Oppo A3 Pro 5G Review: Best Phone Under 20k?

The smartphone market in India is fiercely competitive, especially in the budget segment. Oppo has consistently delivered feature-rich devices catering to a wide range of consumers. The latest entrant in their lineup, the Oppo A3 Pro 5G, is making waves with its promising specifications and attractive pricing. In this detailed review, we will explore every aspect of the Oppo A3 Pro 5G to determine if it truly stands out as the best phone under ₹20,000.

Oppo A3 Pro 5G Unboxing Experience

The Oppo A3 Pro 5G comes in a standard packaging, which includes:

• Phone: The primary component, neatly packed.
• Silicone Case: A textured silicone case for added protection.
• Charging Brick: A 45W charging brick to ensure fast charging capabilities.
• Type-C Cable: For charging and data transfer.
• Documentation: Warranty papers and other paperwork, which are essential for after-sales support.
• SIM Ejector Tool: Handy for inserting and removing SIM cards.

The unboxing experience is straightforward and includes all necessary accessories, ensuring users have everything they need to get started right away.

Oppo A3 Pro 5G Design and Build Quality

The Oppo A3 Pro 5G boasts a sleek and modern design. Here’s a detailed look at its design features:

• Color: The phone I reviewed came in a stunning “Moonlight Purple” color, which Oppo refers to as Lavender. It features a plastic body with a glass finish that gives it a premium look.
• Texture and Finish: The back panel has a slight shine and texture that catches light beautifully, enhancing its aesthetic appeal.
• Camera Module: The rear camera module is slim and doesn’t protrude much, which is a positive design choice.
• Branding: Subtle Oppo branding is present on the back, adding to the phone’s overall elegance.
• Frame: The metallic frame adds durability and a premium feel to the device.

Physical Overview

• Bottom: The bottom edge houses the speaker grill, a Type-C port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a microphone.
• Top: The top edge is clean with no additional ports or buttons.
• Sides:
  • The right side features the power button, which doubles as a fingerprint sensor, and the volume rocker.
  • The left side includes the SIM tray that can accommodate two SIM cards.

Oppo A3 Pro 5G Display

The Oppo A3 Pro 5G features a 6.69-inch Full HD display. Let’s break down its display characteristics:

• Resolution: Full HD (FHD), allowing for clear and crisp visuals.
• Panel Type: LCD. It does not feature AMOLED or IPS technology, which might be a concern for some users.
• Brightness and Colors: The display performs well indoors with vibrant colors and adequate brightness. However, in outdoor scenarios, visibility issues are noticeable due to the lack of higher-end panel technology.
• Bezel and Design: The phone has noticeable bezels, especially at the bottom and sides, which might affect the immersive experience. It also features a punch-hole camera design.

Oppo A3 Pro 5G Performance

Performance is a critical aspect of any smartphone. The Oppo A3 Pro 5G is equipped with features that promise a smooth and efficient user experience.

Key Specifications

The Mediatek Dimensity 700 processor is known for its efficiency and performance in the budget segment. Coupled with ample RAM options, the A3 Pro 5G handles multitasking and daily tasks with ease. Storage options provide sufficient space for apps, media, and documents, making it a versatile choice for various user needs.

Oppo A3 Pro 5G Camera

The camera setup on the Oppo A3 Pro 5G is designed to cater to photography enthusiasts and casual users alike.

Rear Camera

• Primary Camera: 48MP
• Ultra-wide Camera: 8MP
• Macro Camera: 2MP
• Depth Sensor: 2MP

The camera system offers versatility with different lenses catering to various photography styles. The primary camera captures detailed and sharp images, while the ultra-wide lens is perfect for landscape shots. The macro camera is suitable for close-up shots, and the depth sensor aids in portrait mode.

Front Camera

• Selfie Camera: 16MP

The 16MP front camera ensures high-quality selfies and video calls. It supports various AI enhancements to make your selfies look even better.

Oppo A3 Pro 5G Battery Life

The Oppo A3 Pro 5G comes with a 5000mAh battery, providing impressive battery life. Here are some highlights:

• Charging Speed: The 45W fast charger included in the box ensures quick charging, allowing you to get back to using your phone swiftly.
• Usage: On a full charge, the phone comfortably lasts a day with moderate to heavy usage, including browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Oppo A3 Pro 5G Connectivity

As the name suggests, the Oppo A3 Pro 5G supports 5G connectivity, making it future-proof. Additional connectivity options include:

• Wi-Fi: Dual-band Wi-Fi for stable and fast internet connections.
• Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.1 for improved connectivity with accessories.
• GPS: Accurate and reliable location tracking.

Software

The phone runs on Android 11 with Oppo’s custom ColorOS 11.1. ColorOS is known for its customization options and additional features that enhance the user experience.

Key Features

• Customization: Users can customize themes, icons, and layouts to personalize their device.
• Gestures: Various gesture controls for quick access and improved usability.
• Privacy Features: Enhanced privacy controls to safeguard user data.

Oppo A3 Pro 5G Performance in Real-world Usage

Let’s delve deeper into the real-world performance of the Oppo A3 Pro 5G. This section covers various aspects like multitasking, gaming, and overall user experience.

Multitasking

With up to 8GB of RAM, the Oppo A3 Pro 5G handles multitasking efficiently. Switching between apps is smooth, and running multiple apps simultaneously does not cause any noticeable lag. The phone’s performance remains stable, even with resource-intensive applications.

Gaming

The Mediatek Dimensity 700 chipset, combined with the Mali-G57 MC2 GPU, delivers a satisfactory gaming experience. Popular games like PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile, and Asphalt 9 run smoothly on medium to high settings. There might be occasional frame drops in extremely demanding games, but overall, the gaming performance is commendable for a device in this price range.

User Interface

ColorOS 11.1 provides a user-friendly interface with a plethora of customization options. The UI is clean, responsive, and offers various features like:

• App Drawer: Organize your apps conveniently.
• Dark Mode: Reduces eye strain and saves battery.
• Game Space: Enhances gaming performance by optimizing system resources.

Sound Quality

Sound quality is another crucial aspect of any smartphone. The Oppo A3 Pro 5G features a single bottom-firing speaker. Here’s a breakdown of its audio performance:

• Volume: The speaker is loud enough for casual media consumption and gaming.
• Quality: Sound quality is decent, with clear mids and highs. The bass is somewhat lacking, but it is acceptable for a budget device.
• Headphone Jack: The inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack is a welcome feature, allowing users to connect wired headphones without needing an adapter.

Additional Features

The Oppo A3 Pro 5G comes with several additional features that enhance the overall user experience:

• Fingerprint Sensor: The side-mounted fingerprint sensor is fast and accurate, providing a secure way to unlock the phone.
• Face Unlock: The front camera supports face unlock, which works reliably in well-lit conditions.
• AI Enhancements: Various AI features in the camera and system settings improve performance and usability.

Oppo A3 Pro 5G Pros and Cons

To summarize the review, here are the pros and cons of the Oppo A3 Pro 5G:

Pros

• Affordable Pricing: Positioned under ₹20,000, making it a great value-for-money device.
• Design and Build: Premium look with a stylish design and durable build.
• Performance: Efficient performance with the Mediatek Dimensity 700 processor and ample RAM.
• Battery Life: Long-lasting battery with fast charging support.
• Camera: Versatile camera setup for various photography needs.
• 5G Connectivity: Future-proof with support for 5G networks.
• Customization: Extensive customization options with ColorOS 11.1.

Cons

• Display: LCD panel may not appeal to users preferring AMOLED or IPS displays. Outdoor visibility is a concern.
• Bezels: Noticeable bezels can detract from the immersive viewing experience.
• Speaker Quality: While acceptable, the audio quality could be improved with a more robust speaker system.
• Outdoor Performance: The screen struggles in bright sunlight, making it less ideal for outdoor use.

Final Verdict

The Oppo A3 Pro 5G is a compelling choice for budget-conscious consumers looking for a feature-rich smartphone under ₹20,000. Its stylish design, decent performance, versatile camera setup, and impressive battery life make it a strong contender in the budget segment. However, the display could