The iPhone 17 Pro is definitely among the many finest digital camera telephones you should purchase in 2026. Its trio of lenses assist you to shoot beautiful pictures whether or not in broad daylight or at midnight with little effort in your half. But there are a selection of flagship Android telephones that provide unbelievable digital camera expertise as effectively — and the Oppo Find X9 Pro is simply such a tool. Its triple rear digital camera is potent, being able to taking lovely pictures from each its broad and 200-megapixel zoom cameras. The Find X9 Pro is a powerhouse cellphone in all respects, which is why it scored so extremely in my full evaluation — and why it was given a coveted CNET Editors’ Choice Award. So to see simply the way it stacks up towards the iPhone 17 Pro, I took it out on a collection of picture missions round my lovely house metropolis of Edinburgh. Before we dive in, a fast be aware in regards to the pictures. They have been all shot with every cellphone’s default digital camera mode in JPEG with no different settings utilized (the Photographic Style on the iPhone was set to Standard). The pictures have been imported into Lightroom for the needs of comparability and exporting at file sizes that can play properly on the web, however no different edits, sharpening or noise discount have been utilized. Watch this: One Month Later: The iPhone 17 Pro Strikes Back
08:33 Remember that whereas some selections about which pictures look higher is perhaps apparent (reminiscent of a scarcity of element or picture processing aberrations), others will merely come down to non-public opinion. I’m knowledgeable photographer, so I usually search for a picture that captures the scene extra naturally. You could like a extra vibrant picture with excessive distinction, so take my findings with a pinch of salt.With that stated, let’s dive in.Wide cameras comparability
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iPhone 17 Pro, shot on the principle digital camera. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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Oppo Find X9 Pro, shot on the principle digital camera. Andrew Lanxon/CNETStarting off with this straightforward snap overlooking the practice tracks. Both telephones have uncovered their pictures above effectively however the Oppo’s shot has extra pure heat tones on the brickwork on the wall — the iPhone’s look extra magenta. The Oppo’s colours are extra vibrant, too, however not overly so.
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iPhone 17 Pro, shot on the ultrawide digital camera. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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Oppo Find X9 Pro, shot on the ultrawide digital camera. Andrew Lanxon/CNETSwitching to the ultrawide lens, the blue sky undoubtedly seems to be oversaturated within the Oppo’s shot. And here is the place we’ve to dive deeper; Oppo’s picture has had extra digital sharpening utilized to it, which helps some particulars look crisp, nevertheless it’s additionally received a whole lot of noise discount, which smooths particulars in different areas.
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Detail crop with the iPhone 17 Pro on the left and Oppo Find X9 Pro on the correct. Andrew Lanxon/CNETIf we glance up shut at this part of wall, we are able to see that the robust traces of mortar between the bricks look sharper within the Oppo’s picture on the correct. But the bricks themselves look virtually polished as they have been stripped of element by the noise discount. The iPhone’s picture has retained that element.
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iPhone 17 Pro, shot with the principle digital camera. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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Oppo Find X9 Pro, shot with the principle digital camera Andrew Lanxon/CNETAnother bizarre one to investigate. The wood field of the library is definitely sharper on the Oppo’s shot, with even the minute scratches on the perspex being clearly seen. But as quickly as we glance additional out towards the perimeters of the body, that element plummets.
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Detail crop with the iPhone 17 Pro on the left and Oppo Find X9 Pro on the correct. Andrew Lanxon/CNETZooming in shut on a bit to the correct facet of the body, it is clear that the Oppo’s picture severely lacks element in comparison with the iPhone’s picture. Whether that is a picture processing difficulty or as a result of high quality of the lens, I’m undecided, nevertheless it’s shocking to see, particularly given how sharp the remainder of the picture is.
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iPhone 17 Pro, shot with the principle digital camera. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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Oppo Find X9 Pro, shot with the principle digital camera. Andrew Lanxon/CNETThis indoor shot on the principle digital camera appears like a barely simpler win for the Oppo. Its picture is brighter and colours look richer with out being too punchy. As earlier than, it each sharpens some areas and reduces texture in others. There’s a scarcity of element towards the sting of the body, however you’d solely discover in case you actually stand up near the pixels. Overall, I desire the look of the Oppo’s shot.
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iPhone 17 Pro, shot with the ultrawide digital camera. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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Oppo Find X9 Pro, shot with the ultrawide digital camera. Andrew Lanxon/CNETAnd it is the identical after I switched to the ultrawide lens — the Oppo takes the win right here.
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iPhone 17 Pro, shot with the principle digital camera. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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Oppo Find X9 Pro, shot with the principle digital camera. Andrew Lanxon/CNETI love the balanced publicity from each telephones on this vibrant out of doors scene, however I desire the hotter tone of the Oppo’s shot. The iPhone’s picture seems to be prefer it noticed all of the golden colours and set its auto white steadiness on the cooler facet to compensate. The Oppo produced a extra true-to-life picture and I believe it is an important shot because of this.
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iPhone 17 Pro, shot with the principle digital camera. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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Oppo Find X9 Pro, shot with the principle digital camera. Andrew Lanxon/CNETI do not just like the Oppo’s effort right here, although. It artificially brightened the shadows method an excessive amount of, giving this scene a faux HDR look that screams, “I took this on an Android phone.” The iPhone takes a simple win with its extra pure deal with on shadows.
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iPhone 17 Pro, shot with the principle digital camera. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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Oppo Find X9 Pro, shot with the principle digital camera. Andrew Lanxon/CNETI’m conflicted on this one. The Oppo’s shot is brighter and extra vibrant, nevertheless it’s virtually an excessive amount of. The blue sky is a bit on the electric-blue facet for my style, whereas the buildings within the middle of the body look barely too vivid. Still, I believe I desire its rendition to the iPhone’s, which does look somewhat drab by comparability.
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iPhone 17 Pro, shot with 2x zoom. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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Oppo Find X9 Pro, shot with 2x zoom. Andrew Lanxon/CNETAt 2x zoom, this indoor scene seems to be stable on each telephones. Overall, I believe the Oppo’s shot takes the win because it’s brighter and sharper than the iPhone’s.
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iPhone 17 Pro, shot with 8x zoom. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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Oppo discover X9 Pro, shot with 6x zoom. Andrew Lanxon/CNETTaking every cellphone as much as its most default zoom ranges (8x on the iPhone, 6x on the Oppo), the outcomes look fairly dramatically completely different. The shade steadiness is wildly completely different for one factor, with the iPhone leaning extra into teal tones whereas the Oppo’s picture has a extra magenta forged to it. Honestly, neither one seems to be particularly lifelike, with each telephones going a bit too onerous in several instructions. What I’ve seen is that the Oppo’s picture has gone overboard with the digital sharpening, leading to a crunchiness to the small print that I’m not a fan of.
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Detail crop with the iPhone 17 Pro on the left and Oppo Find X9 Pro on the correct. Andrew Lanxon/CNETThe large quantity of digital sharpening on the Oppo’s shot is evident while you zoom in on the small print.
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iPhone 17 Pro, shot with 8x zoom. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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Oppo Find X9 Pro, shot with 6x zoom. Andrew Lanxon/CNETThis is an odd one; at max zoom, the Oppo has catastrophically didn’t render the small print on the facet of the constructing.
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Detail crop with the iPhone 17 Pro on the left and Oppo Find X9 Pro on the correct. Andrew Lanxon/CNETCheck out this detailed crop; I do not know what the Oppo was doing in its picture, however that constructing has been became a weird, smeary mess. The iPhone has finished an outstanding job of capturing these distant effective particulars.
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iPhone 17 Pro, shot with 8x zoom. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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Oppo Find X9 Pro, shot with 6x zoom. Andrew Lanxon/CNETSeagulls on a log. There’s little or no to decide on between both cellphone on this instance. Take your decide!
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iPhone 17 Pro, shot with 8x zoom. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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Oppo Find X9 Pro, shot with the Hasselblad zoom lens. Andrew Lanxon/CNETThe Oppo Find X9 Pro does have a secret weapon in the case of zoom, although, within the type of the Hasselblad telephoto zoom accent. This elective lens attaches to the cellphone and offers large zoom lengths — as much as 40x — whereas retaining wonderful high quality. You can see the distinction right here within the most zoom vary of the iPhone towards the zoom of the Find X9 Pro with the lens hooked up; it is each nearer and sharper.
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The telephoto lens seems to be similar to an actual Hasselblad digital camera lens. It’s nice enjoyable to play with. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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Oppo Find X9 Pro, shot with the Hasselblad telephoto zoom lens. Andrew Lanxon/CNETI completely love utilizing the lens add-on for avenue images, as you may get some nice candid moments with out anybody noticing. It’s value preserving in thoughts, although, that the Hasselblad lens for the cellphone is an eye-watering £435 or $580 (based mostly on a tough conversion of the 499 euro worth), and third-party telephoto lenses from the likes of Sandmarc are additionally obtainable for the iPhone. Night images
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iPhone 17 Pro, shot with the principle digital camera, night time mode. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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Oppo Find X9 Pro, shot with the principle digital camera, night time mode. Andrew Lanxon/CNETThe iPhone’s night time mode shot right here does look brighter, however I desire the richer distinction on the Oppo’s shot. Otherwise, it is a fairly even match right here.
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iPhone 17 Pro, shot with the principle digital camera, night time mode. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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Oppo Find X9 Pro, shot with the principle digital camera, night time mode. Andrew Lanxon/CNETBut it is a a lot simpler win for the Oppo right here. The deeper distinction has helped hold among the flare from the lights at bay, whereas the small print on the entrance of the constructing are a lot sharper.
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iPhone 17 Pro, shot with the principle digital camera. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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Oppo Find X9 Pro, shot with the principle digital camera. Andrew Lanxon/CNETThis indoor scene is brighter, hotter and extra vibrant on the Oppo and I a lot desire it because of this.
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iPhone 17 Pro, shot with the principle digital camera, night time mode. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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Oppo Find X9 Pro, shot with the principle digital camera, night time mode. Andrew Lanxon/CNETThe iPhone’s picture is brighter right here, particularly within the sky, however in case you zoom in on the small print, the Oppo’s picture is sharper.
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iPhone 17 Pro, shot with the ultrawide digital camera, night time mode. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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Oppo Find X9 Pro, shot with the ultrawide digital camera, night time mode. Andrew Lanxon/CNETAnd it is principally the identical story while you swap to the ultrawide lens.
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iPhone 17 Pro, shot with 8x zoom, night time mode. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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Oppo Find X9 Pro, shot with 6x zoom, night time mode. Andrew Lanxon/CNETWhen we bounce to the zooms, although, the Oppo has ramped up the sharpening once more, leading to a picture that appears fairly over-processed.
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iPhone 17 Pro, shot with 2x zoom. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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Oppo Find X9 Pro, shot with 2x zoom. Andrew Lanxon/CNETI caught an excellent sundown on one night however solely the iPhone managed to do it justice. I like the iPhone’s pure tones and deep shadows, whereas the Oppo has delivered an oversaturated shot that appears like I’ve utilized a cheesy filter earlier than posting it to Instagram.
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iPhone 17 Pro, shot with the principle digital camera. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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Oppo Find X9 Pro, shot with the principle digital camera. Andrew Lanxon/CNETAnd it is the identical right here with the Oppo’s shot trying saturated towards the iPhone’s extra lifelike model.
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iPhone 17 Pro, shot with 8x zoom. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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Oppo Find X9 Pro, shot with 6x zoom. Andrew Lanxon/CNETBut the distinction was most evident when utilizing the zoom lenses on each telephones. The iPhone’s shot not solely has extra pure colours, however the Oppo’s heavy-handed processing has given the lighthouse an disagreeable halo (a light-weight haziness round its edges) that actually spoils the shot.
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iPhone 17 Pro, shot with the selfie digital camera. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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Oppo Find X9 Pro, shot with the selfie digital camera. Andrew Lanxon/CNETI ended on a selfie and right here each telephones went in fascinating instructions. The Oppo is definitely the winner to my eye — it is shot is significantly sharper (with out overdoing it) with extra pure pores and skin tones and an correct orange hue on my jacket. The background is a bit overly cyan nevertheless it’s definitely a better-looking try than the iPhone’s.iPhone 17 Pro vs. Oppo Find X9 Pro: Which takes higher pictures?I used to be shocked on the outcomes. Oppo’s telephones — and its sister firm OnePlus’s telephones — have had a historical past of leaning onerous into picture processing with typically wildly brightened shadows, an excessive amount of sharpening and inaccurate colours that resulted in photographs that have been solely actually okay for informal snaps. The Find X9 Pro does have a few of that (the picture of the crimson restaurant entrance is a very egregious instance of shadow brightening) nevertheless it’s far more toned down than I anticipated.In reality, it delivered photographs in lots of cases that I most well-liked over the iPhone’s. The golden hues of the tree-lined pathway shot seemed elegant on the Oppo, whereas the hotter, brighter tones contained in the pub have been a transparent victory for the X9 Pro. Most of the pictures from the Oppo’s predominant digital camera I most well-liked over the iPhone’s, together with some at night time. It wasn’t a win in each occasion and it simply goes to point out that every cellphone’s picture processing will nonetheless journey up in several situations. But total, I believe I’ve to provide the win to the Oppo Find X9 Pro. Its potential to seize scenes precisely with simply sufficient processing to assist in giving pictures that little pop however with out going overboard is admirable. It’s secure to say then, in case you’re on the lookout for a excessive efficiency Android digital camera cellphone, the Find X9 Pro is definitely one to think about.
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