Hands on with the brand new OPPO Find N6, plus Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred, Indiana Jones on the Switch 2 and more.
When it comes to smartphones, pulling out a foldable device always raises the most eyebrows. For good reason, too. For many, the ability to turn your device from a regular slab phone, into a tablet, then back again at any moment is an alluring proposition. The problem: living with a foldable often feels as though it comes packaged with concessions.
Battery life might take a hit, the camera quality won’t be as good or maybe the fold mechanism just can’t keep up with the action. But with the release of the OPPO Find N6, it feels as though the game has changed and that overnight the company has singlehandedly put all those issues to rest.
OPPO’s biggest claim with the Find N6 is it’s much-touted Zero Feel Crease. Thanks to the powerful combination of the phone’s 2nd-Generation Titanium Flexion Hinge, Auto-Smoothing Flex Glass and 3D liquid printing that helps fill in many of the internal dips and gaps, OPPO has been able to prevent every prominent blemish. Does this mean you will never see or feel the phone’s crease after a number of folds? Of course not. That said, there is absolutely no doubt that it’s one of the least prominent creases in the foldable market. Where the Pixel Folds have a tendency to present all sorts of bumps and grooves after a few weeks, the Find N6 feels almost completely flat after weeks of use, and it makes for a much more pleasurable user experience when viewing content across the bit screen.
When open, the Find N6 is shockingly thin, measuring in at 4.21mm. Magically though, when closed it’s no thicker than major slab phones like the Pixel 10 Pro or Apple iPhone 17 Pro; a 225g weight that’s comfy enough to use with one hand.
At the rear you’ll find a pretty chunky camera system that takes up a quarter of the Find N6’s real estate. That’s because it’s packing a 200MP Hasselblad Ultra-Clear Camera system. It’s an impressive setup that offers up some of the best photos yet witnessed on a foldable. Both closeups and landscapes offer stunning detail, but it does run into a bit more difficulty in low light conditions, meaning its still not a 1-1 comparison for slab phones. Video also takes a bit of a hit, but that isn’t uncommon for foldables across the board.
But helping power the Find N6 is the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. When used for gaming it’s incredibly capable. When booting up the The Division Resurgence, for example, the phone didn’t hesitate at easily hitting max settings with a 30 or 60fps cap, and the extra real estate was a huge bonus. More casual games were naturally then a cinch to play, and it’s an incredibly appealing display for both game streaming via your console or oldschool emulation via a slew of Android apps.
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To OPPO’s credit, the company has also provided a few extras right out of the box, like a protective case and pre-applied screen protector for the front display. The latter’s quality isn’t overwhelmingly exceptional as a few minor blemishes did start to appear during testing, but it’s still nice that they’re included given that third-party accessories are unlikely to be as accessible as major apple or Android devices.
Not part of the default package is the Oppo AI Pen Kit – capable of drawing on either of the phone’s displays to sketch, write or scribble or manner of things. The pen itself is also multi-functional, but charging an additional $200 is a big ask given the phone’s default price.
Needless to say the OPPO Find N6 is an outstanding smartphone, and might just be the best foldable phone available right now. The catch: to nab one will set you back a mammoth $3,299.00. For many budding buyers, that’s a huge barrier to entry that’ll prevent them from ever converting to the device. For context, it’s also about $500 – $1000 more expensive than some of its competitors, which will make it a tough sell for many.
And that’s a damn shame, because if you’re looking for a foldable smartphone, the Oppo Find N6 is otherwise an easy recommendation. It looks feels and functions amazingly well. If you’ve got the disposable income then the Oppo
Also out now…
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (Switch 2)
The Switch 2 seems to be on a hot streak with ports at the moment, because if there’s a game that would have seemed incredibly unlikely on Nintendo’s portable powerhouse, it’s Indiana Jones and The great Circle. Yet somehow the design masters at MachineGames have produced a shockingly capable version of the action adventure that allows even more gamers to grab hold of that iconic hat and whip.
Visually, the Great Circle more than capably handles its own both in handheld and docked mode (offering up a 720p and 1080p resolution respectively). The caveat here is that you are locked down to 30fps (compared to the 60 max which could be achieved on PS5 and Xbox Series X), and you can note the odd performance hiccup or imperfection in more hectic or open areas.
Outside of performance, the game itself is unchanged, meaning it’s the same rollicking adventure that sees Indy traverse across the globe from the Vatican to Egypt, as you indulge in pockets of stealth, shootouts and some classic fisticuffs. The game is then rounded out by some solid puzzle design and an outstanding voice performance by Troy Baker.
The Switch 2 also allows both mouse mode functionality and gyro control, and while neither will likely become your preferred way to play it goes to show the amount of love and attention this port has received. Recommended for all Switch 2 owners.
Darwin’s Paradox! (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)
Darwin’s Paradox! might not be the title gamers were hoping to come from Konami, but against all odds it’s still pretty darn enjoyable. Playing as an octopus who is equal parts intelligent and odd, it’s not long before your peaceful underwater life is turned upside down by a UFO beam that transports you straight into a industrial seafood factory.
It’s a zany, cartoonish world, but it allows the game to set up for some particularly fun hijinxes. You’ll be platforming, camouflaging and puzzle solving throughout in Darwin’s Paradox!, and it’s all amongst a visually impressive cinematic style that tends to always have something going on behind the scenes. There’s also a heavy dose of stealth in true Konami fashion but unfortunately, it’s these sections that are actually the weakest.
But sneak past those woes and there’s a lot of charm here, and by cleverly not outstaying its welcome, it’s an adventure that’s sure to bring a smile to your dial.
Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)
Diablo fans take note – we now have a conclusion to the saga of hatred and it’s actually pretty enjoyable across the board. This second expansion sets its sights on Skovos Isles as you rush to stop Mephisto from creating all sorts of world-altering chaos. It’s an engaging tale that does well to ramp up the stakes, and it is worth mentioning that though that Lord of Hatred does pick back up after Vessel of Hatred’s slightly polarizing cliffhanger, it does thankfully end on a final conclusive note.
Lord of Hatred also introduces the Paladin and Warlock classes into the mix and both are welcome additions that are uniquely flashy, although it’s easy to imagine the Warlock becoming the favourite here. Watching devastating magic fly with reckless abandon is inherently fun to trigger and look at and can make some easy work on the battlefield.
The game also continues to look great and these new locations are a treat to explore. Needless to say if you’ve been looking for a reason to get sucked back into the grind, Lord of Hatred is devilishly good.
Minos (PC)
Minos is an interesting indie to explain. Part tower defence, part roguelike, it’s a game that tackles the fabled tale of the minotaur and Theseus as you try to escape the persistent hunt.
When it comes to gameplay, that operates in two phases. The first is the setup phases, where as the master puppeteer you can create as elaborate of a maze as your mind and resources allow – all with the goal of mass annihilation. You’ll then be able to play it all out and eventually take on the minotaur itself to help even out the odds.
Complete levels or achieve certain requirements and you’ll earn continued upgrades to resources or new traps to test out. It’s a satisfying loop that’ll see you consistently tinkering with options and it’s not uncommon to lose hours without even noticing. Sure, the game can feel a bit grindy at times, but if you’re looking for a new twist to your roguelike obsession, Minos might be just what you’re looking for.
