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I Love How Skinny Oppo's Foldable Phone Is, but I Hate That I Can't Buy It

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Why This Matters

The Oppo Find N6's innovative slim design, durable build, and water resistance set a new standard for foldable smartphones, offering a compelling experience for consumers. Its limited availability highlights ongoing challenges in global distribution, impacting user access and industry competition. This device exemplifies how advanced engineering can enhance user convenience and durability in foldable phones, influencing future industry trends.

Key Takeaways

There's a lot I like about Oppo's Find N6 foldable phone, now that I've had some time to test it. It's powerful, with glorious 8.12-inch inner and 6.62-inch outer displays and a new hinge design results in a barely noticeable crease on the inner display. It even has a triple IP rating for water resistance, which is rare for foldable phones and means you don't need to worry about using it in the rain (or in a dusty room). But my favorite thing is simply how skinny it is. At just 8.9mm thick when closed, it's extremely comfortable to slide into a pocket.

At a time when we see companies like Motorola, Samsung and Honor push the limits of foldable phone design, the Oppo Find N6 is one of my favorite foldables I've tested, possibly ever, which makes me especially disappointed that it's not sold in the US, UK or Europe. You can buy one in "key Asian markets and Australia," which means most of the world is denied access to what really seems like a superb bit of kit. Oppo, if you're reading this, maybe let more people buy it?

I've been able to spend some time with one despite living in the UK, so if you like teasing yourself by reading about exciting things you can't have, then let's crack on.

Sadly, the Oppo Find N6 won't be sold in the US, UK or Europe. Andrew Lanxon/CNET

Oppo Find N6: Design and hinge

The svelte design is certainly one of my top things about the phone. It feels much skinnier than the 10.8mm Pixel 10 Pro Fold, and while it technically doesn't edge out the 8.75mm thick Honor Magic V6 (we're talking fractions of a millimeter), I doubt you'd notice the difference. When open, the Find N6 is only 4.2mm thick.

Despite its skinny proportions, it actually feels extremely sturdy. It's built from aluminum, with a hinge that uses titanium and carbon fiber. Oppo says it's been independently tested to withstand at least a million folds, and its outer screen is covered in what Oppo calls "nanocrystal glass," which it reckons is exceptionally resistant to damage. Couple that with the IP56, IP58 and IP59 ratings for water resistance (it can survive being immersed in water, high-temperature water and high-pressure water jets), and the Find N6 is arguably one of the most durable foldable phones around. I still probably wouldn't hand it to a toddler with sticky jam fingers, though.

The crease is barely visible, even under direct light. Andrew Lanxon/CNET

The hinge is specifically designed to reduce the inner display's crease, which is helped by "auto-smoothing flex glass" that Oppo says is much better at avoiding creasing over time. Does it work? Sure, from what I've experienced so far, it's certainly one of the most invisible creases I've seen on a foldable phone. It definitely never got in the way when gaming or watching videos. It is still there, and under overhead office lights, it's more noticeable, but for the most part, it wasn't a problem for me.

Oppo Find N6: Processor, camera, battery and software

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