PROS: Versatile camera with excellent photo and video performance Massive battery with fast charging capabilities Slim, minimalistic design with great in-hand feel CONS: No global release RATINGS: AESTHETICSERGONOMICSPERFORMANCESUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITYVALUE FOR MONEYEDITOR'S QUOTE:For photography and videography enthusiasts who can get their hands on this device, the X8 Ultra offers exceptional value in a high-end smartphone. When OPPO released its Find 8 series (Find 8 and Find 8 Pro) globally last year, it sparked hope that the Chinese manufacturer was recommitting to making their flagship devices available worldwide. After years of limited international releases, this felt like a promising shift in strategy for a brand capable of producing genuinely competitive high-end smartphones. That hope, however, has proven short-lived with the announcement of the OPPO Find X8 Ultra. Just as we experienced with the Find N5 (arguably one of the best foldable phones on the market but frustratingly unavailable in the UK and most markets outside China), OPPO has once again decided to limit its most impressive device to its home market. This regional exclusivity is particularly disappointing given what the Find X8 Ultra brings to the table. As I’ll detail in this review, this is a smartphone that showcases OPPO’s technical prowess and could have been a compelling alternative in the global flagship market dominated by Apple and Samsung. Designer: OPPO Aesthetics The X8 Ultra, much like the X8 Pro released last November, bids farewell to the two-tone design of its predecessors, which combined a glass back with a vegan leather finish. Instead, X8 Ultra embraces a more minimalist approach with a sleek, mono-color design. The design opts for smooth, seamless surfaces that prioritize elegance and modernity. While this design shift may appeal to fans of simplicity and sophistication, some might find it too understated. The X8 Ultra is available in three color options: Matte Black, Pure White, and Shell Pink. Each variant is paired with a distinct side frame. Matte Black features a matte black frame, Pure White has a matte silver frame, and Shell Pink sports a matte pink frame. All three colors are accented by a “Cosmo Ring” that matches the side frame, giving the device a sleek, unified look. The camera island, housing four symmetrically arranged cameras, maintains a balanced and orderly appearance without feeling overly intrusive, given the high-end hardware it contains. The Hasselblad logo is placed prominently in the center of the camera island, accompanied by Hasselblad’s iconic small orange dot positioned at the bottom of the Cosmo Ring, a nod to the brand’s signature style.  Above the cameras, the LED flash is framed by a silver ring, cleverly echoing the design of the Cosmo Ring, and positioned at the upper left corner for a harmonious finish. Finally, a very subtle Oppo logo is placed at the bottom of the back panel, keeping the overall design minimalistic but branded. We received the Pure White model for review. While I appreciate the crisp white shade and frosted glass-like texture, I’m not as fond of the large black camera island. It feels a bit too stark against the softer finish of the rest of the phone. I wonder if the camera island were the same color as the frame, it might create a more seamless, integrated appearance. Ergonomics Ultra-level camera phones are often associated with being big and bulky, but the X8 Ultra challenges that notion. At just 8.78mm thick and weighing 226 grams, it feels more like a standard, non-Ultra phone. In fact, Oppo claims it’s the thinnest ultra camera phone with a 1-inch sensor, making it surprisingly comfortable to hold and use for extended periods. Thanks to the matte back panel and side frame, the X8 Ultra resists fingerprints and smudges while maintaining a sleek look. The frosted, smooth texture helps keep the phone clean and polished, allowing you to enjoy its premium feel without the need for constant cleaning. The design also features a flat screen and flat side frame, with gently curved edges that fit comfortably in your hand. It’s a small detail, but one that makes the phone feel ergonomically sound without any sharp corners or awkward angles. However, there is one aspect of the design that might pose a slight inconvenience for some: the large camera island. When holding the phone in a horizontal orientation, particularly for gaming, the bulk of the camera island can interfere with your grip. This can make it less comfortable for long gaming sessions, as the camera island disrupts the natural flow of holding the device. In terms of functionality, the ultrasonic fingerprint scanner is placed at a convenient height on the back, allowing your finger to fall naturally into place for a seamless unlocking experience. Unlocking the phone and diving straight into use is effortless and smooth. As for the controls, OPPO retains the Quick button from the X8 Pro, placed below the volume rocker and power button on the right side. While the zoom functionality has improved compared to the X8 Pro, I still find it easier to zoom directly on the screen, as the tactile feel of the Quick button isn’t as precise or intuitive. The zooming function also remains limited to horizontal orientation, so it’s not usable when you’re shooting in vertical mode. However, I do appreciate how the Quick button can quickly launch the camera with a double-tap, which adds to the overall convenience. And let’s not forget the alert slider. In a surprising move, OPPO has replaced the classic alert slider with a customizable shortcut button, similar to the iPhone’s Action button. While this small change adds flexibility, its functionality is limited to pre-selected actions, such as switching between silent, vibration, and ring modes, launching the camera, activating Do Not Disturb, starting audio recordings, toggling the flashlight, using translation, taking screenshots, or using MemoClip.  Performance Undeniably, the camera performance on the X8 Ultra is one of its standout features. Despite its relatively slim profile and sizeable camera island, OPPO hasn’t compromised on hardware. The phone boasts a 50MP quad-camera setup, enhanced by the True Chroma Camera and finely tuned with Hasselblad’s color science, delivering vivid, lifelike images. The True Chroma Camera is designed to capture colors with greater accuracy, especially in challenging lighting. Unlike traditional systems that adjust the entire image’s color balance (often leading to distortions), the True Chroma Camera breaks the image into a 6×8 grid and adjusts the color temperature for each one individually. This results in more natural, true-to-life colors, even in scenes with mixed lighting. The 23 mm-equivalent main camera features a large 1-inch Sony LYT-900 sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and OIS, capturing stunning detail and accurate color in even low light. It’s a true workhorse, producing images with rich color and sharp detail in virtually any lighting condition. Portrait, Various Zoom Levels Next, the 70 mm-equivalent 3x telephoto camera comes equipped with a 1/1.56-inch Sony LYT-700 sensor, an f/2.1 aperture, and OIS for steady zoom shots. One of my favorite features on the X8 Ultra is its periscope telephoto lens, which also functions as a macro lens with a minimum focus distance of just 10 cm. This 3x telephoto lens delivers sharp photos with wide dynamic range, accurate colors, and smooth bokeh even under tricky lighting.  Macro The 135 mm-equivalent 6x telephoto camera uses OPPO’s innovative Triple Prism Periscope design. By utilizing three prisms to bend light through a compact, slim form factor, this design enables impressive zoom capabilities without adding bulk. Powered by a 1/1.95-inch Sony LYT-600 sensor and an f/3.1 aperture, the 6x telephoto lens captures rich details and maintains accurate color temperature in daylight, even at a distance. 6x However, the lens has a long minimum focus distance, which can be limiting when you want to take photos of subjects that are closer distance. In this case, the camera defaults to macro mode, which has a very shallow depth of field, leading to a more pronounced out-of-focus blur. While this can be great for macro shots, it might not be ideal for general shots at that distance. Fortunately, you can manually turn off macro mode to get better control over the depth of field for subjects within that range. Portrait The portrait mode across all magnifications (1x, 3x, and 6x) deserves special mention. The subject separation is excellent, and the bokeh is both natural and pleasing to the eye, making for great portrait shots regardless of focal length. Finally, the 15 mm-equivalent ultra-wide camera is equipped with a 1/2.75-inch Samsung JN5 sensor and an f/2.0 aperture, perfect for capturing wide-angle shots with great clarity. It doesn’t shine like the other three cameras, but it still gets the job done. Night Shots The Find X8 Ultra can record video in up to 4K at 120 FPS across the 1x to 10x zoom range. However, the ultra-wide camera and front-facing camera are limited to 4K at 60 FPS. While the X8 Ultra delivers impressive video quality with excellent stabilization, there are a few limitations. For instance, you can’t switch lenses while recording at 120 FPS, and the phone doesn’t support log video recording. Additionally, there is no option for 8K video recording. Hopefully, future software updates can address these restrictions. The 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED display on the Find X8 Ultra boasts a sharp 1440 x 3168 resolution and a refresh rate range of 1Hz to 120Hz. The screen delivers vibrant, crisp visuals, and with a peak brightness of 1,600 nits, it remains legible even under direct sunlight.. The battery life on the X8 Ultra is equally impressive. With its 6,100mAh silicon-carbon battery, it comfortably lasts a full day of heavy use—taking photos, recording videos, and browsing—and still has about 25-30% left by the end of the day. For lighter use, it can easily stretch to two full days. Add to that 100W fast wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and 10W reverse charging, and you’ve got a solid setup that ensures you can recharge quickly and never run low on power. All this is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset paired with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. It feels incredibly responsive. Apps load quickly, multitasking is smooth, and even demanding tasks like gaming or editing photos are handled without lag. Sustainability While the OPPO Find X8 Ultra doesn’t specifically highlight the use of recycled or sustainable materials, it does come with some features that contribute to its durability and longevity. The device is rated with IP68 and IP69 for water and dust resistance, offering solid protection against the elements. Additionally, the Corning Gorilla Glass enhances the device’s drop resistance, making it more durable over time. However, it’s worth noting that the phone doesn’t emphasize any eco-friendly materials in its construction, which could be an area for future improvements if sustainability is a key focus for users. Value The OPPO Find X8 Ultra offers impressive value in the flagship space, standing out for its exceptional camera performance, long-lasting battery, and premium design. It starts at ¥6,499 (roughly $890) for the 12GB RAM + 256GB storage model, while the 16GB RAM + 1TB variant is priced at ¥7,999 (around $1,100). It competes well with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and Vivo X200 Ultra, but Xiaomi and Vivo stand out by offering photography kits, something OPPO lacks. Additionally, while the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is available globally, the X8 Ultra and Vivo X200 Ultra are limited to China, which might be a consideration for international buyers. Samsung and Apple may provide better ecosystem integration, but the X8 Ultra proves you don’t need to spend a fortune for flagship features. Verdict The OPPO Find X8 Ultra stands out as a formidable contender in the flagship space, particularly for mobile imaging. Equipped with Hasselblad color tuning and a dedicated camera for color accuracy, it excels in both photography and videography, delivering vibrant, true-to-life images and versatile zoom options. The device also offers solid performance and impressive battery life, making it a well-rounded choice. While its sleek design and ergonomic feel add to the overall appeal, its regional exclusivity remains a key drawback, limiting its availability. Still, for photography and videography enthusiasts who can get their hands on this device, the X8 Ultra offers exceptional value in a high-end smartphone. The post OPPO Find X8 Ultra Review: An Impressive Flagship That Most of the World Won’t Experience first appeared on Yanko Design.