Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.
Last year, Samsung closed the gap between its Fold lineup and folding phones from China with the Galaxy Z Fold 7. But Oppo has come up with another exceptional innovation that puts its new folding phone ahead of rivals.
The Oppo Find N6 isn’t as light as the Galaxy Z Fold 7, but this is the first foldable with an almost creaseless inner screen – one that feels like a true mini tablet.
I’ve been using the new Oppo phone for two weeks, and I’m glad I switched from the Fold 7. It’s the closest to being the perfect foldable phone for me. And while Samsung’s option remains one of my favorite phones, Oppo has added quality-of-life upgrades that are hard to ignore. Let me break them down.
1. Where’s the crease?
Oppo Find N6 (left) and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 (right)
Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET
All foldable phones, including the Galaxy Z Fold 7, have a bump in the middle of their folding screen, called the crease. It deepens over time as you use the device. Oppo aims to solve both of these issues with its claimed “Zero-Feel Crease” and succeeds (to an extent). It is still the same “waterdrop” hinge, but with a new design.
Also: Your Samsung phone is getting AirDrop-style sharing with iPhone – these models first
The Oppo Find N6 features 3D-printed, tiny liquid photopolymer droplets that fill in the imperfections inherent to each hinge mechanism. These droplets are then solidified with UV light, which helps reduce crease depth and keeps their flat design for years. Oppo says this process reduces height variance from the industry standard of 0.2mm to just 0.05mm, giving it a smoother surface.
As a result, the crease almost disappears from Find N6’s screen. You can still feel it with your nail, but only barely. When I’m reading or watching videos, I can’t see it at all. It is like using an iPad Mini that folds into a phone. In comparison, my Galaxy Z Fold 7 has a deep, visible bump to the naked eye. You don’t even need to look for it – it’s right there.
2. The most immersive folding screen on a phone
According to Oppo, its new design won’t let the barely-there crease deepen over time. It has a 50% thicker “Auto-Smoothing Flex Glass” with a claimed 338% greater deformation resistance, so it shouldn’t develop a crease as you continue using the device.
My two-week review period is too short to judge these claims, but I can confidently say that the Oppo Find N6 has the most immersive experience on a folding screen right now – and it is made possible by an anti-reflective coating.
Oppo’s 8.12-inch inner screen has an anti-reflective coating, which is great for outdoor use. It is less reflective than my Fold 7’s folding display. So, navigating in Maps and reading outdoors are better, more pleasurable experiences. Although its cover screen isn’t as bright as Samsung’s.
3. Beating Samsung at its own game
Once upon a time, not long ago, Samsung had the best multifunctional stylus on a phone. It downgraded this experience by removing Bluetooth features on the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s S Pen last year. Oppo saw an opportunity and introduced a stylus – with Bluetooth features – for its new foldable.
Also: I can’t wait for Motorola’s GrapheneOS phones: Why they’re a win for privacy and open source
The new stylus is part of Oppo’s AI Pen Kit, which includes a case for the Pen. You can use the stylus to annotate, jot down notes, doodle, and use it as a remote Bluetooth shutter button to shoot photos and videos. It works on both the cover screen and inner display without any issues.
Once you’re done, you can put it back into the case without worrying about its exact placement (just keep the tip on the bottom side) because the magnets automatically rotate its pogo pins to attract it into the case. I love this implementation, though the case color could’ve been better.
4. A larger and faster-charging battery
The most underwhelming part of using the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra was its 4,400mAh battery. It used to last me an entire day on moderate use, but I needed to plug it in by evening if I was navigating or using the cameras more than usual. The Oppo Find N6 fares better in this regard. It packs a 6,000mAh silicon-carbon battery that lasts an entire day with ease.
Also: Lenovo’s new PCs offer a glimpse of the future – and it’s modular
I use the new Oppo phone as both my work and personal device, so there’s a lot of emailing, Slack messages, and ideating in Docs mixed with doomscrolling on social media apps (X, Instagram, LinkedIn), WhatsApp calls and messages, and taking photos. I never charged it twice in a day.
And even if you have to, the Oppo Find N6 supports 80W fast wired charging (as well as 50W fast charging support with third-party chargers), which is faster than Samsung’s solution. It also supports 50W wireless charging, but that is limited to Oppo’s own SuperVOOC wireless charger.
5. A camera system that’s truly flagship
I was satisfied with my Fold 7’s 200MP main camera but disappointed with its nighttime performance and telephoto sensor. By contrast, the Oppo Find N6 offers better optics. You get a 200MP f/1.8 main camera, paired with an f/2.7 50MP telephoto camera with 3x optical and 6x hybrid zoom, and a 50MP ultrawide-angle lens.
The main sensor captures decent colors and doesn’t overexpose shots like Samsung’s. It takes great photos in daylight, with pleasing contrast, good detail, and a decent dynamic range. It beats the Galaxy Z Fold 7 in portraits and nighttime shots. The former has better-looking bokeh, while lowlight photos have less noise.
I like the 3x telephoto camera for the most part, but there’s a noticeable color shift to warmer tones. On the Galaxy Z Fold 7, you get a more consistent camera experience across lenses. However, Oppo has a better overall camera system.
The Oppo Find N6 is a considerable upgrade over its predecessor and significantly better than the options available in the US. But disappointingly, it won’t be launching outside China. I hope Samsung sees the Find N6 and borrows at least two of these features for its next foldable.
