OPPO Find X9 Ultra camera review in Chengdu

Because its default shooting mode was so competent, choosing between default Photo Mode and its specialised Portrait Mode came down to our artificial bokeh preference. In Portrait Mode, we opted to set the aperture to f/4.0, as it recreates the dreamlike blur without losing context of the background.

Be sure to go through the whole gallery to see different shooting conditions and subjects.

10x optical zoom camera does not pull its punches

The last time Android phone users had a reliable 10x optical zoom was on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. It has been a few generations of Android since, which gives the 10x optical zoom on Find X9 Ultra a warm reception, especially for concert-going users who need the close-up lens.

We find that the 10x optical zoom (230mm-equivalent range) does not fare worse than its other cameras. The above example with animals and people proved that fur detail and fabric nuances are no trouble, so long as you have a steady aim.

We included the 460mm, 20x sensor-crop zoom photo of the moon because it was shot with the same 10x optical zoom camera. While 400mm+ is enough for lunar photography, we’re quite sure the moon craters in the Find X9 Ultra’s rendition largely relied on computational photography to achieve this look.

Cinematic aspect ratio: Hasselblad XPAN mode

The XPAN shooting mode has existed on OPPO handsets since the OPPO Find X5 series, and it’s back again on the Find X9 Ultra.

XPAN Mode pays homage to the Hasselblad XPan, a dual-format 35mm rangefinder camera created in collaboration with Fuji. Its panoramic shots are based on the 24 x 65mm format, which captures two standard 35mm frames side-by-side and gives them the unique movie-still 65:24 aspect ratio (your phone’s default camera shots are usually 4:3).

Obviously, we’re no longer shooting on film, but the artistry of this digitised XPAN Mode still works well for users who want to tell a story differently.

Since XPAN Mode works on all four rear cameras at their optical zoom ranges (0.6x, 1x, 3x, and 10x) and two crop zoom ranges (2x, 6x), it comes down to your framing and composition to achieve the look and feel that conventional aspect ratios cannot offer.

Hasselblad Earth Explorer Kit is optional, sold separately, and very tempting

OPPO Find X9 Ultra’s optional teleconverter accessory is the Hasselblad Earth Explorer Kit, which retails for S$499 in Singapore. That is a lot of money for a product that needs a S$2,199+ phone to work.

In return, you get a 300mm-equivalent teleconverter, and the phone case that holds the lens also offers some grip, a physical zoom dial, a physical two-stage button, and the ability to mount 67mm filters instead of the teleconverter.

The high price does not stop the accessory from doing an excellent job at producing 13x zoom (300mm), 30x optical zoom (690mm), and 60x sensor crop zoom (1,380mm).

In our sample, we went straight for the most challenging shot (handheld, 60x zoom) of a sleepy panda and also included comparison focal lengths to demonstrate the teleconverter’s range and effectiveness. The point of using teleconverters is to retain details as much as possible without relying on computational algorithms, and it shows in the panda’s fur.

The teleconverter relies on your own steady grip, which can be a problem for shaky shooters. Also, finding a suitable enough subject in good light that’s also far away is rare, which is why we don’t have many examples to show. That said, it’s reliable when called upon, and folks who love having accessory options wouldn’t mind the extra financial outlay for the added versatility. Just remember to bring the kit with you when you’re out for a shoot.

The basics of OPPO Find X9 Ultra’s photography

To finish off the photo spectacle, we looked at the basic imaging performance of the Find X9 Ultra by shooting in full auto mode across a variety of scenarios. In this collection, we selected golden hour, low-light, bright daylight, and also made use of its low-computational Master Mode to great effect.

Broadly speaking, the phone is smart with its automatic exposure. No EV tweaking was needed for the golden hour shot of the pavilion. Its digital separation of the subject, foreground, and background is also very detailed, as you can see from the teahouse smoker, his flowery red hot water flask, and the chairs in the back. Shadows are also reproduced well, going by the ducks in the pond that are resting under spotty shade across rocks.

If we wanted to pick on the Find X9 Ultra, it would be the extreme contrast handling that renders some parts of the image too dark or too bright (which results in some loss of detail). However, it’s not the worst offender by a long stretch, and the amazing colour accuracy and detail retention in every other case makes up for it.

More about the OPPO Find X9 Ultra

We have even more samples uploaded to our TikTok channel if you’d like to see how they fare when uploaded to social media platforms.

The OPPO Find X9 Ultra is available at the following official recommended retail prices (RRPs):

• 512GB storage: S$2,199
• 1TB storage: S$2,599

Pre-orders begin on 22 April 2026 for both Tundra Umber and Canyon Orange. The phone becomes available on shelves with launch promotions starting on 7 May 2026.

Be sure to check out our launch news, in-depth review, and our community event experience if you want to learn more about the phone.