The OPPO Find N5: Is This the World’s Thinnest Foldable Smartphone Worth the Hype?

The OPPO Find N5: Is This the World’s Thinnest Foldable Smartphone Worth the Hype?

Foldable smartphones have come a long way, but they’ve often been criticized for being bulky, heavy, and compromised in key areas like battery life or durability. Enter the OPPO Find N5—a device that claims to rewrite the rules. Touted as the world’s thinnest foldable smartphone, it’s not just about shaving off millimeters for bragging rights; OPPO has packed this sleek marvel with a massive 5,600mAh battery, a Hasselblad-tuned camera system, and a design that’s lighter than its rivals. But does it live up to the hype? I got my hands on the Hong Kong version (16GB RAM, 512GB storage) to find out. In this in-depth review, I’ll break down what makes the Find N5 stand out, where it stumbles, and whether it’s a game-changer in the foldable market. Spoiler: It’s thinner than a USB-C port when unfolded—let’s dive in!

Unboxing the OPPO Find N5: What’s in the Box?

Opening the Find N5 box feels like unwrapping a premium gift. Inside, you’ll find the phone itself, an 80W SuperVOOC charger (Type-A), a Type-A to Type-C cable, a SIM tray ejector pin, a quick start guide, and a protective case with a magnetic hinge cover. OPPO’s known for including fast chargers—a trend many Chinese manufacturers like Vivo and OnePlus follow—and this one doesn’t disappoint. The case is a standout, with magnets ensuring it snaps securely around the hinge, though it skips front protection (more on that later). At a starting price of around $1,300 USD (12GB/256GB in China, roughly 1.78 million KRW), it’s competitively priced, but stock shortages pushed me to the pricier Hong Kong variant. Was it worth it? Let’s explore.

Design and Build: Thinner, Lighter, and Smarter

The OPPO Find N5 is a stunner. Unfolded, it measures just 4.21mm thick—thinner than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition (4.9mm) and the Honor Magic V3 (4.35mm). Folded, it’s 8.93mm, beating out the Z Fold SE’s 10.6mm. Weighing in at 237g (or 229g for some finishes), it’s lighter than the Z Fold SE’s 244g despite packing a bigger battery. How did OPPO pull this off? A titanium Flexion hinge (26% smaller than its predecessor), 3D-printed titanium wing panels, and carbon fiber materials keep it slim and sturdy while reducing the crease visibility—a common foldable flaw.

The back features a marble-like matte finish that feels luxurious, though the camera bump protrudes noticeably. It’s not a dealbreaker—your hand naturally rests there for grip—but it’s worth noting. The hinge has a satisfying tension, reminiscent of old-school flip phones, though it doesn’t lock at precise angles like Samsung’s. Folded, the 20.7:9 outer display feels like a regular phone, while the 9.9:9 inner screen offers a near-square canvas for multitasking. Oh, and it’s IPX6, IPX8, and IPX9 water-resistant— a foldable first. This isn’t just thin for show; it’s thin with purpose.

Display: Bright, Smooth, and Crease-Minimized

The Find N5 boasts two LTPO OLED displays. The 6.62-inch outer screen (FHD+, 20.7:9) hits 2,450 nits peak brightness, while the 8.12-inch inner screen (9.9:9) reaches 2,100 nits. Both support 120Hz refresh rates, 1 billion colors, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HDR Vivid. The inner display’s anti-reflective coating is a game-changer—something I’ve begged for on foldables to reduce glare. The crease? It’s there, but impressively subtle. Fresh out of the box, it’s barely noticeable, though it deepens slightly when folded for long periods. Compared to the Z Fold SE’s 6.35mm crease depth, the Find N5’s 3.14mm is a win for OPPO.

Both screens support the OPPO Pen (sold separately), adding versatility for note-taking or sketching. The outer display’s wider aspect ratio feels more natural than the Z Fold’s narrower 21:9, making it a joy for everyday use. It’s not perfect—the hinge’s outline shows under certain lighting—but the flatness and uniformity are top-notch.

Performance: Snapdragon 8 Elite, But With a Catch

Powering the Find N5 is the Snapdragon 8 Elite—a 7-core variant with one prime core missing (unlike the full 8-core in devices like the Redmi K80 Pro). Paired with 12GB or 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage, it’s a beast on paper. In Geekbench, it trails the full-chip 8 Elite by 18% in multi-core performance and lags the overclocked Galaxy S25 Ultra. Against the Z Fold SE’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, it’s only 8% behind—not bad, but not class-leading.

Gaming performance is solid—GPU scores in Vulkan and 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Stress Test rival the S25 Ultra—but thermal throttling is a concern. Temperatures hit 50°C under load, and performance dips erratically due to the foldable’s tight design. Storage speeds are blazing, and it supports Widevine L1, AV1 decoding, and Dolby Vision—features the Z Fold SE skips. For most users, it’s plenty fast, but hardcore gamers might notice the heat.

Battery Life and Charging: A Foldable Champion

Here’s where the Find N5 shines: a 5,600mAh silicon-carbon battery that outclasses the Z Fold SE’s 4,400mAh. In mixed use (inner and outer screens, 4G), it lasted nearly 11 hours—impressive for a foldable. The 80W wired charging fills 70% in under 30 minutes and hits 100% in less than an hour. Wireless charging at 50W is a bonus Samsung can’t match. Smart charging options (80% cap, slow trickle) help preserve battery health. This is a foldable that doesn’t compromise on endurance.

Camera: Hasselblad’s Touch Pays Off

The Find N5’s triple camera system, co-engineered with Hasselblad, includes a 50MP Sony LYT-700 wide (F1.9, OIS), a 50MP Samsung JN5 3x telephoto (F2.7, OIS), and an 8MP ultra-wide (F2.2, 116°, AF). Photos are vibrant and sharp, with natural bokeh in portrait mode and solid low-light performance. The telephoto shines at 3x and 6x, while the ultra-wide holds up well, though colors shift slightly at night. HyperTone processing keeps tones accurate—a Hasselblad hallmark. Video tops out at 4K 60fps with 10-bit HDR and Dolby Vision options. It’s not perfect—speakers disappoint—but the camera rivals premium flagships.

Software: ColorOS 15 Has Its Quirks

Running Android 15-based ColorOS 15, the Find N5 offers a polished yet quirky experience. Features like full-screen translation, Mac remote control (with gesture support), and foldable multitasking (split-screen, dual-app views) impress. File sharing with iPhones via O+ Connect works, though it’s not seamless. AI summaries and beacon link (Bluetooth calling) are neat but region-locked. Bloatware is minimal, and the IR blaster is a fun throwback. However, the keyboard layout feels clunky for non-Chinese users, and some settings lack refinement. It’s functional, not flawless.

Pros, Cons, and Verdict

Pros: Ultra-thin design, massive battery, fast charging, stellar displays, versatile cameras, water resistance.
Cons: Thermal throttling, average speakers, hinge tension limits angles, software quirks.

The OPPO Find N5 isn’t just the thinnest foldable—it’s a meaningful step forward. It’s lighter, more powerful, and longer-lasting than the Z Fold SE, often at a lower price. Yes, it sacrifices a prime core and struggles with heat, but for most, it’s a dream foldable: a phone when closed, a tablet when open. Is it perfect? No. Is it a wake-up call for Samsung? Absolutely. If you’re in a market where it’s available, it’s worth every penny. What do you think—tempted to try it? Let me know below!