OPPO Find X10 Pro Max - What More Could You Ask For?

What does it take to be phone of the year?

I never really like to narrow it down to just one. After all, something I find important in a handset might not be a factor for you at all.

For example; I'm addicted to wireless charging. But there are plenty of people who don't care about that and don't own any wireless chargers anyway.

And this is going to drive you nuts, but given my somewhat privileged access to most of the latest and greatest devices, sometimes I even find myself using a certain phone for one thing then another for something else.

After all, a phone that takes unbelievable pictures, doesn't necessarily slide easily into your pocket.

So the question is; can the OPPO Find X10 Pro Max be all things to everyone?

Well, straight away, the answer is no. Because not everyone has NZ$3,499.00 to spend on a phone.

Now, I know that may sound like a lot - but there are lots of bonus packages around, meaning you might get a smartwatch and some earbuds for free.

Actually, it's definitely still a lot. But this really is a lot of phone.

Available in Luna White or Titanium Grey, the Find X10 Pro Max is on the larger scale as far as handsets go, without being totally over-the-top. The ProXDR display measures a generous 6.78-inches and I've found it a pleasure to view, indoors or out, with a peak brightness level of 2000 nits. End-to-end Dolby Vision and the large size of the screen makes catching up on your shows enjoyable, rather than a chore, when you're out and about.

As I've commented on other OPPO phones, they tend to arrive with a factory-fitted screen protector, straight out of the box. This may seem like a nice wee bonus but the protector is nowhere near as tough as the glass underneath - Crystal Guard - which is a product OPPO developed with device glass specialist Corning and is extremely drop-proof and fairly scratch resistant as well.

Although the factory fitted shield doesn't seem to inhibit the functionality of the under-screen ultra-sonic fingerprint reader (which might just be the fastest and most responsive I've used to date) - there's no denying the uncovered Crystal Guard feels smoother to the touch and pops with just a tad more colour and clarity.

Face unlock is also slick, quick and reliable and although the handset is relatively heavy, it feels nicely balanced in the hand - not overly top-heavy as many phones with well-endowed camera modules often are.

Let's just hold off on the cameras for a bit, because - as with most OPPO phones, the photo performance here is kind of the coup de grace.

Meanwhile, below the prominent-yet-not-overbearing rear camera array, the one-piece matte-finish glass of my Luna White review device covers a stylish, grain-look rear panel that almost looks like denim. It's quite a unique effect without coming across as garish or tacky. You'll find the power key and volume rocker on the right-hand edge and a "Snap" key on the other, which can be customised to one of a list of shortcuts such as activating DND mode or opening the camera app.

There are a couple of OPPO AI-powered functions on that list too. Mind Space is a kind of screenshot-meets-voice memo function that helps you save away good ideas for later, while OSee uses your camera to help you research information about whatever you're looking at - from historic tourist sites to funky outfits and accessories.

Which brings us to the chip that makes features like that possible - and speedy. The MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro is one of the first chips I've encountered that's built on a 2nm process. It's blazing fast and offers a 100% performance boost in the neural processing required to perform AI tasks. Most things happen so fast on the Find X10 Pro Max, it may as well be instant. App installs and launches, live translation, and yes, image and video processing.

Now the real fun begins.

This is the first phone I've seen with a triple-200MP camera configuration; a 200MP Ultra HDR main, a 200MP Ultra-Sensing telephoto and a 200MP Ultra-Sensing ultra-wide. All courtesy of OPPO's long collaboration with the photographic masters from Hasselblad.

But what does that actually mean?

Well, perhaps most importantly, with all three sensors shooting at the same resolution, you get a much smoother and more consistent transition between lenses. That doesn't just mean a 3x optical zoom shot that looks like it was taken with the same camera as an ultra-wide picture of the same scene, it also makes for a more seamless zoom in and out while videoing.

There are so many features to this camera that I've really only scratched the surface. The cool thing is, even a rank amateur like me can produce some serious photographic magic, without having to dig down into a pro-level settings menu to manually adjust things like white balance, focal length and exposure levels - among a whole bunch of other stuff I'll never understand.

Instead, I can take a fantastic ultra-wide shot like this...

Or create some actual art, just by flipping the camera into XPAN X mode...

Despite the gloominess of the day, and tricky, glare conditions created by the cloud cover and the reflections on the water, I love the colour and the detail and the sense of real atmosphere in this shot - and all I did was point and shoot.

You'll see me demonstrate a couple of the video features in the movie below and best of all, I was able to quickly share all my images and vids to my Mac via AirDrop. Yes, you read that right. OPPO is determined to break down the barriers between platforms which is fantastic news if you're planning on using and editing some of the stunning hi-res, raw footage you can capture with this incredible device.

Honestly, that's just the tip of the monumental photographic iceberg that is the camera array on the Find X10 Pro Max. I don't think I've encountered anything quite like it. And I almost forgot to mention the 50MP selfie-cam on the other side.

I think I've just gotten so used to OPPO leading the way when it comes to pushing front-facing camera tech, I almost take it for granted now. There are only a handful of phones that boast a 50MP selfie-cam and about half of them are OPPOs. If detailed portraits with natural colour tones and artfully subtle backgrounds are what you're after, the Find X10 Pro Max is only too happy to oblige.

If I had the time and resources, I could probably do a weekly review just on whatever new camera feature I've discovered on this phone. They're seemingly endless.

You'd think all this highfalutin photography and supersonic processing power would take its toll on battery life and keep the handset running pretty hot, but that just doesn't seem to be the case. The Find X10 Pro Max sports a large 7150mAh power cell, there's an 80W SUPERVOOC flash charger in the box and yes, this fabulous flagship charges wirelessly - and at quite a clip; up to 50W with the right wireless charger.

Meanwhile, the cooling system consists of not one, not two but three different components; graphene foam under the camera, thermal gel over the motherboard and a 4650mm² vapour chamber panel. This phone literally keeps cool under pressure.

What's more, thanks to something OPPO calls the Laminar Flow Engine, it claims by constantly adapting to the way you use it, the Find X10 Pro Max will sustain that fresh-out-of-the-box smooth performance for up to six years.

Suddenly that premium price-tag seems more like an investment than an impulse buy.

What a phone. Yes, maybe even the phone of the year.

Click here for more information and pricing on the OPPO Find X10 Pro.