viewfinder for the digital camera, and it really works very nicely on this setting.The outer display screen has a decision of 720 x 382, and it goes as much as 60Hz. The bigger dimension offers the telephone a giant benefit over different units on this class, however I can not assist however really feel that OPPO might have performed extra with the panel. As it stands, the usability of the outer display screen may be very restricted; you’ve just a few widgets for the digital camera, climate, recorder, and timer, and whilst you can view notifications, you may have to unfold the telephone and use the interior display screen to undertake any actions.It would have been far more helpful to have a full-fledged second display screen with actionable notifications and the power to launch apps, that is not out there in the meanwhile.(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)You do get the choice of utilizing canned responses for messages — you may discover a checklist of six responses as default, and you may add your individual — however that is about it so far as actionable notifications go. What would completely make a distinction is a utility like CowlScreen OS that unlocks the total functionality of the display screen, however that’s restricted to Samsung’s foldables in the meanwhile. Another annoyance is that that you must unlock the duvet display screen to drag up notifications or entry the toggles, and it feels pointless.Having stated that, there’s a respectable quantity of customizability right here; you need to use the always-on mode with the duvet display screen, and whereas all kinds do not work — Insight would not present up on the outer display screen — most traditional kinds can be utilized on the skin as nicely. But what I like greatest right here is the power to make use of an interactive pet on the duvet display screen.(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)There are 5 animals to select from — fowl, hamster, rabbit, cat, and canine — and every animal has a singular set of animations that adjust based mostly on time of day. It is a enjoyable ingredient that makes the outer display screen that rather more participating and playful. Finally, the outer display screen has a layer of Gorilla Glass 5, and aside from fixed smudging, I did not have any points with the panel itself.Coming to the interior display screen, you get a 6.8-inch AMOLED panel with a decision of 2520 x 1080, 120Hz refresh, and most brightness of as much as 1200 nits. There are zero points with the standard of the display screen, and it delivers vibrant colours with glorious distinction ranges. It can be noticeably brighter than Samsung’s providing, and I did not have any issues utilizing the system underneath harsh daylight. It options the standard plastic layer over the ultra-thin glass floor, and feels nice in each day use.(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)The added width means the Find N2 Flip looks like an everyday telephone, and whereas it’s a little too tall for my liking, that is about the one quibble I’ve with the interior display screen. There’s stereo sound right here, with the secondary speaker tucked into the grille above the display screen. There’s a vent for it up prime, and also you get good stereo separation whereas streaming movies and enjoying video games.It’s clear that the big outer display screen has lots of potential, however that is not being utilized in the meanwhile. On the entire although, the Find N2 Flip has a lot to supply, and the interior display screen is among the many greatest you may discover on a foldable.OPPO Find N2 Flip: Performance(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)Qualcomm has dominated foldable market share, however with the Find N2 Flip, OPPO is utilizing MediaTek’s Dimensity 9000+ as an alternative. The model says the transfer was motived by a have to customise the chipset, and that going with MediaTek allowed OPPO to tweak the platform to eke out higher battery life.Swipe to scroll horizontallyCategoryOPPO Find N2 FlipOSColorOS 13 based mostly on Android 13Outer Display3.26-inch 60Hz AMOLED, 720 x 382, 800 nits, Gorilla Glass 5Inner Display6.8-inch 120Hz AMOLED, 2520 x 1080, 1200 nits, HDR10+ChipsetMediaTek Dimensity 9000+, 1 x 3.2GHz Cortex X2, 3 x 2.85GHz Cortex A710, 4 x 1.8GHz Cortex A510, Mali-G710, 4nmRAM12GB LPDDR5XStorage256GB UFS 3.1Rear digital camera 150MP f/1.8 Sony IMX 890, 1.0um pixels, PDAF, 4K at 30fpsRear digital camera 28MP f/2.2 wide-angle, 112-degree FoVFront digital camera32MP f/2.4, autofocusIngress protectionNoneConnectivityWi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, Sub-6 5GSecuritySide-mounted fingerprint sensorAudioStereo sound, USB-C, AptX HD codecBattery4300mAh, 44W quick chargingDimensions (unfolded)166.2 x 75.2 x 7.5mmDimensions (folded)85.5 x 75.2 x 16mmWeight191gColorsAstral Black, Moonlit PurpleWhile the Dimensity 9000+ is highly effective in its personal proper, it would not fairly handle to carry its personal in opposition to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. That stated, the telephone feels fluid in each day use, and I did not see any lag or slowdowns.Like all foldables, the Find N2 Flip is thermally constrained and would not ship the identical degree of sustained efficiency as common telephones, so you may discover some throttling throughout prolonged gaming periods. Outside of that, it’s simply as steady as different Dimensity 9000+-powered telephones I used within the final six months.Swipe to scroll horizontallyCategoryGalaxy Z Flip 4Find N2 FlipGalaxy S23 UltraCrossMark (Overall)8209391295Productiveness7388391185Creativity90510361411Responsiveness8339881310Geekbench 6 (single-core)152412161931Geekbench 6 (multi-core)3031336149713DMark Wild Life Extreme (rating)2528243234883DMark Wild Life Extreme (FPS)15.114.520.9The Find N2 Flip is essentially in step with the Galaxy Z Flip 4 in most artificial workloads, and that holds up in real-world utilization as nicely. It is among the many greatest foldables in the meanwhile, and whereas the Dimensity 9000+ is discovered missing in opposition to the likes of the Galaxy S23 Ultra, it holds up simply effective in each day use. (Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)Globally, the Find N2 Flip is obtainable in a single possibility with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of storage, and as a consequence of the system launching formally on the finish of final yr, it options UFS 3.1 reminiscence and misses out on the most recent UFS 4.0 storage module. That stated, there are not any points on the {hardware} entrance, and UFS 3.1 nonetheless has quite a bit to supply in 2023.Elsewhere, you get Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, AptX HD audio codec, dual-band GPS, and international Sub-6 5G bands. There’s vibration motor right here, and whereas it would not provide the identical degree of suggestions because the likes of the OnePlus 11, it has quite a bit going for it.Even although you aren’t getting Qualcomm {hardware} right here, the Find N2 Flip delivers stellar efficiency in each day use, and that would be the case for a number of years to return.OPPO Find N2 Flip: Battery life(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)The Find N2 Flip contains a 4300mAh battery, and whereas that will not appear notably spectacular contemplating most flagships now provide a 5000mAh battery, it’s the largest we have seen but on a flip telephone. It’s considerably bigger than what you get on the Z Flip 4, and the distinction is straight away noticeable — there is not any purpose for any battery anxiousness right here, and that feels nice.Even with heavy use and always-on mode enabled, the Find N2 Flip managed to final a complete day with ease. The battery longevity is not fairly on par with the most effective Android telephones that includes Qualcomm’s newest silicon, however that is not the yardstick for the Find N2 Flip. It is as an alternative aiming to ship higher figures than the Z Flip 4 and different flip telephones, and it manages to just do that.(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)The telephone additionally costs sooner than its rivals. It gives 44W wired charging, with a 67W charger bundled within the bundle. The battery takes simply over an hour to completely cost, and you will get to the midway level in 20 minutes. Not stellar figures, however once more, higher than different foldables. There is not wi-fi charging right here, with the model leaving out the characteristic to create a thinner system.OPPO Find N2 Flip: Cameras(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)Space is at a big premium on a foldable — extra so than an everyday telephone — so manufacturers have historically provided two cameras on the again. That’s true right here as nicely: you get a 50MP Sony IMX890 principal digital camera with f/1.8 lens and OIS, and it is joined by an 8MP f/2.2 Sony IMX355 wide-angle lens with a 112-degree discipline of view. Up entrance, you may discover a 32MP f/2.4Sony IMX709 with autofocus.The digital camera interface itself is an identical to different telephones operating ColorOS 13, with all of the capturing modes laid out on the backside and toggles readily accessible. While there is not any zoom lens, you get 2x digital zoom, and the pictures are strictly common.(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)One of the most effective use circumstances for the big cowl display screen is as a viewfinder, and it really works rather well. The digital camera widget has three modes — photograph, portrait, and video — and whilst you miss out on granular controls, it gives a straightforward technique to shoot selfies through the rear digital camera do you have to want to take action. Dual Screen Preview is a enjoyable characteristic that permits you to preview the viewfinder on the duvet display screen if you’re utilizing the interior display screen, and like Samsung’s foldables, you get FlexForm mode right here. It unlocks an entire new set of use circumstances and allows you to shoot at attention-grabbing angles.Image 1 of 6(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)As you’d think about, the primary digital camera does an unbelievable job in all eventualities, and the Hasselblad integration means you get varied filters and kinds to play with. The resultant pictures have loads of element, nice dynamic vary, and good colour stability that is saturated with out going overboard on the distinction ranges. The telephone does a greater job than the Z Flip 4 in low-light conditions, delivering photographs with vibrant colours, minimal noise ranges, and good total element.My principal difficulty with the cameras is across the wide-angle lens. The 8MP module simply would not belong on a premium telephone, and whereas it’s respectable sufficient, it would not produce pictures of the identical caliber as the primary lens.Clearly, the main target with the telephone is round photographs, and though the system will get OPPO’s customized 6nm MariSilicon X chipset, it is not being absolutely utilized. The MariSilicon X is designed to turbocharge 4K extremely night time video, however the Find N2 Flip solely shoots 4K video at 30fps, with no skill to shoot at 60fps. This is a weird limitation because the Dimensity 9000+ and the IMX890 can each shoot 4K at 60fps, so I do not perceive why the system would not permit the identical.In an identical vein, there is not any 4K video in any respect for the wide-angle lens, and also you’re restricted to 1080p. The full-fledged Find N2 has the 48MP Sony IMX581 because the wide-angle lens, so I’m unsure why that very same module wasn’t used right here.So whereas there may be lots of potential for the primary 50MP digital camera, the wide-angle lens is nowhere nearly as good, and the foldable would not fairly go muster in the case of capturing movies.OPPO Find N2 Flip: Software(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)The Find N2 Flip runs ColorOS 13 based mostly on Android 13 out of the field. For probably the most half, the software program is clear, refined, and fluid, and also you get a ton of customizability. One of the important thing additions in ColorOS 13 is the inclusion of always-on kinds which were restricted to OxygenOS previously, so that you get the likes of Insight and Bitmoji.Another attention-grabbing addition is a contextual mode that pulls in knowledge from meals supply providers and surfaces that immediately on the always-on display screen, making it simple to see how the standing of your meals supply. There’s additionally Spotify integration, so you may pause or play music and swap tracks with out ever having to unlock the display screen.ColorOS 13 has its personal model of the Material You dynamic colour picker, with the interface letting you select accent colours based mostly on the telephone background. While you get just one colour palette this manner — Google enables you to decide from 16 variations — you’ve the power to tweak particular person colours or create your individual. The fundamentals are sorted out as nicely: you get Gboard out of the field, and transferring knowledge from my previous telephone was simply as simple as different units I’ve used this yr.(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)Elsewhere, the notification shade has two giant tiles for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and whereas future variations of ColorOS can have a break up notification pane — just like iOS and MIUI — that fortunately is not the case for now. The interface as an entire feels polished, and there is not a lot in the way in which of bloatware. You get a good mixture of options right here, and the optimized UI makes utilizing the Find N2 Flip gratifying.That stated, the telephone is not with out bizarre glitches. I take advantage of Box to retailer paperwork, and the app would not load on the system, as an alternative switching to an online view. I could not get the Device controls tile to work with Home or Home Assistant, and it would not floor the sensible lighting and different merchandise situated inside every service.Outside of these minor annoyances, utilizing ColorOS 13 has been nice up to now. There’s excellent news on the software program replace entrance too, with the telephone assured to select up 4 Android OS updates and 5 years of safety patches — an identical to Samsung. OPPO is doing job with well timed updates, so there should not be any points with long-term utilization.OPPO Find N2 Flip: The competitors(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)Samsung is the model to beat in the case of foldables, with the Galaxy Z Flip 4 throwing down the gauntlet for different units. The telephone has a wedge-style hinge and would not shut absolutely flat, and the display screen is not nearly as good to make use of — the crease is clearly seen, and the plastic layer is not as skinny because the Find N2 Flip.The interior display screen of the Z Flip 4 is a bit too slim for my liking, the outer display screen is just too small to be of any use aside from a viewfinder, and the battery would not final lengthy. Now, the Z Flip 4 has extra highly effective {hardware}, and also you get higher software program options. Overall although, the Find N2 Flip feels higher to carry and use than the Z Flip 4, and whereas it misses out on an IP score and wi-fi charging, it will get quite a bit proper elsewhere.Samsung made lots of floor due to its early-mover benefit, however with the Chinese contingent now providing their options, it must do one thing totally different to face out in 2023.OPPO Find N2 Flip: Should you purchase it?(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)You should purchase this if:You need a flip-style foldable with a big outer display screenYou want highly effective {hardware} and a battery that lasts all dayYou need a foldable with an invisible creaseYou want digital cameraYou need long-term software program updatesYou should not purchase this if:You want a foldable for taking movies You completely want wi-fi chargingYou need IP68 mud and water resistanceYou want wide-angle lensI was excited when OPPO initially introduced that it could launch the Find N2 Flip in international markets, and after utilizing it for just below a month, I prefer it greater than the Galaxy Z Flip 4. It simply feels higher to carry and use, and the hinge is quite a bit smoother and requires much less effort to unfold. I additionally like the big outer display screen and the customizability, however OPPO positively must do extra to unlock its full potential.I just like the added width of the interior display screen — this continues to be a difficulty on the Z Flip 4 — and the panel itself is among the many greatest on a foldable. The better part is that the crease is barely invisible in each day use, and this greater than anything offers the Find N2 Flip an enormous edge over different flip telephones. It additionally lasts longer than its rivals, and costs sooner.The digital camera takes nice photographs as nicely, however the wide-angle lens is an afterthought; it would not belong on a high-end telephone. There’s quite a bit to love with the software program, and the truth that the telephone will get 4 Android OS updates is a big deal. Overall, OPPO did an impressive job with the Find N2 Flip, and the telephone isn’t just an actual contender to the Galaxy Z Flip 4, however it manages to return out forward in lots of key areas.OPPO Find N2 Flip: Price Comparison (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)