Another year has passed and the Oppo Find N3 has been launched in China today. It is the third iteration of their Fold-type foldable screen device and this time it is confirmed to enter the Malaysian market. If you have read my previous review of the Find N2, I said that it is a device that should be sold to the global market because it is very attractive due to its smaller design compared to the Z Fold, MIX Fold and Mate X series.
Oppo Find N3 now has a design that is more in line with the three competitors I listed earlier. Although the design has changed, I still feel it is the most complete foldable screen device in the Malaysian market right now. Why am I saying this? This is the full review of the Oppo Find N3.
SPECIFICATIONS
Oppo Find N3
External Screen – 6.3″ AMOLED LTPO 120Hz
Inside – 7.8″ AMOLED LTPO 120Hz
Dolby Vision
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor (4nm)
1 X 3.2 GHz Cortex X3 chip
2 X 2.8 GHz Cortex A715
2 X 2.8 GHz Cortex A710
3 X 2.0 GHz Cortex 510
Adreno 740 Graphics Chip
RAM 16GB LPDDR5X
Internal Storage 512 GB UFS 4.0
Primary Camera 48MP, f/1.7 Wide Angle, OIS
48MP, f/2.2 Ultra Wide Angle
64MP, f/2.6 Telephoto, 3X Optical, OIS
Outdoor Selfie Camera – 32MP f/2.4
Inside – 20MP f/2.2
4800 mAh battery
SuperVOOC 67W wired charging
SIM/Nano Telephony/5G
NFC Yes
No Audio Jack
Waterproof None
Scan System Side fingerprint scanner
Selling Price RM 7999 (16/512GB)
SCREEN
The external screen is now bigger and wider 6.3″ AMOLED LTPO 120Hz and Dolby Vision. It has the same aspect ratio as a normal candybar screen which makes it easy to type and run applications as usual. Because of this throughout the review period I rarely felt the need to open the internal screen. This is only done when you want to watch YouTube and Netflix or read websites and ebooks through Play Books.
The screen inside is 7.8″ AMOLED LTPO 120Hz also with Dolby Vision. The folding effect on the Find N3 is the least noticeable of all the foldable screen devices I've reviewed before. After a week of use I can still hardly see the creases. There were also a few times I almost folded the screen from the wrong direction because of this invisible fold groove.
A camera hole is placed in the upper right corner. Its position somewhat reduces the issue of blocked content when watching videos or using applications. Both the external and internal screens of the Find N3 can reach a brightness level of 2800 nits. I have no issues using the device outside as everything is clearly visible. Even though the device hasn't been launched yet, Netflix's Dolby Vision content can be streamed without issue.
My compliments go to the Find N3's screen as it's probably the best I've ever used on a foldable screen device. Dolby Vision content for example looks quite cinematic. The light source looks very bright and the black color is opaque as it should be. There is no significant difference in visual quality that I can see between the external and internal screens on the Find N3. This is in stark contrast to all the other devices I've reviewed where the internal screens are all lower in brightness.
BIOMETRIC
The biometric system is in the form of a fingerprint scanner built into the power button on the right side and a face scan. The side fingerprint scanner is fast with its position easily accessible with the thumb. I'm just disappointed that the under-screen scan system like the one on the Vivo X Fold2 isn't used on the Find N3 because these two companies are under the BBK Electronics umbrella. The face scanning system is fast but only works well if there is a bright light source.
DESIGN
As I said above, N3 is bigger than N2. The outer screen is higher and parallel to the size of an iPhone 15 Pro Max. It is very easy to use the device with one hand in the closed screen position. Because of the normal screen ratio, typing is also so easy that I rarely feel the need to open the internal screen.
There are audio adjustment buttons, and power on the right side. Also located on the same side, only on the left door of the device is a drop-down button for setting the device to ring, vibrate or mute directly. OnePlus innovation is now also given on Find N3. This adjustable button is also provided on Find N3 Fip.
There are three speakers on the N3. Two on the top and one on the bottom. Meanwhile the USB-C charging port is placed below. Oppo still provides an infrared emitter at the top. However the body of the device does not pass any waterproof and dustproof standards.
The device feels light and thin because it is indeed lighter and thinner when compared to the Z Fold5. When closed it is 11.7mm thick and when opened it is 5.8mm thick. But this doesn't take into account the height of the giant camera hump on the back of the Find N3.
It's big because it houses a 48+48+64 MP camera in a bump similar to the one used on the Find X6 Pro. There is a Hassleblad camera system with a giant “H” logo displayed on the rear panel. On the reviewed device a glass back panel is used but I understand that a vegan leather version is also offered in a black variant. For the selfie camera in front it is 32MP and inside it is 20MP.
In the hands of this boxed device is still comfortable to hold even with the big camera bump. No issues feeling like it's too sharp that it hurts to hold. I prefer a boxy design like this. The hinges feel solid enough without any strange noises being heard when opening or closing. Oppp says the new Flexion hinge can withstand being opened and closed up to 1 million times.
USAGE AND SOFTWARE
ColorOS 13.2 operating system based on Android 13 is used on Find N3. A little disappointed that it didn't launch with Android 14 because ColorOS 14 will only be announced next November. In terms of interface it is not much different from ColorOS 13 which I used this year. But there are some specific features for foldable screens.
First of all there is finally Taskbar support like on Z Fold4. The implementation of the ColorOS 13 taskbar system is different from One UI 5. First of all, there are App Library and File Pocket always on the left end of the Taskbar. Through App Library access to applications to launch more than one application through Multi Windows and Boundless View features can be done faster. File Pocket lists all the files in the device which can then be selected and used in various applications by drag and drop.
One difference on the taskbar is that it can support quick shortcuts for four applications, one App Library, one File Pocket and the last three applications opened only. On the Z Fold5, the keyboard can be used to place eight app quick shortcuts and the last two apps open.
Above I touched on the rather unique Boundless View feature. It allows three applications to be launched simultaneously as if on one screen after 15″. Unlike Samsung's tri-window system, Boundless View allows the three applications to be launched in full screen size when needed and minimized when not needed.
Three apps can also be stacked with two above and one below in full screen mode. With Boundless View the issue of thin/small application display doesn't happen. Users can combine three favorite applications into Boundless View mode at any time and they will be stored in a special icon on the front page of the application.
Three simultaneous applications with Boundless View
By default there is 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM but can be increased up to 28GB through the RAM Expansion feature. The usage experience with 16GB RAM was actually pretty smooth so I just turned it off for the duration of the review. Application installation is also fast because the Find N3 is equipped with UFS 4.0 storage.
The result is that applications can be launched instantly, more applications can be launched simultaneously and the process of switching applications is also very fast. There is no difference with Z Fold5 or MIX Fold 3 which I have also tried this year.
There is also a FlexForm Mode feature that divides the device into two screens when placed in the L position. In YouTube and Netflix, for example, the top screen will display video content and the bottom screen will display the video control interface. In the application, the top screen displays the viewfinder and the bottom screen displays various camera controls.
What I can say in terms of features, ColorOS 13.2 is a good operating system because it is smooth and has all the tablet support provided through Android 12L before. It is a foldable screen device system that is comparable to the one on the Z Fold5 which I named as the best system in the "foldable" category. Even the Boundless View on the Find N3 is more useful for multi-tasking enthusiasts than the one used on current Samsung devices.
BENCH MARK
Here are the scores recorded in the Geekbench 6, Antutu 3D and 3D Mark Wildlife Extreme benchmark tests. Despite using the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip as the Z Fold5, MIX Fold 3 and X Fold2, the scores recorded are not as high as these three foldable devices.
Geekbench 6
Oppo Find N3 – 1537/4561
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 – 1948/5373
Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 – 1912/5111
Vivo X Fold2 – 1854/5318
AnTuTu 3D
Oppo Find N3 – 1,405,149
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 – 1,597,608
Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 – 1,511,456
Vivo X Fold2 – 1,559,200
3DMark Wild Life Extreme
Oppo Find N3 – 3654
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 – 2929
Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 – N/A
Vivo X Fold2 – 3727
But the actual usage performance is just the same and I can say there is no difference at all with the higher rated devices. Fast RAM and storage allows various applications to launch quickly. Performance of common applications is also fast and satisfactory. There is nothing I can complain about the Find N3.
Initial performance is also comparable to devices equipped with other Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chips. No heating issues, playable at highest graphics settings and at highest frame rates. First ones like COD Mobile can be played on external and internal screens without any issues at all.
TELEPHONY And GPS
On the Digi network I subscribe to everything works fine. Voice calls are clear and bright especially through VoLTE and VoWiFi. WiFi performance is also excellent because it supports WiFi 6E. If you subscribe to an ultra-fast internet service, you can enjoy it at the highest speed using Find N3.
GPS performance is also not disappointing. The location of the vehicle is detected in less than two seconds. If the wrong junction is taken, the new location can be re-detected within a second. There is no issue of getting lost or the location cannot be tracked when used in the middle of Kuala Lumpur.
CAMERA
Here is a sample of photos that were successfully taken using the Find N3 during the week or so that I reviewed it. In dark or bright situations the pictures taken are very satisfactory as you can see for yourself below.
Not many sample photos can be taken because the hazy conditions for the past three weeks make most of the photos taken look gray and lifeless. This is not a camera issue but a weather issue. Only in Singapore the sky looks brighter and the pictures below can be taken.
The XPan camera system is provided on the rear camera only. This is a mod that I quite like on Oppo devices and glad it's back on the Find N3. Wider pictures in XPan mode look really cinematic.
BATTERY
The 4800 mAh battery used can last up to 11 hours with a SOT of around 9 hours on heavy use. It goes up to 16 hours with a SOT of around 7.5 hours on lighter usage. The battery performance is only moderate but is helped by the 67W SuperVOOC charging which can recharge the battery in around 50 minutes. This charger with cable is given once with every purchase. The only downside is that there is no wireless charging support.
AUDIO
The three speakers on the Find N3 make it a foldable screen phone with the best audio system I've ever used. The audio produced is balanced and dynamic. Doesn't feel cluttered even at low settings. At high volume it does not break. The Dolby Atmos system can be used on physical speakers and tethered bluetooth accessories. When watching a movie, the sound is clear and doesn't drown out the surrounding noise. The only downside is that there is no audio jack but this is the norm on flagship Android devices these days.
IN THE BOX
Here's what's included in the box.
1x Oppo Find N3
1x USB-A to USB-C charging cable.
1x SuperVOOC 67W Charger.
1x SIM Pin.
1x Frame set
CONCLUSION
Oppo Find N3 is the best foldable screen device I've reviewed so far because of its bright enough screen without noticeable creases, easy-to-use external screen, complete software, satisfying foldable features, best camera in its category and best audio too in the category. It's the most complete foldable screen device to date in my opinion.
The disadvantages are still there such as no waterproof and dustproof standards and the battery life is not as good as Honor Magic Vs. But all these shortcomings are minor when looking at the advantages that Find N3 has over competitors.
At a price of RM7999, it is quite expensive when compared to the Z Fold5 and Magic Vs launched this year. However, as I said earlier, Find N3 has some better features than its competitors. Worth it or not is in the hands of the buyer. I can only say so far, Find N3 is the best device in the foldable screen category so far.
Pro
Landmark specifications.
Very satisfactory performance in all situations.
The best camera on a foldable screen device.
The best screen on a foldable screen device with Dolby Vision.
Thinner design with less noticeable creases.
Fast charging.
Cons
Not waterproof or dustproof.
The price is quite expensive.
No wireless charging.
Average battery performance.