The OPPO Find N2 Flip makes me excited about the current state of the flip-style market. It poses a new challenge for segment leader, Samsung, giving me hope that we will see more competition in the space.
OPPO didn’t just make a new device for the heck of it, though. The company considered the criticisms surrounding the form factor and tried to address them. Cover screen doesn’t show enough information? Let’s make a tall vertical one. Battery too small? Let’s make it bigger. Crease too visible? Let’s develop our hinge technology so you can hardly tell it’s there.
And that makes me rethink what this smartphone type means to people who want to get one. It isn’t just a communication device or a link to your online life. It can be more than that. And that’s what I want to expound on in this story.
It’s a statement piece
It seems like a lifetime ago, but clamshell-style smartphones have only made it to market starting in 2020. In that short time, it has captured a generation of smartphone users looking for something different than the typical candy bar smartphone. It’s also made a generation nostalgic for an era when the Motorola Razr was a highly coveted gadget/status symbol. But this time, it added modern-day smartphone features, making it a viable option for day-to-day use in this era.
I grew up on cartoons like Inspector Gadget, Kim Possible, and Totally Spies. So, I still can’t get over seeing a phone work as my regular smartphone does but then folds up into a compact device that I can carry around even in my smallest purse. This convenience and wow factor still get me excited.
And I’m not the only one who feels this way. I have mentioned this multiple times, but it continues to be true. I have gotten more questions about foldables like this Find N2 Flip than any other smartphone review I’ve done. It has been smartly marketed by brands like OPPO and Samsung as a fashion accessory, despite its utilitarian nature.
I was at OPPO’s local event where they introduced the phone, complete with a fashion show it worked on with renowned Filipina tastemaker and stylist Pam Quinones. Internationally, the OPPO Find N2 Flip was at Milan Fashion Week 2023 through a collaboration with ACT N°1, a brand supported by Maison Valentino. It’s seen on the runway tucked neatly inside a ruffle bag created from the designer Luca Lin’s iconic tulle.
A tool for creativity
I would be more reserved singing the OPPO Find N2 Flip’s praises if it wasn’t pretty good in other aspects, too. While a beautiful form is vital to me, what’s the use of a gadget that can’t perform well—especially in the areas where I need it to work?
And that other aspect involves its cameras. A phone loses its attractiveness and usefulness if it can’t keep up with even the basic smartphone photography and videography needs. A part of my work and how I express myself requires a camera that can help me tell a story. The Find N2 Flip knows how to shine in this regard.
If you need a refresher on this phone’s cameras, it has a dual rear camera setup with a 50-megapixel Sony IMX890 primary sensor and an 8-megapixel IMX355 camera. Then, there’s a 32-megapixel selfie (IMX709) camera inside.
The form factor allows for flexibility that a candy bar phone can’t. I don’t need to carry around accessories to help execute a vision using the Find N2 Flip. I can place it on any stable surface and just start shooting or recording. Even in its typical half-folded form factor, it allows for some interesting angles.
But then it pushes me further to think of other ways to shoot with it. Position it like a tent, hang it off the edge of a table, place it on a ledge, hold it sideways like you would a camcorder (OPPO even turns the controls sideways for easy viewing), and more.
And if you’re a solo creator like me, that 3.62-inch 60Hz OLED panel becomes your best friend. There’s no need for makeshift reflective surfaces or actual mirrors to check a frame. You can easily take selfies with your loved ones. It’s also handy for holding a toddler’s attention while trying to capture little moments. Now, if only that cover screen preview works outside the default Camera app (a.k.a. built into social media apps) and 4K video support all around, the Find N2 Flip will be unmatched.
OPPO Find N2 Flip: Final thoughts
I mention in the title how the OPPO Find N2 Flip can be more than a phone, but I admittedly talked about crucial features I pay attention to in my other smartphone features, too.
But then again, I wanted to focus on how the Find N2 Flip’s unique form factor gives a practical device that little extra oomph. It has an eye-catching and cool design that helps push the boundaries of creativity. It makes me dream of what smartphones can look like and be in the future and how they can fit into our lives beyond serving as communication devices. And this phone makes me excited for that future. Here’s to hoping we get more!
(If you need more information on the specs and my other impressions, our first look has what you need.)
The OPPO Find N2 Flip retails for GBP 849 / PHP 49,999.
Let us know what you think of flip phones!