It looks deceptively metal when it actually isn’t.
We never had the original Oppo A57 that was released back in 2017 so it was nice to see that we got a hold of its reboot, its reimagining.
The unit we have in question is the 4G variant. We said that because initially, we thought we were getting the 5G variant of the phone which was the newest release. The one we have in our studio uses a MediaTek Helio G35 chipset which definitely does not have 5G capabilities.
To recall, the Oppo A57 4G is a budget phone. It sports a 6. 56in. HD+ (1612x720px) IPS LCD screen with a waterdrop notch that houses the 8MP front camera. It features the 12nm MediaTek Helio G35 chipset paired with 4GB RAM and 64 or 128GB storage. What we have here is the 64GB version. It is expandable via MicroSD card, up to 1TB
At the back is the dual camera system (or so-called) consisting of a 13MP primary and a 2MP mono lens and LED flash.
Its main feature and improvement is the 5000mAh battery with 33W fast charging. While Oppo did not claim anything, we’re surprised to see that rating in a budget phone of all things.
THE BOX and WHAT’S INSIDE THE BOX?
The box is pretty minimalistic. It’s a sky blue box with the “A” series logo imprinted as well as the name of the phone. The back is completely black with only the summary of the phone present.
What’s inside the box is pretty simple as well. The box came with a pair of guides, a clear silicone case, and a SIM Ejector Tool. Of course, the phone itself was inside too, as well as the 33W SuperVOOC fast charger comprising of the USB-C cable and charging brick. It’s good to note they supplied you with a 33W charger instead of the slow 10W ones.
DESIGN/BUILD QUALITY
You know, we’re pretty impressed with how Oppo presented the phone. Yes, it’s a budget phone but when you finally get to hold it, you’ll realize how premium it looks and feels. It is lightweight too (only 187g) and the thickness isn’t too thick or thin enough to hold it comfortably.
The colour we have here is glowing green. And while it doesn’t glow in the dark, it’s still a pretty colour to look at. The frame and the back look deceptively metallic. It is only when we hold it and feel the texture that we realized it is in fact, polycarbonate plastic. We also like how Oppo omitted the useless rear cameras that are so common within its price. Mainly the macro camera. While we wish they would not have included the 2MP mono, for aesthetic reasons, it’s good they made it a mainstay for this phone. It certainly does not serve any other function than to make the phone look prettier.
ColorOS IMPRESSIONS:
This is the first time I actually used an Oppo phone and therefore, my first experience with ColorOS. The phone runs ColorOS 12.1 based on Android 12 and can be patched until the July 2022 security update which makes the phone a little dated in terms of security but having an update is better than having none.
Also, when you set it up, you’re greeted with a launcher with no app drawer (though there’s the option) as well as the choice between gestures or on-screen buttons. The icons themselves are vibrant and colourful and somewhat mimic that of iOS. Also, the UI is full of bloatware which thankfully some can be removed as this can kill the already small storage space. Unless you do some extra tweaking, you can’t move apps normally through the MicroSD card.
DISPLAY
The screen is made of glass although there is no specified tempered glass protection. It is a 6.56in. IPS LCD screen with a waterdrop notch and receiver and, unfortunately, only 720p resolution. At a price of Php 8,999 we expect FullHD resolution. There are phones at nearly the same price with a higher resolution screen. Some may say that using a 720p screen can save battery life. That is easily negated by the fact that it comes with 33W fast charging.
We actually noticed this a little late but the screen protector has been applied on the phone already, from the factory. There is no need for you to buy one from a third party, unless you want to replace the screen protector
PORTS and SLOTS
The Oppo A57 came with a standard number of ports and holes and even a dedicated MicroSD card slot + 2 SIM Cards combo trays. Other phones would have come with a hybrid setup so we’re happy Oppo implemented a triple slot.
At the top of the phone is clearly nothing visible while the bottom is a little busy, sporting the single bottom-firing speaker, USB-C port, a microphone, and a 3.5mm jack. While the box claimed it has stereo speakers, there’s none to be seen here.
On the right is the power button which also functions as a fingerprint reader. And finally, on the left are two volume rockers which have a few extra bells and whistles.
We’ll have a full review of the unit soon, so stay tuned as we explore the device more in detail.
Oppo A57 SPECS:
- 6.56in. HD+ (1612x720px) IPS LCD
- MediaTek Helio G35 (12nm)
- CAMERAS:
- 13MP (main), f/2.2
- 2MP (monochrome), f/2.4
- FRONT: 8MP, f/2.0
- ColorOS 12.1 based on Android 12
- 5000mAh, 33W fast charging (33W charger provided)
- 4G LTE, Wi-Fi (2.4GHz), OTG, Bluetooth 5.0
- Single speaker, Side-mounted fingerprint scanner, Dual SIM, Dedicated MicroSD Card Slot (up to 1TB)
- Glowing Green, Glowing Black
- PRICE:
- 4/64: Php 8,999
- 4/128: Php 10,999
You must be logged in to post a comment.