OPPO Find X8 Pro: First Impressions

OPPO launched its latest Find X8 and X8 Pro flagship smartphones in India, and guess what? We got to play around with the new smartphones for around ten days. There are a lot of new and a bit of old elements on the latest devices - the old ones are those that were highly praised on the predecessors.

The new smartphones feature a complete design overhaul, each boasting a unique look and form factor. For those seeking a larger display and premium features, the Find X8 Pro stands out as the ideal choice.

With the new phones, there's a lot to talk about, but let's take one at a time - starting with the Find X8 Pro. Here's my first impression of OPPO's newest camera beast.

Fresh, More Durable, and Smoother Design

The first and the most striking change over last year's Find X7 Ultra (no Pro model last year) is the new back panel, with a new camera design. This time around, OPPO has moved on from the dual-tone vintage camera-like design to a more flush, unicoloured back with a marble-like finish on a matte-like texture with discreet glitters.

I have been using the white variant. While I really liked the older design, this one has started to grow on me as it's good to touch, comfortable to hold, and definitely looks like a premium flagship phone. The edges remind me of the 2017-18 trend of smooth sides with a mix of flat plus curved edges.

It's the right balance that sits well in the palm and doesn't dig into your hands even if used for a longer period. It measures a slim 8.24mm thick and weighs just 215g, making it thinner and lighter than many other phones with similar high-end cameras. OPPO has managed to significantly reduce the size of the camera bump by about 40% compared to the previous model.

The ports and buttons are well placed, nothing new here. The SIM tray USB-C port and the speaker is at the bottom, the alert slider on the left volume rocker, and the power and lock key are on the right. What's new this time is the 'Quick Button' that is basically OPPO's attempt to replicate Apple's 'Camera Control'. For now, it only zooms in and clicks photos - it's still a work in progress.

The Find X8 Pro has promising durability specs, with an aluminium frame and reinforced glass. It's also water-resistant with IP68 and IP69 certifications, meaning it can withstand submersion in water and even high-pressure water jets.

Display is on Par with the Competition

There's nothing extraordinary about the OPPO Find X8 Pro's display at first glance. Although, the company has made some improvements that make it slightly better than its predecessor on paper.

The OPPO Find X8 Pro has a big, bright, and colourful 6.78-inch screen with subtly curved edges. This design makes the phone comfortable to hold and prevents accidental touches. It gets the usual smart features like the screen automatically adjusting its refresh rate to save power, and it uses technology to reduce eye strain, especially in low light. It even changes the screen's colour temperature to match your surroundings.

All these smart additions do make it better for your eyes, but there's no proof of how much. So I would just say that it's a good-looking display that can be customised to suit your usage.

High Expectations for Performance

The OPPO Find X8 Pro promises next-gen mobile performance courtesy of the new MediaTek Dimensity 9400 chipset. While I haven't put the chip to the test yet, benchmark results were very impressive. Moreover, everything from camera shutter speed to navigation feels extremely fluid on the Find X8 Pro.

I can't wait to dive deeper into how well this phone performs in my full review.

The Quad-Camera System at a Glance

The OPPO Find X8 Pro has not two, not three, but four impressive 50MP camera sensors.

I haven't put this camera system through its paces just yet, but my initial impressions are generally positive. The Find X8 Pro captures some amazing shots regardless of the lighting. Shots taken were vibrant and energetic with plenty of detail, but the one thing that impressed me the most is the many settings and features you can play around with. Until my full review is out, here are some shots taken on the Find X8 Pro.

How is it to use?

The Find X8 Pro feels premium right out of the box. Apart from the design and display, the software experience, performance, and battery performance have all been just what you would expect a flagship smartphone to offer. I haven't come across any hiccups or UI bugs so far - and I've done a fair bit of camera tests, gaming, using heavy apps, and everything else you do on your phone. However, I'd give it more time as my primary phone before I publish my full review.

My favourite features of this smartphone have been its camera, battery, and charging tech. With the new AI features, double periscopic lens, and other additions the OPPO Find X8 Pro sits among the best-performing camera phones in my experience so far. But there's so much to say and test about the camera, we'll dive deeper into it in our full review.

Initial verdict

The Find X8 Pro seems like a promising contender in the already competitive market. However, with a price tag of Rs 1 Lakh, several other competing devices will confuse the customers. In my initial experience, the key selling point for the smartphone will be its camera, which has the potential to outperform (in some departments) the likes of Samsung S24 Ultra, iPhone 16 Pro, and other Android flagship models.