The era of bulky, brick-like foldable phones is officially over. For years, the major compromises of the “book-style” foldable were obvious: a conspicuous screen crease, a thick, unwieldy folded profile, and the sheer weight that made them uncomfortable to carry. In 2025, that narrative changes entirely.
The battle for foldable supremacy has shifted from merely making a folding screen to perfecting the form factor. Two devices, in particular, lead this charge for elegance and efficiency: the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the OPPO Find N5.
Samsung, the originator of the mainstream foldable, has finally prioritized slimness, even at the cost of a long-standing feature. OPPO, the perennial design innovator, continues to refine its hinge technology to deliver an almost crease-less experience and superior battery capacity. This side-by-side analysis by BestPrice reveals the key hardware and software philosophies that define these two titans of the foldable future.
- 📏 The War of Thinness: Design and Portability For a foldable, folded thickness is arguably the most critical dimension, determining how well the device fits into a pocket or hand. In 2025, both Samsung and OPPO have made monumental leaps.
1.1. The Ultra-Slim Profile Showdown The competitive pressure from rivals like OPPO has clearly motivated Samsung to dramatically slim down its design.
Feature OPPO Find N5 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Winner (By Design Philosophy) Folded Thickness $8.93\text{mm}$ $8.9\text{mm}$ Tie (Difference is microscopic) Unfolded Thickness $4.21\text{mm}$ $4.2\text{mm}$ Tie (Practically identical) Weight $229\text{g}$ $215\text{g}$ Galaxy Z Fold 7 (Lighter by $14\text{g}$) Cover Screen Ratio $6.62\text{-inch}$, $20.7:9$ (Bar Phone-Like) $6.5\text{-inch}$, Expanded $21:9$ OPPO Find N5 (Wider, more natural) Hinge Material Titanium Alloy (Grade 5, $3\text{D}$-printed) Armor Aluminum Blend OPPO Find N5 (Superior aerospace material) The key takeaway is that the distinction between these two flagships on raw dimension is now negligible (Source 3.1). Both devices finally approximate the thickness of a regular, high-end “bar” phone when folded, eliminating the most significant physical drawback of earlier foldables.
Samsung’s Achievement: The Z Fold 7’s achievement is extraordinary, shaving off over $3\text{mm}$ of thickness compared to its predecessor (Source 1.2). OPPO’s Benchmark: The Find N5 maintains its lead in engineering materials, using Grade 5 titanium for its Flexion Hinge, which boasts $36\%$ higher rigidity and is $26\%$ smaller than the previous generation, optimizing internal space (Source 2.1). 1.2. Cover Screen Usability The secondary battleground is the cover screen. OPPO continues with its philosophy of a wider, more traditional cover screen aspect ratio ($20.7:9$), making it feel more like a conventional smartphone (Source 2.4). The Z Fold 7, while wider than its previous models, retains a slightly narrower, taller proportion ($21:9$) (Source 1.3).
OPPO’s Advantage: For quick tasks, typing, and one-handed use, the Find N5’s cover screen is objectively more comfortable, requiring less compromise when the phone is folded. Samsung’s Focus: Samsung’s slightly taller cover screen is perhaps designed to ease the transition to the tall, tablet-like internal screen experience. 2. 📝 The Productivity Divide: S Pen Integration One of the most stunning decisions in the 2025 foldable landscape is Samsung’s rumored choice regarding its signature accessory: the S Pen.
2.1. Samsung Axes the S Pen Reports strongly indicate that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 officially drops S Pen support to achieve its new, ultra-slim profile (Source 1.2, 1.5).
The Trade-Off: S Pen support requires a specialized digitizer layer beneath the foldable screen. Removing this layer allowed Samsung to increase the durability of the Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG) layer and achieve the dramatic thickness reduction (Source 1.2). Samsung’s Rationale: Samsung reportedly found S Pen usage among Fold users to be “extremely low,” suggesting that the majority of productivity-focused users were willing to trade the stylus for a thinner, lighter device (Source 1.2). 2.2. OPPO’s Quiet Inclusion In a move that could redefine the productivity advantage, the OPPO Find N5 maintains stylus support on both its cover and inner screens (Source 2.5).
Productivity Winner: The Find N5 becomes the undisputed choice for users who rely on precise input, sketching, or extensive note-taking on their foldable. Screen Integration: The fact that the Find N5 was able to include the necessary hardware for stylus input while still achieving an identical $8.93\text{mm}$ folded thickness to the Z Fold 7 is a testament to OPPO’s superior internal engineering and battery technology (Source 2.1, 2.5). Verdict on Productivity: If stylus input is a non-negotiable part of your workflow, the OPPO Find N5 is the only choice. Samsung has ceded the pure productivity crown to prioritize mainstream appeal and physical design.
- ✨ The Invisible Seam: Hinge and Crease Technology The screen crease has always been the visible flaw of foldable phones. Both manufacturers have evolved their hinge mechanics, but they approach the problem with different engineering priorities.
3.1. OPPO’s “Water Drop” Perfection OPPO’s Flexion Hinge utilizes a complex, proprietary mechanism often referred to as a “Water Drop” or “Teardrop” design.
Minimal Crease: By folding the screen into a wide, tear-drop shape within the hinge cavity, the Find N5 minimizes the visible crease. The screen material is under less tension, resulting in a minimal and barely visible seam that is less noticeable during daily use (Source 3.1). The device has achieved TÜV Rheinland Minimised Crease Certification (Source 2.4). Gap-Free Closure: Crucially, the Find N5 folds completely flat with no visible gap between the two halves (Source 2.3). This prevents dust and debris from entering the inner display, improving long-term durability. 3.2. Samsung’s Armor Flex Hinge Samsung has significantly refined its hinge, using an Armor Aluminum blend to achieve extreme thinness and lightness (Source 3.1).
Crease: While greatly improved over previous generations, the Z Fold 7’s crease remains more moderate or noticeable compared to the Find N5 (Source 3.1). Samsung’s hinge is built for durability and longevity (Source 3.1), but the folding radius still creates a slight V-shape, leading to a more noticeable visual artifact. Gap: The Z Fold 7 also folds virtually flat, but its hinge still maintains a more complex mechanical profile than OPPO’s, contributing to its slightly higher complexity and weight (Source 3.1). Verdict on Crease: For the user experience on the internal screen, the OPPO Find N5 delivers the superior, near-seamless visual canvas.
- 🔋 Power and Longevity: Battery and Charging Speeds Foldable phones demand high-capacity batteries, but their slim designs make this a constant challenge. The philosophical difference in engineering priorities is clearest when comparing the battery and charging systems.
4.1. Battery Capacity: Size Matters Feature OPPO Find N5 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Battery Capacity $5,600\text{mAh}$ $4,400\text{mAh}$ Wired Charging $80\text{W}$ SUPERVOOC (100% in $\approx 50$ min) $25\text{W}$ (Slower, $50\%$ in $\approx 30$ min) Wireless Charging $50\text{W}$ AIRVOOC $15\text{W}$ Wireless The OPPO Find N5 holds a commanding lead in power management (Source 2.5).
Massive Battery: The $5,600\text{mAh}$ battery is one of the largest ever seen in a book-style foldable, thanks to OPPO’s silicon-carbon battery technology, which increases energy density (Source 2.4). This translates to an active use score of over 13 hours, offering superior endurance (Source 2.5). Charging Supremacy: OPPO’s $80\text{W}$ SUPERVOOC wired charging is nearly three times faster than Samsung’s $25\text{W}$ rate (Source 2.5, 3.1). For power users, the ability to fully top up the battery in under an hour is a game-changer. Samsung’s $4,400\text{mAh}$ battery is a direct consequence of prioritizing the lightest possible weight and thinnest profile—an area where it holds the minor advantage over OPPO (Source 1.1, 3.1). However, the slower $25\text{W}$ charging time is a significant inconvenience when compared to the competition.
4.2. Camera and Software Ecosystems Camera: The Z Fold 7 has pushed its main sensor to a $200\text{MP}$ wide camera, bringing Ultra-series performance to the foldable (Source 1.3). The Find N5 counters with a highly capable $50\text{MP}$ main, paired with an excellent $50\text{MP}$ telephoto, focusing on versatility and computational quality, benefiting from MariSilicon X NPU for advanced image processing (Source 2.2, 3.5). Software & AI: The Z Fold 7 runs One UI 8 with Galaxy AI, integrating powerful AI agents optimized for the large screen, such as real-time photo editing and browsing summaries (Source 1.3). The Find N5 runs ColorOS 15 with its own OPPO AI features (AI Eraser, AI Clarity Enhancer), offering a highly polished and performance-focused experience (Source 2.4). 5. 🎯 The Mobihub Verdict: The Trade-Offs Defined The Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the OPPO Find N5 are not just competing products; they represent two distinct philosophies for the foldable form factor. Choosing between them means choosing which compromises you are willing to accept.
Choose Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 If… Choose OPPO Find N5 If… You prioritize the absolute lightest weight for the most comfortable carry ($215\text{g}$). You need the ultimate battery life and lightning-fast charging ($5,600\text{mAh}$ at $80\text{W}$). You live within the Samsung Galaxy ecosystem and rely on One UI and Galaxy AI features. You require a stylus for productivity, note-taking, or drawing on the main screen. You want the superior zoom and pure camera resolution ($200\text{MP}$ main sensor, $3\text{x}$ optical zoom). You demand the absolute minimum screen crease for the best viewing experience. You seek robust durability and proven mainstream reliability, despite slower charging. You prefer a wider, more natural-feeling cover screen ratio for one-handed use. The OPPO Find N5 wins the technological battle, showcasing superior battery technology, faster charging, and a minimized crease—all while maintaining stylus support. It is the technical flex.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 wins on weight and ecosystem appeal. By sacrificing S Pen support, Samsung has created a mainstream, robust, and lighter flagship that will appeal to the broader market, betting that users value weight over a stylus. It is the refined workhorse.
The foldable future has arrived, and it is thinner, lighter, and more powerful than we ever imagined.
