OPPO Find X9 vs OnePlus 15: which flagship looks better on paper?

OPPO launched the Find X9 and Find X9 Pro in India on Tuesday, marking the second flagship debut in the country, and the first powered by the new MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chipset. Like the OnePlus 15, the Find X9 arrives with a higher price tag than its predecessor, starting at Rs 74,999 (Rs 5,000 more than the Find X8). Both phones pack notable upgrades, though. Here’s a quick comparison of the OPPO Find X9 and OnePlus 15 to see how they stack up in terms of specs.

Not-so-different in design

The OPPO Find X9 and OnePlus 15 might not be difficult to tell apart if you take a quick glance at them. Both phones feature a small, square-shaped camera module on the top-left corner that’s quite similar in appearance. The differences are visible if you pay close attention to the sensor and LED flash placements. The colour options for the Find X9 include Space Black and Titanium Grey. The OnePlus 15 is available in Infinite Black, Sand Storm, and a striking Ultra Violet colour, which would be another key differentiator between the two phones, aside from the branding on the back.

The Find X9 is more compact, though, with a smaller 6.59-inch display compared to the OnePlus 15’s 6.78-inch screen. This makes the phone more handy to use and hold. In terms of durability, the OnePlus 15 offers slightly better protection with an IP69K rating, the highest rating against dust and water, compared to the Find X9’s IP69 rating. Both phones come with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 display protection.

Similar display specs, but one has a gaming advantage

The OPPO Find X9’s 6.59-inch display has a 1.5K (2760 × 1256 pixels) display, a 120Hz refresh rate, and 3,600 nits peak brightness. The OnePlus 15 also has 1.5K display (2772 x 1272 pixels) and the same peak brightness level. This means you shouldn’t notice a significant difference between the two phones in terms of display quality and brightness. OnePlus, however, has an edge with a 165Hz refresh rate for even smoother scrolling and 165fps support for gaming.

Powered by flagship Qualcomm and MediaTek chips

Both phones pack the latest and best chipsets yet from Qualcomm and MediaTek. Regardless of the brand, you can expect top-notch performance with smooth gaming, no lags, or stutters when using either of the phones. But there is always that comparison to see which chipset delivers the best performance. We’ve reviewed the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 Elite-powered OnePlus 15 and found it to be extremely fast for any task you throw at it. The smartphone is also exceptional for gaming, achieving 165fps as claimed in select titles. We haven’t reviewed the Find X9 yet, so we can’t provide a verdict just yet. However, you can still get an idea by checking out their benchmark scores.

AnTuTu score

OnePlus 15

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

3,615,565

OPPO Find X9

MediaTek Dimensity 9500

3,568,720

AnTuTu assesses a smartphone's CPU, GPU, memory, and overall user experience (higher is better)

Which triple 50MP camera setup is better?

Both the OPPO Find X9 and OnePlus 15 feature a 50MP triple camera setup, comprising the main sensor, an ultra-wide lens, and a telephoto lens. With the Find X9, you get 3x optical zoom, while the OnePlus 15 offers up to 3.5x optical zoom, suggesting a marginally better option for distant shots with better quality. You also get a 32MP front camera on both phones for selfies and video calls. OPPO takes photography seriously, offering Hasselblad optics and the brand’s new LUMO Imaging engine.

OnePlus, on the other hand, replaced Hasselblad for its in-house DetailMax Engine. In our review of the OnePlus 15, we found its cameras versatile and fast, with social-media-ready results. Daylight and 3.5x portraits look good, and the quick shutter helps with point-and-shoot shots. Low light is where it falls behind as the OnePlus 15 offers a darker, more dramatic look, but often with softer, dimmer frames.

Since we haven’t reviewed the Find X9 yet, we cannot discuss its camera performance. However, it does seem promising given the hardware and software tuning. For now, you can read the Find X9 Pro’s camera review to get an idea of what you can expect from the base model.

Battery powerhouses

The OPPO Find X9 and OnePlus 15 are the only flagships currently offering 7,000mAh+ batteries, marking a significant milestone for premium phones. The OnePlus 15 edges ahead with a 7,300mAh unit versus the Find X9’s 7,025mAh pack. It also supports faster 120W wired charging (the Find X9 tops out at 80W). Both offer 50W wireless charging. In real-world use, the OnePlus 15 comfortably lasts into the next afternoon, and its PCMark score of 17 hours 6 minutes beats the Find X9’s 16-hour result. That said, the Find X9 should still deliver more than enough endurance for worry-free daily use.

PCMark Battery score (in hours)

OnePlus 15

7300 mAh

17.1

OPPO Find X9

7025 mAh

16.0

PCMark battery test measures phone battery life from 100% to 20% (higher is better)

Software: same, same but different

With OxygenOS and ColorOS now largely unified, the software experience on both phones feels almost identical when used side by side. The Find X9 ships with ColorOS 16, while the OnePlus 15 comes with OxygenOS 16. Both UIs are strikingly similar but with some minimal differences. The key differentiator lies in software support: OPPO offers 5 OS upgrades and 6 years of security updates, whereas the OnePlus 15 provides 4 OS upgrades and 6 years of security patches, meaning OnePlus users miss out on one major Android update.

Ultimately, both the OPPO Find X9 and OnePlus 15 offer significant upgrades and deliver genuine flagship experiences, each with its own unique strengths. The OnePlus 15 stands out with its faster charging, higher refresh rate, and proven performance, while the Find X9 looks promising with its compact design, extended software support, and imaging potential. In short, the OnePlus 15 prioritises performance, while the Find X9 focuses on photography and an overall experience. Your choice will ultimately depend on what you value more: raw speed and battery gains, or a more compact build and more extended longevity.