Oppo A57: In the ever-evolving world of smartphones, Oppo has consistently positioned itself as a brand that offers feature-rich devices at competitive price points. The Oppo A57 is no exception to this rule, presenting itself as a compelling option in the budget smartphone segment. Let’s dive deep into what makes this device tick and whether it’s worth your hard-earned money.
Design and Build Quality
The Oppo A57 sports a design that punches above its weight class. With dimensions of 163.8 x 75.1 x 7.99 mm, it strikes a balance between screen real estate and pocketability. Weighing in at 186 grams, it’s neither too light to feel cheap nor too heavy to be cumbersome.
The device features a plastic back and frame, which is par for the course in this price range. However, Oppo has done an admirable job in making the phone feel premium to the touch. The back panel has a matte finish that not only looks sleek but also does a good job of resisting fingerprints and smudges.
One of the standout features in the design department is the phone’s water resistance. While it doesn’t boast a full IP68 rating, the A57 does come with IPX4 certification, making it splash-resistant. This is a welcome addition in a budget device and provides some peace of mind for users who might accidentally expose their phone to light rain or spills.
Display
The Oppo A57 comes equipped with a 6.56-inch IPS LCD display, boasting a resolution of 720 x 1612 pixels. While it may not be the sharpest screen on the market, it does offer a decent pixel density of 269 PPI, which is sufficient for most day-to-day tasks.
One of the highlights of this display is its 90Hz refresh rate, a feature that’s not commonly found in this price bracket. This higher refresh rate translates to smoother scrolling and a more fluid user experience overall, giving the A57 an edge over some of its competitors.
The screen also offers a peak brightness of 600 nits, which is respectable for a budget device. This means that outdoor visibility is generally good, although you might struggle a bit under direct sunlight.
Performance
Under the hood, the Oppo A57 is powered by the MediaTek Helio G35 chipset. This octa-core processor, while not a powerhouse, is capable of handling most day-to-day tasks with ease. Paired with 4GB of RAM, the device offers smooth multitasking for light to moderate usage.
The phone comes with either 64GB or 128GB of internal storage, which is expandable via a microSD card slot. This flexibility in storage options is a welcome feature, especially for users who like to keep a lot of media on their devices.
When it comes to gaming, the A57 can handle casual games without breaking a sweat. However, more graphically intensive titles might require you to lower the settings for a smooth experience. The PowerVR GE8320 GPU does an adequate job for a budget device but don’t expect it to compete with mid-range or flagship phones in this department.
Camera System
The camera setup on the Oppo A57 is a tale of two halves. On the rear, you’ll find a dual-camera system consisting of a 13MP main sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. The main camera performs admirably in well-lit conditions, capturing photos with good detail and accurate colors. The depth sensor aids in creating a bokeh effect for portrait shots, although the edge detection can be hit or miss at times.
Low-light photography is where the limitations of the budget hardware become apparent. While the night mode does help in brightening up scenes, the results can often be noisy and lack detail. However, for a phone in this price range, the camera performance is generally in line with expectations.
On the front, there’s an 8MP selfie camera that does a decent job for social media uploads and video calls. It also supports Oppo’s AI beautification features, which can be a hit or miss depending on your preferences.
Video capabilities are limited to 1080p at 30fps for both the rear and front cameras. While not groundbreaking, this is sufficient for casual video recording and should meet the needs of most users in this segment.
Battery Life and Charging
One of the standout features of the Oppo A57 is its battery life. The device comes with a sizable 5000mAh battery, which, when combined with the power-efficient processor and HD+ display, translates to excellent battery life. Most users should easily get through a full day of heavy usage, with moderate users potentially stretching it to two days.
Charging is handled by a 33W SuperVOOC fast charging system, which is impressively quick for a budget device. Oppo claims that the phone can charge from 0 to 100% in about 69 minutes, which our tests found to be fairly accurate. This fast charging capability is a significant selling point in the budget segment, where such features are not always guaranteed.
Software and User Experience
The Oppo A57 runs on ColorOS 12.1, based on Android 12. ColorOS has come a long way in recent years, offering a clean and intuitive user interface with a host of customization options. The software includes features like Dark Mode, Digital Wellbeing tools, and a Game Space for optimizing gaming performance.
However, it’s worth noting that the phone does come with some pre-installed apps that some users might consider bloatware. While most of these can be uninstalled, it’s something to keep in mind if you prefer a cleaner software experience.
Oppo’s track record with software updates has been improving, but it’s still not on par with some of the industry leaders. Users can expect to receive security updates, but major Android version updates might be limited.
Connectivity and Additional Features
In terms of connectivity, the Oppo A57 covers all the basics. It supports 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.3, and GPS. There’s also a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is becoming increasingly rare even in budget phones, so this is a welcome inclusion for those who prefer wired audio.
The phone features a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, which is both fast and reliable. Face unlock is also available, although it’s not as secure as the fingerprint method.
One notable omission is NFC support, which means you won’t be able to use this phone for contactless payments. While not a deal-breaker for everyone, it’s something to consider if you frequently use mobile payment systems.
Value Proposition and Conclusion
The Oppo A57 positions itself as a compelling option in the budget smartphone market. It offers a balanced mix of features that cater to the needs of most casual users. The long-lasting battery life, fast charging capabilities, and 90Hz display are standout features that give it an edge over some competitors in this price range.
However, it’s not without its compromises. The processor, while adequate for day-to-day tasks, might struggle with more demanding applications. The camera system, while capable in good lighting, falls short in challenging conditions. And the lack of NFC might be a dealbreaker for some potential buyers.
Ultimately, whether the Oppo A57 is the right choice for you depends on your priorities. If you value long battery life, a smooth display, and fast charging over raw performance and camera quality, then this phone could be an excellent fit. It’s a device that focuses on the essentials and does them well, making it a solid choice for budget-conscious consumers who don’t need all the bells and whistles of more expensive smartphones.
In a market flooded with options, the Oppo A57 manages to carve out a niche for itself by offering a balanced package that covers the basics while including a few premium features. It’s a testament to how far budget smartphones have come and shows that you don’t always have to break the bank to get a capable device.