The bustling streets of New Delsta hide a dark secret. Organized crime has a vice-like grip on the city. From the shadows, the sinister Blacksnakes control everything.
Throné is an indentured servant to the Blacksnake’s grim hierarchs. Coerced into a life of crime, she faces abuse, corporal punishment, and danger on a regular basis. Part of a twisted power game played by the gang’s leaders, Throné is forced to fight her closest confidant to death. She triumphs, but something in her breaks. She resolves to escape the yoke of the Blacksnakes and find her freedom.
Enter: Agnea, a dancer from a pleasant village in the Leaflands. Wholesome, charming, and delightful, the aspiring starlet seems to have stepped out of a Disney movie. And here is Octopath Traveler 2’s biggest problem: many of its central stories are at complete thematic odds with each other.
Octopath Traveler 2 is a turn-based JRPG for the Nintendo Switch, boasting gorgeous pixel art graphics and a beautiful soundtrack by composer Yasunori Nishiki. From RPG veterans Square Enix, Octopath Traveler 2 isn’t explicitly a narrative sequel to its predecessor but does attempt to build on the themes and gameplay beats of the original. As with the last game, it follows the story of eight diverse heroes.
This makes for an overcrowded stage. Both Agnea and Throné’s stories could form the solid foundation of a JRPG in their own right. However, both tales are weakened when placed side by side in this jarring fashion.
No small parts
(Image credit: Square Enix)
Octopath Traveler 2’s combat system initially appears to be stuff of classic JRPGs. You have four fighters in your party, and you square off against your foes, politely taking turns to act. But Square Enix offers two twists on the traditional formula: the Boost and Break mechanics.
Every turn, each character accumulates a Boost Point which you can spend to power up actions, such as spells or melee attacks. It adds a sophisticated layer to the Octopath Traveller 2’s action economy.
Break is all about your enemies’ defenses. Every foe in Octopath 2 boasts weaknesses to specific damage types which you work out through trial and error, or your investigative skills. Every enemy also has a shield value. Each time you hit a foe with a weakness, its shield value decreases. Get this number to zero, and it’ll enter a vulnerable state, taking extra damage and skipping its next action.
(Image credit: Square Enix)
Unfortunately, these mechanics exist in the shadow of other titles which implement similar features more fluidly. I couldn’t help but compare the Break mechanic to the elemental weaknesses in Persona 5, where, if you hit every enemy monster in an encounter with its weakness, you can perform a stylish all-out attack. You’re even rewarded with a personalized victory screen, depending on the character that initiated the move.
In contrast, Octopath 2’s Break system seems underwhelming. While it is satisfying to render an enemy vulnerable, the payoff is fleeting. With more formidable adversaries, the slog to inflicting the Break status often feels like a chore.
Talk of the town
(Image credit: Square Enix)
Square Enix attempts to address a major problem with Octopath Traveler 2’s predecessor: namely, that the eight central characters barely interacted with one another. To remedy this issue, Octopath 2 includes special Cross Story chapters and Travel Banter.
Travel Banter does shine a light on inter-party dynamics in a pleasing way. However, the conversations often have little to do with the overarching character storylines. Like many of Octopath 2’s features, they are perfectly serviceable alone, but, in the context of the wider beast, they feel forced.
For the most part, our heroes are like allies of convenience, drawn together only to make pursuing their individual goals easier, which isn’t enough in light of the warm and inviting ensemble storytelling of the likes of Xenoblade Chronicles 3and Bravely Default 2.
Party conversations often have little to do with the overarching character storylines.
Octopath Traveler 2 has breathtaking visuals, a gorgeous score, and a decent, if sometimes underwhelming, combat system. However, the game feels like it is being pulled apart in eight directions, only held together by narrative conceit and mechanical convenience.
That is not to say that there is nothing to love in Octopath Traveler 2. The individual character stories are well-written and often engaging, but in demanding you arbitrarily divide your time between tales, you're forced to yo-yo back and forth from one saga to the next inviting all the tonal whiplash you might expect.
Octopath 2 is a competent RPG, but fails to realize its loftier ambitions.
Two weeks after the Samsung Galaxy S23 announcement, the trio of flagships is available, as promised. Open sales began today and the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+, and Galaxy S23 Ultra are available for immediate pickup in four colors - Phantom Black, Cream, Green, and Lavender.
Devices can be purchased from retailers and carriers, but if you go through the Samsung website you get four more paint jobs to choose from - Graphite, Lime, Sky Blue, and Red.
Samsung said the Galaxy S23 series pre-orders were higher than last year’s flagships, and 60% of users went for the Galaxy S23 Ultra....
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G launched last February with Android 11, and picked up the Android 12-based OxygenOS 12 update in August, is now receiving stable OxygenOS 13 based on Android 13.
The update is seeding in India, and it will be first available to users who participated in the Open Beta program before being gradually pushed to more users.
The OxygenOS 13 update brings Aquamorphic Design to the OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G with performance optimization, upgrades to HyperBoost GPA 4.0, and new personalization options. You can check the update's changelog below for more...
Samsung rolled out the Android 13-based One UI 5.0 stable update for the Galaxy A04s in December, and now it's the vanilla A04 that's receiving the One UI 5.0 upgrade.
The Samsung Galaxy A04's One UI 5.0 update has firmware version A045FXXU1BWB1 and comes with the dated December 2022 Android security patch. It's currently seeding in Kazakhstan, but the rollout should expand to more regions soon.
If you live in Kazakhstan and haven't received One UI 5.0 on your Samsung Galaxy A04 yet, you can check for the update manually by navigating to the smartphone's Settings > Software update...
YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, one of the most prominent women in the world of tech, has just announced that she will be stepping down from her role. In a letter addressed to YouTube employees, Wojcicki explains her reason for stepping down as CEO is to focus on her family, health, and passion projects.
She will be succeeded by Neal Monhan, who’s worked closely with Wojcicki for many years and has worked under her at YouTube since 2015. Monhan first joined Google in 2007 with the DoubleClick Acquisition and eventually rose to become Senior Vice President of Display and Video...
YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, one of the most prominent women in the world of tech, has just announced that she will be stepping down from her role. In a letter addressed to YouTube employees, Wojcicki explains her reason for stepping down as CEO is to focus on her family, health, and passion projects.
She will be succeeded by Neal Monhan, who’s worked closely with Wojcicki for many years and has worked under her at YouTube since 2015. Monhan first joined Google in 2007 with the DoubleClick Acquisition and eventually rose to become Senior Vice President of Display and Video...
The iPhone 15 Pro is expected to launch alongside the Pro Max and two other models this fall, most likely in September. And yet, here we are in mid-February and we already seem to have the first speculative renders of the upcoming phone. These are CAD-based, so they're pretty rough around the edges, but still better than nothing.
Such CAD files are sent by Apple to accessory makers in Asia ahead of the launches of new products, so they can have their products ready when the new iPhone becomes official. In this case (pun intended - read on), the CAD files these renders are based on are said...
The iPhone 15 Pro is expected to launch alongside the Pro Max and two other models this fall, most likely in September. And yet, here we are in mid-February and we already seem to have the first speculative renders of the upcoming phone. These are CAD-based, so they're pretty rough around the edges, but still better than nothing.
Such CAD files are sent by Apple to accessory makers in Asia ahead of the launches of new products, so they can have their products ready when the new iPhone becomes official. In this case (pun intended - read on), the CAD files these renders are based on are said...
Although Oppo has held a small presence in the foldable space for years, the newly-launched Oppo Find N2 Flip is the company's first true global foldable, arriving in markets beyond China, including the UK and Europe.
Not only has the N2 Flip got its sights set on new regions, as Oppo's first clamshell foldable, it's hoping to appeal to a different crowd than the company's previous foldable offerings.
While the Oppo Find N and Oppo Find N2 are primarily built for productivity – with vertical hinges and squared main displays – the proposition of a clamshell folding phone is a little different. A clamshell prioritizes compactness and style.
Find N2 Flip (left), Z Flip 4 (right) (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
That's the narrative for the Find N2 Flip, just as it was with Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 4 in 2022 and, in truth, it looks as though the N2 Flip has been specifically engineered to outdo the Z Flip 4.
The design centers around a 6.8-inch 120Hz 21:9 folding AMOLED display, in a body that's 7.45mm thin and weighs 191 grams (that's a little bigger, thicker and heavier than a Z Flip 4).
Oppo has paid special attention to the Flexion Hinge running across the N2 Flip's midriff. It offers one of the least noticeable creases in a folding display to date – both to the eye and under-finger – while allowing the phone to fold closed without a gap (unlike Samsung's best foldables). The N2 Flip also has a wonderfully satisfying feel when being opened and closed, likely thanks to the cam mechanism in the hinge's construction.
Find N2 Flip (left), Z Flip 4 (right) (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
The external cover display, meanwhile, dwarves even the Motorola Razr 2022's outer Quick View display, with a 3.26-inch 17:9 AMOLED panel that naturally sits in a portrait orientation, next to the phone's main 50MP and secondary 8MP ultrawide cameras.
As you'd expect, it can be used as a viewfinder when snapping stills, videos and portrait shots with the phone's most powerful camera. It can access quick settings and check notifications, view the weather or your calendar. The display also allows for instant access to timers and even a virtual pet, Tamagotchi-style.
The cover screen offers smartwatch-like convenience for things like timers. (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Oppo has augmented the ColorOS 13 user experience on the N2 Flip with what it calls 'FlexForm Mode.' When the phone is folded between 45- and 110-degrees, you can leverage the cameras for everything from time lapse recording to video calls, without the need for a tripod.
On the inside, MediaTek's Dimensity 9000 Plus chipset serves up plenty of power (having already proven its worth in one of the best gaming phones out there, the Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate).
It's a shame that, outside of its home market, the Find N2 is only available in a single memory and storage configuration: 8GB RAM / 256GB. In China, the phone can also be had with 12GB RAM and the same storage or a whopping 16GB RAM and 512GB of storage.
Find N2 Flip (left), Z Flip 4 (right) (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
There's also a colorway called Flowing Gold that isn't part of the device's international release. Instead, most consumers will have the option of either Astral Black or Moonlit Purple – creating a decidedly similar look to the Galaxy Z Flip 4's iconic purple finish.
Oppo launched the phone internationally on February 15, going on sale in various markets, including the UK on March 2, for £849. Stay tuned for a full review soon, where we decide whether the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 has its work cut out.
Hands-on Oppo Find N2 Flip review: Price and availability
Priced at £849 / €1,199.99
Unconfirmed for the US and Australia
Pre-orders from February 15, on sale March 2
Oppo launched the Find N2 Flip internationally on February 15, taking pre-orders the same day. In the UK, the phone is priced at £849 (approximately $1,020 / AU$1,480) and goes on sale on March 2. European pricing clocks in significantly higher, at €1,199.99.
UK pre-order availability from Currys doesn't commence until later, on February 19 and Argos on February 21.
For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 – with a base configuration of 8GB RAM and 128GB of storage – cost $999.99 / £999 / AU$1,499, at launch. This renders Oppo's new clamshell a comparative steal, as it not only undercuts the Flip 4's base price by £150 but if you compare pricing between equivalent 256GB models, the Find N2 Flip actually comes in at £210 cheaper (the 256GB Z Flip 4 cost $1,059.99 / £1,059 / AU$1,649, at launch).
One area where the Find N2 Flip can't compete against the Flip 4 is the US. Oppo's new phone has no expected presence in one of Samsung's biggest international markets.
Hands-on Oppo Find N2 Flip review: Specs
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
With the new year, we're seeing devices (like the Samsung Galaxy S23 series and Xiaomi 13 series), with faster and more power efficient LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage. Since the Find N2 Flip originally launched in China in late 2022, concurrent with the Z Flip 4, the Find N2 Flip sports slightly older LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage.
Hands-on Oppo Find N2 Flip review: Design
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
First clamshell foldable from Oppo
Satisfying and sturdy hinge mechanism
Gapless folding design
You can't evaluate a foldable without talking about the hinge mechanism that underpins its construction and Oppo's done a great job with the Find N2 Flip. The phone's latest-generation 'Flexion Hinge' features a system of cams to serve up an incredibly satisfying movement when you fold the phone open and shut, and the whole construction feels impressively solid.
Oppo had the hinge independently tested and, as such, it's verified by TÜV Rhineland to withstand some 400,000 cycles (opening once and closing once equates to one cycle). This translates to 100 cycles per day for over ten years – that's twice the stress-test figure that Samsung quotes for the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4.
The N2 Flip comes with formal IP-certified water resistance of IPX4. Compared to the Galaxy Z Flip 4's IP68, the N2 Flip can withstand a spray of water, while Samsung's best phones can all withstand full submersion up to a meter.
Oppo insists that the phone's 'gapless folding design' keeps particles out and the mechanism safe, which I'll only be able to verify for myself after living with it a little longer.
There's some nice detail work throughout the Find N2 Flip's design, with two colorways launching internationally: textured Astral Black and glossy Moonlit Purple (pictured). Flowing Gold remains a China-exclusive colorway and any additional colors in the future seem unlikely, as I was told by Oppo EU's Head of Product Management, Arne Herkelmann, at the phone's international launch event in London.
Catch the light and you'll catch the wave. (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
There's a wave-style pattern etched into the outer face of the hinge when the phone is folded shut that catches the light and adds extra interest, showcasing a level of polish and attention to detail that most devices lack.
At 191 grams and 7.45mm thin, the N2 Flip is a little bigger, heavier and thicker than its most obvious rival, but for that additional heft you get a larger display and battery compared to Samsung's current clamshell.
Hands-on Oppo Find N2 Flip review: Display
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
6.8-inch 21:9 1Hz to 120Hz AMOLED main display
3.26-inch 17:9 30Hz to 60Hz AMOLED cover display
Largest cover display of any clamshell foldable
Perhaps one of the most striking things about the Find N2 Flip compared to its clamshell folding rivals is its crease, or rather... lack of one.
Part of the phone's Flexion Hinge is an equally flamboyant-sounding element called the Reticular Matrix Plate. When the phone is closed, the plate slides out of the way to allow the display itself to bunch up inside in a waterdrop shape – similar to the Motorola Razr 2022's folding design.
When the N2 Flip is opened back up, the plate slides back and locks into place, creating what is empirically the smallest display crease in any clamshell foldable, for now.
Oppo says the crease is half the depth of the the N2 Flip's "main competitor" and I can attest to how impressively unobtrusive it looks and feels. It's a clear indictor of progress when it comes to the technology and engineering needed to create a phone with a folding display, and suggests we'll soon have foldables with no visual or tactile interruption.
The visibility of the crease varies by environment but, most of the time, you're unlikely to notice it. (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
As for the viewing experience, the 6.8-inch 20:9 Full HD+ panel's use of LTPO E6 AMOLED tech ensures sharp and vibrant visuals, with minimal brightness drop-off or color distortion when viewed off-axis, as well as support for a variable refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz, for greater power efficiency than a fixed-efresh panel.
The display manages a peak brightness of 1,600 nits. It's great for enjoying media (helped by minimal bezels) and offers one of the nicest user experiences of any clamshell foldable displays currently out there.
That TÜV Rhineland certification doesn't just cover the hinge for 400,000 folding cycles but the display itself too, with multi-layered construction that features an anti-reflective film Oppo claims is five times less reflective than competing foldable displays. I'll be testing this during the phone's full review.
Then, of course, there's the cover display: bigger than any other clamshell foldable and brimming with features. It can handle tasks that are obvious – like acting as a viewfinder when snapping selfies with the phone's primary camera – to obscure.
There's the option of one of five interactive pet clocks the serve up a Tamagotchi-like experience, for an added layer of character and fun.
While the out-of-box feature set is a solid start, third-party additions would make for a welcome upgrade. At present, Spotify media controls can be accessed from the cover display, and the promise of Google Assistant interaction while the phone is closed is reportedly in the works too, but there's potential for so much more, if Oppo were to open up an SDK for developers.
Hands-on Oppo Find N2 Flip review: Software
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
ColorOS 13 atop Android 13 at launch
An almost overwhelming amount of functionality
Four years OS updates + five years security updates
The Find N2 Flip arrives on the latest Android 13, dressed in Oppo's own ColorOS 13 user experience.
Not unlike Samsung's One UI, it's a departure from stock Android in a few key areas and includes some first-party Oppo apps that dupe some of Google's native apps (like a web browser and app store). Additions like quick access to split-screen multitasking via a three-finger swipe gesture, a universally-accessible Smart Sidebar and floating window functionality all serve the display's tall aspect ratio well and bolster the phone's productivity chops.
Cover display options on the N2 Flip, including interactive pets like a budgie, hamster and rabbit. (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
At the same time, there's almost too much functionality. Many users will likely never venture to uncover what the O1 Ultra Vision Engine is, learn the difference between Oppo Share and Nearby Share, or discover the freedom of Zen Mode (it locks the phone down for a set period of time to give a break from your device).
The Find N2 Flip does represent one notable positive shift in Oppo's wider mobile strategy, by matching Samsung and out-doing its commitment to updates. The N2 Flip benefits from four years of OS updates and five years of security updates, just like the new Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. The hope is that this promise starts making its way to other Oppo devices going forward too, and not just its high-end handsets.
Hands-on Oppo Find N2 Flip review: Camera
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
50MP primary + 8MP ultrawide
32MP selfie camera
FlexForm Mode camera features
You'll find a trio of cameras across the Find N2 Flip's body, a 50MP primary and 8MP secondary ultrawide on the back, alongside a 32MP punch-hole front-facer, set into the top of the phone's main display.
The Sony IMX890 sensor that leads the N2 Flip's camera system is the same sensor you'll find in OnePlus' latest flagship, the OnePlus 11, although here it's supported by Oppo's dedicated MariSilicon X imaging NPU for image processing. There doesn't appear to be any optical image stabilization on offer.
Image processing may be handled by the MariSilicon X chip, but tuning of the color science through Oppo's ongoing partnership with famed camera brand Hasselblad, defines the overall look of the results out of the Find N2 Flip's camera.
There's also the unique benefits of that clamshell form factor to consider – with regards to photography. That large cover display makes it quick and easy to snap selfies, portrait shots or shoot video using the phone's primary sensors and without having to open the phone up. Conversely, you can be snapping normally but give your subject an idea of the final image you're capturing, with the cover screen preview feature.
In FlexForm Mode, you can shift the viewfinder to the upper or lower half of the screen. (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
As part of that all-important hinge's ability to hold its position between 45- and 110-degrees, the phone's FlexForm Mode is most obviously beneficial when snapping pictures, letting you shift the camera UI to either half of the partially folded display as needed, while angling the camera through that defined range of motion allows for easier hands-free capture too.
There's also a mode called Camcorder Capture, that acts an awful lot like the Galaxy Z Flip 4's FlexCam mode, where you hold the phone sideways while it's folded to 90-degrees to emulate the feel and hands position of a 90s camcorder when capturing video.
Hands-on Oppo Find N2 Flip review: Performance
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
MediaTek Dimensity 9000 Plus chipset
Single memory / storage configuration on international model
Continuing the partnership that the company struck up with MediaTek for the Oppo Reno 8 series, the N2 Flip instead runs on a Dimensity 9000 Plus SoC, unlike the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 that we toyed with in our hands-on Oppo Find N2 review, .
Although MediaTek's high-end silicon isn't established as Qualcomm's, the 9000 Plus has already proven its worth inside our best gaming phone of the moment – the Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate. As such, there's plenty of power on hand for everything from multitasking to gaming.
Colors aside, there's only one configuration to worry about internationally, with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage on hand, which most users should find more than adequate. In China, the phone can be had with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Oppo's Peter Lee – head of the Find product line – told me that this is born out of higher demands that Chinese consumers expect from their devices.
One area where Oppo has tried to tailor the experience to the unique qualities of a foldable like the Find N2 Flip is with connectivity. As well as a strong foundation thanks to Bluetooth 5.3 and WiFi 6, the N2 Flip also supports eSIM with simultaneous dual 5G SIM support, while a 360 antenna array means NFC should work with the phone held in any orientation, ideal for contactless payments on public transport and the like.
Hands-on Oppo Find N2 Flip review: Battery
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
4,300mAh battery
Supports 44W SuperVOOC charging
Largest battery and fastest charging in a clamshell foldable
One of the big wins that the Oppo Find N2 Flip lordes over its clamshell compatriots is with its battery and charging credentials. While the Motorola Razr 2022, Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Huawei P50 Pocket possess 3,500mAh, 3,700mAh and 4,000mAh capacity batteries respectively, the Oppo barges in with a bombastic 4,300mAh cell that should boast superior longevity.
It's a similar story with charging speeds too, with the Samsung, Motorola and Huawei supporting 25W, 30W and 40W wired charging, respectively. The Find N2 Flip, meanwhile, tops the list at 44W (although you'll find a 67W SuperVOOC charger in-box). This reportedly equates to 50% charge in 23 minutes and 100% in under an hour.
While Oppo's claims still need to be put to the test, the company states that the phone can deliver over 11 hours of movie playback and that its self-developed high density cells offer up 10% more power from the same capacity battery in an equivalent device.
A month ago the Nothing Phone (1) received its second Android 13 beta but now the testing period is over. Nothing OS 1.5.2 is already rolling out and it includes a stable build of Android 13 a swell as the January 2023 security patch.
Note that Nothing is yet to detail the rollout schedule for this stable release. Right now it looks like only participants in the beta program are getting the new version. That said, unless unexpected issues crop up, the release should expand to cover all Nothing Phone users.
If you were on the latest public beta, this will be a fairly small update that...
