Tech Talk

OnePlus and OPPO are both owned by BBK, and as such, both companies use the same parts. That becomes immediately clear once you look at the hardware on these two phones. Each manufacturer still has its own identity, and there are a few points of differentiation across both devices. So let's find out what flagship you should buy in 2020.

You won't find two phones that are more similar

The OnePlus 8 Pro and the OPPO Find X2 are essentially the same phones. All you need to do is look at the specs below to see just how similar they are when it comes to the internal hardware. That's because both OPPO and OnePlus are owned the Chinese conglomerate BBK.

In fact, all OnePlus phones sold globally are manufactured at an OPPO factory in Dongguan, China. Due to its scale, OPPO essentially dictates the specs for OnePlus phones, and this has been the case for some time now. OPPO sources the components and handles manufacturing for OnePlus, but both companies have their own philosophy when it comes to their flagships, and that's where we see a difference.

First, let's talk a little about the hardware. The marquee feature on both devices is the 6.7-inch 120Hz AMOLED display. Both devices use the exact same Samsung-made AMOLED panel, and they both offer a 120Hz refresh rate at QHD+ resolution. Another commonality between the two devices is dual-curved edges for the screen and the hole-punch cutout that sits to the left side.

The AMOLED panel by itself is stunning, and the 120Hz refresh rate makes a huge difference in day-to-day use. The software on both phones has been optimized to take full advantage of the high refresh rate, and what that basically means is that these are two of the best phones to use right now. On the hardware side of things, both phones are powered by the Snapdragon 865 and feature the latest LPDDR5 RAM modules, Wi-Fi 6 and 5G connectivity, stereo sound, and IP68 dust and water resistance.

While the internal hardware is largely identical across both phones, that isn't the case with the design at the back. The Find X2 Pro is available in a vibrant Orange Vegan Leather option that looks different compared to most phones on the market today. The vegan leather provides a much better in-hand feel against glass-backed phones, and the orange color option makes the device stand out. The OnePlus 8 Pro also comes in attractive color options, with the Glacial Green variant, in particular, being stunning.

Both phones are packed with the latest hardware, smooth 120Hz displays, and gorgeous designs.

There are more differences between the two devices as we go further down the spec sheet. The OnePlus 8 Pro comes with a larger 4,510mAh battery, with the Find X2 Pro offering a 4,260mAh battery. The OnePlus 8 Pro has 30W wired and wireless charging, and the Find X2 Pro is limited to wired charging — but it has 65W fast charging. The Find X2 Pro is thicker by a millimeter for the vegan leather option and weighs 18g more than the OnePlus 8 Pro even though it has a smaller battery.

That said, the Find X2 Pro clearly takes the lead when it comes to the camera, with the phone featuring a 13MP zoom lens that delivers 60x digital zoom and 10x hybrid zoom. The primary 48MP lens is the same across both devices, and both devices also feature a second 48MP wide-angle lens that delivers the same caliber of shots but at a wider 120-degree field-of-view. The zoom lens is the differentiator here, with the Find X2 Pro offering a periscope system that goes up to 60x.

Overall, the Find X2 Pro does a better job at image processing, with OPPO's tuning delivering excellent photos in most scenarios.

With the phones sharing so many hardware features, the main point of differentiation between the Find X2 Pro and the OnePlus 8 Pro comes down to the software. The Find X2 Pro features OPPO's ColorOS user interface, and while it has made a lot of positive changes with the latest iteration of the skin, it isn't on par with OnePlus' OxygenOS. OxygenOS has emerged as the best third-party skin on Android, and its ability to deliver a clean interface while still offering plenty of customization is unmatched.

Ultimately, the OnePlus 8 Pro offers a better software experience and costs less.

Then there's the issue of availability. OPPO's Find X2 Pro is limited to Asian markets and a few countries in the west, like the U.K., so you won't be able to buy the phone in North America. OnePlus, meanwhile, sells its devices in most global markets. The Find X2 Pro is available in a single variant with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage that retails for £1,099 ($1,360) in the UK. For some context, the 12GB/256GB option of the OnePlus 8 Pro is sold in the UK for £899 ($1,110). Sure, the Find X2 Pro has double the amount of storage, but $250 is a lot to pay for 256GB of UFS 3.0 storage.

Essentially, the OnePlus 8 Pro has a cleaner software with more customization options than the Find X2 Pro, and it is much more affordable, with the 8GB/128GB option available for $899 in the U.S. That makes it a great value in the context of 2020 flagships.

OxygenOS gives the OnePlus 8 Pro a distinct edge

Choosing between the OnePlus 8 Pro and the Find X2 Pro comes down to where you live. The Find X2 Pro isn't officially available in North America, and that makes the OnePlus 8 Pro the default choice. But if you're living in a country where both phones are officially available, there are a few things to consider.

The OnePlus 8 Pro costs less and is available globally, making it the default choice.

The Find X2 Pro takes better photos, and while it has 65W wired charging, it doesn't have wireless charging. The software has gotten a lot better from previous years, but there's still a learning curve here. The OnePlus 8 Pro costs a little less, has much better software, 30W wireless charging, and fast updates.

What ultimately seals the deal in favor of the OnePlus 8 Pro is the cost. It starts off at $899, and that's a steal when you consider the features on offer. It is also available in most global markets, and the fact that you get clean software along with regular updates and decent cameras makes it the flagship to beat in 2020.

OnePlus 8 Pro

Performance king

$899 at OnePlus

The ideal flagship in 2020

The OnePlus 8 Pro ticks all the right boxes: it has the latest hardware, a smooth 120Hz display, decent cameras, and clean software with the promise of quick updates. There isn't anything missing either, and you get 30W wireless charging along with IP68 dust and water resistance. If you want an all-rounder that doesn't cost as much as other flagships, this is the phone to buy.

OPPO Find X2 Pro

Zoom in

£1,099 at Carphone Warehouse

Excellent cameras, gorgeous design

The Find X2 Pro offers one of the best cameras you'll find on Android today, and it has the same great internal hardware as the OnePlus 8 Pro. But it costs more, and then there's the fact that you can't buy the phone at all in North America. But if you're in a country where it is available and are looking for a device with excellent cameras, the Find X2 Pro is an easy recommendation.