At a look
Professional’s Ranking
Execs
- Sturdy, gapless hinge design
- Glorious primary digital camera
- Large cowl show
- Good battery
Cons
- No water-resistance
- No wi-fi charging
- Unreliable Bluetooth
Our Verdict
The Discover N2 Flip is one other incredible foldable, and the primary actual rival to Samsung’s Z Flip 4 within the West. Oppo has the sting on digital camera efficiency and construct high quality, and the aggressive UK worth could make this flip cellphone difficult to withstand.
Value When Reviewed
Not obtainable within the US
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip has lengthy reigned (nicely, for a few years) the king of the foldable clamshell cellphone. However now, with the European launch of the Oppo Discover N2 Flip, it could lastly have to surrender that crown.
Oppo’s first flip cellphone – and third foldable general – takes intently after Samsung’s newest Z Flip 4. However an improved hinge, extra succesful digital camera, and bigger cowl show make this a extra sensible possibility for many, helped by a extra reasonably priced £849 price ticket – not less than within the UK.
The Z Flip 4 nonetheless has the sting on software program, and a sure je ne sais quois visible aptitude, however the gauntlet has been laid down – and Samsung has a whole lot of work to do to impress with this 12 months’s Galaxy Z Flip 5.
Design & construct
- Compact clamshell design
- Hinge closes utterly
- No water-resistance ranking
Put aside the duvet display screen – we’ll get to that – and the Oppo Discover N2 Flip appears to be like an terrible lot like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 4. I suppose that both imitation is the very best type of flattery, or that is the one method to make the flip design work proper now.
The Oppo is about the identical dimension – solely a bit bigger – with a equally sized 6.8in display screen when open, that closes in half to type an ideal little sq. with its cameras down in a single nook.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
The place Oppo has a transparent edge is its hinge. This upgraded ‘Flexion’ hinge makes use of a waterdrop form on the hinge, which permits the display screen to fold utterly shut with no hole – and reduces how apparent the display screen’s crease is within the course of.
We’ve seen this earlier than in a couple of larger foldables, to not point out Huawei’s P50 Pocket flip cellphone, however it’s a trick Samsung hasn’t managed but. The result’s a cellphone that feels a lot sturdier than its primary rival, with a solidity that each protects the machine from mud and provides a premium really feel.
It closes in half to type an ideal little sq.
One minor draw back is that the hinge can solely maintain the display screen divulge heart’s contents to 110-degrees – so a contact previous the vertical level. That’s sufficient for many use circumstances, however the Z Flip 4 will keep put while you bend it additional, and at instances throughout video calls I discovered myself lacking that further literal flexibility.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
One other space the place Oppo lags behind is that the Discover N2 Flip has no IP ranking for mud and water-resistance. The Z Flip 4 is IPX8-rated – that means good water-resistance, however no official mud safety – however the Oppo has no such ranking. The corporate says the cellphone can survive splashes of rain and the like, however you would possibly really feel nervous whipping it out within the bathtub.
After all, sturdiness specs matter up to a degree, however the proof is within the pudding – nowhere extra so than with foldables. Oppo’s first gen Discover N is barely a bit over a 12 months previous, and by no means launched outdoors China, so nobody has sense of how lengthy this stuff final. You do not less than get a easy plastic case included within the field.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
For all of Samsung’s enhancements, there are nonetheless loads of tales of Flip and Fold 4 models failing lower than twelve months in, and anybody shopping for a foldable ought to go in with a level of warning: solely purchase one in case you can afford for it to interrupt.
Whereas the Discover N2 Flip has a gold version in China, the place it first launched in late 2022, the worldwide version is available in a alternative of black or purple. My black mannequin has a barely grippy, textured end to the glass physique that I’m a giant fan of, with a delicate sparkle, whereas the purple is glossier – a disgrace, since I in any other case want that color.
If you wish to examine them immediately, I’ve to confess I want the two-tone aptitude of Samsung’s flip cellphone, which makes the Oppo aesthetic really feel bluntly purposeful by comparability, however I can’t deny that is nicely put collectively piece of {hardware} that feels as slick as something on the market.
Display screen & audio system
- Giant 3.26in cowl display screen
- Shiny and matt inside display screen
- First rate stereo audio system
There are two screens to the Discover N2 Flip, and funnily sufficient the one which doesn’t fold is arguably the extra fascinating.
The three.26in cowl show on the cellphone’s exterior is way bigger than you’ll discover on another flip cellphone proper now – whether or not Samsung, Huawei, or Motorola. In actual fact, hint your cellphone historical past again and also you’ll discover it’s technically a bigger display screen than was on the primary ever Android smartphone, the HTC Dream – and solely a fraction extra compact than the first-gen iPhone.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
It additionally stands out because of the portrait orientation, which Oppo says was a deliberate alternative to enhance usability. That’s most blatant while you use that outer display screen as a digital camera viewfinder for selfies – abruptly it’s in the identical orientation because the digital camera itself – but additionally feels extra pure when flicking via notifications, scrolling your calendar, or checking the climate.
It’s technically a bigger display screen than was on the primary ever Android smartphone
After all, you’ll spend extra time utilizing the inside display screen, which at 6.8in is remarkably related in dimension and really feel to Samsung’s providing. It’s an LTPO AMOLED panel with 1-120Hz dynamic refresh fee, so delivers prime visible high quality, however with an additional edge: Oppo has added a matt, anti-glare end that each appears to be like incredible and makes the cellphone simpler on the eyes.
Studying off this nearly seems like an eReader at instances, and from a visible aspect alone I’ve really come to want this show to the shiny glass slabs on most different telephones. Although because the floor you work together with is plastic, it does choose up grease and fingerprints.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
There’s nonetheless a small crease after all, however it’s a delicate one: you’ll be able to solely spot it when an angle, not head-on (which is the way you’ll usually use the cellphone after all). You possibly can really feel it, however much less so than on most foldables, and it’s shortly forgotten after a couple of hours with the cellphone.
I’ve additionally been pleasantly stunned by the stereo audio system included right here, that are punchier than you’d suppose given how slight the entire cellphone is. Don’t get me flawed, these are nonetheless cellphone audio system, with all the boundaries that entails, however they get the job executed.
Specs & efficiency
- Highly effective MediaTek chipset
- 256GB storage by default
- Wobbly Bluetooth vary
Oppo has geared up the Discover N2 Flip with MediaTek’s Dimensity 9000+ chipset. That’s not absolutely the newest flagship chip, however it’s nonetheless lower than a 12 months previous and many highly effective for many functions.
Day-to-day efficiency is easy and fluid, with no stutter or slowdown in sight, and there’s sufficient horsepower to sport and take full benefit of that 120Hz show.
This isn’t absolutely the strongest cellphone round – and it’s value noting that each Samsung and Motorola’s various flips are a bit extra highly effective – however solely extraordinarily demanding avid gamers or energy customers are prone to discover something to moan about.
The Flip has 8GB of RAM, which is pretty customary, however provides a extra beneficiant non-expandable 256GB of storage by default – double Samsung’s base storage for the Flip. There are not any choices so as to add extra storage although, in order that’s all you get.
Naturally 5G is supported, together with the same old array of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. I’ve discovered the Bluetooth irritating although – the vary appears to be restricted, that means I get interference and sign drops on my headphones even when the cellphone is within the entrance pocket of my denims. That’s not an issue a contemporary cellphone ought to ever endure from, and is the largest blemish to the general person expertise I’ve discovered.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
One nice contact is that the cellphone contains ‘360-degree’ NFC, that means you should utilize the cellphone to make contactless funds from nearly any angle when it’s closed.
This solely works for sure cost sorts, like coming into London’s public transport system, so that you’ll nonetheless have to open the cellphone totally to pay in a store or restaurant, however it’s a handy time-saver when it does kick in.
Digital camera & video
- Surprisingly succesful primary digital camera
- So-so ultrawide
- Common selfie digital camera – however you don’t want it anyway
Digital camera high quality was lengthy held up as one of many key flaws of Samsung’s Flips, and whereas that was improved in final 12 months’s Z Flip 4, Oppo has nonetheless discovered room to at least one up its Korean rival.
That isn’t to say that the Discover N2 Flip’s digital camera is among the greatest round – however it’s higher than earlier than, and the primary digital camera not less than is comfortably at flagship degree, even when it lacks the flexibility of slab flagship digital camera methods.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
That primary lens is a 50Mp, f/1.8 shooter utilizing a Sony IMX890 sensor – the identical one discovered within the current OnePlus 11. It’s able to some actually lovely pictures, with punchy and vibrant colors which can be typically a bit over-saturated however don’t veer too distant from being true-to-life.
My largest shock was the standard of images at night time
The sensor is large enough to even create a slight pure bokeh impact in pictures, with a extremely engaging depth of subject. Photographs additionally maintain up nicely while you soar into the digital camera app’s default 2x zoom, with little lack of element – although at instances the color tuning does shift as you zoom.
My largest shock was the standard of images at night time – the Discover N2 Flip manages impressively deep dynamic vary, various gentle sources are dealt with rigorously, and for essentially the most half darkish spots stay darkish, however detailed – although it does fall sufferer to the frequent downside of over-brightening the night time sky.
The 8Mp ultrawide is way much less spectacular, however nonetheless welcome as an additional possibility. It doesn’t deal with lowlight nicely, however in good lighting images are serviceable – simply count on flatter colors and a critical drop intimately.
Then there are selfies. You need to use the 32Mp punch-hole digital camera on the cellphone’s folding display screen to take selfies, and outcomes aren’t dangerous in any respect – higher than most on the market.
I’m a bit stunned it’s so good, as a result of Oppo’s clear pitch is definitely that you must save this digital camera for video calls and the like, and as a substitute use the duvet show and primary digital camera to take selfies as a substitute.
That is barely extra fiddly – as large because the outer show is, it’s nonetheless a fraction the scale of the primary display screen – however the portrait orientation makes it straightforward sufficient to border your self, and the primary digital camera is a wonderful possibility for selfie pictures, a step up even farther from the devoted digital camera on the inside.
Battery & charging
- All-day battery life
- Quick wired charging
- No wi-fi charging
Battery is the opposite space the place early flip telephones struggled, and Oppo clearly needed to keep away from studying that lesson the exhausting means.
With that in thoughts, it’s geared up the Discover N2 Flip with a 4300mAh battery – removed from the largest round, however inside the similar realm as trendy flagship slab telephones.
Over per week with the cellphone I’ve discovered it usually lasts all day, as long as I don’t push it too exhausting. A two-hour video name was sufficient to tank the battery early and pressure a night cost, but when I caught to Spotify, social media, and internet searching then I normally ended the day with 20-30% left within the tank.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
In case you do have to run for a plug socket, the corporate has thrown in pretty quick charging. On paper the 44W wired pace is considerably sooner than both Samsung or Motorola provides, however in my check it was solely sufficient to revive 59% of the battery in half an hour – the very same because the Razr 2022, and solely a bit sooner than Samsung’s cellphone.
That might be OK, however the trade-off you make for that very barely sooner charging is that there’s no wi-fi charging included in any respect. I personally discover the flip cellphone format completely suited to dropping onto a Qi charger and glancing at every so often, so I do actually miss the choice, and don’t discover the wired providing quick sufficient to make up for the loss.
Software program & updates
- Loads of widgets and choices for the duvet display screen
- Foldable options aren’t fairly as easy as Samsung’s
- Lengthy-term software program help promised
There’s good and dangerous to the software program facet of the Discover N2 Flip.
Let’s begin with some good: general I feel Oppo’s ColorOS pores and skin (right here laid on prime of Android 13) is among the higher choices round. It’s filled with customisation choices, retains bloatware and advertisements gentle, and better of all it hardly ever appears to get in the best way of me really utilizing the cellphone.
I’m additionally impressed with how a lot the corporate has constructed into the duvet show. Among the choices are customary: an always-on show, climate and alarm widgets, and fundamental digital camera controls so you’ll be able to take selfies with the primary digital camera.
You possibly can set a wallpaper from your individual picture, however higher is the set of interactive pets. Choose from a canine, cat, chook, hamster, or rabbit, and also you’ll get a bit furry or feathered buddy who lives in your cowl show and spends their time studying, listening to music, or dozing off.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Interactivity is restricted to a fast faucet to vary what they’re as much as, however that’s in all probability for the very best – you get all the nice bits of a contemporary Tamagotchi with out the all-consuming stress that you just’ll unintentionally kill them off.
What annoys me is that for all of the promise of this bigger cowl display screen, there’s an occasional lack of polish that will get in the best way.
Most annoying is the truth that when closed it’s garbage about recognising orientation. Whereas Samsung clearly determined there was a ‘right’ orientation to the Z Flip 4 when shut, Oppo desires to have it each methods, letting you utilize the cellphone hinge-up or hinge-down. However half the time it may’t inform which means it’s turned, leaving you an upside-down notification or a hamster dancing on its head.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
I feel a part of the issue right here is the digital camera. Maintain the cellphone within the apparent means – i.e. able to flip open – and the lenses are on the backside proper, which creates an ungainly angle for images. Turning it the other way up – because the digital camera widget really suggests – offers you higher framing, however impulsively it’s not able to open.
I don’t know what the elegant resolution right here is, and Oppo’s setup would in all probability work higher if the cellphone was just a bit higher at realizing which means up it’s. It’s so nearly there that these little nuisances each you greater than you suppose they could.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Let’s finish on observe although: Oppo has caught as much as the competitors and is now promising 4 years of ColorOS characteristic updates along with a fifth 12 months of safety patches, a match for Samsung and one up on Google.
That signifies that in principle this must be supported all through to Android 17, with safety safety into 2028, so you must have the ability to depend on this for years to come back – as long as the {hardware} holds up too.
Value & availability
In case you’re within the UK, the largest draw of the Discover N2 Flip could be the value tag: the £849 ticket worth is a full £100 cheaper than Samsung’s newest, and £210 cheaper than that cellphone’s equal 256GB storage mannequin (although after all you might now discover that cellphone a bit under asking worth in case you store round).
It’s even the very same worth as a brand new iPhone 14 – and that cellphone doesn’t even fold or nuthin’.
Within the UK you should buy the Discover N2 Flip direct from Oppo, from Amazon, or from main networks, Carphone Warehouse, or shops like Currys.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
In Europe the distinction is much less stark, the place the €1,199 retail worth is definitely pricier than the Z Flip 4, and a direct match for its 256GB variant.
In both promote it’s a detailed worth match for the Motorola Razr 2022, however beats that cellphone in general appear and feel.
Sadly the US received’t get the Discover N2 Flip in any respect – Samsung can relaxation straightforward there for now – and the larger book-style Discover N2 received’t launch outdoors China in any respect.
Take a look at our full information to the very best Android telephones for extra choices, or the very best Oppo telephones for extra from the corporate.
Verdict
The Oppo Discover N2 Flip is a fairly astonishing cellphone – and I say that as a dyed-in-the-wool Z Flip fanboy.
I nonetheless suppose Samsung’s cellphone appears to be like slicker, and the combo of smoother software program, waterproofing, and wi-fi charging signifies that on the similar worth I’d give the Z Flip 4 the sting.
However, within the UK not less than, they’re not the identical worth – and when it can save you £100-200 on the Oppo possibility, it’s exhausting to beat. These minor gripes are straightforward to reside with, and the improved digital camera, sooner charging, and gapless hinge give this a couple of benefits that would nicely win you over outright.
Proper now, this is a wonderful flip cellphone, and the very best worth one round. If Oppo can match Samsung’s polish, then subsequent time it round it’d simply be the very best – full cease.
Specs
- 6.8in, 120Hz AMOLED inner show
- 3.26in, 60Hz cowl show
- MediaTek Dimensity 9000+
- 8GB RAM
- 256GB storage
- 4300mAh battery
- 44W wired charging
- Cameras:
- 50Mp, f/1.8 primary digital camera
- 8Mp, f/2.2 ultrawide digital camera
- 32Mp, f/2.4 selfie digital camera
- 166.2 x 75.2 x 7.5mm (unfolded) or 85.5 x 75.2 x 16mm (folded)
- 191g
- Android 13 with ColorOS 13