Oppo Find X9 Ultra vs. Real Camera: Vacation Camera Test
The Oppo Find X9 Ultra arrived with a bold declaration: “your next camera.” We put that claim to the ultimate test, pitting it directly against a dedicated mirrorless camera, the Fujifilm X-E5 Mirrorless Digital Camera XF23mmF2.8 Lens Kit, during a real-world vacation. Our findings reveal a compelling story of smartphone photography pushing boundaries, alongside the practicalities of living with a device that aims for photographic greatness.
Camera Performance: Smartphone vs. Mirrorless
Our testing methodology was simple: take both devices on vacation and use them extensively, capturing a wide range of scenes and subjects. This allowed us to assess their performance in conditions most users would encounter.
Daylight Photography
In various daylight scenarios, the differences between the Oppo Find X9 Ultra and the Fujifilm X-E5 were often nuanced, yet distinct. When photographing a lady in an alley, the Fujifilm tended towards a darker, more dramatic “Fuji look,” while the Oppo delivered a brighter image. We noted that the Oppo, even in its “master mode” (which claims no AI processing), often produced images with more vibrant, “poppy” colors and a sharper appearance, reminiscent of a typical smartphone aesthetic. The Fujifilm, in contrast, offered a softer, more natural rendition, though sometimes appearing slightly underexposed in its JPEG output.
For intricate details, like a globe and rock, both devices captured sufficient texture. However, the Oppo displayed warmer tones on the rock. When it came to depth of field, the Oppo’s f/1.5 aperture created a pleasing bokeh effect, naturally blurring backgrounds, while the Fujifilm, shot at f/10, kept more of the scene in focus, as intended.
Portrait Shots
For portraits, the Fujifilm X-E5, when dialed in correctly, produced very natural skin tones and a more organic background separation and blur. The Oppo Find X9 Ultra, even in master mode, still delivered a sharp image with good color, though sometimes with slightly redder skin tones. The natural bokeh on the Oppo was impressive, not relying on artificial portrait modes, showcasing genuine depth.
Night Photography
Night shots revealed the Oppo’s processing prowess. It smoothed out extreme light sources to prevent blowing out highlights, resulting in a pleasant, bright image. The Fujifilm, on the other hand, captured light flaring more realistically, like a traditional camera. In terms of shadow detail, the Oppo often appeared to retain more information in darker areas, though with RAW files from the Fujifilm, more detail could potentially be recovered.
Zoom Capabilities
The Oppo Find X9 Ultra’s 10x zoom proved to be very good for both photos and videos. While a 20x lossless zoom was mentioned, it likely involves cropping on a larger sensor rather than being optically lossless. The onboard lenses offer ample zoom for most users, making the external telephoto kit a niche accessory.
Color Consistency
A notable observation was a significant color shift when switching between the ultra-wide (0.5x or 0.6x) lens and the 1x lens on the Oppo. This inconsistency led us to use the ultra-wide less frequently during our testing, preferring the better performance of the other lenses.
Oppo Find X9 Ultra: The Daily Driver Experience
Beyond its camera capabilities, a smartphone must excel as a daily companion. The OPPO Find X9 Pro 5G 16+512GB (referred to as Find X9 Ultra in our testing) largely delivered.
Battery Life
The 7,050 mAh silicon-carbon battery in the Oppo Find X9 Ultra is a standout feature. During heavy use, including extensive photography, navigation, and audio playback, the phone consistently ended the day with 61% battery remaining. It comfortably lasted two full days without needing a charge, finishing with 11% on the second day. This makes it a genuine two-day phone for most scenarios. While it boasts “crazy super VOOC charging,” it’s worth noting that the charger is not included in the box.
Design and Ergonomics
Despite its “Ultra” moniker, the Find X9 Ultra is surprisingly slim and feels desirable to pick up, thanks to a nice textured back. The prominent camera module, while potentially off-putting for some, prevents any wobble when the phone is laid flat on a table. Its design even allows for a comfortable one-handed grip, using the camera bump as a natural resting point for a finger.
Audio Quality
The phone’s built-in speakers are a significant improvement over its predecessor, the X9 Pro. While the iPhone still holds a slight edge, the Oppo Find X9 Ultra offers great sound, albeit with less bass and more treble, especially at higher volumes.
Buttons and Controls
The device is packed with physical controls: a snap key, a dedicated camera key, a volume rocker, and a power button. We found ourselves using all of them. The snap key is convenient for switching between silent and ring modes, and the camera button provides quick access to the camera app. The orange accent on the camera button and around the camera module adds a nice touch of design cohesion.
Screen Protector
The pre-installed screen protector, a feature some users appreciate, presented a few drawbacks. It tends to pick up static and dust, particularly around the hole-punch camera cutout. The edges of the protector are also clearly visible, detracting slightly from the premium feel.
Advanced Audio Codec Support
For audiophiles, the Oppo Find X9 Ultra is a dream. It supports a comprehensive array of wireless audio codecs, including aptX Adaptive, LHDC, and LDAC. This broad compatibility ensures optimal audio quality with virtually any high-end wireless audio product, a rare feat among smartphones, matched only by devices like the Xiaomi 17 Ultra.
IR Blaster
A nostalgic but practical inclusion is the IR blaster, allowing the phone to function as a universal remote for devices like TVs. A small touch that proved useful even on vacation.
Performance
The Oppo Find X9 Ultra features a snappy processor, delivering a smooth and responsive user experience with no stutters or crashes observed during our week-long testing. The device did get slightly warm during the initial setup phase, but this was not an issue during regular use.
Lack of Magnets
One minor inconvenience was the absence of built-in magnets, which meant it couldn’t be easily mounted on magnetic car mounts.
UI and Bloatware
The user interface is customizable, with a launcher that allows for personalization, such as changing icons to black and white for a minimalist look. However, the phone comes with a significant amount of bloatware, including pre-installed apps like Facebook and Teeu, which many users may not need or want.
AI Features
While the Oppo Find X9 Ultra includes various AI features, we found ourselves not utilizing them extensively in our daily usage.
Hasselblad Earth Explorer Kit: A Niche Accessory
The optional Hasselblad Earth Explorer Kit is an impressive piece of engineering, but it’s not for everyone.
What We Liked:
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- Serious Glass: It includes a 300mm super tele lens with an f/2.2 aperture, delivering genuinely high-quality zoom, a stark contrast to typical smartphone digital zoom. The results are indeed impressive.
- Camera Grip: The grip adds a comfortable two-stage shutter button and a functional zoom dial.
- Improved Design: Unlike its predecessor, the attachment plate doesn’t block other lenses.
- Additional Accessories: It comes with filter and tripod mounts, catering to professional users.
Why It’s Not for Us:
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- Ergonomics: The grip itself is another item to charge and lacks a clear power button, making its status confusing.
- Blocked Controls: It blocks the phone’s built-in camera button, which we prefer for its ability to launch the camera from a locked state.
- Portability: This kit is massive, heavy, and completely negates the phone’s pocketability. Using the phone one-handed with the kit attached is impossible.
- Price: At $599, it’s a significant investment for a very specific use case.
Ultimately, the Hasselblad Earth Explorer Kit is a cool piece of kit that performs well, but it’s strictly for those with a specific telephoto need, such as birdwatching or highly zoomed-in photography. For most users, the phone’s onboard zoom capabilities are more than sufficient.
Final Verdict
The Oppo Find X9 Ultra is an exceptional device that lives up to many of its ambitious claims, particularly in the camera department. While it doesn’t entirely replace a dedicated mirrorless camera like the Fujifilm X-E5 for nuanced control and raw file flexibility, it comes remarkably close in many scenarios, often delivering pleasing, vibrant images straight out of the camera. As a daily driver, its phenomenal two-day battery life, sleek design, and comprehensive audio codec support make it a joy to use, despite the minor annoyances of bloatware and a less-than-perfect screen protector. If you’re looking for a top-tier Android smartphone with a camera that truly challenges traditional photography gear, the Oppo Find X9 Ultra is a compelling choice.
Tech Specs
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- Battery: 7,050 mAh silicon-carbon
- Audio Codecs: aptX adaptive, LHDC, LDAC
- IR Blaster: Yes
Pros and Cons
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- ✅ Exceptional battery life
- ✅ Versatile camera system
- ✅ Wide audio codec support
- ✅ Premium, ergonomic design
- ❌ Bloatware present
- ❌ No charger in box
- ❌ No built-in magnets
- ❌ Screen protector looks / feels cheap
===DISCLOSURES===
✅ Oppo lent us these products for free for review purposes.
✅ 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.
