Late last year we said the Oppo 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 Oppi 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? Here's our full review.
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 6.8" internal screen is an OLED LTPO type 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 screen is protected by four large bezels built into the plastic frame. For a device with a folding screen design, we feel that this design with large bezels can be forgiven because it does not have a durable glass layer.
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 timer. It's useful for those who don't want to open the foldable screen to get 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 is not very consistent with only about 50% fingerprint scanning success. If the finger is slightly dirty or wet, the unlocking process will be delayed. 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. 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.
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 0, 6 and 8 GB 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 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. This warmth can be felt because the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 device we recently reviewed operates at cooler temperatures. 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.
TELEPHONY And GPS
Although not yet officially launched, we have no issues using the 5G network in Malaysia. The phone call experience is quite good, aided by VoLTE and VoWiFi support in situations where the cellular network is less than satisfactory. Clear and crisp sound with no issues with calls dropping out suddenly.
WiFi 6 performance is also good especially if you have a modem and router that supports it. Also not disappointing is the GPS performance where the position of the vehicle can be detected quickly when we open Google Maps and Waze.
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 of 65:24. We start with sample wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle photos in good lighting conditions. There is no noticeable color difference in the photos taken. The image looks sharp and the color is the same as the real object.
But the situation changes in night mode. The image from the ultra wide angle lens is noticeably softer with detail on objects that start to disappear such as on trees, floors and seats. Without OIS, the duration of taking pictures is around 2 seconds causing the image to shake when a tripod is not used. Images taken using the 8MP sensor are also not as good as the 50MP main lens.
In other situations we feel that the images that the N2 Flip camera can capture are more than satisfactory aided by the Marisilicon X chip. For a class of compact foldable screen devices, we feel that the pictures taken are not disappointing.
This is the result of the camera shot in 1x, 5X, 10x and 20x zoom mode in a rather cloudy situation. Without the periscope zoom system and OIS, pictures up to the 5x zoom setting are satisfactory. Beyond this point it starts to break up and look like an abstract painting.
Here are some sample pictures in XPan mode. As with the Find N2, we quite enjoyed playing with this mode as the resulting images look like they were taken using film. It still feels like a gimmick but the supported monochrome mode produces quite artistic images.
BATTERY
With a 4300 mAh battery, the N2 Flip can only offer around 6 hours of SOT in moderate usage and up to around 4.5 hours of SOT in heavier usage. The best usage life we enjoyed after almost two weeks was only around 21 hours. Although the battery capacity of the N2 Flip is better than that of the Z Flip4, it is still not able to offer all-day usage especially if 5G is activated.
A 67W charger is provided in the box but the N2 Flip only supports 44W wired charging without any wireless charging system provided. The device can be recharged in about 60 minutes. The N2 Flip's charging is much faster than the Z Flip4's but the truth is that neither device offers stellar battery life.
AUDIO
Stereo speakers are provided with Dolby Atmos audio system. However, the Atmos system cannot be used with physical speakers and is only active when used with audio accessories such as headphones. No 3.5mm audio jack included. The speaker quality is just average with a satisfactory volume. The bottom speaker is louder than the top with unbalanced audio.
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
Oppo Find N2 Flip is a compact foldable screen device that manages to reduce the effect of folding the screen, has a more useful external screen, offers satisfactory performance and supports a fast charging system for a device in this class. There are various additional features on the secondary screen that allow the N2 Flip to be used without the main screen open. The performance of running various applications, including the first one, is also very satisfactory.
Through the N2 Flip, Oppo has a good enough weapon to fight with the Z Flip4 which is the king in this class. Even so, the N2 Flip is still plagued by battery issues that still don't last long enough compared to candybar devices. The camera's capabilities are also a little scratched because it does not come with an OIS system. Finally, it also does not have any waterproof ability.
The selling price of RM3999 (8/256GB) is very competitive when compared to the Z Flip4 which is also offered at a price of RM3999 (8/256GB) for a limited time. Both devices have their own advantages and disadvantages. The power of choice is in your hands. For sure, with increasing competition, the foldable screen device market in Malaysia is now getting more and more attractive.
Pro
A foldable screen with a less noticeable crease effect.
120Hz HDR10+ screen
A hinge that folds thinner with no space between the screen.
Largest outdoor screen for a “Flip” type device
The fastest 44W charger for “Flip” type devices
Hasselblad cameras.
Cons
There are no waterproof standards.
The main camera has no OIS.
Battery performance is less than impressive.
Inconsistent fingerprint scanner.