Late last year we said the Oppo Find N2 was a device that should be brought to the global market quickly because it was the best we've ever used in the foldable screen device category. But Oppo has not yet given any indication of a global launch and instead only the Oppo Find N2 Flip was announced at MWC 2023.
A rather strange result but we understand since according to data from Samsung itself, sales of the Z Flip4 series are higher than the Z Fold4 at a ratio of more than 2:1. Maybe Oppo wanted to test the market first so the N2 Flip was launched to see the market reaction. So is the Oppo Find N2 Flip a true competitor to the Z Flip4? This is our initial opinion.
SPECIFICATIONS
Oppo Find N2 Flip
Inner Screen
6.8″ OLED LTPO
1080 x 2520, 120Hz, HDR10+
Outside
3.26″ AMOLED,
382 x 720
Dimensity 9000+ processor (4nm)
1 X 3.2 GHz Cortex X2 chip
3 X 2.85 GHz Cortex A710
4 X 1.8 GHz Cortex A510
Mali-G710 MC10 Graphics Chip
8GB LPDDR5 RAM
Internal Storage 256GB UFS 3.1
Main Camera 50MP f/1.8 (Wide Angle)
8MP f/2.2 (Ultra Wide Angle)
Selfie Camera 32 Megapixel f/2.4
4300 mAh battery
44W wired charging
SIM/Telephony Dual SIM nano / eSIM / 5G
NFC Yes
No Audio Jack
Waterproof None
Scan System Side finger scanner
Sale Price RM 3999 (8/256GB)
SCREEN
The internal screen is 6.8" OLED LTPO that supports a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. It also comes with HDR10+ support and there is a camera hole in the middle making the device look symmetrical. The 21:9 screen ratio makes this device longer than the usual design.
There are four large bezels built into the plastic frame that surrounds the screen. For a device with a foldable screen design, we feel that this design with large bezels is forgivable because it does not have a durable glass layer and it is necessary to prevent damage to the foldable screen.
The screen is larger than the Z Flip4 which is only equipped with a 6.7″ screen. There are still two creases on the screen that are not noticeable at first. After nearly two weeks of reviewing the device, the effect of this fold is becoming more noticeable but unlike our experience with the P50 Pocket which changed drastically after a week. As a Z Fold4 user, we feel the folding effect on the N2 Flip is only moderate. In the majority of situations it will go unnoticed.
What is noticed is that when the finger passes through the middle of the screen, the hinges and mechanisms used can be felt. After four years of reviewing foldable screen devices, we can say that it's pretty common. We no longer have to worry about damage when the finger goes through the hinge bump in the middle of the screen.
Speaking of hinges, the N2 Flip uses the same design as the Find N2 where the device closes tightly without a large space between the screens. The Flexion hinge folds the screen into a teardrop shape to allow it to close more tightly. One big drawback of Samsung's foldable devices is the large space that exists between the folded screens. With the Flexion hinge, the N2 Flip is more compact and thinner when folded.
We were able to access HDR content from Netflix and YouTube without any issues. The screen is very bright with vivid colors. But like all the foldable screen devices we've tried so far, the screen's brightness level in the hot sun is still not as good as a conventional screen with a glass layer. A little hard to read but better than an LCD screen under the same situation.
Every scrolling touch and action during the first run is well read by the N2 Flip screen. Overall the performance of the screen in the foldable is very satisfactory except under the scorching sun.
The external screen can also hold up as it is 3.26″ which makes it the biggest so far. It is placed on a vertical orientation pad that makes it easy for us to take selfies using the main camera. With this large screen there are widgets for weather, calendar, notifications and stopwatch. All useful for those who don't want to open the foldable screen for quick information
ColorOS includes Cover Screen Style in animated form. There are some interesting animations every time the screen is activated. What we like the most are the animations of animals such as cats, hamsters and dogs which are quite cute. It gives personality to the device we are reviewing.
While the external screen is large, we're disappointed it can't be used for typing. Every SMS and WhatsApp message received can only be read. There are some short messages for quick replies but we can't type ourselves on the external screen. The device still needs to be unlocked before the keyboard is activated. Hopefully Oppo can offer an update to allow us to type message replies as it is a feature that exists on the Motorola RAZR 2022.
FINGERPRINT AND BIOMETRIC SCANNER
The fingerprint scanner is placed on the right side built into the power button. It detects fingerprints well and 90% situations. In 10% of situations where the finger is slightly dirty or wet, the unlocking process will be interrupted. We also noticed that when we used the polycarbonate frame provided by Oppo, the fingerprint scan failure rate increased. This is because the finger has to be pressed harder on the scanner before the detection can be done.
This happens because the N2 Flip's power button protrudes slightly from the frame in contrast to the scanner system on the Z Flip4 where the power button is placed in a moderately deep "groove". This groove makes it easy to place the finger on the scanner pad with the right orientation for more accurate detection.
That is why we also use a face biometric system that can be used simultaneously. Once the screen is open, the device can be unlocked in a flash. We recommend that users activate the fingerprint and face scanner simultaneously for the best experience.
DESIGN
Many say the design of the N2 Flip is too similar to the Z Flip4. There is truth but if you look at the design of Fold and Candybar type devices, this is also the case. When one of the most optimal designs is proven to be effective it will become the industry's next. We have no issues at all with the design of the N2 Flip as it is comfortable in the hand, small enough to fit in a pocket and not heavy at all.
The experience of opening the screen is very exciting because of the sturdy body design. There are no strange noises like on the P50 Pocket and the device does not feel like it will engage itself when shaken in the hand.
The sturdy metal frame is matched by a back panel that we feel is made of polycarbonate with a rough finish on the Astral Black model. Like the finish on the Find N2 but not a higher grade sandpaper. This makes it not so slippery and more importantly not easy to get dirty. On the Moonlit Purple model, a smoother finish is given. It is up to the buyer to choose rough or smooth panels.
The fingerprint scanner-cum-power button is placed on the right side below the elongated audio control button. As with the Z Flip4, we felt that the position of the audio adjustment buttons was too high for comfortable access. It might be better to move it to the left side. All of these buttons are sturdy and comfortable to use.
Underneath is a SIM tray, a USB-C charging port and an audio jack hole. The device has a stereo audio system with Dolby Atmos with another built-in speaker grille with a relatively large earpiece above the screen bezel.
In closed mode, the N2 Flip can be held comfortably in the palm of your hand. Because of its small size, it can be put in a shirt pocket without any issues. For women, it can fit even in the smallest handbag you have. In the car, we can put it in the cup holder and holder space on the side of the door.
In the opened mode, it is still comfortable to use because it is not heavy even though the body will be elongated compared to a regular candybar device. However it is held, there is no fear that it will fall because the weight of the device is balanced in the center of the hinge.
So far almost everything is good. But we have to say the one drawback the N2 Flip has is that it doesn't pass any official dust and water resistance standards. The advantage in the hands of the Z Flip4 that passes the IPX8 standard.
USAGE And SOFTWARE – ColorOS 13.0
The latest ColorOS 13.0 operating system based on Android 13 is used. The N2 Flip is confirmed to receive update support for up to four Android versions as well as five years of security patches. The ColorOS interface is very similar to the original Android. This means minimalistic icons, flat colors and a variety of interesting additional features are offered. Because this device is a foldable screen device, some special features are included which we will touch on in more detail below.
From the point of view of using ColorOS 13 works very smoothly even though the N2 Flip is only supplied with 8GB of RAM. By default 4G virtual RAM is enabled through the RAM Expansion feature. In addition to 4GB, users can also set it to 0GB, 6GB and 8GB according to personal needs. During the review period we put it on 4G and no issues were found. Everything is as smooth as butter helped by a screen that can display 120Hz content.
What are the special features of the foldable screen provided by Oppo? First of all is FlexForm Mode which allows the device to still be used even when the body is folded at a 90 degree angle. YouTube videos can be watched on the top of the screen with the bottom being a touch pad to control the video.
In the camera application, this allows the device to be held like a retro camcorder. Taking selfies and selfies is also easier because just place the device on a flat surface, change the camera's angle of view and start recording with just a palm command.
As was touched on in the paragraph about the secondary screen at the beginning of this review, there is a Cover Screen Style that is not only customizable but can also be the camera's viewfinder.
Other features that we find interesting are.
Edge Lighting – The screen lights up on the side every time a notification is received.
Kid Space - Changed the interface to be more kid-friendly and limited the apps they could access.
Smart Sidebar – Quickly access favorite applications through side tabs displayed on every device screen.
Split Screen/Flexible Windows -Launch two applications simultaneously on the screen or float more than one application on the screen using multi-window.
Safety & Emergency -Emergency mode makes a phone call to get help. SMS can be sent to selected people along with the GPS position when the battery is low.
App Lock - Lock access to some applications such as banking or gallery to prevent them from being used by unauthorized people.
Omoji – Generate a 3D avatar as a replacement for yourself. It can then be applied to Cover Screen Style
BENCHMARK – Dimensity 9000+
The MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ chip is in the same class as the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. It's half a generation behind the Dimensity 9200 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Even so, it's still a pretty powerful flagship chip. The performance of the device is very smooth in running various games that require high graphics such as COD Mobile and Asphalt 9. There is no issue running these two games at high settings and frame rates.
Here is a benchmark score comparison of the N2 Flip compared to the Galaxy Z Flip4 (Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1), OnePlus 11 (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2), Vivo X90 (Dimensity 9200) and iPhone 14 Pro Max (Apple A16 Bionic)
Geekbench 6
Oppo Find N2 Flip – 1028/3088
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 – 1301/3822
OnePlus 11 – 1495/4805
Vivo X90 – 1668/4000
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – 2524/6317
Antutu 3D
Oppo Find N2 Flip – 756,646
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 – 980,346
OnePlus 11 – 1,104,135
Vivo X90 – 1,147,029
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – 974,941
Wild Life Extreme
Oppo Find N2 Flip – 2617
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 – 2798
OnePlus 11 – 3712
Vivo X90 – 3176
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – 3373
The device will get a little warm after a 15-20 minute gaming session but not to the point of discomfort. We can feel this warm temperature because the recently reviewed Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 device operates cooler. The heating is more noticeable when taking a lot of pictures with the AI system on and turning the N2 Flip into an internet hotspot.
CAMERA
Only two main cameras are given which are 50MP wide angle and 8MP ultra wide angle. Both without OIS system which is a bit disappointing. On the front, a 32MP camera is used. There is the same Marisilicon X ISP chip as in the previous Find N2 and Find X5 Pro which is expected to improve the device's photographic performance.
The collaboration with Hasselblad continues as well with an XPan mode that captures images at a cinematic screen ratio.
IN THE BOX
Here is what is received in the box with purchase.
1x Oppo Find N2 Flip.
1x Polycarbonate frame.
1x SuperVOOC 67W Charger.
1x USB-A to USB-C charging cable.
1x Manual.
1x SIM Pin.
CONCLUSION
With a selling price of RM3999, it is offered at a price that is quite competitive for the Malaysian market. At the same time it is equipped with a larger external screen, a more compact hinge design, a higher capacity battery and better camera capabilities than the Z Flip4's closest competitor.
We will publish the full review of Oppo Find N2 Flip in the near future and expedited. A more detailed battery test will be done as the most noticeable issue with a device of this design is its woeful durability. Is the Find N2 Flip the best compact foldable device on the Malaysian market right now? Stay tuned for the full review later.
Pro
The minimalist design is more compact and light.
Larger primary and secondary screens than competitors.
Dimensity 9000+ flagship class chip.
Primary camera with Hasselblad system.
Large battery capacity for a device of this class.
Support four Android versions.
Cons
No waterproof or dustproof standards.
The camera is not equipped with an OIS system.
Can't type on a large external screen.