OPPO’s oddest launch of the week isn’t a phone. The OPPO Bubble is a 35g magnetic disc with an AMOLED screen that sticks to the back of your phone and shows you a live feed from the rear cameras — so you can shoot yourself with the good lenses instead of the selfie camera. It costs AED 499 in the UAE, and it is either the most useful accessory OPPO has made in years or a very expensive fridge magnet, depending entirely on what you shoot.
What the OPPO Bubble actually is
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| UAE price | AED 499 |
| Weight | 35g |
| Display | AMOLED, circular |
| Attachment | Magnetic — compatible cases or magnetic rings |
| Primary function | Real-time rear-camera monitor |
| Remote range | Remote viewfinder and shutter up to 10 metres |
| Customisation | Images, looping animations, text and colours via a dedicated app |
| Compatibility | OPPO Reno16 series and selected OPPO Find X-series devices; more via OTA updates |
Two functions, then. Snapped to the back of the phone, it mirrors the rear-camera preview so you can frame a selfie, a group shot or a piece to camera using the main sensor. Detached, it becomes a remote viewfinder and shutter that works from up to 10 metres away — set the phone on a tripod, walk into the shot, and you can still see and trigger the frame.
Why a rear-camera monitor makes more sense than it sounds
Every phone has a large gap in quality between its rear and front cameras, and the Reno16 series is a good example even though its selfie camera is unusually strong. On the Reno16 Pro you’re choosing between a 200MP main sensor with OIS and a 50MP fixed front camera. For anything you actually care about — a video for a client, a shot of the family at a wedding, a piece to camera — the rear camera wins, and until now the only way to use it on yourself was to guess at the framing or rope in a second person.
Flip phones solve this with a cover display. Foldables solve it by being foldables. The Bubble solves it for a normal phone for AED 499, which is a fraction of the price difference between a Reno16 Pro and a folding phone.
Where it falls down
- It needs magnets. You’ll want the OPPO Magnetic Case — included in Reno16 pre-order bundles — or a stick-on magnetic ring. That’s an extra purchase for anyone who buys later.
- It’s another thing to charge. OPPO hasn’t published a battery figure; treat all-day use as unproven until we test it.
- Compatibility is narrow. Officially the Reno16 series and selected Find X-series phones, with more devices promised via software updates. If you don’t own an OPPO phone, this isn’t for you.
- AED 499 is real money. For context, that’s roughly what OPPO charges for the Enco Air4 and a case combined, and more than a decent phone tripod plus a Bluetooth remote.
For international context, OPPO prices the Bubble at AUD 189 in Australia and NZD 299 in New Zealand, so the AED 499 UAE price is broadly in line rather than a regional mark-up.
The accessory nobody asked for, aimed at people who did
The second half of the Bubble’s pitch is that it’s a fashion item. Through its app you can load images, looping animations, text and colours onto the display, and pair it with holders or lanyards so it hangs off a bag as a customisable little screen. This is the part that will divide people. It’s genuinely playful, and it’s also a 35g gadget whose main non-camera purpose is showing an animated GIF on your handbag.
OPPO knows its Reno audience — this series has always been aimed at younger buyers who care about how a phone looks as much as what it does, which is the same logic behind the Pop White HoloVerse 3D back cover. The Bubble is that idea taken one step further.
Should you buy one?
Buy it if you create content with your phone and regularly film yourself with the rear camera — it removes a genuine, daily annoyance more elegantly than any workaround. Skip it if you mainly take selfies for messaging apps, because the Reno16 series’ 50MP 100-degree front camera is already better than most, and a AED 499 accessory to improve it is hard to justify.
The Bubble launched alongside the Reno16 series in the UAE: the Reno16 Pro at AED 3,299, the Reno16 at AED 2,499 and the Reno16 F from AED 1,799. If you’re deciding between them, our three-way comparison breaks down what each model gives up. Full launch details are in OPPO’s GCC announcement.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the OPPO Bubble cost in the UAE?
AED 499. It launched alongside the OPPO Reno16 series on 31 July 2026.
What does the OPPO Bubble do?
It attaches magnetically to the back of a compatible OPPO phone and shows a live feed from the rear cameras, so you can frame selfies and group shots with the main camera. Detached, it works as a remote viewfinder and shutter from up to 10 metres.
Which phones work with the OPPO Bubble?
Officially the OPPO Reno16 series and selected OPPO Find X-series devices, with additional models to be added via software updates.
Do I need a special case for the OPPO Bubble?
Yes — it attaches to compatible magnetic cases or a magnetic ring. The OPPO Magnetic Case is included in Reno16 series pre-order bundles.
Is the OPPO Bubble worth it?
Only if you regularly shoot yourself with the rear camera. For messaging-app selfies, the Reno16’s 50MP front camera is already good enough.
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