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| The Oppo Find X9 Ultra's 10x periscope telephoto lens is rumoured to be 3x faster than the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra's 10x zoom camera. |
The stage is set for an epic showdown in the world of smartphone photography. As we move further into the year, the Chinese mobile market is bracing for the arrival of two highly anticipated imaging flagships: the Oppo Find X9 Ultra and the Vivo X300 Ultra. While Vivo appears to be in the starting blocks for a domestic release, new leaks suggest that Oppo might be playing a different, more global game.
According to the latest intel from the industry's rumor mill, the Oppo Find X9 Ultra is likely to launch in China after the Vivo X300 Ultra, whose official release date has already been revealed. However, if a leaker proves accurate, the Hasselblad-branded flagship could still beat its Zeiss-branded competitor to a global debut. In any case, competition is heating up between a no-compromise triple-camera system and an enhanced quad-camera setup featuring the industry’s only 10x periscope telephoto lens.
This isn't just a specs war; it's a philosophical battle between two different approaches to mobile imaging, and it’s about to give photography enthusiasts a very pleasant headache.
Inside the Find X9 Ultra's "All-Out" Camera Hardware
Well-known and often-accurate leaker Digital Chat Station has taken to Weibo to share some tantalizing new details about the Find X9 Ultra’s camera hardware, painting a picture of a device that is leaving very little on the table.
For the full context straight from the source, you can check out the original leak here.
The most striking revelation concerns the return of the 10x periscope telephoto lens—a feature that has become increasingly rare in the flagship space. While its 10x periscope telephoto lens probably won’t win any sensor competitions with a 1/2.76-inch ISOCELL JN5, the camera is rumoured to feature a relatively large f/3.5 aperture. For comparison, Samsung’s previous 10x telephoto lens – last seen in the Galaxy S23 Ultra – uses a significantly smaller 1/3.52-inch sensor and a much narrower f/4.9 aperture. To be exact, the new Hasselblad-branded telephoto camera is 3.24 times faster than Samsung’s earlier 10x telephoto lens.
What does this mean in plain English? It means that even with a smaller sensor, the Find X9 Ultra's super-telephoto camera will let in significantly more light. Users can expect sharper, brighter, and less noisy images at extreme zoom ranges, especially in challenging lighting conditions where most periscope lenses struggle. Oppo is betting that light-gathering capability is just as important as megapixel count.
A 200MP Monster and a Sony Powerhouse
But the 10x lens isn't the only trick up Oppo's sleeve. The company has apparently also gone all out for the Find X9 Ultra’s 3x periscope telephoto, equipping it with a 200 MP 1/1.28-inch sensor. To put that in perspective, that sensor size rivals the main camera found on many high-end smartphones. This "middle" telephoto is expected to be a portrait powerhouse, offering incredible detail and natural bokeh.
Digital Chat Station believes it will be the fastest 200 MP telephoto camera currently available in a smartphone, surpassing even the Vivo X300 Ultra’s 85 mm telephoto lens, whose f/2.55 aperture has been confirmed by official sample photos. This speed advantage could translate to faster focusing and better performance in lower light, making it a versatile shooter for everything from portraits to street photography.
Combined with the main camera’s 1/1.12-inch Sony LYT-901 sensor, this could make the Oppo Find X9 Ultra the most upgraded camera flagship of the year. This primary sensor is a proven performer, known for its excellent dynamic range and low-light capabilities.
The Other Side of the Coin: The Vivo X300 Ultra's Versatility
However, Oppo isn't running unopposed. The Vivo X300 Ultra, built in partnership with Zeiss, is expected to deliver improved performance across all its lenses – provided you are willing to carry up to two teleconverters. Leaks suggest Vivo is focusing on an even more versatile quad-camera setup.
While Oppo is concentrating its efforts on three main sensors (Main, 3x, and 10x), Vivo is rumored to be refining a system that includes dedicated lenses for specific focal lengths. The mention of "teleconverters" is particularly intriguing, hinting at a system that might offer even more flexibility by digitally (or perhaps even physically) adapting its lenses for multiple zoom ranges without a significant loss in quality.
The choice for consumers may come down to a fundamental question: Do you want the pure, unadulterated power of a few absolutely massive sensors (the Oppo way), or do you want the versatility of a multi-focal-length system that can adapt to almost any scenario (the Vivo way)?
The Global Race is On
The timing of these releases adds another layer of intrigue. While Vivo is expected to launch the X300 Ultra in China first, Oppo’s potential for a faster global rollout could be a decisive factor for international buyers. Historically, Oppo has been more aggressive in bringing its Find X flagship line to global markets, and this year might be no different.
Ultimately, 2024 is shaping up to be a vintage year for mobile photography. Whether you root for Team Hasselblad or Team Zeiss, one thing is certain: the pictures we can capture with our phones are about to get a whole lot better.
Source(s): Digital Chat Station Weibo
Image: Ace100xd
