2025 Winners and losers: Oppo

Oppo's 2025 Lineup: Unpacking the Global Winners and China-Exclusive Losers

Oppo showcased an impressive array of smartphones in 2025, pushing boundaries in design, photography, and performance. However, a recurring theme casts a shadow over their otherwise stellar year: a significant number of their most groundbreaking devices remained exclusive to the Chinese market. While some remarkable innovations did make it to global consumers, many tech enthusiasts found themselves window-shopping for devices they couldn't purchase.

This deep dive explores the highlights and lowlights of Oppo's last twelve months, identifying the true global winners and the regrettable regional exclusives.

Winners: Oppo Find X9 and Find X9 Pro – Redefining Flagship Excellence

The Oppo Find X9 Pro emerged as a standout, earning praise for its versatility and near-perfect execution. Our extensive testing revealed an exceptional battery life, ranking as the second-best we've ever encountered, complemented by impressive charging speeds that keep users powered throughout their day.

Photography enthusiasts were particularly impressed by the Pro's advanced camera system. It features a large 1/1.28-inch main sensor and a revolutionary 200MP 70mm periscope telephoto lens, delivering unparalleled detail and zoom capabilities. While the optional Teleconverter Kit offered further creative potential, the core camera setup was already best-in-class. Under the hood, the Dimensity 9500 chipset provided robust performance, though demanding gaming sessions suggested room for enhanced thermal management.

For those seeking a more compact yet equally capable device, the Oppo Find X9 presented a compelling alternative. Sporting a slightly smaller 6.59-inch display (compared to the Pro's 6.78-inch), it retains a highly capable 50MP triple-camera system, making it a powerful contender. Its more accessible price point is poised to broaden its appeal, offering flagship-tier features to a wider audience.

Loser: Oppo Find X8 Ultra – A Camera Powerhouse Confined to China

The Oppo Find X8 Ultra was undoubtedly one of 2025's most sophisticated camera smartphones, yet its limited availability outside China made it a frustrating "loser" for global consumers. This device packed significant upgrades, including improved autofocus on its 3x telephoto camera and a larger sensor paired with a brighter lens for the 6x telephoto.

Critically, it maintained the massive 1-inch type main sensor, solidifying its status as a top-tier photographic tool for both stills and video. Beyond its camera prowess, the Find X8 Ultra also delivered enhanced battery life and superb charging speeds. Unfortunately, Oppo's decision to keep this technological marvel exclusive to China meant missed sales opportunities and denied countless buyers the chance to experience a truly exceptional camera phone. We can only hope for a broader release in the future.

Winner: Oppo Find N5 – The Foldable Evolution We Waited For

After much anticipation, the Oppo Find N5 finally arrived, proving to be one of the most capable and well-executed foldable smartphones of 2025. While it arrived later than ideal and wasn't as petite as its predecessor, its overall package pushed foldable technology forward.

This innovative device boasts a slender 8.9mm frame, housing a remarkably long-lasting 5,600mAh battery. Both its 6.62-inch cover display and expansive 8.12-inch main display are excellent panels, offering vibrant visuals and smooth interactions. The Find N5 addresses a traditional weakness in foldables with its versatile camera setup, featuring a 50MP 1/1.56-inch main sensor and a strong 50MP 3x/75mm telephoto lens. Although the 8MP ultra-wide camera and the choice of a lower-binned Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset were minor points of contention for a premium device, the phone’s near-invisible crease and exceptional connectivity ultimately solidified its winning status.

Winners: Oppo K13 Turbo and K13 Turbo Pro – Actively Cooled Gaming Power

Oppo made a bold statement in the gaming phone segment with the introduction of the Oppo K13 Turbo Pro and its unique active cooling fan. Our hands-on experience confirmed that while the fan didn't drastically alter benchmark scores, it significantly boosted stability during extended gaming sessions. In 3DMark’s 20-minute Wild Life Extreme Stress Test, stability surged from 50% to an impressive 85%, allowing the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 to perform more consistently and at cooler temperatures.

The Oppo K13 Turbo offers a similar gaming-focused experience, differentiating itself primarily by its Dimensity 8450 chipset. While we haven't independently tested this specific variant, the arrival of actively-cooled smartphones from Oppo introduces welcome competition to a market previously dominated by a few key players, offering more choices for serious mobile gamers.

Losers: Oppo Reno15 and Reno15 Pro (Global Versions) – The Downgrade Dilemma

The highly anticipated Oppo Reno15 and Reno15 Pro, initially unveiled for the Chinese market, face a concerning future for global release. While the Chinese versions appeared to be strong contenders, rumors of significant downgrades for their international counterparts position them as potential "losers" in the global smartphone arena.

The Chinese Reno15, for example, boasts a compact 6.32-inch display and a substantial 6,200mAh battery – an appealing combination for users desiring a smaller, long-lasting device. However, global models are rumored to feature a larger 6.59-inch display, lose the potent 200MP main camera, and swap the Dimensity 8450 chipset for a Snapdragon 7 Gen 4. These rumored camera and chipset changes are expected to apply to the Reno15 Pro as well. If these rumors, which suggest an official reveal in February, prove true, it would be a missed opportunity for Oppo to compete effectively in the mid-range segment globally.

Winner: ColorOS 16 – A Polished and AI-Enhanced Experience

Oppo's Android 16-based ColorOS 16 emerges as a clear winner, delivering a highly refined and feature-rich user experience. While its new "glassy" aesthetic might draw comparisons, the underlying UI offers distinct innovations. The undeniable polish and optimization are evident in its silky-smooth performance and responsive interactions.

Beyond visual appeal, ColorOS 16 introduces a wealth of customization options and a robust suite of AI features. Eschewing generic AI integrations, tools like AI Speak, AI VoiceScribe, and AI Translate are genuinely useful, enhancing productivity and communication for daily tasks. This focus on practical AI and a deeply optimized interface makes ColorOS 16 a significant step forward for Oppo's software ecosystem.

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