Why Its Price Could Shock Smartphone Buyers

OPPO has confirmed the global launch of its Find X10 series for October 21 in Mallorca, Spain. The lineup includes the standard Find X10 and the higher-tier Find X10 Pro Max. But leaked pricing suggests the Pro Max could carry a price tag that will make even the most devoted Android enthusiast pause.

The Find X10 Pro Max is OPPO’s most ambitious phone yet. It features an industry-first triple 200MP camera system, co-engineered with Hasselblad. It runs on MediaTek’s new 2nm Dimensity 9600 Pro chipset. It packs an 8,000mAh silicon-carbon battery in China. And according to leaks, it will start at €1,799 (approximately $2,030) for the 12GB/512GB model in Europe.

That’s a 38% increase over the Find X9 Pro, which launched at €1,299 last October. It’s also more expensive than the Find X9 Ultra, OPPO’s previous top-tier flagship, which launched at €1,699 in April 2026.

The Price Problem: What Buyers Are Being Asked to Pay

To understand why the Find X10 Pro Max’s pricing is causing shockwaves, it helps to see the full picture.

The standard Find X10 is also significantly more expensive than its predecessor. The 12GB/256GB model is expected to launch at €1,299 in Europe — €300 more than the Find X9 at launch.

For context, the iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at $1,399. At €1,799, the Find X10 Pro Max would be more expensive than both.

The Spec Differences: What You’re Not Getting Outside China

Here’s where the story gets more complicated. The European version of the Find X10 Pro Max isn’t identical to the Chinese model — and some of the differences are significant.

According to the reliable French leaker billbil-kun, the European Find X10 Pro Max will ship with a 7,150mAh battery instead of the 8,000mAh cell found in the Chinese version. The standard Find X10 in Europe will also have a reduced battery — 7,150mAh instead of 8,000mAh.

The leak also suggests that IP69 and IP69K certification will not be advertised in Europe, despite being a selling point in China. This is a notable omission for a phone marketed as a premium flagship.

These aren’t minor differences. A battery reduction of nearly 11% could have a real impact on the advertised “two days of standard operation” that OPPO claims for the Chinese model. And the removal of IP69K — the highest dust and water resistance rating available — from the European marketing materials raises questions about what European buyers are actually getting.

To be fair, the core specifications remain impressive. The Pro Max features a 6.78-inch 1.5K LTPO AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, the 2nm MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro chipset, and that triple 200MP camera system (wide, ultra-wide, and 3x periscope telephoto), plus a 50MP front camera.

But the gap between the Chinese and European models means European buyers are paying more for less.

Why Prices Are Rising Across the Industry

The Find X10 Pro Max’s price increase isn’t happening in a vacuum. It’s part of a broader trend affecting the entire smartphone industry.

The global memory chip shortage has driven up component costs across the board. A 12GB LPDDR5X memory module now costs $145, a 175% increase year-over-year. OPPO isn’t alone in raising prices — Samsung recently raised Galaxy S26 prices by $100 across the lineup, and Apple increased the iPhone 18 Pro by $100.

Notebookcheck noted that the industry is in the midst of what it calls “RAMageddon,” where “manufacturers are currently outdoing one another with ever-higher prices while simultaneously reducing RAM and storage capacities”.

But even by those standards, a 38% year-over-year increase for the Pro Max model is extreme. OPPO is betting that the triple 200MP camera system and 2nm chipset are compelling enough to justify the premium.

What the Competition Looks Like

The Find X10 Pro Max is entering a crowded flagship market with several established alternatives at lower price points.

The Find X10 Pro Max’s closest competitor in the camera-focused flagship space is the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, which offers a 200MP main sensor and costs $400 less at base. The iPhone 18 Pro, at $600 less, offers the 2nm A20 Pro chip and Apple’s ecosystem integration.

OPPO’s argument is that the Pro Max’s triple 200MP configuration — the first of its kind — delivers imaging performance no other phone can match. Whether that’s worth the premium is a question each buyer will have to answer.

The India Question: Even More Expensive?

Indian buyers may face an even steeper price. Tipster Yogesh Brar claims the Find X10 series could sit in the ₹90,000–₹1,50,000 range in India, with the Pro Max expected to reach the ₹1.5 lakh mark (approximately $1,700).

OPPO India’s Head of Communications has confirmed the series will launch in India “in the coming weeks,” possibly on October 28.

A Statement Phone at a Statement Price

The Find X10 Pro Max is OPPO’s most ambitious phone ever. The triple 200MP camera system is a genuine engineering achievement. The 2nm chipset is cutting-edge. The 144Hz display is among the best available.

But at €1,799, OPPO is asking buyers to pay more than they would for an iPhone 18 Pro or a Galaxy S26 Ultra — while also accepting a smaller battery and less water resistance than the Chinese model.

That’s a tough sell. OPPO has spent years building its reputation as a value-oriented flagship maker. The Find X10 Pro Max is a departure from that strategy. It’s a statement phone at a statement price — and it’s betting that the camera system is compelling enough to justify the premium.

For the most dedicated mobile photographers, it might be. For everyone else, the price could be a dealbreaker.

The Find X10 Pro Max launches globally on October 21, 2026. Whether the market embraces OPPO’s new pricing strategy will become clear in the weeks that follow.