Oppo’s New Foldable: A Smart, Slim Phone That Stands Out

Oppo has released a fresh foldable that could catch the eye of tech lovers who prefer a sleek, powerful phone. The new model arrives only in Asian markets for now, but its design and specs suggest it can compete with the top foldables on the market. The company’s main focus is making the crease almost invisible. Using advanced printing and laser scanning, Oppo claims it can keep the hinge height variation to just 0. 05 mm. Tests show that the crease stays much flatter than in last year’s version, though it is still visible if you look closely. The phone measures only 8. 93 mm when folded, almost the same thickness as many regular smartphones. The display is a 6. 62‑inch front panel that can brighten up to 3, 500 nits, while the inner screen tops out at 2, 500 nits. Both panels are larger than in earlier foldables and have a higher peak brightness, which helps when you’re outdoors or watching videos. The phone runs on a 7‑core Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip and comes with a huge 6, 000‑mAh battery. In real‑world tests, the device can play a video on the front screen for almost 30 hours and still last more than 24 hours when using the larger inner display. Charging is fast: Oppo’s proprietary charger can deliver up to 80 W, while other high‑wattage chargers can reach 55 W. The phone also supports 50 W wireless charging, but only with Oppo’s own charger. There are no standard magnetic docks or Qi 2 compatibility.Camera upgrades are significant. A new 200‑megapixel main sensor with a wide f/1. 8 lens, a 50‑MP ultra‑wide camera that lets in more light, and a 50‑MP telephoto with 3× optical zoom give the phone a versatile imaging setup. All three cameras can record 4K video at 60 fps, and the main sensor supports 120 fps. The device also offers a high‑resolution mode that uses every pixel on the sensor, and it keeps several shooting modes from previous models. On software, Oppo pushes multitasking. You can open a full‑screen app and then add three floating windows that run separate apps or web pages. The system includes gestures to help navigate, but the experience can feel cluttered on an 8‑inch screen. For users who like to write or draw, Oppo has added a stylus that attaches to the back of the phone. The stylus can be charged wirelessly and has a button that brings up an on‑screen palette of tools. The phone also supports iPhone Connect for easy file sharing with Apple devices and offers remote PC control, turning the foldable into a mini laptop for those who need to work on the go. Oppo plans to launch the device in China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and other Asian markets on March 20. Prices start at ¥9, 999 (about $1, 450) for the 12 GB/256 GB variant. The phone will be available in silver and a muted orange color.