I had the opportunity to spend a week with China’s best camera phone, the Oppo Find X8 Ultra, in collaboration with Hasselblad, the renowned photography company. This experience left me thoroughly impressed with its camera capabilities, making me believe that Apple and Samsung might have some serious competition on their hands.
The Oppo Find X8 Ultra boasts a 1-inch type sensor, the largest in modern smartphones, enabling exceptional performance in low-light conditions and delivering impressive background blur similar to mirrorless cameras. The phone’s camera setup includes an ultrawide lens, periscope telephoto lenses, and a dedicated color spectrum sensor, all with high-resolution sensors that outshine mainstream competitors.
What struck me the most was the slim design of the Oppo Find X8 Ultra despite its powerful camera array, showcasing clever engineering. Beyond hardware, the collaboration with Hasselblad introduced advanced image processing features like Master Mode, film simulations, and extensive manual controls, elevating the photography experience.
During my time with the Oppo Find X8 Ultra, the photos consistently impressed me with their detail and color accuracy. The phone excelled in various shooting scenarios, from close-ups to long distances, demonstrating prowess in capturing intricate details and vibrant colors. The camera’s 3x telephoto and 6x zoom capabilities stood out, maintaining quality even at high zoom levels.
While the Oppo Find X8 Ultra excelled in most aspects, its preference for cooler tones and limitations in conveying warmth in certain settings were notable. However, these minor drawbacks were overshadowed by its exceptional performance in low-light conditions and versatility across different photography scenarios.
In the realm of smartphone photography, the Oppo Find X8 Ultra stands out as a top contender, alongside models like the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and Vivo X200 Ultra. Although availability in Western markets may be limited, the potential international launch of Oppo’s Ultra series could shake up the industry further, especially with the continuation of the Hasselblad partnership.
As a serious photographer, the Oppo Find X8 Ultra’s impressive camera capabilities hint at a shifting landscape where Chinese flagship phones may outshine industry giants like Apple and Samsung. The ongoing innovation in smartphone photography from China’s tech giants promises exciting prospects for photography enthusiasts worldwide.