“Oppo Find X7 Ultra: A Striking Flagship That Remains Out of Reach”

Following its exit from the Indian market with the Find X series of camera-centric premium smartphones in 2020 (subsequent to the release of the Find X2), Oppo appears to have rekindled its interest in the ultra-premium sector. As competitors like OnePlus, Oppo, and Vivo prepare to challenge Samsung’s position in India’s foldable market, both Xiaomi and Oppo seem poised to elevate their game, targeting competition against Samsung’s long-established premium Galaxy S Ultra line.

Although the Oppo Find X7 Ultra won’t debut in India this year, the brand appears to be gauging interest by providing a review unit. This can be seen as a way to assess potential demand for future releases. With this context, I had the opportunity to use Oppo’s latest camera-focused flagship for several weeks, and I must express my admiration for the advancements made since the launch of the Find X2 (or Find X2 Pro) in India roughly four years back.

Oppo Find X7 Ultra Review: Pricing

The Find X7 Ultra is primarily available in China and nearby markets, starting at CNY 5,999 (approximately Rs. 70,000) for the entry-level 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant, which I received for testing. The device can be configured with a maximum of 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, with a price tag of CNY 6,999 (around Rs. 80,000). If you’re considering importing one into India, keep in mind that customs duties can significantly increase the cost.

Oppo Find X7 Ultra Review: Design

I believe only a few would actually check out a high-end device (like a Pixel Fold) despite it not being officially available in India. This is largely due to their unique designs and the attention they attract from passersby.

The Oppo Find X7 Ultra stands out as it differentiates itself from what is currently offered by Vivo’s X100 Pro, Google’s Pixel 8 Pro, and Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra (in terms of aesthetics) within this category. Oppo has opted for a split dual-finish design, which not only conveys a premium look but also feels luxurious to the touch. Weighing 221 grams, while it’s somewhat hefty, this weight contributes to its premium quality. The device is offered in Ocean Blue, Sepia Brown, and Tailored Black – all unique not only in color but also in the materials used. I briefly tested the Ocean Blue variant, which features a nautical-inspired design comprising a polished white glass upper half, while the brown and black versions incorporate metal panels.

The design of the Oppo Find X7 Ultra, with its dual finish, is IP68 rated for dust and water resistance

 

The Tailored Black version we have showcases a double stitch around the lower half of the circular camera module, converging at the center and extending downwards, complemented by an Oppo logo situated in between. While all color options feature a lower half adorned in vegan leather, only the black variant includes the distinctive double stitch.

This vegan leather segment, in conjunction with the curved edges, enhances grip compared to glass. I often found myself supporting the camera module with my middle finger while taking photos. The metal camera module is notably thick but features appealing fine grooves along the ring that remain static, unlike an aperture/focus ring. It invites camera enthusiasts to think about Hasselblad’s iconic lenses due to the distinctive orange dot typically found on lens shoulders. This same orange accent is also present on the three-position Alert slider, which, in addition to toggling between vibrate and ring modes, enables a VIP mode that disables the camera, microphones, and GPS when engaged.

Overall, the Find X7 Ultra’s design exudes character and practicality for everyday use (smudge-resistant and enhanced grip), all while maintaining an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

The Find X7 Ultra’s Alert slider features a dedicated VIP mode

 

There’s a reason why other competing smartphones do not include faux leather rear panels; this can be attributed to concerns over long-term wear and tear, which I couldn’t fully assess during my review of the Find X7 Ultra, even though I mainly used it without the supplied soft TPU case. Nevertheless, the Find X7 Ultra boasts greater durability than glass-backed devices, as the vegan leather is typically bonded to a plastic panel, which reduces the risk of cracking when dropped.

Oppo Find X7 Ultra Review: Specifications and Software

While the Find X7 Ultra may not represent a substantial upgrade over the Find X6 Pro concerning its overall feature list, it is equipped with the latest hardware that justifies its Ultra designation. Featuring a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and up to 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage, the device also includes a dedicated security chip for managing sensitive data (keys, fingerprints) locally. It supports dual nano SIM, dual 5G standby, NFC, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, an IR blaster, and standard satellite positioning systems. The unit contains a 5,000mAh battery with support for 100W wired and 50W wireless charging.

As noted in my first impressions, this is a Chinese review variant and not a global one. As a result, it is preloaded with the Chinese edition of Oppo’s ColorOS 14, built on Android 14. There are many preinstalled Chinese applications, but uninstalling them was straightforward. In contrast to the Indian version of ColorOS 14, I observed that I could remove nearly all native apps, retaining only the Dialer, SMS, Camera, Gallery, and Settings apps, which is surprisingly atypical for a Chinese smartphone.

After uninstalling the unnecessary apps, I ended up with a minimal selection, which surprisingly did not include Google’s common default apps. Although I appreciated experiencing an Android phone that lacked bloatware, I still needed to install the Google Play Store to access the third-party and Google applications that are part of my everyday usage.

The Oppo Find X7 Ultra’s display glass has a curved edge design, including top and bottom curves

 

Eventually, I faced limitations. Even after installing Google Search, Assistant, and most of Google’s primary apps, I was unable to set up Google Assistant as a lock screen shortcut or summon it using the power button. The only way to activate Google Assistant on this device is by tapping the icon on the home screen. Additionally, Google’s autofill service for passwords and other forms is not available, requiring the use of a third-party password manager or reliance on Oppo’s native service.

The software incorporates numerous AI features, but enabling them can be tricky as most options are in Mandarin. However, there is easy access to a new generative AI object removal tool in the Gallery app that performs comparably to what I’ve experienced with Google’s Pixel 8 Pro. Oppo’s tool excels in generating textures behind objects in simpler edits, although it struggles with more intricate adjustments, though these shortcomings are often subtle. It also functions offline (after downloading a 1GB AndesGPT package), but results when offline aren’t as impressive.

Oppo Find X7 Ultra Review: Performance

The Oppo Find X7 Ultra delivers performance consistent with expectations for a premium flagship. It achieved a score of 19,85,279 in AnTuTu and scored 2,162 and 6,352 in Geekbench’s single and multi-core tests, respectively. Gaming performance is exceptional; I played Call of Duty: Mobile at medium graphics settings with an ultra frame rate locked at 120FPS, and the touch response was flawless. The device barely heated up even after 30 minutes of continuous gaming. The dual speaker setup produced loud, immersive sound.

The Oppo Find X7 Ultra’s battery provides extended use and supports quick charging

 

The 6.82-inch QHD+ AMOLED display offers precise color representation, especially with the Pro Screen mode active, and the 120Hz dynamic refresh rate (LTPO) makes all software interactions remarkably smooth. With local brightness reaching 1,600 nits and peak brightness of 4,500 nits, outdoor content viewing is hassle-free. The ProXDR display supports Ultra HDR images and delivers Dolby Vision content as expected. The in-display fingerprint scanner also performed flawlessly.

Battery longevity was impressive; the device lasted a day and a half even with heavy use, including extensive camera functionality. In our video loop battery test, the Find X7 Ultra managed to last 26 hours and 36 minutes, an impressive feat for a device boasting a QHD+ display. Charging is efficient too, reaching 50 percent in just 15 minutes, with a full charge achieved in 38 minutes.

Oppo Find X7 Ultra Review: Camera Performance

The Find X7 Ultra benefits from an upgraded camera system that features dual 50-megapixel telephoto lenses

 

Similar to the Find X6 Pro, the focus of the Find X7 Ultra is its partnership with Hasselblad. Oppo emphasized that this collaboration is primarily about achieving Hasselblad’s standard in color reproduction. While the Auto mode yields slightly saturated colors (also inspired by Hasselblad), there exist separate Auto Master and Pro Master modes. The Master mode streamlines the fully manual Pro mode, providing user-friendly toggles related to image editing (like saturation, contrast, sharpness, and vignette), while the Pro Master mode adds Manual-like adjustments (WB, AF, EV, autofocus, ISO, etc.).

The standard Auto camera mode is more faithful in color reproduction compared to the Auto Master mode, which leans towards mimicking a Hasselblad camera (tap the image to expand)

 

The Auto Master mode has specific presets for sharpness and vignetting, which, according to Oppo, emulate the output of Hasselblad’s X2D 100C camera. Both the Auto and Auto Master modes deliver impressive color outputs and levels of sharpness, though I found that the Auto mode represented scenes more authentically. While Auto Master mode can add emotional depth through contrast, it may overly desaturate colors in the process, aiming more for Instagram-ready results straight out of the camera.

The Oppo Find X7 Ultra exhibits commendable zoom capabilities up to 30X (tap to enlarge image)

 

This versatile camera system prioritizes solid imaging from 0.6X to 6X with commendable quality in photos up to 10X zoom. Beyond that, while details may begin to diminish, the camera manages to maintain coherence up to 30X zoom. At levels exceeding this zoom, images can appear flat and textured like artwork. The zoom performance remains impressive in low light, but is confined to the 6X optical zoom limit.

The primary camera performance during daylight is nearly flawless (tap image to expand)

 

Colors in images exhibit a natural appearance even in challenging indoor lighting (captured with the 3X telephoto camera) (tap image to expand)

 

The main camera is capable of capturing highly detailed images with remarkable color accuracy and dynamic range across various lighting conditions. Despite a binned resolution of 12 megapixels, there’s ample detail available for close inspection, and image sharpening remains well managed.

The 3X and 6X telephoto cameras excel at their designated focal lengths, with details appearing sharp and well-defined without oversaturation; autofocus is quick even in subdued lighting, assuming the subject is relatively still. Additionally, these periscope telephotos facilitate close-up shots, providing ample detail exactly when it’s needed. I noted a tendency for the camera to auto-switch to 3X when utilizing the 6X lens; this occurs in low-light settings, leading to visible quality reduction during such instances. In Portrait mode, edge detection isn’t perfect but is competitive with other brands. Selfies yield good results across all lighting scenarios with effective edge detection in Portrait mode.

The Find X7 Ultra excels in capturing close-up and macro images (tap to expand image)

 

The 0.6X ultra-wide camera performs comparably to its competition, providing good detail and textural representation, though with limited dynamic range resulting in fewer details in shadow areas. Notably, Oppo has integrated autofocus into this camera, allowing me to capture impressive macro shots.

The Find X7 Ultra’s ultra-wide camera performs well in low-light conditions (tap image to expand)

 

Selfies taken with the Find X7 Ultra reveal impressive detail and edge detection (tap image to expand)

 

While camera capabilities are superb, video performance is likewise remarkable. However, Oppo’s Cinematic mode still requires refinement regarding edge detection. The phone can record 4K 60fps video across all four cameras, with color consistency being commendable throughout, though the ultra-wide camera experiences some dynamic range challenges. Generally, video recordings are impressive and rival those of the iPhone 15 Pro Max, although there is room for improvement, particularly noticeable during panning. Nevertheless, the footage stands among the best I’ve encountered from Android devices recently, placing it at the forefront.

Oppo Find X7 Ultra Review: Conclusion

Oppo’s choice to implement two periscope telephoto cameras has evidently paid off this year, positioning the Find X7 Ultra as a commendable upgrade even for those who currently own a Vivo X100 Pro (Review) or a Google Pixel 8 Pro (Review) and wish to explore the ‘Ultra’ experience. Although I haven’t had the chance to directly compare its image quality, the Find X7 Ultra excels in many aspects compared to its rivals.

It features a distinctly premium and unique design, contrasting from the glass-heavy offerings of rival brands, with top-tier camera quality and swift charging capabilities that could make Samsung and Pixel flagships envious. The software experience (even on our Chinese unit) is generally satisfactory, with everything placed conveniently, as long as one can manage the absence of certain Google integrations (like Hey Google, Autofill services, etc.) commonly found in most current Android devices. The battery life, while not quite on par with the OnePlus 12 (Review) and the Vivo X100 Pro, is impressively close.

For reasons undisclosed, Oppo has chosen not to release this capable camera-centric flagship in India this year. While some may perceive investing in a premium smartphone priced under Rs. 90,000 from Oppo as a risky endeavor, the results are evident in the provided photographs.

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