Oppo already has a foldable device on the market, with its Find N being one of the standout foldables of the last year, but it’s sadly exclusive to the Chinese market.
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Now, rumours suggest that the company could be working on a clamshell design that would not only bring a flip-style device to the catalogue, but also at a more affordable price than its expensive stablemate – and it may even launch internationally.
We’re still not sure what the phone will be called, though leakers including Digital Chat Station refer to it as the Find N2 Flip, a name that’s also appeared in one leaked image that’s allegedly official.
Here’s all we know so far about the Oppo Find N2 Flip.
When will the Oppo Find N2 Flip be released?
There’s no official word on when the new clamshell device from Oppo will be released, but Oppo has confirmed the date of Inno Day, the annual event where we’re expecting to see the phone revealed. It will kick off on 14 December with a virtual event at 8am GMT / 3am ET / 12am PT.
Oppo
Inno Day 2021 is when Oppo revealed the original Find N, which is why this is when we’re expecting it to announce the Find N2 – and of course its Flip sibling.
One caveat is that, despite the name, Inno Day isn’t actually just one day. Last year the Find N made its debut on the second day, so if the pattern holds we could see the Find N2 and N2 Flip revealed on 15 December, the day after Inno Day starts – which is exactly what at least one leaker predicts.
We’re not sure if this time around the phone will launch outside China, but there is hope. Earlier this year Billy Zhang, Oppo’s vice president of overseas sales, told Tech Advisor that Flip and Foldable phones are the future, and that Europe will “probably” get the next generation of Oppo’s foldable.
How much will the Oppo flip phone cost?
As with the release date, Oppo has yet to confirm any details about pricing (or even the existence) of its upcoming flip-style phone.
Turning to the rumours once more, we’ve seen several reports (possibly all generated by the initial post from Digital Chat Station) that the new device could be around the $1,000/£800 mark. This would make it a competitive prospect when up against other current flip phones, such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, the Motorola Razr 2022, and the Huawei P50 Pocket, which are priced as follows:
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4: From $999/£999/€1,099Motorola Razr 2022: From £949/€1,199 (around $1,150)Huawei P50 Pocket: From €1,299 (around $1,389/£1,100)
What are the Find N2 Flip specs and design?
Oppo may not have revealed anything official about the Find N2 Flip, but thanks to leaks we think we know what to expect.
First up, the possible design has been revealed in what’s apparently an official Oppo render shared by leaker Abhishek Yadav on Twitter, including seeming confirmation of the Find N2 Flip name:
Oppo
We can see a design that’s a little like Samsung’s Z Flip 4, but with a pair of large camera cut-outs and a bigger cover display, flipped on its side into a portrait orientation.
If you’re sceptical about the image, it’s a perfect match for an alleged hands-on video featuring an early sample of the phone. The phone here is seen only briefly, and in a heavy duty protective case that hides much of the design, but the two large lenses and vertical cover screen are clearly visible as the phone flips shut.
So that’s what we know about the design, but what about the specs? Rumours have been doing the rounds that the chipset will be the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, instead of the more powerful 8 Gen 2 that was recently announced.
The usually reliable leaker Digital Chat Station has reported a few more specific specs. First up, he says the phone will have two OLED displays: a 6.8in internal panel with a 2520×1080 resolution, and a 3.26in panel on the outside. That latter spec is interesting, because it’s larger than the outer displays on other flip foldables, suggesting a screen that will cover one side of the phone when closed.
He also makes a battery prediction, suggesting the phone will use a 4300mAh cell – again, larger than we’ve generally seen in other foldables using this form factor.
Finally, camera specs make an appearance too. Apparently we can expect a 32Mp selfie camera with a Sony IMX709 sensor, as well as a 50Mp main camera with a Sony IMX766 and an 8Mp ultrawide using the Sony IMX355.
Samsung are the current top dog in the flip-phone smartphone stakes, with the Galaxy Z Flip 4 among our favourite phones of any type, not just foldables. So the Oppo Find N2 Flip (if that’s what it’s called) will certainly have its work cut out if it wants to take the top spot. Hopefully, we’ll find out soon what it has to offer.
Until then, be sure to read up on all the other best phones coming in 2022 and 2023.
