Find X9 Pro: An Innovative Leap in Flagship Smartphones

Last year’s Find X8 and Find X8 Pro represented Oppo’s comeback to the Indian flagship market after a substantial hiatus, presenting two distinct devices. Fast forward a year, and the newly released Find X9 Pro signifies Oppo’s fresh approach. The company has streamlined the camera system, enhanced the design, increased the battery capacity, and introduced a remarkable 200 megapixel periscope telephoto lens, marking a significant upgrade in camera capabilities. Moreover, an optional Hasselblad Teleconverter Kit targets dedicated mobile photographers with a sophisticated addition.

After extensive use as a daily device—including travel, events, and numerous late-night photography escapades—the Find X9 Pro genuinely embodies a phone that comprehensively understands its purpose. It is luxurious, powerful, and occasionally whimsical, adding character rather than confusing elements.

Design: Practical and Premium

Oppo has moved away from the slippery curves of the Find X8 Pro in favour of a flat surface on both the front and back. The device is thicker and heavier, weighing 224 grams, yet it feels purposeful rather than unwieldy. The flat edges enhance stability, the aluminium frame remains comfortable, and the IP69 rating offers an appreciated level of protection for those using the phone in wet conditions.

The new square camera module is positioned higher in the left corner. While it protrudes noticeably, this placement prevents fingers from interfering with the lenses during photography. The module is safeguarded by a dual-finish glass layer, imparting a more sophisticated and mature appearance to the device.

A notable aspect is the button configuration. The familiar Quick Button for instant camera access is retained but is now recessed, making it slightly challenging to locate by touch. A sharp vibration ensures feedback, although adjusting might take some time. The Snap Key replaces last year’s alert slider and proves to be remarkably useful. In ColourOS 16, it can be personalised to initiate features like Mind Space, Do Not Disturb, voice recording, translation shortcuts, and specific camera modes.

The Snap Key turned out to be more beneficial than anticipated, altering how users interact with the phone in subtle ways that enhance the overall experience.

Display: Flat, Bright, and Flagship-Ready

The 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display is impressive. Transitioning from quad curves to a flat panel notably enhances usability. There are no issues with glare from curved edges, ghost touches, or accidental palm interactions.

With slender bezels, the screen becomes a focal point. Peak brightness reaches 3,600 nits, and with support for HDR10 Plus, Dolby Vision, and HDR Vivid, it performs remarkably in bright sunlight. Natural Mode renders colours authentically, while video streaming offers a premium experience.

The display appears to be crafted by someone who genuinely appreciates the experience of using larger phones outdoors.

Software: ColourOS 16 Is Now a Pleasure to Use

ColourOS 16 draws aesthetic inspiration from iOS while maintaining a distinct identity. The interface is sleek, animations are seamless, and Oppo’s Luminous Rendering Engine significantly enhances overall fluidity.

Adaptive Icons prove extremely beneficial, enabling quick actions to be embedded directly within the app icon. Dynamic widgets offer quick access to information, while the revamped lock screen featuring full wallpaper always-on display is a great enhancement.

One of the standout features is Mind Space, functioning as a blend of a personal scrapbook and an AI-supported research repository. It allows for the organisation and instant searchability of screenshots, audio notes, and text snippets. This feature is invaluable for users who frequently save reference materials in their daily tasks.

Performance: Dimensity 9500 Is Fast Enough

Oppo has chosen MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500 over Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. While benchmarks indicate the Dimensity slightly trails Qualcomm’s leading offerings, real-world performance tells a different narrative.

The phone operates smoothly. Apps load swiftly, multitasking feels intuitive, and demanding games like Genshin Impact run smoothly on high settings without overheating. The vapour chamber cooling system manages temperatures effectively, avoiding any concerns about overheating.

While there was some throttling observed during prolonged synthetic testing, it remained reliable during everyday use.

Cameras: Oppo Finally Fixes Its Biggest Flaw

This is where the Find X9 Pro significantly surpasses the Find X8 Pro.

Primary and Ultrawide Cameras

The 50 megapixel primary sensor captures vibrant colours, excellent dynamic range, and remarkable detail in low light scenarios. Oppo has resolved the colour inconsistency issues that plagued the previous model. Shadows retain detail, highlights are well managed, and nighttime images appear more natural.

The ultrawide camera performs well in daylight, exhibiting sharpness with minimal distortion and appealing colours. Low light capabilities are slightly diminished but still serve their purpose adequately.

200 Megapixel Telephoto

This feature is truly the highlight. At magnifications from 3X to 10X, images appear sharp and rich. However, beyond 10X, image processing can start to soften details, and at 60X or 120X, the results may take on a painterly quality due to AI enhancements.

Disabling the AI processing provides more realistic images, which will be appreciated by enthusiasts.

When the Hasselblad lens is attached, the phone becomes a remarkable tool. At 10X, 20X, and 40X, the teleconverter offers stunning separation and bokeh. The advantage of using the attachment over the built-in camera is evident.

Nevertheless, this is a specialised accessory best suited for intentional photography.

Front Camera and Video

The 50 megapixel selfie camera delivers exceptional performance, particularly in low light conditions. Video recording stabilises at 4K resolution, showcasing good colour rendition and precise exposure, with 4K 120 fps performing splendidly in bright environments.

Battery Life: A Two-Day Champion

The 7,500 mAh silicon carbon battery stands out as one of the Find X9 Pro’s most impressive features. It comfortably lasts through a demanding day, often extending into the second day. Even during extensive 4K video recording sessions, battery drain is minimal.

Charging speeds are commendable. Thanks to the 80W SuperVOOC, the device reaches 53 percent in just 30 minutes and fully charges in just over 90 minutes. Additionally, the 50W wireless charging via AirVOOC accessories functions effectively.

Verdict: Oppo’s Most Polished Flagship Yet

The Find X9 Pro represents the flagship that Oppo should have revealed last year. It boasts robust power, thoughtful design, outstanding optimisation, and one of the most capable telephoto systems available.

With a price tag of ₹1,09,999, the Find X9 Pro confidently presents a comprehensive package. The battery excels, the display is magnificent, the software is more refined than ever, and the camera system delivers consistent performance across various conditions.

If Oppo integrates built-in magnetic charging and enhances the telephoto accessory in the future, the Find X series could genuinely enter “Ultra” territory. At present, the Find X9 Pro sufficiently caters to anyone seeking a formidable flagship that excels in photography without resorting to gimmicks.