The smartphone world is buzzing with the imminent global launch of Oppo's latest camera powerhouses. While the official European debut of the Oppo Find X9 and Find X9 Pro is set for October 28, a recent leak has confirmed what many feared: these devices will command a premium price on the continent. For tech enthusiasts and photography buffs, this has sparked a tantalizing question—should you import one now to save money and get your hands on exclusive colors?
The allure is undeniable. The Find X9 Pro, in particular, is currently hailed as having the best Hasselblad smartphone camera system available, a crown it will likely hold until the expected arrival of the Find X9 Ultra next year. But as three major online retailers already list the models for sale, the decision to import is more complex than it seems. We’ve done the research on prices, shops, and the critical downsides you need to know before clicking "buy."
The Import Allure: Price and Color
Let’s address the main attractions first: cost and availability. While European customers are likely to be limited to a single high-end configuration (12GB/512GB for the Find X9 and 16GB/512GB for the Pro), the Chinese market offers more variety. More importantly, the prices from importers are significantly lower than the expected European retail tags.
Online retailers like Tradingshenzhen, Wondamobile, and Giztop have already listed the devices, with Wondamobile indicating availability from October 27. Crucially, these stores also offer the stunning red color variant of the Oppo Find X9, which is expected to be exclusive to China and won't see a European release.
The table below provides a clear snapshot of the import prices as of October 17, 2025. Note that these prices are advertised as inclusive of all customs, taxes, and import fees, which simplifies the process for the buyer.
Oppo Find X9 Series Import Price Comparison (October 17, 2025)
Model | Tradingshenzhen | Wondamobile | Giztop |
---|---|---|---|
Oppo Find X9 Pro 12/256 | €777 | €828 | €787 |
Oppo Find X9 Pro 16/512 | €877 | €922 | €874 |
Oppo Find X9 Pro 16/1TB | €977 | €1,016 | €962 |
Oppo Find X9 12/256 | €647 | €708 | €655 |
Oppo Find X9 16/512 | €767 | €828 | €787 |
Oppo Find X9 16/1TB | €857 | €896 | - |
You can check the latest availability and configurations directly at Tradingshenzhen, Wondamobile, and Giztop.
The Sobering Reality: The Downsides of Importing
Before you get swept away by the lower price tag and that beautiful red finish, it's crucial to understand the compromises you'll be making. Importing a Chinese-market smartphone has historically come with caveats, and the Find X9 series is no exception.
- Software and Service Quirks: The Chinese version of ColorOS 16 is different from its global counterpart. While installing Google apps and services is reportedly straightforward, other integrations are not.
- No eSIM Support: The Chinese models do not support eSIM functionality, a deal-breaker for many frequent travelers.
- Wear OS and Android Auto Incompatibility: There are potential connectivity issues with Wear OS smartwatches, and Android Auto may not work correctly.
- Aggressive Power Management: Chinese ROMs are notorious for aggressive battery optimization. This can delay or even block notifications from apps like WhatsApp, Gmail, and others unless you manually tweak the power-saving settings for each app—a tedious process that is easy to forget.
- The Warranty and Support Gamble: This is perhaps the biggest risk. While we can recommend Tradingshenzhen as a long-time and reliable partner, enforcing a warranty claim on an imported device is inherently difficult. The process is nowhere near as comfortable or straightforward as dealing with a local EU retailer. If your device has a hardware fault, you could be facing a costly and time-consuming repair process.
- A Critical Note on Connectivity: Stick with the Pro
This is a vital point for European users. According to the official Oppo Find X9 Pro spec sheet, the Pro model supports the essential LTE band 20 and a wide range of 5G bands, meaning cellular connectivity should be robust across Europe.
However, the standard Oppo Find X9 spec sheet reveals a glaring omission: it lacks band 20. This band is critical for strong indoor coverage and rural connectivity in many European countries. We would strongly advise against importing the base Oppo Find X9 for this reason alone, as you may suffer from poor signal and dropped calls.
The Verdict: To Import or Not to Import?
The decision ultimately comes down to your priorities as a user.
- Import the Oppo Find X9 Pro if: You are a tech-savvy user who values the absolute lowest price and must have the exclusive red color. You are comfortable manually managing app permissions, can live without eSIM and Android Auto, and are willing to accept the significant warranty risk for the sake of having the latest camera technology ahead of the official launch.
- Wait for the European Launch if: A seamless user experience, full compatibility with your Wear OS watch and car, eSIM support, and a proper EU warranty are important to you. The peace of mind and guaranteed functionality are worth the expected higher price tag.
The leaked European pricing, originally reported by sources like GSMGoTech and hinted at on platforms like Weibo, suggests Oppo is positioning itself firmly in the premium segment. Importing is a compelling workaround, but it's a path paved with compromises. Weigh the dazzling camera specs and tempting price against the very real software and support limitations before you make your choice.
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