Reviews
Oppo Find N3 Flip Review
Oppo has introduced the Find N3 Flip, the company’s latest tiny foldable smartphone with an improved design, hinge, performance, and camera experience. It’s only an evolutionary step up from the Find N2 Flip, but it’s turning up to be one of the greatest smartphones in its category.
The Find N3 Flip improves on the N2 Flip’s design with redesigned glass panels, more curves, and increased durability thanks to updated Gorilla Glass Victus protection and IPX4 splash resistance. The two panels are unchanged: a huge 6.8-inch foldable LTPO AMOLED and a 3.26-inch external OLED with a 17:9 aspect ratio.
The new Find N3 Flip is powered by the most recent Dimensity 9200 chipset, which has a better CPU and GPU than the Dimensity 9000+ inside the N2 Flip and is one of the top three chips on the market right now. The N3 Flip has 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB or 512GB of UFS4.0 storage. The Oppo Find N3 Flip has a 4,300mAh battery that supports 44W fast wired charging. There is no wireless charging available.
- Body: 166.4×75.8×7.8mm, 198g; plastic front (unfolded), glass back (unfolded), aluminum frame; IPX4 splash resistant.
- Display: 6.80″ Foldable LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1600 nits (peak), 1080x2520px resolution, 21:9 aspect ratio, 403ppi; Cover display: AMOLED, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, 3.26 inches, 382 x 720 pixels, 250 ppi, 800 nits (HBM), 900 nits (peak).
- Chipset: Mediatek Dimensity 9200 (4 nm): Octa-core (1×3.05 GHz Cortex-X3 and 3×2.85 GHz Cortex-A715 and 4×1.80 GHz Cortex-A510); Immortalis-G715 MC11.
- Memory: 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM; UFS 4.0.
- OS/Software: Android 13, ColorOS 13.2.
- Rear camera: Wide (main): 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm, 1/1.56″, 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS; Telephoto: 32 MP, f/2.0, 47mm, 2x optical zoom, PDAF; Ultra-wide angle: 48 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 114˚, AF.
- Front camera: 32 MP, f/2.4, 21mm (wide), 1/2.74″, 0.8µm, AF.
- Video capture: rear camera: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps; gyro-EIS; front camera: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30; gyro-EIS.
- Battery: 4300mAh; 44W wired; 50% in 23 min (advertised); reverse wired.
- Connectivity: 5G; Dual SIM; Wi-Fi 7; BT 5.3, aptX HD; NFC.
- Misc: fingerprint reader (side-mounted); stereo speaker
Design
Oppo’s design approach for the Find N3 Flip closely resembles its predecessor, the Find N2 Flip. Retaining a pleasing, rounded design, it offers a comfortable grip in contrast to the Galaxy Z Flip 5’s sharper edges and flat sides. However, I find myself missing the matte finish seen in the Astral Black variant of the Find N2 Flip, as the current glossy finish tends to be slippery.
While the overall appearance and feel of this foldable device exude luxury, I couldn’t help but notice some sharp edges along the bottom edge of both halves when folded, where the curved outer panels meet the flat frame. Given the premium price point of around Rs. 1 lakh, I expected a higher level of attention to detail. Fortunately, Oppo includes a simple yet effective matte-finished case in the package, providing both halves with added grip.
The rectangular cover display on the top half maintains its previous design, and it seems that Oppo has kept this orientation to accommodate the innovative triple rear camera setup, a first for clamshell foldables globally. I appreciate the thought put into the design of the triple rear camera layout.
Regarding the inner folding display, the crease is remarkably shallow and nearly imperceptible, complemented by ultra-thin bezels on all four sides. The flat nature of these bezels enhances the experience of swipe-in or swipe-out gestures at the display edges. Similar to its predecessor, the inner folding display exhibits resistance to fingerprint smudges, and even if smudges occur, they can be effortlessly wiped away.
Turning attention to the taller cover display, there’s a discrepancy in Oppo’s advertising. Due to the left-sided layout of the cover display when held folded with the hinge up, accessing it over the circular camera module felt somewhat inconvenient, despite my relatively large hands making it manageable but not ideal.
Surprisingly, Oppo suggests using the phone with the hinge down, making the left-handed display easily accessible for right-handed users. However, this adjustment creates an unusual layout issue for the fingerprint reader, which relocates to the opposite side, requiring unlocking with the ring finger instead of the thumb— a design choice that struck me as perplexing.
In an attempt to conform to this “advertised orientation” with the right hand and the display on the right, the phone operated as expected. However, flipping it open upside down necessitates the use of both hands or risks an awkward maneuver of swinging the phone around (bringing the hinge up) with one hand and then unfolding it conventionally.
In summary, the optimal way to use the cover display is with the hinge positioned at the top and the display on the left, replicating the natural flipping motion for the main display. However, individuals with smaller hands may find this arrangement challenging due to the phone’s width.
The nearly invisible crease and ultra-thin, flat bezels are made possible by the Flexion hinge, Oppo’s proprietary design crafted from aircraft-grade steel. Featuring a water drop design, this hinge enables both halves of the foldable to close seamlessly, eliminating any visible gap. Oppo asserts that the Flexion hinge can endure up to 1,000,000 folds, though this claim could not be independently verified.
In terms of user experience, the hinge impresses. Similar to the Oppo Find N2 Flip’s hinge, it is responsive and light in operation. It strikes a balance, avoiding the looseness seen in the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra’s hinge and the tightness of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5’s hinge. Operating the foldable with one hand, opening and closing it requires minimal effort, showcasing Oppo’s successful calibration of tension and force.
Unlike Samsung’s hinge, Oppo’s Flexion hinge has a defined sweet spot, allowing one-half to stay upright within the 45-120 degree range. Pushing it beyond this range will cause the phone to either shut abruptly or unfold completely.
Another notable advantage of the hinge design is the inclusion of an IPX4 rating for water resistance in the Oppo Find N3 Flip. While this provides basic protection against water splashes or light rain, it’s essential to note that more significant water exposure, such as immersion in a tub or pool, may necessitate a visit to the service center.
Specifications and Software
The Oppo Find N3 Flip, following in its predecessor’s footsteps, employs a MediaTek processor. This time, the upgrade shifts from the MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ SoC to a Dimensity 9200 SoC (4nm). The device boasts 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage, supporting various 5G bands with dual-5G standby and accommodating two nano SIM cards (or 1 SIM card and one eSIM). Communication standards include Wi-Fi AC, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, a USB Type-C port, and compatibility with global positioning systems. The phone’s fingerprint reader is seamlessly integrated into the power button and exhibited reliable performance throughout the review period. Despite a substantial 4,300mAh battery and 44W wired charging, there is no provision for wireless charging.
Running on Oppo’s ColorOS 13.2, based on Android 13, the device incorporates the expected features of the skinned operating system commonly found on OnePlus smartphones. Specific settings for the cover display are consolidated under a dedicated section in the Settings app labeled ‘Foldable features.’ Here, users can customize the cover screen wallpaper, as well as add or remove mini-apps and third-party apps.
Functionally, the cover display marks a significant improvement over its predecessor, which primarily ran mini versions of native apps resembling widgets. While retaining elements of the old interface with “Mini apps” (scaled-down versions of native apps like weather, timer, etc.), Oppo introduces a selection of full apps, including third-party ones, similar to the Galaxy Z Flip 5. Notably, apps can transition from the cover display to the main display but not vice versa, a quirk that may feel unconventional. However, since the cover display is primarily intended for quick message responses via voice, it doesn’t match the functionality of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5’s display. Responding via a full keyboard in supported third-party apps is possible, but due to the width of the cover display, it may feel cramped.
Similar to its counterpart, third-party app support for the cover screen is in beta. To open a notification from these apps, users must tap to expand the notification from the lock screen or the notifications tray. After expansion, two choices emerge: “Open app” within the cover display itself or “Unfold to continue” via the main screen. Opting for the former directs users to the corresponding app or thread on the cover display, provided Oppo has included it in its beta-supported app selection. Responding to most messaging apps, even unsupported ones, is feasible through the cover display’s built-in reply system, offering emojis, customizable preset text replies, and voice-to-text responses. In essence, the experience is not as seamless as the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra’s cover display, acknowledged as the most effective implementation on a clamshell foldable. Consequently, users may frequently find themselves opening and accessing the main display.
Performance
The Oppo Find N3 Flip delivers commendable software performance with a smooth user experience. Operating in the default battery mode, I encountered no lag or stuttering, proving sufficient for my daily app usage. Benchmark tests also affirmed the phone’s capabilities, although it achieved slightly lower scores compared to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, which boasts a custom Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. The Oppo Find N3 Flip managed an AnTuTu score of 10,27,655 and Geekbench scores of 1,116 and 3,325 points in its single and multi-core tests, respectively.
Equipped with a dual speaker setup, the phone’s audio quality is notable, with the top speaker also serving as the receiver, delivering balanced sound and clarity even at higher volumes.
Impressively, the gaming performance stands out, particularly with titles like Call of Duty: Mobile running smoothly on various settings, including the demanding Medium graphics and Ultra frame rate combination, achieving a commendable 120fps. While the phone did warm up during gaming sessions, it maintained optimal performance without excessive heat. The Pro Gamer mode’s touch sampling rate further enhances the gaming experience, accurately registering swipes in the slide-out gaming console.
Despite the enjoyable gaming experience, the display’s durability remains a concern. The main Schott UTG display exhibited a few dents, a consequence of gaming, highlighting that Oppo’s display may not be as robust as Samsung’s foldable solution.
In terms of battery life, the Oppo Find N3 Flip impressively lasts a whole day and more, even on the busiest days with gaming and camera usage. With at least 20 percent remaining after intensive use, the phone showcases effective optimization of both software and hardware. This represents a notable improvement over the Oppo Find N2 Flip and surpasses the battery life of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Motorola’s Razr 40 Ultra in our HD video loop test, clocking in at 23 hours and 54 minutes.
Charging efficiency is another strong suit, with the phone reaching 58 percent in just 30 minutes and completing a full charge in 1 hour and 5 minutes, outpacing the competition in terms of speed.
Cameras
The Oppo Find N3 Flip distinguishes itself as the first clamshell foldable smartphone to feature a genuinely premium camera setup. The rear camera system, a result of Oppo’s partnership with camera manufacturer Hasselblad, includes a 50-megapixel primary camera with optical image stabilization (OIS), a 32-megapixel telephoto camera offering 2X optical zoom, and a 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera boasting a 114-degree field of view and a minimum focus distance of 4cm in macro mode. For selfies, a 32-megapixel front-facing camera takes charge. Drawing parallels with OnePlus’s collaboration with Hasselblad, Oppo’s rear camera exhibits similar vibrancy and quality.
The telephoto camera, a first for clamshell foldables, performs well, delivering impressive close-up shots with natural bokeh in daylight. While it may lose some detail in low-light conditions, the resulting photos remain usable. In-sensor lossless zoom at 5X magnification produces acceptable results in daylight, albeit with noticeable purple fringing, but is less effective in low-light scenarios. The ultra-wide-angle camera produces slightly cooler color tones compared to the primary camera. Images pack in good detail and surprising sharpness, with commendable dynamic range, although barrel distortion is noticeable towards the image edges. Macro photography yields impressive results, allowing for close-up shots with sharp details, although the color tones may lean towards the cooler side.
The phone supports 4K video recording at 30 fps across all cameras, thanks to their high-resolution sensors. However, recorded videos may appear slightly underwhelming in terms of detail and clarity. Decent stabilization is present, but the camera struggles to maintain a steady framerate during shooting. Low-light video performs adequately with good stabilization but does exhibit noticeable noise.
Conclusion
With the dual foldable releases from the Oppo and OnePlus collaboration under BBK Electronics, it’s evident that both brands have presented a substantial challenge, setting a high standard for Samsung’s anticipated foldables—the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and the Galaxy Z Fold 6.
The OnePlus Open stands out as a clear winner, outshining Samsung’s 2023 offerings. However, my sentiments toward the Oppo Find N3 Flip are more nuanced. The vertical layout of its cover display leaves me with mixed feelings, and there’s uncertainty about whether Oppo will opt for a different design in the next iteration.
While the Find N3 Flip boasts impressive raw performance, including gaming capabilities, commendable camera quality, and noteworthy battery life coupled with fast charging, its unique cover display layout may not resonate with all users. The user experience on the cover display depends heavily on the daily apps one uses, making it a less seamless experience for those who frequently utilize the cover display on their foldables. Opt for this model if you seldom use the cover display or if it’s your first foldable device and you don’t anticipate using the feature frequently.
