Imagine loving your iPhone so much that it's your daily lifeline, yet feeling a pang of envy every time you glance at a rival phone that outshines it in ways Apple could easily match—welcome to my world after testing the Oppo Find X9 Pro. As an iPhone enthusiast, I'm rooting for Apple to level up big time for the iPhone 18, and these three standout features from Oppo are the blueprint they desperately need to follow.
Commentary: My iPhone 17 Pro Max is my trusty companion, but after getting hands-on with Oppo's Find X9 Pro, I've got a burning wishlist for what Apple's future flagship should borrow to stay ahead.
Prakhar Khanna Update Writer / CNET
Prakhar Khanna serves as an Updates Writer at CNET, with his work featured in outlets like ZDNET, Forbes, and beyond. He contributed to the judging panel for the CES 2025 Innovation Awards. Connect with him on social media at @ParkyPrakhar. Reach out via email: parkydoesstuff(at)gmail(dot)com
Expertise: Mobile Devices, Audio Gear, Travel Technology
5 min read
The Oppo Find X9 Pro (https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/oppo-find-x9-pro-one-of-the-best-android-phones-ive-tested-all-year/) stands out as one of the most balanced and impressive smartphones released this year. It combines a flexible camera setup, robust processing power, a stunning screen, and outstanding endurance on a single charge—all wrapped in a comfortable, user-friendly body. In his detailed CNET review, Andrew Lanxon raved, "Oppo's Find X9 Pro might just be one of the best Android phones (https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/best-android-phone/) I've tested in 2025 -- and I've tested plenty." Even though it's not sold in the US market, this device challenges Apple's dominance with innovations that the newest iPhone 17 Pro (https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/apple-iphone-17-pro-iphone-17-pro-max-review/) simply doesn't offer yet. This leaves the tech giant from Cupertino, California, in a challenging position: they must keep pushing boundaries with fresh iPhone (https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/best-phone/) enhancements while matching the strides made by competitors like Oppo. But here's where it gets controversial—should Apple really be playing catch-up to Android makers, or is this a sign that the iOS ecosystem needs a shake-up to stay relevant?
After spending a full week with the Find X9 Pro, I've pinpointed three game-changing elements that I urgently want Apple to adopt for the iPhone 18. Let's dive in and see why these could transform your mobile experience.
- Elevate the iPhone's Capabilities in Still Image Capture
When it comes to mobile video production, Apple's iPhone Pro series reigns supreme, no contest. The iPhone 17 Pro delivers rock-solid stabilization akin to professional action cameras and flexible editing options for footage—even when zooming in up to 8x. For beginners, stabilization means the phone's software smooths out shaky movements, making your videos look professional without needing a gimbal. However, in the realm of still photography, it falls short against powerhouses from China like Xiaomi and Oppo, particularly in creating sharp portraits, capturing clear images in dim lighting, and handling extended zoom distances.
Take the Oppo Find X9 Pro's impressive 200-megapixel telephoto lens paired with 3x optical zoom—this setup produces photos bursting with crisp, detailed elements that make everyday shots feel extraordinary. In comparison, the iPhone 17 Pro's 4x 48-megapixel telephoto camera, which boasts 8x "optical-quality" zoom, often results in grainy, noisy images during my tests, especially when the light is low. Noise here refers to those unwanted speckles that degrade photo quality, like static on an old TV screen.
I've snapped plenty of 10x zoomed shots on the Find X9 Pro that turn out beautifully clear, but on my iPhone, I rarely push past 4x for stills because of that pesky noise issue. Oppo excels with superior digital processing—essentially, the algorithms that enhance and refine images after the sensor captures them—which shines through in portrait mode (where the background blurs to focus on the subject), low-light conditions, and close-up macro photography. For instance, in portraits, the Oppo phone more accurately identifies object edges and applies a natural bokeh effect (that artistic blur that mimics a high-end camera lens). Low-light scenes, like city streets at night, render neon signs with vivid colors and minimal graininess. Even macro shots at 6x zoom reveal intricate details without forcing you to hover inches from your subject, as shown in the example photo included. You can explore more of these captivating images in this gallery (https://www.cnet.com/pictures/ive-taken-hundreds-of-photos-with-the-oppo-find-x9-pro-these-are-my-favs/).
Across all these situations, the Oppo delivers superior results with just one press of the shutter—something that's frustratingly elusive on the iPhone. I truly hope Apple integrates similar advanced image processing into their portrait, macro, and low-light features to bridge this gap. And this is the part most people miss: while iPhones dominate video, conceding stills to Android rivals might alienate photography enthusiasts who value versatility.
I've Taken Hundreds of Photos With the Oppo Find X9 Pro. These Are My Faves
See all photos (https://www.cnet.com/pictures/ive-taken-hundreds-of-photos-with-the-oppo-find-x9-pro-these-are-my-favs/)
- Boost the iPhone's Battery Power
One of the Oppo Find X9 Pro's standout specs is its massive 7,500-mAh battery, dwarfing the iPhone 17 Pro Max's 5,018-mAh unit (as listed on Apple's EU site). In CNET's rigorous battery benchmarks (https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/which-2025-iphone-has-the-best-battery-ive-crowned-a-new-power-winner/), the iPhone 17 Pro Max aced every test upon its September launch. To explain for newcomers, mAh measures capacity—like the size of your phone's fuel tank—and higher numbers generally mean longer runtime, though efficiency plays a huge role. Apple's tight integration of hardware, software, and custom chips allows them to squeeze more life out of smaller batteries than most Android devices achieve.
As someone glued to my phone for over eight hours daily—scrolling social media, streaming, and working on the go—the Find X9 Pro has been a revelation. It doesn't quite double my iPhone's endurance, but I've yet to drain it completely in one day. For lighter users who check emails and browse occasionally, it could stretch to a full two days without plugging in. In fact, during CNET's video streaming battery drain test, the Oppo set a new record, narrowly surpassing the iPhone 17 Pro Max's 91% retention rate. As Andrew Lanxon, CNET's chief photographer and editor-at-large, noted in his review of the Find X9 Pro (http://www.cnet.com/oppo-find-x9-pro-one-of-the-best-android-phones-ive-tested-all-year), "After 3 hours of streaming video on YouTube, the phone dropped from 100% to only 92%. The iPhone 17 Pro dropped to 85% after the same amount of time, while the Pixel 10 Pro XL dropped all the way to 76%." Plus, when it does run low, the Oppo recharges at a blazing 80 watts, compared to the iPhone's more modest 40-watt speed—meaning you spend less time tethered to a charger.
A key factor in the Oppo's endurance is its innovative silicon-carbon battery technology. Unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries (the standard in iPhones, which use layers of lithium and other materials to store energy), silicon-carbon designs pack more power into the same physical space by incorporating silicon anodes that hold more charge. This is like upgrading from a compact sedan tank to a larger one without bulking up the car. I dream of Apple adopting this for the next iPhone, freeing me from lugging a portable power bank on extended outings or trips. Picture the freedom: an iPhone Pro Max with 7,500 mAh could power through international flights, all-day events, or marathon gaming sessions without a hitch. But here's a counterpoint that stirs debate—does cramming in bigger batteries risk compromising Apple's sleek design ethos, or is endurance worth the trade-off?
- Incorporate Additional Handy Enhancements for the iPhone
Beyond the big hitters, the Oppo Find X9 Pro has several smaller tweaks that enhance daily use, and I'd love to see them inspire iOS updates on my iPhone 17 Pro Max. Here's a closer look:
Multifunction Action Button: Apple's Action button is handy for quick shortcuts via double-press, but it feels restrictive for power users. Imagine combining silence mode with your favorite app launch on one button—Oppo's AI Plus Key does exactly that, letting you long-press for voice memos or single-press to capture screenshots in its 'Mind Space' feature. I could skip the Mind Space, but dual shortcuts on the iPhone's button would streamline my workflow tremendously. For example, silencing during meetings while jotting notes would be a seamless combo.
Expandable Folders on the Home Screen: This gem, which I've adored on Honor's MagicOS and Oppo's ColorOS, lets you create folders that unfurl to show multiple apps at once. My ideal setup has a folder of five productivity apps that expands to give me instant taps to three favorites, keeping things tidy yet accessible. It's perfect for cluttered screens—think grouping your social apps without digging through layers, saving precious seconds throughout the day.
Enhanced Quality for Live Photos: I always enable Live Photos on my iPhone because they capture those fleeting moments with a bit of motion, revealing the real emotion behind a still shot—like the subtle smile in a family portrait. They're also fantastic for social media, easily converting into short clips for Instagram Reels or TikTok videos. However, Apple's versions often look pixelated with choppy frame rates when edited. On the Oppo Find X9 Pro, though, you can transform them into smooth 4K videos, which is a boon for content creators aiming for polished, high-res shorts. This upgrade could make iPhone Live Photos a true rival to dedicated video tools.
The iPhone 17 Pro shines for advanced users and creators, but everyday folks would flock to these Oppo-inspired perks on their Apple devices. From sharper portraits to smarter iOS tweaks, my vision for the iPhone 18 is crystal clear, and I'm optimistic Apple will rise to the occasion.
What do you think—should Apple prioritize battery size over design minimalism, or focus more on camera software? Have you tried the Oppo Find X9 Pro, and does it tempt you away from iOS? Drop your thoughts in the comments; I'd love to hear if you agree or have counterarguments that could spark a lively debate!
Editors' note: Oppo covered the author's travel expenses for the Find X9 Pro launch event. All opinions and evaluations at CNET remain independent (https://www.cnet.com/editorial-process/).
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