Oppo Find X9 Ultra Review: The Ultimate Phone?

Worth When Reviewed

Unavailable in US

Greatest Costs Right now: Oppo Discover X9 Extremely

For the primary time, Oppo’s top-end flagship smartphone has gone world and we haven’t even needed to wait longer than the Chinese language market.

International nonetheless means choose markets, however the Discover X9 Extremely is right here to tackle the massive weapons, together with Samsung, Google and Apple.

It’s costly at £1,449 however not more than some rivals for a similar storage capability, together with the Galaxy S26 Extremely. With a frankly astonishing set of cameras, made in collaboration with Hasselblad, it goals to be the perfect cellphone for pictures cash should purchase.

It’s no slouch in different departments both, with an enormous battery, speedy charging, a fantastic display, standout design and many extra to supply.

I’ve been testing it for the final two months to see if it’s the perfect cellphone of 2026.

Design & Construct

Let me begin by saying that the Discover X9 Extremely is my favorite cellphone design of this yr, even perhaps the previous couple of years. Properly, on this Tundra Umber mannequin anyway – it’s completely gorgeous and even higher when you’ve it in your arms.

With so many bland, cookie-cutter telephones hitting the market week after week, it’s refreshing to see one thing contemporary and distinctive. Nobody goes to mistake this for an iPhone 17 Professional Max, or most different telephones, actually.

The aluminium body is glossy and difficult, however the vegan leather-based is the true star right here. It seems nice (for some purpose, I am keen on that it’s cut up into two sections) and I like the tactile, premium feeling it supplies. The cellphone is impressed by a traditional Hasselblad digicam and it comes by means of fantastically, together with a brand new orange button on the aspect and an identical ring across the digicam module.

For my cash, the Discover X9 Extremely takes the crown

When you want (reader, you might be in all probability a lot youthful than I’m), then there’s an Orange Canyon colourway – as a result of everybody has to repeat the iPhone in at the least a method, it appears.

This mannequin has a fibreglass again and in actual life (I noticed it on the China launch occasion), the sand dune impact may be very refined, and it simply general doesn’t really feel half as premium. However if you need a loud, brilliant design, then go for it.

It’s additionally barely thinner and lighter due to that rear cowl materials, however both manner, you’re looking at an enormous, heavy cellphone. You need to anticipate this from a high-end Extremely system packing this degree of digicam and battery tech, although I discover it to be well-balanced in its weight.

With key rivals being extra plain, samey or simply straight-up boring, for my cash, the Discover X9 Extremely takes the crown (in Tundra Umber, thoughts).

Display & Audio system

The display on the Discover X9 Extremely is a tad smaller than rivals such because the Xiaomi 17 Extremely and iPhone 17 Professional Max however it’s nonetheless large, as is customary for an Extremely-level flagship. You’ll need to look elsewhere should you want one thing straightforward to make use of one-handed.

I’ve pretty massive arms and that maybe helped me get pleasure from utilizing this cellphone’s show, which is without doubt one of the finest on the market by way of high quality. It won’t be the outright finest in any explicit space – bezel thickness, brightness, refresh charge and many others – however it has hundreds to supply.

It’s tremendous crisp (even on the ‘commonplace’ decision slightly than the total 1440p), vibrant, clean and every part you’d anticipate while you’re paying this a lot for a cellphone. Plus, there are many extra options resembling eye care, adaptive tone and video color increase should you wish to tinker.

It’s additionally acquired among the best in-screen fingerprint scanners I’ve ever used, together with a pleasant ripple animation.

For audio, Oppo does one thing totally different to most rivals. There are stereo audio system however one isn’t completely reliant on the earpiece you employ to take calls. Some sound does nonetheless come from there however there are holes within the metallic body on high, like the underside.

Total, the sound is nothing in need of epic: crisp, clear and wealthy and with loads of quantity with no need to crank it as much as 100%.

Specs & Efficiency

I gained’t maintain you too lengthy right here as a result of, as you’d anticipate from a top-end cellphone like this, efficiency is silky clean from its flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.

There’s only one mannequin with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Not less than, that’s the case right here within the UK, though different markets could have extra choices.

I’ve had no issues with how zippy and responsive the cellphone is normally use. Nevertheless, it does have a thermal challenge which means it may get fairly sizzling, particularly should you’re utilizing the digicam rather a lot.

Regardless of this, it by no means appeared to trigger any noticeable slowdowns, however the distinction in comparison with rivals reveals in some benchmark exams, primarily the soundness in 3DMark.

Oppo Discover X9 Extremely benchmarks

Cameras 

It should come as no shock that cameras are the principle purpose to purchase the Discover X9 Extremely. Not that it’s dangerous in different areas (as you’ll have learn), however that is Oppo’s absolute top-end shot at displaying off its cellphone pictures abilities towards the likes of Vivo, Samsung, Xiaomi and others.

Even should you don’t purchase the X9 Extremely, the thought partially is that it offers you extra confidence to purchase cheaper gadgets within the vary.

Right here, there are a minimum of 5 cameras whole, with 4 on the rear. That’s another than all of its key rivals in 2026. Extra isn’t mechanically higher however, after two months, I consider that the Discover X9 Extremely is the perfect digicam cellphone of the yr.

Not solely does it supply a mind-blowing whole of 550Mp throughout these 5 main cameras (a fifth rear digicam is used as a color sensor), together with two 200Mp Hasselblad cameras, it has the one 10x periscope telephoto digicam with a 50Mp sensor on any cellphone.

In brief, it’s a pleasure to shoot with

There’s rather a lot – and I imply rather a lot – of intelligent and spectacular tech right here, however I don’t need to get slowed down into the specs and give attention to what the X9 Extremely is like as a digicam cellphone. The headline is that it’s not good, however it’s very, very shut.

In brief, it’s a pleasure to shoot with and I’ve confidence that each single digicam goes to come back out with wonderful outcomes nearly each time – even when I want to change the automated macro mode off (it makes use of the ultrawide for close-ups).

There’s consistency throughout the board for color accuracy and there’s baggage of element on supply. The primary 200Mp digicam is particularly spectacular in low mild, the place it manages to supply up astonishing dynamic vary with minimal noise. I actually suppose folks seeing the outcomes will assume you’ve used a correct DSLR-type digicam.

I feel the digicam samples communicate for themselves to a big diploma (they’re all unedited, by the way in which). The X9 Extremely is a type of telephones which in some way handle to seize the temper and feeling of the scenario you’re capturing. It’s nice for avenue pictures specifically, however absolutely anything goes.

There are many totally different modes to discover, together with Grasp Mode, which cuts out AI processing, Hasselblad Hello-Res for capturing in 50- or 200Mp, and I notably like X-Pan for panoramic pictures with a collection of Hasselblad filters to select from.

It’s additionally price saying the X9 Extremely is without doubt one of the finest Android telephones I’ve ever used for video. It could possibly shoot at as much as 8K/30fps and all cameras can attain 4K/60fps, plus there are options for superior customers, resembling the choice to shoot in O-Log2 to protect extra element.

For my cash, it’s the perfect digicam cellphone but made, however there are nonetheless issues I feel could be improved.

My essential challenge is that the Fast Button (the orange touch-sensitive button on the aspect) isn’t shut sufficient to the underside of the cellphone to be comfy. Plus, I’d slightly simply have a bodily shutter button like Sony Xperia telephones. Additionally, as I discovered with the Xperia 17 Extremely, my finger additionally seems in a couple of too many images, which implies cropping it out later.

I haven’t been capable of attempt the Earth Explorer Equipment, however I’ve seen it in particular person and it seems like an fascinating possibility for fanatics. It primarily provides a digicam grip (with a bodily shutter button), a removable 300mm zoom lens and a built-in battery to maintain the X9 Extremely topped up.

It’s price contemplating, however at £499, it’s not for the faint-hearted.

Battery Life & Charging

The Discover X9 Extremely continues to impress, showcase even, in terms of battery life and charging, beginning with an enormous 7050mAh cell. For context, that’s greater than 1000mAh larger than the Xiaomi 17 Extremely, and 2000mAh greater than the Galaxy S26 Extremely.

That is partly due to Silicon Carbon (SiC) expertise however it’s price noting that the Discover X9 Professional has a fair bigger battery at 7500mAh. Nonetheless, battery life is greater than stable and any form of nervousness about longevity is just not a factor after I’m utilizing this cellphone.

It simply appears to maintain going like some form of Terminator, or like my border collie

Considerably proving my level is the very fact it lasted a whopping 25 hours 36 minutes within the PCMark battery benchmark we put all telephones by means of. That’s among the best outcomes we’ve ever seen.

It’s additionally a great signal after I battle to get the cellphone to fully die with a purpose to conduct our charging exams. Even with just a few % left and the display brightness at full whack, it simply appears to maintain going like some form of Terminator, or like my Border Collie.

After I did lastly get it to 0%, I might see how shortly it tops again up once more. Like most telephones lately, you don’t get an adapter within the field, however the Discover X9 Extremely helps as much as 100W wired charging.

I noticed it attain 21% in quarter-hour and 42% in half-hour, which is first rate contemplating the scale of the battery. There’s additionally very quick 50W wi-fi charging too (plus reverse wired and wi-fi charging while you want it), though it’s yet one more cellphone launched in 2026 with out Qi2 magnets built-in, which is a little bit of a disgrace.

Total, although, that is an space by which the Discover X9 Extremely is rock stable.

Software program, Apps & AI

The Discover X9 Extremely runs Oppo’s personal software program referred to as ColourOS. I’m not overly aware of it, however I felt proper at residence after coming from the Xiaomi 17 Extremely. It’s similar to HyperOS 3.

The widespread theme for these Chinese language consumer interfaces is that they’re much cleaner and simpler to make use of than a couple of years in the past, providing the core Android components whereas stealing bits from the iPhone – primarily Dynamic Island, which supplies you data and controls across the selfie digicam.

What all of them nonetheless have in widespread is loads of bloatware within the type of pre-installed apps. Right here they embrace the likes of TikTok, Reserving.com, Amazon Purchasing and loads of others. Some you may discover helpful (I didn’t uninstall Spotify, for instance), however they are often eliminated with out an excessive amount of trouble.

You additionally get Oppo’s personal apps, a few of that are duplicates of Google’s. For my part, they’re redundant, however once more, you may discover the odd one to be agreeable. I personally love having an IR Distant to regulate the TV with my cellphone.

ColorOS took me longer than most to customize right into a setup I used to be pleased with however that’s a one-time factor. There are issues I like and issues I don’t, although they might differ to your preferences.

I like which you can group the app drawer to app icon colors however in distinction, most notifications are far too gray, and my mind struggles to course of the knowledge from them.

After all, there are numerous AI options, the principle one being Thoughts Area, accessible through the Snap Key (a bodily button the left of the cellphone, which can be utilized for different features should you want). You may maintain the Snap Key to document a voice message, press to avoid wasting on-screen content material or double-tap to open Thoughts Area.

It doesn’t swimsuit me personally, so I haven’t discovered myself naturally making use of it, however that doesn’t imply you gained’t. Elsewhere it’s fairly mild on AI, apart from the same old help for issues resembling textual content, translation and extra.

As you’d hope with a cellphone this costly, software program assist is first rate, with 5 years of OS updates and 6 for safety. That’s barely behind Samsung and Google, however it’s possible you’ll need to improve by this level anyway.

Worth & Availability

Being a real ultra-level cellphone, the Discover X9 Extremely is just not low-cost. It’ll set you again a cool £1,449 and that is the one mannequin out there (within the UK) with 12GB RAM and 512GB storage.

It means it’s a purchase order for these critical in regards to the cellphone of their pocket as now you can purchase foldable cellphone which prices much less, to not point out some fairly first rate mid-range telephones that are round half the value.

Key rival Extremely telephones are cheaper, with the Xiaomi 17 Extremely at £1,299 and the Galaxy S26 Extremely at £1,279. Nonetheless, Samsung’s has 256GB storage, with the 512GB mannequin matching the Oppo’s worth.

So, it’s definitely not a foul deal, however should you’re not enthusiast-level, you possibly can think about the opposite fashions within the X9 sequence. The superb Discover X9 Professional is £1,099 and the common Discover X9 is £899.

You may get your arms on each fashions now from the official retailer (together with free items on the time of writing) and Amazon UK additionally shares the cellphone. As regular, it’s not out there within the US.

Try our checklist of the perfect telephones for our present high 10 suggestions, in addition to the perfect digicam telephones you should buy.

Do you have to purchase the Oppo Discover X9 Extremely?

For my cash, the Oppo Discover X9 Extremely is the perfect digicam cellphone of the yr.

Actually, it’s so arduous to fault that I feel it’s the general finest cellphone of 2026 as nicely, with its gorgeous design, unimaginable set of {hardware} and spectacular efficiency.

These accolades don’t mechanically imply you can purchase it, nevertheless. It’s an costly cellphone that’s massive and heavy and people issues alone will rule it out for many individuals.

As talked about above, there are cheaper and smaller Discover X9 fashions that might be a greater match for you.

This can be a cellphone designed for folks pleased to splash out on the perfect of the perfect, who aren’t loyal to rival manufacturers. Positive, you’ll have to go elsewhere for issues resembling Qi2 magnetic charging or the privateness show of the Galaxy S26 Extremely, however the Discover X9 Extremely ticks the core bins in emphatic type.

Most likely the principle draw back right here is that Oppo’s ColourOS gained’t be to everybody’s style and the cellphone has shorter software program assist than the likes of Samsung and Google.

However should you’re in search of the last word Extremely cellphone, I consider you simply discovered it.

Specs

• ColorOS 16, based mostly on Android 16
• 6.82-inch, 1440 x 3168, LTPO AMOLED, 144Hz
• Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
• 12GB RAM
• 512GB storage
• Cameras:
• 200Mp essential sensor
• 50Mp ultrawide
• 200Mp 3x telephoto
• 50Mp 10x telephoto
• 50Mp selfie digicam
• As much as 4K @ 120fps rear video
• Stereo audio system
• Twin Nano-SIM + eSIM
• Wi-Fi 7
• Bluetooth 6.0
• 7050mAh Silicon-Carbon battery
• 100W wired charging
• 50W wi-fi charging
• Reverse wired and wi-fi charging
• 163.16 × 76.97 × 9.10mm
• IP68/69 licensed
• 236g (240g for orange)
• Colors: Tundra Umber, Canyon Orange