OPPO is stepping up its foldable game in India with the launch of the Find N3 Flip, its second-generation flip phone. The Find N3 Flip boasts several enhancements compared to its predecessor, the Find N2 Flip, bringing the flip phone experience on par with that of flagship bar phones.
In this review, we will take a closer look at the Find N3 Flip’s key features and enhancements, including its larger and more capable cover display, improved camera system, and faster performance. We will also explore how the Find N3 Flip stacks up against other foldable phones on the market and whether it is worth buying.
OPPO Find N3 Flip Review Snapshot
Editor’s rating: 4.0/5
Design
Display
Software
Performance
Camera
Battery
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Pros
- Impressive Display
- Near invisible crease
- Reliable Performance
- Good Cameras
- Long Battery Life and Good charging speeds
Cons
- Absence of water resistance
- Limited app continuity when folding and unfolding
- Absence of wireless charging
OPPO Find N3 Flip Price in India
- The Oppo Find N3 Flip will be available from Rs. 94,999 (12GB + 256GB) from October 22, 6 PM IST, through Oppo Store, Flipkart, and other retailers.
- It comes in two colors: Cream Gold and Sleek Black.
OPPO Find N3 Flip review: Design
The design of the OPPO Find N3 Flip is a refined evolution from its predecessor. Departing from the angular form of the Find N2 Flip, the Find N3 introduces gracefully curved edges, making it a pleasure to hold, especially if you have a preference for more compact phones. It’s not just ergonomic; the phone’s exterior boasts a subtle, flowing wave texture that adds a touch of sophistication. Furthermore, the matte finish on the hinge adds an element of premium quality to the overall design.
While the Find N3 draws inspiration from the Find N2 Flip in its overall design, OPPO has taken a step forward by enhancing the build quality. It features an aluminum frame and the robust Gorilla Glass Victus, providing substantial resistance to drops and scratches. However, the glossy body is susceptible to fingerprints and smudges, and its slippery nature on smooth surfaces can be a minor drawback.
The improved Flexion Hinge brings back the seamless, zero-gap design from the Find N2 Flip, ensuring a flawless folding experience.
The camera module undergoes a striking transformation compared to its predecessor. The triple cameras are now encased in a circular camera module, accented by a stylish silver metal rim known as the Cosmos Ring with a Starlight Track. This design mimics the appearance of a classic camera aperture lens system and adds a touch of elegance. While it doesn’t have any moving parts, its visual appeal is undeniable. All three cameras fit snugly within this module, accompanied by the Hasselblad branding, while the flash is positioned just outside the ring.
On the right side of the phone, you’ll discover the volume buttons and the power button. These buttons offer a satisfying tactile response. The power button also serves as a capacitive fingerprint sensor, although it may sometimes inadvertently lock the device, requiring you to enter your PIN.
The left side of the phone now features a mute switch, a handy feature borrowed from OnePlus phones that simplifies switching between Ring, Silent, and Vibrate modes with a flick. It’s a small but practical addition. At the bottom of the phone, you’ll find the USB-C charging port, the SIM card tray, and a speaker.
In terms of dimensions, the phone retains a similar form factor to the Find N2 Flip, offering a wider grip compared to other flip phones, which many users find comfortable. The vertical cover external screen is also present on the cover panel, but we’ll delve into its specifics later. It’s worth noting that the N3 Flip’s IPX4 rating for splash resistance falls slightly below that of the Razr Plus and the Galaxy Z Flip 5. This means it can withstand splashes and light rain, making it a resilient companion for everyday use.
All in all, the design of the OPPO Find N3 Flip radiates elegance and sophistication, making it a compelling choice for those who appreciate style and practicality.
OPPO Find N3 Flip review: Displays
When it comes to displays, the OPPO Find N3 Flip is a double delight. You have two screens at your disposal – a 3.26-inch cover display with a 720×382 resolution and a 17:9 aspect ratio, and the main attraction, a 6.8-inch AMOLED screen with a crystal-clear 2520×1080 resolution and a cinematic 21:9 aspect ratio. Let’s take a closer look at the cover screen.
The cover screen is your gateway to a wealth of apps, with support for over 40 popular ones, including the likes of Google Maps, WhatsApp, Twitter, Gmail, GPay, Google Notes, Uber, Netflix, YouTube, and many more. The impressive part? These apps are fully operational on the cover screen. Thanks to its aspect ratio, which aligns with standard screens, you won’t encounter any odd distortions or unsightly black bars.
What’s more, OPPO has thoughtfully incorporated a full QWERTY keyboard for seamless typing. But that’s not all – you’ll find a delightful collection of interactive pet wallpapers that OPPO has introduced with the N3 Flip, adding a touch of charm to your experience. Notifications are just a swipe from the bottom, while Quick Settings are a simple swipe from the top. Unlike other foldable phones, there’s no clutter of glanceable information panels on the cover screen. OPPO has opted for an intuitive app drawer adjacent to the home screen, granting you quick access to select “mini apps” with a breeze.
This approach comes with its share of benefits and minor limitations. The narrow, vertical screen presents the full app interface as you’d find it on a standard screen, but on a more compact scale. Consequently, images, text, and UI elements might appear slightly downsized, which can pose challenges, especially with extensive text. While the cover screen may not offer the versatility of the Samsung Z Flip 5, it excels at handling tasks like messaging, navigation with Google Maps, and streaming music via the YouTube Music app.
Now, let’s shift our focus to the inner display. Unlike the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, the OPPO Find N3 Flip’s inner display boasts an almost imperceptible crease, and that’s thanks to the remarkable ‘Flexion’ hinge. This hinge is not just functional; it’s impressive, allowing the phone to hold various angles – perfect for video calls, content consumption, or capturing selfies.
The inner display supports a refresh rate of up to 120Hz and offers 1440Hz PWM dimming, making it an excellent choice for those with PWM sensitivity. It stands out with its vibrant colors, and OPPO offers a range of screen color modes to cater to your preferences. One of these modes is the “Cinematic” mode, promising accurate color reproduction. With a peak brightness of 1600 nits, the display remains easily readable even in glaring sunlight. The inner display supports HDR10+, ensuring that your content shines when the phone is unfolded. This feature seamlessly worked when tested with YouTube and Netflix.
In conclusion, the OPPO Find N3 Flip’s dual displays harmonize functionality and quality, making it a formidable contender in the ever-evolving foldable phone landscape.
OPPO Find N3 Flip review: Performance and Software
The OPPO Find N3 Flip operates on the ColorOS 13 operating system, built on the foundations of Android 13. This operating system combines stability and a high degree of customization to provide users with a seamless experience. Noteworthy features include split-screen functionality, the ability to run apps as flexible windows, and a handy smart sidebar that grants quick access to frequently used apps and functions. Moreover, the cover display introduces animated virtual pet wallpapers, injecting an element of delight into your interaction with the phone.
However, there’s room for software enhancement on the OPPO, as it comes with some pre-installed apps that might not suit everyone’s preferences. An additional factor to consider is the presence of the App Market, which could be seen as redundant by some users. On a slightly frustrating note, unwanted notifications from apps like Hot Apps and Hot Games can be a minor irritation, but the good news is that you can swiftly disable them through the settings.
While these software quirks may not align with the expectations of a premium phone, it’s worth mentioning that OPPO pledges to deliver four years of Android updates and five years of security updates.
Underneath the surface, the OPPO Find N3 Flip is powered by the formidable MediaTek Dimensity 9200, a flagship chipset with a proven track record of performance. It effortlessly tackles a wide range of tasks and applications. Paired with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of USF 4.0 storage, the phone sailed through everyday usage without a hitch.
Gaming performance is equally good, with the capability to handle BGMI and Call of Duty Mobile at their highest settings while maintaining a smooth 60fps experience, albeit with a mild increase in temperature, which is par for the course.
To evaluate the processor’s performance comprehensively, we subjected it to standardized benchmark tests such as Throttle Test, GeekBench, and 3DMark. In our CPU Throttling Test, we noticed that the cores didn’t consistently run at their maximum clock speeds. Despite the CPU’s peak clock speed being 2.85GHz, most of the performance cores operated at around 2.10GHz and gradually throttled to 1.90GHz after 9 nine minutes into the tests and remained there until the end of the 15-minute test. This behavior aligns with the inherent thermal limitations of flip phones. Manufacturers need to implement throttling to ensure optimal heat management. In real-world scenarios, this doesn’t pose a significant concern, as the phone adeptly handles a wide array of tasks and applications.
OPPO Find N3 Flip Camera Review
The camera setup on the OPPO Find N3 Flip had me genuinely excited. Why? Because OPPO has packed some impressive sensors into this compact device. We’re talking about a 50-megapixel Sony IMX 890 main sensor, a 48-megapixel Sony IMX582 ultra-wide sensor, and a 32-megapixel Sony IMX709 portrait camera. Notably, the portrait camera functions as a telephoto portrait lens, reminiscent of the 5x portraits on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. While these sensors are relatively small compared to what we find in other foldable devices and what’s rumored for the OnePlus Open, they certainly deliver in performance.
The primary camera produces outstanding shots in various lighting conditions, be it daylight or low-light scenarios. The dynamic range impresses, detail retention is excellent, and the colors appear vibrant and true to life. Default settings yield photos worthy of instant sharing on social media platforms. Close-up shots may exhibit a touch of fringing, but it’s a minor concern. The 2x telephoto shots deliver impressive results, with remarkable color consistency between the two lenses.
Portrait images, while generally satisfactory for everyday use, could benefit from some fine-tuning. A close examination might reveal a hint of softness in the shot, and the edge detection isn’t the most precise we’ve seen. Nonetheless, for the average user, the portrait images are more than serviceable, and the 2x portrait shots possess a distinct aesthetic appeal.
The ultra-wide lens truly shines, capturing images with minimal distortion, abundant detail, and vibrant colors. Slightly improved dynamic range would be a welcome addition. Additionally, this phone allows you to snap macro images by utilizing the ultra-wide shooter, and the results are quite pleasing and detailed.
As for selfies, the OPPO Find N3 Flip houses a dedicated 32-megapixel shooter within a punch-hole cutout on the inner screen. While it manages to capture decent selfies, there’s really no compelling reason to use this lens. For detailed selfies, the optimal choice is to leverage the main camera via the cover screen, ensuring you get the best results.
OPPO Find N3 Flip Review: Battery Life and Charging
One of the questions that’s been on the minds of many flip phone enthusiasts is, “How long does the OPPO Find N3 Flip’s battery last?” I’m pleased to report that it outlasts every other flip phone in the market, surpassing both the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 and the latest Moto Razr flip phone. The built-in 4300mAh battery consistently provides me with over 7 hours of screen-on time, ensuring it effortlessly carries me through an entire day with no concerns about running out of power. It’s been a real relief not to grapple with battery anxiety when I’m out and about.
What’s more, the charging speeds are truly impressive. The OPPO Find N3 Flip supports 44W SuperVOOC charging, making it one of the fastest-charging phones around. I observed the phone charging from 0 to 100 percent in about an hour, which is a remarkable feat. However, it’s worth noting that the OPPO Find N3 Flip does not support wireless charging.
OPPO Find N3 Flip Review Verdict: Should You Buy it?
The OPPO Find N3 Flip is the best flip phone that has debuted in 2023, by far. While flip phones typically involve compromises in specs like battery, chipset cooling, and cameras due to their compact design, the Find N3 Flip rewrites that narrative by incorporating a sizable battery, faster charging, an additional zoom lens, and an excellent foldable display.
However, OPPO’s software could be improved, and the cover screen, while impressive, has a vertical orientation that can occasionally pose navigation challenges. It would also be nice to have more app options on the cover screen.
Overall, the OPPO Find N3 Flip is the best flip phone on the market, and it is well worth considering if you are looking for a foldable phone with a compact form factor and flagship-level features.
Reasons to buy
- Impressive Display
- Near invisible crease
- Reliable Performance
- Good Cameras
- Long Battery Life and Good charging speeds
Reasons to not buy
- Absence of water resistance
- Limited app continuity when folding and unfolding
- Absence of wireless charging
