Take the existing and improve it. This is what Oppo did with its Find N2 Flip officially unveiled in Europe on Wednesday. The Chinese are clearly trying to step on the toes of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip4 with a quasi-clone product, but one that adjusts for some of the competitor’s downsides.
For its first attempt in this market segment, more compact than its Find N2, the Asian manufacturer has played a good game of hands, both in design and in photography and especially in price: positioned at 1,099 euros, it is presented as an equally qualitative and less expensive alternative to the Samsung protégé.
Its advantages
design: all good
Like the Galaxy Z Flip4, the Oppo Find N2 Flip opts to be a smartphone that folds on its height to save space. Successful bet with a model that will flirt happily with Samsung. We find the same format with straight lines in polished aluminum, a back with a glossy effect, but resistant to fingerprints.
Fits in the palm of your hand when folded (85.5mm x 75.2mm x 16.02mm). This thanks to a low thickness and light weight (191 g). Unfolded, the Oppo Find N2 Flip is still an ultra-thin smartphone (7.45 mm) with a giant Amoled screen (6.8 inches) in 21:9 format with an adaptive refresh rate of 120 Hz. -reflections from the interior screen that allows you to enjoy them in all situations, with one of the most advanced brightness on the market. On the front, there is a very large external screen and a dual photosensor with flash.
Everything is nicely finished, and unlike the Galaxy Z Flip4, the hinge allows the Find N2 Flip to fold face to face. There is no room to deplore in the middle where dust or others can slip through. To be able to unlock it open and closed, Oppo has integrated the fingerprint reader on the right edge. You have to find the right finger stroke to correctly capture the gesture and quickly unlock the device.
We also like the rather vague touch on the hinge with an iridescent graphic effect to display the brand name which is the prettiest effect, especially in purple. Please note that a protective cover is provided in the box.
flexible versatile
Therefore, the interest of the Oppo Find N2 Flip is to fold it to slide it into your pants or shirt pocket. But that’s not his only strong point. Able to stay from 45 to 110 degrees as needed, you can land on a table for a video call, video conference, read streaming content, while possibly opening another app at the same time to display one on top and the other. at the bottom – or take pictures. It’s also nice to be able to use the manual controls to trigger a snapshot (by opening your palm).
Invisible fold on the inside, easily readable screen on the outside
The problem with a smartphone with a folding screen is that the groove in the hinge can be visible. As the motorola razr, the Oppo Find N2 Flip achieves the feat of making the fold invisible. When unfolded, the smartphone displays a very smooth 120 Hz Amoled panel, and in any condition, no marks attract attention.
Just as important in this kind of concept, the external screen looks big, even twice the size of the category champion (3.26 inches). Oppo has opted for a vertical format that is surprising at first glance, but is quite practical. You can display up to six notifications. For taking portrait mode photos, it offers a better view in a selfie or if you’re taking someone else.
On this screen, it is possible to select some widgets (weather, recorder, camera, call, etc.), but unfortunately not the applications of your choice. Everything is still a bit compartmentalized and the possibilities limited, although Oppo assures that the offer will be expanded in the coming months (with the possible arrival of Spotify as a widget). Also, you can quickly reply to received messages. However, there is no keyboard in sight. You will have to choose between somewhat customizable pre-written responses. We also like the ability to animate the screen with interactive animals of your choice, choose your visual, and even opt for a GIF.
solid in the photo
If the Galaxy Z Flip4 was far from being a photo camera, its rival applied to package the camera with a double sensor: a 50 Mpx main one and an 8 Mpx ultra-wide angle (32 Mpx for the selfie sensor on the screen ). The quality is more than honorable, it must be said that the Hasselblad specialist came to lend a hand to optimize everything, especially the Pro mode, with the help also of the dedicated internal image processor, MariSilicon X. The Find N2 Flip thus takes advantage of the work of the chip to enhance photos, 4K video, etc.
Being able to see yourself on the external display (whether you’re being photographed or taking a selfie) is a huge plus. The Find N2 Flip shows a double preview of the photo before you take it, on the internal and external screens. For the rest, the images are quite faithful to reality in terms of colors and brightness.
optimal performance
Oppo has not chosen to buy Qualcomm and its latest generation Snapdragons. Find N2 Flip is based on a MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ processor that competes with Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in terms of performance and power. The smartphone works very well in-game, for chaining app launches, or just for more quickly navigating menus. It also supports 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3 for next-generation wireless headset pairing.
The charger comes with more than enough power
It’s getting weird enough to report it. Oppo provides a charger with its smartphone. And it is even more powerful than necessary (65 W). Find N2 Flip supports 44W SuperVooc charging, which can recharge the battery to 50% in 23 minutes. It will take less than an hour to reach 100% charge. Oppo promises a smartphone that will last for almost three years with a battery (4300 mAh) that will remain just as efficient.
our reservations
the night shot
With two sensors, don’t expect too many miracles. The Oppo Find N2 Flip is good in photos, but less so when the light falls. The interpretation is honest, but lacks details. We also regret that there is no macro or telephoto mode for more versatility.
No wireless charging
Such a small format, we would have loved to put it on a Qi charger to give it a boost. But at this point, Oppo has limited its possibilities and ignores wireless charging.
Conclusion
For a first attempt at rubbing shoulders with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4, the Oppo Find N2 Flip is far from being ashamed. It took everything good from its rival (the design, the format, the operation) and erased the defects (the hinge that lets dust through, the autonomy of the light, the photo in particular during the day…). With the price below the South Korean foldable at just 1,000 euros, doubts may arise. Perhaps Oppo could still refine its interface to make it as smooth as Samsung’s One UI 5.
Source: BFM TV
