9 min read
Oppo set out with a clear goal when designing the Find N5: to create the world’s thinnest book-style foldable. Not only did the company achieve this feat, but it also delivered a device that is powerful, stylish, and a joy to use. The Find N5 showcases Oppo’s engineering expertise, pushing foldable phones in a direction that feels more seamless and user-friendly than ever before. With its sleek design, impressive hardware, and refined user experience, it stands as one of Oppo’s most compelling smartphones to date.
Is the OPPO Find N5 a worthy choice? Let’s dive into the full review.
OPPO Find N5 Review: Design and Build Quality
OPPO has refined the design of the Find N5 by building on the foundation of its predecessor, the Find N3. The new model is larger, featuring the biggest internal display seen in a book-style foldable. It also has a slimmer camera bump and a slightly taller outer display, now with a 20.7:9 aspect ratio compared to the 20:9 of the Find N3. Additionally, the device is noticeably thinner—nearly three millimeters slimmer when folded and 1.6mm when unfolded—marking a significant improvement over the previous model.
The Find N5’s ultra-thin profile leaves minimal space around the USB-C port, suggesting that OPPO might have gone even thinner if not for this essential component. In fact, it surpasses Apple’s thinnest product to date, the OLED iPad Pro, which measures 5.1mm in thickness.
A reduction in the camera bump is another notable change, following a trend seen in OPPO’s recent models, such as the Find X8 series. By fully customizing each sensor, the company has managed to shrink the bump by approximately 40%, improving the phone’s ergonomics. Although the Find N3’s camera bump was well-designed, this refined approach makes the device even easier to hold.
One concern before testing the Find N5 was its comfort during use, particularly given its ultra-thin design. Some previous foldable devices, like the Magic V3, were uncomfortable to hold when unfolded due to their curved sides. However, the Find N5 features flat sides and a flat back, which contribute to a more comfortable grip, eliminating the need for additional accessories like a leather case for added comfort.
Another improvement comes in the form of slimmer bezels on the front display, made possible by a refined hinge design. Unlike the Find N3, where the bezel stood out against a gunmetal-colored frame, the Find N5’s frame and bezel now blend seamlessly for a more uniform look.
As expected from OPPO’s flagship devices, the build quality is exceptional. The Find N5 is a well-crafted, robust smartphone that maintains a premium aesthetic. Unfortunately, it remains unavailable in the US due to OPPO’s limited market presence.
OPPO Find N5 Review: Display
Both the inner and outer displays of the Find N5 are larger than those of its predecessor. The outer screen measures 6.62 inches, featuring an OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 20.7:9 aspect ratio. It reaches a peak brightness of 2,450 nits, with 1,600 nits in outdoor conditions. The internal display is even more expansive at 8.12 inches, also OLED with a 120Hz refresh rate, delivering up to 2,100 nits of peak brightness and 1,400 nits outdoors.
These displays offer an outstanding visual experience, supporting HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. Whether viewing content on the outer or inner screen, users can expect vivid colors and sharp detail. Even in bright outdoor settings, visibility remains excellent. Despite snowy conditions reflecting additional light, no issues were encountered when using the screens outdoors.
For those sensitive to flickering, OPPO has implemented a 2160Hz PWM rate on the Find N5, which helps reduce eye strain. The outer display is protected by nanocrystal glass, making it 20% stronger than the one found on the Find N3, while the inner screen features an anti-shock film that improves durability by 70%. So far, the displays have proven resistant to scratches, offering improved durability over previous models.
A major talking point leading up to the Find N5’s launch was the claim of an almost invisible crease. OPPO has significantly minimized the crease by making it 10% narrower and 50% shallower. Additionally, the under-screen supporting structure has been flattened, reducing the space for movement when folded. The result is a nearly seamless display, with the crease only noticeable when the screen is off. Based on the long-term use of other OPPO foldables, this refined design is expected to maintain its appearance over time.
Oppo Find N5 Review: Price and Availability
The official international pricing for the Oppo Find N5 has yet to be confirmed. However, in Singapore, the device is priced at approximately £1500. Details regarding its availability in other regions remain uncertain.
Given Oppo’s lack of distribution in the US, it is highly unlikely that the Find N5 will see a launch there. Availability in other markets is still unclear, with no confirmation on whether it will be released in the UK or Europe.
This section will be updated once official pricing and availability details are announced. Until then, the full review provides a closer look at the device’s features and performance. Additionally, any updates regarding the phone’s launch in more regions could potentially influence its overall assessment.
OPPO Find N5 Review: Performance
The Find N5 is powered by the new 7-core Snapdragon 8 Elite, a chipset optimized specifically for foldable devices. Unlike standard versions, this processor has two prime cores and five performance cores, omitting one performance core seen in flagship models like the Galaxy S25 Ultra and OnePlus 13. Despite this difference, day-to-day performance remains smooth and responsive, with no noticeable slowdown. Benchmark scores reveal minor differences compared to competing devices, but in real-world use, the impact is negligible.
The phone comes with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage—the only configuration available outside of China. However, additional storage and color variants may be exclusive to the Chinese market. OPPO’s ColorOS, which has evolved significantly since merging with OxygenOS, runs seamlessly on the device, providing a fluid user experience.
To achieve such a thin form factor, some compromises were necessary. One such trade-off is the speaker setup. Unlike the Find N3, which featured three speakers, the Find N5 has only two. While the sound quality remains good, a direct comparison reveals that the Find N3 delivers a fuller, richer audio experience with deeper bass and higher maximum volume. However, for most users, the speakers on the Find N5 should still be more than adequate.
OPPO Find N5 Review: Battery Life and Charging
The OPPO Find N5 delivers impressive battery performance, building on the strong endurance of its predecessor. With a 15% larger battery (775mAh increase) and brighter displays, it offers over 7 hours of screen-on time, often lasting beyond 24 hours—comparable to standard smartphones. Even during extensive travel, such as a long-haul flight to Singapore, it maintained reliable performance.
Charging speeds are equally strong, featuring 80W wired and 50W wireless charging. However, the full 50W wireless speed is limited to OPPO and OnePlus chargers, which are not included in the box. Unlike other flagships, the Find N5 lacks Qi2 support, as OPPO prioritizes its proprietary charging tech.
For those who prefer MagSafe, OPPO offers a compatible case with built-in magnets. While slightly thicker, it provides a textured grip and enables seamless use with MagSafe accessories. However, due to the phone’s design, the wireless charging coil sits lower, causing battery packs to extend past the device’s bottom which is a minor adjustment for users.
OPPO Find N5 Review: Software
The OPPO Find N5 launches with ColorOS 15.0.1, a slightly newer version than what debuted with the Find X8 series. The update enhances multitasking and refines Boundless View, making it more intuitive and user-friendly. A new three-dot icon allows quick access to split-view or Boundless View, improving usability.
Boundless View is now smarter, prompting users to enable split-screen when frequently switching between two apps. AI features are also prominent, including AI Document for translation and summarization, AI Call Summary for transcriptions, and a redesigned translation app optimized for foldable.
A standout feature is O+ Connect, currently in beta, enabling seamless file transfers between Mac and Find N5. Users can move 100 photos in just eight seconds and sync media automatically. Additionally, the Remote Mac Control allows limited remote access when on the same Wi-Fi network, offering added convenience.
OPPO Find N5 Review: Camera
To achieve a thinner design, OPPO customized the Find N5’s cameras, reducing their size and minimizing the camera bump. The device features a 50MP Sony LYT-700 main sensor, a 50MP 3x telephoto lens, an 8MP ultrawide sensor, and two 8MP front-facing cameras. While some specs have been downgraded from the Find N3, OPPO’s advanced imaging technology compensates for these changes.
Key camera features include Lightning Snap, which captures burst shots at 7 frames per second with minimal shutter lag, and AI Telescope Zoom, enhancing digital zoom quality up to 6x. While zoom remains impressive up to 10x, image quality deteriorates beyond that, especially in low light.
A highlight of the Find N5’s camera system is Tele-macro photography, which uses the telephoto lens for macro shots, allowing greater distance from subjects and improving lighting conditions. Compared to the Find N3, the Find N5 produces brighter images with better detail, though portrait mode performance varies by subject. The Snapdragon 8 Elite’s new ISP and OPPO’s updated algorithms contribute to overall image improvements.
While the Find N5 offers a strong camera system for a foldable, it may not feel like a significant upgrade from its predecessor. However, its advanced features and optimizations make it a solid choice in the foldable market.
The OPPO Find N5 has been highly anticipated for over a year, and the big question remains did it live up to expectations? In terms of performance and design, it certainly did. However, disappointment arose when OnePlus chose not to rebrand the Find N5 as the Open 2, as it had previously done with the Find N3. This unexpected decision left many users feeling let down.
Despite this, the Find N5 represents a significant advancement for an already award-winning device. Unfortunately, it won’t be officially available in the US, meaning those interested may need to import it. Early reports indicate that it works seamlessly with Google Fi (T-Mobile) and US Mobile (AT&T), delivering a smooth experience over the past few weeks.
