OPPO Find N and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: these are the differences

OPPO has announced its first foldable phone. The Find N has a large 7.1 inch main screen and a 5.49 inch cover screen, which makes it very similar to Samsung’s foldable smartphone: the Galaxy Z Fold 3. We put these two foldables directly opposite each other. Here are the differences.

OPPO Find N and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3

The OPPO Find N was launched during the OPPO Inno Day: an event where the brand showcases new products, services and technologies. OPPO has now announced a foldable phone and you can’t ignore the fact that at first glance it closely resembles that other well-known foldable: the Galaxy Z Fold 3. It’s high time to put the specifications side by side and discuss the main differences we noticed. can see now.

Specifications

– Read more under the specifications –

The Find N is smaller, not water resistant

If you put both phones next to each other and look from a distance, you wouldn’t be able to tell immediately which phone is from Samsung and which from OPPO. The two are made according to the same idea, but the execution is different.

OPPO has chosen to release a somewhat smaller device. For example, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is more than an inch longer than the new OPPO phone. On the other hand, it is striking that the OPPO phone weighs just a little more. It is also striking that the Find N has slightly finer screen edges at the cover screen.

Durability

And then there’s the sustainability story, an aspect that usually gets a lot of attention when we look at foldable phones. Both phones are finished with glass and use the new Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, which should better protect against scratches and drop damage. Samsung has managed to make its phone IPx8 water resistant. OPPO can’t boast of that, but it claims that its flexion hinge – which is designed in a water drop shape – ensures minimal fold in the screen. Still, both hinges are good for 200,000 folds on paper.

Samsung makes the expensive choices with the screen

The Find N has a smaller size and that also results in smaller screens. While Samsung’s cover screen with its 6.2 inch size is as large as that of many modern phones, OPPO opts for a smaller 5.49 inch AMOLED panel. The Find N is better to use in one hand, and certainly if you look at the special 25:9 aspect ratio of the Galaxy Z Fold 3. OPPO keeps it at 18:9, or a ratio that we are used to from smartphones.

Samsung has also applied a variable refresh rate (LTPO) of up to 120Hz to its cover screen with the third generation of its foldable phones. OPPO, on the other hand, has a 60 Hz panel, which can sometimes be a disturbing factor to the Find N if you then open the screen and then look at the 120 Hz LTPO main screen. Differences in refresh rate are especially noticeable if you use the screens alternately.

The main screen of the Galaxy Z Fold 3 measures 7.6 inches compared to 7.1 inches with the Find N. On paper, the differences are limited, only the peak brightness of Samsung can be higher up to 1,200 nits. Samsung also puts a selfie camera and fingerprint scanner under the screen: two things that drive the price of the Z Fold 3 up.

Similar performance, OPPO charges faster

Both phones work with Qualcomm’s high-end Snapdragon 888 and that makes the performance comparable anyway. The only difference is that OPPO’s foldable phone starts with 8 GB of RAM, while you have to take 12 GB with the Z Fold 3. So OPPO again opts for an element that slightly pushes the price. Both phones are also available with up to 512 GB of storage.

If we look at the battery, we notice that the Find N has a slightly larger 4,500 battery compared to its Samsung competitor. A difference of 100 mAh does not seem significant, but it is if you include the smaller screens. In terms of fast charging, the Find N does better with its 33W charger that is also included with the phone. You still have to purchase the 25W charger of the Galaxy Z Fold 3 separately. The OPPO Find N can also charge faster wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.

The camera is difficult to compare

It is very difficult to compare cameras if you only have specifications. Image processing still plays a major role, so we can only name the differences that stand out to us. OPPO chooses a 50 MP camera instead of Samsung’s 12 MP main sensor.

Both do have optical image stabilization. The two folding phones each have a telephoto camera that is good for 2x optical zoom, only the OPPO Find N telephoto camera does not have optical image stabilization and that is expected to have drawbacks. On the other hand, OPPO does use slightly larger sensors compared to Samsung.

We also expect OPPO to have the better selfie cameras. Samsung has a 4 MP selfie camera below the screen on the main screen, which is nice, but that sensor collects slightly less light compared to a normal selfie camera.

Foldable software

Both phones work with Android 11 and each will get the update to Android 12L which will come with a whole package of improvements for foldables next year. However, both Samsung and OPPO understand that a larger screen does require certain optimizations.

Both phones come with useful functions for multitasking and custom camera controls. Among other things, you can take a selfie while watching a preview on the cover screen. And of course you can continue with an app where you left off as soon as you open the screen.

Still, you could expect that the software experience on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 feels a bit more streamlined, because Samsung is now ready for the third generation of its Z Fold 3.

Conclusion

The OPPO Find N is a device with a clear mission. On the one hand, the device aims to tackle some of the less good aspects of foldable phones. The smartphone comes with the flexion hinge that should make the fold less noticeable and the phone is also more compact and easier to operate via the cover screen.

Second, OPPO wants to create a more accessible device. Converted, the Find N therefore costs 1298 euros compared to the suggested retail price of 1799 euros that Samsung gave to its phone. Although you could say that Samsung would be able to eliminate that price difference if it focused less on luxurious extras. The selfie camera under the screen is a clear example of this, but the phone also comes with eSIM, and a fingerprint scanner under the screen. With the Galaxy Z Flip 3, the brand does make the necessary effort to keep the price low.

It is possible that Samsung will change its strategy in the coming years if more devices from competitors will come on the market that focus on the Z Fold 3, and also promise a lower price. In this area, Samsung still remains one of the only manufacturers with foldable phones in Europe, because the Find N is currently only launched in China.

What do you think of the differences between the OPPO Find N and the Galaxy Z Fold 3? Which phone appeals to you the most at first glance? Let us know in the comments at the bottom of this article.

More about foldables from Samsung and OPPO

• OPPO X 2021 hands-on video: this is how you roll up a phone
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 review: is the future ready for foldable phones?
• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 review: a story about love?’Samsung stops production Galaxy Note, focus on foldables’