The Oppo Find X9 Ultra is shaping up to deliver a major upgrade to long range smartphone photography, with early details pointing to a redesigned 10x periscope telephoto lens that could outperform previous high-zoom camera systems used in flagship devices.
The development reflects a broader trend among flagship smartphones where manufacturers are focusing on advanced zoom capabilities to differentiate camera performance as hardware improvements in primary sensors begin to reach diminishing returns.
Recent leaks indicate that Oppo may reintroduce 10x optical zoom through a redesigned periscope lens rather than relying on external telephoto accessories or detachable converters that some competing camera-focused smartphones have begun experimenting with.
Industry leaker Digital Chat Station has shared details suggesting the device could feature a 10x periscope telephoto lens using a 1/2.76 inch ISOCELL JN5 sensor paired with an f/3.5 aperture, a combination aimed at improving light capture during long distance photography.
The rumoured aperture would represent a notable shift for high-magnification smartphone cameras, as telephoto lenses traditionally rely on narrower apertures to accommodate the physical constraints of folded periscope optics.
A new approach to high zoom smartphone photography
Earlier flagship devices with 10x optical zoom relied on smaller sensors and tighter apertures, with Samsung’s previous 10x camera using a 1/3.52 inch sensor and an f/4.9 aperture.
The Find X9 Ultra’s reported f/3.5 telephoto lens could therefore allow significantly more light to reach the sensor, which may help improve low light performance and reduce image noise during high magnification shooting.
Digital Chat Station also reported that the lens could be roughly three times faster than Samsung’s earlier 10x periscope design, suggesting a shift in how manufacturers balance aperture size and optical zoom inside slim smartphone bodies.
Additional upgrades across the camera system
The Find X9 Ultra is also expected to include a 200MP periscope telephoto system capable of reaching 400mm equivalent focal length, a configuration aimed at delivering extremely high-resolution long-range photography beyond the typical zoom range seen in flagship smartphones.
The sensor is expected to measure roughly 1/1.28 inches, placing it among the larger telephoto sensors used in smartphones and potentially enabling stronger detail retention when cropping or zooming digitally beyond the optical range.
Oppo has not officially confirmed the Find X9 Ultra’s camera specifications or launch timeline, though industry leaks suggest the device may debut in China before expanding to international markets later this year.
