Foldable smartphones have steadily evolved from niche devices to mainstream devices, redefining the way users interact with mobile technology. OPPO’s upcoming Find N5 is generating some buzz because of its groundbreaking design. With an ultra-slim profile teased to be thinner than a standard pencil, the Find N5 could mark a turning point in the foldable market.
A New Standard for Slimness: The OPPO Find N5
OPPO’s CEO Pete Lau recently unveiled a teaser of the Find N5, confidently claiming it will be the thinnest foldable smartphone in the world. The official image, shared on LinkedIn, showcases the device behind a pencil, emphasizing its remarkable slimness when unfolded. The teaser highlights OPPO’s focus on creating a practical design, making the device more comfortable to handle and easier to carry.
Designer: OPPO
While exact specifications are yet to be revealed, industry experts estimate the Find N5’s unfolded thickness could rival or even surpass that of competing brands, currently the thinnest foldable at 4.4 mm when unfolded. This engineering feat could position OPPO as the leader in foldable innovation, challenging competitors to push the boundaries of design even further.
The Foldable Landscape: Current Contenders
The foldable smartphone market has been dominated by key players such as Samsung, Huawei, HONOR, and Xiaomi, each bringing unique strengths to the table. Here’s how they compare to what’s anticipated from the Find N5:
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6
Samsung has long been a pioneer in foldables, with the Galaxy Z Fold6 taking the spotlight as its latest innovation. Released in July 2024, this device showcases refined internals and an enhanced design. It features a 7.6-inch Foldable Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X main display with a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and an impressive 2600 nits peak brightness. Additionally, the Galaxy Z Fold6 includes a 6.3-inch LTPO AMOLED cover display, also boasting a 120Hz refresh rate.
Samsung Galaxy Fold6
Designer: Samsung
Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, the device offers up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage. Its camera setup includes a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide lens, a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, a 10MP cover selfie camera, and a 4MP under-display inner camera. The 4400mAh battery supports 25W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 and Galaxy Z Fold6 Special Edition (SE) have different dimensions, with the SE model being larger but thinner.
Here’s a comparison of their dimensions:
Galaxy Z Fold6:
- Folded: 153.5 x 68.1 x 12.1mm
- Unfolded: 153.5 x 132.6 x 5.6mm
Galaxy Z Fold6 Special Edition (SE):
- Folded: 157.9 x 72.8 x 10.6mm
- Unfolded: 157.9 x 142.6 x 4.9mm
Key differences:
- The SE is 4.4mm taller and 4.7mm wider when folded.
- The SE is 4.4mm taller and 10mm wider when unfolded.
- The SE is 1.5mm thinner when folded and 0.7mm thinner when unfolded.
The SE model is notably larger in overall footprint but achieves a slimmer profile, especially when folded. This design change allows for larger displays on the SE, with an 8-inch main screen compared to the Z Fold6’s 7.6-inch screen.
The Galaxy Z Fold6 introduces upgraded brightness, improved hinge technology, and enhanced durability compared to its predecessor. With these advancements, Samsung continues to strengthen its hold on the foldable market while adapting to growing competition from brands like OPPO, Huawei, and Xiaomi.
Huawei Mate X6
The Huawei Mate X6 is a significant addition to the foldable smartphone landscape, offering impressive specifications and innovative features. It boasts a remarkably slim design, measuring just 4.6 mm when unfolded and 9.85 mm when folded. It features a 7.93-inch main LTPO OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 2240 x 2440 pixel resolution, alongside a 6.45-inch cover LTPO OLED display, also with a 120Hz refresh rate.
Designer Huawei
This device is powered by the Kirin 9020 processor and offers multiple RAM and storage configurations, including 12GB/256GB, 12GB/512GB, 16GB/512GB, and 16GB/1TB options.
The camera system includes a 50MP main sensor with a variable aperture of f/1.4-f/4.0 and OIS, a 48MP periscope telephoto lens with 4x optical zoom and OIS, and a 40MP ultrawide lens.
Its battery has a capacity of 5110mAh and supports 66W wired charging along with 50W wireless charging.
Dimensions:
- Folded: 156.6 x 73.8 x 9.9mm
- Unfolded: 156.6 x 144.1 x 4.6mm
- Weight: 239g
The Mate X6 features an advanced camera system, including a variable-aperture main camera and a color spectral sensor for enhanced color reproduction. It also has satellite messaging capabilities and runs on HarmonyOS 4.3.
Mix Fold 4
The Xiaomi Mix Fold 4, released on July 19, 2024, stands out in the foldable smartphone market with its ultra-thin and lightweight design, combining durability and premium features. It boasts a 7.98-inch LTPO AMOLED main display that offers a 120Hz refresh rate, a resolution of 2488 x 2224 pixels, HDR10+ support, Dolby Vision, and peaks at 3000 nits brightness. Additionally, the device includes a 6.56-inch AMOLED cover display, also supporting 120Hz and featuring a resolution of 2520 x 1080 pixels. Equipped with a second-generation hinge for enhanced durability and an advanced cooling system for sustained performance, the Mix Fold 4 is among the thinnest and lightest foldable, delivering high-end specifications in a sleek package.
Designer: Xiaomi
This device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor built on a 4nm process. It offers multiple RAM and storage configurations, including 12GB/256GB, 16GB/512GB, and 16GB/1TB, all using UFS 4.0 storage technology.
Dimensions:
- Folded: 161.6 x 73.8 x 9.47mm
- Unfolded: 161.6 x 143.4 x 4.59mm
- Weight: 226g
The camera system includes a 50MP main sensor, a 50MP telephoto lens, a 10MP periscope telephoto lens, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 16MP front-facing camera. The Mix Fold 4 is equipped with a 5100mAh battery that supports 67W wired fast charging.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, also known as the Pixel Fold 2, focuses on combining sleek hardware with a robust software experience. It features a 6.3-inch OLED cover display with a resolution of 1080 x 2424 pixels and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. The main display is an 8-inch LTPO AMOLED panel with a resolution of 2076 x 2152 pixels and a variable refresh rate ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz.
Designer: Google
This device is powered by the Google Tensor G4 processor, paired with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold boasts a versatile camera setup, including a 48MP main sensor with an f/1.7 aperture and OIS, a 10.5MP ultrawide lens with an f/2.2 aperture, and a 10.8MP telephoto lens for detailed zoom photography.
The battery has a capacity of 4650mAh and supports 21W wired and wireless charging. The device is also IPX8 water-resistant and includes a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. It ships with Android 14 and guarantees seven years of OS and security updates.
Dimensions:
- Folded: 155.2 x 77.1 x 10.5mm
- Unfolded: 155.2 x 150.2 x 5.1mm
- Weight: 257g
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold sets itself apart with its thinner design compared to its predecessor. It measures just 10.5mm when folded and 5.1mm when unfolded. This makes it one of the thinnest foldables available in the US market while maintaining Google’s hallmark software experience and long-term update support.
OnePlus Open
The OnePlus Open boasts the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, ensuring high performance coupled with extensive storage options of up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. It features a 7.82-inch AMOLED main display and a 6.31-inch AMOLED cover display, both with a 120Hz refresh rate. This device merges a compact, functional design with premium specifications, positioning itself as a strong competitor in the foldable market.
Designer: OnePlus
The device features a versatile camera setup, which includes a 48MP main sensor, a 48MP ultrawide lens, a 64MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 32MP front-facing camera for selfies. The battery has a capacity of 4805mAh and supports 67W fast charging, ensuring quick recharges when needed.
Dimensions:
- Unfolded: 153.4 x 143.1 x 5.8mm (Emerald Dusk), 5.9mm (Voyager Black, Crimson Shadow)
- Folded: 153.4 x 73.3 x 11.7mm (Emerald Dusk), 11.9mm (Voyager Black, Crimson Shadow)
- Weight: 239g (Voyager Black, Crimson Shadow), 245g (Emerald Dusk)
Beyond Slimness: OPPO’s Innovation in Design
The OPPO Find N5 aims to be thinner and redefine the foldable experience. Building on the legacy of its predecessors, it is expected to feature a near-seamless hinge mechanism, ensuring durability without sacrificing its slim profile. This feature continues OPPO’s tradition of minimizing display creases, which distinguished earlier models like the Find N2 and N3.
Slimmer devices typically face challenges in maintaining battery life and structural integrity. OPPO’s engineering advancements suggest that the Find N5 will incorporate advanced battery technology and durable materials to address these trade-offs. Fast-charging capabilities, potentially reaching up to 67W, are also expected to alleviate concerns about battery performance.
Another aspect of interest is the potential branding strategy for Find N5. Historically, OPPO and OnePlus have shared resources, with the OnePlus Open essentially being a rebranded OPPO Find N3. It’s likely that the Find N5 will also appear as the OnePlus Open 2 in global markets. This strategy allows OPPO to expand its reach while maintaining its design and engineering ethos across brands.
Why the Find N5 Matters
The OPPO Find N5’s significance extends beyond its slim profile. A thinner foldable isn’t just about aesthetics—it improves ergonomics, making the device more user-friendly for one-handed use and extended periods of handling. It also pushes the industry forward, inspiring competitors to innovate and refine their designs.
The Find N5’s strategic timing coincides with the upcoming Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 in Barcelona, where it is poised to steal the spotlight at OPPO’s showcase. This premier platform will enable OPPO to assert itself as a formidable leader in foldable innovation, rivaling established titans like Samsung and Huawei.
Boasting an ultra-slim design and a dedicated focus on usability and innovation, the OPPO Find N5 is shaping up to be a revolutionary device in the competitive foldable market. Although challenges such as durability and battery life loom, OPPO’s proven track record reassures that it will overcome obstacles and lead the charge in foldable technology.