Lately, I’ve been imagining what my ultimate smartphone would look like — the specs, features, and design that would make it perfect for me. First off, a huge battery, something around 7,500mAh with fast charging, is a must. Cameras are next — ideally a 200MP telephoto sensor with the ability to shoot 4K at 120fps in LOG format for professional-quality video. I’d want a sleek design with minimal bezels, a bright and vibrant display, and effective cooling, like a vapor chamber. Extra storage, say 512GB, would be a bonus. Put all of this together, and you essentially have the OPPO Find X9 Pro.

After trying out several flagship phones this year — from the Galaxy S25 Ultra to the Pixel 10 Pro XL — none have impressed me quite like the Find X9 Pro. Here’s why it stands out.

A Camera System Built for Creators

Oppo's Find X9 Pro has a detachable telephoto lens and a gigantic battery

image: Engadget

One of the primary reasons for this is its camera. It features a 50MP main lens, an ultrawide lens, and a 200MP telephoto lens. The photos produced are impressive, with great detail and slightly oversaturated colors that I like. Importantly, the phone shares a similar color profile across all lenses. The ultrawide lens maintains detail without distortion at the edges. The telephoto lens captures incredible detail with that 200MP sensor, allowing for cropping without a stark reduction in quality.

This year, OPPO includes a physical extender lens for the X9 Pro, available separately. It makes even better use of that sensor, offering 10x, 20x, and 40x zoom levels. This thing produces unreal photos. While not practical for everyday use, it’s impressive when you embrace its capabilities. The lens attaches via a case provided by OPPO, which takes about 10 seconds to set up.

The X9 Pro’s consistency across lenses, from 0.5x to 40x, is remarkable. I may not always use the extended lens, but it’s cool, and I’ve never taken so many photos so quickly on a phone. The X9 Pro excels in video too, offering up to 4K 120 fps. And as I mentioned, it can shoot in LOG, providing everything needed for professional video and color grading.

Plenty of features, wrapped in a compact, attractive design.

The rest of the phone is equally impressive. It features a 7,500mAh battery that easily lasts through a day, sometimes even two. Despite the large battery, it’s no thicker than the Pixel 10 Pro XL. The display is a 120Hz LTPO panel with 3,600 nits of brightness, and the bezels are among the smallest I’ve seen on a recent device. The speakers sound great, too. Some might see the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 as a letdown compared to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, but it’s faster than a Tensor G5 and handles everything well. AI tasks are quick, and the phone stays cool during gaming.

ColorOS: Surprising Improvements

I’ve often been critical of ColorOS, seeing it as one of the weaker points of OPPO devices. However, the Find X9 Pro has changed my view. The animations feel smooth and lively, and there’s a good range of customization options. The Mind Space feature—also found on some OnePlus phones—proves useful for saving screenshots and planning trips via Google Gemini. On top of that, OPPO promises five years of Android updates and six years of security patches, which is impressive, even if it doesn’t quite match the very best in the industry.

Performance, Storage, and Fast Charging

The Find X9 Pro delivers reliable, fast performance across the board. The 512GB of storage is ideal for users who shoot high-resolution photos and videos. On top of that, OPPO’s 80W fast charging ensures the massive 7,500mAh battery can be replenished in no time. This combination makes the phone extremely capable for work and play alike.

Availability and Pricing

The biggest downside? The Find X9 Pro isn’t available in the US, though European users can get their hands on it. At €1,299 (~$1,515), it’s a high-end price tag, but considering the tech packed into the handset, it’s a fair deal.

OPPO Find X9 Pro hands-on: The verdict

The OPPO Find X9 Pro proves itself as a serious competitor to the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Pixel 10 Pro XL. It delivers top-notch performance, lightning-fast 80W charging, and 512GB of storage—perfect for heavy photography and videography use. The biggest drawback? It isn’t available in the US, though European users will have access.

At €1,299 (~$1,515), it’s certainly pricey, but considering the advanced tech packed into this device, the cost feels justified. Overall, the Find X9 Pro stands out as a strong candidate for phone of the year and could very well become my new daily driver.

Better Than Samsung and Google? OPPO Find X9 Pro – Phone of the Year Contender

With its excellent cameras, massive battery, and smart software, OPPO’s latest phone is a tempting handset for power users.