The Oppo Find N5 demonstrates what Samsung needs to implement in the Z Fold 7.

      For the last five years, I've made a folding phone one of my main devices, and the search for the ideal size and style has taken many unexpected paths. The original Galaxy Fold brought a new idea to the mainstream, but subsequently, Samsung focused on making small yet significant improvements each year. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 was the most polished version so far, yet it began to face challenges from competitors who released lighter and slimmer foldables. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold demonstrated that Samsung could have gone further — which they eventually did with the somewhat thinner Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition — and then the Magic V3 indicated that the best phones aren’t always available in the US.

      Now, attention shifts to the Oppo Find N5. This device was anticipated to be the OnePlus Open 2 before the disappointment of the Oppo and OnePlus split. It is currently the slimmest foldable available, and it tackles several criticisms associated with the book-style design. After a week of use, I believe it serves as a model for Samsung to consider for the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Here’s why.

      Thickness, size, and usability are crucial factors

      Since the Galaxy Z Fold 2, Samsung has favored a narrower and taller aspect ratio compared to its competitors. The company has believed that users prefer the taller book style over a more compact design, but the Find N5 has the ideal form factor that Samsung should adopt without hesitation.

      The Find N5 is both taller and wider than the Galaxy Z Fold 6, yet its design is significantly thinner. At 8.9mm when folded, it is nearly a third slimmer than the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Although it only weighs ten grams less, it feels lighter due to its slender build.

      Samsung recognizes the need to enhance the thickness of its devices, as evidenced by the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition shortly after the Z Fold 6. Sadly, it's restricted to South Korea and China, and even if it were more accessible, I’m uncertain it’s the answer.

      I haven't personally used the special edition, but its specifications indicate a thinner foldable that resolves some major issues. It measures 4.9mm when unfolded, but this increases to 10.6mm when folded. The Cover Display is 0.2 inches larger, and the main display is 0.4mm bigger. These improvements are better, yet they fall short of world-class standards, meaning the Galaxy Z Fold 7 needs to push further.

      It’s time to improve the front display

      Due to its larger and slimmer design, Oppo has successfully increased the size of the front display. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 features a 6.3-inch Cover Display with a peak brightness of 2600 nits, while the Find N5 has a larger 6.62-inch display with a peak brightness of 2450 nits. The latter resembles a typical smartphone, making the Find N5 comfortable for one-handed and two-handed use.

      When unfolded, the Oppo Find N5 boasts an almost perfect form factor. Its 8.12-inch display is the largest on a book-style foldable — aside from the tri-fold Huawei Mate XT — and it's both larger and thinner than the latest iPad Air. After returning to the 7.6-inch main display on the Galaxy Z Fold 6, I find the larger screen on the Find N5 much more enjoyable.

      I've noticed that I use the front display much more frequently since it resembles a conventional phone. It's familiar and ergonomically designed, and again, its ultra-thin body makes it feel just like a regular phone when folded. On multiple occasions, I've mistakenly thought it was my iPhone, particularly when it's in my pocket.

      Camera and performance potential for Samsung

      The Find N5 showcases mostly flagship specifications, but there are opportunities for Samsung to innovate in its lineup. The ultra-thin profile of the Find N5 necessitated a custom-designed USB-C port and specialized internals for effective heat dissipation. This task is handled by the 7-core Snapdragon 8 Elite, but from my experience, it is noticeably throttled.

      While it has one less core than the standard Snapdragon 8 Elite used in most leading Android phones, this version is additionally throttled. Although the Find N5 excels at heat dissipation, the performance is evidently impacted.

      This presents an opportunity for Samsung. The overclocked “custom” Snapdragon 8 Elite designed for Galaxy devices is impressive, but if Samsung aims for a significantly thinner foldable, a modified version may be necessary. Enhancing GPU performance on a “For Galaxy” version of the 7-core processor could provide the Galaxy Z Fold 7 with a significant performance edge.

      There’s also room for improvement in the camera department. The Find N5 is equipped with a 50MP main camera, an 8MP ultrawide camera, and a 50MP periscope telephoto