Any links to online stores should be assumed to be affiliates. The company or PR agency provides all or most review samples. They have no control over my content, and I provide my honest opinion.
The OPPO Find X3 Neo launched last month as part of the Find X3 series launch, acting as an affordable alternative to the Oppo Find X3 Pro.
The big difference with this phone vs last year’s Find X2 Neo is the shift from the ageing mid-range 5G Snapdragon 765G to the Snapdragon 865, which featured on flagships last year (including the £1k+ Find X2 Pro). This offers a significant performance improvement, and I think it helps justify the price, with the Find X2 Neo using a mid-range chipset, it just felt overpriced.
I would have preferred to see the Snapdragon 870 used, but sadly Oppo has used this on the Find X3 which isn’t being launched in the UK.
Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|
OPPO Find X3 Neo 5G - 12GB RAM and 256GB Storage SIM Free... | £230.00 | Buy on Amazon |
Phone & Camera Specification
OPPO Find X3 Neo | OPPO Find X3 Pro | |
Display | 6.55 inch OLED 2400×1080 pixels 90Hz Refresh Rate 180Hz Touch Sampling 500 nits (800 sunlight) HDR10+ Pixels Density: 402 PPI | 6.7 inch AMOLED LTPO 1 Billion colour display 3216×1440 pixels 120Hz Dynamic Refresh 240Hz Touch Sampling 500 nits (800 sunlight) HDR10+ Certified Pixels Density: 525 PPI |
Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 |
Camera (rear) | 50MP Sony IMX 766 Sensor f/1.8 OIS 1/1.56″ sensor size All Pixel Omni-directional PDAF 16MP Ultra Wide f/2.2 13MP Telephoto f/2.4 5x Hybrid Zoom, 20x Digital Zoom 2MP Macro f/2.4 Video up to 4K 60fps | 50MP Sony IMX 766 Sensor f/1.8 OIS 1/1.56″ sensor size All Pixel Omni-directional PDAF 50MP Ultra Wide Sony IMX 766 Sensor f/2.2 All Pixel Omni-directional PDAF 13MP Telephoto f/2.4 5x Hybrid Zoom, 20x Digital Zoom 3MP Microlens f/3.0 fixed focus Video up to 4K 60fps |
Camera (front) | 32-megapixel Selfie camera Video up to 1080p 30fps | 32-megapixel Selfie camera |
RAM | 12GB LPDDR4 RAM | 12GB LPDDR5 RAM |
Storage | 256GB UFS 3.0 Storage | 256GB UFS 3.1 Storage |
Connectivity | Dual-SIM Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.2 NFC | Dual-SIM + eSIM Wi-Fi 6 (2×2 160) Bluetooth 5.2 USB 3.1 (USB 3.1 data cable required) NFC |
Battery | 4,500mAh 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 (65W) | 4,500mAh 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 (65W) 30W Wireless Charging |
OS | ColorOS 11.1 on Android 11 | ColorOS 11.2 on Android 11 |
Audio | Dolby Atmos (Mono) | Dolby Atmos with Stereo Sound |
IP Rating | No | IP68 |
Size/Weight | 159.9 x 72.5 x 7.99mm / 184g | 163.6 x 74 x 8.26mm / 193g |
Colours | Galactic Silver | Gloss Black |
Starlight Black | Blue | |
RRP | £699.99 | £1,099.00 |
Camera Samples
So far, I have been impressed with the camera; the photos are consistent and generally all good. The AI mode doesn’t mess with the colours too badly, unlike some brands.
While the ultrawide performs well, I wish it had the 50MP Sony IMX 766 similar to the two models above it and the two OnePlus models.
The 2MP macro is mostly useless, it can take some fun close-up shots, such as the shot of the barnacles that of grown on the side of a pier, but zooming into the shot shows off the lack of detail from 2MP.
Night mode is good, on par with OnePlus or Xiaomi, but not as good as Huawei.
Zoom Samples
Low Light Samples
Macro Samples
General Photo Samples
Price & Alternative Options
The OPPO Find X3 Neo has an official RRP of £699.99
This makes it more expensive than the none-Pro OnePlus 9 and dangerously close to the Xiaomi Mi 11. Both of these phones would make a superb alternative choice, and I am not going to suggest the Find X3 Neo is better.
However, it is worth seriously considering. The SD865 may not be as fast as the Snapdragon 888, but you will get a much better battery life out of it while still having phenomenal performance.
This then also benefits from a decent telephoto lens and half-decent ultra-wide. I personally prefer the overall camera performance of this to the Mi 11, and it competes well with the more expensive OnePlus 9.
You also get 12GB RAM and 256GB storage as standard, the extra storage is definitely a bonus for me.
OPPO Find X3 Neo discounts and the best contract deals
I do feel £699.99 is a touch too expensive, though. However, over on Amazon.Es, the phone is available for €727.09 but then with a discount taking it down to €636.56 or around £560.
At a sub-£600 price this becomes a much better alternative to the OnePlus 9 and the price gap is to big to even bother comparing to the Mi 11.
Alternatively, OPPO has always been good with contract deals. You can pick up a 100GB 5G Vodafone plan for £936 all in via Car Phone Warehouse (£39 PCM or £9.83 PCM for the contract – the RRP of the phone). Or a 54GB deal for £865 all in (£36pcm equivalent or £6.9 contract – RRP).
Overall
My main issue, so far, with the OPPO Find X3 Neo, is that it is not the standard Find X3, and that OPPO appears to have no plans to launch it in the UK. The none-pro Oppo Find X3 looks almost perfect for what I want from a phone.
However, with that option off the table for UK buyers, I think the Find X3 Neo is my favourite phone so far this year. It offers superb all-round performance in an attractive package, a better battery than SD888 phones, and it doesn’t cost a fortune (and it’s a bit of a bargain depending on deals).
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.
Last update on 2024-12-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Got the Oppo find X3 a week ago, I had a Huawei P20 pro. So for I love the photo’s as they are not over sharpened or Ai has not changed colour to much. The only thing I think Oppo need to do to improve their cameras is look at Huawei with effects they have like light painting and great night photos. Still getting used to how Oppo systems works but i have to say i would not change because i love the photographs i have taken with it. Well done Oppo you have a new fan.