Oppo Find N5 foldable phone review: Apple's now on notice
The Oppo Find N5 is the first foldable phone I've spent any real time with, and it's really taken hold. I'm now desperate for Apple to get into the foldable game, but if it does, the iPhone Fold will have its work cut out to beat this thing.
Oppo Find N5 review: Once you go bendy, it's hard to go back.
When you've been using phones for as long as I have, it's very rare that someone new comes along. The iPhone 16 is the best iPhone that Apple has ever made, but it's still an iPhone.
If we're all honest, phones haven't changed in the last eight years or so. The last big upgrade came when Apple ditched the Home button with iPhone X in 2017, and of course, Android phones followed suit.
But in the last couple of years, a new type of phone has started to come to the fore. Previously an expensive yet flawed idea, the foldable phone is starting to reach the mainstream -- despite Apple's reluctance to get involved.
Oppo has shown no such reluctance and has released a flurry of foldable phones in recent years. The biggest and best of those is the Oppo Find N5, a book-like foldable that fixes two of the biggest things I've always disliked about foldable phones.
The first of those is thickness. The Find N5 is incredibly thin, even when folded closed.
The second is the outer display that's normally small and of relatively poor quality. Oppo fixed that by slapping a stunning display on the outside of the Find N5.
The combination of these two things does something magical. Closed, the Find N5 feels like a normal phone. And that's huge.
It's so huge that I find myself using the Find N5 in lieu of my iPhone 15 Pro Max, making it the first Android phone to oust my iPhone in a long time.
But more importantly, it's made me excited for new phones again. More specifically, a foldable iPhone.
I think that, by the time you've finished reading, you'll understand why. But I hope it'll also stand as a warning to Apple and its extremely capable engineers.
It's a warning that needs to be heeded, too. Because while it's clear that a foldable iPhone is coming, it has a lot to live up to. Will it be up to the task?
If you're a long-time iPhone owner, it's probably unlikely that you'll jump ship any time soon. But if Apple is going to make a splash, it needs to compete right out of the gate.
As you'll read, the Oppo Find N5 is exactly what I want from a foldable iPhone. Put iOS on this thing, and I'm there day one.
I'll sell one of the kids if I have to. Maybe both.
Oppo Find N5 review: Specs
The first thing that we have to get into when discussing specs is those displays. Plural.
Displays
The star of the show is undoubtedly the internal 8.12-inch foldable display, which provides a 96% screen-to-body ratio. On the outside, we have a 6.62-inch display, which gives the Find N5 a 92% screen-to-body ratio.
Oppo Find N5 review: Closed, the Find N5 looks like any other phone.
These aren't low-resolution, low refresh rate parts, either. Both offer a variable 120Hz refresh rate, like ProMotion, so animations and scrolling are buttery smooth.
For pixel-peepers, the internal display's 2480 x 2248-pixel resolution and cover screen's 2616 x 1140-pixel resolution should be more than enough. That equates to 412 pixels-per-inch (PPI) and 431 PPI, respectively. Websites, images, videos, and apps all look great no matter which display they're on.
The specs just keep on coming, too. Both displays support 100% DCI-P3 and 100% sRGB, and they're plenty bright with 2,100 nits (inner display) and 2,450 nits (cover display) peak brightness.
How does that compare to Apple's finest?
We have to go to the iPhone 16 Pro Max to find anything close to the size of the outer display on the Find N5 -- 6.9 inches for the iPhone compared to the Find N5's 6.62-inch offering.
The iPhone has a 120Hz Super Retina XDR Display with a 2868 x 1320-pixel resolution at 460 ppi, with P3 Wide Color and all the good HDR stuff included. If you can tell the difference between 460 PPI and 431 PPI, you've better eyes than I.
I've said it before, but it warrants repeating. These displays are stunning, and that goes for the inner, foldable display in a way that other foldables haven't matched -- the crease.
It's a fact of foldables that their displays have a crease where they bend. Early foldable phones had terrible creases, but things have improved greatly with recent iterations.
In the case of the Oppo Find N5, the crease is simply invisible when you're using it. Even at an angle, when looking for it, that crease is so minimal as to be inconsequential.
That foldable display is a marvel made possible by a cool hinge that also helps to keep the phone flat when open. You can also half-open it to create a sort of laptop effect, should you really want to.
These displays are what Apple will need to replicate when it finally enters the foldable phone market. Now I've seen what's possible, anything less will be a huge letdown.
Cameras
Cameras are often where foldable phones let themselves down, but the Find N5 is different. Thanks in part to the huge camera bump that gives Oppo some space to fit some hardware into an otherwise svelte frame.
Oppo Find N5 review: Now that's what I call a camera bump.
The main wide-angle camera has a 50-megapixel sensor with autofocus and optical image stabilization included. Electronic image stabilization is also present, so shots are nice and blur-free.
Oppo Find N5 review: A shot taken using the main rear camera.
Moving to the telephoto camera, we again have a 50-megapixel sensor with autofocus and optical image stabilization. The 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera rounds things out, again with the same autofocus and optical image stabilization included.
Up front, we have two identical selfie cameras. 8-megapixel sensors are used, one under the cover display and another under the foldable, internal display.
In terms of supported formats, the Find N5's rear cameras can capture 4K video at 60fps with HDR shooting supported. There's also support for slow-motion video capture at 1080p and 240 fps.
Comparing all of this with the iPhone 16 Pro Max again, there isn't all that much between the two devices. Apple's phone has a 48-megapixel Fusion main camera paired with a 12-megapixel 5x telephoto shooter.
A 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera rounds things out at the rear, while a 12-megapixel camera handles selfies.
Apple supports plenty of capture options, including Smart HDR 5, spatial photos, and more. Video recording tops out at 120 fps when recording in 4K Dolby Vision -- an upgrade over the Find N5's 1080p.
If slow motion is the main reason you use your phone's camera, the iPhone wins it. But my testing has shown the two phones to be neck and neck in every other way.
Chip, colors, and more
With the displays and cameras covered, the next port of call is the chip that powers it all. Oppo has used the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite, a 3nm chip that's about as fast as anything in the Android world.
The silicon is backed up by 16GB of RAM, and the only storage option is a plentiful 512GB. That's more than enough space to install your favorite apps and games.
Topping up the 5,600mAh battery is incredibly fast thanks to support for 80W SuperVOOC charging. That's faster than an M4 MacBook Air and makes the iPhone 16's 30W charging seem ridiculous.
The charging gets crazier, too. If you have a wireless charger that can match it, the Find N5 supports 50W wireless charging, which is, frankly, unbelievable.
Apple's iPhones top out at around 30W when charging using a USB-C cable and Qi2 speeds of 20W when charging wirelessly. There's a clear winner here.
Speaking of wireless, the Find N5 supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. A USB-C port with USB 3.1 Gen 2 support handles wired connectivity and charging.
Oppo Find N5 review: Design
You can buy the Oppo Find N5 in one of two colors. The one I've been testing is the Misty White model, and it's gorgeous. There's also a Cosmic Black if you aren't feeling the white, too.
You, of course, get four colors to choose from when buying an iPhone 16 Pro Max, and they're all good. But there's something about the Misty White that makes me want it on my next iPhone.
Oppo Find N5 review: This is one thin foldable phone.
Moving on, we have to talk about dimensions. I'm not normally all that interested in these figures, but this time is different.
To be more accurate, I'm interested in the thickness of the Find N5 when it's in the closed position. Or should that be thinness?
Closed, the Find N5 measures just 8.93mm, which is barely thicker than the iPhone 16 Pro's 8.25mm girth. Open, this thing is just 4.21mm thick, which makes it a dream to hold.
This phone is incredibly light, too, at just 229 grams. The iPhone 16 Pro Max weighs 227 grams, so essentially the same as the Find N5.
These stats are what make the Find N5 such a delight, both in the pocket and in the hand. I can't overplay that fact, and you'll need to hold one to appreciate it. Which is an issue we'll get to shortly.
Oh, and despite the foldable design, the Find N5 has achieved the highest possible level of water resistance, which is impressive. I'm not sure I'd dunk it underwater on purpose, but I wouldn't panic at the first sign of rain, either.
Oppo Find N5 review: Software
I've already said that using the Oppo Find N5 is a great experience, but I'm sure some of you are already wondering about one key thing. Yes, the Find N5 runs Android. Android 15, to be specific.
Oppo Find N5 review: Android runs well on the larger display.
I knew that using Android would be the biggest issue during my time with the Find N5, and I was right. But only because it meant missing out on something that was entirely predictable: iMessage.
In the year 2025, most apps have an Android and an iPhone version, and, for the most part, it's just as good. I missed apps from smaller developers, like Good Links and Reeder, but these things can be worked around -- iMessage in a family full of iPhone owners, not so much.
If I were switching long-term, I'd have to ask everyone to migrate to WhatsApp for our family chats. It would be fine, and it would work, but it wouldn't be ideal.
RCS support would solve the problem if our carrier of choice supported it. Hopefully, it'll get around to doing that sooner rather than later.
The Android 15 installation itself is obfuscated slightly by ColorOS 15, Oppo's customized version of Google's software. I enjoyed using it, perhaps because there is a clear iOS-like look and feel to it.
I enjoyed the bloatware less, though. Oppo installs a ton of apps that I don't want or need, and many of them are aimed at the Chinese market. It's an age-old problem for Android users, but it can all be uninstalled, thankfully.
All of this being said, as much as Android has improved in the last decade, it isn't iOS. For better and for worse.
Oppo Find N5 review: The best phone you can't buy
It should be very obvious by now that I'm a huge fan of the Oppo Find N5. I think it's a technical marvel that it's this thin and this nice to hold, yet somehow bends in the middle.
Oppo Find N5 review: The iPhone 15 Pro Max and Find N5 look good together.
I can even cope with the idea of it running Android -- it's come on leaps and bounds since I last used it full time a decade or so ago. But there's one huge problem that potential buyers must reckon with, and that's the fact you can't actually buy it.
The chances are good that you're reading this in the United States, which is a problem. The Oppo Find N5 isn't available in the US, although it is offered in around 75 countries worldwide.
American foldable fans can choose to import the phone via a variety of methods, but I wouldn't recommend it. The warranty situation is a gray area, and any issues will be a nightmare to get fixed.
That's a giant shame, too, because until Apple's foldable iPhone arrives, this is the next best thing. It's an iPhone Fold running Android and with an Oppo logo on the back, and I'm convinced of that.
In fact, when Apple does ship a foldable, I expect it to look very similar to this device in terms of dimensions and display technology. If it doesn't, I'll be disappointed, and you should be too.
What I do know is that this phone has rekindled my interest in modern phones, especially a future Apple foldable.
The idea of having an iPhone Pro Max that opens up to become an iPad mini excites me. It's the ultimate in flexibility, especially with iOS 26's new windowed multitasking features.
My only concern is the price. The technology used by Oppo isn't cheap, and I see no reason why Apple's version will be any cheaper.
But if you want the best experience, and you have to have iOS, I wager that it will be worth every single penny.
If you're in the Android world, I can definitely say the same about the Oppo Find N5 right here, right now.
Oppo Find N5: Pros
- The ultimate in flexibility
- Stunning displays inside and out
- An incredibly thin-yet-sturdy design
- Dust and water resistance
Oppo Find N5: Cons
- You probably can't buy it
- Android might put some people off
- Some preinstalled bloatware
Oppo Find N5: Rating 4 out of 5
Where to buy the Oppo Find N5
You can't officially buy the Oppo Find N5 in the United States right now. Imported models are sometimes available at Amazon, but prices are often around the $2,500 mark.
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Comments
Apple wants it to have a reason to exist beyond... "Dude, it folds."
When it makes sense for the category and when It is every bit as reliable as the current, solid bar iPhone, and when it adds something worthwhile to the phone, Apple will release such a thing.
Currently, Apple hasn't seen the need ro benefit. I have to agree.
That's not to say next year won't be a different story. Perhaps it will. But when Apple actually goes in that direction, it will be don't in such a way as to be plain common sense. it could be that Appel has an entirely different idea in mind than another flip phone with a flexible screen.
My dishwasher is WiFi-enabled, which is jolly clever, but it prompts the same question of why you would want a WiFi-enabled dishwasher.
Unfolded, the Oppo Find N5 is nearly square. One point of differentiation could be for Apple to outfit a folding iPhone with square image sensors, decoupling holding from framing. Along for the ride could be stacking the flash directly above the sensors, which would allow the flash to be in the (generally) optimal position to each. With that being said, is a $2,500 small iPad something I will choose to purchase?
I do think the main point of this review, vis a vis Apple, is very well taken. Apple arriving late to the party for a given product is not unusual, but when it does arrive, it's often with a highly innovative, best-in-class piece of hardware. Well, let's pretend the Chinese phones don't exist for a moment and consider this: if Apple had released something like this Oppo in response to the current Samsung and Google folding phone options, this would have been that highly innovative, best-in-class product that blew past the competition and set the bar much higher. Problem is, the Oppo does exist, and a year earlier (at the very least) from when Apple is supposedly launching the iPhone Fold. I have no idea what Apple might be planning for an iPhone Fold--and that's IF there is an iPhone Fold--but it would have to be absolutely astounding in ways we haven't yet seen to significantly top what Oppo is offering today.
I'm with you on the dishwasher! As for the folding phone, it's a simple proposition, especially with this Oppo: it's a phone and a tablet in a package that's roughly the same size and weight as a Pro Max. Plus, it has an exterior screen that's the equal of a Pro Max, so you only need to unfold it when you want that tablet-sized screen. If you don't have a need for that larger screen capability, then there's little to recommend a folding phone for your use cases. And even if you did find that phone/tablet combo appealing, it comes at a VERY steep price--at which point you may decide that carrying a Pro Max and an iPad Mini really ain't so bad after all.
Being an iPhone user for freakin' 18 years, this is the first time I ditch iPhone 15 Pro Max for Oppo Find N5. It's a game changer dude. It is as thin as the latest Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. Pick one up and you'll feel that long lost feeling again.
Sounds like an extreme statement. Do your kids know that they are on borrowed time?
yeah, no thanks. I have an iPad. And an iPhone. They don’t fold and they’re the better for it. In fact, I still have my original 2007 iPhone. And it still works. Such a thing will not be said about the oppo whatever it’s called.
So with an iPhone that also folds open to also be a square tablet, which OS would it run? If it’s iOS, then every iPhone up and down the line would have to carry a lot of bloated code that they will never use, just to accommodate the 3% who buy an expensive folding phone. If it’s iPadOS, then every iPad would have to once again carry bloated code to run the phone on the back of the folding tablet. App developers across the board would have to include code bloat to accommodate use of their apps in either folded or unfolded mode, including code to accommodate the square aspect ratio of the unfolded device, which is different from the rectangular screen of every other iPad.
This is why I think if Apple develops a folding screen device, it will just be a folding iPad. Folded, there’s no screen on the outside, just the hard shell that can easily be tucked into your purse. Unfolded, it’s an iPad, with the same aspect ratio of the screen of every other iPad. There’s no need for bloated operating systems, and every app that works on an iPad will already work on that one, too. Leave the niche bells and whistles to the others, because I don’t think Apple is going to break everything else just to give a few rich people the momentary thrill of saying “look, it folds!”