Oppo Find X3 Pro Photo Gallery: One year on, is it still a contender?

Before Christmas, Oppo reached out to ask if I’d like to take a look at its current flagship Find X3 Pro, which I never got around to testing at launch. Here are a selection of photos that I’ve taken with it.

I have been intending to do a full handset review once the device got Android 12, but as of now I am still awaiting the update. It is uncertain why UK users in particular are still waiting when many other users around the world have had ColorOS 12 (based on Android 12) since mid to late December 2021.

I’ve been told unofficially that there are some GDPR issues to overcome, although I cannot be sure that this is definitely the reason. In any case, Android 12 is not rolling out to everyone yet – and it seems particularly frustrating when Google has just dropped the first beta of Android 13 to Pixel owners!

The photos in this gallery have been taken over the last three months, with many taken in less than ideal weather conditions. This is also why you’ll see many Christmas photos, some of which you’ll have already seen posted on my Instagram and Twitter already.

I have narrowed down a selection from many different days, trying to pick out photos I’d consider interesting, and show off the capabilities of the phone’s cameras.

Official photos and video from the phone, from the launch in early 2021

The Oppo Find X3 Pro was announced way back in March 2021 but the only model I got to use between then and now was the Find X3 Neo, arguably a fantastic mix of performance and affordability (£699 vs £1,099 for the Pro).

Check the comparison table below to see the differences in specifications. As you can see, the Pro and Neo share two cameras (the 50-megapixel primary and 13-megapixel telephoto), which is perhaps why the Neo could be a fantastic alternative to the flagship for many.

There’s also my 2020 phone of the year to consider, if you can still find one, namely the Find X2 Pro. This phone has a superior zoom capability, with about the only limitation being that it won’t get as much support as the newer models as the phone approaches two years old.

Find X3 Series Specifications

Find X3 Pro (5G)Find X3 Neo (5G)Find X3 Lite (5G)
Size/Weight163.6 x 74 x 8.26mm / 193g159.9 x 72.5 x 7.99mm / 184g159.1 x 73.4 x 7.9mm / 172-180g
Display6.7 inch AMOLED LTPO
1 Billion colour display
1440×3216 pixels
120Hz Dynamic Refresh
240Hz Touch Sampling
500 nits (800 sunlight)
HDR10+ Certified
6.55 inch OLED
1080×2400 pixels
90Hz Refresh Rate
180Hz Touch Sampling
500 nits (800 sunlight)
HDR10+
6.4 inch OLED
1080×2400 pixels
90Hz Refresh Rate
180Hz Touch Sampling
430 nits (600 sunlight)
ChipsetQualcomm Snapdragon 888Qualcomm Snapdragon 865Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
Camera (rear)50-megapixel Primary Camera
Sony IMX 766 Sensor
f/1.8 OIS
All Pixel Omni-directional PDAF

50-megapixel Ultra Wide
Sony IMX 766 Sensor
f/2.2

All Pixel Omni-directional PDAF

13-megapixel Telephoto
f/2.4
5x Hybrid Zoom, 20x Digital Zoom

3-megapixel Microlens
f/3.0 fixed focus

Video up to 4K 60fps
50-megapixel Primary Camera
Sony IMX 766 Sensor
f/1.8 OIS
All Pixel Omni-directional PDAF

16-megapixel Ultra Wide
f/2.2

13-megapixel Telephoto
f/2.4
5x Hybrid Zoom, 20x Digital Zoom

2-megapixel Macro
f/2.4

Video up to 4K 60fps
64-megapixel Primary camera
f/1.7
80 degree Field-of-View
Closed loop focus motor

8-megapixel Ultra Wide
f/2.2

2-megapixel Macro
f/2.4

2-megapixel Mono camera
f/2.4

Video up to 4K 30fps
Camera (front)32-megapixel Selfie camera
f/2.4

Video up to 1080p 30fps
32-megapixel Selfie camera
f/2.4

Video up to 1080p 30fps
32-megapixel Selfie camera
f/2.4

Video up to 1080p 30fps
Memory12GB LPDDR5 RAM
256GB UFS 3.1 Storage
12GB LPDDR4 RAM
256GB UFS 3.0 Storage
8GB LPDDR4 RAM
128GB UFS 2.1 Storage
ConnectivityDual-SIM + eSIM
Wi-Fi 6 (2×2 160)
Bluetooth 5.2
USB 3.1 (USB 3.1 data cable required)
NFC
Dual-SIM
Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth 5.2
NFC
Dual-SIM
Wi-Fi 5
Bluetooth 5.1
3.5mm Headphone port
NFC
Battery4,500mAh
65W SuperVOOC 2.0 (65W)
30W Wireless Charging
4,500mAh
65W SuperVOOC 2.0 (65W)
4,300mAh
65W SuperVOOC 2.0 (65W)
OSColorOS 11.2 on Android 11ColorOS 11.1 on Android 11ColorOS 11.1 on Android 11
AudioDolby Atmos with Stereo SoundDolby Atmos (Mono)Dolby Atmos (Mono)
IP ratingIP68NoNo
Supplied withEarphones
Standard Data Cable
Charger
Protective Case
Earphones
Standard Data Cable
Charger
Protective Case
Earphones
Standard Data Cable
Charger
Protective Case
ColoursGloss Black
Blue
Galactic Silver
Starlight Black
Galactic Silver
Starry Black
Astral Blue

The overall performance of the phone has been very positive, and there is a great deal of control available to get the most from the various camera features.

I have been using the phone as a primary phone for a while, so I will be able to give my thoughts and opinions on the other parts of the phone when I can finish the main review. But even as I patiently await the OS update, I can say that my experience has been great and it is very much a flagship phone in the same vein as the Find X2 Pro.

Given ColorOS is virtually identical to the Realme UI variant that features on many of the phones I’ve reviewed of late, I have become quite a fan of the skin – and the layout of the menus, launcher etc.

While OnePlus is migrating to ColorOS, it will still retain a unique look and feel that resembles OxygenOS, but if you covered up the Realme and Oppo logos on the back of many devices, you’d be hard pushed to tell any difference at all.

Of course, there are differences such as screen technology, audio quality and so on – but it just goes to show how many great choices can be had from phones under the BBK Electronics umbrella right now – and 2022 is already set to give us many more products, such as Realme’s 9 series and GT2 series – some of which now include the best quality image sensors Realme has ever used, including OIS.

The next Find X flagship is due to be unveiled at Mobile World Congress 2022.

And the Find X3 Pro is about to be replaced by the Find X5 Pro (early reports suggest Oppo hasn’t made significant changes to the optics from the Find X3 Pro, but has instead improved the image processing, thanks to its own dedicated silicon). There is also a non-pro variant at the very least, and possibly other variants to come.

The microscope camera has apparently been removed on the new model (a feature I briefly tried but didn’t really see the point of) and the new phone is expected to be produced in collaboration with Hasselblad, again just like OnePlus started with the OnePlus 9 series last year.

It is going to be interesting to see how things progress, but the point of this feature is to show you what’s available now.

With the new models on the horizon, which is almost certainly set to be released at a premium price (either the same as the current phone, or more), and the fact the Find X3 Pro will almost certainly fall in price when they arrive – this might be the perfect time to consider one if you initially baulked at the prospect of spending £1,099 on a phone. Snapdragon 888 is still incredibly powerful, so will be more than capable for some time to come.

The retail price is still riding high for the time being, but there are some good deals to be had if purchasing the phone on a contract.

But, for now, let’s just look at the photos…

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