OPPO Find X8 Ultra wishlist: All the features I want to see

OPPO might not be very well known in the States, but that doesn’t change the fact that it has produced quite a few unique, memorable Android phones over the years. The OPPO Find X7 Ultra definitely fits that bill, thanks to its powerful quad-camera setup. There’s a lot to like about the X7 Ultra; it’s too bad we can’t experience it. The Find X series has so far remained a China exclusive. But what about its successor? Here’s to hoping it could have a wider release for a change. With that in mind, here’s what I’d like to see from the OPPO Find X8 Ultra.

Please release the darn thing outside of China!

Outside of its sibling company OnePlus, OPPO is virtually unheard of in the United States, aside from hardcore Android enthusiasts. I don’t think this will ever change, and for that reason alone, I’m not sure the X Ultra would ever come here unless it was rebranded by OnePlus instead. That said, OPPO has much better brand recognition in India, Europe, Africa, and pretty much every market that isn’t North America. Considering the OPPO Find X7 Ultra has been getting quite a bit of attention, it seems only natural it would come to more markets.

For whatever reason, OPPO has been hesitant to release the model elsewhere, but I think the OPPO Find X8 Ultra will offer the perfect opportunity to expand. The series will have had one other model under its belt and will be refined enough that it can better compete with other well-known high-end camera phones from Samsung, Apple, and others. The good news is there are early rumors suggesting the X8 Ultra could indeed see a wider global launch, just be aware that these rumors can’t be fully substantiated just yet. Of course, the company needs to do more than just release it elsewhere; it also needs to ensure the phone has a more westernized approach when it does.

While OPPO isn’t moving away from Color OS anytime soon, even in global markets, I’d at least like to see them clean up the experience substantially. Models built specifically for the Chinese market tend to have a lot of bloatware and unnecessary apps, though global models aren’t often that much better. Still, if the OPPO Find X8 Ultra is to find true success globally, it would not only need a wider release but also a few tweaks to the software experience to make it fit western audiences better.

The current design is a bit too top-heavy

The quad camera on the X7 Ultra isn’t just the headliner; it’s pretty much the only reason it’s getting this level of attention from tech publications and other enthusiasts. Unfortunately, this design might take great photos, but it also results in an experience that’s a bit too top-heavy. Holding this phone will feel awkward, as the weight isn’t balanced all that well. It’s definitely fully usable, but be aware it might be more prone to drops as a result.

If the OPPO X8 Ultra wants to be a bigger deal in 2025, it needs to consider making some design tweaks. This could be as simple as adding some weight or heft to the bottom to better balance the distribution, though this might result in a thicker phone that’s also not particularly easy to hold. Granted, this might not be an easy problem to solve, but I’m hoping the OPPO X8 Ultra can deliver the same kind of impressive camera chops while also at least slightly mitigating the top-heavy design issue that plagues the current model.

Less aggressive battery management, please?

Battery life on the OPPO Find X7 Ultra isn’t particularly bad, as it can easily last through a full day or even a little beyond. That’s not too surprising given the phone’s larger size and beefy 5,000mAh battery. That said, there are other similarly sized phones that can provide the same or better battery life, all without using the aggressive battery management strategy that OPPO has implemented here. By default, you’ll find that it turns off or restricts a lot of background settings and apps to keep battery life smooth. This is common in a lot of the China market phones I’ve used over the years, but it can be a bit frustrating, and turning off some of these battery management settings can be a little hard to figure out for those new to Color OS.

I really hope the OPPO Find X8 Ultra makes a few software changes around battery optimization. For one, it should be easier to turn on and off. For another, OPPO needs to try to strike a better balance between saving battery life through battery management and keeping the phone usable. It’s infinitely frustrating when you think an app is doing something for you in the background, only to find it’s been closed out by the OS’ software.

While there are no rumors about battery optimization, recently OPPO confirmed the Find X8 series will have so-called Glacier Battery technology, which should offer greatly upgraded battery life. This tech first debuted with the Ace 3 Pro and is based around silicon-carbon batteries instead of traditional lithium-ions.

Will there be an OPPO Find X8 Ultra?

Yes, the OPPO Find X8 series is a sure thing. As we mentioned earlier, there are already several rumors around the OPPO Find X8 Ultra, and even OPPO itself has since revealed that the Find X8 series is on its way. We’ve also heard that OnePlus, OPPO, and Realme are working on an ecosystem of accessories with magnets as an alternative to Apple’s MagSafe accessories, and OPPO subsequently confirmed the existence of these peripherals.

That’s not all we’ve heard about the X8 series. The device will reportedly have a MediaTek Dimensity 9400 SoC and a new hardware button similar to the iPhone 16 capture key. Previously, leaker Digital Chat Station also claimed on Weibo that the phone could feature four 50MP cameras, just like its predecessor. Two of the cameras will reportedly be periscope telephoto shooters. The same leak also claims the phone is coming this year, but no sooner than October 21.

We saw the first images of the Find X8 in September, sort of. OPPO gave us our first look at the device, but only a small glimpse with it set against the iPhone 16. The new device appears to have a flatter display and thinner bezels than before.

OPPO executive Zhou Yibao also posted an image of the Find X8 Pro on September 26. The picture, seen above, shows an out-of-focus device with an iPhone in the background. The picture confirms a relatively small camera bump and an alert slider. The executive added that the phone was 7mm thick, had increased battery capacity, wireless charging support, and the camera capabilities of the “Ultra version.” He later confirmed IP68 and IP69 ratings for the entire series.

Yibao also posted another image of the standard Find X8 on September 26, giving us a full view of the device’s front. So, those hoping for thin bezels should be happy here.

The executive posted a video on Weibo on September 30 which reveals a couple of magnetic accessories for the Find X8 series, namely a 50W charger and a 5,000mAh power bank. These accessories were shown to work with the iPhone, but the Find X8 series requires a special magnetic case.

We got an extensive look at the device on October 16 thanks to OPPO and a company executive. The images also show the back of the phone for the first time, confirming a circular camera housing akin to the OnePlus Open. These images also confirm Hasselblad branding and an alert slider.

Leaker Yogesh Brar also posted apparent OPPO Find X8 Pro specs on Twitter on September 30. Some of the more notable specs include a 6.8-inch quad-curved 120Hz OLED screen, a quadruple 50MP rear camera system (including 3x and 6x lenses), and a 5,800mAh battery with 80W wired charging. OPPO also subsequently confirmed features like the MediaTek Dimensity 9400 chip, an IP68/IP69 rating, and 50W wireless charging.

OPPO also detailed an iPhone 16-style camera button for the Find X8 series in October. This button also supports swipe gestures to zoom in and out. Check out the video below.

An OPPO employee confirmed at MWC 2024 that the next-generation Find X flagship line would be launching in Europe. This is indeed expected to be the Find X8 range.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether the Find X8 Ultra would be released separately from the standard and pro models, though. The company confirmed an October 24 launch date for the Find X8 series. But OPPO launched the Find X6 range and Find X7 series on January 8 in China, so it’s possible we could see the Find X8 Ultra model launching in January 2025 if it doesn’t appear in October.

In saying so, leaker Rodent950 claimed on October 9 that the Find X8 Ultra would launch in Q1 2025. So it sounds like you shouldn’t expect to see it in 2024.

Should you wait for the OPPO Find X8 Ultra?

The OPPO Find X7 Ultra launched in January and it didn’t even arrive outside of China. While it’s possible the X8 Ultra could come to more markets given confirmation of a global Find series launch next year, there’s no reason to wait for it. If you’re really set on an OPPO phone, your best bet would be to import an OPPO Find X7 ($829 at Amazon) or OPPO Find X7 Ultra (on the product’s website). You still won’t officially find it in the US, however.

Although there are few alternatives that will offer as unique a camera experience as the Ultra, if photography matters to you, there are a few other camera phones out there that are known for impressive photography chops. The most obvious alternative would be the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra ($1419.99 at Amazon), though the Google Pixel 9 Pro ($849 at Amazon) and iPhone 16 Pro ($999 at Amazon) would also make great choices for those who are looking for a solid mobile camera experience.