Samsung’s been dominating the folding smartphone arena recently, setting trends for other manufacturers to follow. That’s just business. Oppo looks like it’s keen to throw its own hat into the ring, showing off a prototype foldable that looks a lot like the Galaxy Z Fold.
Oppo flips out
The prototype, “Oppo’s first foldable flagship”, is named the Find N, and is apparently the result of four years of “intense R&D” and 6 generations of prototypes. Considering the fact that it took Samsung three tries to really nail a foldable smartphone (which still needs some touching up), this seems like a pretty reasonable amount production time.
Oppo doesn’t really share anything specs-wise, which has us a little miffed but we can’t complain all that much. We’ll probably see the Find N’s guts at the upcoming Oppo Inno Day on the 15th of this month.
Oppo does brag that the Find N will be both beautiful and functional, both of which we’ll see for ourselves when we eventually get our hands on it. In terms of form, Oppo wants the Find N to “feel good in the hand”, and to be “simple in design, natural and comfortable in material.”
Oppo also says it’s mitigated the main problems associated with folding phones, namely creasing in the display (which can be a major bother for some folks) and the general durability issues found in folding phones.
“To us, the name Find N represents new possibilities,” reads a press release. “[Oppo is] ushering in the next chapter of smartphones: the revolutionary experience of this new form factor will undeniably shake up the industry. ”
With all the work Samsung and others have put into folding phones we’re not quite sure Oppo is redefining smartphone design the way it seems to think it is. But regardless, with just how much we loved the Galaxy Z Fold, we’re excited to see what Oppo’s lookalike has to offer.