Oppo's basic mid-range devices under the A series, often try to offer interesting features in a more affordable price package like last year's A77 5G and A77s 5G. The latest model is the Oppo A78 5G which was launched two weeks ago as a replacement for the A77 5G. The selling price is RM1,099 and offers lower specifications in terms of chips, but with a more powerful camera and larger memory.
After many flagship devices have been tested, I'm trying to make this device a daily device again. Surprising use experience for basic use is satisfactory. But is the price of more than RM1000 worth it for everyone?
Specifications And Design
Oppo A78 5G
Screen 6.56” 90Hz LCD, HD+ 1612×720 pixels
~269 ppi
Dimensity 700 processor (7nm)
2x 2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 chips
6x 2.0 GHz Cortex-A55
Mali-G57 MC2 Graphics Chip
RAM 8 GB LPDDR4X
Internal Storage 128 GB UFS 2.2
Main Camera 50MP Wide Angle, f/1.8
2MP Monochrome, f/2.4
Infrared sensor for focus zoom
Selfie Camera 8 Megapixel f/2.0
5000 mAh battery
33W SuperVOOC, 18W PD
SIM/Telephony Dual SIM nano 5G
VoLTE
NFC None
Audio There is an audio jack
Stereo speakers
IPX4 Waterproof
Scan System Fingerprint scanner on the side
Selling Price RM1,099
The device's screen is a 6.56-inch LCD HD+ 1612×720 pixels and supports a 90Hz refresh rate. This is a common screen used on devices in this class so there is no HDR10+ support or an OLED screen. The 90Hz refresh rate also feels very smooth in most situations, but it's not consistent and will become stuttery when the device is used frequently and many applications are open.
But for an HD+ screen, 720p videos on YouTube still look great to watch. Colors look a little washed out when compared to OLED panels. Despite this, the device has no problem playing videos that use a lot of colors.
It's just that I don't recommend YouTube videos to be played at 1080p resolution or higher to avoid video stuttering problems. My only problem with the screen is the use of an annoyingly small notch and a very large chin.
The screen design is also quite old like a device from five years ago with a small notch, the bezel looks quite thick and the chin is also very large. But this is because to ensure that the selling price is not high as well as technological constraints on the LCD screen panel.
The body of the device will look more or less the same as the previous A77 5G and what distinguishes it from the Oppo A78 5G is the design of the back panel which looks more elegant. The Glowing Purple color for the unit we received looks premium unlike the price. What I don't like is the different color tones that are more shiny in the oval shape with the text "Innovative Camera" near the camera. The back panel is also easily dirty due to its glossy finish.
In this camera area there is also no big camera hump used. Instead the two main cameras are placed in two rounded bumps that are almost flat. The device has no problem being placed on a flat table surface and it will not tip over. In my opinion, this device is very easy to operate and comfortable in the hand.
In the hand the device feels sturdy and solid and looks like a premium device. The right side has a power button as well as a fingerprint scanner. The volume rocker and SIM tray are placed on the left side while below there is a 3.5mm audio jack port, a USB-C port and a speaker grille that supports stereo audio.
Oppo also claims that this device is durable with a USB-C port that can connect and disconnect the cable up to 20,000 times, the button can be pressed up to 150,000 times, no problem if dropped at a distance of 1 meter and can survive in various temperature or humidity conditions for up to 14 days. One drawback is that there is no screen shock resistance like the Honor X9a 5G, but this may be a cost-cutting measure. IPX4 protection support is also provided.
Use And Software
The Oppo A78 5G is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 700 (7nm) chip with an eight-core configuration of 2x 2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 + 6x 2.0 GHz with a Cortex-A55 Mali-G57 MC2 GPU and paired with 8 GB of LPDDR4X memory with up to 8 GB of additional virtual memory and 128 GB UFS 2.2 internal storage. It was a good chip only until I was captivated by this charming Oppo A78 5G.
Color OS 13 based on Android 13 has been optimized so that it can run smoothly even though the A78 58's specifications are only modest. As a flagship device user with a 120Hz screen all the time, it can be felt that it feels a little slow. But for a mid-range device the performance is satisfactory. It can still be used to watch short videos, play basic games, be active on social media or listen to music.
The offer of Android 13 straight out of the box is already attracting attention because many competing devices in the same class are still using Android 12. Not only that, there are also not many fat apps this time in Color OS 13. Inside and most can be uninstalled or turned off through the system settings .
For the Color OS 13 feature, many features on this device are similar to the original Android 13 such as Material You-like theme support where the color theme can change automatically and dynamically according to the background image used, privacy dashboard, better security and many more features interestingly approaching Android 13 as on Pixel devices.
For features that Oppo itself offers, there is support for the three-finger scroll down gesture for screenshots and directly translating text using Google Lens. Then Oppo also offers its own security and privacy features that give users more control such as turning off access to the camera or microphone and also supports the FlexDrop feature - where users can run two applications simultaneously and can transfer files between these two applications.
First And Benchmark
Oppo or OnePlus, more or less the same now. So for starters, Color OS 13 uses the Games application which is a hub for all the starters installed on the device with game statistics, popular charts and additional settings to further improve performance when playing.
As always Asphalt 9 was the first choice and I played for several sessions with the highest graphics settings. Surprisingly the gaming experience is satisfying and there is no problem for me to be the champion in all the gaming sessions. The only problem I noticed was with the graphics, where there was a clear pixelated effect and the first one tried to process at 60FPS in the Pro Gamer settings offered by the system. But using normal settings it will be more interesting and immersive.
Benchmark tests are still the same, even after using this device for a few weeks. Even if the score obtained is low, believe me this score is still just a number and the experience of using it in the real world is more important. In AnTuTu 3D the score is 345,744 while in Geekbench 5 it is 534/1695 for single core and multi-core, and 3DMark is 1,191.
Geekbench 5 – 534/1695
Antutu 3D – 345,744
3DMark – 1,191
Telephony & GPS
Oppo A78 5G like the name of this device is a 5G device. So that's what I'm trying to use with the YES SIM card, where so far around Kuala Lumpur the device is always connected to the 5G network with a speed of around 90-150 Mbps. Although this is not the fastest speed for 5G, it is still faster than 4G which is only around 50 Mbps.
Phone calls are no problem, with clear voices from caller and receiver while GPS usage is inconsistent as 5G and 4G frequently switch when in the car making it difficult to lock down location and turn-by-turn directions smoothly.
Camera
At the beginning of use, I thought that the Oppo A78 5G had a main camera that would be disappointing because it was just a dual camera. It doesn't disappoint but is just average with the quality depending a lot on the situation. So far from what I can sum up, the device's camera is for outdoor use but not suitable for indoor use. The downside of this device is that it lacks an ultra-wide-angle sensor and relies only on the main wide-angle sensor and the macro gimmick sensor.
The results of this camera are also inconsistent where the AI built on this application is not intelligent enough to determine the appropriate color profile for the subject. But in terms of focus and color results it looks good, but it is not able to keep the details sharp. Here are some samples.
Battery
I expect this device to last up to at least 8 hours SOT. But for my usage, it only lasted around 6 hours with 10% battery left. This is heavy usage where lots of videos are streamed, camera is used frequently, games are played and lots of social media apps are used. Because of the unsatisfactory battery life I often choose not to use 5G all the time.
The battery loaded in this device is 5000mAh with 33W SuperVOOC fast charging. Oppo claims the device can be fully charged from 0% to 100% in 67 minutes, which I can confirm is what I got when charging this device. Maybe not the fastest, but sufficient for my use.
Audio
Oppo A78 5G is equipped with stereo speakers and a 3.5mm audio jack. In Ultra Boost mode, the volume can be set up to 200%. It is really loud and loud, helping to wake up with alarms and notifications when in crowded and noisy outdoor areas. But in normal mode it's just loud but not
What's in the box?
If you buy this device, here is what you will receive in the box;
1x Oppo A78 5G
1x 33W SuperVOOC Charger
1x USB-A to USB-C Cable
1x SIM Pin
1x Matte finish protective frame
1x Guidebook
1x Safety book
Conclusion
When I wrote the first look of this device I said that the Oppo A78 5G is not a device for everyone. But after spending some time with this device I can say that this is probably an adequate device for all if what is wanted is a design that looks premium, 5G support, good Android 13 performance and loud speakers.
The selling price of this Oppo A78 5G is RM1,099, which I can say is one of the best devices around RM1000 in 2023 so far. This makes it suitable as a device for children or the elderly who do not need an expensive flagship device.
Pro
Screen with beautiful colors.
Virtual memory up to 8GB RAM helps improve performance.
Beautiful and charming design.
Acceptable 50MP camera.
Keep running Android 13.
Cons
33W charging is pretty slow for 2023.
Screen design with small notch and big chin.
There is only one real camera, the other is more of a gimmick.
Battery life is not satisfactory.