Oppo and Vivo Are Both Building Gimbal Cameras To Take On DJI’s Osmo Pocket Series

Somewhere inside BBK Electronics, two product teams are independently building the same camera. Oppo has a pocket gimbal codenamed “Fuyao” in development. Vivo has the “Vivo Pocket,” reportedly fitted with a 200MP Sony sensor, headed for a late 2026 launch. Whether BBK’s leadership views this as healthy internal competition or an organizational blind spot depends entirely on your read of how the conglomerate actually operates. What’s undeniable is that both devices are aimed squarely at the same target: DJI’s Osmo Pocket series, the device that has owned the pocket gimbal category for years.

The timing, whether coordinated or coincidental, lands at a genuinely vulnerable moment for DJI. Regulatory pressure in the US has made retailers and creators skittish about long-term investment in the DJI ecosystem, and Insta360, the most credible challenger until now, is going aggressively upmarket with its Leica-partnered Luna Ultra. That leaves a real gap in the premium-but-accessible bracket, and BBK, intentionally or otherwise, has two horses racing toward exactly that gap simultaneously.

Designers: Oppo & Vivo

AI Representational Concept

Oppo’s Fuyao centers on a 3-axis stabilized gimbal in a compact form factor, with the brand leaning heavily on its AI-driven video computational technology to bridge the gap between high-end smartphone imaging and dedicated vlogging hardware. That’s a credible pitch. Oppo’s Find X9 Ultra stuffed two 200MP cameras and a sophisticated computational pipeline into a phone chassis, so the engineering muscle is demonstrably there. The question is whether that expertise translates cleanly when the form factor constraints change and the buyer’s expectations are shaped by years of DJI’s famously polished shooting experience.

Vivo is taking a more overtly spec-aggressive approach, with its prototype packing a 1/1.1-inch Sony LYT-901 sensor capable of 200MP stills, a significant departure from the current gimbal camera standard of 1-inch sensors with lower megapixel counts. That sensor is the same one powering Vivo’s current flagship phones, which means the lossless zoom headroom and low-light performance should be genuinely competitive. Vivo is targeting DJI-level hardware quality, suggesting a premium build rather than a budget-friendly entry point, and content creators are reportedly already getting early units for testing.

The deeper strategic story here is what BBK is actually betting on. DJI’s regulatory headaches in the US aren’t going away quietly, and Insta360’s Luna Ultra, co-developed with Leica and priced accordingly, is drifting toward a buyer profile that everyday creators can’t comfortably afford. That middle ground, premium imaging credentials at a price that doesn’t require a business justification, is exactly where Oppo and Vivo are parking. Whether BBK planned this pincer movement or stumbled into it, the instinct is sound. The execution is all that’s left to prove.

The post Oppo and Vivo Are Both Building Gimbal Cameras To Take On DJI’s Osmo Pocket Series first appeared on Yanko Design.

Oppo and Vivo Are Both Building Gimbal Cameras To Take On DJI’s Osmo Pocket Series

Somewhere inside BBK Electronics, two product teams are independently building the same camera. Oppo has a pocket gimbal codenamed “Fuyao” in development. Vivo has the “Vivo Pocket,” reportedly fitted with a 200MP Sony sensor, headed for a late 2026 launch. Whether BBK’s leadership views this as healthy internal competition or an organizational blind spot depends entirely on your read of how the conglomerate actually operates. What’s undeniable is that both devices are aimed squarely at the same target: DJI’s Osmo Pocket series, the device that has owned the pocket gimbal category for years.

The timing, whether coordinated or coincidental, lands at a genuinely vulnerable moment for DJI. Regulatory pressure in the US has made retailers and creators skittish about long-term investment in the DJI ecosystem, and Insta360, the most credible challenger until now, is going aggressively upmarket with its Leica-partnered Luna Ultra. That leaves a real gap in the premium-but-accessible bracket, and BBK, intentionally or otherwise, has two horses racing toward exactly that gap simultaneously.

Designers: Oppo & Vivo

AI Representational Concept

Oppo’s Fuyao centers on a 3-axis stabilized gimbal in a compact form factor, with the brand leaning heavily on its AI-driven video computational technology to bridge the gap between high-end smartphone imaging and dedicated vlogging hardware. That’s a credible pitch. Oppo’s Find X9 Ultra stuffed two 200MP cameras and a sophisticated computational pipeline into a phone chassis, so the engineering muscle is demonstrably there. The question is whether that expertise translates cleanly when the form factor constraints change and the buyer’s expectations are shaped by years of DJI’s famously polished shooting experience.

Vivo is taking a more overtly spec-aggressive approach, with its prototype packing a 1/1.1-inch Sony LYT-901 sensor capable of 200MP stills, a significant departure from the current gimbal camera standard of 1-inch sensors with lower megapixel counts. That sensor is the same one powering Vivo’s current flagship phones, which means the lossless zoom headroom and low-light performance should be genuinely competitive. Vivo is targeting DJI-level hardware quality, suggesting a premium build rather than a budget-friendly entry point, and content creators are reportedly already getting early units for testing.

The deeper strategic story here is what BBK is actually betting on. DJI’s regulatory headaches in the US aren’t going away quietly, and Insta360’s Luna Ultra, co-developed with Leica and priced accordingly, is drifting toward a buyer profile that everyday creators can’t comfortably afford. That middle ground, premium imaging credentials at a price that doesn’t require a business justification, is exactly where Oppo and Vivo are parking. Whether BBK planned this pincer movement or stumbled into it, the instinct is sound. The execution is all that’s left to prove.

The post Oppo and Vivo Are Both Building Gimbal Cameras To Take On DJI’s Osmo Pocket Series first appeared on Yanko Design.

OPPO Find X9 Ultra Review: An Exceptional Camera Phone That Gets Everything Else Right Too

PROS:


  • One of the best and most flexible camera systems on any phone today

  • Excellent battery life

  • Beautiful, camera-inspired design in the Tundra Umber

  • Feels like a complete flagship, not just a camera phone

CONS:


  • Heavy and not especially one-handed friendly

  • Lens switching in video could be smoother

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

The OPPO Find X9 Ultra proves that a camera-first phone does not have to feel like a compromise. It is one of the most complete and compelling flagships of the year so far.

The OPPO Find X9 Ultra is a true flagship with a clear camera-first identity, but what makes it stand out is how little it sacrifices elsewhere. OPPO has built this phone around photography, yet the rest of the package feels just as considered. The design is distinctive, the battery is huge, the performance is top-tier, and the software experience is polished enough to make the Find X9 Ultra feel like a genuine all-rounder rather than a specialist device.

Many camera-focused phones excel in one area while asking users to accept compromises in others, but the Find X9 Ultra aims to do more than that. It wants to be one of the best camera phones on the market while still delivering the kind of complete flagship experience people expect at this level. And for the most part, it succeeds. The OPPO Find X9 Ultra is not just a phone for photography enthusiasts. It is a premium smartphone that happens to put photography first, without forgetting everything else that makes a flagship great.

Designer: OPPO

Aesthetics

The OPPO Find X9 Ultra makes a strong first impression, shaped by two clearly distinct colorways that carry different design languages. Rather than simply offering the same phone in different shades, OPPO gives the device two visual personalities. One leans into classic camera-inspired warmth and tactile richness, while the other takes on a sharper, more expressive character.

That broader design story is rooted in photography. Tundra Umber is the more classic of the two, drawing inspiration from the Hasselblad X2D 100C Earth Explorer Edition while refining the camera-led design language OPPO established with its Ultra series. Its finely textured, eco-friendly vegan leather back is divided into broad vertical panels, giving it a structured, almost camera-body-like feel. A deep bronze-toned matte surround traces those panel divisions and the oversized circular camera housing before continuing into the side frame, helping the whole design feel cohesive.

The camera influence is visible throughout, from the horizontally aligned OPPO and Hasselblad logos to the orange detailing around the camera ring and Quick Button, both nods to Hasselblad’s iconic orange dot. Tundra Umber feels warm, tactile, and understated, with a sense of luxury rooted more in texture and material depth than in visual flash. Canyon Orange takes the opposite approach. Its aircraft-grade fiber back is finished with a sculpted pattern inspired by canyon formations, adding movement and depth to the surface.

Taken together, the two finishes make the Find X9 Ultra feel more thoughtfully designed than most ultra-premium smartphones. Instead of relying on superficial color variation, OPPO uses material, texture, and framing details to create two genuinely different expressions of the same flagship. That gives the device more character, and more importantly, gives buyers a real choice in how they want that character to be expressed.

Ergonomics

The OPPO Find X9 Ultra is unmistakably a large flagship. Measuring 163.16 × 76.97 mm and weighing 236 grams in Tundra Amber or 235 grams in Canyon Orange, it is a phone that feels substantial from the moment you pick it up. The two finishes also differ slightly in thickness, with Tundra Amber at 9.10 mm and Canyon Orange at 8.65 mm, giving each version a subtly different physical character.

Even so, the difference between the two finishes is worth noting, as it subtly changes how the phone feels in daily use. Tundra Amber is both slightly thicker and slightly heavier, and its eco-friendly vegan leather back gives it the more tactile and forgiving grip of the two. Despite the large camera housing, both versions feel balanced rather than top-heavy, and the oversized module can even serve as a natural resting point for the index finger during use.

Performance

The OPPO Find X9 Ultra brings the kind of hardware expected of a true flagship, but what matters most is how that translates into everyday use. For most people, performance is not about benchmark numbers. It is about whether a phone feels fast, fluid, and dependable, and the Find X9 Ultra appears built with very few compromises.

Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, it ranks among the fastest Android phones of its generation. That means quick app launches, smooth multitasking, fast photo processing, and strong gaming performance, all delivered with the kind of effortless responsiveness buyers expect at this level. Offered in 12GB + 512GB and China-only 16GB + 1TB configurations, it also has the memory and storage headroom to remain smooth over time while supporting its demanding camera system without strain.

The Find X9 Ultra’s 6.82-inch AMOLED display is every bit as flagship as the rest of the hardware. With a sharp 3168 x 1440 resolution, a 120Hz LTPO refresh rate, and peak brightness of up to 2500 nits, it feels bright, crisp, and fluid in daily use. Whether you are scrolling, watching a video, or reviewing photos, it delivers the kind of polished visual experience you would expect from a phone in this class.

Portrait Mode

Macro Mode

The camera system, developed in continued partnership with Hasselblad, is where the Find X9 Ultra becomes genuinely distinctive. OPPO has upgraded the entire imaging setup and expanded it into what it now calls a penta-camera system. The rear array includes a 200MP main camera, a 200MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, a 50MP periscope telephoto with 10x optical zoom, a 50MP ultra-wide camera, and a dedicated white balance sensor.

Ultrawide

Main, 1x

The 200MP main camera, built around a 1/1.2-inch Sony LYT-901 sensor with an f/1.5 aperture and OIS, produces images that are crisp, detailed, and rich in dynamic range, with color reproduction that remains pleasingly natural. The 200MP 3x telephoto camera is just as impressive. Using a large 1/1.28-inch OmniVision OV52A sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and OIS, it delivers similarly detailed results with strong dynamic range and balanced color.

Telephoto, 3x

Telephoto, 10x

The 50MP 10x periscope telephoto is the most technically fascinating part of the setup. Long-range zoom in a smartphone is always constrained by space, and OPPO addresses that challenge with its Quintuple Prism Reflection Periscope Structure, which bends light five times before it reaches the sensor. The result is serious optical reach within the tight confines of a smartphone body, making it one of the device’s most ambitious engineering features. Crucially, it is not just impressive in theory. It also captures excellent 10x shots, giving the Find X9 Ultra a level of versatility that few flagships can match.

300mm, Teleconverter

OPPO also offers an optional Hasselblad Earth Explorer Kit, which includes a Bluetooth camera grip case and a dedicated lens mount. Its standout feature is a 300mm lens attachment that extends the system to 13x optical zoom and up to 200x hybrid zoom. The setup is undeniably bulky, but in situations where extra reach really matters, whether for sports, concerts, detailed architectural photography, or other distant subjects, it can be genuinely worthwhile. Results at the optical end are impressive, while pushing further into hybrid zoom brings the familiar decline in image quality.

13x, Normal

13x, With Teleconverter

The 50MP front-facing camera also performs well, capturing detailed selfies with natural-looking skin tones. The 50MP ultra-wide camera is useful and generally capable, but it is the least convincing part of the rear setup, with images that can look a little softer than those from the main and telephoto cameras.

200x, Normal

200x, With Teleconverter

That flexibility extends beyond the hardware. Portrait mode offers seven focal lengths ranging from 1x to 10x, giving users far more freedom in how they frame subjects than most phones allow. More importantly, the Find X9 Ultra generally processes images with a natural touch, avoiding some of the heavy-handed contrast and tone shaping that still affect many smartphone cameras. For those who want an even more photography-focused look, Master Mode uses a different imaging pipeline that steps away from the aggressive tone mapping common to traditional smartphone processing.

Normal

Hasselblad Master Mode

OPPO also equips the Find X9 Ultra with a very capable video system. All cameras support recording at up to 4K 60fps with Dolby Vision, while the main and 3x telephoto cameras can go as high as 4K 120fps or 8K 30fps. Video quality is generally very good, with strong detail, solid stabilization, and an overall polished look. For users who want a more advanced workflow, Pro mode includes Log recording and support for importing custom LUTs, making the phone more flexible for grading and post-production.

That said, the experience is not flawless. Panning at 3x zoom or beyond can sometimes introduce a touch of jitter, and transitions between lenses could be smoother. These are relatively minor complaints in the context of such a flexible video system, but they are worth noting all the same.

Main, 1x, Night Mode

Telephoto, 3x, Night Mode

Telephoto, 10x, Night Mode

Battery life may be just as important to mainstream buyers as the camera system, and the Find X9 Ultra looks especially strong on that front. It comes with a massive 7050mAh silicon-carbon battery, a capacity that should comfortably support heavy use without the low-battery anxiety that still shadows some premium phones.

Charging is impressive too. With OPPO’s proprietary charger, the Find X9 Ultra supports 100W wired and 50W wireless charging, while USB-PD support allows for up to 55W wired charging with compatible third-party adapters. Reverse wired and reverse wireless charging are both available as well, rounding out a battery setup that feels as flexible as it is powerful.

Sustainability

Sustainability in a premium smartphone should be approached from multiple angles, and in the case of the Find X9 Ultra, durability is clearly where OPPO has placed the greatest emphasis. That does not tell the whole sustainability story, but it does give the phone a solid foundation in the areas that most directly affect long-term ownership. In practical terms, OPPO seems more focused on helping the device last longer than on building a broader environmental narrative around it.

It carries IP66, IP68, and IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance, uses Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front, and has earned an SGS Premium Performance 5-Star drop-resistance certification. OPPO also backs the phone with five major OS updates and six years of security patches, which strengthens the case for keeping the device longer rather than replacing it early. At the same time, OPPO says far less about the broader environmental side of sustainability, so the Find X9 Ultra feels more convincing as a durable long-term device than as a flagship making a wider green statement.

Value

The Find X9 Ultra is priced like a true flagship, and in global markets, it leaves no doubt about that. The 12GB + 512GB version comes in at €1,699.99, or roughly $1,940, while the same configuration in China is priced at CNY 7,999, or about $1,180. That makes the global version undeniably expensive, while the China pricing feels strikingly aggressive by comparison.

What makes the phone interesting is that even at its global price, it still has a real value argument. The camera system is among the very best available today, the battery is exceptionally large for a premium flagship, the design feels distinctive, and the software experience is smooth and pleasant to live with. It is not cheap by any measure, but it does feel like a phone that gives you something memorable in return.

The catch is that this value depends on how much you care about what OPPO is doing differently. If photography, endurance, and design identity sit high on your list, the Find X9 Ultra feels easier to justify. If not, it becomes harder to ignore just how expensive the global model really is.

Verdict

The OPPO Find X9 Ultra stands out by knowing exactly what it wants to be. It is a camera-first flagship with one of the best imaging systems available today, backed by excellent battery life, polished software, and a design that feels more distinctive than most ultra-premium rivals.

There are still compromises. The ultra-wide camera is not quite on the same level as the rest of the setup; some video behavior could be smoother, and the global price is undeniably steep. Even so, for buyers who value photography and want a flagship with real personality, the Find X9 Ultra is one of the most compelling choices on the market.

The post OPPO Find X9 Ultra Review: An Exceptional Camera Phone That Gets Everything Else Right Too first appeared on Yanko Design.

5 Reasons the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide Could Win and 1 Reason It Might Not

Foldable phones have been around long enough that the novelty has worn off. Samsung pioneered the book-style fold, and the hardware has genuinely matured. Foldables today are thinner, lighter, and far more durable than the early prototypes that worried everyone. But one nagging issue hasn’t gone away after seven years of refinement. The proportions still feel like a compromise, and most buyers can still sense it.

That’s exactly what the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide seems designed to address. Rather than continuing the tall, narrow approach that has defined the Fold lineup since the beginning, the Wide version reportedly takes a shorter, broader form factor, with the inner display pushing toward a 4:3 aspect ratio. It’s a subtle-sounding change, but one that could shift how the device feels in every single moment you actually use it.

Designer: Samsung (renders by Steve Hemmerstoffer/OnLeaks via AndroidHeadlines)

It Could Make the Closed Phone Feel Normal Again

Anyone who has used a Galaxy Z Fold for a while knows the friction of the cover screen. It’s tall, narrow, and requires more thumb effort than you’d expect from a daily driver. Reaching the notification shade with one hand usually means repositioning your grip, and typing on that narrow layout takes some getting used to. It works, but it always feels like a device asking you to meet it halfway.

Galaxy Z Fold7

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide reportedly carries a 5.4-inch cover display that is wider and shorter than what the Fold 7 offered. That brings it closer to the feel of an ordinary compact phone, one that sits comfortably in your hand without requiring thumb acrobatics. It sounds like a small win, but if you’ve ever owned a phone from before screens started growing taller every year, you know exactly how much that sense of balance matters.

It Gives Media Room to Breathe

There’s a quiet awkwardness to watching a video on current book-style foldables. The cover screen’s narrow shape forces letterboxing on most content, and even the inner display’s near-square proportions aren’t ideal for widescreen formats. Games feel slightly cramped, and browsing feeds in landscape doesn’t quite deliver the comfortable experience you’d expect from a screen that size. For a device this premium, that’s a surprisingly persistent design limitation.

A 4:3 inner display changes that dynamic considerably. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide’s 7.6-inch screen reportedly lands in proportions that suit media consumption far better, making landscape video less of a letterboxed compromise and gaming more spatially generous. Rotating to portrait for reading or scrolling also starts to feel intentional, like the device was built to handle those orientations rather than merely tolerating them. That’s a meaningful difference in day-to-day comfort.

It Finally Starts Acting Like a Real Tablet

Foldables have always carried a bit of an identity crisis. They’re marketed as phone-tablet hybrids, but the tablet side of that pitch has always been shakier than the phone side. Apps designed for tablet layouts don’t always know what to do with a nearly square display, and the result is often stretched content, oversized sidebars, or awkward layouts that remind you this device is still figuring out what it wants to be.

Google Pixel Fold (2023)

The 4:3 ratio is a well-understood canvas. It’s the same one the iPad has used for years, and developers have been designing for it far longer than they’ve been designing for foldable proportions. Not every app on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide will look perfect, but the number that feel genuinely at home on that inner screen stands to increase considerably. It’s a format the software world already knows how to fill.

It Could Become the Notebook You Actually Carry

There’s a certain appeal to a device that opens up to something resembling a pocket notebook. Not a productivity gimmick, but an actual blank-page-sized surface where you can think out loud. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide, when unfolded, reportedly sits at dimensions close to a small memo book’s proportions. That makes it a surprisingly natural surface for quick thoughts, rough sketches, and anything else worth capturing before it slips away.

OPPO Find N2

The device is also reportedly thicker than the standard Fold 7, measuring around 9.8mm when folded, which gives Samsung more internal room to work with. It’s hard not to wonder whether some of that space is being reserved for S Pen support, which Samsung hasn’t confirmed yet. A stylus-compatible screen at these proportions would make the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide feel genuinely notebook-like, less like a big phone you write on and more like something actually worth reaching for.

Apple’s Shadow Could Actually Help It

Foldables still carry a reputational burden. The people who haven’t bought one yet aren’t always hesitating because of price or specs. Often, it’s the lingering sense that this is still experimental hardware, a category that hasn’t quite committed to a definitive form. Even Samsung’s most polished efforts can feel like stepping into an ongoing experiment, and that feeling keeps a large group of potential buyers watching from a distance.

iPhone Fold (Renders)

Apple’s rumored foldable iPhone is expected to sport dimensions strikingly similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide, with a wider, shorter profile that closely mirrors what Samsung is building. When Apple commits to a hardware direction, cautious buyers tend to pay attention. It doesn’t guarantee anyone will rush out to buy a Samsung instead, but Apple’s presence in the same design space lends the wider foldable format a credibility that Samsung alone hasn’t quite managed to manufacture on its own.

But Samsung Has a Commitment Problem

Here’s the part that’s harder to shake. Samsung has a demonstrated pattern of building genuinely interesting experimental devices and then quietly stepping back when the numbers don’t perform. The Galaxy Z TriFold is the most recent example, a compelling piece of hardware whose long-term future already feels uncertain. Buying into the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide means betting that Samsung will stay committed long enough to make the second and third generations worth waiting for.

That concern is more meaningful here than it is for a standard phone. Accessories take time to mature. Software optimization accumulates across generations. And the design refinements that make a device feel truly polished rarely arrive on the first attempt. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide might be a genuinely thoughtful piece of hardware, but Samsung’s track record with experimental form factors hasn’t yet inspired the long-term trust that a device like this quietly depends on.

The post 5 Reasons the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide Could Win and 1 Reason It Might Not first appeared on Yanko Design.

Oppo Find N6 Review: The Best Foldable Phone Right Now

PROS:


  • Excellent multitasking experience

  • Nearly invisible and undetectable crease

  • Slim and light form factor for a book-style foldable

  • Powerful performance

CONS:


  • Camera system is good for a foldable, but not truly flagship-level

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

The OPPO Find N6 is one of the few foldables that trades novelty for genuine polish, delivering a device that feels as complete as it does considered.

The Oppo Find N6 arrives at a moment when foldables can no longer rely on novelty alone to justify their place in the premium market. Buyers now expect these devices to feel as polished and dependable as any top-tier flagship, while still delivering the sense of occasion that only a folding design can offer. That is what makes the Find N6 so interesting, because it is not simply trying to look futuristic. It is trying to feel complete.

That question lands differently for me because the Oppo Find N5 has been my daily driver for most of the time since its launch. Living with that phone has given me a clear sense of what Oppo already does exceptionally well in this category, from hardware refinement to the balance between portability and immersion. It also means I came to the Find N6 with real expectations rather than fresh curiosity alone. More than anything, I wanted to see whether Oppo had merely polished an already strong formula or taken a meaningful step forward.

Designer: OPPO

Aesthetics

The Oppo Find N6 does not stray far from the design language established by the Find N5, but it feels like a more polished and disciplined evolution of that formula. The overall look is largely unchanged, yet the Find N6 comes across as more minimalistic and more refined, with a cleaner visual identity that feels calmer and more mature. Rather than chasing a dramatic redesign, Oppo has focused on tightening the details, and that gives the phone a stronger sense of cohesion.

The biggest improvement is in the rear camera treatment. The refined Cosmos Ring camera deco looks more elegant and less ornamental, while the individual camera elements feel more integrated into the overall composition instead of standing apart from it. This makes the back of the phone look tidier and more resolved, which suits the Find N6’s more minimal direction. It still has the visual presence expected of a flagship foldable, but it carries that presence with greater restraint.

What also stands out is Oppo’s color choice. For the first time on one of its foldables, the company is offering a much bolder orange finish, which Oppo calls Blossom Orange, alongside a more classic Stellar Titanium, and the timing does not feel accidental. Ever since the iPhone 17 Pro series introduced orange into the flagship conversation, it feels like other brands have been quick to follow Apple’s lead, and the Find N6 is part of that wave. Even so, the orange works well here, giving the phone more personality, while the gray remains the safer and more traditional option.

Ergonomics

The generous screen real estate of a foldable usually comes with familiar compromises. Thickness, weight, and the crease are often treated as the unavoidable price of admission. The Oppo Find N6, however, feels designed to challenge that assumption in a way that is noticeable the moment you pick it up.

At 8.3 mm when folded and 225 g, the Find N6 feels surprisingly close to a premium flagship bar phone in everyday use. It does not come across as awkwardly bulky or excessively heavy, which makes it more approachable than many devices in this category. That balance matters over time, whether you are using it one-handed, slipping it into a pocket, or simply carrying it through a long day.

That does not mean the form factor is free of trade-offs. If I rest some of the phone’s weight on my pinky, the lower edge can still dig in a bit, especially when the device is open. It is less noticeable than on the Find N5, but not completely gone.

Perhaps the most impressive detail, though, is the crease, or more precisely, how little of it remains. I have never been particularly bothered by creases on foldables, and I was already satisfied with the subtle crease on the Find N5. Even so, the Find N6 feels like a meaningful refinement rather than a minor iteration.

Visually, the crease is practically nonexistent in normal use and only becomes noticeable if the screen is off and viewed from a very specific angle. More impressive still, it also feels nearly absent under the finger when swiping across the display. Our fingertips are quick to pick up even slight ridges or shallow dents, which makes the Find N6’s smooth, uninterrupted surface especially impressive in daily use.

That sense of appreciation only grows once you look at how Oppo arrived at this result. The company refined the hinge architecture itself and paired it with state-of-the-art 3D scanning and 3D printing technologies, a combination that helps explain why the Find N6 feels so polished in the hand.

That same attention extends to the physical controls. In place of the OnePlus-style alert slider on the upper left, Oppo now uses the customizable Snap Key, first introduced on the Find X9 series and now positioned on the upper right side. It can be mapped to quick actions such as launching the camera, turning on the flashlight, starting a voice memo, or opening translation, giving it a broader role than the slider it replaces.

Just below sit the fingerprint reader and volume rocker, both placed lower than they were on the Find N5. That may sound like a minor adjustment, but it makes the controls easier to reach and better aligned with the way the phone naturally rests in the hand. It is a subtle refinement, though one that proves genuinely useful in everyday use.

Performance

With foldables, the screens have to justify the form factor. The Find N6 uses a 6.62-inch cover display and an 8.12-inch inner screen, both with 120Hz LTPO panels. That is the expected hardware at this level, so the more interesting part is how Oppo tries to improve the experience around visibility, comfort, and immersion.

According to Oppo, both displays can reach 1,800 nits in outdoor use, with peak HDR brightness topping out at 3,600 nits on the cover screen and 2,500 nits on the inner panel. In practice, both displays are bright enough to remain comfortably usable even under harsh sunlight. They also support Dolby Vision and HDR Vivid, and content looks rich and vibrant across both panels.

The Find N6 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite, and it has no trouble keeping up with the kind of multitasking a foldable encourages. Apps open quickly, navigation feels immediate, and even with several windows open at once, the phone stayed smooth and responsive. I also edited a short video on the device, specifically an unboxing of the Find N6 and AI Pen Kit, and the experience was smooth and free of noticeable stutter.

That matters because a device like this only really makes sense if it can handle more than the usual phone workload without feeling strained. Oppo’s software does a good job of making that extra screen space feel useful. Free-Flow Window lets you open up to four apps at once in floating windows, and in practice, it feels less fiddly than it sounds.

Boundless View adds even more flexibility, and the gestures linking the two work naturally enough that moving between layouts never feels like a chore. Resizing windows, shifting focus, and juggling multiple apps all feel smooth and seamless, which makes the Find N6 genuinely effective as a productivity device rather than just a phone with a bigger screen.

Even under sustained use, the phone remained smooth and reasonably controlled, and I also did not notice any stutter while playing Genshin Impact. Gaming feels more like a bonus here than the main point of the device, but the large inner display still gives it a more immersive, almost tablet-like feel than a standard phone can offer.

That same focus on utility extends to the AI Pen Kit, which is one of the more interesting hardware additions. The Oppo AI Pen supports 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and works on both the inner and outer displays, which makes the Find N6 more versatile for note-taking, annotation, and quick sketching. Because it connects over Bluetooth, the pen can also double as a remote shutter for both photos and video, which adds a genuinely useful layer of flexibility.

Oppo has also handled the practical side fairly well. The dedicated case gives the pen a proper place to live and keeps it charged through reverse wireless charging from the phone itself. That kind of integration is important because accessories like this are only useful if they are easy to carry and ready when you need them.

The software support around the pen is also fairly thoughtful. Quick Note lets you start writing quickly, a double press switches between writing and erasing, and global annotation makes it possible to mark up content across the interface and export it as an image or PDF afterward. There are also a few more specialized tools, including handwriting optimization, a handwriting calculator, and a Laser Pointer mode for presentations. Not all of these will be essential, but together they make the pen feel more genuinely useful than most stylus add-ons tend to.

Camera

The camera system performs well by foldable standards, but it is not on the level of the best camera-focused flagships. In practice, it feels closer to a solid upper mid-range setup, which is respectable enough for a device like this.

The rear camera system includes a 200MP main camera with a 21mm-equivalent focal length, a 1/1.56-inch ISOCELL HP5 sensor, an f/1.8 aperture, and OIS, a 50MP telephoto at 70mm equivalent with an ISOCELL JN5 sensor, an f/2.7 aperture, and OIS, and a 50MP ultra-wide at 15mm equivalent with another ISOCELL JN5 sensor, an f/2.0 aperture, and autofocus.

In daylight, the Find N6 delivers good detail, pleasing dynamic range, and generally accurate color, even if images tend to run slightly bright. The telephoto and ultra-wide are serviceable, while low light is where the limitations become more obvious, especially when there is movement in the scene.

XPan Mode

Oppo does at least include a healthy set of features, including log video recording and XPan mode. There are also two 20MP selfie cameras, one on the outer display and one on the inner screen, though they feel more useful for video calls than for anything else. Video is also fairly capable, with all three rear cameras supporting up to 4K 60fps Dolby Vision HDR, while the main camera can go up to 4K 120fps Dolby Vision.

Battery and charging

The Find N6 packs a 6,000mAh battery, and in practice, it delivers strong battery life. Unless you are using the camera heavily, it can easily last a full day and more, which is a very good result for a foldable with two high-refresh-rate displays.

Charging is strong as well. The phone supports 80W wired and 50W wireless charging, which makes it easier to top up quickly when needed. That only adds to the sense that the Find N6 is easier to live with day to day than many foldables.

Sustainability

For a foldable, the Find N6 makes a fairly strong durability case. It carries IP56, IP58, and IP59 ratings, and Oppo also points to stronger materials and a more robust hinge design as part of the broader durability story. More importantly, it feels reassuringly solid in hand, which goes a long way in making the device seem built to last.

That is matched by fairly solid long-term support. The phone is TÜV Rheinland certified for one million folding cycles and has minimized crease performance after 600,000 folds, while Oppo promises five years of Android updates and six years of security patches. That may not fully define sustainability, but it does give the Find N6 a more convincing case for longevity.

Value

At a starting price of around $1,440 for 12 GB/256GB configuration ($1,580 for 16 GB/512GB and $1,730 for 16 GB/1TB), the Find N6 is firmly in premium territory, but it also makes one of the strongest value cases in the foldable market. The design is slim and polished, the crease is impressively well controlled, battery life is strong, and the multitasking experience makes the larger display feel genuinely useful. More importantly, it feels like a foldable that gets the fundamentals right rather than relying on novelty alone.

The price is still high, and the camera system does not quite match the best camera-focused flagships, so there are limits to how broadly its value can be argued. But within the foldable category, the Find N6 feels unusually complete and easier to justify than many of its rivals if you already know this is the form factor you want.

Conclusion

After spending time with the Find N6, I came away feeling that Oppo has done more than just refine the formula. This is one of the few foldables that feels designed around everyday use rather than the novelty of unfolding into a larger screen. The ergonomics are better than expected, the crease is remarkably well controlled, battery life is strong, and the software makes the larger display feel genuinely useful.

It is still an expensive device, and the camera system does not quite reach the level of the best camera-focused flagships. Even so, the more I used the Find N6, the more complete it felt. There is a level of polish here that remains rare in this category, and it makes a very strong case for itself as one of the best all-around foldables available right now.

The post Oppo Find N6 Review: The Best Foldable Phone Right Now first appeared on Yanko Design.

Oppo Find X8 Pro Review: Powerful Quad-Camera, Now with a Slimmer Profile

PROS:


  • Sophisticated quad-camera system with dual-periscope telephoto

  • Excellent ergonomics and sleek design

  • Impressive performance

CONS:


  • Quick button functionality can be inconsistent

  • Limited to 80W wired charging

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

The OPPO Find X8 Pro distinguishes itself from competitors with unique selling points such as a sophisticated quad-camera system that includes dual-periscope telephoto lenses, providing unparalleled versatility in photography.

OPPO is turning up the heat in the flagship arena with the launch of the global version of the OPPO Find X8 series. These premium devices place a major emphasis on camera innovation, with Hasselblad lending its expertise to elevate the photography experience. The Find X8 Pro, in particular, exemplifies OPPO’s partnership with Hasselblad, offering a sophisticated quad-camera system that includes dual-periscope telephoto lenses for unmatched versatility.

Beyond its photographic prowess, the Find X8 Pro delivers impressive performance powered by MediaTek’s latest Dimensity 9400 chipset, complemented by excellent ergonomics for a comfortable user experience. We put the device through its paces to see just how well it performs under various conditions, evaluating its capabilities in real-world scenarios.

Designer: OPPO

Aesthetics

The OPPO Find X8 Pro has undergone a significant design transformation, presenting a more subtle elegance with a less dominant camera island. OPPO has managed to reduce the size and thickness of the camera bump by 40% compared to its predecessor, according to the company. Although the camera bump remains prominent, it is now more streamlined.

The camera island is designed with perfect symmetry, housing four cameras and featuring the Hasselblad H branding at its center. OPPO’s distinctive Cosmos Ring design and the iconic orange dot are also present, paying homage to classic cameras.

Both variants of the Find X8 Pro are sleek and sophisticated, embodying modern design principles. The Space Black model boasts a frosted textured back panel with a matching matte black aluminum frame and a glossy black camera island, creating a seamless and understated look.

The Pearl White variant, inspired by organic beauty, features a unique pearl-like pattern on the back panel that subtly reflects light, complemented by a silver matte frame and a white camera island. This variant captures attention with its elegant and refined appearance. Notably, there is no vegan leather option available for the Find X8 series.

The overall design of the OPPO Find X8 Pro reflects a meticulous attention to detail, ensuring that both color options offer a premium feel and a visually appealing aesthetic.

Ergonomics

The OPPO Find X8 Pro excels in ergonomics, thanks to its thoughtful design and reduced size and weight. With dimensions of 162.27×76.67×8.24 mm for the Space Black variant and 162.27×76.67×8.34 mm for the Pearl White variant, and a weight of 215 grams, the device is not small but manages to avoid feeling massive in hand. This is largely due to its reduced thickness and weight, which contribute to a comfortable grip.

The back panel is slightly curved at all four edges, providing a seamless transition to the frame and enhancing the device’s ergonomics. The slightly curved glass around the edges facilitates smooth swiping, making navigation a breeze. However, the placement of the fingerprint scanner near the bottom edge can make unlocking and operating the phone a bit awkward.

OPPO has reintroduced the alert slider, allowing users to quickly switch between ring, vibrate, and silent modes. Additionally, the Find X8 Pro features a new quick button on the right side, dedicated to camera functions. This capacitive touch button enables rapid camera launch in just 0.4 seconds with a double tap, as well as zooming in and out by sliding your finger and snapping photos in single or burst mode.

The concept of a dedicated camera button is exciting, but my experience with it was a bit of a mixed bag. I’ve had a similar experience with the iPhone 16’s button, which was also less than impressive. OPPO’s quick button is different from the iPhone’s, as it is a capacitive touch button. However, it requires a bit of force to activate, which can make it feel less responsive.

The zooming function sometimes went in the opposite direction of what I intended, though I did notice some improvement after adjusting the pressure sensitivity settings, and I got better with practice. Personally, I still find the dial carousel on the camera UI easier for zooming, but that might just be me. It would be nice if the quick button included features like a two-stage shutter (half-press for focus, full-press for shutter) and some customization options.

Overall, the OPPO Find X8 Pro impressively balances advanced features like its four-camera system with a design that remains sleek and manageable. It’s a testament to OPPO’s engineering that they managed to incorporate such powerful features into a device that remains easy to handle and use. While there are still some areas, like the quick button, that could be refined further, the overall ergonomic design is commendable.

Performance

The OPPO Find X8 Pro is a powerhouse in terms of camera capabilities, boasting an impressive array of hardware and features. It is equipped with four 50MP cameras, including two periscope telephoto lenses, just like the Find X7 Ultra. The phone sports a 32MP camera on its front for selfies.

Main, 1x

Main, 1x, Low Light

Main, 2x Portrait, Low Light

The main camera features a 1/1.4-inch Sony LYT-808 sensor with an f/1.6 aperture and optical image stabilization (OIS). It excels in both well-lit and low-light conditions, capturing photos with vibrant yet natural colors and accurate white balance. The main lens also offers a 2x optical zoom, adding versatility to your photography.

Main, 1x

Telephoto, 3x

Telephoto, 6x

Telephoto, 30x

Telephoto, 60x

Telephoto, 120x

The 3x optical zoom, 73mm-equivalent camera boasts a 1/1.95-inch Sony LYT-600 sensor, an f/2.6 aperture, and OIS. The 6x optical zoom, 135mm-equivalent telephoto camera features a 1/2.51-inch Sony IMX-858 sensor, an f/4.3 aperture, and OIS. Both telephoto lenses deliver detailed, well-exposed (sometimes slightly overexposed) shots with impressive dynamic range across various lighting scenarios.

The ultra-wide camera, featuring a Samsung 5KJN5 sensor with a 1/2.75-inch size and an f/2.0 aperture with autofocus, completes the versatile camera system. While it may be less exciting compared to the other lenses, it performs reliably well.

The portrait mode offers a range of focal lengths, including 23mm, 48mm, 73mm, and 136mm, providing outstanding subject isolation and creamy bokeh at any focal length.

Ultrawide, 0.6x

Macro, 3x

Portrait, 73mm

The device can record 4K 60fps Dolby Vision video on all cameras, including the front-facing one. Videos from the rear cameras are well-exposed, featuring vibrant colors and smooth transitions between lenses.

The OPPO Find X8 Pro features a stunning 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering a resolution of 2780×1264 and a pixel density of 450 PPI. With a peak brightness of 4500 nits, the display is exceptionally bright, fluid, and vibrant, making it perfect for viewing content in any lighting condition. The inclusion of 2160Hz PWM dimming ensures comfortable viewing by reducing flicker, even at low brightness levels.

Under the hood, the Find X8 Pro is powered by the latest MediaTek Dimensity 9400 chipset, paired with either 12GB or 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM. Storage options range from 256GB to 1TB of UFS 4.0, providing ample space and speed for all your apps and media. The phone can handle demanding workloads effortlessly, including intensive gaming sessions and multitasking.

Running on ColorOS 15 atop Android 15, the Find X8 Pro offers a smooth and intuitive user experience. As expected from a 2024 flagship, it includes a suite of AI features, such as AI Studio and AI Reflection Remover. While testing the AI Reflection Remover, results were a bit hit or miss; however, this feature holds promise and could become incredibly useful as it becomes more sophisticated.

ColorOS 15 also introduces Touch to Share, enabling simple file transfers between the Find X8 Pro and iOS devices via NFC. This feature, which requires the O+ Connect app on iOS, will be available in a future update.

The phone is equipped with a robust 5910mAh silicon-carbon battery, supporting 80W wired fast charging and 50W wireless charging. Additionally, the device offers 10W reverse wireless charging, allowing you to power other gadgets on the go. Battery life is impressive, typically lasting a full day of heavy use without the need for a recharge.

Sustainability

With environmental responsibility becoming more critical these days, the sustainability of tech products is increasingly scrutinized. The OPPO Find X8 Pro, while impressive in its technological prowess, has room for improvement in its ecological impact. Constructed with reinforced glass and hardy aluminum alloy the device offers durability, and its IP68 and IP69 ratings provide robust protection against dust and water, further extending its lifespan.

However, by adopting a more proactive approach to sustainability, such as incorporating recycled materials and enhancing repairability, OPPO could significantly boost the Find X8 Pro’s appeal to eco-conscious consumers.

Value

In the Chinese market, the OPPO Find X8 Pro offers a compelling value proposition with its impressive specifications and features. The base model, featuring 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, is priced at CNY 5,299 (approximately 735 USD), while the higher-end model with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage is available for CNY 6,499 (approximately 900 USD).

At a similar price point, the Xiaomi 15 Pro presents itself as a competitive alternative. Meanwhile, the Vivo X200 Pro is positioned as a slightly more budget-friendly option within the premium smartphone segment.

Although pricing for markets outside of China is not available at the time of writing, OPPO’s strategy in its home market suggests an intent to deliver high-end performance and features at an accessible price point.

The Find X8 Pro distinguishes itself from competitors with unique selling points such as a sophisticated quad-camera system that includes dual-periscope telephoto lenses, providing unparalleled versatility in photography. Additionally, the device features a quick button for rapid camera access and an action button designed to enhance user interaction and convenience.

Verdict

The OPPO Find X8 Pro is a standout in the flagship smartphone market, offering a blend of cutting-edge technology and elegant design. Its camera system, developed in collaboration with Hasselblad, provides exceptional versatility and quality, making it a top choice for photography enthusiasts. The device’s performance and ergonomics are equally impressive, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable user experience. While there are areas for improvement, such as the quick button functionality, the Find X8 Pro remains a compelling option for those seeking a premium smartphone with a strong emphasis on photography and performance.

The post Oppo Find X8 Pro Review: Powerful Quad-Camera, Now with a Slimmer Profile first appeared on Yanko Design.

OPPO Find X8 Review: Slim, Sleek, and Subtle

PROS:


  • Stylish and slim design with a very thin camera bump

  • Improved Triple 50MP camera output

  • Very large battery with fast wired and wireless charging

CONS:


  • Limited availability for now

  • Doesn't stand out from the OPPO Find X8 Pro

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

The OPPO Find X8 offers a more refined and stylish design without losing the charm and power of its flagship camera-centric smartphone.

The year is almost over but OPPO is far from done. Aiming to end the year with a bang, the brand has taken the veils off the OPPO Find X8 and the OPPO Find X8 Pro, putting a heavy emphasis on photography chops. Of course, there’s plenty of AI to go around, as well as the computing power necessary to support those features.

The late 2024 models, however, might feel a little iterative, at least if you simply read the specs and feature list. As they say, however, don’t judge a book by its cover, or in this case its technical details, so we dive in to test if you will “Find” some unexpected treasures where “X” marks the spot, terrible puns totally intended.

Designer: OPPO

Aesthetics

Although the basic structure of the OPPO Find X8 doesn’t deviate too much from its predecessor, you can immediately see and feel its more refined personality. If the Find X6 and X7 were toddlers and teens breaking new ground, the Find X8 has the air of a young professional establishing its presence.

Part of that sleeker and more mature charm is its thin body, only 7.85mm without the camera bump. Granted, it’s not the thinnest phone around, but the flat sides, contoured edges, and thin bezels around the screen all contribute to making it look more modern and elegant. It can definitely meet the demand for sophisticated and luxurious designs among today’s discerning consumers.

The biggest contributing factor, however, is the refined Cosmos Ring camera design. It’s no longer unusual to see circular camera bumps on smartphones, but few manage to get it right, including previous Find X designs. With the OPPO Find X8, however, the company managed to pull off a seemingly magical feat of making it incredibly thin, only 3.01mm. No longer will camera bumps look like obscene moles and just gently blend into the rest of the phone’s equally stylish rear.

The cameras themselves are also arranged in a more symmetrical manner, no longer an eyesore that will trigger one’s aesthetic sensibilities. There’s still a periscope-style telephoto camera hiding there, so it’s not sacrificing any functionality with its improved style. It seems that OPPO has finally got it right this time around, and hopefully, it will keep refining its design language for future Find X models.

Ergonomics

The OPPO Find X8’s thin profile comes with another benefit. At only 193g, it’s quite a light object, nesting comfortably in your hand. There’s still some debate over the ergonomics of rounded versus flat sides, but in this swing of the pendulum, the pro-flat faction seems to have won. Thankfully, that also seems to be the case in this case.

The Cosmic Ring camera design also brings its own added value. Since the large circle is located in the middle of the phone, the weight is more evenly distributed across the phone’s width. There’s no wobble when you put it down on a flat surface, and it isn’t as top heavy as other phones that cram all that hardware to a corner. Your index finger also rests gently on the edge of the textured ring, adding to the confidence of your grip.

The Find X8’s comfort extends beyond your touch. It has a screen that boasts extremely high-frequency PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) dimming at 3840Hz, which helps reduce the strain on one’s eyes. Given how much we use our phones even in the dark, that’s no small benefit. It’s not going to beat E Ink displays, of course, but those can never replace the vibrant colors and fast refresh speeds of regular displays.

Performance

While there has been a lot of media buzz around Qualcomm’s shiny new Snapdragon 8 Elite, OPPO went with the someone unusual choice of putting the equally new MediaTek Dimensity 9400 chip inside both the Find X8 as well as the Find X8 Pro. To be fair, the performance gap between these two giants of the mobile processor industry has narrowed over the past years, and MediaTek offers a competitive and accessible alternative to Qualcomm’s pricey products.

That can be seen in the OPPO Find X8, which doesn’t choke on the most grueling tasks, including mobile gaming. The new ColorOS 15, with its fancier graphics, animation, and AI features, performs smooth as butter, owing to the Dimensity 9400’s capabilities. There will definitely be cases where benchmark numbers will show it lagging behind the Snapdragon 8 Elite, but most people won’t feel the difference in everyday use.

The OPPO Find X8 has a bright and colorful 6.59-inch screen with bezels only 1.45mm wide on all sides, bidding goodbye to the notorious “chin” of yesteryears. In addition to the eye-friendly PWM dimming mentioned earlier, it also has a pixel-dense 1.5K resolution, a fast and adaptable 120Hz refresh rate for fluid videos and games, and ProXDR support for gorgeous visuals. Suffice it to say, it really puts your content front and center.

Of course, as a member of the Find X family, the main course for this smartphone is the camera system. Going with a triple 50MP setup, which miraculously fits in that thin ring, reduces the jarring change between wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto cameras. Of course, there are still differences in focal length, but the quality is more or less on equal footing.

The main 50MP Sonly LYT700 comes with a 24mm equivalent focal length and takes rather great photos even in overcast weather. It can support at least up to 2x zoom on its own, but you’ll really want to switch to the 50MP Sony LYT600 and its periscope telephoto lens for getting up close and personal. It supports 3x optical zoom, and you can even extend that to 10x with some help from the AI Telescope Zoom feature. Unfortunately, even at 3x, you will start to see some loss in detail under more difficult lighting situations.

The 50MP Samsung JN5 ultra-wide camera has a rather narrow 15mm focal length. That means less distortion around the edges, but also not as wide as other ultra-wide cameras on other phones. There’s also an inconsistency in brightness and white balance compared to the main camera, but that’s not unusual because of its smaller f/2.0 aperture. Regardless, the OPPO Find X8 delivers decent shots with every click, which is quite impressive when you consider how thin it is.

It would be remiss not to mention the other aspects of mobile photography that don’t rely on the hardware only. Like previous OPPO flagships, the partnership with Hasselblad yields special portrait modes that try to recreate the brand’s famed cameras through some software tweaking. There is also an abundance of AI-powered features for tweaking and improving photos, especially when filling in the gaps that can’t be captured by the sensors. There’s also a “Lightning Snap” feature that’s pretty much an AI-assisted burst mode to help with fast-moving cars and kids.

Powering all these features is a large 5,630mAh battery, definitely one of the largest for this phone size. To complement that size, OPPO has equipped the Find X8 with fast 80W SuperVOOC wired charging, which is admittedly just a little bit slower than the previous-gen 100W speed. It does support fast 50W AirVOOC wireless charging, though you’ll naturally need to use OPPO’s proprietary accessories for that.

Long story short, the OPPO Find X8 offers a well-balanced set of features that will delight hobbyist photographers and everyday users. There’s no shortage of AI buzz as well, including integration with Google Gemini and the now popular Circle to Search feature. That said, people are still coming to terms with what AI can do for them on their phones, so these are definitely not killer features for this generation.

Sustainability

OPPO is one of the few major phone brands that has a very strong sustainability program to reduce their negative impact on the environment. Unfortunately, that’s not directly seen here on the Find X8, at least not when it comes to using sustainable materials like recycled plastic or metal. Packaging size has indeed been reduced, but that’s pretty much it. It does ship with a charger, which you’ll really need since it uses a proprietary fast-charging technology.

Where the OPPO Find X8 does shine in this regard is its durability and longevity. It goes beyond the expected IP68 dust and water resistance rating and is actually certified for IP69, protecting it against sprays of water up to 80°C in temperature. It also has an MGJB 150.18A MIL-STD rating for shock protection and Swiss SGS certification for whole-phone drops. In other words, it is designed to last for a long time, at least under regular wear and tear, delaying any need to throw it away for a new unit.

Value

The OPPO Find X8 represents maturity in terms of design and function. It is now more elegant, more symmetrical, and more stylish while keeping the good things that OPPO fans have enjoyed for years. While there might be some inconsistency with camera output, it’s definitely no slouch in that area. It offers a solid contender in the smartphone market that could stand proud against other giants in the market.

The Find X8’s biggest rival, however, isn’t those brands. Ironically, it’s the Find X8 Pro itself that makes the non-Pro model a harder sell. It has nearly identical specs, just better and larger, and a fourth 50MP camera that tries to reach farther. The Find X8 starts at 4,199 RMB, roughly $580, which isn’t that far from the Find X8 Pro’s 5,299 ($730) starting price tag, both with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. At the moment, there is also no word yet on international distribution, which further diminishes the phone’s value in the global market.

Verdict

There’s no stopping the development of more powerful smartphones and more component smartphone cameras, but manufacturers always have to consider the effects these would have on a phone’s design. Some brands don’t really seem to care, opting to just cram as much power they can in the hopes that buyers would overlook the visible warts. Others, on the other hand, prioritize good looks even if it means cutting corners in terms of overall value.

Striking a balance between form and function in smartphones is definitely easy, but the OPPO Find X8 proves that it’s not impossible. After a few iterations, OPPO has managed to shrink not just the phone’s buddy but also that tricky camera bump down to something more aesthetic yet still very powerful. As a brand very conscious of product design, we’re hoping OPPO continues on this path, blazing a trail for others to envy and then follow.

The post OPPO Find X8 Review: Slim, Sleek, and Subtle first appeared on Yanko Design.

Motorola Edge 50 Neo leak shows off Pantone colors and minimalist design

Smartphone brands have thankfully become more conscious of the design of their phones, or at the very least are now talking more about that aspect of the product. Not everyone gets it right, of course, especially if you look at some of the ginormous camera designs on phones these days. Once in a while, though, you come across a design that still delivers the promise of powerful cameras without being as in your face as their other kin. This year, Motorola’s Edge 50 series seems to have hit the target with a smooth and elegant minimalist design, as shown by leaked images of the upcoming Motorola Edge 50 Neo. Strangely enough, it calls to mind a design that we actually liked and wished stuck around longer.

Designer: Motorola (via Evan Blass/evleaks)

In 2022, we reviewed the OPPO Find X5 Pro which seemed to defy convention with a rear design that ditched the usual metal island that surrounded smartphone cameras. Instead, it used a gentler, curving slope that looked distinctive, less noisy, and more elegant, but it sadly didn’t last more than that year’s OPPO flagship. Whether by coincidence or by design (pardon the pun), it’s like that aesthetic has suddenly resurfaced where we least expect it.

A serving of official-looking renders reveals the design of the Motorola Edge 50 Neo or at least its back, and we can’t help but get a sense of deja vu. Not that we’re complaining, since it’s quite a striking and unusual appearance, and it’s not even limited to this particular model. All members of the 2024 Edge 50 family bear this same design language, including the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion with only two cameras on its back.

Also like its other siblings, the Edge 50 Neo is Pantone-certified, a mark it bears proudly as well. This particular model will come in four color options: Grisaille (Gray), Nautical Blue, Poinciana (Red), and Latte (Beige). The images also suggest that the phones will bear the same textured material on their back, which not only gives them a luxurious feel but also improves their grip.

Other than these visual details, however, not much is known about the Motorola Edge 50 Neo just yet. It will have three cameras, and it might follow in the footsteps of the base Edge 50 model with a 50MP main camera, a 10MP 3x optical zoom telephoto camera, and a 13MP ultra-wide shooter. But as beautiful as this phone looks, consumers might end up a little bit confused as there will be not only two, not even three but four Motorola Edge 50 models to choose from when the “Neo” finally launches.

The post Motorola Edge 50 Neo leak shows off Pantone colors and minimalist design first appeared on Yanko Design.