OPPO A5s Unboxing and First Impressions
OPPO recently launched the A5s, the follow-up to the well-received A3s.
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| Meet OPPO A5s |
Compared with its predecessor, it now comes with a smaller notch design, newer-gen chip, more RAM and ROM, and a fingerprint scanner.
Is it the upgrade you deserve? Let's check it out!
Unboxing/Accessories
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| Unboxed! |
A5s arrived with the usual OPPO box with the 5V/2A USB wall charger, USB-A to micro USB data/charging cable, clear TPU flexible case, SIM ejector tool, pre-installed plastic screen protector, and paper documents. It doesn't have an earphones with mic included in the package.
The materials that OPPO used with the A5s is similar coming from the A3s. It still has an all-plastic frame and glass-like back, but the materials at the back feel way more refined than the A3s. In front, the screen is now protected with Corning's Gorilla Glass 3 solution.
Its overall build looks premium and quite durable especially at this price point. My only problem is its backside is prone to scratches and fingerprint smudges.
Thankfully, OPPO included a FREE case to protect the phone from unwanted damage.
Looking at its design, it is easily the most stylish looking budget OPPO phone yet. Keep in mind, there are very few phones with a 3D curved back cover.
The piano black-like color option with gold trim in the slightly protruding dual-cam and fingerprint scanner at the back made it look even more stunning as well.
In front, it comes with a big 6.22-inch display with a smaller waterdrop notch coming from the A3s. The result, it has a larger screen-to-body ratio and slimmer bezels than most budget phones. The chin bezel is a bit thick, but it is forgivable for a budget phone.
The handset measures 155.9 x 75.4 mm. It is just 8.2 mm despite having a large 4,230mAh battery.
There's nothing on top. You'll see the speaker grill, micro USB, mic, and 3.5mm headphone slot below. The triple-slot tray together with the volume keys are at the left side of the phone. The power button is at left.
Overall, the phone is quite handy for the screen size. It is just a bit prone to fingerprint smudges, but it isn't that slippery without the case.
Initial findings
1. Again, overall construction of the phone is neat especially for the price. The display is still on HD+ resolution. But again, it is just fine for the price. At least it is legible enough even for outdoor use.
2. Under the hood, it uses the new 12nm 2.3GHz 64-bit Helio P35 octa-core processor with PowerVR GE8320 GPU, 3GB RAM, and 32GB storage. Its benchmark scores showed that it packs more power than the Snapdragon 450 of the A3s last year.
It has more RAM and ROM as well. The battery is the same at 4,230mAh. Of course, this phone has 4G LTE connectivity.
Its specs are better than the similarly priced Y6 Pro. But not better than Redmi 7.
3. Sadly, it still loads with the older Android 8.1 Oreo operating system with ColorOS 5.2 skin. Don't get me wrong, it is still a decent skin with minimal bloats. It has plenty of optimizations as well.
However, OPPO's new ColorOS 6.0 skin is ultra-impressive. It would have been way better if they used that new Android Pie-based skin here.
4. At the back, the 13MP f/2.2 + 2MP f/2.4 dual cameras are similar to what we saw with the A3s. But it now has PDAF for faster focus. The selfie cam is still at 8MP.
Note: Stay tuned for our camera samples.
5. Unlike the A3s, A5s now comes with a dedicated fingerprint scanner behind. The face unlock is still super fast as well. The phone is complete with most of the basic sensors and features like the OTG too.
Build Quality/Design
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| Piano black-like curved back with sexy gold trim |
The materials that OPPO used with the A5s is similar coming from the A3s. It still has an all-plastic frame and glass-like back, but the materials at the back feel way more refined than the A3s. In front, the screen is now protected with Corning's Gorilla Glass 3 solution.
Premium looking for the price
Its overall build looks premium and quite durable especially at this price point. My only problem is its backside is prone to scratches and fingerprint smudges.
Thankfully, OPPO included a FREE case to protect the phone from unwanted damage.
Looking at its design, it is easily the most stylish looking budget OPPO phone yet. Keep in mind, there are very few phones with a 3D curved back cover.
The piano black-like color option with gold trim in the slightly protruding dual-cam and fingerprint scanner at the back made it look even more stunning as well.
 |
| Tiny waterdrop notch |
In front, it comes with a big 6.22-inch display with a smaller waterdrop notch coming from the A3s. The result, it has a larger screen-to-body ratio and slimmer bezels than most budget phones. The chin bezel is a bit thick, but it is forgivable for a budget phone.
The handset measures 155.9 x 75.4 mm. It is just 8.2 mm despite having a large 4,230mAh battery.
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| Top |
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| Bottom |
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| Left |
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| Right |
There's nothing on top. You'll see the speaker grill, micro USB, mic, and 3.5mm headphone slot below. The triple-slot tray together with the volume keys are at the left side of the phone. The power button is at left.
Overall, the phone is quite handy for the screen size. It is just a bit prone to fingerprint smudges, but it isn't that slippery without the case.
Initial findings
1. Again, overall construction of the phone is neat especially for the price. The display is still on HD+ resolution. But again, it is just fine for the price. At least it is legible enough even for outdoor use.
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| AnTuTu and Geekbench score |
2. Under the hood, it uses the new 12nm 2.3GHz 64-bit Helio P35 octa-core processor with PowerVR GE8320 GPU, 3GB RAM, and 32GB storage. Its benchmark scores showed that it packs more power than the Snapdragon 450 of the A3s last year.
It has more RAM and ROM as well. The battery is the same at 4,230mAh. Of course, this phone has 4G LTE connectivity.
Its specs are better than the similarly priced Y6 Pro. But not better than Redmi 7.
3. Sadly, it still loads with the older Android 8.1 Oreo operating system with ColorOS 5.2 skin. Don't get me wrong, it is still a decent skin with minimal bloats. It has plenty of optimizations as well.
However, OPPO's new ColorOS 6.0 skin is ultra-impressive. It would have been way better if they used that new Android Pie-based skin here.
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| Dual-cam |
4. At the back, the 13MP f/2.2 + 2MP f/2.4 dual cameras are similar to what we saw with the A3s. But it now has PDAF for faster focus. The selfie cam is still at 8MP.
Note: Stay tuned for our camera samples.
5. Unlike the A3s, A5s now comes with a dedicated fingerprint scanner behind. The face unlock is still super fast as well. The phone is complete with most of the basic sensors and features like the OTG too.
OPPO A5s Specs
Display: 6.22-inch Gorilla Glass 3 protected 2.5D curved screen w/ HD+ 1560 x 720 resolution at 270 ppi
CPU: 2.3GHz 64-bit Helio P35 octa-core processor
GPU: PowerVR GE8320
RAM: 3GB
ROM: 32GB expandable via microSD card slot up to 256GB (dedicated)
Back Camera: 13MP f/2.2 + 2MP f/2.4 w/ PDAF and LED flash
Selfie Camera: 8MP f/2.0 w/ AI face beauty
Battery: 4,230mAh
OS: Android 8.1 Oreo w/ ColorOS 5.2
Connectivity: WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, 4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.2, OTG, FM Radio, GPS, GLONASS, dual SIM slots
Sensors: Accelerometer, light, orientation, proximity, gyroscope, sound, magnetic
Others: Fingerprint sensor, face unlock, Colors: red, black
Dimensions: 156.28 x 73.5 x 8.0 mm
Weight: 170 g
Price: PHP 6,990
Yes, it doesn't have the most powerful chip at this price point. But it is still a solid upgrade over the A3s last year. Besides, its overall specs and features are above-average for the price.
To my eyes, it is the most stylish budget phone in the land as well.
Do you agree with us? See you in our full review.
As of the moment
OPPO A5s could be the one for those who are looking for a capable all-rounder on a budget.Yes, it doesn't have the most powerful chip at this price point. But it is still a solid upgrade over the A3s last year. Besides, its overall specs and features are above-average for the price.
To my eyes, it is the most stylish budget phone in the land as well.
Do you agree with us? See you in our full review.
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