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Light spoilers follow for Clayface.

Not many people would've predicted that a Clayface movie would be part of James Gunn and Peter Safran's DC Universe (DCU). Three years after Gunn unveiled the initial DCU slate, fewer still expected a shape-shifting villain to beat heavy hitters like Batman and Wonder Woman to the big screen.

And yet, here we are. Four months after Supergirl bombed at the box office, Clayface feels like a crucible moment for a cinematic universe that's still trying to find its footing and drop a few spontaneous surprises along the way. And, while the lovingly crafted origin story delivers on the latter front, it doesn't fully succeed in helping to shape the direction of DC's fledging comic book franchise.

Face/Off

Clayface is arguably the biggest role of Welsh actor Tom Rhys Harries' career so far (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

Clayface stars Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen, a Gotham City native and an actor on the cusp of superstardom. However, while celebrating a career-defining Best Actor award nomination, Hagen makes the fatal error of sleeping with Mia Torrez (Joana Ribeiro), the girlfriend of high-profile mobster Markos Szabo (David Dencik). In retaliation, Szabo’s henchmen brutally attack Hagen, disfiguring his prized face and destroying his life overnight.

Clayface feels like a crucible moment for the DCU

Abandoned by his allies and, after he takes Szabo to court for his crimes, failed by the justice system, a desperate Hagen seeks out Doctor Caitlyn Corr (Naomi Ackie), a researcher testing an experimental, regenerative nanocell therapy. However, while the initial trial restores his handsome features, Hagen soon succumbs to the treatment's terrifying side effects, leading him down a self-destructive path of revenge.

Matt Hagen is left horrifically scarred by his run-in with Szabo's men (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

It might sound strange, but witnessing a full-blown origins story is a rarity in this nascent comic book universe.

Sure, Supergirl was peppered with flashbacks of Kara Zor-El's life on Krypton, while Lanterns on HBO Max spotlighted John Stewart's journey to becoming a Green Lantern. Generally, though, DC Studios has deliberately shied away from origin tropes, which makes Clayface a rare exception to the rule.

Given that Clayface remains a mystery to anyone outside hardcore comic book circles, this focus on Hagen's transformation into the monstrous Batman adversary isn't only justified, but ultimately necessary.

Acting on impulse

Hagen's emotional turbulence is captured in near-pitch perfect fashion by Harries (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

More importantly, though, Clayface gives Harries ample room to fully explore this deeply tragic individual. Hagen isn't just a monster in the making; he's a man drowning in grief, wrestling with the overwhelming despair of losing his face and career overnight, and, eventually, his humanity.

Having lost his sense of self post-attack, Hagen attempts to literally and figuratively rebuild himself with Corr's pioneering yet hazardous serum. But, as the treatment heightens his darkest impulses, his emotional turmoil curdles into unbridled rage.

Clayface gives Harries ample room to fully explore this deeply tragic individual

This descent — from heartbroken victim to full-blown villain — gives Harries complete freedom to examine and showcase Hagen's devastating psychological unraveling. Running the full emotional gamut, Harries delivers a multi-layered performance worth talking about, brilliantly veering from fear and fury, to dismay and infatuation with an ease that cements his leading man credentials.

Moreover, Harries will leave you conflicted over whether you should actually be rooting for Hagen. Yes, his personal and professional ruination will draw sympathy, but Clayface's major narrative pivot point — i.e. the moment Hagen starts enacting revenge on his betrayers — quickly sees that compassion dissipate as his killing spree devolves from tragic accidents to cold premeditation.

Hagen and Corr's complicated dynamic is exacerbated by the former's transformative unraveling (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

But, this isn't just the Harries show. A large part of Clayface's storytelling success stems from the co-dependent, emotional dynamic between Harries' Hagen and Ackie's Corr.

A large part of Clayface's storytelling success stems from the co-dependent, emotional dynamic between Hagen and Corr

Initially built on a shared idealism of proving Corr's treatment is safe to use on humans, there's a satisfying earnestness to Hagen and Corr's embryonic bond at the outset. However, as their toxic obsessions take over — particularly where Hagen's unrequited limerence toward Corr, who he romanticizes as his savior, is concerned — their connection morphs into a warped romance with shades of Fatal Attraction and Phantom of the Opera.

Max Minghella's Gotham police detective isn't given much to do in Clayface (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

While the exploration of this increasingly discomforting bond is worthy of praise, I was disappointed that the love triangle between Hagen, Corr, and her Gotham cop boyfriend John Borelli (played by the ever-watchable Max Minghella) wasn't examined further.

With a lean, sub-two hour runtime, there's only so much narrative runway afforded to this DCU Chapter One entry. Nonetheless, I would've liked to see more the burgeoning rivalry between Hagen and Borelli that's only lightly peppered throughout.

I'd level a similar criticism at the underuse of Hagen's new shape-shifting abilities, specifically with how his acting background influences his powers. Sure, he combines his craft and superhuman talents to good effect as his quest for vengeance takes over. Still, while the creativity displayed in the film's climactic, gruesomely camp set-piece is plenty of fun, I was left wanting more from a premise with so much theatrical potential.

Monster mayhem

Clayface has some issues it needs to face up to (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

Clayface doesn't fully lean into its skin-crawling body-horror potential, either. In a ironic twist for a movie about shape-shifting, the film suffers from its own identity crisis, never quite deciding whether it wants to be an uncompromising creature feature or a low-budget comic book flick.

I wish Clayface had leaned harder into viscerally repulsive territory

To be fair, there are some wonderfully grotesque moments that'll delight genre enthusiasts and leave more squeamish viewers wriggling uncomfortably in their seats. Moreover, while visual effects have an increasingly important role as Hagen's transformation progresses, it's the practical makeup that helps to really elevate Harries' performance, and add a real tactile viscosity and nauseating quality to his physical degradation.

How much more horrifying would it have been to see this full scene for the first time on the big screen? (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

That said, I wish it had leaned harder into viscerally repulsive territory, especially given its most nightmarish moments are featured heavily in its first, second, and third trailers. A few more of the 'show and tell' body-horror beats that Clayface handles so well, rather than deliberately dodging them with cliched, shadow-draped discretion shots, would've gone a long way to appeasing me.

Thankfully, the DCU's take on Gotham City doesn't suffer a similar atmospheric fate.

As grimy and seedy as any live-action iteration of the fictional megalopolis, Clayface presents Gotham as a stylish, neon-drenched playground. Blending rain-slicked noir aesthetics with a vibrant, comic-book palette, it creates a city that feels both oppressively dangerous and visually intoxicating. Its striking combination of Batman: The Animated Series' heightened gothic style and the gritty realism of Matt Reeves' The Batman is particularly notable, especially when you consider Clayface was originally pitched as a spin-off of the latter. Such comparisons will do little to assuage so-called 'merger bros', who want nothing more than to see Robert Pattinson's Dark Knight grapple-hook his way from Reeves' Bat-Verse to the DCU.

My verdict

Part-monster movie, part-Shakespearean tragedy, Clayface is a film of captivating contradictions. Driven by Harries' powerhouse lead performance, it delivers a surprisingly intimate and tragic character-driven story that explores the artificiality of fame, and puts a devotedly modern day spin on 'Feat of Clay', the two-part Batman: The Animated Series tale, it's inspired by. Even so, its hesitation to fully embrace its primary genre underpinnings, coupled with a few underbaked subplots and underutilized shape-shifting gags, holds it back from true greatness.

As a litmus test for the DCU, Clayface raises more questions about the franchise's broader direction after Supergirl and Lanterns. More generally, it doesn't reshape the mold for comic book cinema.

What it accomplishes, though, is far more intriguing: it proves Gunn and Safran are willing to take genuinely weird, character-focused gambles. I crave the next Batman, Wonder Woman, or Justice League film as much as the next person but, if we get more of these smaller scale offerings alongside their blockbuster brethren, Clayface will prove to be a risk worth taking.

Clayface is out now in multiple international territories, and will be released in US theaters on Friday, October 23.

Light spoilers follow for Clayface.

Not many people would've predicted that a Clayface movie would be part of James Gunn and Peter Safran's DC Universe (DCU). Three years after Gunn unveiled the initial DCU slate, fewer still expected a shape-shifting villain to beat heavy hitters like Batman and Wonder Woman to the big screen.

And yet, here we are. Four months after Supergirl bombed at the box office, Clayface feels like a crucible moment for a cinematic universe that's still trying to find its footing and drop a few spontaneous surprises along the way. And, while the lovingly crafted origin story delivers on the latter front, it doesn't fully succeed in helping to shape the direction of DC's fledging comic book franchise.

Face/Off

Clayface is arguably the biggest role of Welsh actor Tom Rhys Harries' career so far (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

Clayface stars Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen, a Gotham City native and an actor on the cusp of superstardom. However, while celebrating a career-defining Best Actor award nomination, Hagen makes the fatal error of sleeping with Mia Torrez (Joana Ribeiro), the girlfriend of high-profile mobster Markos Szabo (David Dencik). In retaliation, Szabo’s henchmen brutally attack Hagen, disfiguring his prized face and destroying his life overnight.

Clayface feels like a crucible moment for the DCU

Abandoned by his allies and, after he takes Szabo to court for his crimes, failed by the justice system, a desperate Hagen seeks out Doctor Caitlyn Corr (Naomi Ackie), a researcher testing an experimental, regenerative nanocell therapy. However, while the initial trial restores his handsome features, Hagen soon succumbs to the treatment's terrifying side effects, leading him down a self-destructive path of revenge.

Matt Hagen is left horrifically scarred by his run-in with Szabo's men (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

It might sound strange, but witnessing a full-blown origins story is a rarity in this nascent comic book universe.

Sure, Supergirl was peppered with flashbacks of Kara Zor-El's life on Krypton, while Lanterns on HBO Max spotlighted John Stewart's journey to becoming a Green Lantern. Generally, though, DC Studios has deliberately shied away from origin tropes, which makes Clayface a rare exception to the rule.

Given that Clayface remains a mystery to anyone outside hardcore comic book circles, this focus on Hagen's transformation into the monstrous Batman adversary isn't only justified, but ultimately necessary.

Acting on impulse

Hagen's emotional turbulence is captured in near-pitch perfect fashion by Harries (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

More importantly, though, Clayface gives Harries ample room to fully explore this deeply tragic individual. Hagen isn't just a monster in the making; he's a man drowning in grief, wrestling with the overwhelming despair of losing his face and career overnight, and, eventually, his humanity.

Having lost his sense of self post-attack, Hagen attempts to literally and figuratively rebuild himself with Corr's pioneering yet hazardous serum. But, as the treatment heightens his darkest impulses, his emotional turmoil curdles into unbridled rage.

Clayface gives Harries ample room to fully explore this deeply tragic individual

This descent — from heartbroken victim to full-blown villain — gives Harries complete freedom to examine and showcase Hagen's devastating psychological unraveling. Running the full emotional gamut, Harries delivers a multi-layered performance worth talking about, brilliantly veering from fear and fury, to dismay and infatuation with an ease that cements his leading man credentials.

Moreover, Harries will leave you conflicted over whether you should actually be rooting for Hagen. Yes, his personal and professional ruination will draw sympathy, but Clayface's major narrative pivot point — i.e. the moment Hagen starts enacting revenge on his betrayers — quickly sees that compassion dissipate as his killing spree devolves from tragic accidents to cold premeditation.

Hagen and Corr's complicated dynamic is exacerbated by the former's transformative unraveling (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

But, this isn't just the Harries show. A large part of Clayface's storytelling success stems from the co-dependent, emotional dynamic between Harries' Hagen and Ackie's Corr.

A large part of Clayface's storytelling success stems from the co-dependent, emotional dynamic between Hagen and Corr

Initially built on a shared idealism of proving Corr's treatment is safe to use on humans, there's a satisfying earnestness to Hagen and Corr's embryonic bond at the outset. However, as their toxic obsessions take over — particularly where Hagen's unrequited limerence toward Corr, who he romanticizes as his savior, is concerned — their connection morphs into a warped romance with shades of Fatal Attraction, Phantom of the Opera, and a dark, twisted inversion of (500) Days of Summer.

Max Minghella's Gotham police detective isn't given much to do in Clayface (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

While the exploration of this increasingly discomforting bond is worthy of praise, I was disappointed that the love triangle between Hagen, Corr, and her Gotham cop boyfriend John Borelli (played by the ever-watchable Max Minghella) wasn't examined further.

With a lean, sub-two hour runtime, there's only so much narrative runway afforded to this DCU Chapter One entry. Nonetheless, I would've liked to see more the burgeoning rivalry between Hagen and Borelli that's only lightly peppered throughout.

I'd level a similar criticism at the underuse of Hagen's new shape-shifting abilities, specifically with how his acting background influences his powers. Sure, he combines his craft and superhuman talents to good effect as his quest for vengeance takes over. Still, while the creativity displayed in the film's climactic, gruesomely camp set-piece is plenty of fun, I was left wanting more from a premise with so much theatrical potential.

Monster mayhem

Clayface has some issues it needs to face up to (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

Clayface doesn't fully lean into its skin-crawling body-horror potential, either. In a ironic twist for a movie about shape-shifting, the film suffers from its own identity crisis, never quite deciding whether it wants to be an uncompromising creature feature or a low-budget comic book flick.

I wish Clayface had leaned harder into viscerally repulsive territory

To be fair, there are some wonderfully grotesque moments that'll delight genre enthusiasts and leave more squeamish viewers wriggling uncomfortably in their seats. Moreover, while visual effects have an increasingly important role as Hagen's transformation progresses, it's the practical makeup that helps to really elevate Harries' performance, and add a real tactile viscosity and nauseating quality to his physical degradation.

How much more horrifying would it have been to see this full scene for the first time on the big screen? (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)

That said, I wish it had leaned harder into viscerally repulsive territory, especially given its most nightmarish moments are featured heavily in its first, second, and third trailers. A few more of the 'show and tell' body-horror beats that Clayface handles so well, rather than deliberately dodging them with cliched, shadow-draped discretion shots, would've gone a long way to appeasing me.

Thankfully, the DCU's take on Gotham City doesn't suffer a similar atmospheric fate.

As grimy and seedy as any live-action iteration of the fictional megalopolis, Clayface presents Gotham as a stylish, neon-drenched playground. Blending rain-slicked noir aesthetics with a vibrant, comic-book palette, it creates a city that feels both oppressively dangerous and visually intoxicating. Its striking combination of Batman: The Animated Series' heightened gothic style and the gritty realism of Matt Reeves' The Batman is particularly notable, especially when you consider Clayface was originally pitched as a spin-off of the latter. Such comparisons will do little to assuage so-called 'merger bros', who want nothing more than to see Robert Pattinson's Dark Knight grapple-hook his way from Reeves' Bat-Verse to the DCU.

My verdict

Part-monster movie, part-Shakespearean tragedy, Clayface is a film of captivating contradictions. Driven by Harries' powerhouse lead performance, it delivers a surprisingly intimate and tragic character-driven story that explores the artificiality of fame, and puts a devotedly modern day spin on 'Feat of Clay', the two-part Batman: The Animated Series tale, it's inspired by. Even so, its hesitation to fully embrace its primary genre underpinnings, coupled with a few underbaked subplots and underutilized shape-shifting gags, holds it back from true greatness.

As a litmus test for the DCU, Clayface raises more questions about the franchise's broader direction after Supergirl and Lanterns. More generally, it doesn't reshape the mold for comic book cinema.

What it accomplishes, though, is far more intriguing: it proves Gunn and Safran are willing to take genuinely weird, character-focused gambles. I crave the next Batman, Wonder Woman, or Justice League film as much as the next person but, if we get more of these smaller scale offerings alongside their blockbuster brethren, Clayface will prove to be a risk worth taking.

Clayface is out now in multiple international territories, and will be released in US theaters on Friday, October 23.

The scent-sending technology could be used in online shopping, healhcare diagnoses and just for fun.

I've used Bitdefender Total Security to protect my own devices for years, and I highly recommend it. I've found a great deal on the security software at Newegg that brings a year's coverage for up to 10 devices down to under $30.

Bitdefender Total Security 2026 is reduced to $28 (was $100) at Newegg with promo code EPF56892. It doesn't get much cheaper than this, so well-worth checking out.

• Best for: Households with multiple devices, anyone wanting protection across different operating systems, and people looking for antivirus software with additional privacy and ransomware defenses.

• Why I like it: I use Bitdefender Total Security to protect all of my devices at home, and it's much more than a traditional antivirus tool. As well as keeping you safe from viruses, spyware, Trojans, ransomware, and other malicious software, it also uses behavioral detection to identify suspicious activity and defend against unknown threats.

Today's best antivirus software deal

Total Security 2026: was $99.99 now $27.99
Bitdefender Total Security provides one year of protection for 10 Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices, with malware detection, ransomware defense, privacy tools, parental controls, and limited daily VPN access included.View Deal

Why we recommend it

The software can block online tracking, monitor attempts to access your webcam or microphone, and identify potentially dangerous websites. The subscription covers up to 10 devices running Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.

The package also includes access to Bitdefender VPN, although it's limited to 200MB per day per device, which is only really enough for occasional use. Parental control features will be of interest to anyone with children, although availability and functionality depend on the OS.

In covering the software, we said: "Bitdefender tops our list and ticks every box. It performed well across our testing, boasts all the tools you need to protect your devices from malware (and more), and is nice and easy to use – regardless of platform. While some expert users might wish for a little more granular customization, we think that Bitdefender strikes the right balance in terms of configuration and ease of use."

Price context & historical value

Newegg sells the one-year, 10-device subscription for $99.99, but is currently offering it at $52.99. Enter EPF56892 at checkout to save a further $25, bringing the final price to $27.99.

That represents a $72 saving against the original price, approximately 72% off. If you activate the program on all 10 devices, the first-year cost works out to approximately $2.80 per device.

It's important to remember that this is a one-year license, rather than a permanent software purchase. You're not locked in though. What I usually do is search for a new deal around the renewal time.

For more options, take a look at our roundup of the best antivirus software.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Bitdefender Total Security if...

You want one antivirus subscription covering Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices. It's also great for ransomware protection, malicious website detection, and privacy tools. At $27.99, this is a fantastic deal.

❌ Skip Bitdefender Total Security if...

You only need to protect one computer and are satisfied with your device's built-in antivirus software. Windows includes Microsoft Defender, and macOS and mobile operating systems have their own security protections.

• Shop all antivirus software at Newegg

DJI might not be as well-known in the power supply space as Anker, Bluetti, EcoFlow, or Jackery, but its range of portable power stations have proved rather impressive in our tests. I find them particularly good for drone operators, since the units feature SDC ports for charging DJI drones. But that's not the only use for these power stations.

The DJI Power 1000 V2, currently $400 (was $600) at Amazon, is a prime example of that, with its 1,024Wh battery capacity, 2,600W output, and a port selection that makes it well-suited for home backup during emergency power outages.

• Best for: Drone operators charging multiple devices on the move, or home-owners wanting emergency backup power for appliances, electronics, and outdoor equipment.

• What we like: The DJI Power 1000 V2 is a portable battery station that can also come along on camping trips, RV adventures, and outdoor challenges.

Today's best portable power station deal

Power 1000 V2 Portable Power Station: was $699 now $399.98
This portable power station features a 1,024Wh LFP battery, 2,600W continuous output, 37-minute charging to 80%, dual 140W USB-C ports, 10ms UPS switching, quiet operation, and five-year warranty coverage for owners.View Deal

Why we recommend it

The DJI Power 1000 V2 combines a 1,024Wh battery with 2,600W of continuous AC output, making it capable of running a wide range of appliances.

DJI claims the battery can recharge from empty to 80% in 37 minutes, while a full charge takes approximately 56 minutes (under suitable conditions). The station uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery chemistry for long-term durability, and it is rated for 4,000 charge cycles while retaining at least 80% of its original capacity.

You get two AC outlets, two USB-A ports, and two USB-C ports capable of delivering up to 140W each. There's also SDC and SDC Lite ports for charging DJI drones. Alongside this, the unit has a UPS function with an approximately 10ms switching time to allow compatible equipment to continue receiving power when the mains supply is interrupted. For overnight use, the company quotes noise levels as low as 26dB. DJI offers up to five years of warranty coverage.

For more picks, we've tested out the best portable power stations and the best DJI drones.

Price context & historical value

Usually priced at $699, the current deal brings the DJI Power 1000 V2 down to $399.98. That's a saving of $299.02, equivalent to approximately 43%.

It's the lowest price I've personally seen for this model and its combination of battery capacity, continuous output, and rapid recharging make it a great deal.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the DJI Power 1000 V2 if...

You want a portable source of electricity for camping, RV trips, outdoor work, or occasional power outages. The 2,600W output gives you flexibility and the fast recharge time reduces how long the battery needs to remain connected to mains power. The dual 140W USB-C ports are also useful.

❌ Skip the DJI Power 1000 V2 if...

You need to run large household appliances for extended periods during an outage. Yes, the 2,600W output can handle substantial loads, but the 1,024Wh battery capacity limits how long it can sustain them.

• Shop all internal SSD deals at Amazon

Working on a laptop is convenient until you need to keep several applications visible at the same time. The Zumwalt S8 Pro, currently $230 (was $320) at Amazon, tackles that problem by adding two 14-inch Full HD screens to your existing display.

The screen extender offers a practical way to expand your laptop's workspace. It clips onto compatible 13-inch to 17.3-inch laptops, with two additional screens that fold out on either side. You can extend your desktop across all three displays or mirror content when needed.

• Best for: People who work across multiple applications, regularly travel with their laptops, or want more display space without investing in a permanent multi-monitor setup.

• Why we like it: The main attraction is having three screens available wherever you take your laptop. You could keep a document open on the main display, use another for research, and leave email or messaging applications visible on the third.

Laptop Screen Extender: was $319.99 now $229.98
The Zumwalt S8 Pro adds two 14-inch 1080p IPS displays to compatible laptops, featuring 300-nit brightness, adjustable screens, USB-C and HDMI connectivity, an aluminum design, and a carrying case for travel.View Deal

Why we recommend it

Each of the additional screens uses a 14-inch IPS LCD panel with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, and 300-nit brightness. The specifications also list 100% sRGB color coverage and 178-degree viewing angles.

Zumwalt describes the extender as having an aluminum construction, an ultra-thin profile, and adjustable screens that fold away for transportation. A protective carrying case is included and there's an integrated kickstand to help support the additional displays.

For more ways to expand your screen, we've tested the best portable monitors.

Price context & historical value

Amazon's current $229.98 price represents a 28% drop from $319.99. The extender has previously sold for $199.99, making today's price $29.99 more expensive than that earlier low.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Zumwalt Laptop Screen Extender if...

You regularly work with several applications at once, need more screen space while traveling, or want to turn a compatible laptop into a three-display workstation without carrying separate monitors.

❌ Skip Zumwalt Laptop Screen Extender if...

Although the extender is advertised for Windows, Mac, ChromeOS, and other devices, your laptop needs to support the necessary video outputs. Some MacBooks have restrictions on how many external displays they can drive.

• Shop all monitors at Amazon

• Atlassian report claims the number of developers saving significant time through AI is actually dropping
• Finding information and participating in meetings are major human bottlenecks
• More then four in five organizations still don't have a clear AI strategy

Nearly nine in 10 (87%) developers surveyed by Atlassian now sayAI is helping them to write and ship code faster, but despite offering significant speed improvements across certain parts of the workflow, three in four (72%) also report either the same or greater friction across the entire lifecycle.

Longer-term optimism around AI's ability to save time is also dropping, with just 25% of developers saving 10+ hours a week when using AI, compared with 68% in 2025.

Ultimately, Atlassian's findings point toward AI simply shifting the bottleneck further downstream rather than tackling time constraints altogether.

Is AI actually helping developers?

The data shows that faster code generation isn't translating into faster software delivery, with the reality of AI-assisted coding now highlighting other areas where AI could actually help. For example, half of developers struggling with finding information (51%) and meeting frequency (50%)

"Faster code is not the same as better software delivered sooner," Atlassian Customer CTO Andrew Boyagi explained. "If teams still struggle to find information, clarify requirements and move work through the delivery process, speeding up coding alone won’t translate into business outcomes."

However, many developers simply feel that AI is being implemented too quickly without consideration for its impacts. Three in five say merely using AI is seen as a positive metric – but its real-world impacts don't fall under that scope.

Companies with an effective strategy were found to be in the best position to reduce friction, where twice as many workers reported positive effects. Still, not even a fifth (17%) of developers say their employer has a clearly communicated and implemented AI strategy.

Now that we're beginning to emerge from the early, experimental years of artificial intelligence, and that use cases are starting to be identified, the report calls for greater consideration and clearer strategies from the top down in order to unlock the real benefits.

• Three nuclear plants would add 2.25GW of electricity to the grid
• Microsoft and Google plan to use power from those sites
• Trump wants 400GW of nuclear capacity by 2050

In its ongoing effort to become an AI global superpower, the US is reportedly gearing up to restart three previously closed nuclear power plants simply to keep up with the energy demands caused by AI data centers.

Together, the three nuclear facilities would likely provide 2.25GW of electricity, or enough to power two million homes and businesses (per The Los Angeles Times).

And the US Department of Energy looks to be a major supporter of the projects, providing up to $4.4 billion in federal loans.

Dormant nuclear plants are being woken to power AI

Microsoft and Google have already signed agreements to purchase electricity from two of those facilities, with power plant restarts now slated for between 2027 and 2029, per the report.

Importantly, these likely mark the first commercial nuclear reactors to be restarted after being formally decommissioned, with rising demand for reliable and low-carbon electricity surging.

The first of three, Palisades Nuclear Plant in Michigan, closed in 2022 nine years before its license was due to expire due to its owner withdrawing from the nuclear power business. Electricity purchase agreements for the plan require it to return to service by March 2027, which is just half a year away.

Crane Clean Energy Center in Pennsylvania is also likely targeting a 2027 online date, with Duane Arnold Energy Center in Iowa looking for a 2029 go-live date.

"For anyone who wants zero carbon, nuclear provides that," nuclear engineering expert Todd Allen explained. "For the Trump administration, which really wants nuclear, this fits that story also."

This, of course, falls under Trump's nuclear plans – a May 2025 executive order revealed plans to quadruple US nuclear generating capacity from around 100GW in 2024 to 400GW by 2050.

Still, these latest plans aren't short of criticism, with concerns over the safety of aging reactors being floated, especially in a world of heightened geopolitical activity and natural disasters.

• Esoteric knows more of us are embracing CDs — and we'll love SACDs too
• Meet the elite K1XE SACD player and optional PS1XE external power supply 
• How much is it? If you need to ask, I fear it's going to be too much… 

Money no object

We love to give practical buying advice about the latest tech products here on TechRadar. But sometimes what we love even more is to indulge in the most outrageously high-end, cutting-edge, luxurious propositions on the planet. That's what we bring you in these Money No Object columns — you can read the whole series here.

Well well well. We knew CD players were having a moment because we can't seem to stop writing about them — whether ultra-luxe, super-fresh and with aptX Bluetooth, be they hefty and toting both analog and digital inputs, fully transparent like some sort of award, inspired by Death Stranding 2: On the Beach in neon orange or even an affordable little ripper, from FiiO.

So there's a CD player for everyone in 2026. TechRadar even published a roundup of 9 of the coolest new CD player releases not six weeks ago, in an effort to stay abreast of them all.

And now, there's an option for people in possession of an awful lot of money. And why not? It's your money and if you have a collection of SACDs you want to make use of, along with a sizeable chunk of cash to invest into the experience, you should be able to do so.

What am I talking about when I say 'SACD'? These delicate little beauties are shiny and circular just like your regular CDs, but the moniker stands for 'Super Audio Compact Disc'. It's a high-resolution optical audio disc format first introduced in 1999 and developed jointly by Sony and Philips Electronics. Unlike CDs, the format uses a 1-bit resolution with a sampling rate of 2.8224 MHz, also known as DSD64, to provide a data rate of 5.6 Mbps — and that walks all over your typical CD's 16-bit/44.1kHz resolution, or a data rate of 1.411 Mbps, in the hi-res audio stakes.

So, it makes sense to get a serious player for your seriously detailed recorded music, right? That's clearly what Esoteric was thinking too. Behold: the ultra-luxe K1XE SACD player. You may see it as an outrageously high-end player, for a format many people thought was largely done and gone. I call it a huge win for offline hi-res listening.

How many of us still dig SACDs? I'd say the number is growing…

(Image credit: Esoteric)

Anyway, what you're looking at in the main image (and the one above) is the Esoteric Grandioso K1XE, the ultra-luxury Japanese audio specialist's new flagship Super Audio CD player.

It features the VRDSATLAS (try saying that out loud, or writing it out several times in a news piece), Esoteric’s proprietary SACD transport mechanism, featuring an "exceptionally rigid, heavyweight platform engineered for outstanding mechanical precision". Also inbuilt is the proprietary Master Sound Discrete DAC G2, a next-generation, discrete digital-analog converter developed entirely in-house by Esoteric.

The K1XE is a fully dual-mono DAC configuration. Esoteric explains that this "large scale" architecture incorporates five independent linear power supply systems to achieve what the company calls "full-bodied sound reminiscent of vinyl playback".

OK but what's the thing on the right, in the main image above? That's the Grandioso PS1XE, an also-new optional external power supply — because you want to power this player properly, don't you? Doing so will reduce electrical interference, lower the noise floor for cleaner SACD sound, move high-voltage AC and heat a sensible way away from those sensitive audio circuits, including that beautifully rigid, hefty transport.

Esoteric's K1XE is just part of the full Grandioso range, seen here in a particularly high-end listening space (Image credit: Esoteric)

Both products will be available for international shipment from the beginning of November 2026. And it's worth considering shipping costs too (although if you're bothered by those, it's probably a little rich for the blood) because the K1XE alone weighs 34.3kg / 75lbs, which is roughly the weight of a large adult dog — think German Shepherd or Golden Retriever.

Will this glorious beast still play your regular CDs? Almost certainly. Esoteric hasn't confirmed this in its marketing, but practically all SACD players are fully backwards-compatible and are able to read the standard Red Book CD layer of an audio CD (sometimes called a CD-DA) without issue.

And that's important, because CD sales revenue was up 58% in the opening six months of 2026 (and 45% in volume) in the US, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Also, the burgeoning popularity of newer portable CD players (along with the growing trend for wired earbuds that do away with streaming and generally being online) proves that music lovers are buying new, pristine CDs alongside inheriting caches of old (possibly scratched) collections. And isn't listening to a full concept album in superior quality one of life's great pleasures?

Let's tackle pricing: both The Grandioso K1XE and PS1XE will be available worldwide starting November 2026. And I'm just going to write it quickly: the Esoteric Grandioso K1XE SACD player has an MSRP of US $45,000 / £37,999 (or around AU$72, 399). The PS-1XE external power supply is priced at $19,000 / £16,500 (approximately AU$36,199).

Just imagine how good those SACDs are going to sound though…

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Oppo launched two excellent phones within six months of each other. I’m confused, but maybe you can figure it out.

Antigravity A1 Follow Me Bundle: two-minute review

When the Antigravity A1 launched in 2025 it was the world’s first 360-degree drone, and for a brief time the only such drone, until the DJI Avata 360 was released shortly after. These two models remain the only 360-degree drones currently available, with their differing designs offering slightly different propositions for drone pilots, depending on what you’re aiming for.

You can fly both drones with FPV goggles and Motion Controllers, though the Avata 360 can also be flown with a standard drone controller. The Antigravity A1’s design makes it look like a camera drone, but with top and bottom 360-degree cameras, while the standard kit's FPV goggles and Motion Controller let you fly immersively with a 360-degree view of your surroundings; you can look around as you fly, which is quite an experience.

A 360-degree drone lets you reframe photos and videos after you’ve captured them, opening up a wealth of creative potential. They're not for everyone, but they undoubtedly provide both an interesting flying experience and equally interesting editing possibilities. The Antigravity A1 Follow Me Bundle is designed to expand the functionality of the drone, and the creative options available to users, further.

James AbbottJames AbbottJames Abbott

The Antigravity A1 Follow Me Bundle enables hands-free shooting, and obviates the need to use the A1’s FPV goggles and Motion Controller for flight. It also improves subject tracking, and offers automated flight patterns for capturing selfies, similar to the DJI Neo 2.

The Follow Me Bundle includes several accessories, with the Watch Remote allowing you to set the flight mode, and the Ring Remote allowing you use gestures to adjust the position of the A1 when in flight.

The Watch Remote also features built-in GNSS for greater precision when the drone is tracking you during fast-paced activities such as cycling, and allows you to select the subject that will be tracked.

The Follow Me Bundle also opens up one-tap cinematic shots, which are automated flight patterns, alongside advanced subject-tracking modes. The former include Fly Away, Antigravity Line, Ascend, Oval Orbit, Spiral Ascent, Arc Shot and Arc Out, while the tracking modes include Manual Mode, Deep Track, Orbit Follow, Cycling Track and Ski Track.

The one-tap cinematic shots, like any automated flight patterns, may feel a bit 'samey' after a while, but they’re fun to try out. It’s the new subject-tracking modes that are most interesting.

James AbbottJames AbbottJames AbbottJames AbbottJames Abbott

The subject-tracking modes and one-tap cinematic shots can’t be faulted, and the Antigravity performs incredibly well here. I had it track me while running, skateboarding, and cycling through complex environments, including between and under trees, and the A1 didn’t miss a beat. Not to mention, you get the bonus of being able to reframe footage and add effects in Antigravity Studio.

The Watch Remote enables you to initiate take-off and landing and Return to Home, and make basic adjustments to the drone’s position, alongside setting the flight mode and selecting the subject to be tracked.

The Ring Remote offers a Drag-to-Fly feature, where you press and hold the button on the ring, and can then move your hand and arm to adjust A1’s flight position in relation to you to fine-tune its tracking distance and position.

The Watch Remote is about the same size as a smartwatch, with a 1.72-inch LCD screen. It is, however, about 1.5x the depth/thickness of your average smartwatch. The Ring Remote fits a finger circumference of 1.8-2.8 inches / 46-70mm. Both offer IP67 water resistance and, as we’ve discussed, a unique way to control your Antigravity A1 drone.

The main downside of the kit — cost aside, which we'll get to below — is that the propeller guards increase the weight of the drone. The propeller guards take the A1 from the coveted 249g weight, to 351g, meaning the A1 becomes slightly more restricted when this accessory is used.

Antigravity A1 Follow Me Bundle: key specs

Camera:

Dual 1/1.28-inch sensors

Video resolution:

Up to 8K

Frame rates:

8K up to 30fps / 5.2K up to 60fps / 4K & 1080p up to 30fps / 4K & 1080p slow motion at 100fps

Video transmission range:

Up to 6.2 miles / 10km (Tested in FCC environments)

Flight modes:

Manual Mode, Deep Track, Orbit Follow, Cycling Track, Ski Track, Fly Away, Antigravity Line, Ascend, Oval Orbit, Spiral Ascent, Arc Shot, Arc Out

Battery:

2360mAh, up to 24 minutes flight time / 4345mAh, up to 39 minutes flight time

Charger type:

USB-C / Battery Charging Hub

Weight:

12.04oz / 351g

Dimensions:

Folded: 5.56 x 3.79 x 3.20 inches / 141.3 x 96.2 x 81.4mm

Unfolded (propellers extended): 12.15 x 15.05 x 3.51 inches / 308.6 x 382.3 x 89.2mm

Antigravity A1 Follow Me Bundle: Price and availability

The Antigravity A1 Follow Me Bundle is available in two kits: one that includes the Antigravity A1 drone and another that’s just the follow accessories for existing A1 owners. The Follow Me Bundle includes the Watch Remote, Ring Remote, Propeller Guards, Lens Guards, a USB-C cable and a Cross Body Bag. This costs $340 / £309 / AU$539, while the kit with all this and the A1 drone, alongside other drone accessories, costs $799 / £639 / AU$1159. The Propeller Guards can also be purchased separately, and these cost $40 / £32 / AU$70.

This is quite expensive when you consider the fact that the DJI Neo 2 only costs $259 / £209 / AU$409 for the basic kit. Sure, if you’ve already got an Antigravity drone, the new Accessory Bundle, including just the accessories, expands the functionality of what you have, but the DJI Neo 2 is smaller, lighter and can be controlled in several different ways. The main and obvious advantage of the Antigravity A1 Follow Me Bundle is the fact that you can capture 360-degree video, which you can’t do with the DJI Neo 2.

One thing that I would like to see with the Antigravity A1, and this could also be released as a kit and standalone accessory purchase, is a standard drone controller; one that allows you to fly the drone without the need for the FPV goggles and Motion Controller, or even the Watch and Ring Remotes. This would make flying even easier and more convenient – simply opening up yet another way to fly the A1. Anyhow, let’s get back to the Follow Me Bundle.

Antigravity A1 Follow Me Bundle: Also consider

DJI Neo 2

The DJI Neo 2 allows you to capture effortless aerial selfies thanks to its intelligent subject tracking that automatically follows you. Gesture controls let you operate the drone hands-free. The drone is lightweight and compact, and although it’s not a 360-degree drone, it offers fantastic subject tracking and selfie modes in an affordable package with several control options available.

Read our DJI Neo 2 review

DJI Avata 360

The DJI Avata 360 is excellent for capturing 360-degree photos and videos. Its intelligent subject-tracking features, including ActiveTrack 360°, make it easy to follow moving subjects automatically, while Spotlight modes provide additional creative control. These are more basic in some ways than the Antigravity A1 Follow Me Bundle, but it’s the only other 360-degree drone available, and it offers some subject tracking functionality off the shelf.

Read our DJI Avata 360 review

Should I buy the Antigravity A1 Follow Me Bundle?

(Image credit: James Abbott)Buy it if...

You want subject tracking capabilities on a 360-degree drone

The subject tracking capabilities of the Follow Me Bundle are impressive, to say the least. Plus, you can shoot up to 8K 360-degree footage.

You already own an A1

If you already own an Antigravity A1 and would rather expand its functionality rather than buying another drone, the accessory bundle is for you.

Don't buy it if...

You’re on a tight budget

Whether or not you already own an Antigravity A1, the basic DJI Neo 2 kit is less expensive than the Follow Me Bundles and offers similar flight functionality.

You don’t need or want 360-degree tracking

This is a no-brainer, but if you don’t need or want subject tracking and selfie functionality in a 360-degree drone, this is not the kit for you.

How I tested the Antigravity A1 Follow Me Bundle

• All functionality tested
• Tested in complex environments
• Used with different modes of transport

The Antigravity A1 Follow Me Bundle was tested over several weeks, tracking myself skateboarding, cycling and running. I also tested the one-click cinematic shots while standing to show how these look with focus on the subject.

To put the subject tracking through its paces, I chose to walk, skate and cycle under and around trees to see how the drone’s collision avoidance coped, alongside how the GNSS tracking on the Watch Remote performed.

All video footage was reframed as simply as possible, with focus on the subject maintained with a ‘normal’ field of view. I chose not to use any special effects to make the capabilities of the tracking modes apparent.

First reviewed October 2026

Oppo Find X10 review: Two-minute review

(Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

I’ve been using a selection of Oppo phones as my daily drivers for the last two years, and in that time, I’ve always gravitated towards the higher end of the lineup. I’ve stood by my habit of choosing the ‘pro’ option where possible for several reasons — such as wanting a high-quality camera system, long battery life, a great screen, and powerful internals — but Oppo’s new baseline flagship throws that all into question.

Put simply, the Oppo Find X10 feels like a ‘pro’ phone. It blazes through multitasking, gaming, and productivity tasks. It lasts for ages thanks to an iPad-sized battery. Its three rear cameras are some of the clearest and sharpest I’ve used on a smartphone. And its mid-sized display feels bigger than it is thanks to razor-thin bezels and a super-sharp resolution.

However, the Oppo Find X10 also comes with a pro-grade price tag. While last year’s Oppo Find X9 launched at £899 / AU$1,799 (it wasn't available in the US), the Find X10 hikes that number up to £1,099 (AU$ TBC) — the same price as the Oppo Find X9 Pro.

Really, then, it makes more sense to see the Find X10 as the successor to the Find X9 Pro. This year’s actual step-up model, the Oppo Find X10 Pro Max, is in a different class altogether, with three 200MP cameras and a ludicrous £1,499 launch price.

Still, as you might expect from such an expensive handset, the Oppo Find X10 punches above its weight class as a standard flagship. Though we’ve seen other Android manufacturers like Samsung and Google release phones with triple-camera systems and fast internal components, Oppo’s latest offering has some seriously impressive specs up its sleeve, and it's a strong contender for future inclusion in TechRadar's best Android phone and best camera phone guides.

As well as the aforementioned battery — a monstrously huge 7,150mAh cell (or an even bigger 8,000mAh cell in APAC regions) — the phone comes locked and loaded with two 200MP camera sensors, one of the cleanest Android wrappers in the game, and a thin and light design that takes more than a little inspiration from Apple.

Indeed, the Find X10 makes it clearer than ever that Oppo has no plans of slowing its roll when it comes to taking, ahem, inspiration from the design and engineering teams over in Cupertino. I'll leave you to decide whether that's a help or a hindrance; the phone itself works marvelously, but it’s hardly the most original product on the market. With that said, if you’re someone who absolutely must use Android, but like the look and feel of the best iPhones, the Find X10 is about as close as you can get while keeping a hold of Google’s mobile OS.

Across the industry, phones aren’t getting any cheaper — the standard iPhone 17 is approaching the launch price of the iPhone 15 Pro, and Android phone makers are jacking prices across the board — and Oppo's latest flagships are no exception.

At £1,099, the Oppo Find X10 is very expensive for a supposed base-model flagship, but, to be real, this is a pro-level flagship in disguise. Thanks to its excellent cameras and solid performance, its standard-sounding name is not a facade that holds for long; a pro by any other name still feels as complete.

Oppo Find X10 Pro review: Price and availability

(Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

• Costs £1,099
• Comes in a single configuration with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage
• Not available in the US; Australia availability TBC

The Oppo Find X10 costs £1,099 — exactly the same as last year’s Find X9 Pro at launch and £200 more than the standard Find X9. That might sound like a mighty price hike at first, but the truth is that the Find X10 is more obviously a follow-up to the Find X9 Pro than the standard Find X9, and makes a case for its price point with some properly pro-grade features.

The Find X10 comes in one configuration: 12GB of RAM with 256GB of storage. That is, annoyingly, less RAM and storage space than last year’s Find X9 Pro, which came with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. But with rising prices across the industry and still-excellent performance (as I'll discuss below), the Find X10 is hardly the worst offender on the market when it comes to changes in value proposition.

If you buy the phone directly from Oppo, you get your choice of the Hasselblad Teleconverter Kit or Oppo Watch X3 at no extra cost. Personally, I’d recommend the teleconverter kit — I didn’t get to test it with the Find X10, but having used last year’s version with the Find X9 Pro, I’d recommend it for any keen mobile photographers.

One thing I do appreciate about Oppo is that everything you need to get started with your phone comes in the box. As well as the phone itself, my Find X10 review unit came with an 80W SuperVOOC charger and a color-matched silicone case. Considering how expensive high-power chargers can be, that’s a decent value-add.

• Value score: 3 / 5

Oppo Find X10 review: Specs

Check out the table below for a quick overview of the Oppo Find X10's specs, or keep scrolling for detailed breakdowns of each feature.

Dimensions:

156.51 × 74.29 × 8.35mm

Weight:

216g

Display:

6.59-inch AMOLED

Resolution:

2768 x 1272 pixels

Refresh rate:

1-120Hz adaptive, boosted to 144Hz in certain games

Chipset:

MediaTek Dimensity 9500

Rear cameras:

200MP main + 50MP ultra-wide + 200MP telephoto (2.8x)

Front camera:

50MP

Storage:

256GB

RAM:

12GB

OS (at launch):

Android 17 w/ ColorOS 17

Battery:

8,000mAh (APAC) / 7,150mAh (EU)

Charging:

80W wired, 50W wireless

Oppo Find X10 review: Design

(Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

• Comes in three colors: Glacier Blue, Glow Coral, and Mist Grey
• The most iPhone-like Oppo phone yet
• Simple but elegant, with beautiful details

There’s no getting around the fact that the Oppo Find X10 looks like an iPhone 17 Pro (or indeed an iPhone 18 Pro). Its aluminum frame, glass rear panel, and raised camera plateau housing a trio of rear cameras make this the most iPhone-like Oppo phone ever released — somehow, it looks even more Apple-esque than last year’s Find X9 Pro, and given the brand’s history with taking inspiration from Cupertino, that’s really saying something.

However, despite its lack of originality, I am a fan of the Find X10’s design. In typical Oppo style, the phone feels both tanky and elegant. I wasn’t concerned about it taking knocks in my pocket or at the bottom of a backpack, but I also found myself stopping to appreciate the refinement and precision in its construction. Funnily enough, that familiar-looking camera plateau is perhaps the best example of Oppo's attention to detail; it rises from a rear panel made of a single piece of glass.

It helps, too, that the Find X10 comes with some protective kit in the box — you get a color-matched silicone case at no extra charge, and the phone comes with a glass screen protector pre-installed. The phone has also been separately rated at IP66, IP68, and IP69, meaning it can take a dip in shallow fresh water without any fuss (that’s a safety net, not an invitation).

My review unit came in the Glacier Blue colorway, which is rather nice, and the phone also comes in the stylishly loud Glow Coral (read: pink) and understated Mist Grey (read: grey) color options for those who want something more or less noticeable.

In the interface department, the Find X10 comes equipped with the standard power button and volume rocker as well as the Snap Key, Oppo’s take on Apple’s Action Button. By default, it’s set to activate Mind Space (more on that in the Software section), but I tend to set it as a camera shortcut or handy flashlight button.

The USB-C port uses a USB 3.2 Gen 1 connector, meaning file transfers zip by at a speedy 10 Gbps, and the main speaker alongside it is one of the best I’ve heard on any phone, with plenty of bass and depth to the sound.

• Design score: 4 / 5

Oppo Find X10 review: Display

(Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

• 6.59-inch screen
• 2768 x 1272 resolution
• 800 nits of typical brightness, peaking at 3,600 nits for HDR

I’m a large guy who likes large phones, and as such, I’ve spent the last few years daily driving the biggest phone I could get my oversized mitts on. With that said, I’ve found myself really enjoying the Find X10’s slightly smaller screen. 'Slightly' is the operative word here — at 6.59 diagonal inches, the phone isn’t much smaller than the 6.78-inch screen shared by the Find X10 Pro Max and last year’s Find X9 Pro, but it’s still a noticeable, and I dare say welcome, change.

Perhaps I shouldn’t be so surprised. Oppo has long proved itself as a maker of truly excellent displays, and the Find X10 is no different. With a resolution of 2768 x 1272 and pixel density of 460 pixels per inch, the screen on the Find X10 is even sharper than that of its bigger sibling, the Find X10 Pro Max. Oppo claims 800 nits of typical brightness, rising to 2,000 nits in high brightness mode and 3,600 nits peak for HDR content. In daily use, brightness wasn’t really a concern — the display was always legible and colorful, both indoors and outside, and with such a huge battery under the hood, I was content to let auto-brightness just do its thing.

The display also sports razor-thin bezels that measure a uniform 1.15mm around its entire edge. In practical use, they’re basically unnoticeable, which helps the slightly smaller display feel as immersive as a larger premium flagship. An adaptive 1-120Hz refresh rate keeps things feeling smooth in motion, while certain games can bump that figure up to 144Hz.

As usual, you get a choice of color profiles in the settings app — I like the ‘vivid’ look for its richer, poppier colors, though there are warmer, cooler, or more muted options to match other tastes. As is now typical for high-end phones, the Find X10's display uses an OLED panel to deliver deep blacks and excellent contrast, and I found it perfect for watching videos, playing games, and everyday browsing alike.

• Display score: 5 / 5

Oppo Find X10 review: Cameras

(Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

• 200MP main camera
• 200MP 2.8x telephoto camera
• 50MP ultra-wide camera
• 50MP selfie camera

The Find X10 makes its strongest case for a high price tag with its camera system.

With two 200MP sensors powering the main and telephoto cameras, respectively, as well as 50MP ultra-wide and selfie cameras, the Find X10 is a performant and reliable camera phone that excels at taking detailed snaps in a variety of lighting conditions.

I was impressed by just how sharp and colorful photos looked, and Oppo seems to have toned down the AI-flavored image signal processing common to its last generation of phones.

The name of the game here is consistency — no matter which lens you pick for your shot, Oppo’s hardware and software teams have clearly worked together to make the photography experience feel reliable, with similar colors, detail, and sharpness offered across the three cameras. The best synergy comes between the main and 2.8x telephoto cameras, both of which have a 200MP sensor at 1/1.4-inches and 1/1.56 inches, respectively. Both take excellent photos and offer superb detail in low light, and while neither can work miracles in pure darkness, the automatic long-exposure feature can garner impressive results.

The ultra-wide camera is smaller, with a 1/2.75-inch 50MP sensor, but it still performs well in bright situations, and serviceably in darker climes.

As standard, the Find X10 bins photos to 26MP JPEGs, but you also have the option to shoot JPEG-XL or RAW files at native resolution. The huge telephoto resolution means the Find X10 can take losslessly cropped 12MP photos at 12.4x zoom. The optional Hasselblad Teleconverter kit affixes a zoom lens to the telephoto camera, increasing the base zoom to 10x — alas, I didn’t get to test it with my review unit, but it’s worth mentioning that buying the phone from Oppo directly gives you the option of getting the kit or an Oppo Watch X3 at no extra cost.

(Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

I do, however, miss the Quick Button (Oppo’s version of the iPhone’s Camera Control) introduced with the Find X8 Pro and carried over to the Find X9 Pro. I appreciate that opinions on smartphone shutter buttons are mixed — I’ve got plenty of friends who never touch them, and TechRadar's Phones Editor, Axel Metz, has debated their value with me on more than one occasion — but I personally used the Quick Button almost every time I took a photo with the Find X9 Pro, and I loved swiping across it to access that high-quality telephoto lens.

That said, the Quick Button’s absence on the Find X10 isn’t a dealbreaker by any means, as the camera app is still one of the smoothest and best-featured I’ve used on any phone. The handset’s smaller frame also makes it easy to grab for quick snaps and videos.

Oppo Find X10 Camera SamplesJamie Richards / FutureJamie Richards / FutureJamie Richards / FutureJamie Richards / FutureJamie Richards / FutureJamie Richards / FutureJamie Richards / FutureUltra-wide lensJamie Richards / FutureMain lensJamie Richards / Future2.8x lensJamie Richards / Future5.6x lossless 12MP cropJamie Richards / FutureJamie Richards / FutureJamie Richards / FutureJamie Richards / FutureJamie Richards / FutureJamie Richards / FutureNo long-exposureJamie Richards / FutureWith long-exposureJamie Richards / FutureIn low light, the Find X10's AI-tinged post-processing is a bit more noticeableJamie Richards / FutureJamie Richards / Future

• Camera score: 5 / 5

Oppo Find X10 review: Software

(Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

• Android 17 with ColorOS 17
• Fast and reliable, though thoroughly unoriginal
• Bloatware is infuriating at this price point

ColorOS 17, Oppo’s take on Android 17, remains one of my favorite Android wrappers; it’s fast, fluid, well animated, and aesthetically clean. It’s also a clear and shameless dupe of iOS 27, right down to the Control Center-esque menus and Liquid Glass-like transparency effects. If you’re a die-hard Android user who just happens to like the look and feel of Apple phones, it’s a genuinely fantastic option, but those who want something a little more original should look elsewhere.

Debates around originality aside, I can’t overstate how much I enjoy using ColorOS. Its UI strikes the best balance between fluidity and stability of any mobile OS I’ve used. Oppo continues to use parallel animation processing, which runs each UI animation as its own task independent of other on-screen motion, and makes getting to the apps and content you need to access effortlessly fast.

Finally, ColorOS knows when to stay out of the way and when to suggest useful features like Smart Sidebar, which adds a floating dock for apps and files. It’s an impressive bit of software.

Less impressive is Oppo’s continued insistence on shipping incredibly expensive phones loaded with bloatware. On setup, I found my Find X10 review unit stuffed with apps I don’t and won’t use — TEMU, ChatGPT, BIGO LIVE, and Booking.com, among others. It is fundamentally unacceptable to ship a phone at £1,099 while patronizing users by pre-installing this nonsense, and Oppo needs to cut it out immediately.

The Find X10 also offers a few neat features for AI fans. The Snap Key on the left side of the phone is set by default to trigger Mind Space, which is sort of like a self-organizing junk drawer for your digital bits and bobs. Screenshots, notes, and reminders all end up here, processed and categorized into a searchable database. And as an upper-tier Android, the Find X10 is absolutely riddled with Gemini and first-party Oppo AI features like Circle to Search, image generation tools, and audio transcription.

• Software score: 3 / 5

Oppo Find X10 review: Performance

(Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

• MediaTek 9600M chipset
• 12GB of RAM
• Fast and fluid in all scenarios

Looking only at benchmarks, the Oppo Find X10 is a reasonable performer that runs in the middle of the pack for its price range, neither lagging behind nor pulling ahead.

As a daily driver, though, I found the Find X10 to be a perfect performer in all kinds of everyday scenarios. I suspect Oppo has optimized the heck out of this thing, as I just couldn’t get it to slow down, no matter how many apps I left open or how high I cranked the graphics settings on Call of Duty: Mobile.

The Find X10 comes with a MediaTek 9600M chipset and 12GB of RAM, both of which are fine for a phone in this price point. The iPhone 18 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, respectively, have the A20 Pro and Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 Elite chipsets, which are a bit faster, and many of the best phones give you 16GB of RAM for smoother multitasking and on-device AI. But as mentioned, I couldn’t get the Find X10 to stutter in my varied usage, so I’m not really concerned.

I did run some benchmarks to see what the Find X10’s internal hardware is capable of. Geekbench 7 returned a single-core score of 2466 and a multi-core score of 7759, while Geekbench AI gave a quantized score of 3119. This is on track with previous- and current-gen flagships from Samsung and Apple, and a fair bit ahead of Google — but at this price point, power users might want a little more oomph.

Still, I was always happy with the Find X10 in daily use. It nails the basics, with clear calls and phenomenal haptics, while delivering enough power for all but the most demanding users.

• Performance score: 4 / 5

Oppo Find X10 review: Battery

(Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)

• Battery capacity varies by region
• 8,000mAh in Asia-Pacific, 7150mAh in EU
• 80W wired charging
• 50W wireless charging

Oppo has long been a leader in the global phone market when it comes to battery life, and the Find X10 offers a serious upgrade over last year’s models… as long as you live in the Asia-Pacific region.

You see, the Find X10 comes in two regional variants: one for the aforementioned APAC region and one for the EU and the rest of the world. The former gets an 8,000mAh battery, up from the Find X9 Pro’s 7,500mAh cell, while the EU version sees a downgrade to 7,150mAh.

My review unit came with the larger 8,000mAh cell, so I can only speak to how well this version’s battery performs — and as you’d expect from a phone with a larger battery than a base-model iPad, it is truly excellent. I found it almost impossible to kill the Find X10 in a single day. I could easily get a day and a half or two days of use on a single full charge, and with cautious use, I reckon three days would be possible.

Again, I haven’t used the 7,150mAh version of the Find X10, but this is still larger than any battery an Apple, Samsung, or Google phone can offer, so expect great battery life at a minimum.

These fantastic results are due to Oppo’s use of silicon-carbon batteries, a technology the brand has long championed and continues to push forward. Silicon-carbon isn’t without its controversies, and some commentators doubt its long-term durability versus the typical lithium-ion batteries you’ll find in the best iPhones and many of the best Android phones — but for those who want all-day battery life with plenty of power to spare, the benefits are obvious.

When it comes to charging, the Find X10 benefits from Oppo’s proprietary SuperVOOC charging tech, with support for up to 80W wired charging or 50W wireless charging. The bundled wired charger hits that 80W mark, and charging is therefore relatively speedy; the sheer size of the Find X10’s battery means this isn’t the fastest-charging phone on the market, but its heft also means that a charge to 50% goes further than it would with Western competitors. It took me around 1:15h to charge from empty to full.

• Battery score: 5 / 5

Should you buy the Oppo Find X10?Oppo Find X10 scorecard

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

The Oppo Find X10 isn't cheap by any means. It's certainly a lot of phone, but the era of Oppo undercutting the competition is over.

3 / 5

Design

Undeniably beautiful, but completely indebted to Apple's design language. Sturdy with great color options.

4 / 5

Display

The Find X10 is a little smaller than its Pro Max sibling, but still feels immersive thanks to a sharp resolution, vivid colors, and thin bezels.

5 / 5

Software

One of the best deployments of Android, inexcusably marred by the presence of bloatware. Once you clear the crap, it's terrific.

3 / 5

Camera

A truly superb camera system with subtler post-processing than prior generations. The 200MP main and telephoto cameras are class-leading.

5 / 5

Performance

The Find X10 runs with the pack performance-wise. It's what we'd expect to see from a phone of this price.

4 / 5

Battery

Truly ludicrous battery life meets phenomenally quick charging. A battery champ by any measure.

5 / 5

Buy it if

You want a great camera phone

With three powerful cameras and superbly balanced post-processing, the Find X10 is a reliable pick for photos and videos. Lossless crops up to 12.6x and 200MP main and telephoto cameras make this one of the best camera phones I've used.View Deal

You want fantastic battery life

Whichever regional variant of the Find X10 you get, its battery is one of the largest in any smartphone. Add in rapid charging from the bundled wired charger and you’re unlikely to ever see it power down.View Deal

You want Apple-like looks with Android power

Originality isn’t Oppo’s strong suit, but if you’re a committed Googler who enjoys the simplicity and subtlety of Apple’s aesthetics, ColorOS is a solid alternative that runs smoothly in all kinds of scenarios.View Deal

Don't buy it if

You’re on a budget

Though prices have risen across the industry, the Find X10 is still both relatively and absolutely expensive — £1,099 is a lot of money, close to the price of an older phone plus a tablet or an entry-level laptop.View Deal

You hate bloatware

Oppo, if you’re reading this, I’m never going to let you off the hook for shoving bloatware nonsense onto a four-figure phone. Yes, these apps can be removed, but if you’re the type of person who likes a clean setup experience, the random apps and recommendations built into the Find X10 could be a serious turnoff.View Deal

Also consider

Google Pixel 11

If you want a fast and flexible Android phone that keeps the simple things simple while pushing new software and AI tools, the Google Pixel 11 gets you access to the latest Google features before anyone else while still sporting a triple-camera setup and modern design.

Read our hands-on Google Pixel 11 review

iPhone 18 Pro

The Oppo Find X10 looks and feels like an iPhone, but for some users, only the real thing will do. The iPhone 18 Pro is smaller than the Find X10, with lower-res cameras and a smaller battery, but it does give you access to Apple’s ecosystem and still has its Camera Control shutter button.

Read our full iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max review

OnePlus 15

With the OnePlus 16 stuck in China for now, the latest globally available flagship from Oppo’s sister brand remains the OnePlus 15. No complaints from us, though — the OnePlus 15 still reigns as the best Android phone in our rankings, thanks to its huge battery, excellent cameras, and large, high-resolution display.

Read our full OnePlus 15 review

How I tested the Oppo Find X10Why you can trust TechRadar

☑️ 100s of smartphones reviewed
☑️ 15 years of product testing
☑️ Over 16,000 products reviewed in total
☑️ Nearly 200,000 hours testing tech

I used the Oppo Find X10 in a variety of everyday and test situations for this review. I used it as a daily driver for calls, texts, and social media, took it on dedicated photo walks, played games, and ran benchmarks to stress-test the CPU and AI abilities. I left as many apps open as I could to see how it held up to multitasking, and monitored battery life over the course of days and nights out.

I then applied my experience reviewing phones and journalistic training to provide an assessment of the phone's capabilities and value offering.

Read more about how we test

First tested October 2026

Oppo Find X10 Pro Max: Two-minute review

The Oppo Find X9 Pro was my favorite phone of 2025, so of course, I had extremely high hopes for the X10 series. Interestingly, Oppo hasn't released an X10 Pro in 2026 — instead, there's just an Oppo Find X10 and an X10 Pro Max.

The Pro Max isn't larger than last year's Pro, but it is larger than the X10. If I had to hazard a guess as to why the name has changed, I reckon the RAM shortage-induced price hike might have something to do with it.

That aside, the Find X10 Pro Max does not disappoint. The star of the show is the new camera system, which now features three large 200MP sensors on the rear. The new model also gets a chip upgrade, a larger battery (in some regions), and a faster, professionally calibrated display.

After using this phone for about three weeks, I find myself with almost no complaints. It's super fast, the software is superb, battery life is excellent (I have the larger-capacity version), and the cameras are some of the best on the market.

Honestly, the Find X10 Pro Max's cameras are so impressive that there's a case to be made for picking up this device over a compact point-and-shoot or a vlogging camera. The fact that it's also a phone only sweetens the deal. As a content creator who likes to travel light, it's a dream come true.

@techradar

♬ Uncasually - Bonobo

What sets the X10 Pro Max's cameras apart is that you can use any lens in any situation without compromising quality. They all share the same 200MP resolution, and they're all at least 1/1.56-inch sensors, so they handle low-light conditions well. The same goes for video, where each lens can capture at up to 8K/30fps or 4K/120fps, and each supports open-gate capture, Log recording, and Dolby Vision. Even the selfie camera is impressive, offering a super-wide field-of-view and reliable autofocus.

Cameras aside, everything else about the Find X10 Pro Max is great, too. Its display is bright and speedy, its software is among the best around, and it games like a champ.

The only real sticking point is the price (spoiler: it's very, very expensive), but if you can stomach the cost, the Find X10 Pro Max is an extremely easy recommendation.

Oppo Find X10 Pro Max review: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

• £1,499 for 12GB + 512GB
• Introductory offers and bundles available
• Not sold in the US; Australia availability TBC

The globally available version of the Oppo Find X10 Pro Max only comes in one configuration: 12GB of RAM with 512GB of storage.

As ever, it won't launch in the US, but everywhere else, it'll cost you a pretty penny; the Find X10 Pro Max starts at an eye-watering £1,499 in the UK.

Of course, we have the component shortage going on, so a feature-packed flagship like this was never going to be cheap, and this is a higher price point than most were expecting. Still, the Find X9 Pro launched at £1,099 in the UK, so if you see the Find X10 Pro Max as its successor (which I do), that's a £400 price hike.

That said, the 512GB iPhone 18 Pro Max also costs £1,499, and the 512GB Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra costs even more. Meanwhile, the Find X10 Pro Max's spec sheet is in a completely different league, so perhaps this isn't such an outlandish sum after all.

If you're in the UK, there are some tempting introductory deals to help soften the blow. For a limited time, Oppo is offering £100 off the Find X10 Pro Max, plus you can grab a free accessory worth £500. Options include the Hasselblad Teleconverter kit, Oppo Watch X3, or Oppo Pad 5. Other regions will likely have similar offers.

• Value score: 3 / 5

Oppo Find X10 Pro Max: Specs

Here’s a look at the Oppo Find X10 Pro Max’s key specs:

Oppo Find X10 Pro Max

Dimensions

161.32 × 76.57 × 8.40mm

Weight

226g

OS

Color OS 17, based on Android 17

Display

6.78-inch OLED, 144Hz

Resolution

2772 × 1272 pixels

Chipset

MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro

RAM

12GB

Storage

512GB

Battery

7,150mAh (Europe) / 8,000mAh (APAC)

Rear cameras

200MP (f/1.5) main, 200MP (f/2.2) ultra-wide, 200MP 3x telephoto (f/2.1)

Front camera

50MP (f/2)

Oppo Find X10 Pro Max review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• Aluminum frame and glass back
• Titanium Grey and Lunar White options
• IP69 dust- and water-resistant

When I first saw the design of the Find X10 Pro Max, I wasn't quite convinced, but it has grown on me over time. It shares some DNA with the Find X9 series, but the camera bump has grown larger, and the lenses are now covered by a single dark pane of glass.

The Find X9 Pro was already a little iPhone-inspired, but that's perhaps even more noticeable with the Titanium Grey X10 Pro Max, which has a raised platform spanning most of the upper rear panel — just like the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro.

The Luna White model (which is the one I have) looks a little more unique. It has a two-tone rear panel, while the camera island and the module containing the flash and color sensor are completely separated, with no platform underneath.

(Image credit: Future)

It's a little quirky, but it's nothing too outlandish, and I've grown to like it a lot. Crucially, having the cameras shoved up in the corner (rather than being in a central circle like on the Vivo X500 Pro Max) means that this phone works really well with MagSafe accessories. And while we still don't get magnets built into the Find X10 Pro Max itself, almost all of Oppo's official cases come with magnets.

Oppo has ditched the somewhat controversial Camera Control clone, but it kept the Action Button (which Oppo calls the Snap Key). It's not a popular stance, but I actually quite liked the Camera Control, and I'll miss it, but I'm very aware that I'm in the minority there.

The Snap Key is great, too, but Oppo's implementation is on the basic side. It can be assigned to access a number of features, like the flashlight, translation, camera, and Mind Space, but you still can't choose your own app. There are also no options for double- or triple-press actions, as we've seen from some competitors.

Otherwise, the Oppo Find X10 Pro Max has the typical flagship look and feel. You get flat aluminum side rails, and a flat front and rear made from Oppo's own Crystal Guard Glass (co-developed with Corning). It's a sizable phone with a bit of heft to it, but I'm used to that, and I felt immediately at home when picking it up for the first time.

FutureFutureFutureFuture

It's hard to speak much about the durability, as I haven't tortured my device much, but on paper, the Find X10 Pro Max should handle the elements well. It's IP69 rated for dust and water resistance, and it has an SGS Five Star Drop Resistance Certification, too.

The phone comes with a basic opaque white TPU case in the box, a factory-installed screen protector, a charger, and a USB-C Cable — although I expect the charger inclusion might differ from region to region.

• Design score: 4 / 5

Oppo Find X10 Pro Max review: Display

(Image credit: Future)

• 6.78-inch 120Hz LTPO OLED
• Can boost to 144Hz in some games
• 3,600 nits, 3,840Hz PWM

The display on the Find X10 Pro Max is nothing short of excellent. It has super-slim symmetrical bezels that measure just 1.15mm on each side. That's the same size as the bezels on the Find X9 Pro, but it's just as impressive to see such thinness the second time around.

What is new on the Find X10 Pro Max is the refresh rate. It can dynamically adjust between 1 and 144Hz as required. Oppo admits that only a few games will take advantage of the full 144Hz, like COD: Mobile, PUBG, and Free Fire, and you won't see such high refresh rates outside of those titles. Still, if you play those, it's a great perk.

As for brightness, it peaks at 3,600 nits, just like last year's model. In my experience, that's more than enough for just about any situation. What I find even more useful is the fact that it can dim down to 1nit for late-night scrolling without melting your eyeballs.

(Image credit: Future)

On the topic of eye health, the Oppo Find X10 Pro Max supports 3,840Hz high-frequency PWM dimming to prevent screen flicker at lower brightness levels. Above 70Hz, it'll switch to full DC dimming. If you're sensitive to flicker, you'll really appreciate this feature.

One thing that's pretty unique to the X10 Pro Max is that the screen is professionally calibrated and covers 95% of the BT.2020 wide color space — that's 40% more color coverage than most phone screens, which usually target DCI-P3 instead.

As a result, while the image might not look as vibrant or poppy as some competitors, you can be assured that the colors displayed are accurate. That makes a lot of sense on a content-creation powerhouse such as the Find X10 Pro Max, and I appreciate it.

• Display score: 5 / 5

Xiaomi 17T Pro review: Cameras

(Image credit: Future)

• 200MP f/1.5 main (1/1.3-inch)
• 200MP f/2.2 ultra-wide (1/1.56-inch)
• 200MP f/2.1 3x telephoto (1/1.56-inch)
• 50MP f/2 selfie camera (1/2.75-inch)

The Oppo Find X10 Pro Max takes a fresh, zero-compromise approach to the camera system. All three rear cameras have a 200MP resolution, and they all have large sensors, too.

Usually, you have a primary camera that's the best of the bunch, while the telephoto and ultra-wide come with compromises — I wouldn't recommend shooting low-light photos with most ultra-wide cameras, or with that tiny 3x telephoto on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, for instance.

With the Find X10 Pro Max, you don't need to worry about compromises; just pick the right focal length for the scene and snap away. It reminds me of the Vivo X300 Ultra (which has even larger sensors on all three rear cameras), but even that beast makes a compromise with the ultra-wide's resolution.

The Find X10 Pro Max's selfie camera shares most of its specifications with that of last year's X9 Pro, but it has a wider field of view (similar to the ultra-wide on the back), so it's much better for group photos. Reliable autofocus helps in that regard, too. Of course, if you want a normal selfie, the camera UI lets you crop in to a standard FOV.

Oppo Find X10 Pro Max main camera in Master Mode (Image credit: Future)

The Oppo Find X9 Ultra has been my favorite phone for photography since launch, and the Find X10 Pro Max shares a lot of the same DNA. The pro-focused Master Mode is what truly stole my heart, and thankfully, Oppo is extending that joy elsewhere.

The standard photo mode now uses the same tone mapping as Master Mode, and the sharpening and noise reduction have been dialled back a little, too. It's still a very different look to Master Mode — it's still sharpened much more heavily, and the HDR effect is more pronounced — but it's much more natural than before, and I think it's a change for the better.

The picture styles have been reworked on the Find X10 Pro Max, too. They're available in most modes, and they're all extremely customizable, with their own tone pad (like on the latest iPhones) as well as individual adjustment sliders. Primrose is my favorite, which simulates the look of Portra film stock, but there are plenty of other excellent options, too.

Taken on the Oppo Find X10 Pro Max with its external lens (Image credit: Future)

To summarize my experience with photography, the Oppo Find X10 Pro Max is unquestionably among the best camera phones, regardless of lighting conditions. The X9 Ultra is really the only phone that beats it. The Ultra still has the edge with long-range zoom and low-light capture, unless we're talking about the ultra-wide camera, in which case the Pro Max easily comes out on top.

Now, photography is only one part of the puzzle, because Oppo put a lot of effort into this phone's video capabilities, too. Again, consistency is the name of the game here.

All three rear lenses can shoot up to 8K/30fps or 4K/120fps, and they all support open-gate capture at up to 60fps. The same goes for Log recording and Dolby Vision. Just use whatever focal length feels right for the occasion, because they can all do everything.

The Find X10 Pro Max is a seriously capable video-making tool. Solid stabilization and microphone performance add to the appeal, too. If you make YouTube content using your phone, this device should definitely be on your shortlist.

Oppo Find X10 Pro Max teleconverterFutureFuture

If all that wasn't enough, Oppo also has an external (10x equivalent) teleconverter kit for the Find X10 Pro Max, so you can push the zoom even further, or use it on closer subjects for DSLR-like compression and bokeh. There's also a full-on video rig developed with Tilta, if you want to fully transform this phone into a video workhorse.

• Cameras score: 5 / 5

Oppo Find X10 Pro Max review: Camera samplesFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureOppo Find X10 Pro Max review: Performance

(Image credit: Future)

• MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro chipset
• 12GB RAM
• 512GB storage

The Oppo Find X10 Pro Max is powered by MediaTek's latest flagship chip, the Dimensity 9600 Pro. In most situations, it beats the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 on performance and efficiency, and it trades blows with the new 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, too.

For the globally released version, the Find X10 Pro Max only comes in one configuration: 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. That's less RAM than last year, and of course, we have the data centre-driven shortage to thank for that. Still, these capacities are more than sufficient for my needs — the Find X10 Pro Max never skipped a beat, even under heavy multitasking pressure.

It won't be surprising to hear that the Find X10 Pro Max feels incredibly quick, no matter what you ask of it. You have to boot up a seriously demanding game to get the phone to break a sweat.

(Image credit: Future)

For this purpose, I put a few hours into Neverness to Everness, which has a detailed urban open-world map that makes some phones chug. The Find X10 Pro Max, though, can run it at 60fps on the highest graphics preset without issue.

The phone's frame does get fairly hot after a while, but the performance seems steady enough. In reality, that just means the cooling system is doing its job, drawing heat away from the chip. If you use a case or a gaming grip, it won't bother you in the slightest.

Gamers will have a great time with the Find X10 Pro Max, and other phones are unlikely to come close to the performance limits of this hardware. It's great.

• Performance score: 4 / 5

Oppo Find X10 Pro Max review: SoftwareFutureFuture

• ColorOS 17, based on Android 17
• Fresh design and new animations
• New Mind Space and AI features

The Oppo Find X10 Pro Max runs ColorOS 17, Oppo's take on Android 17. I have become a big fan of this operating system over the past couple of years, and it's a big part of the reason that I daily-drive an Oppo phone.

The latest version doesn't stray too far from the winning formula, but it has been spruced up a bit. The animations have been refined with some extra elasticity that makes interactions feel even more natural. Plus, there are subtle new glowing touches that appear over the Liquid Glass-esque quick settings and notification shades. It's not a dramatic change, but it's an extra bit of polish that you'll notice.

There's a lot of Apple influence in the styling, but I'm fine with that. Apple has always been strong in the design department, and while Oppo's approach isn't too novel, it does look great. Plus, if there's anything you don't like in ColorOS, it's all very easy to customize.

Oppo has been putting a lot of effort into making its software feel smooth, and the OS now apparently uses up to 25% less RAM than previous versions. Apps should open slightly faster, and Oppo says its software should maintain this smooth operation even when your storage fills up — but I haven't come close to doing that just yet.

FutureFutureFuture

Of course, there are loads of AI tools built into the Find X10 Pro Max. There's plenty that we've already seen, like Mind Space, which organizes your screenshots into searchable collections with AI summaries, and there are some new additions, too.

For instance, there's a new tool called AI Photo Agent, which lets you edit your pictures using natural language prompts. Plus, it can give suggestions for edits that might look good, or attempt to recreate the style of another image.

As with anything involving AI, the results can be a bit of a mixed bag, but on occasion, AI Photo Agent works really well. You can do anything you can dream up, from subtle color adjustments to background replacement, subject removal, subject addition — you name it, AI Photo Agent can do it.

(Image credit: Future)

There's also something called AI Mind Pilot, which is designed for AI super freaks. It pulls models from Gemini, Perplexity, and OpenAI all into one app, so you can ask the same question to a chorus of chatbots, or switch between them as you see fit.

Mind Pilot was already available on the X9 Ultra, but this version now has more agentic capabilities. The AI can find files and photos from around your phone, move them, rename them, or even create something with them, like a presentation or a collage.

• Software score: 4 / 5

Oppo Find X10 Pro Max review: Battery

(Image credit: Future)

• 7,150mAh battery (EU) / 8,000mAh (APAC)
• 80W wired charging
• 50W wireless charging

The battery situation with the Find X10 Pro Max is a little complicated. If you live in Asia, Australia, or the Middle East, you'll get a mammoth 8,000mAh battery pack. Meanwhile, in Europe, shipping regulations mean that you'll only get a 7,150mAh-capacity cell.

There's nothing unusual about that, except for the fact that I have the 8,000mAh version of the Find X10 Pro Max, despite living in the UK. This means that any of my observations about battery life only apply to the APAC version of the phone. Relevant to some of you, less relevant to others.

Unsurprisingly, with an 8,000mAh pack inside, the Find X10 Pro Max's battery life has been excellent. I'm consistently getting at least a day and a half of use per charge, despite lots of camera use and gaming. Two days on a charge is easily achievable, too.

Charging is also pretty quick. You'll get up to 80W speeds with the official adapter or 55W with third-party USB-PD chargers. It'll still take well over an hour to charge from completely flat to full, but that's understandable with such a large capacity.

• Battery score: 4 / 5

Should you buy the Oppo Find X10 Pro Max?Oppo Find X10 Pro Max scorecard

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

The Find X10 Pro Max is expensive, especially compared to its predecessor. It's now roughly the same price as the iPhone 18 Pro Max and S26 Ultra. It's not a bargain, but it's not a rip-off, either.

3 / 5

Design

The Oppo Find X10 Pro Max manages to look unique without being outlandish. Meanwhile, IP69 protection and quality materials mean it should last long-term.

4 / 5

Display

Super-slim bezels, a speedy refresh rate, and a bright output make this screen a delight to live with.

5 / 5

Cameras

No other camera system is as balanced as this. Large 200MP sensors on every camera make for unmatched versatility.

5 / 5

Performance

This phone games like the best of them. The slight RAM downgrade is a shame, though.

4 / 5

Software

ColorOS is smooth, good-looking, and feature-packed. Software support terms don't match the best in the biz, though.

4 / 5

Battery

My battery life has been exceptional; however, I have the larger 8,000mAh version. It's a shame that the EU gets a downgrade.

4 / 5

Buy it if...

You want a no-compromise camera beast

The Oppo Find X10 Pro Max has one of the best camera systems of any smartphone. The triple 200MP rear setup with large sensors all around means that you can use any lens on any occasion. If that's not enough, the selfie camera is excellent, and the video features are among the best around.

You want an exceptional all-rounder

The Find X10 Pro Max isn't just about the cameras; the gaming performance is great, the software is brilliant, and the battery life is top-tier, too. No matter what you want from your phone, you'll likely find it here.

Don't buy it if...

You already have the Oppo Find X9 Ultra

The Find X9 Ultra beats the X10 Pro Max in both long-range zoom and low-light photography with its larger main and 3x telephoto sensors. That said, the X10 Pro Max has a far better ultra-wide camera and some additional video features. Many will feel that it's a sideways move, rather than an upgrade.

You want something compact and lightweight

There's no getting around the fact that this is a fairly large, chunky, and weighty phone. If you're looking for something that you'll barely feel in your pocket, you should look elsewhere.

Oppo Find X10 Pro Max review: Also consider

The Oppo Find X10 Pro Max is one of the best camera-focused flagship phones, but it's important to consider the competition, too. Here are a couple of competitors that are worth looking at:

Vivo X500 Pro Max

While it hasn't been released globally just yet, we've tried the Chinese version of the Vivo X500 Pro Max, and it's definitely the closest competitor to the X10 Pro Max. The two trade blows in almost every respect, and both have external teleconverters to expand their capabilities. I feel like the X10 Pro Max is more well-rounded, but the Vivo has some incredible video features that could sway you.

Read our hands-on Vivo X500 Pro Max review

Oppo Find X9 Ultra

Oppo's own X9 Ultra is one of the few phones that can truly beat the cameras of the X10 Pro Max. The main reason is the dedicated 10x telephoto camera, but larger sensors on the main and 3x help in low light, too. On the other hand, the X10 Pro Max's ultra-wide is far superior.

Read our full Oppo Find X9 Ultra review

Oppo Find X10 Pro Max

Vivo X500 Pro Max

Oppo Find X9 Ultra

Price:

£1,499

TBC

£1,449

Display:

6.78-inch OLED

6.85-inch OLED

6.82-inch OLED

Cameras:

200MP main; 200MP ultrawide; 200MP telephoto

50MP main; 50MP ultra-wide; 200MP telephoto

200MP main; 50MP ultra-wide; 200MP 3x telephoto; 50MP 10x telephoto

Processor:

MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro

MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

Battery:

8,000mAh / 7,150mAh (EU)

8,000mAh (CN) / 6,800mAh (EU)

7,050mAh

How I tested the Oppo Find X10 Pro Max

• Review test period: Three weeks
• Testing included: Everyday use, including web browsing, social media, photography, video calling, gaming, streaming video, music playback
• Tools used: Geekbench 7, 3DMark, native Android stats

Why you can trust TechRadar

☑️ 100s of smartphones reviewed
☑️ 15 years of product testing
☑️ Over 16,000 products reviewed in total
☑️ Nearly 200,000 hours testing tech

I put my SIM card into the Oppo Find X10 Pro Max and used it as my main phone for over three weeks. I used it exactly as I would use any other phone, taking lots of photos, gaming, messaging, working, streaming video, and navigating with Google Maps and Waze.

I also compared the experience of playing graphically challenging games like Neverness to Everness to my experience on other Android flagships like the Galaxy S26 Ultra and Xiaomi 17 Ultra. I ran lots of benchmarks on the handset, including 3DMark and Geekbench, to confirm my performance findings.

I assessed the phone's battery performance based on my real-world usage, and charging times were measured using the official Oppo wall adapter along with the included charging cable.

Read more about how we test

First tested October 2026

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