At a look
Skilled’s Score
Professionals
- Phenomenal cameras
- Gigantic battery
- Glorious efficiency and software program
- One of many nicest screens round
- Superior equipment
Cons
- Not accessible within the US
- Solely 5 years of Android OS updates
Our Verdict
The Oppo Discover X9 Professional is perhaps my favorite telephone of 2025. There are some fashions which might be higher at particular duties, however as an all-rounder, nothing beats the X9 Professional. It has distinctive cameras, extraordinarily lengthy battery life, nice efficiency and superior software program with helpful AI additions. I simply adore it.
Value When Reviewed
This worth will present the geolocated pricing textual content for product undefined
Finest Pricing Right this moment
Finest Costs Right this moment: Oppo Discover X9 Professional
Following a number of years of absence, Oppo returned to the UK market with the Oppo Discover X8 Professional in late 2024. On the time, I mentioned it was in all probability the very best digicam telephone you possibly can purchase (excluding imports). Now, its successor has landed, with a recent design and upgrades throughout, and I couldn’t be extra excited.
This mannequin sports activities the most recent Dimensity 9500 chip, a gargantuan 7500mAh battery, a brand new digicam system (together with a 200Mp telephoto), and a pictures package with an attachable telephoto extender. All indicators level in the direction of it being top-of-the-line digicam telephones of the 12 months.
I’ve really had this telephone for nearly a month, and I’ve been utilizing it as my main handset nearly all of the time. I’ve examined completely all the pieces and flown all over the world with it in my pocket, too. After spending a lot time with it, I’ve bought loads of ideas, so let’s dive in.
Design & Construct
- New iPhone-like design
- Aluminium body, glass again
- 224g, IP69 rated
With the Discover X9 collection, Oppo has modified issues up. We’ve seen giant centrally positioned digicam modules for the previous couple of generations, however now, Oppo is reverting to the basic iPhone-esque upper-left nook digicam array.
Luke Baker
Once I first noticed the brand new design, I wasn’t too eager. It seems high quality, however I simply couldn’t assist feeling that this was a step backwards. In comparison with the previous couple of designs, this one seems somewhat nameless.
Nevertheless, as soon as I bought my fingers on it, I rapidly modified my tune. It seems and feels extremely premium, far more so than the X8 Professional, which, regardless of being produced from aluminium and glass, has a slight plasticky really feel to it. This mannequin is chilly, dense {and professional}.
It seems and feels extremely premium, far more so than the X8 Professional
The Discover X9 Professional has adopted a totally flat design with boxy aspect rails, once more, very very like an iPhone. This often makes telephones really feel bigger within the hand, however holding it side-by-side with its predecessor, the brand new mannequin feels surprisingly compact.
Luke Baker
Just like the earlier era, the Oppo Discover X9 Professional sports activities a Fast Button, which is actually Oppo’s clone of Apple’s Digital camera Management, and it’s positioned in the identical spot. This one’s been reengineered to detect swipes as small as 0.3mm, however in any other case it really works in the identical means. A double press will open the digicam app, swiping can zoom out and in, and clicking will take a photograph.
The basic notification slider has been changed on this mannequin, and now you get a customisable button that Oppo calls the Snap Key. Once more, the Apple affect is obvious to see; it’s like a 1-to-1 copy of the Motion Button. That mentioned, I really like the Motion Button, and Oppo’s model is simply as helpful.
Now you get a customisable button that Oppo calls the Snap Key
It’s accessible in two colourways, both Titanium Charcoal or Silk White, and I’ve the previous in for testing. Each are very minimalist {and professional}. I like the way in which they appear, however they don’t make a lot of an announcement in comparison with one thing just like the orange iPhone 17 Professional. Relying in your tastes, that could possibly be or a nasty factor.
Each the rear and sides have a matte end, and also you’ll by no means have to fret about fingerprint smudges, as a result of this panel appears to be immune.
Oppo hasn’t talked about what glass it’s utilizing on the show, however there’s a factory-applied display screen protector included, and it’s of fantastic high quality. I’m a little bit of a display screen protector hater. I often rip them off on the first alternative, both as a result of they smudge too simply, appeal to mud, or simply really feel a bit of cheesy. This one, although, didn’t hassle me in any respect, and I’m nonetheless utilizing it after weeks.
Luke Baker
In case you decide up an official case, most have MagSafe-compatible magnets in-built, which is de facto helpful. Utilizing this telephone with a MagSafe holder in my automotive made me recognize the design change extra. The smaller digicam bump means the magnets may be far more central, and so equipment like that work higher than they do with my Discover X8 Extremely.
Hasselblad teleconverter package
- Aramid-fibre case with magnets
- Fast-release lens attachment
- 3.28x teleconverter lens (9.8x in use)
Vivo noticed a number of success earlier this 12 months with its non-compulsory Zeiss teleconverter add-on for the X200 Extremely, and it doubled down with the brand new X300 collection telephones. Now, Oppo is getting in on the motion with a teleconverter of its personal.
This one, as you would possibly anticipate, has a Hasselblad emblem on it, however in any other case it seems quite a bit like Vivo’s one, and capabilities in mainly the identical means.
The package comes with a really good slim-line aramid fibre case, full with MagSafe-compatible magnets. It seems and feels nearly similar to a high-end case from a model like Pitaka. It’s an enormous enchancment on Vivo’s plasticky and chunky pictures package case.
The teleconverter lens attaches through a small bayonet mount on a plate, which slides over the digicam module and clicks into place. It blocks all lenses apart from the telephoto when it’s hooked up, but it surely slides on and off fairly simply, so it’s not too inconvenient to take away and reattach as and when it’s wanted.
Luke Baker
The lens itself feels extraordinarily premium. It’s produced from metallic with glass lenses, and it has some heft to it. It gives a 3.28x magnification, so if you place it in entrance of the 3x telephoto, you get a shot equal to only below 10x zoom.
It feels a bit loopy taking pictures with such a big lens protruding of your telephone, and I feel that stood out to me extra as I wasn’t despatched a grip to counterbalance it. Early teaser photographs present that some type of grip accent does exist, however whether or not that launches internationally or not stays to be seen.
To make use of the lens, it’s essential go into the devoted “Hasselblad Teleconverter” mode within the digicam app, as in any other case the picture might be the wrong way up. It’s similar to the X200 Extremely’s setup, whereby your choices are barely extra restricted utilizing the exterior lens.
Video maxes out at 4K 60fps, somewhat than 4K 120fps, and there aren’t any professional choices or Log recording. When taking pictures pictures, you get some primary choices like stage mode and movie model choices, however there aren’t any handbook controls, and you may’t shoot in RAW or on the full 200Mp decision.
To be honest, this was what I anticipated. However after taking the Vivo X300 Professional for a spin, which lets you entry basically each a part of the digicam app with the teleconverter hooked up, this appears like a step backwards. After all, there’s each chance that Oppo will broaden the performance through software program updates.
Display & Audio system
- 6.78-inch, 1272 x 2772, LTPO OLED, 120Hz
- 1-3600 nits, 2160Hz PWM dimming
- Stereo audio system
The display screen on the Oppo Discover X9 Professional is definitely amongst my favourites. It’s now a spacious 6.78-inch totally flat show, with an extremely slim symmetrical bezel. So far as I’m conscious, this is perhaps the slimmest bezel of any smartphone thus far, measuring simply 1.15mm on all sides.
Luke Baker
It makes the telephone really feel extraordinarily subtle, and implies that you get most display screen dimension with a minimal bodily footprint.
The display screen on the Oppo Discover X9 Professional is definitely amongst my favourites
The show can dim all the way in which all the way down to 1 nit, so you may scroll socials in mattress with out disturbing your associate. And for those who’re nervous about eye pressure, you needn’t be, as this panel boasts 2160Hz high-frequency PWM dimming.
On the opposite finish of the dimensions, the display screen can enhance to 3600 nits to compete with vivid daylight, however Oppo measures its output otherwise than another manufacturers, so it’s brighter than it might sound. In any case, I actually by no means had bother seeing it outside.
Luke Baker
It’s a 10-bit show that covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color area, and it’s licensed to playback Dolby Imaginative and prescient, HDR10+ and HDR Vivid content material. This implies TV exhibits and films out of your favorite streaming apps at all times look as they have been supposed.
With regards to audio, the telephone has twin stereo audio system. One fires from the bottom of the telephone subsequent to the USB-C charging port, and the opposite doubles up because the telephone’s earpiece.
They’re a really respectable set of audio system, providing each readability on the high finish and a full, weighty bass response. My solely grievance is that they’re not the loudest round, however on the plus aspect, they don’t distort or sound too harsh at most quantity.
Luke Baker
Specs & Efficiency
- MediaTek Dimensity 9500
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB storage
The Oppo Discover X9 Professional is likely one of the first telephones (alongside the Vivo X300 collection) to function MediaTek’s newest flagship chip, the Dimensity 9500. Supposedly, it’s round 30% quicker than the previous-gen in CPU and GPU workloads, and round 42% extra energy environment friendly.
In brief, the brand new chip is a rocket. I demand quite a bit from my telephones, whether or not it’s taking part in Wuthering Waves on most settings, modifying movies or critical multitasking. The Dimensity 9500 simply saved tempo all through.
I demand quite a bit from my telephones…the Dimensity 9500 simply saved tempo all through
I bought some bizarre outcomes from the GFXBench suite (which occurs once in a while), however the telephone posted a powerful 3DMark Wildlife Excessive rating of 7062, handily outperforming the Galaxy S25 Extremely, with its particular overclocked Snapdragon 8 Elite chip.
Luke Baker
The larger query, although, is the way it compares to the recent new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. We haven’t correctly examined a manufacturing mannequin but, and there’s each likelihood it could possibly be faster. In actuality, although, I feel you’ll wrestle to seek out one thing you may’t run at most settings on this telephone – who actually wants greater than that?
Sustained efficiency is respectable, however the telephone will throttle considerably for those who’re pushing the bounds for prolonged intervals. On the plus aspect, the telephone by no means will get too sizzling, so you may recreation for a very long time with out uncomfortably sweaty palms.
Just one mannequin is launching internationally, which comes with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. It’s greater than sufficient for my wants, and I dare say many others will really feel the identical means.
Oppo Discover X9 Professional benchmarks
Cameras
- 50 Mp f/1.5 major digicam (1/1.28-inch)
- 200 Mp f/2.1 3x telephoto (1/1.56-inch)
- 50 Mp, f/2.0 ultrawide (1/2.75-inch)
- 50 Mp, f/2.0 selfie digicam, AF
The Oppo Discover X9 Professional takes a special method to its predecessor. Moderately than having two separate telephoto lenses, it opts for a extra widespread three-lens array. There’s now solely a singular 3x telephoto, but it surely has an enormous 200Mp decision and a big 1/1.56-inch sensor.
Luke Baker
It’d sound like a downgrade, however in idea, the high-resolution sensor will make up for the shortage of a 6x lens, as it could actually use pixel-binning to seize high-quality, cropped-in photographs.
We’ve seen related from the likes of Vivo and Honor, which each use 200Mp telephoto sensors on their 2025 flagship telephones. They each persistently outperform the S25 Extremely for long-range zooms, too, regardless of the S25 Extremely having the quad-lens setup. So, this method has advantage.
As for the opposite sensors, there’s a 50Mp 1/1.28-inch major with a super-wide f/1.5 aperture, and a 50Mp ultrawide with autofocus. Across the entrance, you get a 50Mp selfie snapper, which additionally has autofocus, making it excellent for group pictures.
One other huge change with the Oppo Discover X9 Professional is that it defaults to 50Mp decision every time the sunshine is enough. If it’s darker, the cameras will bin all the way down to a extra widespread 12Mp decision to let extra gentle in.
Apple modified the iPhone’s default decision to 24Mp a few years again, however most Android manufacturers have but to observe go well with. Oppo has determined to only leapfrog the iPhone and shoot at over double the decision, and I respect it.
General, I’ve been more than happy with my photographs from the Discover X9 Professional, whatever the lighting circumstances. The default picture profile offers you a really pure and true-to-life look, however that’s simply tweaked with the library of filters and modifying choices, if you wish to give your pictures a bit of extra flavour.
I seen the color accuracy has been significantly improved on this mannequin, maybe because of the brand new devoted color sensor. The Discover X8 Professional and Extremely would each are likely to favour cooler tones, however that wasn’t an issue with this mannequin in any respect.
With regards to zooming, the shortage of a 6x lens doesn’t appear to carry this telephone again in any respect. Oppo’s picture processing is excellent, and you may take pictures that stay considerably usable as much as round 30x. Pushing past that, you’ll have the choice to allow Oppo’s Generative AI to wash up the picture. It really works shockingly properly, but it surely makes up particulars that aren’t there, and I’m not too eager on that, personally.
The non-compulsory teleconverter turns the 70mm equal telephoto lens into roughly a 230mm lens, and naturally, you may zoom additional than that with a digital crop. It makes a giant distinction to the readability at 230mm, and it’s a lot better in low gentle at an equal focal size, because it makes use of the entire sensor somewhat than cropping in.
As for whether or not it’s value utilizing, that is dependent upon your expectations. For long-range zooms, I didn’t discover the standard distinction too spectacular, and I felt the identical means concerning the X300 Professional’s teleconverter. The processing on the built-in lens is so good that the distinction between the 2 is commonly fairly refined. It’s actually with nearer topics that this lens involves life.
Taking pictures middle-distance portraits, or semi close-ups, the pure compression of this exterior lens utterly blurs the background, and offers photographs a way more 3D look. It’s onerous to consider pictures like that come from a telephone, and I completely adore it. I had a good time utilizing it for wildlife and candid avenue snaps.
Luke Baker
Video taking pictures on this telephone is great, too. You get some severely professional-level options right here, together with the power to shoot at 4K 120fps in 10-bit Log or Dolby Imaginative and prescient with each the primary and telephoto cameras. In any other case, the stabilisation is strong, and the readability is excellent. It could possibly be an excellent companion for content material creators.
Battery Life & Charging
- 7500mAh battery
- 80W wired charging
- 50W wi-fi charging
The Oppo Discover X9 Professional comes with a huge 7500mAh silicon-carbon battery, the biggest of any telephone I’ve examined thus far, and double the capability of the bottom iPhone 17. Bucking latest tendencies, you’ll get this identical huge battery, regardless of the place you reside, too.
You’ll get this identical huge battery, regardless of the place you reside
Maybe unsurprisingly, the battery life is phenomenal. I used the X9 Professional as my major machine for every week in Shanghai, which was an absolute torture take a look at, and it surpassed my expectations time and again. I carried my energy financial institution with me all week, and I by no means wanted it.
Luke Baker
To present a bit of extra context, I used to be continually utilizing the telephone for navigation and ride-hailing, utilizing it as my main cost technique, translating all the pieces with Google Lens and taking a great deal of pictures and movies. Even nonetheless, I’d get to the tip of a really lengthy day with 30-40% left within the tank.
In additional regular circumstances, after I’m working at my desk, two days on a cost is definitely achievable, and I typically get into a 3rd day.
You would possibly suppose that such an enormous battery will take ages to cost, however fortunately, that’s not the case. With an official 80W Oppo charger (sadly not included), you may go from totally flat to 50% charged in simply half an hour. Wi-fi charging is fast, too, supporting as much as 50W speeds with Oppo’s AirVooc adapter.
Software program & Apps
- ColorOS 16, primarily based on Android 16
- Apple-inspired design and options
- AI options that you just’ll really use
ColorOS has grown to turn out to be considered one of my favorite Android skins in the previous couple of years, and this newest iteration seems to be the very best but. It has obtained a reasonably vital overhaul, and as with a number of issues on this telephone, the Apple affect couldn’t be extra apparent.
Luke Baker
There’s new Liquid Glass-like styling, break up notifications and fast settings shades, upgraded lockscreen choices and a Dynamic Island clone. If Apple has it, there’s likelihood Oppo has its personal model. I’m positive it will rub some Android purists the unsuitable means, however personally, I’m a fan. Apple does some neat issues with its software program, and in the event that they work, why not have them on an Android telephone too?
the Discover X9 collection telephones work with the Apple ecosystem higher than most rivals
The Apple-like shenanigans don’t cease there, both. Oppo has been onerous at work guaranteeing that the Discover X9 collection telephones work with the Apple ecosystem higher than most rivals. In case you use a MacBook, you should use Oppo’s O+ Join app to wirelessly join and remotely management one machine from the opposite. You may as well share a clipboard, drag and drop recordsdata, and extra. I’ve solely examined this briefly, but it surely appears to work as marketed, and it’s actually helpful.
Luke Baker
The Oppo Discover X9 also can share recordsdata to an iPhone with Contact to Share, and it’ll even pair with an Apple Watch, as long as it was initially activated with an iPhone. In case you’re pondering of creating the soar from iOS to Android, this telephone could possibly be an ideal match.
As well as, Oppo has been engaged on the smoothness of the OS, and it exhibits. The animations have been reworked, and the brand new Luminious Rendering Engine permits for simultaneous rendering of a number of animations and results. The result’s a house display screen that feels extremely fast, regardless of what number of stuff you’re doing directly.
Oppo’s AI options have been already my favorite, primarily because of the AI Communicate function, which is able to learn webpages and articles to you in a really natural-sounding voice, so that you’re free to multitask. After all, all the standard stuff is included, like superior picture modifying instruments, translation, transcription, writing help, and extra. There’s additionally Gemini and Circle to Search, as you’d anticipate.
What’s new, although, is one thing referred to as AI Thoughts Area. That is mainly Oppo’s reply to Nothing’s Important Area, or the Pixel Screenshots app. You possibly can activate it with the brand new Snap Key, or swipe up with three fingers to take a screenshot that’s saved into the brand new Thoughts Area.
Then, your screenshots might be searchable, and you may ask questions on them with the built-in LLM (Giant Language Mannequin). It understands the context of photographs, so if there’s a date, for instance, it could actually supply so as to add it to your calendar.
It’s a helpful function, however as I discovered with the Pixel and Nothing variations, the shortage of cross compatibility prevents me from counting on it. If there have been an internet interface the place I might see these screenshots, I’d be far more inclined, however as somebody who switches telephones nearly each week, this simply doesn’t match my life-style.
One space the place this telephone lags behind barely is with the software program replace coverage. Identical to the Discover X8 collection, Oppo is promising 5 years of OS upgrades and 6 years of safety patches. It’s not a nasty providing, but it surely’s much less spectacular than the seven years of each that you just get from the likes of Samsung, Google and Honor flagships.
Value & Availability
Oppo says the Discover X9 collection is its greatest international launch ever, which incorporates the UK and most areas in Europe. Sadly, the US received’t get a glance in, and with the present political happenings, I can’t think about that altering anytime quickly.
There’s just one configuration accessible for the worldwide market, which comes with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. It’ll price you £1099 within the UK and €1299 in Europe, comfortably undercutting the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely and iPhone 17 Professional Max – a powerful feat contemplating the specs on supply right here. See extra alternate options in our information to the very best telephones you should buy.
The Discover X9 Professional is offered to order now, both instantly from Oppo, or via an authorised reseller. Whether or not you’ll be capable of discover this telephone as contract deal stays to be see, so for now, we’d suggest trying out our information to the very best SIM-only offers.
Do you have to purchase the Oppo Discover X9 Professional?
The Oppo Discover X9 Professional is definitely considered one of my favorite telephones of 2025 (and I’ve tried most of them). There’s not one space the place this telephone falls brief. The battery life is excellent, the efficiency is top-notch, the software program is slick, and the cameras are gorgeous. Plus, there’s the wonderful telephoto extender package, which provides an additional degree of versatility for eager photographers.
The one actual downsides are the shortage of availability within the US and the shorter software program assist phrases than a number of the competitors. In case you’re on the fence and might afford the Discover X9 Professional, simply get it. This telephone is not going to disappoint.
As for whether or not that is the very best digicam telephone accessible, that’s a tougher query. I’m fairly comfy saying it’s the very best mannequin at the moment offered within the UK, however globally, the Vivo X300 Professional is a sizzling contender, as is Oppo’s personal Discover X8 Extremely. In any case, you may anticipate some gorgeous photographs, and that’s what it’s all about.
Specs
- ColorOS 16, primarily based on Android 16
- 6.78-inch, 1272 x 2772, LTPO OLED, 120Hz
- Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor
- MediaTek Dimensity 9500
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB storage
- Cameras:
- 50Mp major sensor
- 50Mp ultrawide
- 200Mp 3x telephoto
- 50Mp selfie digicam
- As much as 4K @ 120fps rear video
- Stereo audio system
- Twin-SIM + eSIM
- Wi-Fi 7
- Bluetooth 6.0
- 7500mAh battery
- 66W wired charging
- 50W wi-fi charging
- 161.26×76.46×8.25mm
- IP68/69 licensed
- 224g
- Colors: Titanium Charcoal, Silk White
