It has been two years since the debut of the original HUAWEI FreeClip, Huawei’s first-ever open earbuds that took the market by storm. Its massive popularity proved that the world was ready for a new kind of listening experience. The new HUAWEI FreeClip 2 tackles the hard challenges of open-ear acoustics physics head-on, combining a powerful dual-diaphragm driver with computational audio. It delivers depth and clarity, which was once thought impossible with an open-ear design. Solving the acoustic limitations of open-ear audio alone would have been sufficient to make the HUAWEI FreeClip 2 our pick for best open-ear audio.

But it is way more than that!

Comfortable C-Bridge design

The HUAWEI FreeClip 2 earbuds weigh only 5.1 g per bud, a 9% reduction from the previous generation. This lightweight architecture ensures an effortless experience, perfect for long calls, workouts, and commutes, allowing you to wear them all day without fatigue. The comfort bean is 11% smaller than the previous model, yet the design provides a secure fit that prevents the earbuds from falling out, even during intense activity.

Constructed from a new skin-friendly liquid silicone and a shape-memory alloy, the C-bridge is 25% softer and significantly more flexible than its predecessor. Finished with a fine, textured surface, it ensures a comfortable, irritation-free wearing even after extended use.

Adaptive open-ear listening

The acoustic system has been significantly upgraded, featuring a dual-diaphragm driver and a multi-mic call noise cancellation system. This setup not only delivers powerful sound but also maximises space efficiency. That’s why, despite their small size, these earbuds can deliver substantial acoustic performance.

The Open-fit design of the earbuds demands high computing power to maintain sound quality and call clarity. The HUAWEI FreeClip 2 offers ten times the processing power of the previous generation, serving as Huawei’s first earbuds to feature an NPU AI processor for a truly adaptive experience. The new dual-diaphragm driver includes a single dynamic driver with two diaphragms, effectively doubling the sound output within a compact space to provide a significant boost in volume and bass response.

Furthermore, the earbuds dynamically detect surrounding noise and adjust volume and voice levels in real-time. If the environment is too noisy, the system uses adaptive voice enhancement to specifically boost human frequencies, ensuring you never miss a word of a podcast or audiobook. When you return to a quiet environment, the earbuds automatically settle back to a comfortable volume level.

Crystal clear calls

To ensure call quality in chaotic environments, the HUAWEI FreeClip 2 utilises a three-mic system combined with multi-channel DNN (Deep Neural Network) noise cancellation algorithms. This system intelligently identifies and filters out ambient noise. Thanks to the NPU AI processor, the earbuds automatically enhance voice clarity, ensuring your conversations remain crisp regardless of your surroundings.

Battery life and charging

With the charging case, the HUAWEI FreeClip 2 offers a total battery life of 38 hours, allowing users to enjoy music throughout a full week of commuting on a single charge. On their own, the earbuds last for 9 hours—enough for a full workday of uninterrupted calls. For those in a rush, just 10 minutes of fast charging in the case provides up to 3 hours of playback. For added convenience, they support wireless charging and are compatible with watch chargers.

Rated IP57, the earbuds are resistant to sweat and water. They can easily withstand intense workouts or even a downpour.

Connectivity

The earbuds support dual connections and seamless auto-switching across iOS, Android, and Windows. When connected to EMUI devices, you can even switch audio between more than two devices. Additionally, when connected to a PC, the earbuds allow you to answer an incoming call without disconnecting from or interrupting your conference setup.

It is, quite simply, a pair of earphones reliable enough for the gym, the office, and the commute.

BRIEF: Designed for a new generation of listeners, the HUAWEI FreeClip 2 represents a significant evolution in open-ear audio technology. Combining a lightweight, comfort-first design with advanced AI-powered acoustics, the earbuds challenge long-standing limitations associated with open-ear listening. From adaptive sound processing and crystal-clear calls to all-day wearability and robust battery life, the FreeClip 2 balances innovation with everyday practicality. Built for work, workouts, and commutes alike, it reflects Huawei’s growing focus on intelligent, user-centric audio experiences that seamlessly integrate into modern, connected lifestyles. @2025

By Srijith KN

After spending over a month with the Huawei Nova 14 Pro in its pristine White colorway, I find myself appreciating a phone that defies expectations. This is a device that runs HarmonyOS 5 instead of Android, yet manages to deliver one of the most compelling camera experiences I’ve encountered in the mid-range segment. The Nova 14 Pro isn’t trying to be everything to everyone. It’s focusing on what truly matters: exceptional rear camera photography, stunning design, and genuine all-day battery life.

The Elephant in the Room: Life Without Android (It’s Easier Than You Think)

Let’s address this immediately because it’s the question everyone asks: “Can you actually use Google services in a Huawei smartphone in 2025?” The answer is a resounding yes, and it’s remarkably straightforward.

The Nova 14 Pro runs HarmonyOS 5 (also known as HarmonyOS NEXT), which represents Huawei’s complete break from Android. Unlike previous HarmonyOS versions that retained Android compatibility layers, HarmonyOS 5 is built entirely on Huawei’s proprietary microkernel architecture.

GBox: Your Direct Gateway to the Google Ecosystem

Here’s what eliminates any ecosystem anxiety: the Nova 14 Pro comes with GBox built directly into the system. This isn’t a workaround or a hack; it’s an integrated solution that gives you direct access to the Google Play Store. Simply open GBox, sign in with your Google account, and you have the entire Play Store at your fingertips.

Through GBox, I’ve downloaded and used Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube, Google Photos, Chrome, Google Drive, and virtually every Google service I rely on. The experience is seamless. Apps run smoothly, notifications arrive reliably, background sync functions properly, and the integration feels native rather than like a compatibility layer. For all practical purposes, you have full access to the Android app ecosystem while running HarmonyOS.

In my month of testing, I’ve used Gmail as my primary email client, Google Maps & Waze for navigation (with real-time traffic and turn-by-turn directions working flawlessly), YouTube for content consumption, and Google Photos for automatic cloud backup. Everything works exactly as it would on an Android phone. Push notifications are instant, location services work properly, and there’s zero performance degradation.

Common apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Instagram, TikTok, and banking apps can be downloaded either from AppGallery or through GBox; whichever you prefer. I haven’t encountered a single app that I couldn’t install or use in my month of testing. The ecosystem concern that plagued earlier Huawei phones is simply not an issue anymore.

HarmonyOS 5: A Genuinely Refined Experience

Beyond app availability, HarmonyOS 5 itself is impressive. The interface is clean and intuitive with smooth animations throughout. It feels polished and responsive, often more refined than Android in certain areas like system-wide gesture controls, notification management, and privacy features.

The real question isn’t whether you can access your apps (you can, completely), but whether you’re open to experiencing a different OS interface. HarmonyOS 5 brings thoughtful features like granular privacy controls, intelligent resource management, and seamless device connectivity with other Huawei products. The transition is surprisingly painless, and within a few days, navigating HarmonyOS feels completely natural.

The Verdict on Ecosystem Concerns

If you’re worried about losing Google services or Android apps, don’t be. GBox eliminates that concern entirely. You have full, unrestricted access to everything you need. The Nova 14 Pro isn’t asking you to compromise on app availability—it’s offering you choice, with the added benefit of experiencing Huawei’s refined HarmonyOS interface while maintaining complete access to the Google ecosystem you’re familiar with.

The phone’s exceptional camera capabilities and build quality become the actual decision factors, not ecosystem limitations; because those limitations simply don’t exist.

Design: Understated Elegance

The Nova 14 Pro introduces a refined design language that immediately catches attention. My White variant features what Huawei calls the “ice crystal texture,” creating a pearlescent effect that shifts under different lighting conditions. It’s elegant without being ostentatious or screaming for attention.

At 7.78mm thin and weighing 207g, the phone strikes an impressive balance. It feels substantial enough to convey quality but never heavy or cumbersome. The quad-curved OLED display (curved on all four edges) creates a seamless flow from screen to frame, making the phone feel smaller than its 6.78-inch display suggests.

Build quality feels premium throughout. The frame has a refined matte finish that resists fingerprints. The buttons have precise, tactile feedback with no wobble. Huawei includes a TPU protective case in the box, and even with it installed, the phone maintains its slim profile.

The IP65 rating provides dust resistance and protection against water jets from any direction, though it’s not quite the full submersion protection of IP68. For daily use, it’s more than adequate. I’ve used it in light rain and near pools without hesitation.

A Rear Camera System That Genuinely Impresses

After a month of extensive testing, the Nova 14 Pro’s rear camera system has genuinely impressed me. This isn’t just another competent mid-range camera. It’s a thoughtfully engineered imaging system that punches well above its price point, particularly in challenging lighting conditions.

50MP RYYB Main Camera

The star of the show is the 50MP RYYB main camera with variable aperture ranging from f/1.4 to f/4.0. Let me explain why this combination is genuinely special.

Traditional camera sensors use an RGB (Red, Green, Blue) color filter array. Huawei’s RYYB (Red, Yellow, Yellow, Blue) sensor replaces green pixels with yellow ones. Yellow pixels allow significantly more light to pass through than green pixels. The result? The RYYB sensor captures up to 40% more light than traditional RGB sensors, translating to dramatically improved low-light performance.

The variable aperture is equally clever. At f/1.4 (wide open), the camera captures maximum light for low-light situations and creates beautiful background blur for portraits. At f/4.0 (stopped down), you get greater depth of field for landscapes where you want everything sharp from foreground to background. The camera intelligently adjusts based on lighting and subject, though you can also control it manually in Pro mode.

Combined with optical image stabilization, this main camera delivers flagship-level performance. In daylight, photos are sharp with excellent dynamic range and accurate colors. The level of detail captured is genuinely impressive, with textures rendered naturally and colors that pop without looking oversaturated.

Low-Light Photography

The Nova 14 Pro’s low-light photography is where this camera system truly separates itself from the competition. The combination of the RYYB sensor’s 40% increased light capture, f/1.4 aperture, and intelligent processing produces night shots that look genuinely cinematic rather than artificially processed.

I’ve extensively tested night photography across Dubai’s diverse evening environments: dimly lit alleyways, neon-soaked streets, the challenging mixed lighting of outdoor cafes and restaurants. The results consistently impress. Where other mid-range phones produce grainy, muddy images or over-process scenes into unnatural HDR nightmares, the Nova 14 Pro maintains natural texture and color while pulling impressive detail from shadows.

In mixed lighting scenarios where most cameras struggle, the Nova 14 Pro’s camera ensures colors remain true to life. I’ve photographed food under warm restaurant lighting, portraits under mixed street lamps and neon, and landscapes during golden hour. The color accuracy is consistently impressive, maintaining natural tones that look authentic rather than artificially enhanced.

Supporting Cast: Telephoto and Ultra-Wide

The 12MP RYYB telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom and OIS is perfect for portraits and detail shots. The RYYB sensor ensures it performs admirably even in challenging light, maintaining the same low-light prowess as the main camera. The OIS keeps shots sharp even at longer focal lengths. The phone supports up to 30x digital zoom, which remains usable in good light for capturing distant subjects.

I’ve used the telephoto extensively for portrait photography, and the results are impressive. The natural bokeh combined with accurate skin tones creates professional-looking portraits. Detail shots of architecture, signage, and distant subjects remain sharp with excellent clarity.

The 8MP ultra-wide camera with a 112° field of view handles landscapes and group shots competently. It also doubles as a macro camera, allowing you to capture extreme close-ups of small subjects. While it’s not the strongest ultra-wide I’ve tested, it’s consistent with the main camera’s color science, which is important for seamless switching between focal lengths.

Dual Front Cameras

The dual front camera setup consists of a 50MP main sensor with autofocus and an 8MP close-up lens. The 50MP sensor with autofocus ensures selfies are sharp, and the variable zoom range provides flexibility for framing. Portraits are natural-looking, without aggressive smoothing. For video calls and casual selfies, it’s more than adequate, but it’s the rear cameras that truly shine on this device.

Performance: Competent for Daily Use

The Kirin 8020 chipset paired with 12GB RAM delivers competent performance for daily tasks. Built on a 5nm process, it handles multitasking, social media, content consumption, and photography without lag. The Maleoon 920 GPU manages most mobile games at medium-to-high settings, though it’s not quite flagship-level performance.

Gaming performance is acceptable. Popular titles like PUBG Mobile run smoothly at medium settings. You’ll experience some thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions, with frame rates dropping slightly, but it’s not game-breaking. For casual gamers, it’s perfectly serviceable. Hardcore mobile gamers should look elsewhere.

HarmonyOS 5 feels responsive and polished. The interface is clean and intuitive, with smooth animations throughout. App loading times are quick, multitasking is seamless, and the overall experience feels premium despite the mid-range chipset.

Battery Life: Genuine All-Day Endurance

The 5500mAh battery easily delivers a full day of heavy use. I’m talking constant social media scrolling, extensive camera usage (and with these rear cameras, you’ll use them constantly), video streaming, and still having 20-30% remaining at bedtime. Conservative users could stretch this to two days without breaking a sweat.

The 100W fast charging is absurdly fast. A full charge takes approximately 38 minutes from empty, which is genuinely convenient. Even a quick 10-15 minute top-up provides adequate runtime.

The phone also features AI Charging Control, which intelligently manages charging patterns to protect long-term battery health. The absence of wireless charging is disappointing for a phone at this price point, but the blazing-fast wired charging somewhat compensates.

Connectivity and Additional Features

The Nova 14 Pro supports Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, and GPS. It’s worth noting that Wi-Fi 6 or 7 would have been preferable for a 2025 device, but Wi-Fi 5 is adequate for most users.

The infrared blaster is a genuinely useful addition, allowing you to control TVs, air conditioners, and other appliances. It’s a feature that’s disappeared from many flagships, so its inclusion here is appreciated. The side-mounted fingerprint scanner is fast and reliable, unlocking instantly with accurate recognition even with slightly damp fingers.

Stereo speakers provide respectable audio quality for media consumption, though they’re not the most powerful I’ve tested. They’re clear and balanced at moderate volumes but can sound thin when pushed to maximum.

The Verdict

The Huawei Nova 14 Pro is a camera-centric smartphone that delivers exceptional imaging prowess, stunning design, and genuine all-day battery life, all while proving that ecosystem concerns are a thing of the past thanks to seamless Google integration.

After over a month of real-world use, the Nova 14 Pro has proven itself as a genuinely capable device that surprises in all the right ways. The main camera with variable aperture produces flagship-level photos, particularly in low light where it genuinely excels. The telephoto and ultra-wide complete a versatile camera system that punches well above its price point.

The concern about Google services? It’s completely eliminated. GBox provides direct, seamless access to the Google Play Store and all Google services. Everything works flawlessly—Gmail, Maps, Photos, Drive, YouTube—with zero compromise. HarmonyOS 5 proves to be a polished, responsive, and feature-rich operating system that holds its own against Android while giving you complete access to the Android app ecosystem.

Beyond photography, the phone refuses to compromise on essentials. The 5500mAh battery with 100W charging delivers genuine all-day use with lightning-fast top-ups. The design is elegant and premium, with the White variant’s ice crystal texture catching light beautifully.

Performance is competent rather than cutting-edge. The Kirin 8020 handles daily tasks smoothly but isn’t designed for hardcore gaming or intensive multitasking. For typical smartphone use, it’s more than adequate.

If you’re looking for a phone with genuinely impressive cameras at a mid-range price, with full access to all your familiar apps and services, the Nova 14 Pro deserves serious consideration.

I find (no pun lost here) the new Find X9 Pro to be OPPO’s most accomplished flagship yet. This isn’t just another incremental upgrade. The Find X9 Pro represents a genuine leap forward in battery life and mobile photography, backed by hardware and software that actually deliver on their promises.

What immediately struck me right after I unboxed the device is how OPPO has managed the impossible: fitting a massive 7500mAh battery into a remarkably slim profile. This is undoubtedly a two-day battery phone. But the highlight is that it still feels like a sleek flagship, not a bulky power bank.

The build quality is exceptional throughout. Every physical element, from the precisely engineered buttons to the refined camera housing, screams premium craftsmanship and efficient engineering. This is a phone that focuses on excellence in imaging while refusing to compromise on the essentials: battery life, display quality, and day-to-day performance.

Premium & Purposeful Design Language

The build quality is exceptional throughout. Every physical element feels thoughtfully crafted. The buttons have a satisfying, precise click with no wobble or mushiness. The rear camera module, positioned in the top-left corner, aligns perfectly with the frame. This thoughtful engineering translates to superior ergonomics: when holding the phone vertically my index finger naturally avoids the lenses, and grip remains clear for landscape gaming or media.

These details might seem minor, but they collectively create a device that becomes invisible in the best way possible. Not because you forget it’s there, but because it integrates so naturally into your life that using it feels effortless, always ready for whatever you need without demanding attention.

Two New Physical Buttons

The Find X9 Pro introduces two new physical buttons that enhance functionality, and both are evidently super-high-quality in their execution:

Snap Key: Integrated into the left frame, this customizable button allows you to assign functions like switching sound profiles, toggling the flashlight, launching voice recorder, activating translation, or taking screenshots. By default, it’s linked to the AI Mind Space feature: short-press captures screen content, long-press adds a voice note, double-press opens Mind Space directly. The tactile feedback is excellent, with a definitive click that feels premium.I’ve customized mine to quickly toggle between silent, vibrate, and ring modes, a feature I’ve genuinely missed since physical alert sliders fell out of fashion.

Quick Button: On the right side, OPPO has added a Quick Button, which I initially mistook for a physical fingerprint scanner. However, it is a quick-toggle/physical zoom control for the camera. Double-tap opens the camera, press to take a photo, long-press for continuous shooting. In landscape orientation, you can swipe on the button to zoom in and out. The button has a satisfying half-press for focus (like a DSLR shutter button) and a full press for capture. This is genuinely useful for quick camera access and adds tactile control that feels more intuitive than the on-screen zooming-wheel.

IP69: Built to Last

The Find X9 Pro provides comprehensive protection with IP66, IP68, and IP69 certifications. The IP68 certification, which is normal for current flagships, guarantees proven protection against dust and prolonged water submersion (up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes). However, on top of that, the Find X9 Pro gets an IP69 rating which provides defense against high-pressure, high-temperature water jets (up to 85°C), ensuring the device can withstand more extreme conditions.

I’ve used the phone by the pool, in the kitchen and in similar splash-prone environments without any hesitation. The peace of mind that comes with this level of protection is invaluable.

A Display That Demands Attention

Super-Comfortable for Afterdark Usage

Traditional displays flicker rapidly to control brightness, and this flicker, while invisible to most people, can cause eye fatigue over time. The Find X9 Pro’s 2160Hz PWM dimming flickers so rapidly (2,160 times per second) that it essentially eliminates perceptible flicker, making it genuinely comfortable for extended nighttime use. I frequently use my phone in bed, and the combination of ultra-low brightness and flicker reduction makes a noticeable difference in eye comfort.

Possibly The Fastest Fingerprint Unlock I’ve Ever Experienced

Optical vs Ultrasonic Fingerprint Scanners
Here’s the difference: optical fingerprint scanners (found on most phones) work by shining light on your finger and taking a photograph. They create a 2D image of your fingerprint, which can be fooled by high-resolution photos and struggles with wet or oily fingers.

Ultrasonic scanners use high-frequency sound waves (like sonar or bat echolocation) to map the 3D ridges and valleys of your fingerprint. The scanner emits ultrasonic pulses, which bounce off your fingerprint’s unique topography. By measuring the reflected waves, it creates a highly accurate three-dimensional map of your fingerprint.

The 3D ultrasonic fingerprint scanner of the Find X9 Pro deserves special recognition because it’s genuinely the fastest and most reliable biometric unlock I’ve experienced on any smartphone. Not just among optical sensors, but even when compared to the pioneering ultrasonic implementations from competitors. The recognition is instantaneous. There’s virtually no perceptible delay between touching the sensor and the phone unlocking. It feels less like authentication and more like the phone simply recognizing your existence.

What’s equally impressive is the registration process. Most phones require you to tap your finger multiple times in the same position, slowly building up a complete fingerprint map. The Find X9 Pro’s approach is far more elegant: one press, then simply move your finger around naturally to register all parts. The sensor captures your entire fingerprint topology in one fluid motion. The whole process takes seconds rather than the tedious minute-plus routine I’ve experienced with other devices.

ColorOS 16: Refined Software Experience

Running ColorOS 16 based on Android 16, the software experience is polished and feature-rich. every interaction now feels instantaneous and perfectly connected. The transitions from Always-On Display to lock screen to home screen flow in one continuous, graceful motion. The wallpaper doesn’t just appear, it elegantly transforms through each stage. I’ve found myself unlocking the phone just to watch this seamless transition. It’s the kind of refined detail that elevates the entire experience from functional to genuinely delightful.

OPPO’s Luminous Rendering Engine powers all of this visual magic. It renders all visual components in parallel, eliminating jarring transitions and ensuring the OS stays perfectly smooth no matter how much is happening on screen.

Beyond the visual flourishes, ColorOS 16 brings genuinely useful features. The Flux Home Screen allows you to resize app icons and folders dynamically, with the surrounding layout adapting fluidly. The result is a system that feels responsive and fluid throughout extended use.

A Camera System That Actually Earns Its Hasselblad Badge

Let’s address the elephant in the room: smartphone marketing loves to throw around buzzwords. But the Find X9 Pro’s Hasselblad Master Camera System isn’t just branding, it’s a legitimately engineered imaging system that genuinely makes use of the extent of what’s possible with a smartphone camera.

Flagship Performance in Any Light

The all-new Ultra XDR Main Camera, consists of a large 1/1.28-inch custom Sony LYT-828 sensor. For me, sensor size matters over the megapixel count, because larger sensors capture more light, resulting in brighter, clearer images, especially in challenging conditions.

Dynamic range is essentially the camera’s ability to capture detail in both the darkest shadows and brightest highlights simultaneously. The Find X9 Pro’s 17 stops actually surpass dedicated 1-inch sensors found in some compact cameras. In practical terms, this means when you’re photographing a sunset, you can see detail in both the bright sky and the darker foreground. No more choosing between an overexposed sky or an underexposed subject.

I’ve tested this extensively in Dubai’s harsh lighting conditions: bright midday sun, deep shadows under buildings, sunset shots with extreme contrast. The main camera consistently delivers balanced, natural-looking photos with detail preserved throughout the entire frame.

The 50MP ultra-wide camera (15mm equivalent) is far more capable than the typical afterthought ultra-wide modules found on many flagships. The Samsung ISOCELL JN5 sensor delivers genuinely impressive image quality across the frame, with minimal distortion at the edges and excellent detail retention even in the corners.

What sets this ultra-wide apart is the autofocus capability with a minimum focal distance of just 3.5cm. This transforms it into a capable macro camera for extreme close-ups of small subjects like flowers, insects, or intricate details. The 50MP resolution means you can crop in significantly while maintaining sharpness, giving you additional framing flexibility.

200MP 120x Telephoto Shooter

Another standout star here is the 200MP Hasselblad Telephoto camera. Now, 200 megapixels sounds like a spec-sheet flex, but here’s why it actually matters: this isn’t just about capturing massive files. It’s about maintaining exceptional clarity at zoom ranges that would reduce most phone cameras to a mushy mess.

Think of it this way: the Find X9 Pro’s 200MP sensor is like having an ultra-high-resolution master file. When you zoom to 3x (70mm), you’re using the full optical system. At 6x, you’re still getting a native 50MP image by cropping from that massive sensor. Even at 13.2x, the phone delivers a lossless zoom, maintaining detail that rivals dedicated cameras.

I’ve tested this extensively at concerts, sporting events, and even photographing birds from my balcony (yes, I’ve become that person). The clarity at 6x and 10x zoom is genuinely impressive. Details that would be lost on other phones remain sharp and usable.

The True Color Camera: Accurate Colors in Any Lighting

Most smartphone cameras struggle with color accuracy in mixed or unusual lighting. Ever noticed how photos taken in warm cafe lighting look overly orange, or how neon signs at night never quite look right? That’s because traditional cameras make educated guesses about color temperature based on limited information. This is the issue the Find X9 Pro’s True Color Camera solves. This isn’t a camera you shoot with directly. Instead, it’s a dedicated 8-channel spectral sensor with 2 million spectral pixels that acts as a “color consultant” for the entire camera system.

In my testing, this makes a noticeable difference in portraits and in any situation with complex lighting scenarios. Skin tones, in particular, look more natural and consistent across different lighting conditions. I’ve taken portraits in everything from harsh sunlight to dim restaurant lighting, and the color accuracy remains impressive throughout.

Exceptional Night Photography: When Darkness Becomes Your Canvas

The Find X9 Pro’s low-light photography deserves its own spotlight because it genuinely excels where most smartphones struggle. Night photography has always been the great separator between good and exceptional camera systems, and the Find X9 Pro firmly plants itself in the latter category.

The combination of the large main sensor, f/1.5 aperture, and Real-Time Triple Exposure technology delivers exceptional low-light performance. That f/1.5 aperture captures 30% more light than the previous generation, which translates to noticeably brighter and clearer night shots with significantly less noise.

I’ve extensively tested night photography across Dubai’s diverse evening landscapes: dimly lit alleyways, neon-soaked streets, and the challenging mixed lighting of outdoor cafes and restaurants. The results consistently impress. Where other phones would produce grainy, muddy images or over-process scenes into unnatural HDR nightmares, the Find X9 Pro maintains natural texture and color while pulling out impressive detail from shadows and highlights.

The True Color Camera’s contribution becomes especially evident at night. Under mixed neon lighting or warm street lamps, most phones struggle with color accuracy, often rendering scenes with unnatural orange or green casts. The Find X9 Pro’s spectral analysis ensures colors remain true to life, even in these challenging scenarios. Skin tones in night portraits look natural and flattering rather than artificially processed.

Perhaps most impressively, the Find X9 Pro manages all this without falling into the trap of making night look like day. Night photos retain their atmosphere and mood while being perfectly usable, which is exactly what exceptional night photography should achieve.

Pro Video Tools for Serious Creators

All cameras, including the front-facing and three rear cameras, support 4K 60fps recording in Dolby Vision HDR. OPPO has fully optimized the imaging pipeline, resulting in enhanced stabilization, more consistent autofocus and auto white balance, and smoother transitions when switching between lenses during recording.

For professional creators, the Find X9 Pro offers true PRO Video mode with full LOG recording capabilities. LOG captures flat, data-rich files ideal for post-production color grading and maximum creative control. The integrated LUT Preview allows you to visualize a final color grade in real-time while still recording with the highest possible dynamic range.

With the main camera and telephoto camera, the Find X9 Pro further supports 4K video at 120fps in Dolby Vision. This is achieved without compromising stabilization, allowing you to shoot high-quality slow-motion footage with exceptional stability. The LOG profile is ACES-certified (the global standard for motion picture color management), meaning the footage will integrate seamlessly into professional workflows.

Two-Day Battery Champ

Silicon-Carbon Battery Technology Explained

This achievement is made possible by OPPO’s third-generation silicon-carbon battery technology, a tech that has become the new normal in the latest-gen smartphones. Traditional lithium-ion batteries use graphite anodes (the negative electrode). Silicon, however, can hold far more lithium ions than graphite. Silicon has a charge capacity that’s about 13% higher than graphite’s theoretical maximum. Hence it delivers a higher-capacity cell without the added heft.

The massive 7500mAh capacity, paired with the efficient Dimensity 9500 chipset and OPPO’s precise software tuning, enables the Find X9 Pro to deliver an average of two days of typical usage on a single charge. This is undoubtedly a two-day battery phone. I’m a heavy user (extensive photography, video recording, social media, streaming, video calls / virtual meetings) and I consistently get a full day with 30-40% remaining. Moderate users will easily achieve two full days without breaking a sweat.

More importantly, the battery is engineered for long-term durability. The Find X9 Pro is designed to retain up to 80% of its original capacity even after five years of typical use, ensuring consistent performance year after year. You can also set the charging limit anywhere from 80% to 100% based on your needs to further slow battery aging.

With 80W SUPERVOOC wired charging, you can get hours of use in just minutes. And the fact that you get an 80-watt charger in the box is just the cherry on top of this already sweet deal.

Flagship Power, Flagship Efficiency

The Find X9 Pro is among the first smartphones featuring the latest MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chipset. Built on TSMC’s advanced 3nm process (smaller manufacturing process means better efficiency and performance), this flagship chip features a third-generation All Big Core CPU design.

This means instead of having slow, efficient cores for basic tasks and fast cores for demanding tasks, all eight cores are performance-oriented. The chipset delivers up to 32% faster CPU performance and 55% more efficiency compared to the previous generation. GPU performance is up to 33% faster with 42% better efficiency. The ninth-generation MediaTek NPU 990 (the AI processor) is 111% faster with 56% improved efficiency.

In real-world use, this translated to the phone being incredibly snappy. Apps launch instantly, multitasking is seamless, and even the most demanding games run flawlessly. I’ve played PUBG Mobile, and Genshin Impact at maximum settings, and the performance is consistently smooth with no lag or stuttering.

Advanced Cooling Keeps Everything Running Smoothly

The Find X9 Pro features an upgraded vapor chamber for thermal management which has been completely redesigned with an ultra-fine 0.025mm stainless steel mesh. This reduces its thickness while significantly improving thermal conductivity for more efficient heat transfer.

The vapor chamber works like an advanced heat pipe: when the phone heats up, liquid inside evaporates and moves to cooler areas, then condenses back into liquid and releases the heat. It’s a continuous cooling cycle that spreads heat evenly instead of creating hot spots.

In my month of testing, even during extended 4K video recording sessions or intensive gaming marathons, the phone gets warm but never uncomfortably hot. The cooling system ensures consistent performance without thermal throttling.

AI LinkBoost Ensures All-Time Seamless Connectivity

OPPO’s AI LinkBoost incorporates OPPO’s self-developed RF chip that boosts uplink power by over 30% in key frequency bands. With advanced 360-degree surround antenna architecture, it significantly enhances signal stability and anti-interference capability.

In practical terms, the phone maintains strong connectivity even in traditionally weak-signal environments like elevators, underground garages, and during high-speed transit. I’ve noticed consistently better signal reception compared to other flagships, particularly in Dubai’s numerous underground parking garages where signal typically drops.

The Verdict

The OPPO Find X9 Pro is a new-generation camera flagship, crafted for the remarkable.

After over a month of real-world use, the Find X9 Pro has exceeded my expectations in virtually every category. This is a phone that delivers on its promises. The 200MP Hasselblad Telephoto isn’t just a spec-sheet flex; it genuinely transforms mobile photography, particularly for zoom, landscape and portrait capture. The main camera delivers flagship-quality images in any lighting condition. The industry-first features like 50MP default shooting aren’t gimmicks; they’re genuinely useful capabilities that enhance the photography experience.

Beyond the camera excellence, the Find X9 Pro refuses to compromise elsewhere. The 7500mAh silicon-carbon battery delivers genuine two-day battery life in a remarkably slim form factor. The Dimensity 9500 delivers flagship performance with excellent efficiency. The advanced cooling keeps everything running smoothly even under sustained load.

The thoughtful additions like the customizable physical buttons, and superfast 3D ultrasonic fingerprint scanner show OPPO’s attention to the complete user experience, not just headline features.

For users who prioritize exceptional imaging capabilities backed by genuine flagship performance, exceptional battery life, endurance, and build quality, the Find X9 Pro delivers comprehensively. This is OPPO at its best: pushing boundaries in mobile photography while delivering a complete, refined flagship experience.

If you’re serious about mobile photography or simply want a no-compromise flagship that excels across the board, the Find X9 Pro deserves serious consideration.