From Find X3 to… Find X5. The number “4” is a bad omen in China, so there was no question of Oppo using it to name its new high-end smartphone, which we were able to discover a few days ago.
At first glance, it is difficult to distinguish this new model from its predecessor, whose qualities we praised last year. Oppo has swapped the glass back for ceramic, which is more resistant. But if we omit the block that brings together the photo modules (we will come back to this), the Find X 5 Pro is almost a carbon copy of the old model: same dimensions, same screen size… We are on familiar ground.
But make no mistake: there are indeed changes under the hood. Starting with the SoC, which is none other than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, a new high-end chip from Qualcomm. A powerful processor, which according to our first tests, places the Find X 5 Pro among the most powerful smartphones on the market, alongside, for example, the Galaxy S22.
MariSilicon X, the secret weapon to triumph in photos?
But it is above all the other chip present in this smartphone that caught our attention. Called MariSilicon X, it was developed in-house, and demonstrates both immense R&D spending and Oppo’s desire to stand out from its competitors on the photo front. MariSilicon X has several uses: it notably integrates an NPU – a neural network accelerator – as well as a powerful image processor (ISP). What, for example, allow real-time processing of the “raw” flow of images coming out of the sensor (RAW), including in 4K. All with 20-bit color sampling.
Behind these tempting technical characteristics, which we detailed to you a few weeks ago, there is a promise: that of much better quality photos and videos: less noise, better reproduced colors, and better performance in low light, especially. We will see if these commitments are kept during our test of the device.
Oppo has in any case given itself the means to distinguish itself in terms of image quality. Certainly, it does not overbid, and retains the same sensors as the previous version. There is even a disappearance: the “macro” sensor of the Find X 3 is no longer. We therefore have, on the back, two 50 Mpix IMX666 sensors (wide angle and ultra wide angle, see our box) as well as a “small” 13 Mpix sensor for a 2x optical zoom.
A rather ordinary score, which could even seem weak against competitors who offer much larger zooms. But once again, Oppo is trying to stand out in a different way. In particular by refining the main photo module of the Find X Pro 5. The elements of its lens are indeed made of glass rather than plastic, and it above all incorporates a five-axis optical stabilizer, a new technology which allows both to stabilize the sensor and lens. Again, we will see during our tests if this material keeps its promises.
A very solid technical sheet
The rest of the data sheet ticks all the boxes for a good high-end smartphone of 2022. Starting with a 5000 mAh dual-cell battery, which, according to our first tests, offers autonomy in the average of high-end smartphones. recent range. But also an improved fast charge, with a full charge in 50 minutes, according to our measurements. Oppo also inaugurates on this product a technology which according to him would double the longevity of the battery: the Find X 5 Pro should hold 1600 charging cycles before the accumulator begins to show signs of fatigue.
Ouch, the price stings the eyes a little
The 6.7-inch (3216 x 1440, 6.7-inch) AMOLED panel offers variable refresh from 1 to 120 Hz. A good point, even if, according to our first measurements, it is a little less bright than average. The smartphone is powered by 12 GB of RAM, which seems more than enough… But we would have liked more storage: 256 GB non-expandable is a bit sparse, especially for a device that wants to be the champion of the photos and 4K video.
A bit cheap at this price! Because the note is still salty. Resolutely high-end, this smartphone is also by its cost. The Find X 5 Pro will be available on March 24 for 1300 euros, a price roughly equivalent to Apple’s iPhone 13 Pro Max.
As for the Find X5, it is a slightly less well-endowed version (we lose the refinements of the main sensor, including the glass optics and the 5x optical stabilizer, and we go to 8 GB of RAM), which nevertheless retains the MariSilicon X chip. This smartphone is more accessible, with a price of 1000 euros.