Oppo Find X8 Ultra review: A photographer’s delight

Oppo Find X8 Ultra

Every once in a while, a phone comes along that makes you question your decision to invest in a DSLR. The Oppo Find X8 Ultra is one of those phones that shifts your expectations of what a smartphone camera can do.

It doesn’t rely on flashy gimmicks or over-the-top design. Instead, it feels precise, like it knows exactly who it’s built for. The moment you pick it up, you notice the little things such as the comfort in hand, the thoughtful design, and a camera system that seems to see more than you do.

But here’s the twist, it’s not coming to India. What I tested was the Chinese variant, and yes, it came with a few expected challenges. Still, none of that takes away from what this phone delivers where it truly counts. Curious to know how it performed in the real world? Let’s dive in.

First Impressions: Sleek, slim and surprisingly comfortable

We’ve come to expect that phones with high-end cameras come with a bulky, brick-like feel. The Find X8 Ultra turns that assumption on its head. It is actually thinner than its predecessor–the Find X7 Ultra as well as its competitor, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. At just 8.78mm thin and weighing 226 grams, it feels like a regular flagship, not a chunky camera phone. The balance is spot on. I could hold it comfortably with one hand for extended periods without feeling fatigued, even during longer photo shoots.

Oppo Find X8 Ultra

The matte finish on the back, my review unit came in the Shell Pink colour, felt premium and was resistant to smudges. OPPO has once again used its Cosmos Ring design, which was there in the Find X7 Ultra as well as the Find X8 series, which was launched in India. The large circular housing for the cameras is symmetrical and somehow makes the massive camera sensors look elegant instead of overwhelming.

There are also two buttons on the sides that add functionality: a Shortcut Button, which is customisable, and a Quick Button, designed purely for camera lovers. A double-tap gets you into the camera, a swipe lets you zoom, and a long press activates burst mode. These thoughtful touches make a difference when you’re trying to capture that perfect shot in seconds.

The display: Flat, bright, and a joy to use

The Find X8 Ultra comes with a large 6.82-inch QHD+ AMOLED display, and it’s flat and not curved, which is something I really appreciated while reviewing and editing photos. Curved displays tend to distort edges slightly and invite accidental touches. None of that here.

Oppo Find X8 Ultra

With a refresh rate up to 120Hz, 1600 nits peak brightness, 2500 nits outdoors, and Dolby Vision, this screen handles everything you throw at it—whether you're framing a photo, watching high-res video, or editing an image. And the 2160Hz PWM dimming ensures your eyes don’t get fatigued during extended use.

Considering its big size, watching movies and playing games on the phone is a breeze. The ultrasonic fingerprint scanner embedded under the display is the fastest I’ve used so far. Even with slightly wet fingers, it unlocked without fail.

Camera Performance: A street photographer’s dream

Now for the star of the show—the camera setup. OPPO calls this a Next-Gen Penta Camera System, and here’s the breakdown:

–50MP 1-inch Wide Camera (Sony LYT-900)

–50MP 3x Telephoto Periscope Camera (Sony LYT-700)

–50MP 6x Periscope Camera (Sony LYT-600)

–50MP Ultra-wide Camera

–True Chroma Camera (2MP multispectral sensor for accurate color)

To truly put the OPPO Find X8 Ultra’s camera to the test, I took it to Chandni Chowk, which is arguably one of the most chaotic, colourful, and visually rich locations in Delhi. The streets were packed, rickshaws weaving in every direction, people brushing past, and absolutely no time to pause and compose a shot. That’s the kind of place where most smartphone cameras struggle, either they lag, miss focus, or give you blurry messes instead of meaningful portraits but Oppo Find X8 Ultra had a different story to tell.

Oppo Find X8 Ultra

The 1-inch wide camera sensor on the phone is an impressive performer. Photos come out with incredible detail, excellent background blur without even needing portrait mode, and true-to-life colors. Low light performance also stands out. Even in tricky, mixed lighting scenarios, the Find X8 Ultra kept noise low and highlights under control, often producing shots that didn’t need editing at all.

One area where the Find X8 Ultra truly outdid itself was in close-up and telemacro photography. The 3x telephoto camera doubles as a telemacro shooter, meaning you can capture extremely detailed close-ups without getting right up against the subject. Think insects, jewelry, even fine textures. And thanks to a larger sensor and wider aperture, shots look sharp and natural.

The 6x periscope lens is ideal for portrait photography. With a 135mm focal length equivalent, it gives that ideal depth compression usually seen in professional lenses. Faces look flattering, backgrounds blur gracefully, and even at full zoom, images retain clarity.

What surprised me most was the colour consistency across all lenses. Whether I was shooting at 0.6x or 12x, the tone, exposure, and white balance matched almost perfectly.

Here’s detailed breakdown of some of the images I clicked using the Find X8 Ultra

--In one instance, I spotted an elderly man in a crisp white kurta buying snacks from a cart. I lifted the phone and tapped the shutter, not expecting much, given how quickly I had to frame it. But the shutter speed was blazing fast. The result? A candid portrait with exceptional separation between the subject and background, thanks to the f/1.8 wide camera. Even the textured fabric on the cart and the little corn cob resting on top had a gentle clarity that felt true to life.

oppo sample 5

--A second photo is of a brass pot of spiced chana with a red cloth hanging over was more of a still-life opportunity. I used the 3x telephoto camera here, and it effortlessly brought forward that glint on the brass, the subtle yellow of the chana, and the blurry chaos in the background. Color accuracy was on point too, none of the overdone saturation some other flagships often add in post-processing.

oppo sample 7

--Then came a moment too cinematic to miss—a man in traditional Arabic attire with gold chains around his neck and sunglasses on. The Find X8 Ultra’s Portrait mode kicked in beautifully. There was no lag, no stutter. The lighting wasn’t ideal, you could see the strong backlight from neon signage, yet the phone managed to retain skin tones, catch light in the eyes, and apply a very natural-looking bokeh. This is where the phone camera seems to flex its muscle, preserving both warm and cool tones without bleaching out detail.

oppo sample 7

--For my final test, I zoomed in on a pair of oxidised silver earrings at a street vendor’s stall. With the Telemacro feature enabled on the 3x zoom lens, the photo captured intricate carvings, beads, and even subtle specks of dust with remarkable clarity. The edge sharpness is what really stood out, it almost looks like it was shot on a DSLR.

oppo sample 7

You can check out the other pictures below:

oppo sample 7

Performance and battery Life

While the camera is the big story, the Find X8 Ultra is no slouch in performance either. It’s powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, backed by up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage. In China, it runs ColorOS 15 based on Android 15, but I used it without Google services, which is something potential importers should consider.

Oppo Find X8 Ultra

The 6100mAh battery is perfect for a flagship phone. I easily got over a day and a half on a single charge with moderate camera use. Charging is insanely fast, it supports 100W wired and 50W wireless. It went from 0 to 50% in about 10 minutes.

Should you buy it?

The Oppo Find X8 Ultra is a camera-first flagship that doesn’t try to be everything for everyone but what it does, it does brilliantly. The penta-camera system is more than a spec sheet stunt. It’s a genuine tool for creative expression, backed by smart computational photography and high-end optics that deliver consistent results across different focal lengths. Whether you’re capturing candid street portraits, textured close-ups, or distant scenes, this phone gives you the confidence to shoot without second-guessing.

However, there’s a caveat and a big one. The phone is currently only available in China, and the variant I tested runs ColorOS without Google Mobile Services out of the box. That means many of the everyday apps and services you rely on might not work as expected, unless you're comfortable sideloading or navigating a Chinese ecosystem.

So, should you buy it? If you’re a photography enthusiast who doesn't mind working around a Chinese OS or if you’re looking to import a serious camera phone for creative shoots—the Find X8 Ultra is a compelling pick. But for the average buyer looking for a balanced flagship for everyday use in India, this might be a pass until Oppo launches a global variant.