OPPO Find X8 Pro is here to compete for the throne of the best mobile phone of the year

As 2024 draws to a close, there are those who think the premium mobile offering will be more than finished at this point in the film. Error. OPPO has chosen November 21 to put its flagship on sale in all European countries, including Spain. This news is important considering that in recent years the Chinese brand has decided to reserve its maximum range for its territory. Since patent problems in the old continent led to the reversal of this bitter decision, OPPO Find X8 Pro is now among us. And it does so with enough credentials to claim the title of best smartphone of the year thanks to its Android 15-based ColorOS 15 operating system, which relies on artificial intelligence (AI) and six guaranteed years of updates.

Why do we think this could become a competitor? You only have to look at the configuration of its four 50MP cameras signed by Hasselblad, the prestigious camera manufacturer, to understand that OPPO is completely serious about this mobile phone, capable of recording HDR Dolby Vision videos at up to 4K resolution and 60fps from all sides of them, including the front one. So we have a 1/1.95-inch Sony LYT600 primary sensor with an f/1.6 focal aperture that promises to catch light where there isn’t any, in addition to an ultra-wide f/2.0 viewing angle.

But what makes this phone stand out is its 135mm periscope camera with 6x zoom, which promises to be a breakthrough in the industry. All this is supported by another triple sensor and, as could not be otherwise in our time, artificial intelligence functions for photo processing. Additionally, the OPPO Find X8 Pro is the only smartphone that offers 135mm optical portraits for what the Chinese brand says are “dynamic and impressive shots of people and pets.” Also note that, like the latest iPhone models, it has a touch-sensitive Quick Button that lets you activate the camera and control zoom. We’ll have to see if it’s truly useful or if it’s left halfway like with Apple phones.

The rest of the design of the OPPO Find X8 Pro also highlights its premium finish with the use of aluminum to cover the glass body. Despite its photographic potential, it has also been possible to ensure that the circle of cameras located at its rear, dubbed the Cosmo Ring, is not very thick, giving the whole device a feeling of thinness without sacrificing elegance. The mobile phone is available in two colours: Space Black and Pearl White, each with a unique pearlescent pattern that offers exclusivity over other competing models.

There is nothing to argue about the 6.78-inch screen. It has a 120Hz refresh rate and a maximum brightness of 1600 nits with 4500 peaks when playing HDR content. We’ll have to see how it performs in bright sun as the average brightness level seems a little low these days. Of course, the panel is covered with an ultra-thin frame; it couldn’t be otherwise for a top-end device. Interestingly, we can use the screen even with wet hands, which is appreciated on rainy days. In this sense, the mobile phone has IP68/IP69 dust and water protection certification.

Power and autonomy

And we’ll also have to see how its MediaTek Dimensity 9400 processor performs, which many already consider one of the best in the industry thanks to the second-generation 3nm manufacturing process from manufacturer TSMC. Its new personalized cooling system also seems vital, which has a high-performance vapor chamber to keep this chip from overheating and over-consuming its 5910mAh battery with more than attractive 80W wired fast charging and 50W wireless fast charging. As always, it will be necessary to check whether its autonomy can last several days with moderate use.

The phone with base 16GB LPDDR5x memory and 512GB internal storage is currently on sale for €1,249, with an exclusive offer of €367.90 available until December 8th. In particular, a gift set that includes: an OPPO Watch X smartwatch, an 80W SUPERVOOCTM charger and an exclusive OPPO case. Time will tell whether the Asian firm’s return with its best phone and its strong commitment to new AI-related features will bear fruit in a market as competitive as mobile telephony.