Oppo Says Smartphone Innovation Has 'Hit a Wall' As It Teases First Foldable Device

[MacRumors]

Chinese consumer electronics maker Oppo says that innovation in the smartphone industry has "hit a wall" and that people are asking, "What's next for smartphones?" In an answer to that question, the maker teased its first-ever foldable smartphone named "Find N."

In a press release, Oppo's chief product officer, Pete Lau, said that following "four years of intense R&D and six generations of prototypes," Oppo is ready to reveal its first foldable smartphone.

Foldable smartphones have grown in popularity over the years, with Samsung being one of the earliest adopters of the new smartphone trend. According to Lau, foldable smartphones have yet to become a mainstream hit due to many factors, including concerns over durability, software utilization, and more, and that Oppo wanted to change that.

Although a handful of other brands have already introduced foldable devices to the market, barriers such as utility, durability and user experience continue to prevent foldable devices from becoming a more feasible daily driver for most people. So when I returned to OPPO last year, I was excited to take over this major project and guide the team to overcome the final hurdles to turn this dream into reality.

With the Find N, we have solved the main pain points in previous foldable smartphones, such as the crease in the display and overall durability of the device, by inventing perhaps the best hinge and display designs available today. We look forward to truly pushing the folding screen experience forward.

Lau added that beyond 5G, faster charging, higher refresh rates, improved cameras, and more, "smartphone development has reached a limit" and that "new ways of thinking and new approaches to continue innovating" are needed.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1468777421243490312

The name "Find N," according to Lau, represents "new possibilities" and ushers in "the next chapter of smartphones." The press release, which serves as a mere teaser of the device, includes one image, while a tweet by Oppo offers a clearer look at the device. Find N will launch on December 15.

Apple is poised to join the foldable smartphone market in the future. Still, a device of that nature remains several years away as Apple tends to wait until technologies are more mature for mainstream use before unveiling a product.

Article Link: Oppo Says Smartphone Innovation Has 'Hit a Wall' As It Teases First Foldable Device

 

[Six0Four]

Sorry, but I don't want a crease running through the middle of my display.

 

[cocoua]

In the meanwhile, the rest of the industry looking fordward for the next iPhone

 

[TechRunner]

Sorry, but I don't want a crease running through the middle of my display.

That was my thing, too. I checked out the Samsung foldables a couple weeks ago, and the crease just felt/looked weird to me. When display tech catches up, I would definitely consider a foldable, though.

 

[Chorx]

If I were to want a foldable smartphone for some insane reason, it would be to get a more one handable small phone that turns into a normal sized device. Not a phablet that turns into a newspaper. If there is any legs in this foldable phone space, it’s in making smaller phones bigger when they need to be.

 

[Makosuke]

I got to actually use someone's Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 for a bit. I guess I can imagine that if you really need a bigger screen, and really don't want to carry a small tablet, then that's a legit use case for it.

...but to me it just felt all kinds of wrong. The crease was distracting, the screen felt weirdly soft, opening the hinge felt unpleasant (a huge difference from the ultra-satisfying flip and slider phones of old), and the whole thing just didn't feel like a good form in the hand--too small to be useful when closed, and awkwardly large when open.

The case it was in was also really awkward, seemed almost counterproductive and the phone kept coming off of it, but maybe that was just a bad case.

I'm not saying it's a bad phone, clearly some people like it, but if Apple shipped an iPhone with every feature the 13 Pro has and that exact screen and hinge today, I would not even consider trading my 13 Pro for it.

 

[mrchinchilla]

Hey look, a shameless copy of another phone from a phone manufacturer that literally exists to copy other phone manufacturers!

Aside from that, current foldable phones are garbage. Far too many compromises and weaknesses. The tech just isn’t ready yet. Give it another 5+ (more like 10) years, and it might be good enough to not be an expensive, cumbersome gimmick.

 

[senttoschool]

Hey look, a copy of a phone from a phone manufacturer that literally exists to copy other phone manufacturers!

Um. they've been working on this for 4 years.

And virtually all phones just copy each other since... well.. since innovation has basically stopped, like what he said.

I mean, the iPhone is going hole punch next year, which is just copying Android manufacturers.

 

[wanha]

Um. they've been working on this for 4 years.

And virtually all phones just copy each other since... well.. since innovation has basically stopped, like what he said.

I mean, the iPhone is going hole punch next year, which is just copying Android manufacturers.

This lack of innovation trope is so lazy.

If you think about any major new product Apple has introduced - the first iPod, iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch - they were all barely doable with the technology at the time. In other words, they couldn't have been done in the same way any earlier without there being huge tradeoffs involved because the technology just wasn't there yet.

As phones, tablets, computers, and other peripherals become more and more powerful, that innovation will "magically" appear again.

 

[elbert]

Only time a foldable smartphone will be a thing is when it passes Apple's design standards.

Same reason why OLEDs took almost a decade before debuting on the 2017 iPhone X. It had to meet Apple's stringent standards.

A problem I see with a foldable iPhone with a screen size equivalent to two iPhones stitched together is the price.

So that's two $1,099 iPhone Pro Max.

 

[chenks]

stringent standards.

oh please!
have you seen the number of products released that have had major bugs?

the standards can't be that high

what you mean is that apple will do it when they can see it will be profitable.

So that's two $1,099 iPhone Pro Max.

not really, it would be 1 iPhone Pro Max with 2 screens. no need to have 2 system boards in it.

 

[NZP]

What’s oppo?

 

[elbert]

oh please!
have you seen the number of products released that have had major bugs?

the standards can't be that high

what you mean is that apple will do it when they can see it will be profitable.



not really, it would be 1 iPhone Pro Max with 2 screens. no need to have 2 system boards in it.

Apples major bugs appear to be that fatal because its the most newsworthy company on the planet.

If you dont forum and just see their products as a appliance/toaster/tool then its less problematic than others.

Knowing Apple i wouldn't be surprised if they made an attempt to charge it at >$2k for the 128GB model.

Just like with the 2017 iPhone X I'd wait at least a future model or 2 before even reading up about it

 

[senttoschool]

What’s oppo?

They own 10% of the smartphone market. One of their brands is OnePlus.

 

[polyphenol]

I think I would rather carry a small phone, a 13 mini, AND a small tablet such as an iPad mini.

If Apple allowed them to pair even more intimately, that would be great. Allow both to be used with just the one SIM. Let you switch between the two anytime at all - even in the middle of typing a message, etc.

My 12 Pro is adequate, but I'd be happy to have a smaller device in my hand. And a larger one on my pocket or bag.

At present, the two seem likely to be less expensive than a single foldable.

 

[elbert]

What’s oppo?

China-branded phone that caters to $50 & up market.

We deployed about 2,000+ of the Oppo A5s & A12 at work so that replacements & damages/stolen/loss charges to rank & file personnel isn't that heavy.

$7.08/month for 30 months
- unlimited text/calls
- 4GB data
- $0.44/GB after 1st 4GB used up with data cap of $44 or 100GB

 

[TmszLBMrv]

Sorry, but I don't want a crease running through the middle of my display.

Read the article. Maybe it's bs, but it clearly says "With the Find N, we have solved the main pain points in previous foldable smartphones, such as the crease in the display(...)", so maybe it's worth checking out.

 

[antiprotest]

With people's frequency of taking out their phones for browsing and typing, a foldable phone will just introduce another step before people can start to use it. All that folding out will get tiresome after the first ten minutes of novelty.

 

[Fraserh02]

I think I would rather carry a small phone, a 13 mini, AND a small tablet such as an iPad mini.

If Apple allowed them to pair even more intimately, that would be great. Allow both to be used with just the one SIM. Let you switch between the two anytime at all - even in the middle of typing a message, etc.

My 12 Pro is adequate, but I'd be happy to have a smaller device in my hand. And a larger one on my pocket or bag.

At present, the two seem likely to be less expensive than a single foldable.

I think you’re missing the potential here though. If a device can be both a tablet and a phone without any compromising, then this concept is far more superior than having one of each.

Having had the fold for a bit, I do really miss being able to have a big screen wherever I go. In situations it wouldn’t be practical to have a bag on me to carry both. Too bad im into apples ecosystem too much.

I agree with the transferring of calls should be a feature.. but other than that we basically do have the concept with continuity. Although I guess it would be cool if the devices could open all apps where left off on another device where I choose to. Although I do mostly use my devices for different things so I wouldn’t exactly want my mac to always match what’s on my phone. Tab groups have been good though, though I don’t use it for quick searching as I don’t need that synced. I do question if it is at all useful to finish a message on another device? I mean how difficult is it to finish your current message, and if it’s an email you got drafts anyway!

Currently I get you, but once/if apple do one and it costs the same/less than each device individually and when apple put their take on it, I think you’ll be won over!

 

[robvalentine]

Only time a foldable smartphone will be a thing is when it passes Apple's design standards.

Same reason why OLEDs took almost a decade before debuting on the 2017 iPhone X. It had to meet Apple's stringent standards.

A problem I see with a foldable iPhone with a screen size equivalent to two iPhones stitched together is the price.

So that's two $1,099 iPhone Pro Max.

Did you mean "apple held off on expensive features as long as possible until they had to add them"?

 

[grad]

Smartphone innovation has hit a wall since iPhone 1. And it's not just the hardware or software innovation having stalled, there is an actual regression in many things. Bloat has increased, privacy has hit rock bottom, I am not even allowed to change the battery of my phone or use it the way I want without me being considered a criminal. I couldn't care less if the camera is 200 megapixels or the display resolution is 8k; I am not a professional photographer and I do not have to use my smartphone to make money on social networks by influencing weak people. All I care is why on earth is it so difficult to take a note with my S Pen on the (now) unnecessarily narrow and curved Samsung Galaxy Note, why do I need to unfold my foldable Oppo phone every time I use it and why do I have to hurt my eyes and brain every time I look at my iPhone's notch.

 

[Danoc]

I prefer 2 displays side by side, like the Surface Duo, than a plastic screen that folds and bends and deteriorates and breaks over time.

 

[BootsWalking]

Sorry, but I don't want a crease running through the middle of my display.

I don't want a big notch at the top of my iPhone but I got used to it. Same for people with the crease.

 

[BootsWalking]

With people's frequency of taking out their phone for browsing and typing, a foldable phone will just introduce another step before people start to use it. All that folding out will get tiresome after the first ten minutes of novelty.

Thinking outside the box here but maybe the solution is to take out our phones less frequently, for a myriad of reasons beyond wear and tear on the phone.

 

[polyphenol]

I think you’re missing the potential here though. If a device can be both a tablet and a phone without any compromising, then this concept is far more superior than having one of each.

Having had the fold for a bit, I do really miss being able to have a big screen wherever I go. In situations it wouldn’t be practical to have a bag on me to carry both. Too bad im into apples ecosystem too much.

I agree with the transferring of calls should be a feature.. but other than that we basically do have the concept with continuity. Although I guess it would be cool if the devices could open all apps where left off on another device where I choose to. Although I do mostly use my devices for different things so I wouldn’t exactly want my mac to always match what’s on my phone. Tab groups have been good though, though I don’t use it for quick searching as I don’t need that synced. I do question if it is at all useful to finish a message on another device? I mean how difficult is it to finish your current message, and if it’s an email you got drafts anyway!

Currently I get you, but once/if apple do one and it costs the same/less than each device individually and when apple put their take on it, I think you’ll be won over!

No - I think you are missing my point!

There is inevitably a compromise. If you can make a phone weighing, say, 180 grams with a folding screen, how much less can you make it with a simple flat screen? However light the folding one, a non-folding one could be lighter.

Z Flip3 – 183 g
Z Fold 3 – 271 g
S21+ – 200 g (despite large screen)

As far as I am concerned, unless it also has an external screen, such that you can see date, time, how many messages/emails, most recent alert(s), without opening it, forget folding. Though I do realise that if you have a smart watch of some sort, you might already have all that.