@Lotta:

OPPO Find X9

• Reference price: ¥3884.41 (16+256)

It’s been more than two years since I last changed my phone, and my Xiaomi had definitely started to feel like it was due for an upgrade if I wanted to enjoy a smoother experience again. So, with strong encouragement from friends and family, I ended up receiving this OPPO Find X9. I won’t go into the specific specs or system experience—that would be both boring and feel a bit like an ad. Instead, I’d like to share my decision-making process when choosing this phone and some pleasant surprises I encountered after switching to ColorOS.

Because I have a basic need to run two instances of WeChat, I ruled out iOS from the start when choosing an operating system. The iPhone 11 I bought previously still serves as my backup device to this day. On top of that, I wanted a phone with solid imaging performance for everyday outings—whether for documenting life or photographing food. After some consideration, the final contenders came down to OPPO and vivo.

Initially, we were actually drawn to the vivo X300. Its relatively smaller screen and Fuji-style NC and CC filters were quite appealing. But after trying it out in an offline store, I found that I preferred the feel of ColorOS. The color performance brought by the Hasselblad collaboration also looked great, and I had always been curious about how well ColorOS’s “forced compatibility” with Apple’s ecosystem would work. So during the recent Taobao New Year shopping festival, with stacked discounts and government subsidies, I managed to get this Find X9 for under ¥4000.

Perhaps because it’s a cross-brand upgrade, using the OPPO Find X9 has given me a constant sense of novelty. Sometimes I’m impressed by how smooth the animations are; other times, it’s the fun little system features that catch my attention. Meanwhile, a friend who upgraded from an iPhone 15 to an iPhone 17 last year said after transferring their data that it “felt like nothing had changed.” In comparison, brand-hopping actually makes each phone upgrade feel more interesting.

After using it for a while, there are three main aspects of this phone that have pleasantly surprised me: Fluid Cloud, the photo editing features in the system gallery, and compatibility with the Apple ecosystem.

Although it has a different name, Fluid Cloud is essentially what everyone knows as the “Dynamic Island.” Unlike the iPhone’s Dynamic Island, which requires third-party apps to adapt before they can appear on it, Fluid Cloud can be made compatible through AI recognition. This is especially useful when dealing with pickup or delivery codes—just press the shortcut button on the left side to pin them to the Fluid Cloud for easy viewing.

Regardless of the implementation, as long as it can present the information I need when I need it, it’s a good feature.

Then there’s the gallery. As we all know, traditional gallery apps simply add editing features on top of photo viewing—boring and uninspiring. But in today’s highly competitive imaging environment, manufacturers are equipping their gallery apps with various capabilities. In addition to common features like AI object removal and AI color adjustment, what surprised me most about the OPPO Find X9 was its collage function.

Simply select a few photos in the gallery and choose the collage option to generate a composition based on specific ratios and templates. Tap on one of the photos at the top and select “Out of Frame,” and the system will automatically cut out the subject and overlay it onto the other images. Compared to ordinary collages, this allows you to display multiple photos at once while preserving the integrity of the main subject—and even adds a bit of dynamism. Most importantly, it’s extremely convenient: no need to download third-party apps or manually outline selections. You can create an interesting collage in just a short amount of time.

Although my main phone has always been an Android device, most of my other gadgets are part of the Apple ecosystem. For a long time, my main phone couldn’t integrate well into my workflow. The biggest issue for me was that my Apple Watch couldn’t receive notifications from it. So after switching to the OPPO Find X9, I immediately installed the relevant interoperability apps on my Apple devices to bridge the gap.

Starting with the iPhone: while promotional materials often highlight AirDrop compatibility, in actual use it’s not very different from third-party file transfer apps like LANDrop or LocalSend—you still need to operate within the “OPPO Connect” software. If there’s anything unique, it’s the ability to simulate an NFC tag to trigger the iPhone’s App Clips pop-up, somewhat similar to Alipay’s tap-to-interact feature. It’s clever, but not quite the same as native iPhone tap-to-transfer. As for message syncing, since my iPhone doesn’t have a SIM card and rarely receives notifications, I haven’t really tested this feature yet.

Compared to the iPhone, the Apple Watch integration experience is actually better. After downloading the corresponding app on the Apple Watch and pairing it through the OPPO Health app on the phone, health data can be synced to the main device. Not only that, the Apple Watch can also receive notifications from the phone—which, for me, is one of the fundamental aspects of true ecosystem integration.

As for the Mac, I rarely need to operate my phone through my computer. Even when file transfers are required, I usually rely on LANDrop. So for now, I don’t feel a strong need to integrate my Mac with the phone. Perhaps I’ll try it in the future and see if it brings any surprises.

As for AI features, I haven’t explored them in depth yet, so I won’t go into detail here. Overall, I’m very satisfied with the OPPO Find X9 and hope it will serve me well as my main device in the days to come.

Cherry Maruko Dessert Gift Box

• Reference price: ¥130

This festive and adorable Cherry Maruko–themed gift box was recommended to me by the algorithm—and how could I possibly not buy it? On top of that, I’ve always liked the Cherry Maruko IP, so I placed the order without hesitation. The full set includes the gift box, a gift bag, 16 desserts, one Maruko greeting card, and four red envelopes. The print quality is excellent, and I’m very satisfied with it.

Each compartment inside the box features different animated characters and blessing messages when opened, creating a ritual-like experience reminiscent of an Advent calendar. If you’re sitting around with friends, playing games while drawing dessert blind boxes, it sounds like it could be a lot of fun.

Among the 16 types of desserts, there’s a mix of both Chinese and Western styles. Aside from the chocolate varieties—which may lose their shape due to melting—the rest are all quite delicate in appearance. I tried the Magical Pastry – Cherry Maruko Rose Soy Milk Treat, and it pleasantly surprised me. Unlike most pastries on the market, it’s not overly sweet. As someone whose sweetness tolerance maxes out at a single bite of a KFC egg tart, this was just right. The Love Core Pastry – Strawberry-Filled Matcha Chocolate has a sweeter outer chocolate layer and a slightly tangy freeze-dried strawberry filling inside, which balances out nicely in one bite.

Attentive readers may have already noticed one minor drawback—the pattern on the box features a snake rather than a horse. So if you’re planning to give it as a gift, you may want to consider other designs. The brand also offers more than 20 New Year–themed gift boxes, such as “Fortune-Filled New Year,” “Prosperity Every Day,” and “Endless Blessings,” all of which are suitable for festive occasions. If you’re looking for attractive holiday gifts, these are worth considering.

@什么陈: UNIQLO Puffy Crossbody Bag

• Reference price: ¥99

Last weekend, I happened to notice that UNIQLO’s backpacks were on sale while shopping. Since I usually need to carry a laptop for commuting, and this bag was just the right size, I decided to try it on.

The design is simple and fairly casual, with three color options available: black, light beige, and chestnut. I ultimately chose black, as I think it’s easier to match with everyday outfits. The strap length is adjustable, so it can be worn either over one shoulder or crossbody. I used to prefer shoulder bags, which eventually led to uneven shoulders, so now I tend to go for crossbody styles that help distribute the weight more evenly.

The capacity is quite decent—it can fit a 14-inch laptop, and there’s still room for a light jacket when heading out. The internal compartments are practical: two open storage sections can hold tissues, keys, or a power bank, while a zippered inner pocket is perfect for storing important items like a wallet or ID. Most convenient of all are the two independent side pockets, which are deep enough for a water bottle or a folding umbrella. They’re easy to access and help prevent spills from affecting other items inside the bag.

That said, there is a minor downside. Since the bag itself is lightweight and the material isn’t particularly thick, it can lose its shape when overfilled—but it’s still within an acceptable range.

The surface material has been treated to resist moisture. While it’s not fully waterproof, light rain or accidental splashes will bead up and roll off instead of soaking in immediately. For those who frequently carry a laptop outdoors, this definitely adds some peace of mind.

Overall, if you’re looking for an affordable daily commuter bag that can fit a laptop and offers well-organized compartments, this one is worth considering. It may not have any standout design features, but it performs well across the board. Another model currently on sale offers even more storage compartments and is often used as a camera bag—photographers might want to take a look.

@一只索狗: Adapro Touch Finger Robot

• Reference price: ¥92.8

The inconvenience of upgrading a home with smart features is definitely one of the biggest pain points of renting. Since many household appliances don’t actually belong to you, replacing them outright can feel wasteful—but continuing to use them without connectivity can also be inconvenient. Take the landlord-provided electric heater in my room, for example.

I had known for a long time about products like finger robots (such as SwitchBot), which can physically press switches to control home appliances without needing to replace existing hardware. So after forgetting to turn off my heater for the Nth time before leaving home, I started thinking about how to give it some kind of network connectivity.

But the problem was that the heater’s control panel uses touch-sensitive input rather than physical buttons, meaning a traditional finger robot with a mechanical actuator wouldn’t be able to solve the issue. One of the amazing things about domestic manufacturing is that you can always find surprisingly niche solutions—so I came across this touch-based finger robot.

The principle itself is quite simple: two contact points simulate a finger tap, while the small box contains a communication module and a battery. The model I bought integrates with the Mi Home ecosystem, and if you already have a device that supports a Bluetooth Mesh gateway, you can enable remote control.

There are two ways to simulate touch input. One is a single tap with adjustable touch duration, which can also replicate a long press. The other is a toggle mode, which separates the “on” and “off” touch actions for easier status identification.

Since it only has two contact points, I’ve currently assigned them solely to the heater’s power switch. Setting the other one for temperature adjustment didn’t feel ideal—only increasing or only decreasing would both be a bit awkward. Using the included adhesive, it can be mounted directly onto the appliance. After integrating it with Mi Home, it more or less meets my needs for remote control and automation.