A competent camera has become an expectation for flagship smartphones, but every now and then, a standout makes its presence known among the crowd. The OPPO Find X7 Ultra ignited buzz with its impressive photography chops earlier this year, oozing bold confidence in the face of a David-versus-Goliath scenario.
Like its predecessor, there was a catch. As the phone was exclusive to China, it remained beyond reach for most of the population, who could only admire its prowess from the sidelines. The OPPO Find X8 series is pulling off a formula reset with a highly-anticipated return to the global stage, increasing the reach for pocket-sized, gorgeous photography in a way that threatens to keep industry leaders on their toes.
Comprising of a base model and its Pro sibling, the devices are equipped with the same Hasselblad flair as before – courtesy of an ongoing collaboration between the two brands. OPPO’s triple prism periscope camera is at work here, running all-50MP cameras and a 1/1.95-inch Sony LYT600 sensor. Where the base model includes a combination of 15mm (0.6x), 24mm (1x), and 73mm (3x) cameras, the higher-end Find X8 Pro features an additional 135mm (6x) option for improved zoom, alongside a larger 23mm wide-angle sensor.
In both cases, the shooter is housed in a hard-to-miss circular module that sets it apart from the typical boxy look. The Hasselblad logo sits in the middle, with the lack of other bells and whistles giving a clean, classy design. On the front, a 32MP selfie camera greets users, the same as before.
While both models don’t look all that different from their predecessors, several camera upgrades have been added to the mix. The Find X8 Pro, for instance, is now the first globally available smartphone to offer two periscope cameras and optical 135mm portraits, joining other new tools like AI Telescope Zoom and Lightning Snap. The former delivers sharper-than-usual quality at up to 60x zoom, whereas Lightning Snap captures a burst of photos at up to seven frames per second.
To do so, simply press down on the shutter button, and the phone will handle everything else. The feature can also be accessed via the Quick Button, a touch-sensitive strip on its right side that allows for camera quick-launch and zoom control (if this sounds familiar, it’s because the Camera Control button on Apple’s iPhone 16 series does the same thing, except with more functionality).
All that isn’t just fancy talk, though. The OPPO Find X8 Pro stays committed to delivering its promise of pocket-sized photography oomph, conveyed through natural, lively colours, crisp detail, well-adjusted exposure, and accurate subject detection. Advanced settings like manual ISO, shutter speed, EV, focus, and white balance, as well as saturation, contrast, sharpness, and vignette control, can be accessed via the Hasselblad Master Mode, with XPan Mode bringing a cinematic touch to the point-and-shoot experience.
Be it the quick shutter or solid all-rounded performance, there’s plenty to love about the robust camera system. It excels across all lightning conditions, from natural illumination to nighttime, offering excellent dynamic range and clear detail. For the more adventurous of heart, there are also options like Light Painting under Night Mode that offer creative expression and experimental opportunities.
The AI zoom remains competent even around the 25x zoom range, proving decent at detecting shape outlines and text and reducing noise, even if detail retention isn’t the best. While the OPPO Find X8 Pro often captures gorgeous and delightful images, there are times where the post-processing gets a little aggressive, especially when indoors. As it produces cooler tones, warm colours, such as the glow of tungsten lights, will occasionally have a more whitish (as opposed to yellow-ish) tinge to them. It isn’t necessarily a bad thing; merely a matter of personal preferences.
Check out some photographs taken in Bali, Indonesia below, taken right out of the camera with no edits:
Beyond its camera capabilities, OPPO’s latest boasts a MediaTek Dimensity 9400 processor and Mali G925 GPU, alongside 6.78-inch 120Hz AMOLED panel with a 1,264 x 2,780 resolution. It certainly packs enough horsepower to run day-to-day tasks with ease, but photography is undoubtedly the biggest highlight here. Between a robust performance and reliable consistency, the device in prime condition to the claim the throne and shake up the competition. Watch out, Apple and Samsung.
The OPPO Find X8 Pro currently retails for S$1,499 and is available in Pearl White and Space Black.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
