I’ve been to enough smartphone launches to know that a lot of what a company says in its keynote is probably going to be a gimmick. But there’s one thing that OPPO talked about in their Find X8 Series Global Launch that is very much not a gimmick – and that’s Zero Shutter Lag.
That still might sound like a gimmick; we’ve heard this before. But after spending a few weeks with both the Find X8 models and using them on a tourist day here in Bali with OPPO, I’m convinced that it is the most underrated feature of the Find X8 series.
The day after the launch event here in Bali, OPPO took the media on an “experience” day. We were able to take photos of Bali and see some rather incredible sites. This included snorkeling, going to KelingKing Beach and much more. Giving me a really good opportunity to use the Find X8 in a variety of ways.
- Editor’s Note: OPPO did cover flights and lodging in Bali. However, OPPO did not sponsor any of our content around the Find X8 series. Everything we have written about the Find X8 is our opinion and is not influenced by OPPO paying for travel.
Zero Shutter Lag isn’t just for one camera lens
Typically, when we see things like the shorter lag for the shutter on new phones, it is talking about a single camera. Typically the primary sensor. That’s not the case with the OPPO Find X8 and Find X8 Pro. Every single photo I’ve taken has had zero shutter lag, even at 120x, which is entirely AI-based digital zoom.
It’s a game-changer.
Here are a few examples. With OPPO, we were on a boat heading back from Penida Island, and I was taking photos from the top deck. Imagine taking photos on a boat that’s moving at probably 20mph, moving back and forth, and still able to take crisp and clear shots at 3x, 6x, and even 26.6x. That’s exactly what I was able to do, which made me even more impressed with this camera phone.
This one feature makes OPPO Find X8 Series the best Camera Phone on the market, today
We can talk about the sensors all day long, but zero shutter lag means that you won’t miss a shot with the Find X8 or Find X8 Pro. And I firmly believe this makes it the best camera setup and experience on a smartphone right now. There’s really nothing else out there that is close. And that has me excited for 2025.
Why 2025? Well, Zero Shutter Lag is a feature that’s part of the ISP in the Snapdragon 8 Elite. And yes, I know, Find X8 is using the Dimensity 9400. So, just imagine how many phones will be using this feature in the future. In fact, the only Snapdragon 8 Elite phone that I’ve used, the Realme GT 7 Pro, does also have Zero Shutter Lag – though its zoom isn’t quite as good as what OPPO has on the Find X8 series.
The new Zoom King + Zero Shutter Lag = Incredible
OPPO has called this phone the new “Zoom King” and is saying that it has dethroned the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and I have to agree. The company is using four sensors on this phone, all of which are 50-megapixels including a 3x telephoto and a 6x telephoto. This means that you can get up to 6x with optical zoom and up to 120x with digital zoom, thanks to AI.
Of course, pictures taken at 120x aren’t going to be the best, but at 10x to about 30x, they still look rather incredible. This is thanks to the Zero Shutter Lag on Find X8 and Find X8 Pro, as well as the AI Telescope Zoom that OPPO has been hyping up. I’ve been truly impressed with the Zoom Levels on this phone, as well as the smart scenes for concerts, fireworks, and silhouettes, so much so that I’ve decided to stop carrying the Xiaomi 14 Ultra with its 1-inch sensor in favor of the Find X8 Pro.
As someone who is based in the US and doesn’t normally get to use OPPO phones, this has me very excited for the OnePlus 13 when that launches globally in the very near future. We’re expecting a January launch for the OnePlus 13 since any time before that would miss the holiday shopping season.
