OPPO has been a self proclaimed selfie expert due to it’s ‘F’ series, but when it comes to the ‘A’ line up, the focus is mostly affordable technology and quality rear camera. The A71 costs KSh 19,999 with the headling feature being an Ultra HD mode that shoots up to 50MP.
In the box:
– Charger
– USB 2.0 charging cable
– Pair of headphones
– Clear silicon cover
– SIM remover pin
– Documentation
Quick Specs
– 5.2 inch
– 720p HD screen
– 13MP rear camera with single LED flash
– 5MP front camera
– Octa core Mediatek 6750
– 3GB RAM
– Android 7.1 nougat with Color OS 3.1
– 16GB expandable internal storage
– 3000mAh battery
Design and display
The display is set at HD 1280*720 resolution but you won’t notice it since the display is of optimum size for that pixel density. Under bright sunlight, the screen contents remain visible but the glass can sometimes be too reflective for some people’s taste.
The design is breathtaking, it is the true definition of a unibody device. The back is made with a single piece of smooth metal that curves ergonomically around the sides to meet the display. The curvature makes the already thin phone feel thinner.
Software and performance
Upon booting up the device, you realize that the process takes much shorter time compared to the OPPO F3 which we reviewed as well, this are perks of the new Android 7.1 Nougat that is running under the Color OS 3.1 interface. The software has many other new additions such as a refreshed notifications panel, a control centre that is accessed by sliding up from the bottom of the display among others. I actually like the way toggles were brought below the screen, it introduces a new mode of access not seen on stock Android, plus it reduces the steps one needs in accessing them. Unfortunately there is no app drawer but at least split screen multitasking is here.
Performance is buttery smooth, those who thought that the lower price tag would translate to slow speeds were wrong. The octa core Mediatek 6750 accompanied by the 3GB RAM and new android version work together to offer fluid operations. Stick around for the full review to learn about its gaming capabilities and whether it gets hot while doing it.
Camera
The camera on the back is 13MP with everything from live filters, HDR, panorama, time-lapse mode, to expert mode (manual controls ) which is where you find the famed Ultra HD mode.
Flip to the front and you will find the 5MP selfie camera, it shares most features from the rear shooter. However, you will get a “depth effect” mode which is puts your face on focus and blurs the background like Portrait mode on iPhones.
Speaking of the iPhone, it’s camera interface is similar to the one on the OPPO A71; there is even a button for two times zoom like on the 8 Plus. Check out the full review to see how these features perform.
Battery
With such a resolution, combined with the optimizations in the Color OS 3.1 under the Android 7.1 Nougat plus the big 3,000mAh I have high hopes for the longevity of the battery. No fast charging here though. We will update you on the endurance and many more aspects on the full review.