In the development of OPPO's Find N5 and N6 foldable smartphones, metal additive manufacturing technology from BLT has been utilised to produce the hinge system.
The OPPO Find N6 smartphone launched globally in March 2026. And the 3D printed hinge comprised wing plates on both sides that bear the majority of the folding stresses.
This application of 3D printing is what the partners consider a significant innovation. Here, we explore why additive manufacturing was a good fit for the component, detail the development and manufacturing workflow, and assess the impact the technology has had.
