A month with Oppo Find X5 Pro: a good show of strength | Video

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Why on earth spend 1,299 euros for a smartphone? I’ve asked myself this several times looking at the Find X5 Pro I’ve been using for about a month now, and the answer is the same one I give myself whenever a top-of-the-range smartphone arrives: few compromises and excellent photos / videos. Obviously these three things are not enough, a model of this range is chosen for many other reasons.

Certainly there are just as many not to spend all this money on a smartphone, especially these days that even the mid-range – well-stocked – manage to get where it was impossible to imagine a few years ago. So I wanted to start this review from where I left off my hot preview, or from the price, an element that certainly stands out in the face of certain more refined details that not everyone necessarily would like.

To be examined here is the technology, the hardware platform and, above all, the multimedia one which in this case sees the debut of the Marisilicon X chip alongside Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Will this NPU really make a difference to all other competing flagships? Let’s see together what it’s made of.

  • MATERIALS
  • PERFORMANCE
  • DATA SHEET
  • AUDIO AND RECEPTION
  • AUTONOMY AND RECHARGE
  • PHOTOS
  • VIDEO
  • CONCLUSIONS

CERAMIC OR GLASS ?!

The world of smartphones of a certain level now revolves around glass, a material that is now found in all the crevices and in the most disparate finishes: smooth, satin, transparent. The level of protection has risen so much thanks to Corning solutions and accidental drops do not necessarily translate into disaster (sometimes), and it is in this scenario that the ceramic reappears from time to time.

Oppo has decided to focus on the latter, more precious and resistant material for the Find X5 Pro, while the opaque (frosted) glass has been chosen for the younger brother Find X5. Advantages and disadvantages are the same in my opinion: on the one hand ceramic gives a more premium touch, on the other hand, it weighs more on the scale and certainly has a higher cost. After seeing both, I would therefore prefer the hybrid option of a “Pro” with glass back cover, lighter in weight (and in cost?). Too bad it doesn’t exist.

Oppo Find X5 Pro 73.9 x 163.7 x 8.5 mm
6.7 inches – 3216×1440 px
Oppo Find X5 72.6 x 160.3 x 8.7 mm
6.55 inches – 2220×1080 px
Oppo Find X5 Lite 72.1 x 156.8 x 7.8 mm
6.43 inches – 2400×1080 px

Click here for the complete comparison »

PERFORMANCE

Perhaps it is obvious to say that it is one of the best smartphones on the market, also in terms of pure performance thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 hardware platform, its 12GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage that can occasionally borrow to reach the record value of 19GB of RAM (seven of which via the expansion function). I don’t really know what they could be used for, maybe we will find out in the distant future where there will be such onerous applications or methods. Moreover, I add, no software actually verifies this amount of overall RAM and it is difficult to verify any advantages.

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Temperatures are at bay too thanks to a vapor chamber 75% larger than last year (Find X3 Pro) and 3D graphene sheets, all solutions that contain any “hot spirits”. I have been playing non-stop even over half an hour and I have only noticed a few degrees more than normal.

What matters is also the way in which all these ingredients are mixed and put together; Oppo has just improved its ColorOS 12 which seems to digest the sought after Qualcomm chip and all the rest of the components well. Everything runs very well and I have never noticed any indecision or smudging in everyday navigation, even if you push the panel to the maximum, or in QHD + at 120Hz.

DATA SHEET

  • Display: 6.7 “AMOLED LTPO WQHD + (3,216 x 1,440 pixels), 10-bit, variable refresh (maximum 120 Hz)
  • SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 with Adreno 730 + Marisilicon X GPU
  • RAM: 12GB expandable up to 19GB via software
  • Internal memory: 256 GB UFS 3.1 (1780 MB / s read and 1250 MB / s write)
  • Cameras:
    • Rear main wide angle: 50MP, Sony IMX766 aperture f / 1.7, Five-axis OIS
    • Rear ultra-wide angle secondary: 50 MP Sony IMX766 aperture f / 2.2, FOV 110 °
    • Rear secondary telephoto: 13 MP f / 2.4 2x zoom
    • Front wide angle: 32 MP, Sony IMX709 RGBW f / 2.4, optical stabilization, FOV 80-90 °
  • Battery: 5,000 mAh dual-cell
  • Refill: 80W wired, 50W wireless, 10W reverse, compatible with USB PD at 30W and Qi at 15W
  • Connectivity: 4G / 5G SA, Dual SIM 5G, eSIM, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC
  • Audio: stereo
  • Other: IP68 certification, ceramic material, Ceramic White and Black colors
  • OS: ColorOS 12.1 based on Android 12
  • Dimensions and weight: 163.7 x 73.9 x 8.5mm / 218g

Slightly brighter display than Find X3 Pro and fingerprint reader that changes position, or rather, distances itself from the lower edge by a couple of centimeters and is now more central, easy to reach in my opinion. Fast as usual in fingerprint recognition, unlocking can naturally also occur through face recognition, which is also very fast.

AUDIO AND RECEPTION

Double speaker and no shock compared to last year: there is Dolby Atmos and the possibility to choose the profile for different scenarios ranging from “movie” to “games” and “music”. Powerful and well balanced sound even at high decibels, the yield is among the best in the industry.

Double slot for nanoSIM, I use it with double card and I have not noticed any smudging in reception, Oppo also talks about a new even more performing system called “Smart Antenna 3.0” but the truth is that everything worked even before in this sector. If there is one thing I would improve it is the vibration, good but not as punchy as I would like. Uncompromising connectivity with 5G SA / NSA, WiFi 6 ax and latest generation Blutooth 5.2.

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AUTONOMY AND RECHARGE

It improves the autonomy compared to the Find X3 Pro, not by much but just enough to change the overall experience, allowing me, for example, to close a full day in any situation, even the most stressful ones. This is clearly an extreme smartphone in terms of performance and going beyond it would be far-fetched, the 500mAh added this year (5,000mAh total) is an adequate response to the needs of the moment. Also excellent is the software that accurately detects the applications that are consuming more than expected and with a key facilitates the cleaning of these activities in the background.

And then there is the very fast recharge, which in thirty-five minutes brings the batteries back to maximum starting from the bottom, timing in line with those of last year where the capacity was less. In short, the perception is deceiving, but it recharges less quickly and Oppo also speaks of a double number of cycles (1,600) before the system degrades significantly. Here are the charging times in detail from 0 to 100%:

  • in 0-5 min 10% is reached
  • in 10 min 29% is reached
  • in 15 min 47% is reached
  • in 20 min 62% is reached
  • in 25 min 77% is reached
  • in 30 min 91% is reached
  • in 35 min 100% is reached

PHOTOS

Healed and orphaned compartment of the microscope that made a quick appearance last year; we won’t miss it to be honest. The main camera is really great both day and night, with glass and resin optics that replace the usual plastic ones, for a clarity and precision of the shots that really makes the difference.

To make the difference, once again, is the wide angle that shows the muscles in relation to everyone. For example, let’s see the crop of these shots taken in the same conditions with Find X5 Pro, Galaxy S22 Ultra, iPhone 13 Pro Max and Xiaomi 12 Pro. The images speak for themselves, the level of detail is completely different and Oppo’s ultrawide stands out in the group.

View in Full Screen

More generally, it is probably the best in its category, complete with autofocus to shoot in macro in case there was a need. Little background noise in more difficult conditions and very limited distortion.

The tele is less exciting, a simple 2x that does not add much, I would have preferred a slightly more pushed optical zoom or much more incisive with a periscopic camera. But for the latter, we know, a lot of space is needed. Good the front that behaves more than positively in complicated conditions as in the last shot in complete backlight, however not

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VIDEO

A separate chapter for these contents, the Find X5 Pro raises the bar to the maximum thanks to the 5-axis stabilization of the main camera, its general quality and precise focus. The gimbal becomes an accessory to be used only for convenience and not for vibration compensation, even by hand it is possible to make videos of the highest level.

The quality is very high, we are almost at the top of the category but not at the absolute maximum, from the comparison with other top of the range small general limits have been highlighted. The dynamic range is good, the fluidity in the recording as well, even in 4K at 60fps. Also note the passages of fire on close elements in this demo video that I propose below, a succulent close-up brunch:

Filters that allow you to change the atmosphere a little or blur the background properly with the aperture simulation, which is also very useful with the front camera, are increasingly easy and immediate to use. If you use these tricks, however, the resolution drops down to 1080p. Certainly there is still room for improvement in the contouring of the hair, but we are slowly approaching “perfection” in their application.

CONCLUSIONS

I have the impression that the capabilities of the NPU Marisilicon X are not yet all visible, with this hardware base it is likely that Oppo can push even more on the accelerator and gradually improve the shot with the updates, raising the level again. The cost remains too high for a householder that is too similar to his younger brother Find X5, almost equally interesting and lighter.

In short, for 1,299 euros I would therefore need an even more incisive technological leap, otherwise this remains a Ferrari with “handcrafted” finishes that few will be able to afford. Those who buy it will certainly be more than happy, mind you, in the end it is for me one of the best on the market and also one of the most balanced in performance, autonomy and capture capacity, both photos and videos.

After spending a month together, I admit that I got used to those extra grams, and it will be difficult to convince myself to break away from them, also because the competition is on the verge but few, very few manage to be so focused, in the round.

With the purchase of the Find X5 Pro, at the moment, Oppo bundles the Enco X, Watch Free, Wireless Charger AirVOOC 50W and Kevlar Protective Case for free.

VOTE 8.9