When compiling a list of the best camera phones of 2026, the OPPO Find X9 Ultra stood apart from all the rest. This isn’t just another flagship with a good camera. TechRadar tested over 500 photos on the Find X9 Ultra and Galaxy S26 Ultra — and OPPO won in most scenarios. The only smartphone in 2026 with 10x optical zoom. People say “it’s more camera than phone” — and that’s no exaggeration. Let me break it down in detail.
A smartphone with a camera for professionals
Why OPPO Find X9 Ultra Is the Best Camera Phone of 2026
The best camera of 2026 according to TechRadar is the OPPO Find X9 Ultra smartphone. The editorial team conducted a massive comparison with Galaxy S26 Ultra: over 500 photos in various lighting conditions, at different distances and scenarios. The result — Find X9 Ultra wins in most situations.
10x zoom during daytime shooting
10x zoom in the evening
The main trump card is one of a kind. A smartphone with a telephoto lens offering 10x optical zoom — that’s the Find X9 Ultra and no other flagship in 2026. Samsung dropped 10x zoom back on the Galaxy S24 Ultra and hasn’t brought it back since. OPPO says their 10x telephoto is three times more light-sensitive than Galaxy’s 10x camera. Meanwhile, Hasselblad tuned the color reproduction and processing algorithms across all four modules — they didn’t just slap on a logo.
OPPO Find X9 Ultra Camera Capabilities
Let me break down each module of the OPPO Find X9 Ultra camera separately. But right away — there are no weak links:
- Main camera: 200 MP, Sony LYT-901 sensor, f/1.5 aperture, 23mm focal length. A large sensor with excellent light-gathering capability — the best choice for shooting in any lighting.
- Ultra-wide: 50 MP, 1/1.95-inch sensor, f/2.0, 14mm focal length. For most competitors, the ultra-wide is a weak spot with a small sensor. Here, the 1/1.95-inch sensor is larger than many mid-range main cameras.
- 3x periscope: 200 MP, f/2.2, 70mm focal length. 200 MP on a telephoto — for detailed portraits and architecture at medium distance.
- 10x periscope: 50 MP, f/3.5, 230mm focal length. The main unique feature of 2026. Allows shooting distant objects with true optical zoom — without digital quality degradation.
Plus a 2nd-generation Danxia multispectral sensor — it’s responsible for accurate skin color reproduction and correct white balance. This isn’t marketing — it genuinely affects portrait photography.
OPPO Find X9 Ultra Specifications — Not Just the Camera
OPPO Find X9 Ultra specifications in numbers:
| Specifications | OPPO Find X9 Ultra |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.82 inches, AMOLED (3168×1440), 144 Hz, Dolby Vision |
| Cameras | 200 + 50 + 200 + 50 MP, Hasselblad |
| Front camera | 50 MP |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| Memory | 12/512 or 16/1024 GB |
| Battery | 7050 mAh |
| Charging | 100W wired, 50W wireless |
A few details beyond the table. The body features a dedicated physical camera control button with a touch surface — swiping on it adjusts zoom or exposure without touching the screen. IP66/68/69K — full water protection. Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner, stereo speakers. Battery life is about 20% better than the Galaxy S26 Ultra according to independent tests.
OPPO Find X9 Ultra vs Competitors
The main competitors are Xiaomi 17 Ultra and vivo X300 Ultra. Let me honestly break down where OPPO wins:
- Against Xiaomi 17 Ultra: Xiaomi has a maximum zoom of 4.3x versus 10x on OPPO. The ultra-wide on Xiaomi has a smaller sensor. In daytime conditions, Xiaomi 17 Ultra shoots excellently — but at distance, OPPO is unreachable.
- Against vivo X300 Ultra: vivo has one periscope telephoto versus two on OPPO. The vivo X300 Ultra has a strong camera — but there’s no 10x zoom here either.
The Android phone with the best camera in 2026 is the OPPO Find X9 Ultra. Not because the competitors are bad, but because the combination of 10x optical zoom with Hasselblad tuning and Sony sensors on all modules isn’t found anywhere else.
The OPPO Find X9 Ultra phone is bought by those who want to replace a DSLR or mirrorless camera while traveling. Photos on OPPO Find X9 Ultra in low-light conditions, at zoom, portraits — all of this is at a level that was recently unattainable for a smartphone. If the camera isn’t just one of the selection criteria but the main one — the answer is clear.
