Connect with us

VAR

OPPO Find X9 Pro In-Depth Review: Hasselblad Optical Excellence With Two-Day Battery Life

Published

on

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 Find X9 Pro introduces a refined design language characterized by neatly rounded corners and a balanced form. I’ve been using the Titanium Charcoal variant, which features a deep, muted tone with a non-reflective matte texture. It conveys both durability and modern elegance while resisting fingerprints effectively. The flat-edged aesthetic with subtle frame contours ensures a secure and comfortable grip. At 8.25mm thin and 224g, it strikes a perfect harmony between sophisticated elegance and everyday functionality. Even encased in the included case, the phone doesn’t feel hefty or uncomfortable to hold.

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

The 6.78-inch AMOLED display is surrounded by ultra-narrow bezels measuring just 1.15mm on all four sides. This is the thinnest bezel on any OPPO phone, creating a truly seamless viewing experience that minimizes visual interruptions.

The display’s peak outdoor brightness of 3600 nits is seriously impressive. “Nits” measure screen brightness, and 3600 is among the brightest available. In Dubai’s harsh sunlight, I can read the screen comfortably without any strain or need to cup my hand over it. The 1-120Hz LTPO refresh rate means the screen intelligently adjusts its update frequency based on content, delivering buttery-smooth scrolling when needed while conserving battery when displaying static content.

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.

A wide angle shot of a restaurent at night - names SLRP (visible on the signboard) all illuminated with warm lights.

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.

A wide angle vertical shot of a Lamborghini Urus in yellow and black color combo parked in an alleyway with high-rise Dubai building behind it and decorative lights above it.

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.

Aerial performer suspended beneath a large cluster of glowing white balloons at night, floating above palm trees during an outdoor event.

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

The Find X9 Pro takes a major leap in battery capacity with a massive 7500mAh cell. This is significantly larger than the Find X8 Pro’s already large 5910mAh. Remarkably, this substantial increase comes with no change in thickness, maintaining a sleek 8.25mm profile. Let me emphasize this: it’s genuinely remarkable how slim this phone feels despite housing what is essentially a powerbank.

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.

A product shot of an Oppo FInd X9 Pro in a black background.

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.

Spotlight

HONOR Pad X9b Max Review: When a Tablet Starts Challenging Your Laptop

Published

on


With a huge 13-inch display, a 10,100mAh battery and familiar Android productivity tools, HONOR’s Pad X9b Max makes a convincing case for going big, although its size brings compromises of its own.

BY Srijith KN, Senior Editor, Integrator Media

The HONOR Pad X9b Max makes its intentions clear almost immediately. With a 13-inch display, this is not a tablet designed primarily around compactness. It wants to give you enough screen to watch, browse, multitask and, increasingly, get some proper work done.

That became the most interesting part of my time with it.

Rather than approaching the Pad X9b Max purely as an entertainment device, I connected a Bluetooth keyboard and began using it for documents, browsing, ChatGPT and some of the everyday tasks I would normally reach for my laptop to handle.

The result is a tablet that gets surprisingly close to feeling like a lightweight workstation in the right circumstances, although whether you would actually leave the laptop behind is a slightly more complicated question.

A 13-inch display that makes a difference

The headline feature is undoubtedly that 13-inch LCD display.

At 2500 × 1560 resolution and with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, there is plenty of space here for websites, documents and video. But the more important point is simply how much larger everything feels when you start working on it.

I happened to have a Huawei MatePad 11.5 alongside the HONOR during testing, and putting the two next to each other made the difference immediately apparent. The Huawei feels much more like a conventional portable tablet. The Pad X9b Max begins moving into laptop territory.

Documents have more room to breathe, websites feel less constrained and working with text is particularly pleasant. I noticed this while using ChatGPT, where longer conversations almost began to resemble working inside a document rather than interacting with a mobile application.

The 120Hz refresh rate also helps keep scrolling and general navigation fluid, while the large canvas makes multitasking considerably more attractive than it is on smaller tablets.

There is, however, an obvious trade-off.

A 13-inch tablet isn’t something I would choose specifically because I wanted the smallest device possible in my bag. The size that makes the X9b Max so appealing on a desk is also what makes smaller tablets easier to carry and use casually.

That’s the fundamental compromise here: I prefer the HONOR when I’m sitting down to work; I prefer the idea of a smaller tablet when I have to carry it.

Productivity becomes part of the proposition

Pair the Pad X9b Max with a keyboard and the large display begins making considerably more sense.

I used a Kensington Bluetooth keyboard during testing, and the combination worked well for writing, browsing and moving between applications. Microsoft Word introduced its own subscription-related complications, but that’s more a reflection of Microsoft’s software model than a limitation of HONOR’s hardware.

The wider Android ecosystem is also important. With MagicOS and access to familiar Google applications, getting my usual collection of services onto the tablet was straightforward.

My review unit comes with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, so this isn’t hardware I would position as a replacement for a high-performance notebook. But for everyday productivity — web applications, writing, email, research, media and lighter multitasking — the experience makes a convincing argument for using the tablet instead of reaching for a laptop every time.

Expandable storage also gives the X9b Max additional flexibility for users carrying large collections of documents or media.

Built for entertainment too

Of course, productivity is only half the appeal of having this much screen.

The Pad X9b Max’s size makes video one of its natural strengths. HONOR has paired the display with a quad-speaker system, DTS:X Ultra and IMAX Enhanced support, reinforcing the tablet’s entertainment credentials.

And this is where having 13 inches requires considerably less justification. Video simply benefits from the additional scale, whether you’re watching from a desk, sofa or bed.

It also means the Pad X9b Max can comfortably switch roles during the day: a document and browser screen while working, followed by a sizeable personal entertainment display once the keyboard goes away.

A battery built for the bigger canvas

Powering all of this is a 10,100mAh battery, paired with support for up to 45W HONOR SuperCharge.

The large capacity makes sense considering the size and resolution of the display. More importantly, battery life is critical for a tablet being positioned as both an entertainment device and a productivity companion. Having to constantly look for a charger would undermine much of the convenience of leaving a laptop behind.

We wouldn’t reproduce HONOR’s laboratory endurance claims as our own results here; for the VAR piece, the more relevant point is that HONOR has equipped its largest screen with an appropriately substantial battery.

Verdict

The HONOR Pad X9b Max succeeds because its 13-inch display isn’t merely a specification designed to look impressive on the box. It materially changes what the tablet is good at.

There is substantially more room for documents, browsing, multitasking and content, and adding a keyboard transforms it into a surprisingly useful desk-based productivity device.

But its greatest strength also creates its biggest compromise. At this size, the X9b Max isn’t as effortless to carry around as a smaller tablet, and once you add a keyboard, you inevitably start comparing the entire setup with taking a laptop instead.

That makes the Pad X9b Max particularly appealing for someone who wants one large-screen device capable of moving between work and entertainment, rather than someone whose priority is maximum portability.

It hasn’t made my Dell redundant.

But it has made me reach for it less often, and for a tablet this size, that’s probably the more meaningful achievement.

Continue Reading

Spotlight

OPPO Reno16 5G Review: A Polished Upgrade, But Does It Do Enough?

Published

on


The Reno series has become an important part of OPPO’s smartphone portfolio, sitting between the increasingly competitive mid-range segment and the company’s more premium offerings. With the Reno16 5G, OPPO isn’t attempting to completely reinvent that formula. Instead, it has focused on improving the overall package across design, photography, battery life, software and AI.

Having previously used the Reno14 as one of my primary phones, I was particularly interested in whether the Reno16 felt like a meaningful progression or simply another annual refresh.

After spending time with the device, there is plenty here that feels better refined, although its AED 2,499 UAE price also raises some questions about performance and overall value.

BY SRIJITH KN, SENIOR EDITOR, VAR


A more polished Reno!
My review unit arrived in Twilight Violet, and the Reno16 makes a strong first impression. The aluminium frame, slim symmetrical bezels and overall finish give the device a noticeably premium character.

The 6.32-inch display is also excellent for everyday use. Content looks sharp, the interface feels fluid and the screen is more than capable for browsing, video, social media and photography. The buttons feel solid too, while the haptic feedback deserves particular mention. It is one of those smaller details that contributes considerably to how polished a phone feels in everyday use.

Overall, OPPO has done a good job of making the Reno16 look and feel like a device worthy of its position in the Reno portfolio.

The camera remains a Reno strength

Camera performance was one area where I expected the Reno16 to prove itself, and it largely did.

Images generally came out with natural-looking colours and balanced exposure, without leaving me waiting for noticeable processing after pressing the shutter. There can still be a slightly punchy character to some photographs, but nothing that particularly bothered me.

During testing, I photographed a building opposite me where part of the upper floor had previously suffered fire damage. Zooming into the scene, I was impressed by how closely the camera reproduced the smoke-stained and burnt areas compared with what I could see with my own eyes.

The front camera also performed well. Selfies retained good detail and produced results that I was quite happy to share without much additional editing.

That perhaps sums up the Reno16 camera experience best. It is designed for someone who wants to take the phone out, capture the moment and quickly have an attractive, shareable image.

Performance is good, but the price changes expectations

The Reno16 5G is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, and for everyday smartphone use, I have few complaints.

Messaging, email, browsing, photography, social media, content consumption and moving between applications all feel responsive. I didn’t encounter anything during normal use that made the Reno16 feel particularly slow.

But this is also where the AED 2,499 price becomes important.

The Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 is a capable processor, but buyers spending this amount can reasonably expect considerable performance headroom. Users interested primarily in everyday smartphone tasks are unlikely to have an issue, but demanding gamers and those running heavier workloads may find more powerful alternatives at this price.

The Reno16 therefore gets everyday performance right. I simply would have liked OPPO to push the performance envelope further.

Battery and charging strengthen the package

One specification that certainly stands out is the 6,700mAh battery, particularly when combined with 80W SUPERVOOC charging.

Battery capacity has become an increasingly important battleground among smartphone manufacturers, and OPPO has managed to package a substantial battery without making the Reno16 feel unnecessarily cumbersome.

Fast charging also remains one of those features whose usefulness becomes obvious very quickly. Rather than leaving a phone connected for extended periods, being able to add significant charge during a relatively short stop is genuinely practical.

AI is here, but practicality matters more!

Unsurprisingly for a smartphone arriving in 2026, AI plays a significant role in OPPO’s software proposition.

The Reno16 includes the AI Snap Key, which can provide quick access to features such as AI Mind Space. But what I appreciate more is that OPPO allows the physical key to be customised for other functions.

I configured mine to switch between Ring, Vibrate and Silent, and found myself appreciating that simple functionality more than another dedicated AI shortcut.

That flexibility is important. AI capabilities will continue evolving rapidly, but consumers still interact with their smartphones through dozens of simple actions every day. Sometimes improving those actions creates more immediate value than adding another headline AI feature.

ColorOS is fast, although I still want more customisation

ColorOS runs smoothly on the Reno16, and there is no noticeable lag during ordinary use. As mentioned earlier, the haptics are particularly good.

I am less convinced by some of the interface aesthetics. The pre-installed applications and certain default visual elements aren’t necessarily to my taste, and I would like greater freedom around icon customisation and the Quick Settings interface.

These are largely subjective complaints, however. For someone primarily using the Reno16 for messaging, email, photography, browsing, social media and entertainment, ColorOS gets the fundamentals right.

The AED 2,499 question?

The Reno16 5G is ultimately a polished smartphone with very few obvious weaknesses. The camera is dependable, the construction feels premium, the battery capacity is impressive, 80W charging is genuinely useful and everyday performance is smooth.

What prevents it from becoming an automatic recommendation is not something the Reno16 does particularly badly. It is simply how competitive the market becomes once a smartphone reaches AED 2,499.

The Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 is perfectly capable, but at this price I would have liked more performance headroom.

For Reno14 users, however, the improvements across design, camera, battery and the overall experience make the Reno16 feel like a meaningful progression. If you already own a Reno15, the argument for upgrading immediately is considerably harder to make.

The Reno16 gets most of the fundamentals right. The question buyers ultimately need to answer is whether that polished overall experience is enough to justify its price.

Srijith kn
Continue Reading

VAR

Baseus PicoGo AC22 Review: How Much Power Can Fit in Your Pocket?

Published

on


Carrying a power bank often means accepting a compromise between capacity and convenience. A 10,000mAh unit typically demands a dedicated bag compartment, while ultra-compact chargers rarely hold enough power to be genuinely useful on a long day. The Baseus PicoGo AC22 takes a more elegant approach, placing a high-density 10,000mAh battery into a footprint roughly the size of a wireless earbuds case.

Reviewed By Srijith KN, Senior Editor, Integrator

The result is a portable charger that feels purpose-built for the daily commute. Rather than requiring a backpack, it slips easily into a pocket. When you factor in the built-in USB-C cable that doubles as a carrying strap, the AC22 becomes a surprisingly practical solution for professionals moving between meetings, flights, and remote workspaces.

A Different Approach to High-Density Power

The first thing that stands out about the PicoGo AC22 is its size-to-output ratio. Baseus utilises a dual-cell silicon-carbon battery chemistry, which allows the unit to remain exceptionally compact while delivering a 45W maximum output. On paper, 45W is a technical specification. In practice, it becomes the charger’s defining advantage. It provides enough current to fast-charge flagship smartphones from zero to fifty percent in under thirty minutes, and can even sustain smaller USB-C laptops during a layover.

The integrated eight-inch USB-C cable makes the concept even more practical. A secondary USB-C port allows for simultaneous dual-device charging, though output drops to a combined 5V/3A when both are in use. A smart digital display clearly indicates the remaining battery percentage, removing the guesswork often associated with four-LED indicator systems.

Design That Feels Ready for Travel

The AC22 is constructed with travel in mind. Weighing just 170 grams, it carries full TSA compliance for airline carry-on. The built-in cable is robust enough to act as a lanyard, though its short length means you cannot easily use your phone while the charger sits in your pocket.

This combination feels particularly relevant for airport lounges, cafes, and conference centres. The unit does generate noticeable warmth during sustained 45W output, but a comprehensive seven-point safety system manages thermal limits effectively. It recharges fully in roughly two hours via a 30W input, ensuring it is ready for the next leg of the journey.

For users who require magnetic attachment or wireless charging, Baseus offers the sibling AM52 model. However, for those prioritising rapid wired charging in the smallest possible format, the PicoGo AC22 delivers reliable, predictable power without the usual bulk.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2023 | The Integrator