Nails almost every aspect of what makes a flagship great

The Hindu

16-06-2025

Oppo Find X8 Ultra has been launched, succeeding the impressive Find X7 Ultra from last year. But just like its predecessor, this camera-focused powerhouse isn't making its way to India. That's a decision that's likely to leave many smartphone enthusiasts disappointed, especially those who have been tracking Oppo's experimental trajectory with its Ultra series. With each iteration, the company has been redefining what a flagship camera phone can be, and the Find X8 Ultra pushes that philosophy further.
Building on the foundation of the Find X7 Ultra, the Find X8 Ultra introduces a more powerful chipset, a refreshed design, upgraded camera lenses, and a bigger battery. It also sports Oppo's latest advancements in AI and ColorOS, aiming to offer a balanced blend of performance, photography, and finesse.
Design
There's no mistaking the Find X8 Ultra for anything other than a camera-centric phone. The massive circular camera frame, proudly stamped with the Hasselblad tag, immediately sets the tone. Visually, the phone reminds me of the Vivo X200 Pro, another photography beast. Given their direct competition in the camera-centric flagship space, it'll be interesting to see how users lean when choosing between the two.
Despite its visually heavy top end, the Find X8 Ultra doesn't feel as bulky as it looks. The phone offers a premium in-hand feel, aided by a clean monochrome design that departs from the dual-tone vegan leather look of the Find X7 Ultra. Oppo's choice to opt for glass across the back, with a subtle shade of Shell Pink, which people seemed to like. The colour subtly shifts under different lighting, adding a unique personal touch that elevates the design experience.
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In terms of hardware layout, the Find X8 Ultra is well thought out. On the left, you get an Essential Key, much like what we saw on the OnePlus 13s, and just as customisable. The power and volume keys rest on the right, while the SIM tray, USB-C port, and speaker grille sit at the bottom. Ticking all flagship boxes, the phone is IP68/IP69-rated for water and dust resistance and even boasts SGS drop certification. The thin 1.4mm bezels on the front complete the look, giving the phone a modern, expansive screen feel.
Display
The Find X8 Ultra is equipped with a 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a 1440x3168 resolution and a dynamic 120 Hz refresh rate. It supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and 10-bit colour depth — everything you'd want for immersive content consumption. Whether you're streaming high-quality content or playing a demanding mobile game, the visuals stay punchy and fluid.
With peak brightness reaching 2,500 nits, visibility in sunlight is solid, even if slightly lower than some rivals. The display intelligently adapts to content, lowering the refresh rate to 1 Hz when idle and scaling up to 120 Hz for gaming or fast scrolling. This not only preserves battery but also ensures a smooth user experience without compromise.
OS and AI
Running on Android 15 with ColorOS 15, the software experience is clean yet rich. Oppo has subtly redesigned UI elements, giving it an iOS-like polish while keeping Android's flexibility. The updated quick settings, revamped icons, and an improved 'Now Playing' widget bring a refined touch to daily use.
AI also takes center stage here. Oppo's Breeno AI powers features like AI Writer, AI VoiceScribe, and the excellent AI Eraser for cleaning up your photos. You'll also find Breeno's take on Google's Circle to Search, plus smart gallery tools like AI Recompose and Enhance Clarity. It's all seamlessly integrated and intuitive — an important step for those looking to get more done with less effort.
Performance
The Find X8 Ultra runs on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Elite chipset, paired with 16 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512 GB of UFS 4.0 storage. This is one of the most powerful configurations in any phone today, and it shows in daily use. Be it multitasking or loading graphics-heavy apps, the phone handles everything with ease.
Thermals are kept in check thanks to a complex cooling system that includes a vapour chamber, copper, and graphite layers — even the display is copper-backed. It ensures the phone stays cool even under sustained loads, which is especially beneficial for gaming sessions.
Speaking of games, the Adreno GPU delivers excellent frame rates in demanding titles like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty Mobile. Touch response is instantaneous, and the stereo speakers help amplify the gaming experience, making the Find X8 Ultra a capable performer all around.
Camera
Photography is where the Find X8 Ultra shines the brightest. It packs a quad 50 MP rear camera setup — including a 1-inch Sony LYT-900 sensor, two telephoto modules (3x and 6x zoom), and an ultrawide lens. The results? Simply excellent. In daylight, images come out vibrant, rich in detail, and with natural contrast — closing the gap with what we've seen on the Vivo X200 Pro.
The upgraded 3x telephoto lens now features a wider f/2.1 aperture and can focus as close as 10cm, making macro photography more accessible than ever. Whether you're shooting portraits or flowers, the lens performs exceptionally well. Oppo's True Chroma Camera, with its 9-channel multispectral system, helps nail the white balance and tone — making skin tones and shadows look just right.
Low-light performance also impresses. The main sensor captures sharp, vibrant shots with excellent contrast and minimal noise. But what stands out is the moon shot capability — something Oppo has refined further. Compared to other moonshot-enabled phones I've reviewed, the Find X8 Ultra gets the details, the shadows, and even the halo effect right.
Portrait shots are another strong point. Edge detection is on point, and background separation feels smooth and natural. Thanks to the spectral tuning by the True Chroma sensor, you get accurate skin tones even under artificial lighting — a rare feat in mobile photography.
The ultrawide camera, while technically a downgrade in sensor size from the X7 Ultra, still delivers crisp and distortion-free images. It may not lead the pack in sharpness, but it's certainly among the better ultrawides out there.
Up front, the 32 MP selfie camera with autofocus continues to impress. Whether it's close-up selfies or group shots, images are well-detailed and true to life. Autofocus helps keep your shots sharp regardless of distance, and the dynamic range is solid even in challenging lighting.
Battery
The Find X8 Ultra comes with a 6,100 mAh battery — a healthy jump from last year's 5,000 mAh. It comfortably lasts a full day of heavy use and easily stretches into the next with moderate tasks.
When it's time to charge, 100 W wired, 50 W wireless, and 10 W reverse wireless charging ensure you're never waiting long. With Smart Rapid Charging enabled, it hits 100% in just under 40 minutes. For users who prefer slower, cooler charges to preserve battery health, Oppo provides toggles for that too.
Verdict
The Oppo Find X8 Ultra is a brilliant phone, and it's unfortunate that Indian consumers won't get to experience it firsthand. From its top-tier camera performance and brilliant display to a smooth UI experience and blazing-fast charging, it nails almost every aspect of what makes a flagship great.
Oppo's Find X series has always been about experimentation, and with the Find X8 Ultra, the brand proves it can marry bold ideas with refined execution. For those wondering if Oppo could take its 'Ultra' game to the next level, the answer is a confident yes. The only downside? You'll have to look beyond Indian shores to get your hands on one. It sells in China for CNY 6,499 (around ₹77,924).