With camera performance being one of its main priorities, OPPO has dedicated money and research to finding ways to let its users take photos like a pro–and implement those innovations in its flagship offerings like the Find X6 Pro.

Bagging a score of 153 in DxOMark, the Find X6 Pro is one of the best phones out there in terms of camera performance–and the photos we took using the Find X6 Pro in Bali prove that. Let’s break down all of the key innovations that the Find X6 Pro possesses in taking great photos:

A spectacular telephoto camera

While most flagships are in the race for high zoom range, OPPO went for a different approach: instead of periscope cameras with a long zoom range, they opted to equip the Find X6 Pro with a large sensor for the telephoto camera–specifically an IMX890 sensor that’s used on the main camera on a number of flagship devices.

The Find X6 Pro’s telephoto camera may “only” have 3x optical zoom, but OPPO has refined it to make it really good especially when you want to zoom in closer to the subject. As seen with a side-by-side comparison, you get vastly better detail on the Find X6 Pro’s telephoto camera compared to the telephoto camera of its closest competitor.

Because of the Find X6 Pro’s excellent performance at 3x optical zoom, OPPO also incorporated a 6x hybrid zoom preset for those who want a longer range while keeping the same top-notch image quality. OPPO’s decision to use 3x and 6x zoom presets is a result of feedback from professional photographers, where these particular focal lengths are among the most used for a number of photos.

A DSLR-like portrait mode

Another trend that brands are doing to elevate the camera performance of their smartphones is by improving their portrait mode performance through depth-of-field algorithms. OPPO has fine-tuned its own bokeh algorithm on the Find X6 Pro to the point that portraits shot using the phone have a very pleasing bokeh in the background while giving a proper depth of field to the subject in the foreground.

 

To further refine the Find X6 Pro’s performance in taking portraits, OPPO’s engineers spent time meticulously tweaking the algorithm to properly detect handheld objects, gestures, and circular items to give photos a very natural look–as if they were shot on a professional camera. All three sensors of the Find X6 Pro’s rear cameras are class-leading, and OPPO equipped each camera with the most optimal focal length for their role.

 

This also brings back the importance of designing a great telephoto camera: armed with a large IMX890 sensor and a 3x optical zoom, users can take telephoto portraits on the Find X6 Pro like how professionals do it–without all the complications and technicalities. Utilizing the 3x zoom helps in delivering a slight compression that makes the subject flattering.

An accurate and natural dynamic range across all lighting conditions

Another important aspect of a great camera setup is how it accurately renders light and shadows with a good dynamic range while keeping the image as realistic as possible. This is a challenge, especially with night photography, where cameras have to deal with a limited amount of light.

 

To get an accurate color rendition, OPPO has adopted a two-pronged approach. The first step makes full use of the Find X6 Pro’s three rear cameras to capture an extensive range of light information. The second step utilizes a series of advanced algorithms—a result of over $5.6 million in R&D—to accurately process light information at every stage along the image chain, from image capture to image display.

The Find X6 Pro also has a Next-Generation Image Processing Architecture that utilizes 10x more computing power than its predecessor, delivering new breakthroughs in image clarity, light, shadow, and color. This feature also brings RAW Domain Multi-frame Synthesis to more scenarios on Find X6 Pro, achieving a 30% improvement in image clarity and a 60% reduction in image noise.

Take any picture using the Find X6 Pro and its natural layers and contrasts of light and shadow are restored to produce images that approach reality. In the left-side image below, the human face, the horse, and the sky have all been adjusted to the same level of brightness, rendering the scene flat and devoid of depth. Conversely, in the right-side image, the opposite is true: as if transporting us to the scene itself, faithfully recreating each element with its own distinct lighting, mirroring the authenticity we experience in real life.

All of these innovations, along with the recognition of the Find X6 Pro as one of the best smartphone cameras in the world, solidifies OPPO’s efforts in pushing camera innovation so that users worldwide can relish the superior camera experience and capture images like seasoned professionals.