For the past five years, foldable phones have been steadily gaining traction, with manufacturers constantly striving to perfect the balance of size, style, and functionality. Samsung, a pioneer in the foldable market, has iteratively improved its Galaxy Z Fold series. However, competitors like the Oppo Find N5 are now showcasing innovative designs and features that Samsung should consider for its next generation, the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6, while refined, began to show its age against thinner and lighter rivals. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold and the Honor Magic V3 demonstrated the potential for slimmer designs, a trend further solidified by the Oppo Find N5. This device, initially expected to be the OnePlus Open 2, has emerged as the world’s thinnest foldable, addressing several key shortcomings of the book-style design. After a week of use, it’s clear that the Find N5 provides a compelling roadmap for Samsung’s future foldable endeavors.
Thickness, Size, and Usability: A Winning Combination
Samsung has consistently favored a narrower and taller aspect ratio for its foldable devices. While this “taller book” approach has its merits, the Find N5 demonstrates the advantages of a wider and slightly shorter form factor, especially when combined with a significantly thinner profile. At just 8.9mm folded, the Find N5 is nearly a third thinner than the Galaxy Z Fold 6. This difference, while only representing a slight weight reduction, translates to a much more comfortable in-hand feel.
Samsung’s awareness of this thickness issue is evident in the release of the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition, a slimmer variant exclusive to certain Asian markets. However, even this model’s improvements fall short of the Find N5’s sleek design, suggesting the need for more aggressive innovation in the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
Rethinking the Front Display
The Find N5’s larger and thinner design allows for a more practical front display. Its 6.62-inch screen surpasses the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s 6.3-inch offering, providing a more traditional smartphone experience. This makes one-handed and two-handed use significantly more comfortable.
Unfolded, the Find N5 boasts an impressive 8.12-inch main display, currently the largest on a book-style foldable. This expansive screen, combined with its thin profile, offers a superior user experience compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s 7.6-inch display. The Find N5’s front display’s familiar form factor encourages more frequent use, making the device feel like a regular smartphone even when folded.
Performance and Camera: Areas for Samsung to Excel
While the Find N5 boasts flagship-level specifications, there are areas where Samsung can differentiate and improve upon its existing offerings. The Find N5’s slim profile necessitates a custom USB-C port and internal cooling solutions, powered by a 7-core Snapdragon 8 Elite processor. However, this processor exhibits noticeable performance throttling.
This presents an opportunity for Samsung to leverage its “For Galaxy” custom Snapdragon processors. Optimizing a similar 7-core processor for its foldable devices could provide the Galaxy Z Fold 7 with a substantial performance advantage.
The camera system is another area ripe for improvement. The Find N5’s camera setup, while comparable to other high-end phones, highlights the need for Samsung to upgrade its telephoto lens. The Galaxy Z Fold 6’s 10MP telephoto lens, while offering 3x optical zoom, lacks the refinement and image quality seen in other Samsung flagships. Upgrading this component is crucial for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 to compete with rivals like the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
Further Features for Emulation
Beyond hardware, the Find N5 offers features that Samsung should consider. Its 5,600 mAh battery is the largest in any foldable, significantly outlasting the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Similarly, its 80W wired charging and 50W wireless charging capabilities dwarf the Z Fold 6’s charging speeds. While the Galaxy Z Fold series boasts S Pen support, the Find N5’s compatibility with the Oppo Pen on both displays offers a compelling alternative. Finally, features like Open Canvas, which enables advanced multitasking, further demonstrate the innovative software experience offered by the Find N5.
The Find N5 Sets a High Bar
The Oppo Find N5 has set a new standard for foldable phones, challenging Samsung’s dominance in the market. Its thin profile, improved front display, and innovative features offer a glimpse into the future of foldable technology. While Samsung currently faces limited direct competition from the Find N5 due to its limited availability, the device’s design and features provide a clear blueprint for the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Samsung needs to embrace bold innovation to maintain its position at the forefront of the foldable phone market.
