A curved outer display no other foldable currently offers
In the ongoing human effort to reimagine the boundary between pocket and screen, OPPO has stepped forward with the Find N — its first foldable smartphone and a quiet challenge to the conventions its rivals have established. Announced in December 2021, the device introduces a curved outer display and a precision-engineered hinge designed to make the fold itself nearly invisible, suggesting that the imperfections long accepted in this category may not be inevitable. It arrives in China on December 23rd, priced between $1,209 and $1,413, as the foldable market grows crowded enough that differentiation is no longer optional.
- OPPO enters the foldable arena not by following Samsung's blueprint but by quietly rewriting parts of it — the curved outer display alone has no equivalent among current competitors.
- The 136-component Flexion Hinge is the device's boldest engineering claim, promising an 80% reduction in visible crease, a flaw that has haunted the foldable category since its inception.
- FlexForm Mode transforms the partially opened phone into a freestanding display at any angle between 50 and 120 degrees, pushing the device toward laptop-like utility rather than novelty.
- A Snapdragon 888 processor, dual 32-megapixel front cameras, and a 4,500mAh battery with multi-mode charging signal that OPPO intends this to compete on substance, not just form.
- The China launch is confirmed for December 23rd, but global availability remains unannounced — leaving the device's true competitive reach an open and pressing question.
OPPO has entered the foldable smartphone market with the Find N, a book-style device that distinguishes itself through a curved outer display — something no other foldable currently offers. Announced in December 2021, it unfolds to a 7.1-inch AMOLED main screen and closes to reveal a 5.49-inch curved secondary display, both capable of up to 120Hz refresh rates.
The engineering centerpiece is the Flexion Hinge, built from 136 individual components machined to tolerances of 0.01mm. OPPO claims it reduces the visible crease by up to 80% compared to rivals — a figure independently verified by TUV. The inner display uses ultra-thin glass just 0.03mm thick, rated for over 200,000 folds, while the outer panel is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus.
The hinge also enables FlexForm Mode, allowing the phone to stand freely at any angle between 50 and 120 degrees, with software built around that posture for laptop-like use. Camera hardware includes a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 main sensor, a 16-megapixel ultrawide, and a 13-megapixel telephoto, alongside dual 32-megapixel front cameras — one on each display.
Powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 888 with up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, the Find N carries a 4,500mAh battery with 33W wired and 15W wireless charging. It launches in China on December 23rd at prices ranging from roughly $1,209 to $1,413. Whether it reaches global markets remains unconfirmed, even as competition in the foldable category continues to sharpen.
OPPO has entered the foldable smartphone race with a device that breaks from the established playbook. The Find N, announced this week, is the company's first attempt at a folding phone, and it arrives with a design choice that sets it apart: a curved outer display, a feature no other foldable on the market currently offers.
The phone opens like a book, similar to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 3, but when closed it achieves a more compact footprint than that device manages. The main display stretches 7.1 inches when unfolded, rendered in AMOLED with a 1920 x 1792 resolution and adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz. The secondary screen on the outside measures 5.49 inches, also AMOLED but locked at 60Hz, and it's the curved one—a curved outer panel rather than the inner folding surface. Both screens have camera holes: the inner display places its sensor in the top-left corner, while the outer one centers it. The bezels on each are thin, and the overall construction uses metal and glass.
What makes the Find N technically interesting is its hinge. OPPO calls it the Flexion Hinge, and it's an engineering statement: 136 individual components working together to achieve precision tolerances of 0.01mm. The hinge widens the fold angle and creates a buffer as the display bends, which OPPO claims reduces the visible crease by up to 80 percent compared to other foldables—a claim that testing firm TUV has apparently verified. The inner display uses Flexion UTG, an ultra-thin glass layer just 0.03mm thick, which OPPO says has survived over 200,000 folds in internal testing. The outer screen is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus.
The hinge enables a feature OPPO calls FlexForm Mode, which lets the phone stand freely at any angle between 50 and 120 degrees when partially open. The company has built software features around this capability, including the ability to use the device as a makeshift laptop. The camera system consists of three rear sensors: a 50-megapixel main camera with Sony's IMX766 sensor, optical image stabilization, and an f/1.8 aperture; a 16-megapixel ultrawide; and a 13-megapixel telephoto. The front has two 32-megapixel cameras, one on each display, both using Sony's IMX615 sensor.
Under the hood sits Qualcomm's Snapdragon 888 processor, paired with either 8GB or 12GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of storage respectively. The battery capacity is 4,500mAh, supporting 33W wired charging via SuperVOOC and 15W wireless charging that works with the Qi standard. Reverse wireless charging up to 10W is also available. The phone includes a side-mounted fingerprint scanner and 5G connectivity. It ships with Android 11 and OPPO's ColorOS 12 interface.
When folded, the device measures 132.6 by 73 by 15.9 millimeters and weighs 275 grams. Unfolded, it stretches to 132.6 by 140.2 by 8 millimeters. OPPO is offering it in black, white, and purple. The Find N launches in China on December 23, priced at 7,699 yuan (roughly $1,209) for the 8GB model and 8,999 yuan (roughly $1,413) for the 12GB variant. The company has made no announcement about bringing it to other markets, leaving global availability uncertain as the foldable smartphone category continues to intensify.
Notable Quotes
The crease is up to 80 percent less noticeable when compared to other foldable devices, corroborated by TUV— OPPO
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does the curved outer display matter? Isn't that just a design choice?
It's more than aesthetics. A curved screen on the outside means the phone feels more refined when closed—less like a brick, more like a premium device. No other foldable has done this yet, which suggests OPPO saw an opportunity to differentiate.
The crease reduction claim—80 percent less visible—how much should we trust that?
TUV, an independent testing firm, corroborated it. That's meaningful. But "less noticeable" is subjective. The crease still exists; OPPO just minimized it more than competitors have managed.
136 components in the hinge seems excessive. Why so many?
Precision at 0.01mm tolerances requires complexity. Each component handles a specific function—distributing stress, managing the fold angle, protecting the display. It's engineering density.
FlexForm Mode sounds gimmicky. Will people actually use it?
Probably some will, some won't. But it's a genuine capability that other foldables don't offer. Whether it becomes essential or remains a novelty depends on how well the software supports it.
Why no global launch announcement?
Foldables are still expensive, still niche. OPPO is testing the market in China first, where it has stronger brand presence. Global expansion depends on how well it sells and whether they can manage supply chains.
At $1,200-plus, who's the actual customer?
Early adopters with disposable income. People who want the latest technology and don't mind paying for it. The foldable market is still proving itself.