Sorry to disabuse you – there is no winner per se. OPPO Find X5 Pro versus Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra highlights the strengths and weaknesses of both truly excellent and somewhat pricey flagship smartphones.
It may also help Android flagship buyers to decide on these or the less pricy OPPO Find X5 or Samsung Galaxy S22+ because, in most cases, the trade-offs are minor compared to the savings.
We want to thank OPPO and Samsung for these devices’ extended loans, as you can’t get to know them until you use them every day.
This objective faceoff is also possible due to CyberShack’s unique and comprehensive 300-line database that we update with every phone we review. We conduct over 70 baseline tests on each phone to enable fair comparisons. The side-by-side table is at the end of the article.
The real winner is what suits you.
Both are flagship-class ‘glass-slabs’ (not fold or flip) that deliver the most technology for the price. They use the same flagship-class Qualcomm SD8 Gen 1 System-on-a-Chip (SoC) and perform within reasonable tolerances of each other. The critical differences come down to the best performer in each category.
For the faceoff, we will always use the OPPO first and the Samsung second (or in brackets), and we won’t repeat where there is no difference. Each header has the name of the superior tech.
Both have a UHD LPTO AMOLED, 1-120Hz dynamic refresh display.
The key difference is OPPO has 6.7” (6.8”) 10-bit 1.07b colours (8-bit 16.7m colours). To the untrained eye, both are excellent screens, but to the prosumer photo/videographer, OPPO’s 10-bit colour path and .9 Delta E accuracy means more colour accurate still and video previews.
Geekbench 5 Single and multi-core tests are almost identical. That means you have the Android world’s most powerful processor/GPU at your disposal. Both are great for games, with OPPO having the edge with 12GB (8GB) memory.
OPPO has 12GB LPDDR5 RAM (8GB) and 256GB UFS 3.1 storage (128GB). Samsung has a $150 option to match 12/256GB. Neither has MicroSD expansion. The key difference is that OPPO has up to an additional 7GB virtual RAM expansion (SSD swap space) and can mount external SSD storage accessible at 700/150MBps, which is perfect for videographers and high bandwidth content.
Samsung has admitted to detecting measuring software and favourably manipulating the results. We understand it will issue a patch removing any unintended manipulation, but our tests indicated this has not yet happened. As such, we cannot entirely trust results from major testing software. We won’t defend Samsung’s action (it is similar to what VW did with emissions testing – Diesel gate) – but the gear is still good.
In a 15-minute 100% load Throttle test OPPO dropped 11% from a 10% higher GIPS – Giga Instructions Per Second (13% from a lower GIPS, but we believe it is more accurate to say 21% for Samsung). Bottom line OPPO’s thermal management is superior and will give a better experience for load-intensive games and video.
Both use Wi-Fi 6E. On Wi-Fi 6, these are capable of 2400Mbps. OPPO maintained a stronger signal and full 2400Mbps data rate out to 10m from the router. Samsung had a weaker signal strength and dropped from 2400Mbps at 2m to 612-816Mbps at 10m. This reflects OPPO’s superior 360° Antenna 3.0 technology, as evidenced in the 4/5G tests.
Both use USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 with alt DP 1.4 (Display port) and Wi-Fi Direct/Miracast to mirror/cast the smartphone screen to a suitable TV. Samsung has DeX (Android Desktop experience) that may be better for road warriors.
Both use the Qualcomm X67 modem and should perform similarly. But OPPO has a far stronger signal strength up to 12pW (10pW) and was able to find the nearest four telco towers at usable speeds (three). OPPOs antenna technology is better, although both are good for city, suburbs, regional and rural use.
Both have 5000mAh capacity batteries, Qi wireless and reverse charge, but the similarity ends there.
OPPO uses 2 x 2500mAh batteries. It can charge at 80W (45W) or Qi at 45W (15W) and fills the battery in 36 minutes (96 minutes). OPPO provides the SUPERVOOC 80W charger (Samsung does not have a charger inbox). OPPO has a battery health engine that extends the battery charge cycles to 1600 (800).
Video loop battery life is 18+hrs (17hrs 39 mins), Accubattery 18+ hrs (15.47hrs) and 100% discharge is 4.5hrs (4hrs). Both lose about 30% battery life on a 120Hz fixed refresh and UHD resolution.
Both are capable of Dolby Atmos (DA) decoding and downmix to 2.0 speakers. They have DA EQs and use different brands of stereo amplifiers. Both have a native bright vocal sound signature.
OPPO has far more mid-bass (none) and high-bass (building) and a more controlled high treble making it easier to listen to a broader range of genres. It is also louder at 85dB (82) and significantly louder in ringtone, notifications, and alarm.
But the real difference is in the Bluetooth 5.2 codes each support
OPPO is 163.7 x 73.9 x 8.5mm x 218g (163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9mm x 228g). OPPO is slenderer in hand due to its 20.1:9 screen ratio (19:9).
Both have an IP68 rating, an alloy frame, ceramic back (GG Victus+) and GG Victus (+) front glass. OPPO’s ceramic back is extremely tough and scratch-resistant, and the material allows for White or Glaze Black. Samsung has a range of fashion colours – Burgundy, Green, Phantom White, Phantom Black, Graphite, Sky Blue and Red.
Warranty is 2 years (same), and local support is Australia-wide (same).
The S22 Ultra is the next iteration of the famous Note format with an integrated stylus S Pen. If you need that facility, only Samsung has it.
Both have Android 12 and should get upgrades to 15. OPPO usually issues monthly security for four years. Samsung has a similar policy.
OPPO has 2 x Sony IMX766 sensors (Primary wide dual OIS 5-axis stabilisation and secondary Ultra-wide) that can shoot at 50MP (limited AI) or bin to 12.5MP (full AI). It has a third 13MP Telephoto with 5x Digital and 20X Hybrid zoom.
It overlays that with a dedicated OPPO-designed MariSilicon X AI processor with 18 TOPS (trillion operations per second) for 20X faster 4K AI Processing; 20-bit RAW processing; and 4X dynamic range of the 2021 flagship OPPO Find X3 Pro (that was exceptional).
That is serious hardware processing and is in addition to the Qualcomm SD8 Gen 1 at 27 TOPS. What it means to Joe and Jane Average is fool-proof photos in any light condition.
Samsung has an S5KHM3 sensor Primary wide 108MP bins to 12MP, 3-axis OIS with laser focus, Ultra-wide Sony IMX754x3 12MP 3x Optical zoom, Telephoto Sony IMX754x10 12MP 10X Optical/100X Hybrid zoom. It has the advantage of (in theory, not practice 100X zoom).
Samsung’s AI uses the 27 TOPS of Qualcomm SD8 Gen 1 processor plus its camera expertise in the App.
DXOMark rated the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Qualcomm version) at 131 (14th global ranking, same as the 2021 OPPO Find X3 Pro).
The DXOMark OPPO Find X5 Pro rating is yet to be done, but you can bet it will be well above its predecessor’s 131.
The OPPO has a Sony IMX70s 32MP bins to 8MP (Samsung S5KGH1 40MP bins to 7.1MP). Again, it is subjective, but OPPO has a more natural shot with more detail.
OPPO has 4K@60fps with 5-axis OIS (very stable), HDR and 10-bit video for some spectacular results in all light conditions.
Samsung can shoot 8K@24fps (no OIS or EIS), and stabilisation cuts in at 4K@30fps for some equally good video in all conditions.
OPPO’s 10-bit colour path, HEIF format (same), Hasselblad colour correction, the MariSilicon X processor (4K Night and HDR video), and mountable external storage make this the camera of choice.
Samsung can scan QR codes (if enabled in settings). OPPO uses Google Lens (just as easy).
In my eyes, the OPPO has superior day, office, and dark light shots with no expertise needed to achieve a pretty perfect shot.
The Samsung has a better zoom and produces great shots in all conditions with no expertise needed.
We think the 6.55” OPPO Find X5 is superb, and there is a model comparison Hmmm, which OPPO Find X5 is for you? It uses the same processor, has 8/256GB, same camera but with 3-axis OIS, same 80W charger and is $1399. OPPO Find X5 – the more affordable flagship sibling (review)
The 6.6” Samsung S22+ Samsung Galaxy S22 series – full specs and they are better than leaked is also very good, and you can read the S22/+ review Samsung Galaxy S22 and S22+ – which is for you? (review). The S22+ is $1549. It loses UHD to a 2340 x 1080 screen, the rear periscope telephoto lens and S Pen.
This is an objective review – let the facts speak for themselves. Over the weeks of use and two days of intensive testing, I now have a preference. The OPPO Find X5 Pro offers better performance and value.
That is not to upset Samsung as it has the S Pen, superior Zoom, and the OPPO results were not that far ahead.
In summary (everything else being equal)
OPPO Find X5 Pro has a more user-friendly camera, longer battery life, an 80W SuperVOOC charger, 12/256GB and costs $1799. OPPO Find X5 Pro – a superb Android flagship with insanely fast charge (Review)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has better camera zoom, the S Pen if you need it, 8/128GB, no charger, and costs $1849. It for want 12/256 it is $1999. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is closer to perfection – at a price (Review)
Note that the earlier reviews above were on earlier firmware and may contain older test results. The results following are accurate at 20 June 2022.
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