OPPO A78 Review: Is it a balanced mid-range phone?

September 26, 2023, 02:11 PM
by Md. Mehedi Hasan

UNB News
Publish- September 26, 2023, 02:11 PM
Md. Mehedi Hasan
Update- September 26, 2023, 02:55 PM

OPPO A78 Review: Is it a balanced mid-range phone?

OPPO A78 (Image collected from oppo.com)

In the ever-evolving landscape of smartphones, OPPO has consistently carved a niche for itself by offering devices that strike a balance between impressive features and affordability. The OPPO A78 was officially released in Bangladesh in September 2023. In this comprehensive review, this article will dive into every aspect of the OPPO A78, from its design and display to its performance and camera capabilities

Key Features of OPPO A78

Design

The OPPO A78 5G boasts a decent design but lacks the substantial feel of mid-range and high-end Android counterparts. It weighs in at a mere 180g, significantly lighter than its counterparts like the Pixel 7 Pro at 212g. This lightweight 160.01 mm by 73.23 mm by 7.93 mm build makes it comfortable to hold but may raise concerns about durability.

At the top, there's a small teardrop notch, and while the bezels around the sides and the chin at the bottom are noticeable upon unboxing, they tend to fade into the background during use.

The display is labeled as 'toughened glass' by Oppo, but it falls short of the sturdiness of Gorilla Glass found in pricier devices. It does come with an IPX4 rating, offering protection against splashes but not immersion in water.

A fingerprint scanner is positioned under the power button on the right side, which is responsive but less convenient for left-handed users compared to the under-screen scanners found in higher-end products. Alternatively, users can opt for the quick and efficient face-unlock feature.

The OPPO A78 5G comes in three color options: black, purple, and blue. However, there's a noticeable color difference between the majority of the back and the ovular composite panel housing the cameras. Unfortunately, this design choice makes the phone feel less premium, and running a fingernail across it produces an undesirable high-pitched scratch, reminiscent of a tazos coin.

On a positive note, the A78 5G keeps the headphone jack alive, although its placement at the bottom rather than the top of the phone might not be everyone's preference. There's also room for a microSD card alongside the single SIM card slot for expandable storage.

OPPO A78 (Image collected from oppo.com)

Display

The OPPO A78 5G boasts a 6.43-inch AMOLED display with impressive specifications that contribute to an enjoyable visual experience. The screen features a resolution of FHD+ (2400x1080), offering sharp and detailed images.

With a screen ratio of 90.8%, it provides a spacious and immersive viewing area for content consumption and gaming. Users can enjoy smooth scrolling and responsiveness thanks to the 90Hz refresh rate, and the touch sampling rate can go up to a maximum of 180Hz, ensuring precise and quick touch responses. The display also supports a wide color gamut, with the vivid mode covering 98% of NTSC and 95% of DCI-P3, delivering vibrant and accurate colors.

With a pixel density of 409 PPI and a peak brightness of 800 nits, this AMOLED panel is both sharp and bright. To protect the screen, Corning Gorilla Glass 5 is used, adding durability to this already impressive display package.

The A78 5G comes equipped with two speakers, one at the top and one at the bottom. These speakers are sufficiently loud to fill a room, and there's even an 'Ultra Volume Mode' that doubles the external volume. While it may not match the clarity, dynamism, and richness of sound found in pricier devices or dedicated speakers, it certainly gets the job done in a pinch and should not disappoint.

OPPO A78 (Image collected from oppo.com)

Performance

The OPPO A78 is available in two variants, offering either 8GB of RAM alongside 256GB of storage. It's worth noting that the UK edition is limited to 4GB of RAM. Under the hood, A78 is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 CPU paired with a Adreno 610 GPU.

In practical terms, this configuration provides the device with a decent amount of power for mid-range gaming. Games like Asphalt 8 and FIFA Mobile run smoothly without any noticeable jitter or lag, whether the users are playing offline or online. Even more demanding titles like Pokémon Unite perform admirably.

Switching between apps on the A78 is a quick and hassle-free experience. However, it's worth mentioning that loading images on websites may take a bit of time, and there might be the occasional glitch when zooming in on photos within messaging apps. Nevertheless, these issues are infrequent and are unlikely to pose significant problems for everyday users of this device.

Cameras

The OPPO A78 features a dual-camera setup on the back, comprising a 50MP main camera with an f/1.8 aperture and a 2MP black and white camera with an f/2.4 aperture for depth sensing.

Rear camera segment of the OPPO A78 (Image collected from oppo.com)

On the front, there is an 8MP selfie camera with an f/2.0 aperture.

In terms of photography, the A78's capabilities are fairly straightforward. It does a decent job of capturing quick snapshots of local landmarks or blooming flowers. However, there's room for improvement. The phone struggles to accurately separate darker areas from lighter ones, often overemphasizing certain parts of the image.

Similar to many other Chinese smartphones, the A78 tends to brighten and wash out photos more than necessary. This can make light skin tones appear pasty in sunlight and turn blond hair towards a gray or white hue.

When it comes to zooming (digital zoom), the A78 performs adequately up to 5x, but the quality takes a noticeable dip, and there's blurring around object edges when zooming in to the maximum 10x level.

The device offers a couple of extra modes for photography enthusiasts. The Extra HD mode, accessible under the 'more' settings in the camera app, and the 50MP button at the top of the camera screen allow users to capture higher megapixel photos. The 50MP option, in particular, adds more detail to photos, revealing subtle textures that might otherwise go unnoticed. However, these nuances are more visible on larger displays rather than the A78's relatively small screen.

The Extra HD mode, on the other hand, uses an algorithm to create a 108MP photo from the information captured by the 50MP lens, but it may not satisfy photography purists.

There's also an AI mode, but it's advisable to use it sparingly. This mode tends to oversaturate colors and oversharpen details, almost like applying an automatic filter to the photos. In low-light conditions, the A78 performs reasonably well but struggles with object separation and lacks fine details.

OPPO A78 (Image collected from oppo.com)

Battery and Charger

The OPPO A78 impresses with its exceptional battery life, easily outperforming some premium smartphones. With a 5000mAh battery under the hood, it effortlessly manages to last a full day and more. Even after a day filled with activities like streaming music on Spotify, watching Netflix, scrolling through social media, and texting, the battery was only halfway depleted.

What's more, the A78 offers 67W SUPERVOOC fast-charging capabilities, and it comes with both a power brick and a cable in the box.

Pros and Cons of the OPPO A78 5G

Pros

- Offers exceptional battery life, easily lasting a full day or more

- Supports 5G connectivity, providing faster data speeds when available

- Smooth performance for mid-range gaming and everyday tasks

- Fast Charging

- Budget-friendly, making it an attractive option for cost-conscious consumers.

Cons

- Lacks the premium feel of mid-range and high-end devices

- The display resolution is lower than some competing models

- Limited RAM in Some Regions.

Price of OPPO A78 in Bangladesh

OPPO A78 is officially available in Bangladesh now only for BDT 27,990.

Verdict

The OPPO A78 offers an enticing package for budget-conscious consumers. With its impressive two-day battery life, 5G connectivity, capable performance for both scrolling and gaming, and a decent camera for casual photography enthusiasts, it presents a well-rounded option.

As is often the case with Android devices in this price range, there may be some quirks to contend with, such as pre-installed bloatware or potentially confusing user interfaces. Nevertheless, the OPPO A78 manages to strike a balance and should prove to be a suitable choice for those seeking affordability without compromising on essential features.