Tag Archives: smartphone

Motorola Edge 70 Accents Pantone’s 2026 Color with Swarovski Studs

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Pantone’s Color of the Year 2026, Cloud Dancer, arrived with a thesis that we are all collectively tired and need visual relief from the chaos. The soft, lofty white was pitched as clarity over clutter and presence over pressure, a quiet protest against hyper saturated everything, including the phones buzzing in our pockets. It felt less like a trend forecast and more like a group therapy session disguised as a paint chip.

Motorola took that color story seriously. The Edge 70 special edition wraps Cloud Dancer around its thinnest chassis yet, embellished with crystals by Swarovski, continuing the design run that started with the Razr Brilliant Collection earlier this year. Where the Razr leaned extroverted and fashion forward, the Edge 70 Cloud Dancer edition feels like its quieter sibling, still sparkling but content to sit on a nightstand without demanding constant attention or Instagram documentation.

Designer: Motorola

Cloud Dancer, officially Pantone 11-4201, lands on the Edge 70 as a leather inspired, quilted back that reads more like a minimal clutch than a piece of consumer electronics. The finish has a silk like sheen that shifts slightly in light, soft enough to avoid sterility but restrained enough to avoid looking like a frosted cupcake. Motorola calls it an object of clarity and quiet confidence, which fits the brief so precisely it almost sounds rehearsed.

Crystals by Swarovski are embedded into the quilted back, small enough to catch light without shouting for attention. The Brilliant Collection, which debuted with the Razr a few months ago, focuses on meticulous craftsmanship and timeless luxury, treating phones like accessories that happen to also make calls. Here, the crystals feel less like decoration and more like strategic punctuation marks on an otherwise very calm sentence, little flickers that keep the white from feeling too monastic.

Underneath sits the regular Edge 70 hardware, Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, dual 50 megapixel cameras, a bright display, and moto ai that adapts quietly. Motorola emphasizes that the device is the thinnest in its category, hedged by footnotes about regional price bands but still impressive for something packing a 4800 milliamp hour battery and full day reliability without feeling fragile in the hand.

The approach contrasts with the usual luxury phone playbook, which tends toward loud colors, heavy logos, or aggressive patterns that scream performance. Cloud Dancer is almost the opposite, a discrete white Pantone describes as conscious simplification. The quilting and crystals prevent it from becoming sterile, but the overall vibe lands somewhere between spa robe and gallery wall, an unusual place for a smartphone to occupy.

Motorola seems intent on building a design ecosystem where color forecasting and material craft matter as much as chipsets. The Razr Brilliant Collection introduced Swarovski, and now the Edge 70 ties that to Pantone’s annual ritual. We live in a world where most phones blur into identical black rectangles, so a calm white device with a quilted back and a handful of crystals starts to feel surprisingly memorable, even if memorable was never the point.

The post Motorola Edge 70 Accents Pantone’s 2026 Color with Swarovski Studs first appeared on Yanko Design.

Galaxy Z TriFold Fits a 10-Inch Screen Into a 12.9mm Phone

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Foldables promised to squeeze tablet screens into pocketable phones, but most of them still feel like a compromise. You get one big crease down the middle and an aspect ratio that makes everything look stretched or squashed, depending on what you’re doing. The real challenge isn’t just adding more screen, it’s getting enough space to actually work like a small laptop instead of a phone that got wider and heavier.

Samsung’s Galaxy Z TriFold tries to solve that by folding twice instead of once. Open it fully, and you’re holding a 10-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display that measures 3.9 mm thick at its thinnest point, basically three 6.5-inch phone screens laid side by side. Fold it back up, and the whole thing collapses to 12.9 mm thick, which is about as thick as a regular phone in a case, except this one weighs 309 grams and hides a full-sized tablet inside.

Designer: Samsung

The device is aggressively thin when open. It looks like three glass sheets joined by two subtle hinge bumps, thin enough to hold between fingertips without much visual mass. The frame uses Advanced Armor Aluminum for rigidity, the hinge housing is titanium, and the back panel is a ceramic-glass reinforced polymer that resists cracks. The camera bump and hinges interrupt the silhouette slightly, but the overall impression is of a very thin, very dense slab of screen.

Samsung reworked its hinge system into two differently sized Armor FlexHinges with dual-rail structures that let the three panels close with minimal gaps between them. The display stack includes a new shock-absorbing layer and reinforced overcoat designed for a screen that folds twice instead of once. Samsung CT scans flexible circuit boards and uses laser height checks for internal components, unusual quality control steps that suggest the company knows people are worried about reliability with this many moving parts.

The 10-inch QXGA+ main screen behaves like three portrait phones across, giving you room for three apps side by side without everything feeling cramped. Samsung’s examples show an architect running blueprints, notes, and a calculator at once, or a music producer editing audio while browsing references and messaging. The crease is minimized, the panel runs at 1 to 120 Hz adaptive refresh, and brightness hits 1600 nits to make it feel more like a small monitor than a tablet.

Standalone Samsung DeX turns the TriFold into a tiny multi-desktop machine, with up to four virtual workspaces each running five apps simultaneously. Add an external monitor in Extended Mode, and you can drag windows between screens like a laptop setup. Galaxy AI features adapt to the larger canvas too, with Photo Assist, Browsing Assist, and Gemini Live that can summarize pages, edit images side by side, or give design advice when you show it a room and a shopping site at the same time.

For entertainment, the 10-inch screen works well for films, comics, or YouTube with comments running alongside the video. The 6.5-inch cover screen hits 2600 nits and 120 Hz for quick tasks when you don’t want to unfold everything. Vision Booster keeps content readable in bright light, and the minimized crease tries to keep everything smooth, whether you’re indoors or outside.

Inside there’s a Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, 16 GB RAM, up to 1 TB storage, and a 200 MP main camera with 3x telephoto and 12 MP ultra-wide. The 5,600 mAh three-cell battery spreads across the panels for balanced weight, charges at 45 W wired or 15 W wireless, and supports reverse wireless charging. The Galaxy Z TriFold launches in Korea on December 12, 2025, with other markets including China, Taiwan, Singapore, the UAE, and the U.S. following after.

The trade-offs are obvious, though. At 309 grams with two hinges, this will feel heavy and complex for anyone who just wants a phone that fits in their pocket and works. Samsung doesn’t mention S Pen support, which seems like a missed opportunity for artists and designers who’d want to use this 10-inch canvas for sketching or illustration in a device that still fits in a bag.

Long-term durability remains an open question, even with IP48 and all the quality control Samsung mentions. But for people who already push their phones into laptop territory and want the biggest possible screen in the smallest possible folded size, the TriFold makes a clear statement about where high-end mobile is heading. It’s excessive, complicated, and not for everyone, but that seems to be the whole point.

The post Galaxy Z TriFold Fits a 10-Inch Screen Into a 12.9mm Phone first appeared on Yanko Design.

Galaxy Z TriFold Fits a 10-Inch Screen Into a 12.9mm Phone

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Foldables promised to squeeze tablet screens into pocketable phones, but most of them still feel like a compromise. You get one big crease down the middle and an aspect ratio that makes everything look stretched or squashed, depending on what you’re doing. The real challenge isn’t just adding more screen, it’s getting enough space to actually work like a small laptop instead of a phone that got wider and heavier.

Samsung’s Galaxy Z TriFold tries to solve that by folding twice instead of once. Open it fully, and you’re holding a 10-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display that measures 3.9 mm thick at its thinnest point, basically three 6.5-inch phone screens laid side by side. Fold it back up, and the whole thing collapses to 12.9 mm thick, which is about as thick as a regular phone in a case, except this one weighs 309 grams and hides a full-sized tablet inside.

Designer: Samsung

The device is aggressively thin when open. It looks like three glass sheets joined by two subtle hinge bumps, thin enough to hold between fingertips without much visual mass. The frame uses Advanced Armor Aluminum for rigidity, the hinge housing is titanium, and the back panel is a ceramic-glass reinforced polymer that resists cracks. The camera bump and hinges interrupt the silhouette slightly, but the overall impression is of a very thin, very dense slab of screen.

Samsung reworked its hinge system into two differently sized Armor FlexHinges with dual-rail structures that let the three panels close with minimal gaps between them. The display stack includes a new shock-absorbing layer and reinforced overcoat designed for a screen that folds twice instead of once. Samsung CT scans flexible circuit boards and uses laser height checks for internal components, unusual quality control steps that suggest the company knows people are worried about reliability with this many moving parts.

The 10-inch QXGA+ main screen behaves like three portrait phones across, giving you room for three apps side by side without everything feeling cramped. Samsung’s examples show an architect running blueprints, notes, and a calculator at once, or a music producer editing audio while browsing references and messaging. The crease is minimized, the panel runs at 1 to 120 Hz adaptive refresh, and brightness hits 1600 nits to make it feel more like a small monitor than a tablet.

Standalone Samsung DeX turns the TriFold into a tiny multi-desktop machine, with up to four virtual workspaces each running five apps simultaneously. Add an external monitor in Extended Mode, and you can drag windows between screens like a laptop setup. Galaxy AI features adapt to the larger canvas too, with Photo Assist, Browsing Assist, and Gemini Live that can summarize pages, edit images side by side, or give design advice when you show it a room and a shopping site at the same time.

For entertainment, the 10-inch screen works well for films, comics, or YouTube with comments running alongside the video. The 6.5-inch cover screen hits 2600 nits and 120 Hz for quick tasks when you don’t want to unfold everything. Vision Booster keeps content readable in bright light, and the minimized crease tries to keep everything smooth, whether you’re indoors or outside.

Inside there’s a Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, 16 GB RAM, up to 1 TB storage, and a 200 MP main camera with 3x telephoto and 12 MP ultra-wide. The 5,600 mAh three-cell battery spreads across the panels for balanced weight, charges at 45 W wired or 15 W wireless, and supports reverse wireless charging. The Galaxy Z TriFold launches in Korea on December 12, 2025, with other markets including China, Taiwan, Singapore, the UAE, and the U.S. following after.

The trade-offs are obvious, though. At 309 grams with two hinges, this will feel heavy and complex for anyone who just wants a phone that fits in their pocket and works. Samsung doesn’t mention S Pen support, which seems like a missed opportunity for artists and designers who’d want to use this 10-inch canvas for sketching or illustration in a device that still fits in a bag.

Long-term durability remains an open question, even with IP48 and all the quality control Samsung mentions. But for people who already push their phones into laptop territory and want the biggest possible screen in the smallest possible folded size, the TriFold makes a clear statement about where high-end mobile is heading. It’s excessive, complicated, and not for everyone, but that seems to be the whole point.

The post Galaxy Z TriFold Fits a 10-Inch Screen Into a 12.9mm Phone first appeared on Yanko Design.

Poco F8 Ultra Review: A Bold All-Rounder Balancing Gaming, Camera, and Bose-Tuned Audio

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PROS:


  • Bose-tuned 2.1 speaker system

  • Excellent all-rounder

  • Large battery with fast wired and wireless charging

  • Strong main and telephoto cameras

CONS:


  • An 18mm-equivalent ultra-wide camera is less versatile

  • Noticeable price increase compared with the F7 Ultra (but mostly justifiable)

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

An expressive all-rounder that excels at games, media, and photography, the Poco F8 Ultra delivers on its premium flagship ambition.

Only about eight months after its first “Ultra” attempt with the Poco F7 Ultra, Poco is already back with the Poco F8 Ultra and its sibling, the F8 Pro. Following the success of the F7 Ultra, this doesn’t feel like a one-off experiment anymore. It feels like Poco is serious about staking a claim in the premium flagship space.

This time, Poco isn’t just chasing raw specs. The F8 Ultra doubles down on performance with the latest flagship chipset, pushes imaging with a new Light Fusion 950 main imaging sensor and 5x periscope camera, and, for the first time, brings in Bose to co-engineer a 2.1-channel speaker system. On paper, it looks like a full-scale all-rounder aimed at gaming, media, and photography all at once. The question is whether it really holds up that premium flagship claim in daily use. Let us dive in and find out.

Aesthetics

The Poco F8 Ultra is visually dramatic in a way many flagships are not, especially the Denim Blue variant I received for review. Poco offers two color options for the global model, a unique Denim Blue and a more classic Black, and the whole design is built around a bold horizontal camera bar across the top of the back panel. This rectangular bump stretches almost from edge to edge, immediately anchoring the look and giving the phone a strong graphic identity. On the Denim Blue model, the bar is finished in silver, while on the Black version, it is blacked out to blend more seamlessly with the rest of the body.

Within this camera bar, the layout is carefully staged. On the left side sit four camera units, each framed by its own silver ring, with the LED flash neatly integrated among them. On the right side, Poco embeds the subwoofer module, marked with a “Sound by Bose” logo at the center, so the audio story becomes a visible part of the design rather than something hidden inside.

Color and material choices reinforce this expressive stance. The Denim Blue variant uses Xiaomi’s third-generation nano tech material, which mimics the depth and weave of fabric while resisting fingerprints and smudges. It has a tactile, layered surface that feels more like tech streetwear than a simple painted back, and while this playful, youthful look will not be everyone’s cup of tea, it gives the phone a distinct, energetic character.

The Black version takes a more understated route with lightweight glass fiber and a refined matte sheen that catches light in smooth gradients. It offers a quieter but still premium look if you prefer something less attention-grabbing, and it is likely to age more discreetly in daily use.

Ergonomics

Ergonomically, this is still a big phone. The Denim Blue variant measures 163.33 x 77.83 x 8.3 mm and weighs 220 g, while the Black version is slightly slimmer and lighter at 163.33 x 77.82 x 7.9 mm and 218 g. In the hand, the difference is subtle, and for my grip, the width in particular makes it a bit of a stretch to reach across the screen, which is worth noting if you have smaller hands or prefer narrower devices.

Both the display and back panel are flat, giving the phone a clean profile. Rounded corners and subtly curved aluminum edges soften the grip and reduce pressure points during long gaming or video sessions, and the weight feels well-balanced along the center line, so the camera module does not make the phone feel top-heavy.

The Denim Blue back adds a gentle grip and naturally hides smudges, which suits case-free use. The matte Black finish feels smoother but is still controlled and resists fingerprints and smears, so it stays looking clean. In both finishes, the textures are chosen as much for comfort and practicality as for style.

The physical controls are also well placed. The volume rocker and power button on the right sit low enough to reach without stretching or shifting your grip, which helps offset some of the phone’s width. The ultrasonic fingerprint reader is positioned about one third of the way up from the bottom of the screen, right where your thumb naturally rests, so unlocking feels quick and effortless.

Performance

Inside, the Poco F8 Ultra runs on Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, Qualcomm’s latest flagship chip. It also includes a dedicated VisionBoost D8 chipset for visual enhancement and game optimization. This secondary chip can push supported game titles up to 120 frames per second, upscale visuals to 1.5K resolution, and apply Game HDR to enrich color. Together, they give compatible games a sharper, smoother, more cinematic feel. Running HyperOS 3 based on Android 16, the phone stays snappy and smooth even when you are multitasking.

Poco F8 Ultra boasts the largest display in the brand’s F series with a 6.9-inch AMOLED panel using Poco HyperRGB.  The screen runs up to 120 Hz in supported apps, so scrolling, animations, and games feel fluid, and combined with high brightness, strong contrast, and deep blacks, it delivers a vivid, high-impact look rather than a muted, neutral one.

The audio side of smartphones is usually overlooked, and most built-in speakers still sound flat. Poco’s partnership with Bose pushes against that pattern. The F8 Ultra uses a 2.1 channel system with stereo speakers and a dedicated bass driver, tuned to emphasize depth and space rather than just volume.

In my experience, Poco’s claims of deeper bass and a wider soundstage hold up. The F8 Ultra delivers a solid, weighty low end that gives music, films, and games more physical presence than most phones in its class. Held in landscape, the stereo image feels wide, with instruments and effects clearly separated instead of merging into a single blob of sound.

You get two Bose-tuned modes, Dynamic and Balanced. Dynamic adds punch and low end for games and action, while Balanced keeps mids a bit cleaner for dialogue and acoustic tracks. On top of that, there are genre-based EQ presets and a custom 10-band EQ from about 141 Hz to 13.8 kHz, so you can fine-tune the sound to your taste.  The speaker system will not replace good headphones, but it clearly raises the bar for built-in phone audio.

On the camera side, the F8 Ultra treats imaging as a proper flagship feature. The 50 MP main camera uses Xiaomi’s 1/1.31 inch Light Fusion 950 sensor with an f/1.67 aperture and optical image stabilization, and it produces vibrant images with wide dynamic range and good detail even in difficult lighting.

The 50 MP 5x periscope telephoto sits at a 115 mm-equivalent focal length with an f/3.0 aperture and OIS. It reuses the same sensor as its predecessor but pairs it with a periscope structure, which allows much higher zoom while better preserving image quality. The result is pleasing compression with natural-looking bokeh and solid dynamic range, especially in good light.

A 50 MP 18 mm-equivalent ultrawide completes the rear trio, although its relatively narrow field of view means you can often just step back and use the main camera for better image quality. The 32 megapixel front camera with its automatic 0.8x wide-angle mode makes group shots easier without forcing you to stretch your arm as far. For video, all three rear cameras support up to 4K 60 FPS, with the main camera also capable of 8K 30 FPS, while the front camera is limited to 4K 30 FPS.

Battery life and charging match the performance focus. Poco finally gives the Ultra line a bigger pack in response to user feedback, with a 6500 mAh battery that is the largest yet in a global Poco F phone. It comfortably handles heavy gaming, media, and camera use across a day, and when you do run low, 100-watt wired HyperCharge, 50-watt wireless charging, and 22.5-watt reverse charging give you flexible ways to top up or share power.

Sustainability

Poco’s approach to sustainability on the F8 Ultra feels more practical than ambitious. Hardware durability is solid, with IP68 water and dust resistance and Poco Shield Glass helping the phone survive daily knocks, drops, and the occasional splash. That kind of protection does reduce the chance you will need an early replacement after a single accident, which is still an important part of using one device for longer.

On the software side, Poco offers 4 major Android OS updates and 6 years of security patches. While that is not class-leading, it is still notable. Some rivals now promise longer OS and security support, reasonably future-proofed. Overall, the F8 Ultra does not stand out as a sustainability champion in either software longevity or broader eco-friendly initiatives.

Value

Poco offers the F8 Ultra in two configurations. The 12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage model is priced at $729, while the 16 GB RAM and 512 GB storage version comes in at $799. During the early bird period, Poco cuts $50 from the base model and $70 from the higher tier, bringing them down to $679 and $729, respectively, which makes the step up to 16 GB and 512 GB particularly tempting.

There is a clear price increase compared to the previous Ultra, but it feels justified by the upgraded display, dual-chip performance stack, camera system, audio, and larger battery. In the current flagship landscape, the Poco F8 Ultra still lands firmly in the bang for buck zone. It undercuts many premium rivals while delivering comparable or better gaming performance, a more ambitious camera setup, and a genuinely strong media experience, so the overall value proposition remains one of its strongest arguments.

Verdict

Poco F8 Ultra feels like a confident step up from the F7 Ultra, not just a faster sequel. It combines a bold design, a huge 6.9-inch AMOLED, a genuinely impressive Bose-tuned 2.1 speaker system, and a serious camera stack built around the Light Fusion 950 main sensor and 5x periscope. Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 plus the VisionBoost D8 chip deliver top-tier gaming performance with stable high frame rates, while the 6500 mAh battery and fast wired and wireless charging keep that power usable all day.

It is not a perfect package, especially if you want the absolute best camera system, have smaller hands, or care deeply about long-term sustainability. The phone is wide, the ultrawide camera is less versatile than the rest of the system, and the software support window is only average in a segment that is rapidly improving. There is also a clear price jump over the F7 Ultra, even if the upgrades mostly justify it. If you want a compact, understated device, this is not for you, but if you want a big, expressive all-rounder that excels at games, media, and photography, the Poco F8 Ultra delivers on its premium flagship ambition.

The post Poco F8 Ultra Review: A Bold All-Rounder Balancing Gaming, Camera, and Bose-Tuned Audio first appeared on Yanko Design.

Huawei’s 8,000-Nit Display Is a Design Statement Disguised as a Spec Sheet

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Smartphones have become spec sheet battlegrounds. Bigger megapixels. Faster charging. Higher refresh rates. The numbers climb while the actual user experience often stays flat.

Designer: Huawei

Huawei’s Mate 80 Pro Max arrives with an 8,000-nit peak brightness claim that obliterates every competitor on paper. But peel back the marketing headline and something more interesting emerges: a deliberate design philosophy that treats the display as the phone’s defining character trait, not just another specification to maximize.

When Engineering Becomes Industrial Design

The dual-layer OLED panel represents Huawei’s answer to a fundamental physics problem. Traditional OLED displays push a single emissive layer harder to achieve brightness, generating excess heat and potentially shortening panel lifespan. Huawei’s solution stacks two OLED layers, distributing thermal and electrical load across twice the surface area while hitting brightness numbers that single-layer panels cannot match. The engineering choice has profound visual consequences that extend far beyond the headline specification.

HDR content transforms on a dual-layer panel. Highlights carry genuine intensity while shadows retain depth rather than washing out, creating an almost three-dimensional quality to images that photographers and videographers will immediately recognize. The smartphone has become our primary camera, editor, and viewing screen, and Huawei designed this display to serve all three roles simultaneously.

Eye comfort gets attention too. The 1440Hz PWM dimming rate eliminates the invisible flicker that causes strain during extended low-brightness use, addressing one of OLED technology’s persistent criticisms that cheaper panels still struggle with.

Most users will never consciously notice this detail. Their eyes will thank them anyway.

The “8” That Defines Everything

Huawei’s design team turned the model number into a visual identity, and the boldness of that choice deserves recognition in an industry addicted to safe rectangles and generic camera bumps.

The rear panel features a prominent circle highlighting the wireless charging coils, positioned directly above the circular camera module. Together, these two circles stack vertically to form a figure eight that reads as both functional diagram and brand statement. The phone announces itself at twenty feet. Most manufacturers treat rear panel design as an afterthought, a surface to slap logos onto after engineering finishes the real work. Huawei flipped that relationship entirely, making the wireless charging coils a design feature rather than hiding them under featureless glass.

The flat display edges and squared-off sides follow a broader industry shift away from curved screens. Curves looked elegant but created durability problems and made edge interactions imprecise, and Huawei clearly listened to actual user complaints rather than chasing visual trends. The Mate 80 Pro Max prioritizes function over flowing aesthetics, which reads as mature design confidence rather than trend abandonment.

Materials as Message

Kunlun Glass 2 protects the display. Basalt-infused elements reinforce the frame. Polyamide fiber adds structural rigidity. These materials come from aerospace and automotive applications where failure means more than a cracked screen, and Huawei wants you to know it.

The material palette communicates something specific: this phone is built to survive. Whether the exotic composition actually outperforms conventional aluminum and Gorilla Glass remains unproven through real-world abuse testing, but the conceptual intent lands clearly. Huawei wants buyers to feel they’re holding something more substantial than another fragile glass sandwich that shatters on the first drop.

Competitor Philosophies Compared

Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max peaks at 3,000 nits outdoors, emphasizing color accuracy, response time, and ProMotion integration instead. Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra settles at 2,600 nits peak, focusing on S Pen ecosystem integration where stylus latency matters more than brightness records.

Realme’s GT 8 Pro pushed to 7,000 nits before Huawei arrived, representing the aggressive spec-chasing that defines much of the Chinese smartphone market where headline numbers drive purchasing decisions more directly than in Western markets. Different priorities produce different design choices, and Huawei one-upped everyone on brightness while wrapping the achievement in more considered industrial design than the pure spec-chasers typically deliver.

Trade-Offs Hidden in Marketing: 8,000 nits requires power.

More power means bigger batteries, shorter runtime, or aggressive throttling when capacity drops. Huawei’s 6,000mAh battery seems modest against Chinese competitors pushing past 7,000mAh, which suggests either extreme confidence in dual-layer efficiency or accepted runtime compromises that won’t appear until real-world testing begins.

Thermal management creates even thornier long-term concerns that no launch event mentions. Excessive heat degrades organic compounds in OLED panels over time, potentially causing permanent brightness loss and color shift in heavily-used screen areas. The dual-layer architecture should help by spreading thermal load across more surface area, but durability implications won’t become clear for years of actual use. And then there’s the practical question: who actually needs 8,000 nits? Screens above 2,000 nits handle direct sunlight adequately for most tasks, and the extreme peak brightness matters primarily for tiny HDR highlights representing blinding light sources like the sun or reflections.

Real value or marketing trophy? Probably both, depending entirely on how you use the device.

What the Brightness Obsession Reveals

The Mate 80 Pro Max embodies a specific philosophy: the display IS the device, and everything else exists to support the viewing experience. The logic tracks, since smartphones evolved into portable screens that occasionally make calls, and optimizing the primary interaction surface makes intuitive sense. But brightness as the defining metric risks missing what actually makes displays pleasant to use: color accuracy, viewing angle consistency, touch response precision, eye comfort across hours of use. A 2,000-nit panel with superior color science might deliver better daily experience than an 8,000-nit screen with mediocre calibration. Huawei historically nails calibration alongside technical specs, so there’s reason for optimism, but the proof requires hands-on time that marketing materials cannot provide.

For Design-Conscious Buyers

The Mate 80 Pro Max succeeds as a design object beyond its brightness claims. The “8” motif creates genuine visual identity. The material choices communicate premium durability. The dual-layer OLED architecture represents meaningful innovation rather than incremental improvement. HarmonyOS remains the elephant in the room for international users, with no Google Play Services meaning no Gmail, no Maps, no YouTube without workarounds, and limited global availability makes the device theoretical for many potential buyers regardless of how compelling the hardware appears.

For those who can access and actually use the Mate 80 Pro Max within its intended market, the display technology offers real advantages for outdoor use, HDR content, and photography demanding accurate highlight reproduction. The design language makes a statement that Apple and Samsung’s safer approaches simply don’t attempt. The brightness arms race continues, and competitors will push toward and beyond Huawei’s record within months.

What matters more than any single number is whether manufacturers use these capabilities to create genuinely better experiences, or simply chase specifications for their own sake. The Mate 80 Pro Max suggests Huawei understands the distinction, even if the marketing still leads with the biggest number.

Display Technology Comparison

Specification Huawei Mate 80 Pro Max iPhone 17 Pro Max Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Realme GT 8 Pro
Peak Brightness 8,000 nits 3,000 nits 2,600 nits 7,000 nits
Display Technology Dual-layer OLED Single-layer OLED Single-layer OLED Single-layer AMOLED
PWM Dimming 1440Hz 480Hz Variable 2160Hz
Refresh Rate 1-120Hz LTPO 1-120Hz ProMotion 1-120Hz LTPO 1-120Hz LTPO
Resolution 1320 x 2848 1320 x 2868 1440 x 3120 1264 x 2780
Glass Protection Kunlun Glass 2 Ceramic Shield Gorilla Armor 2 Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Design Philosophy Brightness as identity Color accuracy first Stylus integration Spec leadership

The post Huawei’s 8,000-Nit Display Is a Design Statement Disguised as a Spec Sheet first appeared on Yanko Design.

Realme GT8 Pro Review: A Flagship You Choose With Your Heart

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PROS:


  • Ricoh GR partnership on the main camera

  • Distinctive design with modular camera island

  • Outstanding battery life and charging speed

CONS:


  • Ricoh GR mode is limited to the main camera

  • Ultra-wide and front cameras lack autofocus

  • Software support is good, but not class-leading for the price range




RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

This is a phone you pick with your heart as much as your head, because you really have to want that design story and the GR experience.

The announcement of Realme’s partnership with Ricoh was a surprise, and now the highly anticipated Realme GT8 Pro is here with another twist in the form of an interchangeable camera plate on its back. This is not a subtle move, and it signals that Realme GT8 Pro is not trying to be just another sensible flagship. Instead, it arrives as a phone that wants to make a statement the moment you turn it over in your hand.

At the same time, this is still a serious piece of hardware built around the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, a huge 7000 mAh battery, and a vibrant 6.79-inch display. Realme is clearly aiming to step out of its value-focused comfort zone and into the premium flagship ring, where expectations are much higher, and mistakes are more visible. The real question is whether this bold, personality-heavy approach makes the GT8 Pro a genuinely great all-around phone, or a beautiful experiment that only a certain kind of user will truly appreciate.

Aesthetics

Pick up the realme GT8 Pro, and the first thing your eyes lock onto is the camera island. Realme has turned the rear camera housing into a modular design object that you can swap and restyle. Different camera decoration plates change the shape and graphic language of that camera bump, which means the back of the phone becomes a kind of customizable badge. It feels more like a piece of streetwear design than a typical rectangular slab, and it sends a clear signal that this phone sees photography and personality as central to its identity.

The plate is held in place with two tiny screws. The design that comes with the Diary White colorway we received is a round silver colored plate, and Realme also sent a separate rectangular silver colored plate. Realme has even released the 3D design file to invite people to create their own camera plate designs for the GT8 Pro. It is purely non-functional, and you could easily call it a gimmick, but it is a playful gimmick that fits the character of this phone and gives designers and tinkerers something fun to explore.

Realme keeps the core lineup tight with two main colorways. Diary White pairs the aluminum frame with a glossy glass back panel that catches reflections like a piece of polished ceramic. Urban Blue switches to a vegan leather back panel that brings a more tactile, fashion-focused vibe and feels closer to a premium accessory than a slab of tech. Both finishes are tuned to catch light and attention rather than fade into the background, which reinforces the GT8 Pro’s role as a visual statement.

On top of these two color variants, Realme offers the Dream Edition as part of its three-year partnership with the Aston Martin Formula 1 team. This special version comes dressed in Aston Martin Green with yellow accents and an aerodynamic-inspired design. The phone arrives with a round camera decoration plate featuring a carbon fiber finish, which adds a motorsport texture that feels premium.

Inside the special box, you also get the square deco plate, a SIM ejector tool shaped like a racing car, a Torx screwdriver for swapping plates, two phone cases, and a charger. The phone itself comes preloaded with custom Aston Martin Formula 1 team wallpapers and icons, so the collaboration extends into the software experience as well.

Ergonomics

This is a large phone with a 6.79-inch display and a 7000 mAh battery, so it has real presence in the hand. Both colorways share the same footprint at 161.80 x 76.87 mm, which means you are firmly in big phone territory. You feel that size immediately, yet the curved edges and carefully rounded corners do a lot of work to soften the bulk and make it feel less intimidating.

The differences appear when you look at thickness and weight. Diary White comes in at 8.20 mm thick and weighs 218 g, while Urban Blue is slightly thicker at 8.30 mm but actually lighter at 214 g. In practice, these numbers are close enough that you will not notice a dramatic contrast in day-to-day use. Diary White, with its glossy glass back, feels sleek and cool, sliding more easily against your skin and into pockets. Urban Blue with its vegan leather has a paper-like feel with tactile 3D characters, according to Realme, which gives it a more textured, design-forward personality in the hand.

The power and volume keys sit within easy reach on the right side of the frame. Their placement makes it simple to adjust volume or lock the screen without shifting your grip too much, even on this tall device. The fingerprint scanner is located at roughly one-third of the height from the bottom of the display, which makes it easy to unlock the phone and continue straight into navigation with the same thumb movement.

Performance

Inside, the GT8 Pro is powered by the latest Snapdragon flagship chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, and that choice sets the tone for the entire performance story. This chip is designed for demanding multitasking, heavy gaming, and advanced AI features, and the phone leans into that with confidence. Realme pairs the main chipset with either 12 GB or 16 GB of RAM, along with 256 GB or 512 GB of fast UFS 4.1 storage, depending on the configuration. On the software side, Android 16 with realme UI 7 sits on top, bringing a colorful, feature-rich interface that still keeps most interactions intuitive and approachable.

On the front, the GT8 Pro boasts a 6.79-inch LTPO AMOLED panel with a 1440 x 3136 px resolution and a maximum refresh rate of 144 Hz. It supports Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HDR10+, which gives you rich contrast and vivid highlights when watching compatible content. Realme claims a peak brightness of up to 7000 nits and 2000 nits in High Brightness Mode. These numbers are usually achievable only in very specific lab conditions, but in real life, the GT8 Pro display is genuinely very bright and easy to see under strong sunlight. The stereo speakers are loud and clear as well.

On the back, the Realme GT8 Pro boasts a triple camera system. The main camera is a 50 MP unit with a 1/1.56-inch Sony IMX906 sensor, an F/1.8 aperture, optical image stabilization, and electronic stabilization. The telephoto camera uses a 200 MP 1/1.56-inch Samsung HP5 sensor with an F/2.6 aperture, again with both optical and electronic stabilization. The ultra-wide camera is a 50 MP unit with a 1/2.88-inch sensor and an F/2 aperture.

The camera system is where the GT8 Pro tries to carve out a unique identity. Realme has partnered with Ricoh and borrowed the GR branding, a name that carries a lot of weight in the world of street photography. Realme says this partnership has been four years in the making, and that it goes deeper than simply slapping a GR logo on the phone. The goal is to weave Ricoh GR DNA into the GT8 Pro and bring the spirit of GR-style photography into a smartphone.

Ricoh GR mode is limited to the main camera and offers fixed focal length presets at 28 mm, 35 mm, 40 mm, and 50 mm equivalents. As someone who enjoys a good telephoto camera, I was initially disappointed that Ricoh GR mode does not extend to the GT8 Pro telephoto lens. However, the more time I spent with the phone, the more this decision started to make sense. As mentioned earlier, Realme and Ricoh are trying to bring the soul of GR photography into the GT8 Pro, and the GR series is best known as an iconic tool for documentary-style, walk-around shooting.

Ricoh GR, Standard

Within GR mode, you get a set of film-inspired looks called Standard, Positive Film, Negative Film, BW, and Hi BW. Each of these can be treated as a starting point rather than a fixed recipe. You can dive in and adjust parameters such as saturation, contrast, sharpness, and grain for each look, then save your tweaks as custom presets, up to six presets in total. It feels very much like building your own GR profiles, which is a big part of the appeal for people who love tuning their cameras and crafting a personal visual style.

Ricoh GR, Positive Film

Ricoh GR, Negative Film

Do I still wish for a Ricoh GR mode on the telephoto camera? Absolutely. At the same time, I am quite happy with the Ricoh GR mode on the main camera. The Ricoh GR mode produces photos with a less processed, more natural look, and the ability to fine-tune and save your own presets makes it feel personal rather than generic. There is also a full Pro mode on Ricoh GR mode available if you want manual control, which rounds out the experience and lets you treat the GT8 Pro more like a serious camera than a simple point-and-shoot.

Ricoh GR, B&W

Ricoh GR, High-contrast B&W

Of course, if you just want a quick snap that is ready for social media, the regular photo mode delivers sharp, vibrant images (that could be a bit too much)  with excellent dynamic range. The 200 MP 3X telephoto is excellent too, capturing plenty of detail and holding up well even when you crop in or zoom further digitally. Both the ultra-wide camera and the 32 MP front camera lack autofocus, which is a limitation, but they still produce clean, punchy images.

Video recording is equally ambitious. The main camera and the telephoto camera can both shoot 4K video at up to 120 FPS and 8K video at 30 FPS. The ultra-wide and front cameras can record up to 4K at 60 FPS. The footage looks very good, with solid dynamic range and vibrant color that holds up across different lighting conditions. You can even record Log at 4K 120 FPS, which gives you more flexibility for grading.

Battery life and charging are among the most dramatic strengths of this phone. The GT8 Pro carries a 7000 mAh battery, which translates into serious endurance in real-world use. The 120-watt wired charging, using the proprietary SuperVOOC charger that is included in the box, can refill that huge battery from empty to full in around 45 minutes, which feels almost absurd for this capacity. For the first time on a Realme global phone, you also get wireless charging at up to 50 watts. This combination of a massive battery and very fast wired and wireless charging means battery anxiety becomes a rare feeling rather than a daily concern.

Sustainability

The GT8 Pro quietly builds a solid sustainability story around its bold design. The front is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, and the body carries IP68 and IP69 ratings, which together help the phone survive drops, scratches, dust, immersion, and even high-pressure water jets. A device that can handle more abuse is a device you are less likely to replace early, which is an underrated part of sustainability.

Realme also pays attention to materials. The Urban Blue variant uses a vegan leather style back crafted from a recycled material and natural dye, which gives it both a softer environmental footprint and a more crafted feel in the hand. On the software side, Realme promises four years of Android OS updates and five years of security updates. I do wish Realme offered even longer support at this price range, especially as some rivals are pushing update timelines further. Still, it gives you a reasonable sense of confidence that the GT8 Pro will stay usable and secure for several years.

Value

Realme GT8 Pro is positioned as a proper flagship, and the pricing reflects that ambition. In China, the 12 GB and 256 GB configuration costs 3999 Chinese Yuan, which is roughly $550. In India, the same configuration is priced at 79,999 Indian Rupees, which comes much closer to around $960 at current conversion rates.

That Indian price pushes the GT8 Pro straight into ultra-premium territory. At that level, you are cross-shopping it against flagships from Apple, Google, Samsung, and established Chinese rivals. The hardware feels special, especially with the Ricoh partnership and the modular design, and it ticks most of the boxes for a modern premium flagship. Whether it feels like good value, though, depends a lot on your market and on how much you personally care about the GR experience and the design story.

Verdict

Realme GT8 Pro feels like a flagship that actually wants to be noticed, with its modular camera island and even an Aston Martin Formula 1 edition, yet it backs that flair up with serious hardware. Between the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, the 2K 144 Hz LTPO display, the Ricoh GR-tuned main camera, and that massive 7000 mAh battery, this is not a phone that cuts corners quietly. It is a device that tries to turn every surface and every spec into a talking point.

That ambition does come with trade-offs. The size and weight will not suit everyone; the GR experience is focused on the main camera rather than the full system, and the pricing in some markets pushes it into direct competition with very established premium players. Still, it feels like a very compelling, characterful choice. In the end, this is a phone you pick with your heart as much as your head, because you really have to want that design story and the GR experience.

The post Realme GT8 Pro Review: A Flagship You Choose With Your Heart first appeared on Yanko Design.

Vivo X300 Review: Compact, But No Compromise

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PROS:


  • Compact, minimal design with a subtle camera module

  • Excellent ergonomics, light weight, and easy one-handed use

  • Versatile and powerful camera system

  • Large 6040mAh battery

CONS:


  • Camera system is a step down from the X300 Pro

  • Limited focus on sustainability and repairability

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

If you care most about a compact form factor, strong battery life, and one of the best camera setups in this size class, the Vivo X300 stands out clearly.

Vivo’s announcement of the X300 series brought a wave of excitement, especially around the powerhouse X300 Pro. Many in the tech world were eager to see how far Vivo could push flagship performance. But while the Pro model commands attention for its bleeding-edge specs, the X300 quietly carves out its own distinct appeal. 

This is not just a lesser sibling, though. The X300 emerges as a force in its own right, especially for those who appreciate a flagship phone that fits beautifully in the hand. Ergonomics meet modern design, with the X300 offering a balanced blend of style, substance, and everyday comfort. For anyone who wants top-tier features without the bulk, this device is ready to win hearts. In this review, we will see whether it truly delivers on that promise.

Aesthetics

The X300 embodies minimalistic beauty in every detail. Its frosted glass back panel exudes a soft, refined sheen, instantly presenting an air of quiet elegance. The camera bump stands out as a graceful, seamless circle, subtly rising from the surface without disrupting the panel’s smooth geometry. This camera design is noticeably more understated than the X300 Pro’s bold module, enhancing the X300’s visual harmony and contributing to its overall sense of balance.

Look closer, and the smaller design decisions start to stand out. The transition between the glass back and the frame is clean and controlled, with no harsh edges or visual clutter. The circular camera island sits perfectly centered within its own visual “halo,” making the back of the phone feel almost symmetrical even though it is not. Branding is minimal and tastefully placed, allowing the materials and shapes to take the lead instead of logos or text. It is the kind of design that does not shout for attention, but rewards you the longer you look at it.

Color choices further elevate the X300’s appeal. Vivo offers this flagship in four shades: Pink, Blue, Purple, and Black. The Pink variant, which arrived for my review, is especially enchanting. Its finish dances with light, revealing subtle undertones of purple, green, blue, and yellow depending on the angle. This shifting spectrum gives the phone a dynamic personality, catching the eye without crossing into excess. The result is a device that feels both modern and timeless, effortlessly fitting into a variety of styles and settings.

Ergonomics

Ergonomics often takes a back seat to camera prowess in flagship phones, but the X300 finds a sweet spot that deserves attention. While I’m usually unfazed by larger camera bumps if they promise outstanding photography, my experience with the X300 was a reminder of the joys of a truly compact device. Its proportions invite easy one-handed use, making daily interactions feel effortless and natural. 

Measuring just 7.95mm thick and weighing only 190 grams, the X300 offers a lightness that’s immediately noticeable. The slim profile means slipping it into a pocket is never a struggle, and extended use won’t leave your wrist or fingers feeling fatigued. Whether you’re navigating busy city streets, snapping photos on the move, or texting with a single thumb, the X300’s thoughtful design makes comfort a priority. This is a phone that proves you can have flagship features without sacrificing ease of use.

Unlike its big sibling, the X300 skips the customizable button on the left side, resulting in a cleaner and simpler design. However, it retains the convenient placement of the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, located about one-third of the way up from the bottom edge of the display. This thoughtful positioning makes it easy for your thumb to reach and helps ensure that unlocking the phone and jumping into your daily tasks feels quick and natural. It’s a subtle detail that quietly enhances the overall user experience.

Performance

Performance on the X300 is delightfully robust, thanks to the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chipset paired with 12GB or 16GB of RAM. Everyday tasks feel brisk and effortless, whether you’re juggling multiple apps, streaming high-definition video, or playing graphics-intensive games. The latest OriginOS 6, layered on top of Android 16, brings a modern, fluid interface with thoughtful touches that make navigation a pleasure. Animations are snappy, transitions are smooth, and the phone keeps up even when you push it hard.

The X300 features a 6.31-inch LTPO AMOLED panel with a super-smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Every scroll and swipe feels effortless, while colors remain punchy and vivid in any setting. Thanks to the 2160Hz PWM dimming, the screen is gentle on your eyes, even during late-night reading sessions or long stretches of use.

The X300’s camera system is a bit of a step down compared to the X300 Pro, but it is still very powerful. Its 200MP main camera uses a 1/1.4-inch Samsung HPB sensor with an f/1.68 aperture, the same sensor used in the X300 Pro’s telephoto, promising flagship-level clarity. Complementing this is a 50MP telephoto lens featuring a 1/1.95-inch Sony LYT-602 sensor and an f/2.57 aperture, delivering crisp zoomed images with solid detail.

Rounding out the trio, the 50MP ultra-wide camera uses a 1/2.76-inch Samsung JN1 sensor with an f/2.0 aperture. On the front, the X300 uses the same 50MP 1/2.76-inch Samsung JN1 sensor with an f/2.0 aperture. All cameras, including the front-facing camera, can record video up to 4K at 60FPS, while the main camera can go up to 4K at 120FPS.

The Vivo X300 packs a large 6040mAh battery in a compact body. It actually has a bigger battery than my region-specific European X300 Pro, which comes with 5440mAh. In real use, the battery life is strong, unlike my experience with that X300 Pro variant, and easily keeps up with a busy day and more. On top of that, 90W wired and 40W wireless charging mean you are never stuck near an outlet for long. Short top-ups quickly turn into meaningful charges.

Sustainability/Repairability

The X300 does not present itself as an eco-conscious statement piece, and Vivo’s messaging around the device leans far more toward performance and imaging than sustainability. Even so, some of its design choices naturally support longer-term use. Its IP68 and IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance give it a level of protection that many compact phones still lack. That extra durability means everyday mishaps are less likely to be fatal, which in turn can delay the need for a replacement.

From a software perspective, the X300 launches with Android 16 and OriginOS 6, backed by Vivo’s promise of up to five major Android upgrades and seven years of security patches. This is a meaningful commitment for anyone who keeps a phone for a number of years, and it helps the X300 stay secure and relevant over time. What you will not find, at least in the official materials, is much emphasis on recycled materials, modularity, or easy repair. In that sense, the X300 reflects the broader flagship market, where sustainability is still more of an added benefit than a core design driver, even when the hardware itself is built to last.

Value

Vivo X300 is available in several markets, including Europe. In Europe, the price starts at around 1050 euros (roughly $1,140) for the 12GB and 512GB configuration. Vivo hit the nail on the head with the X300, a flagship in a compact size that many people have been waiting for. Although the camera setup is a bit of a step down compared to the X300 Pro, the X300 itself does not feel like a compromise. It delivers serious imaging performance, strong battery life, and fast charging in a smaller body.

In the compact flagship space, “small” usually means sacrifice. iPhone 17, Pixel 10, and Samsung Galaxy S25 all have noticeably weaker camera systems compared to what Vivo offers here. Xiaomi 15 might be the closest rival in spirit, but even then, the X300’s combination of a 200MP main camera and a capable front-facing camera in this form factor gives it a clear edge.

Verdict

Vivo set out to build a compact flagship without obvious compromises, and the X300 comes impressively close. It combines a refined, minimal design with excellent ergonomics, a bright 120Hz LTPO display, and a camera system that is powerful even if it sits just below the X300 Pro. Add in the large 6040mAh battery, fast 90W wired and 40W wireless charging, and long-term software support, and you get a small phone that consistently behaves like a big flagship.

It is not a perfect fit for everyone, especially at a price that puts it against Apple, Samsung, and Google. You do not get the strongest ecosystem story or the longest software support. However, if you care most about a compact form factor, strong battery life, and one of the best camera setups in this size class, the X300 stands out clearly. It feels less like a cut-down Pro model and more like a confident compact flagship in its own right.

The post Vivo X300 Review: Compact, But No Compromise first appeared on Yanko Design.

Realme GT 7 Pro Review: Flagship Performance Meets Affordability

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PROS:


  • Powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chipsets

  • Massive 6500mAh battery and fast 120W wired charging

  • Bright and vibrant display

  • Attractive pricing

CONS:


  • USB 2.0, not USB 3.0

  • No wireless charging

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

The Realme GT 7 Pro stands out as a strong contender in the smartphone market, particularly for those seeking a performance-driven device at an attractive price point.

Realme’s GT series has long been celebrated for delivering a performance-focused flagship. Just three months ago, in July, Realme re-entered the global stage with the launch of the global GT 6, marking its return to the global GT series after a two-year hiatus. Now, Realme is back with the GT 7 Pro, setting new benchmarks in the smartphone industry.

The Realme GT 7 Pro is the first flagship phone equipped with Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset in more than ten markets, including India, Malaysia, Thailand, and Spain. But that is not the only thing going for GT 7 Pro. Beyond its powerful processor, the phone boasts a massive 6,500mAh battery with 120W fast charging, a super-bright display, and a unique underwater photography mode. The Realme GT 7 Pro is undoubtedly a device to be reckoned with. Just how impressive is it? We put it to the test.

Designer: Realme

Aesthetics

The Realme GT 7 Pro is available in two color variants: Mars Orange and Galaxy Grey. The Mars Orange variant, which we received for this review, is uniquely eye-catching. Its matte back panel features a subtle, sand-like pattern that adds depth and texture to the vibrant orange hue, creating a sophisticated and refined appearance.

The bronze-colored side frame with a matte finish complements this bold choice, setting it apart from the trend of subtle, pastel colors. This color option is perfect for those who want their device to make a statement. For those who prefer more subdued tones, the Galaxy Grey option offers classic, minimalist aesthetics.

The design of the GT 7 Pro goes beyond color, emphasizing thoughtful construction and attention to detail. In the top-left corner, a square camera island houses a triple camera setup alongside an LED flash. This island is elegantly positioned on a raised square base, finished in matte orange with shiny edges, providing a striking contrast and sophisticated touch. The “HYPERIMAGE+” branding is subtly placed on the slanted right side of the base.

The cameras are seamlessly integrated into a flat cover, which not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also makes it easy to clean and maintain, ensuring the back panel remains sleek and uncluttered. Realme also has paid attention to the smallest details, moving the CE marking to the side frame, resulting in a clean and uninterrupted back panel design.

Ergonomics

The Realme GT 7 Pro measures 162.45 x 76.89 x 55mm and weighs 222.8g. While it isn’t the slimmest or lightest device, considering its 6,500mAh battery and large Vapor Chamber, it’s impressive. The slightly curved edges of the back panel and the flat side frame ensure the phone doesn’t dig into your palm. Although the transition from the back panel to the frame is noticeable, it doesn’t significantly impact comfort.

The fingerprint sensor is conveniently located about 1.6 inches or 4cm above the bottom edge of the screen, making it easy to unlock the phone and navigate. However, due to the camera island’s position on the upper left, the phone wobbles slightly when placed on a flat surface. The textured back panel, sleek aluminum frame, and quad-curved display give the phone a premium feel in hand.

Performance

The Realme GT 7 Pro is a powerhouse, driven by the cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, featuring Qualcomm’s 2+6 Oryon CPU and Hexagon NPU. This is complemented by LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage, and runs Android 15 out of the box, with realme UI 6.0 on top of it.

As a performance-centric phone, the GT 7 Pro delivers on its promise of an exceptional gaming experience. During intensive gaming sessions, the device only gets slightly warm, never hot, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Elite’s efficiency and the impressive 11,480mm² Iceberg Vapor Chamber—the largest in its segment according to Realme. Activating GT mode eliminates frame drops and lag, providing a smooth and immersive gaming experience, exemplified by hours of seamless gameplay in titles like Genshin Impact.

The GT 7 Pro’s display is another standout feature. The 6.78-inch Eco² OLED panel, co-developed with Samsung, boasts a 2780×1264 resolution and can reach a peak brightness of 6500 nits (2000 nits in High Brightness Mode and 1000 nits of typical brightness). With a 120Hz refresh rate, 120% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage, and HDR10+ support, the display is not only bright and vibrant but also energy-efficient, thanks to 8T LTPO technology. This ensures a visually stunning experience, whether gaming or streaming videos. The stereo speaker delivers ample volume, but the sound quality is underwhelming.

The GT 7 Pro’s 6,500mAh silicon anode battery is impressive, easily lasting a full day of heavy use, including gaming, photography, and video streaming. The 120W fast wired charging is a standout feature, charging from 0 to 50% in just 13 minutes and fully charging in 37 minutes, according to realme.

While it lacks wireless charging, this is a reasonable trade-off given the phone’s large battery, fast charging, and competitive price. Realme includes a 120W charger in the box, allowing users to fully benefit from fast charging without extra cost. This makes the lack of wireless charging less of an issue for most. However, the phone’s USB 2.0 connectivity may disappoint some users as a cost-saving measure.

Main, 1x, 24mm

Telephoto, 3x, 73mm

Telephoto, 6x, 144mm

The rear camera setup includes a 50MP main camera with a Sony IMX 906 sensor, a 50MP telephoto lens, and a 12MP ultrawide camera. The main camera captures vibrant images with balanced exposure and dynamic range in daytime and nighttime. The telephoto lens, featuring a Sony IMX 882 sensor, supports 3x optical zoom and up to 120x digital zoom, also offering a macro mode. The telephoto takes pretty good 3x photos with nice details. The ultrawide camera’s performance is less impressive but maintains color consistency with the other lenses.

Main, 1x, 24mm

Ultrawide, 0.6x, 16mm

As for the video, the main and telephoto cameras support up to 4K at 60fps, while the main camera can also record in 8K at 24fps. The video footage from the main and telephoto are generally well-exposed with great stabilization. The front-facing camera is limited to 1080p at 60fps.

Telephoto (Macro), 3x, 73mm

Main, 2x, 49mm

One of the unique features of the GT 7 Pro is its underwater photography mode, enabled by its IP69 and IP68 ratings. While it’s not intended for deep diving, this mode is ideal for activities like swimming and snorkeling, with Realme recommending depths of 0-2 meters for up to 30 minutes.

This feature opens the door to creative underwater shots. I tested it by submerging the phone in a murky pond filled with koi fish. Even though I had to shoot with an awkward arm position and couldn’t clearly see the screen, I was still able to capture sharp, clear images of the fish.

A notable limitation, however, is that once you start recording video, you’re unable to adjust the zoom or switch between the rear and front cameras. Additionally, dual-view video is not supported in underwater mode. It would be great to have these features available while recording.

Another small inconvenience is the alert sound that plays when you exit underwater mode by holding the power button. It can be a bit jarring. Despite these minor issues, the phone performed exceptionally well, delivering impressive results overall.

Powered by its advanced chipset, the Realme GT 7 Pro offers a comprehensive suite of AI features, including AI Sketch to Image, AI Motion Deblur, AI Gaming Super Resolution, and AI Gaming Super Frame. The AI Sketch to Image feature is undoubtedly fun to experiment with. However, its practical applications may vary from user to user, and it remains uncertain how often it will be integrated into daily routines.

The AI Sketch to Image feature allows users to express their creativity in multiple ways. By opening AI Doodle from the side button, you can draw directly on your device or take a photo of your hand-drawn sketch for the AI to transform into a digital masterpiece. Additionally, you can add creative elements to existing photos in your album.

A more practical AI tool for enhancing your photos on GT 7 Pro is AI Motion Deblur. Previously, Realme’s AI Ultra Clarity, introduced with the GT6, focused on sharpening images affected by out-of-focus blur but was limited in addressing motion blur. The GT 7 Pro takes a significant step forward by enabling users to effectively unblur images impacted by motion blur.

This feature targets blur caused by subjects moving in a single-direction motion or from camera shake, addressing one of the most common photography challenges. In my experience with several test photos, the results were mixed. However, when the feature performed well, it successfully salvaged blurry photos without making them look artificially processed or over-edited.

Sustainability

While the Realme GT 7 Pro excels in several areas of durability and longevity, there is no specific information available regarding the use of sustainable materials in its construction. However, the device is built to withstand various environmental challenges, thanks to its IP69 and IP68 certifications. These ratings ensure robust protection against dust and water, allowing users to feel secure against the elements in diverse conditions.

In terms of battery longevity, Realme claims that the GT 7 Pro will maintain more than 80% of its battery health even after four years of use. This focus on battery endurance means users can expect consistent performance over time, reducing the need for frequent replacements and contributing to a more sustainable use of resources.

The GT 7 Pro is supported by a promise of three major OS upgrades and four years of security patches. This level of software support is typical for Android flagship phones from Chinese manufacturers. Overall, while the Realme GT 7 Pro incorporates some elements of sustainability, it remains a step behind leaders in sustainability.

Value

The Realme GT 7 Pro offers a compelling blend of top-notch performance and features at competitive prices. In China, the base model starts at 3,699 CNY (approximately $510 USD) for 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. The top-tier model with 16GB RAM and 1TB storage is priced at 4,799 CNY (around $660 USD).

This is an incredible price for a phone powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, boasting a great display, a massive 6500mAh battery, and a stylish design. If you’re seeking a performance-focused smartphone, the Realme GT 7 Pro offers exceptional value for money.

Verdict

The Realme GT 7 Pro stands out as a strong contender in the smartphone market, particularly for those seeking a performance-driven device at an attractive price point. With its powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, massive 6,500mAh battery with 120W fast charging, and a bright, vibrant display, the GT 7 Pro delivers impressive performance across the board. The attractive pricing further enhances its appeal, making it a compelling choice for tech enthusiasts and gamers alike.

Overall, the Realme GT 7 Pro offers a well-rounded package with exceptional performance, impressive battery life, and beautiful aesthetics. Its value for money is undeniable, especially for those prioritizing cutting-edge performance and massive battery over other features. While it may not lead the pack in mobile imaging, it remains a highly competitive option in its price range, delivering a flagship experience without breaking the bank.

The post Realme GT 7 Pro Review: Flagship Performance Meets Affordability first appeared on Yanko Design.

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

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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

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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.