Ranked among the world’s top five smartphone vendors due almost entirely to its popularity in markets like China and India, Oppo is finally getting serious about a Western expansion. Unfortunately, while the Find X takes a novel approach to eliminating screen bezels that works great from a design standpoint, the new flagship handset’s durability leaves a lot to be desired.
Far from elegant, the notch remains an effective solution to the age-old problem, but there’s more than one way to cut out a display in order to make room for a selfie shooter. Apple may have inspired hordes of iPhone X copycats, but the Android-powered Essential Phone actually came out first with a little hole at the top of a 5.7-inch IPS LCD panel.
As Andy Rubin hesitates to release a sequel, the Oppo F9 and F9 Pro are apparently right around the corner with what the company calls a “waterdrop” screen. No need to wonder exactly what that means, as a number of “teaser” images are floating around the interwebs, including a crystal clear view of the F9 Pro’s “face.”
That’s certainly an original way to build up excitement over an upcoming device, which seems to feature dual rear-facing cameras and an almost “full screen” design with a tiny notch shaped like, you guessed it, a water drop. Unfortunately, the “chin” is still there, and something tells us the Oppo F9 and F9 Pro will exclusively be released in markets like Malaysia and India.
There is some hope for official UK availability, and in addition to a no doubt impressive screen-to-body ratio, Oppo also wants to highlight proprietary VOOC Flash Charge technology as a key selling point. That means you’ll be able to talk for a solid couple of hours on the phone after a short 5-minute charge. You also shouldn’t rule out the F9 family offering some degree of water resistance, targeting a relatively inexpensive price point, and using advanced AI techniques to enhance your self-portraits.
Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
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