New Tech Review
The OPPO Find X9 Pro earned our “smartphone of the year” accolade, and now, OPPO is making a bold move by finally bringing its Ultra variant to global markets. The highly anticipated OPPO Find X9 Ultra, previously exclusive to China, is poised to redefine smartphone photography and performance, building on its predecessor’s strong foundation.
Design
The Find X9 Ultra arrives with a distinctive aesthetic, available in two striking finishes. We experienced the Tundra Umber, featuring a sophisticated textured leather back. For those seeking a more vibrant statement, the Canyon Orange offers a unique swirly pattern with a fiberglass finish. While the Canyon Orange is visually appealing, some of us remain wary of orange phones after recent experiences with the Apple iPhone 17 Pro. The phone’s aluminum alloy frame and hexagonal camera module, reminiscent of Hasselblad cameras, contribute to its premium feel. Both variants boast an IP68/IP69 rating for robust water and dust resistance. Interestingly, the choice of material slightly impacts the device’s weight, with the Tundra Umber weighing 235g and the Canyon Orange at 236g. Despite the substantial camera module, the phone feels well-balanced in hand.
Battery and Charging
A significant highlight is the battery and charging prowess. The Find X9 Ultra packs a 7,050 mAh silicon-carbon battery, a slight reduction from the Find X9 Pro’s 7,500 mAh, but still offering exceptional longevity. We’ve seen the Pro last up to three to four days on a single charge for moderate users, and expect similar endurance here. What truly sets the Ultra apart is its charging speed: a blazing 100W wired SuperVOOC charging, a first for OPPO outside of China, and an impressive 50W AirVOOC wireless charging. This means you can power up your device incredibly fast, even wirelessly.
Performance
Under the hood, the Find X9 Ultra is powered by the flagship Snapdragon 88 Elite Gen 5 processor. It comes equipped with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. While 12GB of RAM is ample for most users, those pushing the absolute limits might note that OPPO’s virtual RAM solution, while helpful, isn’t a substitute for physical RAM.
Display
The visual experience is delivered through a vibrant 6.8-inch display with a smooth 144Hz refresh rate. Brightness levels are exceptional, ranging from a dim 1 nit to a staggering 3,600 nits of peak brightness, ensuring excellent readability even in harsh sunlight.
Software and AI Features
Running on Color OS 16, the software experience is familiar to OPPO users. New additions include “Live Space,” a customizable bottom bar similar to Samsung’s, and “AI Bill Manager,” which automatically categorizes transactions or scans receipts for personal finance insights. The “AI Mind Pilot” is particularly intriguing, allowing users to query multiple AI models (like Perplexity and Gemini) simultaneously to maximize information gathering. OPPO also showcased a clever menu translation feature that not only translates text but turns each item into a hyperlink, displaying images and allowing for virtual ordering. Finally, the Find X9 Ultra supports Quick Share, enabling seamless file sharing with iOS users, a feature developed in collaboration with Google.
Camera System: Your Next Camera
OPPO’s marketing slogan for the Find X9 Ultra is “Your next camera,” a bold statement that omits “phone” or “smartphone,” signaling their confidence in its photographic capabilities. The device features a unique hexagonal camera module, a design choice inspired by Hasselblad.
The camera array is truly impressive:
- 50MP Ultra-wide lens
- 200MP Main camera
- 200MP 3x Telephoto lens
- 50MP 10x Ultra Sensing Optical Zoom Telephoto lens (a smartphone first)
This 10x optical zoom telephoto lens is a game-changer, effectively integrating the functionality of the Find X9 Pro’s optional teleconverter kit directly into the phone. This allows for an incredible 230mm telephoto range, perfect for capturing distant subjects with astonishing detail. OPPO achieves this through advanced prism technology within the compact phone body.
A notable aspect of the camera software is the “Hasselblad Master mode,” which explicitly disables AI processing. This “no AI” approach is a refreshing trend, allowing for pure, unadulterated image capture directly through the Hasselblad pipeline.
The fifth, often overlooked, lens is a dedicated true color camera. This tiny sensor is designed to capture precise color information, particularly excelling with reds, which often appear faded in smartphone photography. OPPO promises vibrant, accurate color reproduction, a claim we are eager to thoroughly test.
Video Capabilities
The Find X9 Ultra also excels in video, supporting 4K 60fps recording across all cameras, including the selfie camera, with Dolby Vision. For the first time in an OPPO flagship, it supports 8K 30fps video. The 1x and 3x cameras can even record 4K 120fps. Video zoom ranges from 0.6x to 20x with lossless quality. Professional users will appreciate the O-Log 2 support with ACS, used by Hollywood studios, and the ability to burn in LUTs directly from the phone for quick sharing.
Accessories
OPPO offers a range of accessories to enhance the photographic experience, including a Hasselblad Explorer case, a battery grip with a two-stage camera button and physical zoom dial, and a snap-on adapter for 67mm filters. With the optional teleconverter kit, the zoom capabilities extend further, reaching up to 300mm. We note that none of the lenses are a 1-inch sensor, unlike the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, with the main sensor coming closest at 0.83 inches.
Tech Specs
- Display: 6.8 inches, 144Hz, 1-3,600 nits peak brightness
- Processor: Snapdragon 88 Elite Gen 5
- RAM: 12GB
- Storage: 512GB
- Rear Cameras: 50MP Ultra-wide, 200MP Main, 200MP 3x Telephoto, 50MP 10x Ultra Sensing Optical Zoom Telephoto, True Color Camera
- Video Recording: 4K 60fps (all cameras), 8K 30fps (main), 4K 120fps (1x & 3x cameras)
- Battery: 7,050 mAh
- Wired Charging: 100W SuperVOOC
- Wireless Charging: 50W AirVOOC
- OS: Color OS 16
- OS Support: 5 years
- Security Updates: 6 years
- Water & Dust Resistance: IP68/IP69
- Weight: 235g (Tundra Umber), 236g (Canyon Orange)
Final Verdict
The OPPO Find X9 Ultra is a powerhouse, especially for photography enthusiasts. Its advanced camera system, featuring a groundbreaking 10x optical zoom telephoto and a dedicated true color sensor, truly lives up to the “Your next camera” slogan. While the OPPO Find X9 Pro was an exceptional device, the Ultra offers significant camera enhancements and ultra-fast charging that make it a compelling upgrade for those seeking the pinnacle of smartphone imaging. For users coming from older devices or different ecosystems, the Find X9 Ultra presents a robust, feature-rich flagship with solid performance, an excellent display, and impressive battery life, all wrapped in a distinctive design. The €1,700 price tag is steep, but for what it delivers, particularly in the camera department, it feels justified in today’s premium smartphone market.
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DISCLOSURES
✅ Oppo sent us the Find X9 Pro for free for review purposes. And they invited us for a hands on with the Find X9 Ultra.✅ No one got input at any stage in the creation of this content. All opinions and bad jokes are strictly our own.✅ Affiliate shopping and merchandise links above earn us commission.
