The Oppo A78 5G Mobile Phone Review

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Tech Specs

A Competent and Attractive Mid-Range Smartphone

I have never owned an Oppo phone before, I have however, heard from friends that they are an underrated manufacturer of both phones and living room media players. I will give it this, the Oppo A78 5G certainly looks and feels the part.

The Oppo A78 5G is the latest addition to the company’s lineup of mid-range smartphones. As 5G technology continues to gain momentum, this device aims to offer a compelling mix of features and performance without breaking the bank. In this review, we’ll delve into its key aspects, including design, performance, camera capabilities, battery life and overall user experience.

Certainly a Looker

The Oppo A78 5G boasts a sleek and modern design, featuring a plastic back with a glossy finish that resembles glass. The device is lightweight and comfortable to hold, making it suitable for extended usage. It’s available in a range of attractive colours, allowing users to choose their preferred style. While the plastic build may not feel as premium as some other devices, it contributes to keeping the device lightweight and affordable.

I admired, for its look, how light this Oppo handset feels. While looking sleek and sophisticated it is still very light. It looks like a high-end handset and for its price-point, I feel the Oppo A78 succeeds in both form and design. I also feel the handset should be able to take a knock or two if the need arises.

No 4k, No Drama

This smartphone comes with a 6.5-inch IPS LCD display with Full HD+ resolution. The screen offers vibrant colours and good viewing angles, making it suitable for media consumption and casual gaming. I found the screen sharp and crisp for a handset in this price range. Even next to my high-end Samsung, while slightly noticeable, it’s not drastic in the slightest.

It’s worth noting that the device lacks high refresh rates that have become increasingly common in this price range. However, I feel most users won’t even notice. If refresh rates bother you, there are plenty of other options on the market.

Punching Above Its Weight

Under the hood, the Oppo A78 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 700 5G chipset, which is a solid mid-range processor. It provides smooth multitasking and gaming performance for most everyday tasks. The 5G connectivity is a notable advantage, ensuring fast data speeds for those in areas with 5G coverage. It’s paired with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, which should be adequate for most tasks you chuck at it.

I found very little bothered the Oppo A78. Opening multiple apps at once, playing games and all manner of tasks performed admirably. While not being a true top-end piece of hardware, most users will have no issues with anything they need. For a mid-range device, the hardware does what it needs to and in a timely fashion too.

Snappy

Cameras on phones are ridiculous, aren’t they? I remember my first phone taking blurry pixelated pictures and I adored it. Cameras on phones nowadays do so much more and the Oppo A78 performs respectably in this regard. The device features a triple-camera setup on the rear, consisting of a 48MP primary sensor, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 2MP macro lens. The camera performance is respectable in well-lit conditions, producing sharp and colourful photos.

It’s in low-light situations that the camera quality noticeably deteriorates. Also, the 8MP front camera is serviceable for selfies and video calls, but it won’t blow you away with its performance. Again though, unless you set photos side by side against more expensive handsets, you will not notice much of a difference. You will enjoy the pictures you take, the camera on the Oppo does its job.

An All-Day Battery

This device is equipped with a 4,040mAh battery, which is touted as having an all-day battery life with moderate usage. The device also supports 18W fast charging, which helps in quickly replenishing the battery when needed. I found, in my limited initial testing with the device that the battery easily lasted the day. This will obviously deteriorate over time but initial tests are pleasing.

The Operating System

The smartphone runs on ColorOS, Oppo’s custom Android skin. Which I have never used, however, it’s not that different to standard Android so if you have used an Android device before you should have no issues. It provides a user-friendly experience with a range of customization options. However, some users might find the pre-installed bloatware a bit excessive. Regular software updates are essential for device longevity and security, so it’s worth keeping an eye on Oppo’s update track record for new features and security fixes.

A Solid Contender at Its Price-Point

The Oppo A78 5G is a solid mid-range 5G smartphone that offers a well-rounded package. It excels in providing 5G connectivity at an affordable price, along with decent performance, battery life, and a stylish design. The camera system is serviceable, but not a standout feature.

If you are looking for a high-end mobile device, the Oppo A78 5G is not it. What it is, however, is a low-price handset with some great features and design choices. It fails compared to my Samsung at just about every turn but is a fraction of the price. I would never replace what I have with the Oppo but I would have no issues with it if it was my only device. It’s a solid bit of kit.

Rapid Reviews Rating

4 out of 5

4

You can get more information about the Oppo A78 5G on the Oppo website and the Oppo store

Check out our other hardware reviews here.