Oppo recently unveiled a foldable phone that redefines slim design. At just 4.21mm when open, the Oppo Find N5 is the thinnest single-hinge foldable ever, setting a new benchmark for the industry.
Even when closed, it remains the slimmest foldable at just 8.93mm, overtaking the 9.2mm Honor Magic V3. And if Apple is working on a foldable iPhone, it might have to rethink its approach after seeing what Oppo has accomplished.
Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd
Despite its foldable form, the Find N5 feels just like a regular smartphone.
While the Huawei Mate XT is technically thinner when unfolded, it relies on a bulkier tri-fold design. In an interview with PhoneArena, Oppo said it waited two years until suppliers could deliver the right innovations to make this ultra-thin device a reality.
This was achieved through a more compact yet stronger titanium hinge that’s supposedly 36% tougher than before. Oppo also trimmed down every component possible, from the display layers to the cutting-edge silicon carbon battery.
Fitting a 5,600mAh battery into such a thin device required a major leap in battery chemistry. Oppo said it worked with suppliers to boost the silicon content in the electrodes from 6% to 10%, increasing energy density without affecting longevity. To ensure durability, even the USB-C port had to be reinforced.
Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd
But Oppo has no plans to stop there. The company’s engineers have made it clear that we won’t see a new model each year, unless there’s real innovation to justify it. Instead of following an annual upgrade cycle, Oppo intends to wait for meaningful advancements before introducing its next foldable.
One such breakthrough is already here: a 26% thinner, 3D-printed titanium alloy hinge with 36% better deformation resistance. As soon as this technology became available, Oppo quickly integrated it into the Find N5’s Titanium Flexion Hinge.
With next-gen battery technology and even stronger, slimmer displays on the horizon, Oppo seems to be committed to innovation over yearly updates. So, will foldables get even thinner?
If the technology allows, Oppo seems more than ready to push the boundaries once again. But with the device already barely thicker than a USB-C port, how thin is too thin?
