Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs Oppo Find N5 | Battle of the Best
The foldable phone market is heating up with Samsung and Oppo leading the charge. I've had the chance to compare the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Oppo Find N5 to see which one comes out on top as the best folding phone. Both devices are incredibly impressive but there are some key differences that could sway a buyer one way or the other.
Build Quality: A Solid Foundation
In terms of build quality, it's a draw. Both phones feel incredibly premium and solid in hand. The Oppo is slightly easier to open which is a nice touch. The Z Fold 7, however, boasts a much higher rated fold endurance of 500,000 folds compared to the Oppo's 200,000+. The Oppo does have a slightly better water resistance rating (IPX9 versus IP4A) which might be a factor for some.
This section is a draw.
The Screens: Bigger versus Brighter
In the battle of screens, both phones bring a lot to the table, but they take different approaches. The Oppo Find N5 comes out on top for its size with physically larger inner and outer displays that also boast higher resolution and pixel density. The Z Fold 7 counters with a significant advantage in brightness, hitting an impressive 2600 nits on both screens. It also has a less noticeable crease, though its screen is slightly more reflective than Oppo's.
In the end, the Oppo Find N5 wins the screen category.
Speakers
When it comes to speakers, there’s really no competition here. The Galaxy Z Fold 7’s speakers are louder and fuller with more bass and less distortion. Oppo has significantly sacrificed the speakers on the N5 for thinness.
Speakers go to the Z Fold 7
Battery and Charging
When it comes to battery life and charging speed, there is a clear difference between these two phones. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 features a 4400 mAh battery and supports 25W charging. The Oppo Find N5, in comparison, comes equipped with a significantly larger 5600 mAh battery. The charging speeds are also a night and day difference, with the Oppo’s 80W charging leaving the Z Fold 7’s 25W far behind.
For battery, the Oppo Find N5 wins.
Cameras: A Mixed Bag
he camera comparison between the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Oppo Find N5 is a mixed bag, with each device excelling in different areas. The primary sensors are a close call and could be considered a draw. However, I found myself leaning towards the Z Fold 7 because the Oppo sometimes produces inaccurate colors and has a tendency to oversharpen images. The Z Fold 7 takes a decisive win for the ultrawide camera. Its higher resolution and larger sensor capture better detail, more accurate colors and less noise compared to Oppo’s 8MP ultrawide.
The telephoto cameras tell a different story, with the Oppo Find N5 coming slightly out ahead. While Oppo's noise reduction can be aggressive and sometimes reduce detail in low light, it generally retains more detail at extreme zoom levels. For macro photography, it's another draw. The Z Fold 7 has a great automatic macro mode that utilizes its ultrawide camera, while the Oppo has a dedicated telemacro feature which is a cool addition, even if color reproduction can be pretty off at times. The Z Fold 7's main sensor can also take great macro shots with better color handling. Finally, in the video department, the Z Fold 7 is the clear winner, particularly in lower light where the Oppo’s video can appear noisy.
The Z Fold 7 ultimately wins the camera comparison.
Multitasking
Multitasking on both the Z Fold 7 and the Oppo Find N5 is phenomenal. Both can handle multiple apps easily with floating windows and split-screen features. The Oppo has a slight edge in flexibility, allowing for three full apps in a split view more easily. The Z Fold 7, on the other hand, offers more resizable floating windows. For multitasking, it's a draw.
Software
When it comes to the overall software experience, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and its One UI is the clear winner. The software is more polished and mature than Color OS on the Oppo, which while good, especially for multitasking, has some quirks and lacks the overall polish of One UI. The Z Fold 7 is packed with useful features like Samsung DeX, the "now bar" for media control, and extensive customization options through Modes and Routines and the Good Lock app. The Z Fold 7 wins for software.
Conclusion: A Narrow Victory
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 ultimately wins this head-to-head comparison by a narrow margin. While both devices are incredibly great, the Z Fold 7's superior speakers, video capabilities and overall software polish give it the edge. It's a fantastic phone and arguably the best foldable on the market today.