A tale as old as time by now, Apple will always launch the latest generation of the iPhone in the fall every year. Lately, however, the more affordable iPhone e series found a home much earlier in the year. Next year, according to rumors, the regular iPhone 18 duo will join the iPhone 18e’s launch next spring, and it will be heavily downgraded.

Much ado has been said about the lack of differences between the four models of the current iPhone series. The “which iPhone is best for you” debate is still a worthy one today. Now, a new rumor from Weibo states that the base iPhone 18 will delineate itself further from the Pro and the Pro Max because of downgraded specs. The rumor has not detailed which pieces of hardware will get budget cuts.

The downgrade is supposedly due to the rising RAM prices in the industry today. That said, it also serves as a way to maintain the premium niche of the Pro and the Pro Max. However, pushing the base iPhone 18 away from the premium models naturally pushes it towards the iPhone 18e. Only its launch can tell how Apple will keep the two models separate from one another.

Besides the difference in specs, a previous rumor has also speculated that the base model will depart its usual launch window in September for a delayed one in March, right next to the iPhone 18e.

SEE ALSO: Apple iPhone 17e review

Three weeks after the launch of the vivo X300 Ultra, there’s another “Ultra” flagship gleaming on the horizon.

The much-awaited (and much teased) OPPO Find X9 Ultra has finally reached the Eastern shores.

X-treme Cameras

On paper, the OPPO Find X9 Ultra packs the most extreme camera system in a smartphone so far.

First, it has a 200MP f/1.5 main camera based on the newer (and ginormous) Sony LYT-901 1/1.18-inch sensor. This also happens to be the same camera sensor used by the vivo X300 Ultra — just with a tighter 35mm focal length and slightly narrower f/1.85 lens opening.

Second, its 50MP f/2.0 ultra-wide lens with Sony’s 1/1.95-inch LYT-600 sensor.

But, what makes this camera system more extreme? It’s the inclusion of dual periscope telephoto lenses with larger sensors compared to its closest rival, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Find X9 Ultra’s biggest accomplishment can be seen with its 200MP 3x periscope telephoto. This is based from OmniVision’s OV52A sensor at 1/1.28 inches.

GIF by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

The next periscope module is a 50MP Samsung ISOCELL JNL 1/2.75-inch sensor. This second zoom shooter can capture 10x optically-zoomed shots, 20x “optical quality” snaps, all the way to 120x.

A dedicated camera button stays — now in the signature Hasselblad orange shade.

All in all, these are ultimate upgrades to the quad 50MP camera setup of last year’s OPPO Find X8 Ultra.

For video shooting, the OPPO Find X9 Ultra is capable of shooting up to 4K/120fps or 8K in 30fps. LOG Mode is also supported via OPPO’s O-Log2 with support for Custom 3D LUTs.

X-citing Partnership

The Find X9 Ultra’s massive camera module are all co-produced with Hasselblad — further solidifying the partnership between the Swedish camera brand and the Chinese phone maker.

To make things even more X-citing, the OPPO Find X9 Ultra has a special edition Hasselblad Earth Explorer Kit.

This optional camera kit consists of a massive 300mm LUMO telephoto kit lens, camera lens ring module, set of filters, adapters, and hood, pouch to house them all in, an embroidered Hasselblad lanyard.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Heck! Even a custom camera grip case reminiscent of Hasselblad’s very own X2D 100C Earth Explorer camera.

Speaking of, the OPPO Find X9 Ultra comes in the Tundra Umber colorway of the same earth-like hues and signature Hasselblad orange detailing.

GIF by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

If that isn’t your cup of tea, there are two more color options: Polar Glacier (white) and Canyon Orange. Albeit, the special grip case is only available in one color.

If the Hasselblad Kit already feels like an overkill, check out the TILTA KHRONOS Kit suited for videographers and aspiring filmmakers alike.

It’s a different set-up with follow-focus power handle, cooling back clip, ND filter adapter ring, side handle, and expansion dock.

X-quisite Flagship

Just like any 2026 flagship, the Find X9 Ultra runs Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC based on the 3nm process.

GIF by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

LPDDR5X memory choices are either  between 12- or 16GB while its UFS 4.1 internal storage now has a bigger 1TB option (the X8 Ultra has a 512GB limitation).

Its 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED display has been improved too. Now, it has an even smoother 144Hz refresh rate with brightness as low as 1 nit.

Compared to the 6100mAh battery of its predecessor, the Find X9 Ultra has a boosted 7050mAh Si/C battery. It’s currently the largest capacity in any Ultra flagship slab so far.

However, wired and wireless charging speeds remain at 100W and 50W respectively.

X-plit Strategy

The Find X9 Ultra isn’t the only phone being launched.

Find X9s (Left), Find X9s Pro (Right)

OPPO aims for a split strategy this time by separately unveiling the Find X9s Pro and Find X9s for the Chinese and global markets respectively. JSYK, these are two different phone models.

OPPO adds an iPhone-like “Camera Plateau” cutout to Find X9 Pro’s camera system — highlighting various earth-like textures. That system includes dual 200MP Hasselblad cameras (main and telephoto). On the other hand, the ultra-wide camera is capped at 50MP.

Meanwhile, the Find X9s borrows the same square cutout of last year’s Find X9 series with a consistent triple 50MP camera system.

Also, the Find X9s Pro has its own Special Camera Kit. The Find X9s doesn’t have one.

Moreover, the Find X9s Pro rocks MediaTek’s flagship-level Dimensity 9500. While the Find X9s has the slightly-underpowered Dimensity 9500s chipset.

While both phones support LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 ROM protocols, configurations are different. The Find X9s Pro has choices between 12 or 16GB of memory and up to 1TB of storage. However, the Find X9s only has a lone 12GB memory with limited storage options between 256 or 512GB of storage.

Surprisingly, the Find X9s Pro has the smaller 6.32-inch AMOLED display whereas the X9s boasts a bigger screen at 6.59 inches. These are both a departure from the 6.78-inch Find X9 Pro and 6.59-inch Find X9.

The only thing these models both share are the 7025mAh Si/C battery and 80W wired SUPERVOOC speeds. Unfortunately, only the X9s Pro supports 50W AIRVOOC wireless charging that the base X9s lacks.

Ultimately, the Find X9 Ultra and X9s series all possess triple IP66, IP68, and IP69 ratings for utmost durability.

Pricing and Availability

The OPPO Find X9 Ultra is currently open for pre-orders in Mainland China:

• 12+256GB = CNY 7499 (US$ 1100 / EUR 900 / GBP 780 / SG$ 1345 / MYR 4355 / PhP 59,590 / INR 90,980)
• 12+512GB = CNY 7999 (US$ 1115 / EUR 960 / GBP 820 / SG$ 1430 / MYR 4645 / PhP 63,685 / INR 95,930)
• 16+512GB = CNY 8499 (US$ 1185 / EUR 1020 / GBP 870 / SG$ 1520 / MYR 4925 / PhP 67,670 / INR 101,930)
• 16+1TB = CNY 9299 (US$ 1365 / EUR 1155 / GBP 1010 / SG$ 1735 / MYR 5390 / PhP 81,880 / INR 126,520)
• 16+1TB Satellite Communication Version = CNY 9499 (US$ 1325 / EUR 1140 / GBP 975 / SG$ 1695 / MYR 5505 / PhP 75,625 / INR 113,920)
• 16+1TB Hasselblad Explorer Master Kit = CNY 11,999 (US$ 1260 / EUR 1070 / GBP 920 / SG$ 2235 / MYR 6965 / PhP 105,110 / INR 164,550)
• Hasselblad Earth Explorer Set = CNY 2499 (US$ 360 / EUR 315 / GBP 270 / SG$ 465 / MYR 1450 / PhP 21,900 / INR 34,270)

If you opt for the Tundra Umber colorway, it’s only limited to the higher 512GB and 1TB configurations.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Meanwhile, the OPPO Find X9s Pro is available in four color choices: Vitality Orange, Native Titanium, Free White, and Riding the Wind (乘风青).

Shockingly, it shares the same price as last year’s Find X9 Pro:

• 12+256GB = CNY 5299 (US$ 745 / EUR 645 / GBP 560 / SG$ 965 / MYR 3145 / PhP 43,360 / INR 65,995)
• 12+512GB = CNY 5499 (US$ 770 / EUR 660 / GBP 570 / SG$ 985 / MYR 3190 / PhP 43,700 / INR 66,720)
• 16+512GB = CNY 5999 (US$ 845 / EUR 730 / GBP 635 / SG$ 1095 / MYR 3560 / PhP 49,085 / INR 74,715)
• 16+1TB = CNY 6999 (US$ 980 / EUR 835 / GBP 730 / SG$ 1260 / MYR 4130 / PhP 56,440 / INR 87,110)

* These are all estimated pricing conversions

Global Availability

As promised, the OPPO Find X9 Ultra is launching outside China.

In Singapore, it’s currently open for pre-orders at SG$ 1899 (12+512GB) and SG$ 2199 (16+1TB). This also entitles the buyer over SG$ 700 worth of freebies plus 20% off when purchasing the Hasselblad Earth Explorer Kit.

After that period, pricing rolls back to SG$ 2199 and SG$ 2599 respectively.

In Malaysia, pre-ordering the Find X9 Ultra until May 7, 2026 (Thursday) with a small fee of MYR 200 entitles you to a free upgrade from a 12+512GB configuration to an extreme 16+1TB model. That’s worth MYR 6799.

On the other hand, the Malaysian Find X9s is only available in a 12+512GB variant for MYR 3599.

Specific pricing for other markets are yet to follow.

POCO has announced the availability of another affordable smartphone in the Philippines in the POCO M8s 5G.

The handset is powered by a Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 mobile platform, and comes with up to 16GB of RAM (8GB base plus 8GB expansion).

It runs on Xiaomi HyperOS and supports intelligent features, including Google Gemini and Circle to Search.

The POCO M8s 5G comes with a 50MP main camera, along with creative AI tools like AI Erase and AI Sky.

In front is a 6.9-inch 1.5K display with Wet Touch Technology 2.0. The phone also houses a 7,000mAh battery with support for 33W fast charging and 18W reverse charging.

Other practical features include 200% volume boost, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, and IP64 water and dust resistance.

Price, availability

In the Philippines, the POCO M8s 5G is available on Shopee exclusively from April 21 to 30.

During this early bird window, the phone is available for:

• 6GB+128GB: PhP 11,999
• 8GB+256GB: PhP 13,999

Afterwards, the phone will become available on Lazada and other platforms.