Exploring Japan with the Oppo Find N3: A Foldable Phone Experience
Written on
Chapter 1: A Rewarding Journey
Recently, I had the pleasure of traveling for a few days with my daughter after her final primary school exams (commonly referred to as PSLE in Singapore). As a well-deserved treat for her efforts, I allowed her to choose our destination, and unsurprisingly, she picked her beloved Tokyo, Japan. For her, the enticing mix of animal cafes and ramen is simply unmissable—though not necessarily at the same time!
Just days before our departure, I received the Oppo Find N3, which is quite similar to the OnePlus Fold, albeit with some differences in the operating systems. However, the core hardware remains largely the same.
Throughout my career, I've had the chance to use various phones, including iOS and Android devices, and even the Windows Phone (which I once managed as a product at Microsoft in Singapore). Recently, I had been using several iterations of the iPhone, and transitioning back to Android would require something exceptional. One key issue was the Microsoft Authenticator app, which made the switch complicated, given its reliance on iCloud for syncing. Despite this, I was determined to embrace my first folding phone, which I had eagerly anticipated.
In the days leading up to our trip, I made sure to set up the phone in a way that felt comfortable and functional, ready to explore Japan with my new foldable companion.
Section 1.2: Battery Performance During Exploration
As a traveler, your phone becomes an essential tool for navigation, payments, food recommendations, translation, and photography. Thankfully, I didn’t need to use it as my child’s entertainment device, as I prefer engaging with her directly (my family knows my rule about no phones at the table).
Fortunately, battery life was never a concern for my usage. We typically left our hotel by 8 AM, exploring the backstreets of Tokyo, using Google Maps for navigation, capturing photos, and tapping to pay for a bit of shopping. At the end of each day, I still had around 30–40% battery remaining. While I’m sure that streaming music or watching YouTube could drain the battery faster, I found it sufficient for a day of sightseeing.
Chapter 2: Capturing Memories
One of the most crucial aspects of any phone is its camera capabilities, and the Oppo Find N3 excels in this area. With a 48MP Ultra-sensing camera, it captures our experiences beautifully. While I’m no photography expert, I appreciate the stunning photos this device produces, especially with its ability to unfold into a larger screen, enhancing the overall photography experience.
However, sometimes you want your pictures to be special, particularly when surrounded by others. Google Photos offers a fantastic feature called "Magic Eraser." This tool intelligently identifies individuals in your photos, allowing you to easily select and remove them. Even if it doesn’t detect someone you want to erase, you can simply draw over them, and it will figure it out for you. While it’s not flawless, it shows promise for improvement in the future.
In terms of general photography, the quality of images taken with this phone has impressed my friends, and I’ve shared several examples of its capabilities.
Bonus Features: Beyond Photography
The folding design of the Oppo Find N3 has introduced some compelling experiences. For instance, many people prefer bringing a Kindle when traveling. While I’m not an avid reader, I enjoy catching up on reading occasionally. In the past, I would need multiple devices, but with the foldable screen, the reading experience becomes much more enjoyable.
Music is another area where the Oppo Find N3 shines. Coming from an iPhone, I maintained my Apple Music subscription, which functions seamlessly on Android. I found myself downloading a lot of music in high-resolution lossless quality. However, it’s essential to ensure that you download these higher quality files over Wi-Fi to avoid unexpected roaming charges.
Transferring Photos: A Minor Hurdle
One last challenge I faced was transferring photos from Google Photos to iCloud, especially since my family still uses iPhones. While I would have preferred a more straightforward method to share directly to iCloud, the solution I found involved using the Google Photos app on my iPad. I could select the desired photos, save them to my iPad, and they would automatically upload to iCloud, making it a manageable process.
In Conclusion: Reflecting on the Journey
As I wrap up this reflection, it may seem odd to discuss a new device without showcasing any images of it. However, the focus is on what the device can do rather than its appearance. I find it to be an excellent phone that looks appealing. If you're comfortable with the size and weight similar to an iPhone Pro Max, you should have no issues using this phone.
My only frustration lies with the limited accessories available, such as cases and screen protectors, but I trust these options will improve over time.
Would I recommend rushing out to buy one? Personally, I adore it and find it a fantastic gadget. If you're in the market for a remarkable foldable phone, it’s a solid choice. However, if your current phone meets your needs, there’s no urgent reason to upgrade. This dilemma is something many phone manufacturers are grappling with: "Is there a genuine need to upgrade?"
That’s my perspective as a traveler. Stay tuned for my follow-up article, where I’ll explore the productivity features of this device, which I believe are quite compelling.