Oppo has released a new smartphone Oppo Find X7 Ultra. Three features caught my attention: the camera, the design, and the display.
Oppo brings four lenses to the main camera, all of which come with 50-megapixel sensors. Both are telephoto lenses and both have periscopic zoom. The combination of the x3 and x6 allows Oppo to cover a zoom range of 14mm to 270mm, albeit with AI-assisted software zoom functions.
Interestingly, Oppo doesn't rely too much on the use of "AI". It's only mentioned once in the press release, in the aforementioned "AI-enhanced scaling" software. Instead, it continues to use "computer graphics" to perform these tasks and wraps them in the HyperTone image processing engine, which it says offers more. Natural image processing and reproduction.
The partnership with Hasselblad provides a portrait mode that mimics the four focal points of the Hasselblad range, as well as a main mode that gives users access to a full range of advanced controls, including “manual ISO, shutter speed, EV, focus and white balance”… Saturation, contrast, sharpness and exposure control.” The goal here is to replicate the performance of the Hasselblad X2D 100C.
As with all smartphone releases, a lot has been built on camera technology. This is an area where there is a lot of innovation in mobile phones and in addition. This is something that consumers can easily relate to.
How it works in practice will have to wait for a fix.
As smartphones move in the direction of "screen everything" on the front of the device (with only annoying bezels and selfie cameras standing in the way), the design and fashion features should blend well with the back of the phone. Oppo has done this with its notched design. The raised camera island remains the focal point, but where you'd expect a large glass device below, you'll find a textured body instead of a cool material. You won't see it while using the phone (and in most cases the content will undoubtedly be covered), but it gives the Find X7 Ultra a distinct identity in the market.
All you see is the screen. The Oppo comes with a 1600 nit display (which increases to 4500 nits when viewing HDR content). There's more, including a variable refresh rate of 1-120Hz and Ultra HDR support, as indicated by the DisplayMat A+ rating.
However, there is a catch. As it stands, the Oppo Find X7 Ultra is not a global phone. The model launched today is only available in China, and Oppo has yet to announce plans for a global variant. Given the timing of Oppo's pre-debut in China before a global launch is confirmed later, I have no doubt that the rest of the world will see the Find X7 soon.
Now read my review of Oppo's ColorOS 13 software…
