OPPO Find N5 Review: The Near-Perfect Foldable Phone

Foldable phones are no longer a niche experiment, and its becoming the everyday devices especially in the working environment as the bigger form factor indeed helps a lot with productivity. OPPO’s Find N series has always stood out by offering a compact foldable experience, and with the latest Find N5, OPPO has fine-tuned its formula closer to perfection.

The compact foldable design is refreshingly practical, the cameras are surprisingly good, and the AI features make it feel like a genuinely smart phone. If you’re someone who loves the idea of a foldable but hates the compromises they usually come with, this might be the one for you.

Design: Slim, Light, and Truly Pocketable

The Find N5 sticks to OPPO’s signature compact foldable form, which means it avoids the awkward “tall and skinny” look of some other foldables, so you won't get that awkward remote control feeling when holding the phone.

The flat sides and contoured edges make the Find N5 feels like a regular bar phone when folded, not to mention it's just 8.93mm when folded. Personally I prefer this over the curve edge as it sits more comfortably in my hands, the curved edges ergonomics are just not for me. When unfolded, it’s as slim as 4.21mm, and you can see even the USB-C port barely fits in it.

Weighing at 229g, carrying it around doesn’t feel any different from a regular phone. Unlike some foldables that feel top-heavy or thick, the Find N5 is well-balanced, making it comfortable enough to hold for long periods without strain, whether you’re watching videos, reading, or scrolling through social media.

OPPO has also refined the Cosmos Ring design, making it 20% thinner than before, so it doesn't look as bulky as before. And if you pair it with the casing that comes with the box, it looks cleaner than ever. The Cosmic Black variant has a smooth, sand-textured matte finish that feels nice to the touch and resists fingerprints, so you won’t have to wipe it down constantly.

The Alert Slider makes a return, letting you switch between silent, vibrate, and ring modes with a quick flick. It’s a small feature, but it’s useful for quickly silencing your phone without needing to unlock it.

Durability: Built to Last

The Find N5 is built to be both thin and durable, thanks to a customized 7000-series aluminum frame that’s 30% stronger than before. OPPO has reinforced key areas like the battery compartment with carbon fiber and the back cover with aerospace-grade fiber, making it thinner yet more impact-resistant. Even the motherboard has been redesigned to save space while maintaining structural integrity.

The Titanium Flexion Hinge, made from Grade 5 titanium alloy is 36% stronger and 26% smaller, allowing for a slimmer phone without compromising strength. Meanwhile, the inner screen is 70% more impact-resistant with a Dual Shielded Flexible Screen, and the outer screen features nanocrystal glass, which is 20% tougher than regular glass.

Unlike most foldables, the Find N5 is fully water-resistant, boasting IPX6, IPX8, and IPX9 ratings—meaning it can handle rain, splashes, and even high-pressure water jets. It has also earned the TÜV Rheinland Reliable Folding Certification, proving it can withstand 100,000 folds in extreme temperatures. If you’re worried about whether a foldable can last long-term, the Find N5 gives plenty of reassurance.

Display: Smooth and Stunning Both Sides

The Find N5 boasts dual 120Hz AMOLED displays, making everything super smooth—whether you’re scrolling through social media or watching Netflix. It features a massive 8.12-inch inner display, making it the largest screen in any book-style foldable. Whether you’re watching videos, reading, or multitasking, the bright panel, anti-reflective coating, and smooth refresh rate ensure a comfortable and immersive experience. HDR support also brings out richer colors and deeper contrast, making content look sharp and vibrant.

One of the biggest improvements is the almost invisible crease. OPPO has made it 10% narrower and 50% shallower than the previous generation, so minimal that you’ll barely notice it during daily use. The screen feels smooth, with minimal distortion, making it easy to forget you're using a foldable.

The 6.62-inch outer screen is just as practical, with a 20.7:9 aspect ratio that feels just like a regular phone. There’s no awkwardly tall or narrow design, so typing, browsing, and using apps on the cover display feel completely natural. Combined with its lightweight build, the Find N5 doesn’t feel bulky like other foldables.

For those who love taking notes or sketching, the inner display works with the OPPO Pen as well and thanks to the nearly crease-free surface, it will make your notes taking smoother than ever, though it does not come out of the box and you'd need to purchase it separately.

Performance: Flagship Power in a Foldable

The Find N5 is the first foldable to run on the Snapdragon 8 Elite, but instead of the usual eight-core version—OPPO has opted for a seven-core setup, dropping one performance core. This was likely done to balance performance and efficiency while keeping it slim, and honestly, it’s a smart move. Day-to-day tasks feel just as fast as any other Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered flagship, and this tweak probably contributes to the phone’s improved battery life. Paired with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, multitasking and app switching remain smooth and snappy, and there’s plenty of space for apps, photos, and videos too.

For everyday tasks, the Find N5 performs great, whether you’re browsing, watching videos, or using multiple apps at once. But when it comes to gaming, the missing core makes a difference. While casual games run fine, serious gamers might notice the frame rates aren't really catching up compared to the full eight-core setup. In fast paced games, the stutter is really unbearable so if gaming is a priority, this might not be the ideal choice, but for everything else, it’s a powerhouse.

The Find N5 also has one of the best battery life among foldables. Thanks to its 5,600mAh battery and power-efficient chipset, the Find N5 could easily lasts all day long of work and entertainment. a OPPO’s silicon-carbon battery technology has also allowed for a larger battery in a smaller space, which is why we have a thinner Find N5 with a bigger battery compared to the predecessor. It supports 80W SUPERVOOC wired charging, and it takes around 65 minutes to get from 0 to 100%, not as close as the 50 minutes claimed by OPPO, probably because I did not turn Smart Rapid Charging on but personally I'm happy with it since it helps prolong battery life . It also supports 50W AIRVOOC wireless charging, giving you the more convenient option when you're not in a hurry.

From 0%, 20 minutes to 31%, 40 minutes to 67% and 65 minutes to 100%

On the connectivity side, AI LinkBoost 2.0 and the 360° antenna system help keep a strong signal, even in places like basements, elevators, or crowded events. There’s also a security chip built in for better data protection at the hardware level. Overall, While it’s not the best phone for gaming, the Find N5 nails performance, battery life, and reliable connectivity, making it one of the most well-rounded foldables yet.

Productivity: Seamless Cross Connectivity

Previously OPPO introduced O+ Connect for iOS and iPadOS in the Find X8 series, and now OPPO is further stepping up the game. The Find N5 makes working across devices easier with O+ Connect for Mac. You can browse and transfer files effortlessly, open files directly from your phone, edit them on your Mac, and save the changes back without extra steps. Plus, Remote Mac Control lets you navigate your Mac from your Find N5, complete with a virtual trackpad and Mac-style gestures, making remote work more seamless.

Multitasking on the Find N5 is just as smooth, thanks to Boundless View. The updated interface makes it easier to manage multiple apps—just tap the triple-dot menu to open, resize, or split-screen apps. The phone also learns your habits, suggesting split-screen mode when it detects frequent app switching, making it super convenient when juggling between tasks.

The AI Document tool lets you translate, summarize, or refine text in split view, making it easy to compare the original and edited versions. AI Call Summary automatically transcribes and summarizes phone calls into notes or to-do lists.

And for language support, the newly redesigned Translate app makes real-time communication easier, with instant translations appearing separately on each screen during conversations.

Camera: A Hasselblad Master

Foldables used to be average in the camera department, but OPPO begs to differ. The Find N5 comes with a Hasselblad Master Camera System, delivering pro-level versatility with a 50MP main camera, a 50MP 3x periscope telephoto lens, and an 8MP ultra-wide camera, delivering stunning photos and videos in all conditions.

Photos look crisp and well-balanced, with natural colors, rich details, and excellent dynamic range. Low-light performance is surprisingly good, thanks to AI-powered night mode.

The telephoto lens not only brings subjects closer but also supports tele-macro photography, letting you capture detailed close-ups from 10cm away—making it the first OPPO phone to support tele-macro photography.

AI Telescope Zoom allows you to bring zoom photography few steps further. You get 3x optical zoom and 6x lossless zoom, but the real magic happens beyond 10x, where AI enhances image details pixel by pixel. Even at 120x zoom, the phone uses on-device AI to restore textures and sharpness, making long-distance shots surprisingly clear.

From top left to right: 1x, 3x, 6x, 10x, 120x

With AI Photo Remaster, editing is quick and easy. You can sharpen blurry images, remove unwanted objects, fix reflections, and even upscale low-resolution photos with just a tap. AI Studio also lets you experiment with different styles, from realistic portraits to artistic effects, making photo editing more fun and effortless.

Verdict

If you’re in the market for a foldable, the OPPO Find N5 is one of the best options right now. It brings the best of both worlds—a compact bar phone size when folded and an immersive screen when unfolded. It nails the balance between portability, performance, and practicality. The cameras are better than expected, the displays are stunning, and the software features actually add value to your daily usage. While the nerfed Snapdragon 8 Elite might be a minor setback for those who needs better gaming performance, at the end of the day, I would still say its a near-perfect foldable. The price tag of RM7,999 might a bit steep, but its absolute worth checking out.