OPPO India has launched a new nationwide initiative called The Snap Circle, aimed at helping college students sharpen their photography skills through structured mentorship and real-world practice. The program was officially announced in New Delhi on December 29, 2025, and it is clearly designed with young, curious creators in mind. At its core, The Snap Circle connects students with the OPPO Find X series, the company’s flagship smartphone lineup that places a strong emphasis on mobile imaging and camera innovation.
The broader idea, at least as it comes across, is to nurture a community rather than run a short-term competition. By giving students access to high-end mobile technology along with professional guidance, OPPO seems to be encouraging them to look at everyday scenes a bit differently and turn them into meaningful visual stories. It is less about perfection and more about learning how to see, frame, and experiment.
Key Takeaways
- The Snap Circle is a college-level photography program focused on mentorship and hands-on learning.
- Selected students use OPPO Find X Series smartphones for a 10-day themed photography challenge.
- The program started at JECRC University in Jaipur and will expand to nine more cities in 2026.
- Top performers win Find X smartphones, while other participants receive certificates and long-term community access.
The way the program works is fairly straightforward, though it does involve some careful selection. OPPO visits universities across different cities, where interested students can register on campus. From the pool of applicants, 10 students are chosen based on their creative potential and a basic understanding of how a camera functions. It is not strictly about technical mastery, which makes sense for a college-focused initiative. Once selected, these students receive a Find X series smartphone and are asked to complete a themed photography project over a period of 10 days.
The OPPO Find X series represents the brand’s premium smartphone range. These devices are known for their large image sensors and camera hardware co-developed with Hasselblad, the well-known Swedish camera manufacturer. For students who may have only used entry-level phones before, working with this level of imaging hardware can be a noticeable shift. It likely pushes them to pay closer attention to details such as composition, lighting, and color balance.
Goldee Patnaik, Head of Communications at OPPO India, shared that the program is meant to give students room to explore and discover their own photographic style. He explained that by combining capable camera technology with structured mentorship, OPPO hopes to help students turn ordinary moments from daily life into compelling visual narratives. The judging panel, made up of members from the OPPO camera team, evaluates submissions on specific technical aspects. These include how effectively light is used, the balance and accuracy of colors, and the overall sharpness and clarity of the subject.
What stands out is that The Snap Circle is not positioned as a one-off contest. All 10 selected students from each participating college automatically become members of the Snap Circle Community for a full year. This extended engagement offers continued learning opportunities through workshops, organized photo walks in various cities, and even early access to upcoming OPPO products. Over time, this kind of structure can help students build confidence and, perhaps more importantly, a network of peers and industry professionals who share similar interests.
The program began its journey in Jaipur, but OPPO has already outlined plans for a wider rollout in 2026. The next phase will cover major education and creative hubs including Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, Pune, Ahmedabad, and Bhubaneswar. By spreading the initiative across multiple regions, OPPO is clearly aiming to tap into diverse talent from different parts of the country. Putting professional-grade mobile cameras into students’ hands also helps bridge the gap between classroom learning and practical, real-world creative work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Who can participate in The Snap Circle?
A1: The program is open to college students in India. Currently, OPPO conducts on-campus registrations at selected universities across 10 cities.
Q2: What smartphones are used in the program?
A2: Students use the OPPO Find X Series smartphones. These flagship devices are known for advanced camera systems, often featuring 50MP main sensors and periscope telephoto lenses for high-quality zoom photography.
Q3: What do the winners receive?
A3: The top two students from each college challenge win an OPPO Find X series smartphone. The remaining eight shortlisted participants receive certificates of participation.
Q4: How long does the photography challenge last?
A4: Each selected student has 10 days to complete the themed photography assignment using the provided device.
Q5: What happens after the 10-day challenge ends?
A5: All 10 shortlisted participants become part of a year-long Snap Circle community. They receive invitations to exclusive workshops, guided photo walks, and ongoing mentorship from experienced photography professionals.
