Updated: A previous version of this post stated that Xiaomi and OPPO smartphones may feature facial recognition technology as early as March or April 2019. The technology actually might be available in March or April 2018.
Chinese smartphone maker OPPO has revealed that its high-end flagship smartphones are coming back. The flagship series has been silent for years and the comeback will be headed by Find 9.
What is interesting about the launch is that the new flagship may come with Super VOOC (Voltage Open Loop Multi-step Constant-Current Charging) flash technology, according to local media speculation (in Chinese). The Super VOOC is capable of recharging a 2,500 mAh battery in just 15 minutes. It can also charge a battery to about 45% in just 5 minutes. The charging technology was showcased during Mobile World Congress in February 2016 and after almost two years, it is believed that OPPO has improved the technology. If Find 9 can integrate Super VOOC it will no doubt spark attention.
Currently, Oppo’s VOOC charge is able to charge certain OPPO devices from 0 to 75% in just 30 minutes. OPPO started offering its VOOC Flash Charge 1.0 technology in 2015 with its Find 7 smartphone.
The Find 9 is expected to come with top-notch specifications and, although no official news has been published, pictures of what is suspected to be the new smartphone has been published on the internet. TechNode has also reported that new smartphones from Xiaomi and OPPO will feature three-dimensional sensing technology for facial recognition as early as March or April this year, according to industry sources.
OPPO is one of China’s top four smartphone creators which include Huawei, Xiaomi, and Vivo. In 2016, OPPO managed to take over Huawei in terms of market share in China. Owned by billionaire Duan Yong Ping, the brand is the fourth largest smartphone manufacturer globally and it has made its fame by selling low-cost models.
OPPO covers around 30 markets. Last week, OPPO announced that it will start selling its phones in Japan in the spring.