Oppo Find X7 Ultra: flagship smartphone features world’s first dual periscope zooms with 1 inch-wide Sony LYT-900 sensor

On Monday, Oppo launched its Find X7 and Find X7 Ultra flagship smartphones in China, emphasizing their innovative camera features. The Find X7 Ultra stands out as the world’s first device to feature dual periscope zoom cameras with a 1-inch Sony LYT-900 sensor, and claims to have the largest telephoto sensor ever integrated in a smartphone. With the Find X7 Ultra, Oppo also becomes only the second domestic brand after Huawei to offer a satellite phone function. Why it matters: Oppo is hoping to capitalize on consumer excitement for new technology at the dawn of 2024, seeking a competitive edge by introducing hi-spec innovations at a time when China’s mobile phone market is increasingly saturated. Details: The Find X7 Ultra debuts Oppo’s quad main camera and advanced 1-inch Sony LYT-900 sensor, combining breakthroughs in camera hardware with its HyperTone camera system and pro-grade Hasselblad tuning. The Find X7 Ultra packs in four 50MP main cameras, including two equipped with a periscope zoom lens, bridging the zoom gap between optical focal lengths. The 50MP 3x periscope zoom camera features a 1/1.56” Sony IMX890 sensor, an f/2.6 aperture, and a 65mm focal length. This sensor is approximately three times the size of cameras found in major competitors’ phone systems, with Oppo claiming it as the largest telephoto sensor in any smartphone currently on the market. The wide camera features an advanced second-generation Sony LYT-900 1-inch sensor, touted as having improved power efficiency compared to its predecessor. With a customized lens with an f/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilization (OIS), it also promises a 50% reduction in reflection, all at a versatile 23mm optical focal length. When users need to zoom out, the ultra-wide camera comes into play with its 50MP Sony LYT-600 sensor. This camera delivers expansive and detailed shots at a focal distance of as near as 4cm, thanks to its large size focal length and fast f/2.0 aperture, according to Oppo. The Find X7 Ultra also includes software additions like the HyperTone Image Engine, giving users advanced computational photography options and features for high-quality photos. The flagship is equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, featuring a large 5,000mAh battery capable of fast 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. Its 6.82-inch display offers a 1440p resolution, a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz, and a peak brightness reaching 4500 nits for HDR content. The Find X7 Ultra will be available in three colors: black, blue, and brown. Currently, the phone remains exclusive to the Chinese market, with no release planned for Europe or the US. Prices start at RMB 5,999 ($845) for a model with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, going up to RMB 6,999 ($986) for 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Context: In the third quarter of 2023, the global smartphone market fell 1% year-on-year, to 299.8 million units sold, according to research firm Counterpoint. Today’s top five global phone brands are Samsung (with a 20% market share), Apple (16%), Oppo (14%), Xiaomi (14%), and Vivo (7%).