The smartphone camera arms race is entering a new, incredibly detailed phase. While consumers are still getting used to the idea of a single 200-megapixel sensor in their phones, a new leak suggests Oppo is planning to double down in a way no other brand has dared. According to a reliable source, the Oppo Find X10 Ultra, expected in 2027, is currently prototyping a groundbreaking dual-periscope telephoto system where both lenses are built around massive 200MP sensors.
This ambitious project, if it comes to fruition, would not just be an incremental upgrade—it would represent a fundamental shift in how flagship phones approach optical zoom and image clarity.
A Return to Form, But Grander
Oppo has a history of innovating with telephoto technology. The company broke new ground with the Find X7 Ultra, which famously featured a dual-periscope telephoto system. This legacy was continued in the current Oppo Find X8 Ultra, offering users versatile 2.8x and 6x optical zoom ranges. However, with the recent Find X9 Pro, Oppo pivoted, adopting a more conventional triple-camera setup with a single 200MP telephoto lens, aligning itself with competitors like Samsung.
But it seems this shift was only temporary. The leak indicates that the Oppo Find X10 Ultra will not only revive the beloved dual-periscope concept but will elevate it to a stratospheric new level of performance.
The Guts of the Rumor: Dual 200MP Power
The information comes from the well-known Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station on Weibo, who has a solid track record for accurate early specs. In a recent post, they revealed tantalizing details about a potential Oppo Find X10 Ultra prototype.
According to the leak, Oppo’s engineers are experimenting with a dual 200MP periscope telephoto system that utilizes two different, large sensor sizes: a 1/1.3-inch sensor and an even larger 1/1.12-inch sensor. The inclusion of these specific sizes is a major clue. While a classic Samsung sensor like the ISOCELL HP2 fits the first profile, the larger sensor strongly points to the new Sony 200MP sensor, the LYT-910, which is expected to debut in early 2026.
This suggests Oppo is already planning for the next generation of sensor technology, aiming to build a camera system that will be years ahead of its time.
The Competition Takes Different Paths
This leak also highlights the divergent strategies emerging among top smartphone manufacturers in the pursuit of photographic excellence.
- Xiaomi's Approach: The leak suggests that Xiaomi will likely equip its future flagship, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, with a true optical zoom camera featuring a variable focal length. This "single-lens solution" would function more like a traditional camera lens, providing a seamless zoom range without switching between discrete cameras.
- Oppo's Philosophy: Oppo, meanwhile, appears to be betting on the power of two dedicated, ultra-high-resolution periscope lenses. The strategy is to use sheer sensor size and pixel count to achieve unparalleled detail, likely combined with advanced pixel-binning for exceptional low-light performance and lossless digital cropping.
However, the first phone to showcase a dual-200MP setup might arrive even sooner. As Digital Chat Station mentioned in their Weibo post, the Vivo X300 Ultra, expected in early 2026, is poised to be the first camera flagship to combine a 200MP main camera with a 200MP telephoto lens.
What Could Dual 200MP Periscopes Actually Do?
For the average user, the question is: what does this actually mean for photography? The potential is staggering:
- Unprecedented Cropping Power: With a 200MP sensor, you can digitally crop into a tiny fraction of the image and still have a multi-megapixel, social-media-ready photo. This effectively creates a "super-zoom" capability that maintains clarity far beyond traditional digital zoom.
- Superior Low-Light Telephotos: By using pixel-binning (combining multiple pixels into one), a 200MP sensor could produce stunning 12.5MP low-light telephoto shots with exceptional light capture and reduced noise.
- Pro-Level Video: The ability to capture 8K video with a high level of optical zoom opens up new creative possibilities for videographers.
- Computational Photography Mastery: These massive sensors would provide an immense amount of data for computational photography algorithms, enabling even more advanced portrait modes, enhanced dynamic range, and sharper results.
A Glimpse into the 2027 Horizon
It's important to temper excitement with a dose of reality. The leak clearly states that this Oppo Find X10 Ultra prototype is not expected to enter mass production until 2027, and the project could be scrapped before then. The smartphone landscape can change dramatically in three years.
Yet, the very existence of such a prototype signals where Oppo's ambitions lie. They are not just playing catch-up; they are aiming to redefine the ceiling for mobile photography. While the Vivo X300 Ultra may bring us the first taste of a dual-200MP world next year, the Oppo Find X10 Ultra could be the device that perfects it, offering a telephoto experience so powerful it makes dedicated cameras take notice.
The future of smartphone zoom is looking very, very detailed.
