The Oppo Find N5: A Glimpse into the Future of Foldable Devices

For weeks, I’ve abandoned my usual Samsung foldable in favor of something different, something that has captured my attention and redefined my expectations: the Oppo Find N5. Since its arrival, this book-style foldable has completely satisfied my mobile needs. It’s not just a phone; it’s a portable portal to immersive experiences, and it’s made me question what I truly want from a foldable device.

The Oppo Find N5 boasts an expansive 8.12-inch inner screen and a substantial 6.6-inch outer screen. It’s a larger device than even the latest Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Google’s forthcoming Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Yet, despite its size, the Find N5 maintains a remarkable thinness compared to other foldable offerings, making it surprisingly comfortable to hold and use. This slim profile, combined with the generous screen real estate, presents a compelling package that challenges the current foldable landscape.

The existence of the Find N5 raises a critical question: will Oppo extend its design philosophy to OnePlus, the brand it sells in the United States? OnePlus hasn’t updated its acclaimed foldable since 2023, leaving a void in the market for a device that combines innovation with usability. The Find N5 could be the blueprint for the next generation of OnePlus foldables, offering U.S. consumers a taste of Oppo’s unique approach.

However, the Oppo Find N5 is not without its drawbacks. With a starting price of $2,500 Singapore dollars, which translates to approximately $1,880 USD, it’s undoubtedly an expensive proposition. Furthermore, its sheer size presents challenges, particularly for users with smaller hands. It can feel like you’re cradling a hefty brick.

Despite these limitations, the Find N5 has made me realize that what I truly desire is a folding tablet phone. I don’t want a device that merely pretends to be a phone; I want a device that embraces its tablet-like nature. I want ample screen space to explore, read, and delve into subjects that pique my interest, regardless of my location. This is precisely the point of an expensive phone that does this, and the Find N5 delivers on that promise. I’m ready to embrace bigger, thinner folding devices, and the Find N5 is leading the way.

Let’s delve into the specific features that make the Oppo Find N5 so compelling, especially for those adventurous enough to consider importing it. First and foremost, it’s one of the thinnest folding devices available today. When fully opened, it measures a mere 4.2mm, compared to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s 5.1mm. This remarkable thinness contributes significantly to its overall usability and portability.

Wireless charging is seamlessly integrated, thanks to Oppo’s proprietary charging infrastructure. The Find N5 supports up to 80W SuperVooc tethered charging and 50W wireless charging, although the latter requires Oppo’s cables. The battery capacity is also noteworthy, at 5,600 mAh. This is a larger battery than you’ll find in Google and Samsung’s foldables, including the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which has a 4,400 mAh battery.

My anecdotal experience with the battery life has been promising. Even with the Find N5 connected to a mobile network, receiving notifications from various apps, and syncing workouts with my OnePlus Watch 3, the battery performance has been satisfactory. For context, I’ve been using the Find N5 with a SIM card on the Mint network, and the experience has been seamless.

Beyond these standout features, the Find N5 operates as a standard smartphone. It’s powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and offers configurations with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage space. The base model comes with a generous 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM.

The Find N5 also incorporates user-friendly design elements. It includes a mute switch on the side of the device and a fingerprint scanner embedded into the power button. These features are becoming increasingly common in folding smartphones, with Samsung already implementing them and Apple rumored to follow suit in its future folding devices.

The Oppo Find N5’s 8.1-inch inner screen is the true highlight. I’ve used it to read books and magazines on Libby, coordinate with friends on Discord, and catch up on headlines using my newspaper apps. I’ve even propped it up on my belly to watch episodes of "The Anna Nicole Show" on YouTube. The YouTube app intelligently adapts to the folded screen, providing a seamless viewing experience.

The widescreen format is a game-changer. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is suitable for users who prefer a more phone-like foldable. However, Oppo’s philosophy with the Find N5 is that if you’re going to use a foldable device, why not embrace its potential and create a large, tablet-like experience? I loved having a 7-inch Android tablet like the Nexus 7 back in the day, and the Find N5’s larger screen takes that experience to the next level. It feels like I can accomplish significantly more with the Find N5’s expansive display.

The Oppo Find N5 isn’t readily available in the U.S., which raises the question of why we’re even discussing it. The reason is simple: Oppo is the parent company of OnePlus, a brand that does sell in the U.S. OnePlus often incorporates successful features from Oppo devices. The Find N5 has garnered glowing reviews for its slim design and large screens.

The Oppo Find N5 isn’t just interesting because of its thinness; it also provides insights into what manufacturers consider essential features. However, achieving such a slim profile necessitates compromises.

The camera on the Find N5, while promising on paper, is a mixed bag. It boasts dual 50-MP camera sensors, one for primary shooting and another for telephoto capabilities, as well as an 8-MP camera sensor for ultra-wide shooting. However, the primary camera tends to over-brighten images unless you manually adjust the focus. Like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, it’s limited to a 3x optical zoom.

Software updates are another area where the Find N5 falls short of the competition. Oppo doesn’t offer the same level of long-term support as Samsung and Google, who have committed to seven years of software updates and security patches. Oppo and OnePlus remain committed to a four-year timeline.

The Find N5’s durability is also a concern. The manufacturer-provided case doesn’t even cover the front screen. It only protects the back and hinge, leaving the cover screen vulnerable. While the Find N5 is water resistant with an IPX6, IPX8, and IPX9 rating, making it capable of withstanding various water conditions, it’s not designed for rugged environments. The Find N5 can withstand varying water conditions, including rain submersion and high-pressure water jets. It’s about the same on Google and Samsung’s devices.

The speakers are also underwhelming for a smartphone in this price range. Compared to the bass-forward sound of an iPhone 16, even the budget-friendly iPhone 16e, the Find N5’s audio performance is lacking.

The pursuit of the thinnest folding smartphone continues, even as manufacturers grapple with incorporating artificial intelligence into already constrained phone bodies. For gadget enthusiasts, the Find N5 represents a glimpse into the future. It’s a comfortable foldable device with sturdy hinges that allow it to prop itself up. The Oppo Find N5 offers a compelling vision for folding smartphones. I appreciate its value as a dedicated reading device, and the seamless transition from Samsung’s One UI to Oppo’s software further enhances its appeal.

While the Oppo Find N5 is not currently available in the U.S., it offers hope for the future of OnePlus and those seeking alternatives to Google and Samsung in the foldable market.