You Won’t Believe What This $50 Camera Kit Did for My Smartphone Photos—Transform Your Shots Now!

In the ever-evolving world of smartphone photography, the new Hasselblad Earth Explorer Kit for the Oppo Find X9 Ultra is a game changer. This hefty addition, which attaches easily to the already impressive camera setup of the Find X9 Ultra, elevates the smartphone's capabilities to rival those of traditional DSLR cameras.

The Find X9 Ultra boasts a powerful camera system, featuring a massive main sensor and one of the largest telephoto lenses on the market, both with a remarkable 200MP pixel count. Additionally, it includes a second telephoto lens capable of achieving 10x native zoom and a 50MP ultrawide lens. A dedicated spectrum sensor further enhances the device's ability to render lifelike colors.

The Hasselblad Earth Explorer Kit enhances this already impressive setup, expanding the native zoom capability from 3x to 13x—equivalent to a 300mm lens—without relying on AI upscaling or digital enhancements. This feature is especially appealing for photography enthusiasts looking to capture crisp details from a distance.

What’s in the Hasselblad Earth Explorer Kit?

Oppo previously released a lens attachment for its Find X9 Pro in 2025, and rival brands like Honor and Vivo have joined the fray with similar offerings. However, the Hasselblad Earth Explorer Kit is a noteworthy upgrade. It features more glass elements within the lens barrel, resulting in superior zoom and clarity. Though it is larger and heavier, it remains portable enough to fit into a pocket when detached from the accompanying case, which retails at £499.

This case not only provides an integrated grip and physical shutter button for a more tactile shooting experience, but it is also designed to match the aesthetics of Hasselblad’s X2D medium format camera. Importantly, the connection mechanism does not obstruct other lenses on the phone, allowing for seamless transitions back to casual photography.

However, the kit's Bluetooth connection, requiring separate charging, can be cumbersome. Unlike some competitors, it lacks a backup battery, adding to the inconvenience.

After securely fastening the lens, users must manually select a Hasselblad teleconverter mode from the camera’s menu—a minor inconvenience compared to automatic detection features found in other devices. Once set, it’s a straightforward point-and-shoot experience, albeit with a much more magnified view.

Learning Curve

Initially, the 13x zoom can feel restrictive for certain types of photography, particularly landscapes and street scenes. Capturing the skyline of New York City from Central Park proved challenging, as the zoom necessitated a careful approach to framing. Stability is crucial, given the additional weight of the lens, and it garnered curious looks from passersby.

Nonetheless, for detailed shots, the Find X9 Ultra with the Hasselblad kit delivers stunning results. Unlike competitors that rely heavily on digital upscaling, this setup preserves fine details remarkably well. Scaffolding on distant buildings, for instance, appears crisp and clear, with impressive separation from the background.

The camera app allows for flexible magnification, providing three specific zoom levels: 13x (300mm equivalent), 30x (690mm equivalent), and an extraordinary 60x (1,380mm equivalent). While the 13x mode yields the best results without additional processing, the effectiveness diminishes at higher zoom levels, especially with fast-moving subjects.

However, the Hasselblad Earth Explorer Kit shines when capturing wildlife. Despite the difficulty in keeping moving subjects in frame, the results rival those of dedicated digital cameras. The sharpness around subjects and the dreamy depth blur are particularly noteworthy, making it difficult to discern which images were taken at native zoom levels versus those requiring digital assistance.

The kit's physical shutter button aids in achieving precise focus, especially crucial when dealing with skittish wildlife. As dusk settled in, the Find X9 Ultra’s low-light capabilities, already a strength, were further enhanced by the additional lens. Although some bright highlights occasionally caused processing challenges, the detail captured in low light remains impressive.

Overall, the image quality achieved with the Hasselblad Earth Explorer Kit is unparalleled for a smartphone, even at a distance. It allows users to capture candid moments that would typically require a more intrusive approach. While the kit may not be an essential purchase for every Find X9 Ultra owner—especially given its price point—it represents a significant leap in smartphone photography innovation at a time when many leading brands focus on software updates rather than hardware enhancements.

Currently, the kit is primarily available in select Asian and European markets, leaving American photography enthusiasts at a disadvantage. However, based on firsthand experience, it could be worth considering importing this innovative accessory for those serious about mobile photography.