OPPO Find X9 Ultra tested by DXOMARK: Ranked 3rd globally, underwater photography still pending.

A new flagship OPPO phone is released, and with it comes another record-breaking announcement, prompting the same question each time: Does what's measured in the lab actually translate into something useful at fifteen meters deep, in water that absorbs red light, where the lighting changes at every depth? DXOMARK has just published its complete review of the Find X9 Ultra, and there's plenty to consider.

The lab places the Find X9 Ultra in 3rd position in the global ranking with 175 points, behind the Huawei Pura 80 Ultra and the vivo X300 Ultra. The test focuses on a dual Hasselblad sensor of 200 megapixels, combined with 4th generation color processing.

The complete specifications are detailed in four modules. The main sensor is 50MP with an aperture of f/1.5 on a 1/1.12-inch format, a large aperture that captures the maximum amount of light. The primary periscope telephoto lens boasts 200MP at f/2.2 on a 1/1.28-inch sensor, for a 70mm equivalent focal length. A second periscope telephoto lens with 50MP and an aperture of f/3.5 (on a 1/2.75-inch sensor) pushes the optical zoom to 10x, with a 230mm equivalent focal length. The ultrawide-angle lens completes the setup at 50MP and f/2.0.

DXOMARK notes good color reproduction and controlled noise in low light conditions, two factors that are directly important for underwater photography. The test also identifies two limitations: the portrait mode produces a shallow depth of field that lacks naturalness when artificial intelligence reconstructs the background, and the image quality slightly decreases beyond 135mm of equivalent zoom.

That's where things get complicated. The Find X9 and Find X9 Pro already have a dedicated DiveVolk guide, with a SeaTouch 4 Max housing certified to 60 meters. We detailed this in our comprehensive guide on the Find X9 series, including the Hasselblad sensor.

The Find X9 Ultra, for its part, does not appear explicitly on the DiveVolk compatibility list consulted at the time of writing this article. This is not a definitive exclusion. DiveVolk generally adjusts its internal adapter in the weeks following the release of a new Ultra variant, as the company has done in the past with other generations. However, until it is confirmed in writing, it is best not to assume compatibility.

A detail worth mentioning while we're at it. DiveVolk has just announced its Platinum V2 version of the SeaTouch 4 Max, presented as the first housing compatible with a foldable smartphone, specifically the vivo X Fold6. This isn't directly related to the Find X9 Ultra, but it shows that the brand continues to expand its range of adapters at a steady pace. A good sign for the future.

For readers who are hesitant between the different generations of DiveVolk enclosures, our comparison of the SeaTouch 4, Max Plus, and Platinum remains the go-to resource for choosing the right one based on your phone and diving activity.

The large-format main sensor and the dual periscope telephoto lens make the Find X9 Ultra a serious contender for long-range underwater photography, especially of subjects like sharks and rays. On paper, it is one of the best-equipped devices currently available for this type of subject matter.

In practice, it is recommended to wait for the official confirmation from DiveVolk regarding the Ultra variant before switching to it if your priority is diving. If you already own a Find X9 or a Find X9 Pro and its housing, there's no rush. If you are starting from scratch and budget isn't a constraint, the Ultra remains an excellent choice, provided you can wait a few weeks regarding the availability of the housing.

To learn how to configure your smartphone and choose the right accessories for diving, discover the AquaExposure underwater photography training course.