Oppo A77s review: An affordable phone with a straightforward design
There’s something about the new year and we all know that it’s not just new beginnings. It’s the extra pay we receive during the holidays. We’ve been saving the whole year round for this special time coz we need something new. Personally, nothing makes me smile more than a brand-spanking new gadget. Is the Oppo A77s, an inexpensive, mid-range phone, a good choice for you to treat yourself generously while indulging sensibly? Let’s find out!
DESIGN
Taking a break from the usual glass-looking plastic phones, the Oppo A77s wraps its back with faux leather that looks and feels premium. Its tiny, 8.044 mm ultra-slim form is complemented by the feeling of a soft, smooth rubber that is pleasant to the touch and grip.
The unit we got hold of is Sunset orange, which by the way is more yellow than orange. For those who prefer their phone dark, the Starry Black option with OPPO’s distinctive Glow design is available. Color shifts when the phone is shifted to a certain angle and it has a matte finish and doesn’t catch fingerprints.
The edges are squared off and remain trendy. Buttons are still positioned where they usually are while the finger scanner is side mounted. Upfront is a dew drop notch containing the selfie camera. Also, a thick jelly case and pin are included along with a power brick.
SCREEN
The OPPO A77s sports a 6.56-inch Waterdrop Notch HD+ display for good viewing and a 90Hz refresh rate for a smooth scrolling experience in different apps and even gaming. Its IPS LCD screen has a resolution of up to 1612 x 720p but upon testing, it does actually look like a 1080p screen.
The resolution may have been sacrificed but not the colors resulting in an amazing viewing experience. Since the screen can only go up to 420 nits of brightness, it will suffer under direct sunlight even if it’s gloomy outdoors. In addition, a dual stereo setup provides clear and loud audio.
The Oppo A77s is more than just a pretty face; it also has some impressive features under the hood. It is powered by a 2.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 octa-core processor which, according to our tests proved its versatility. Regardless of whether you’re binge-watching on your preferred entertainment apps, playing games at high graphic settings, or merely scrolling on social media, it promises a lag-free experience for most occasions.
GAMING
The phone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G which is suitable for gaming. It remains to be popular because of its power-efficient performance. It can handle Genshin impact although it should be at the lowest graphical settings.
BATTERY
The 5,000 mAh battery pack, however, proved adequate for daily use and carrying this gadget. In fact, it is insanely good for lasting 117 hours, based on our test. This is mostly accredited to the low-powered Snapdragon chip. On the other hand, the ability to delete bloatware translates to more usable memory. Being able to delete them is a good option considering that it can’t be done for some phone brands. Color OS 12.1 works as intended and probably contributes to the power-saving feature of the device.
CAMERA
Although it may look like two cameras at the back, only one can be truly functional since the other one is a depth sensor. The 50MP shooter takes high-quality photographs, especially in ideal lighting circumstances. When the lighting is poor, pictures still turn out just ok but a little tweaking and filtering should be sufficient.
It produced amazing shots and it captures colors and details excellently but in some shots colors are flat. All in all, because of the higher resolution sensor, it translates to better video and photos.
NIGHT SHOTS
Photos taken in Night Mode are adequate, however, there may be some noise. It is best suited for a well-lit environment.
Capped at 1080p at 30FPS for both front and rear cameras. The absence of in-body stabilization should be noted, which means you better have a steady hand whether it’s for social media or just footage.
MISCELLANEOUS
The Oppo A77s includes a triple card slot with two nano sim card slots and a micro SD card, and it still has an audio jack. At the current price of P13,999, one might feel that it’s expensive but with the inflation happening, it is rather acceptable. This is a good choice if you’re seeking a mid-range smartphone. The camera works well. The only thing to keep in mind is that some shots require a little bit of fine adjustment. I am impressed by the 33-watt charger, I don’t think I need to say this but if it doesn’t charge quickly, it isn’t an Oppo. Just imagine 50% battery in 30 mins of charge. On a side note, if upgrading from the older A series of Oppo, it has reasonable upgrades and it’s worth buying. However, if upgrading from Oppo A76, it’s not advisable unless you want the Sunset orange color.
