OPPO F9 In-depth Hands-on

The next-generation selfie smartphone is here, and it’s called the OPPO F9. Here’s our first look at the company’s newest device.

The OPPO F9 is very reminiscent of the F7 in terms of overall aesthetic but has some unique characteristics to boot. At the front of the device is a 6.3-inch display that has a smaller notch at the top which houses the 25-megapixel selfie camera. The call speaker grille is located above it, neatly tucked at the gap between the display and the side frame. The F9 still uses in-display capacitive keys, and can be replaced with gesture-type movements should you feel swiping in and out of different apps.

The volume keys and the triple card (dual SIM + microSD) slot is at the left, while the power/lock button sits at the right. The sides are more rounded for a better hand grip.

At the bottom are the loudspeakers, the microUSB port, the microphone, and the 3.5mm audio jack. A noise-cancelling mic is situated at the opposite side.

When we look at its back, we see the dual rear cameras surrounded with chrome accent and the dual LED flash, along with the fingerprint scanner and the OPPO logo in the middle. The actual camera module is protruded and can be prone to scratches when laid on a flat surface, but a jelly case can alleviate that concern.

The device now sports a gradient color with a flower petal pattern in refraction that’s a lot less seen than when compared with the F7. You’ll need to tilt the device at certain angles to fully enjoy the actual pattern, and is a simple gradient back when the refraction is not seen by the naked eye.

If we’re talking about its feel, then you’re not missing out that much if you have the F7 at hand. Our experience with the phone also reminded us of the company’s recently released A3s. It has the same solid build and good grip, and the only three difference that set it apart from its predecessor is the gradient design on its back, the dual rear cams, and of course, the water droplet notch.

It took us quite a while to perfect this shot simply because the F9 (right) needs to be tilted in a certain degree to make the pattern appear, unlike the F7 series (F7 Youth, left) which has a visible diamond cut design.

The 25-megapixel front camera now has an embedded HDR sensor for better selfies, while the 16MP+2MP dual rear camera setup touts better depth of field in taking photos. Along with OPPO’s camera features and Beauty 2.0 with AI technology. Here are some sample shots:

With a MediaTek Helio P60 chip and 6GB of RAM on board, we deduced the F9 to bear the same performance as its predecessor. We tested the OPPO F9 for initial benchmarks, and these are what we got:

What’s unique with F9 is its VOOC Flash charging, which the company touts to give you a two-hour talk time for a five-minute charge. As we checked, charging the device for five minutes adds 9% of battery life to the phone. Knowing how their newer phones with Helio P60 work, they have a battery-efficient device with the F9 as my own F7 Youth device lasts for a whole day of use on a single charge.

OPPO F9 specs:

The OPPO F9 is on pre-order in stores and authorized dealers later this month with a Php17,990USD 307INR 25,988EUR 292CNY 2,233 price tag. Is it more than just the VOOC charging it’s known for? We’re taking the device for a spin and a full review in the coming days.