Highly anticipated with its new folding smartphones, Oppo had specified that its Find N2 and Find N2 Flip would be formalized during its Inno Day conference, organized on December 14 and 15 in China. The manufacturer is therefore unveiling these two smartphones, successors to a Find N unveiled at the same event at the end of 2021. But in the wake of the first Find N, the Find N2 will be reserved for the Chinese market, while the Flip model is i.e. in clamshell format, will be marketed in Europe. The brand had confirmed to us, a few months ago, its intention to enter the European market for folding smartphones, and therefore intends to keep its word, but by favoring the least expensive of its latest products.
A clamshell smartphone that’s actually usable when closed
The Find N2 Flip, which we are interested in here, therefore aims to walk on the flowerbeds of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, which to date only comes up against half-hearted competition (Motorola Razr 2022, Huawei P50 Pocket ). Oppo’s smartphone stands out from its rivals with one key element: its external screen. Positioned in portrait mode, like a traditional smartphone screen, but in a miniaturized format (3.26 inches, 720 x 382 pixels), it is supposed to allow the user to perform simple actions without opening their smartphone. This external screen is flanked by two photo modules, 50 (Sony IMX890 sensor with wide-angle optics) and 8 megapixels (ultra wide-angle), both stamped Hasselblad, the partner of Oppo and OnePlus.
Oppo says it has equipped its smartphone with a 6.8-inch Amoled (LTPO) interior screen displaying Full HD+ definition. It’s backed by a next-gen Flexion Hinge that’s smaller than the Find N’s, and which the brand promises will virtually make the center bend disappear. If the Find N2 in book format is equipped with a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip, the Find N2 Flip, on the other hand, relies on a chipsets Dimensity 9000+ from MediaTek, which Oppo indicates is customized for its needs and flanked by 8 to 12 GB of RAM. This SoC is accompanied by a 4300 mAh battery compatible with SuperVOOC fast charging (44 W) and supposed to provide a day of autonomy. Endurance being one of the trickiest challenges for clamshell folding terminals, it is of course a criterion that we will carefully examine during our tests. Note that the smartphone weighs 191 grams, and measures 166.2 x 75.2 x 7.45 mm when open (85.5 x 75.2 x 16.02 mm when closed).
Marketing in the first quarter of 2023
The price of the Find N2 Flip is yet to be confirmed. The brand is content to mention a competitive price, which will be detailed in the first quarter of 2023, during which Oppo plans to market it in France. The period promises to be busy, since we are also awaiting the presentation of the Find X6 series, which is also starting to make people talk about it.