The year 2022 offers many mid-range devices whose performance is so satisfying that it provides performance comparable to a flagship device from five years ago. Once seen as a relatively weak segment in terms of features, the mid-range segment is now very competitive with very little difference between devices.
The Oppo A77s launched in early October falls into this category. What can Oppo be able to offer with the A77s and does the device which has just been updated to the price of RM899 compared to the original price of RM999 make it worth owning?
Specifications And Design
Oppo A77s
6.56″ IPS LCD screen, 720 x 1612 pixels,
269 ppi, 90Hz
Snapdragon 680 4G processor (6nm)
4 x 2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold chips
4 x 1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver
Adreno 610 Graphics Chip
RAM 8 GB RAM
Internal Storage 128 UFS 2.2 (Micro SD 1TB)
Primary Camera 50MP, f/1.8 (primary),
2MP, f/2.4 (macro)
8MP Selfie Camera, f/2.0
5,000 mAh battery
Wired
33W fast charging
SIM/Telephony Dual SIM nano / 4G
NFC Yes
Audio Jack Yes
Waterproof IP54
Scan System Fingerprint scanner on the side
Sale Price RM899 (8/128 GB)
A 6.56″ LCD HD+ screen that supports only 90Hz refresh rate is used. This is the first compromise made to reduce the selling price of the device. Time and again we hear readers say Oppo devices are too expensive and the A77s is one of the most affordable they've released so far.
Although the resolution is not high and it is just an LCD, the visual quality displayed on the screen is not that disappointing. The color is not as good as the AMOLED panel but still looks beautiful. With a screen of only 6.56″, the resolution of only HD+ is not too disturbing.
There is no HDR support but this is fine for a device that sells for under RM1000. The screen also works smoothly at a rate of 90Hz and detects every touch made. The disadvantages are the use of a notch at the top, thick bezels at each corner and no fingerprint scanner built into the screen. The fingerprint scanner is still included but built into the power button. Indeed the design of this device looks a bit retro but again this is a shortcut taken if the price needs to be lowered to a more affordable level.
Watching videos and running various applications can be done without any problems. The issue only appears when using the device in direct sunlight as it lacks LCD technology which we're sure many readers are aware of.
The device is powered by an eight-core Snapdragon 680 4G chip produced using 6nm technology. It consists of four Kryo 265 Gold cores (Cortex-A73 based) and four Kryo 265 Silver cores (Cortex-A53 based) with an Adreno 610 GPU. This puts the Snapdragon 680 behind the Snapdragon 690 and Dimensity 820 which are currently popular among mid-range devices in Malaysia.
This chip is used in Huawei Nova 9 SE, Samsung Galaxy A23, Redmi Note 11 and Honor X9. Snapdragon 680 is the chip most often used in mid-range devices in 2022.
This is also matched with 8GB RAM LPDDR4x memory, 128GB UFS 2.2 memory that can be increased using a micro SD card up to 1TB. Providing power is a 5000 mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging through a USB-C port. A charger is provided with every purchase with it using a USB-A to USB-C cable.
The camera system consists of a 50MP wide-angle lens, and a 2MP depth. It's rare to see an Android device with only a dual-camera system these days. On the front, an 8MP sensor is used for the selfie camera placed on the screen notch. There is no OIS system provided by Oppo on this device. The two main cameras are placed in a square bump that is quite large but still allows the device to be placed relatively flat on a table surface.
The body of the device is made of metal with the back panel made of gradient colored plastic. The power button is placed on the right side and the audio adjustment button is on the left side.
The USB-C charging port is placed at the bottom squeezed by the speaker grill and also the 3.5mm audio jack. The sim slot is placed on the left side and it also supports a micro SD card, and a tray for two nano-sized SIMs. What is quite surprising is that the A77s passes the IP54 standard which is usually not offered on mid-range devices.
Software
The ColorOS 12.1 operating system based on Android 12 is used even though Android 13 was launched last August. As of writing, the A77s has yet to receive an update to the more recent version of Android 13.
ColorOS 12.1 although not the latest is an operating system that is easy to use, has an interface that is pleasing to the eye, has various interesting features for ease of use and works smoothly even on devices with mid-range specifications.
There is a feature of adding RAM up to 8GB virtually on the reviewed model. Users can set to add 4, 6 or 8GB of RAM virtually by taking it directly from the device's storage. This feature can be turned off if the user wants additional storage and feels that 8GB of RAM is enough.
Dark mode, one-handed device use feature, full gesture support, system optimization apps and quick shortcuts using side tabs are also given once. In terms of features, the ColorOS 12.1 used on the A77s is the same as that used on other Oppo devices. So there is no issue that the most premium features are only offered on more expensive devices.
Bench mark
The benchmark scores recorded are as below. The score recorded by the Snapdragon 680 chip on the Oppo A77s is equivalent to that used on the Huawei Nova 9 SE and the Samsung Galaxy A23. Not a high score but not too low.
Geekbench 5
Oppo A77s – 376/1556
Huawei Nova 9 SE – 385/1661
Samsung Galaxy A23 –380/1554
Antutu 3D
Oppo A77s – 272,674
Huawei Nova 9 SE – 259,954
Samsung Galaxy A23 – 244,606
3D Mark Wildlife Extreme
Oppo A77s – 121
Huawei Nova 9 SE – 126
Samsung Galaxy A23 – 121
First-time performance is highly dependent on the level of graphics requirements. All light games such as Clash of Clans, Temple Run and Stardew Valley can be played smoothly. Turning to games like PUBG Mobile and COD Mobile, the Nova 9 SE can only play them on medium settings with reduced texture quality. With mid-range devices, the expectation bar of graphics capabilities also needs to be more realistic. After the first few sessions, we noticed the device getting a bit warm.
For other applications we did not find any serious issues. All popular apps can be downloaded directly from the Play Store unlike some devices with MediaTek chips. Social media and video apps launch quickly and smoothly. In short the Snapdragon 680 may be a bit old but it still has enough power for the majority of applications.
Telephony and GPS
The Snapdragon 680 only supports 4G networks and can be seen as a successor to the Snapdragon 662. The 4G LTE quality of the device depends on the network. If it's good then it's good. We are aware that since 3G was switched off, all 4G networks in Malaysia have become less stable. The 4G internet performance on the A77S is satisfactory and so is the telephony quality. GPS performance as good as cellular performance. The location can be easily tracked when the application is opened. The GPS connection is stable even when the car is moving in the middle of KL with many tall buildings.
Camera
The A series from Oppo is not known for its photography capabilities like their F series, Find series and Reno series. So from the very beginning we did not place such high hopes on the photography capabilities of this device. With only a 50MP wide-angle lens, 2MP depth and 8MP selfie if the pictures are just satisfactory we feel it can be considered as not disappointing.
The camera has the same interface as on the Reno series with the standard features of photo, video, landscape, portrait, night mode and macro. No high zoom mode is offered as it is only up to 10X digitally.
The photography performance is good in good lighting situations only like some of the pictures we managed to take in Hawaii last month. The sky looks blue and the captured image looks sharp. Shortcomings are only seen at inconsistent dynamic range. Sometimes light and sometimes dark. In less satisfactory lighting situations such as in closed areas, noise begins to be detected and the quality of color reproduction also decreases.
We feel that the zoom ability is only good up to 3X. Beyond this level the image starts to look soft with colors that start to run away from the original color. The lack of OIS causes this issue to occur. We didn't include any macro mode samples because at the 2MP setting all the photos taken were simply not satisfactory.
Battery
The battery capacity of 5000 mAh is large for a relatively thin device. In normal use we managed to get a usage life of up to 16 hours with a SOT of 10 hours. This is a very good life. The process of recharging the battery can be done in about 70 minutes using the 33W charger supplied in the box.
Audio
The included stereo speakers are only modest in that they support Dirac 3.0 audio. At the loudest audio settings the sound starts breaking. As long as the audio is not too loud watching videos and streaming music is satisfactory. For those who want to use audio accessories, there is a 3.5mm audio jack for wired connection.
In the box
Here's what you get with every device purchase in Malaysia.
1x Oppo A77s
1x Translucent silicone frame.
1x 3 pin 33W SuperVOOC Charger
1x USB-A to USB-C charging cable.
1x SIM Pin.
1x Manual.
Conclusion
For those looking for a smartphone that will satisfy in most situations, the Oppo A77s comes with a host of essential features. Various applications can be used without problems and can also be used for a light first session. The strength of this device is the relatively long-lasting battery that can last all day. The camera performance is average as well as the audio. Also making it an attractive package is its IP54 waterproof capability.
With a selling price of RM899, it is affordable for an Oppo device. However, those who want to buy should be aware that the screen is not the best and the charging system provided is only 33W which is slower than the one provided on the Reno series. For a device under RM1000, the A77s package is still quite attractive even with its shortcomings.
Pro
A mid-range processor chip meets the requirements.
Long lasting 5000 mAh battery.
Affordable price.
3.5mm audio jack.
Stereo audio.
IP54 waterproof.
Cons
Notched screen with thick bezels.
HD+ screen resolution.
Still uses a macro 2MP sensor.
Only 4G.