Almost every smartphone with spectacular cameras has claimed to be the only device you’ll need for your travels.
That may be true if it was 2018 when smartphones seem to have peaked in their slate form factor. Think: boxy, bezel-less (sometimes curved) smartphones equipped with monster lenses that can probably see the depths of your pores. That, or you’ve got skin as smooth as a mannequin.
Everything changed when the fire nation attacked, err when smartphone manufacturers experimented with unique form factors. The advent of foldables, especially flip phones, paved the way for a new travel companion.
New challenger alert
If you haven’t seen it by now, you’re probably scrolling on the wrong side of TikTok and Instagram.
OPPO has a new foldable named the Find N2 Flip that rivals the king of flip smartphones, the Galaxy Z Flip4. Now, this is what we all know too well. I mean, Samsung hasn’t kept its mouth shut about reviving flip smartphones for the past three years or so.
But when I saw the Find N2 Flip for the first time (and definitely not through renders), I was bewildered.
It’s in equal size and shape the same as the Galaxy Z Flip4 yet with still distinct dissimilarities from the get-go. The two most evident features are the bigger lenses and monumental screen that the Find N2 Flip has over its competitor.
Now, I have certain biases since I’ve perpetually used the Galaxy Z Flip ever since it was first announced. I even wrote some sort of love letter a few moons ago. I’d say that the Galaxy Z Flip4 felt more sturdy and durable, and it even made me feel posh and luxurious.
However, the OPPO Find N2 Flip is a first-gen device that’s only getting started. In a way, the Find N2 Flip delivers a much more accessible experience.
And more than a month of bringing the compact smartphone to my adventures, it gave me enough reasons to love it and even call it the ~quintessential~ travel smartphone.
For the DIY gals and pals
Imagine a picturesque skyline that would make the perfect scenery for your next ‘gram. You can visualize how you’d pose with a stunning backdrop, only to woefully remind yourself that you’re alone, shy, and have ~absolutely~ no one to take your photos. (No, ma’am. I wouldn’t strike up a conversation with a stranger unless I’m in an emergency.)
As a frequent solo traveler from a few lifetimes ago, I still got the tricks up my sleeve and still produce best-in-class photos that I can brag on the ‘gram. But not everyone is blessed with my radiance, wit, charm, and ability to endure the sufferings of taking your photos on your own.
This adversity has been solved when I used the Find N2 Flip’s monumental 3.26-inch cover screen. I was able to maintain my pride and dignity as a strong, independent acid snake in a skinsuit of a strong, independent human, like Vicky from the Emmy-nominated primetime show, The Good Place.
Taking selfies, recording myself and my surroundings, and even propping up the flip phone to take Instagrammable photos came easily when using the Find N2 Flip’s cameras in tandem with the cover screen.
You can set a timer, use gestures, and quickly record using the volume rockers — all on your own.
Take a look at my fabulous photos taken by using the Find N2 Flip part-folded.
And here are some spectacular selfies and groupies I’ve captured.
Inside the punch hole, you can find the 32-megapixel Sony IMX709 lens with f/2.4 aperture. I find it unappealing, but it will make do for some people.
Hasselblad cameras
A greater part of my phenomenal captures is attributed to the Find N2 Flip’s MariSilicon X Imaging NPU, boosting an incredible dynamic range on both 4K Ultra HDR and 4K Ultra Night video.
While it’s not my cup of tea, as most frequent flyers alike, knowing that the Find N2 Flip has an excellent imaging experience makes it attractive to photographers, videographers, and content creators.
What I like the most are the two, huge lenses housing the 50-megapixel 1.156-inch Sony IMX890 main sensor and the 8-megapixel Sony IMX355 ultra-wide camera. All the travel photos I took are crisp, textured, dynamic, and highly detailed.
To see is to believe, so here are a few more shots I took in Barcelona.
Putting small but terrible in another twist
The Find N2 Flip is as compact as it gets. It fits in my pockets — whether in my jeans, denim jacket, trench coat, and even in my Ralph Lauren blazer.
It’s pocketable, making it a handy daily driver to use during your travels. Especially in Europe where most tourist spots such as Barcelona, Paris, and Rome, are flocked with sneaky thieves.
Apart from feeling secure, there’s a sense of relief — and assurance, perhaps — knowing that the Find N2 Flip can get you through your day.
When I was in Barcelona, I start my day writing and working at 5 in the morning. I know, that was too early by European standards. I should’ve listened to Sylvie from Emily in Paris.
My phone, the Find N2 Flip, of course, was fully charged by the time I woke up. By 7 in the morning, the gym opens for early birds (who don’t like catching any worms) like me.
I use the phone to record my training so I can send it to my coach while also playing my workout playlists on Spotify.
An hour later, I prepare, take a bath, and eventually eat my breakfast either at a hotel’s lounge or the nearest brunch café.
Afterward, depending on my schedule, I go on a walk across Rambla de Catalunya or sit at a restaurant while I eat and do my work.
Having a flagship experience on its belt, the Find N2 Flip allowed me to multitask to my heart’s content.
With you, through and through
With mobile data turned on most of the time, I was expecting the Find N2 Flip to drain quickly. However, I kept forgetting that it has a 4300mAh battery capacity.
Even with constant usage of social media apps, updating my beau about my whereabouts, connecting with my colleagues to get work done, and using the device as a mobile hotspot, I made it last for ten hours before the battery dropped to 10 percent.
Charging it would be quick if I was using the 44W SuperVOOC. It easily reaches 50 percent in less than half an hour. However, I trust my power banks to supply me with the energy that I need to stay connected, especially since I go back home around 9 or 10 in the evening. (Past midnight, if I have to go out for a drink)
Is this your GadgetMatch?
Travel smartphones have already redefined, especially in 2023 and beyond. The OPPO Find N2 Flip is proof that having exceptional cameras aren’t the only requirement to call a smartphone a travel companion.
It needs functionality — the way the Find N2 Flip allows multi-angle shooting in its FlexForm mode or even using it à la camcorder, reminiscent of the shooting mode in the 90s.
The OPPO Find N2 Flip is certainly my GadgetMatch, and it could be yours, too. It has flagship experience, exceptional imaging capabilities, flexibility in use cases, and versatility as a travel camera.
There’s something remarkable about this smartphone that will make you want to have it. Maybe it was the bigger battery, faster charging, better hinge, insane set of cameras, or the vibe of having a first-gen device that you’d like to brag about.
But for me, it has an appeal that only you would experience if you have your hands on it. That certain allure can keep you hooked, just like how I can’t keep it off my hands.
The OPPO Find N2 Flip comes in two colors: Moonlit Purple and Astral Black. It retails for PhP 49,999 in the Philippines, SGD 1,299 in Singapore, GBP 849 in the United Kingdom, and EUR 1,199 across countries in Europe.
Lifestyle
Nike’s Alphafly 4 is built for the part of the marathon ~that actually hurts~
Made to protect your stride when fatigue sets in.
Every marathoner knows the exact moment the race truly begins.
It’s not at the starting line amidst the early morning excitement, but around the 32-kilometer mark, when your legs begin to feel heavy and your form starts to fall apart.
Nike designed its latest marathon racer specifically for that critical window. The Alphafly 4 shifts the focus away from chasing sheer top-end speed, targeting instead the physical breakdown that happens late in a long run.
By studying how fatigue alters a runner’s mechanics over time, Nike rebuilt its flagship distance shoe to help athletes maintain their stride when energy starts to dip.
Holding the line when fatigue sets in
On the road, the shoe operates as a complete, unified system designed to protect your stride.
A redesigned Atomknit upper wraps the foot with breathable support, using targeted midfoot cables and an integrated heel unit to keep your fit secure without adding unnecessary weight or friction over long distances.
Underfoot, the new ZoomX LT foam layer works alongside Nike’s contoured carbon-fiber Flyplate. The lighter foam returns maximum energy with every footfall, while the plate smooths out your rolling motion.
Together with dual forefoot Air Zoom units and a durable Fast Shot outsole, the setup keeps your cadence consistent and your legs feeling fresh well into the back half of the race.
As Emily Farina from the Nike Sport Research Lab notes, their goal was to help runners stay confident, balanced, and capable from the start line all the way to the finish.
Built on the miles that came before
That focus on real-world endurance stems directly from athlete testing.
Nike developed the shoe using feedback from its Project Dreamweaver initiative and extensive trials with women distance runners, prioritizing stability and comfort alongside high performance.
The lineage carries significant weight. The Alphafly family has grounded some of distance running’s greatest moments, from historic sub-two-hour efforts to major course records.
With the Alphafly 4, that legacy translates directly into everyday marathon training, helping athletes hold their target pace just a little bit longer. Marathoners won’t have to wait long to feel the difference on race day.
The Nike Alphafly 4 drops in an early, limited release on September 17 at nike.com, followed by a wider global release on October 29 online and at select retail stores.
Entertainment
SEGA, Netflix announce Crazy Taxi film adaptation
1st in planned slate of film adaptations, including Sonic and STRANGER THAN HEAVEN
SEGA and Netflix have announced a new Crazy Taxi film adaptation. This will usher in a new collaboration era with the parties also developing adaptations for Sonic and STRANGER THAN HEAVEN.
Such a slate of future adaptations reflects the range of SEGA’s library as it draws on Netflix’s experience bringing beloved game worlds to new audiences.
The first project features Crazy Taxi, which will be written by Dan Gregor and Doug Mand. The beloved writing duo was behind the 2025 reboot of The Naked Gun.
Also on board to help helm the production are the same visionaries behind the Sonic franchise: Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, and Toru Nakahara.
Crazy Taxi has been an arcade hit since 1999, putting players behind the wheel of a fearless cabbie racing the clock through chaotic city streets.
There’s flying off ramps, dodging traffic, and chasing tips with punk-rock energy that has become the series’ signature.
The latest title in the franchise, Crazy Taxi: World Tour, is set for a 2027 release. You can watch its trailer below:
Entertainment
Now Playing: Resident Evil
Horror and comedy join forces in Zach Cregger’s latest masterpiece.
The intersection between horror and comedy is separated by a thin wall of air. In modern times, we’ve seen comedy legends, such as Jordan Peele and John Krasinski, make the successful jump into horror. Some have theorized that laughter is a pain response, which links it to the adrenaline-filled thrill of experiencing horror. Personally, I believe that mastering comedic timing also complements the timing of scary moments in horror. Comedy-trained directors just get it. That’s why the melding of the two genres is always something to look for, and that’s why Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil is a must watch.
Coming from last year’s Weapons, Cregger established himself in the annals of horror history, despite learning the art of filmmaking from cult comedy classics like Miss March and The Whitest Kids U’Know. Weapons (and Barbarian before it) expertly balances the essentials of horror with dark comedy. If you’ve seen either of these movies, then you know what you’re in for with Resident Evil.
Based on the games or the past movies?
Resident Evil is tagged as second reboot of the movie franchise after 2021’s disastrous attempt, starring Kaya Scodelario, which barely registered a hiccup in the oeuvre of Resident Evil films. However, like 2021’s failure, Cregger’s take bases itself primarily on the events of the games, specifically around the plot of Resident Evil 2.
Bryan, a medical courier played by Austin Abrams, is tasked with delivering a top-priority package to Raccoon City. Unbeknownst to him, the way leading into Raccoon City (and the fabled city itself) is already overrun with mutated monstrosities.
And so, Bryan, a courier inexperienced with combat (much less surviving against zombies), must fight his way into the city to deliver his charge.
A worthy protagonist
Over the years, the franchise has seesawed between capable action heroes, like Leon Kennedy, and those who can barely survive, like Biohazard‘s Ethan Winters. On that scale, Bryan falls deeply into Winters’s side of the spectrum. He’s ill-equipped to survive a zombie apocalypse. He even admits that his barebones knowledge of guns comes from videogames. He attempts to shoot locks, thinking they’d work as they do in games. He is not a character you’d want to follow if you’re looking for a gruff man gunning down hordes of zombies with a machine gun.
But that’s exactly what makes this horror film worth watching. Bryan is us. Though there were times I was screaming at the screen because he wouldn’t do the obviously logical thing of running away from blatant traps, our fragile protagonist mimics how we would all react in a horrific situation: a deer in the headlights stuck staring.
Every situation feels more frightful. You don’t know how you’d react. He doesn’t know how he’d react. We’re just stuck trailing along for his ride. If he lingers too long looking at a zombie about to bite him, you have no choice but to look along with him. As a horror protagonist, he’s perfect.
When a camera does the work
Of course, inept protagonists aren’t new to horror. Practically all good horror films will feature a helpless hero standing up to the monster. See: the “final girl” era of horror.
Resident Evil elevates this trope by allowing the camera to do the heavy lifting. The film’s expert transitions into first-person perspectives and over-the-shoulder ones amp up the frights. When Bryan sweeps a room with a gun, the camera takes you down to the muzzle. You become the one sweeping along with him. You see the darkness as he does. The style creates an impressive layer of immersion that brings you into his trauma. Plus, if we’re going with comparisons, the transitions feel like a game taking you from a cutscene back into control of your character.
And it’s not just the perspectives, too. The film mimics several tense moments oft found in horror games, like gingerly creeping through a thin ledge when one false move can mean plummeting to your death. Resident Evil also has scenes in a dark tunnel, the sewers, and an overrun hospital. It’s a veritable who’s who of horror settings. But they all just work. It’s like you’re in a Resident Evil game.
When goofy becomes scary
But that’s enough of how the movie was made. How scary is it?
Taking them from their respective contexts, each monster is goofy. There’s an infirm zombie spewing acid bile that Bryan just bullies around. There’s a seemingly innocent young girl with a tentacle foot. There’s a zombie katamari.
And if that’s not enough, the casting is filled with masters of comedic timing like Paul Walter Hauser, Zach Cherry, and Austin Abrams himself. The first two play bumbling representatives of Umbrella Corporation, people who are too incompetent to do their job. Abrams is the bumbling everyman who can’t make heads or tails of what’s happening. Comedy is a living, breathing presence in this film.
But that’s not to say that this is a comedy film. The horror is still top notch. Cregger just knows how to time everything right.
Unlike modern films today, like in The Conjuring universe, Resident Evil is not a scare-a-minute film. It will not bombard you with jumpscares.
Now, to be fair, there are a fair bit including fakeouts. In fact, under normal circumstances, I’d dislike how many there are. But here, each jumpscare comes with a lengthy period to catch your breath. The film gives you time to relax, to laugh, and, eventually, lower your guard for the next scare. It’s a balanced pace that’s kept up throughout the entire film.
This is exactly how you should pace a horror movie.
Should you watch Resident Evil?
Even with its uniquely comedic style, Resident Evil is one of the most faithful adaptations of a video game I’ve ever seen. Like a game, Cregger’s pacing knows when to let you, the viewer, breathe and when to thrust you back into its monstrosities.
Humor will always go hand in hand with horror. Though the responses to these two categories are technically different, they’re both genres about facing the unexpected. On the box, Resident Evil says that it’s a horror film, but it’s so much more. If you want to laugh, cry, and cower in fear all in the same movie, this is the movie to watch.
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