3 Minutes
Oppo may be getting ready to do more than just refresh its flagship phones. Fresh reports from China suggest the company has quietly approved a new handheld imaging project, and this one is aimed squarely at the growing market for smart gimbal cameras.
The device carries the internal codename Fuyao, according to Blue Whale Media, which says Oppo has already moved the project into development. The timing is interesting. The product is reportedly being lined up for a fourth-quarter launch, and there is a real chance it could appear alongside the Find X10 series, which is expected to arrive in October.
That would be a smart stage for Oppo to use. The company has spent years building a strong reputation around mobile photography, and a compact gimbal camera feels like a natural extension of that expertise. In other words, Oppo is not starting from zero here. It is trying to turn its imaging know-how into a new kind of consumer device.
A new fight for the pocket camera space
Oppo is not the only smartphone brand sniffing around this category. The same report claims vivo has been working on its own handheld gimbal camera since late last year, with the first model already past the prototype moulding stage. Honor, meanwhile, has already stepped into the space through its ecosystem platform. Vivo is also said to be developing a vlogging camera that could make its debut with the Vivo X500 series in September.
This is where things get interesting. For years, the handheld camera market has been dominated by specialists such as DJI and Insta360. They know the category inside out. They have the algorithms, the software polish, the supply chain muscle, and the retail channels to keep products moving. But smartphone makers bring something different to the table. They understand computational photography, AI-assisted image processing, and how to package premium hardware in a way that feels mainstream rather than niche.
That combination could shake up the market. If Oppo, vivo, and other phone makers really commit to this segment, they may force a price and feature reset that puts pressure on the current leaders.
IDC data cited in the report suggests the category is already heading in that direction. Global shipments of handheld smart cameras, including gimbals, action cameras, and panoramic models, reportedly reached 16.65 million units in 2025. Gimbal cameras were the fastest-growing part of the market, while DJI held about 62 percent of global share and Insta360 accounted for nearly 12 percent.
For Oppo, the move makes strategic sense. The company has always leaned heavily on imaging as a core brand strength, and Fuyao could be the kind of product that expands that identity beyond smartphones. If it launches with the Find X10 series, it would not just be a new accessory or side project. It would be Oppo making a clear statement about where it thinks consumer imaging is headed next.
Comments
Armin
Is this even true? Phone companies entering gimbals sounds cool but can they match DJI's algo, supply chain… I'm skeptical, pricing will tell.
mechbyte
Wow, Oppo building a gimbal camera? Didn't see that coming. If Fuyao ships with Find X10 and decent stabilisation, this could hurt DJI… but software matters more, hope they don't half-bake it.
Leave a Comment