OPPO A57 REVIEW: A shiny budget phone for your basic needs
You can't go wrong with the basics.
Sometimes all you need is a smartphone that can do simple things like social media browsing and snapping photos. Almost every smartphone can perform these tasks, but why not do them in style?
Enter the OPPO A57, a budget Android that might have modest specs but exceed expectations when it comes to style.
We've had this smartphone for a couple of weeks and here are our thoughts on this entry-level device.
Design and specs
The A97 is quite the looker for a device with a P8,999 price tag. Our review unit came in Glowing Green, and the phone has a gorgeous, shimmering rear that makes it stand out.
The back of the phone feels like it's made of plastic, but it feels pretty durable. The glossy frosted finish also doesn't catch fingerprints, which makes this device easy to keep clean.
Under the hood, the specs of the A57 aren't really anything to write home about. You've got a basic MediaTek Helio G35 processor, 4GB of RAM, and up to 128GB of internal storage. I've encountered some lagging when I had multiple apps open, but clearing them every now and then helps keep the device on track.
At the bottom of the phone, you'll find the USB-C charging port, 3.5mm audio jack, and speakers. Meanwhile, the volume rocker sits on the left side while the fingerprint scanner/power button is on the right.
Camera
The cameras on this phone are pretty simple, too—you've got dual rear 13MP+2MP shooters. It's better to snap photos under natural light with this phone otherwise, the image can get grainy and details aren't as crisp when your photos aren't taken outdoors.
While the photos are detailed under good lighting conditions, light backgrounds can get blown out as seen in the photo below.
A trusty entertainment buddy
It might not be a high-powered device, but you can count on the A57 when you want to fall into a rabbit hole of binge-watching TikToks and YouTube videos. The phone boasts 6.56-inch display that's crisp and vibrant.
To match the viewer-friendly screen, this phone has stereo speakers that pump out pretty loud sound. It doesn't sound as whole as Bluetooth speakers but it's serviceable for daily video watching.
In addition, this phone's battery life can last you a day of binge-watching. It packs a 5,000mAh battery and is capable of fast 33W fast charging.
Verdict
While it doesn't boast the most high-end specs, the OPPO A57 is a reliable phone for your basic everyday usage like browsing through social media. It's also quite the great entertainment device thanks to its good speakers, vibrant display, and long-lasting battery life.
The OPPO A57 is available in all OPPO stores, authorized dealers, Shopee, and Lazada for P8,999.