Find X9 Ultra: A 6,000 shekel price tag mainly for the camera
OPPO's new "photography smartphone" offers a 200-megapixel sensor, a spectacular screen, and a huge battery, competing head-to-head with the iPhone and Galaxy. On the other hand, heavy weight, a load of pre-installed applications, and aggressive AI image processing impair the premium experience.
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Today, there is an entire category of devices designed to be "photography smartphones" — their main calling card is an exceptionally advanced camera system, for which the price is charged. OPPO recently launched the new Find X9 Ultra, which is supposed to provide exactly this experience, with significant upgrades, and is imported to Israel by Ronlight. What did we think of the new Chinese device, which comes with a price tag that does not shame the most advanced iPhone or Galaxy?
The main innovation: the camera
One of the main innovations in the device is the camera system. If in the previous generation it included 4 sensors of 50 megapixels, the X9 Ultra upgrades to a 200-megapixel main sensor and an additional 200-megapixel telephoto sensor (with 3x optical zoom). Alongside them are an ultra-wide sensor and another telephoto sensor (with 10x optical zoom), both with 50 megapixels. The selfie camera has also been upgraded from 32 to 50 megapixels. The system was developed in collaboration with camera manufacturer Hasselblad. The camera provides high-quality, color-rich, bright, and sharp-detailed images, while the telephoto shots also excel with sharp and impressive results.
As in many devices, AI technologies for color restoration and image processing are integrated here. Sometimes the result is excellent, but at times the processing is too aggressive, which can produce an artificial product. For those who prefer a more natural look, the device offers a "Master" mode, intended for professional photography enthusiasts and those who like to play with settings; it completely neutralizes HDR processing and reduces digital sharpening, effectively reducing the massive AI-based processing, and gives more control over the final result.
Alongside the praise, it should be noted that in ultra-wide shots, slight blurring was recorded at the edges, but the results are better than most devices on the market. On the other hand, when we went to test the digital zoom and photographed an advertisement from afar on a bulletin board — the AI mechanism, which is supposed to sharpen and smooth text, turned the Hebrew into gibberish.
The prominent advantage: a bright and rich screen
The device is equipped with a 6.82-inch OLED screen with QHD+ resolution, with an adaptive refresh rate of up to 144 Hz, which provides a smooth viewing experience and high image quality. This is a welcome upgrade compared to the previous generation, which settled for a 120 Hz refresh rate.
In the brightness department, there was also a significant leap: from a peak brightness of 2,500 nits in the previous model to 3,600 nits. In practice, this is an extremely bright screen, rich in colors, and one that allows for comfortable and effortless viewing even under direct and glaring sunlight.
Performance: excellent, even under load
The device is powered by the Snapdragon® 8 Elite Gen 5 processor from Qualcomm, alongside 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. This specification yields excellent performance — a smooth interface and the ability to easily handle even heavy loads. However, like many Chinese devices, the device arrives pre-loaded with installed applications, among others: AliExpress, Temu, Amazon, Spotify, and Netflix — not all of which are necessarily needed by the user — this creates a feeling of clutter.
While in budget devices, installing third-party applications is a logical business model that helps the smartphone manufacturer earn extra money, in an expensive premium device, this is a puzzling decision. A high price tag should provide a clean premium experience.
Design: luxurious with a bump
The device looks great, the metallic design combined with a faux-leather back gives it a luxurious look. It feels comfortable in the hand (especially for those with large hands), but it is impossible to ignore the massive camera bump on its back. Beyond the volume it takes up in the pocket, it also contributes to the weight: the X9 Ultra is 10 grams heavier than its predecessor and reaches 235 grams — and that is not light at all. The bump in its upper part creates a noticeable imbalance, so you might lose balance when holding it in bed above your head.
On the side of the device, a dedicated orange button stands out, reminiscent of the haptic button known from Apple. It is not physically pressed but reacts to touch and pressure, and serves as a shortcut: with a double press, it opens the camera, and then allows you to control the shooting functions comfortably. On the other side, there is the Snap Key button, similar to Apple's Action Button.
Battery: significantly upgraded
The X9 Ultra comes with a huge battery with a capacity of 7,050 mAh — a welcome upgrade of about 1,000 mAh compared to the previous generation. Naturally, using maximum screen brightness or heavy processing tasks (like prolonged shooting) consumes energy. However, the battery capacity is large enough to ensure that the device will easily survive even busy work days or intensive trips, without you having to look for an outlet in the middle of the day.
The device supports 100W fast wired charging, allowing for a full charge within about an hour. However, OPPO chose not to include a charger in the package (only a cable), so to utilize this charging speed, you will need to purchase a suitable charger separately. In addition, the device supports 50W fast wireless charging, but this requires a dedicated wireless charger from the company.
Price: very expensive
The Find X9 Ultra comes with a price tag of about 6,000 shekels — an extremely high price threshold, which puts it head-to-head against the most expensive high-end devices from Samsung and Apple. At such a price, the Israeli consumer expects to receive a product without compromises. While the device provides excellent performance, a spectacular screen, and an impressive camera system — it is hard to ignore the small flaws that impair the experience. When paying such a sum, phenomena like a load of pre-installed applications, the lack of a charger in the package, or aggressive AI processing in photography become annoying.
Main competitors: Samsung and the Chinese giants
The high price tag of the Find X9 Ultra positions it in competition against smartphones specializing in photography, the leaders in the market. The direct competitor is Samsung with the Galaxy S26 Ultra, which offers one of the best packages — a built-in stylus and a polished interface. Alongside it stand the Chinese giants like Xiaomi, which collaborates with Leica, and Vivo, which has a collaboration with Zeiss for advanced image processing.
And what about Apple? The iPhone 17 Pro Max, although it is the almost automatic default in this price category, is a device in a completely different ecosystem than that of Android users. For a consumer who wants a product that is first and foremost an advanced camera and only then a smartphone, the X9 Ultra gives an impressive fight in the market.
****Full disclosure: Ronlight, the official importer of OPPO in Israel, provided a device to Israel for review.
