OPPO A57 2022 Review

As tech companies continue to release new phones on an almost annual basis, it can be daunting to choose which is the right one for you. This is especially true for entry-level smart smartphones that are priced under PHP 10,000USD 170INR 14,446EUR 162CNY 1,241.

One of the newest contenders in that segment is the OPPO A57. Launched in the Philippines last June, the A57 comes with a 6.56-inch HD+ display, 64GB storage, 4GB of RAM, and an SRP of PHP 8,999USD 153INR 13,000EUR 146CNY 1,117. But is it a worthy contender against all other smartphones within the same price point? Well, I suggest you keep reading to find out.

Design and Construction

Let’s start with the design. The A57 looks a bit different compared to OPPO Philippines’ lineup of smartphones today. It has boxy corners, similar to the current Apple iPhone 13, unlike the previous curved and rounded design.

Like before, the A57 features a minimalist exterior with a matte rear finish. I like how the OPPO logo at the back doesn’t stand out on the A57, giving the phone a sleeker look. The 13MP dual camera design also looks great with the black bezel and matches OPPO’s new aesthetic for the phone.

The back panel isn’t as slippery as compared to other OPPO phones I’ve tried. This means you can use it without the provided silicone case. I did notice that my fingerprints were easily left behind when I used the phone without the case, so do keep that in mind. Of the two colors available – Glowing Green and Glowing Black – the latter is my personal favorite.

Another thing I like about the A57 is the size and weight. Even with the case, it felt thin and easily fit in all my pockets together with another phone. It also has the right weight, meaning you won’t feel tired just holding it when walking around. That said, the build quality feels nice and solid. You wouldn’t think this phone costs under PHP 10,000USD 170INR 14,446EUR 162CNY 1,241.

Flip it over, and you’ll be greeted by a 6.56-inch screen with a 720 x 1612 px resolution and 261 ppi density. The screen itself is only an LCD, but it is an IPS panel. There’s also a 60Hz refresh rate, which provides smooth animations and transitions. At the center of the screen is an 8MP camera for those selfies and video call needs.

On the right side of the phone, you will find the power button which doubles as a fingerprint scanner, while the volume buttons are found on the left. The buttons feel nice to the touch and make a crisp noise when pressed. The layout of the buttons also makes it easy to reach when holding the phone naturally.

Below, you’ll find a USB-C port, a loudspeaker, and a 3.5mm audio input.

Display and Multimedia

The OPPO A57 features a 6.56-inch screen with an almost borderless display. The screen might only have 720 x 1612 px resolution, but it does display colors beautifully thanks to the LCD IPS panel. Viewing it under direct sunlight is easy thanks to the bright backlight.

For those that will be playing games or watching videos, the screen of the A57 has a 90Hz refresh rate. During my time using it, the animations were smooth when playing and watching videos. I did notice that the screen tends to slow down if you’re tapping or swiping way too fast.

You can tweak the display settings to your liking as well. However, they are a bit limited. When it comes to audio, there is a dual speaker setup if you don’t have your earphones. It’s average at best, but it is more than enough for gaming or casually watching videos.

Cameras

The A57 is equipped with a dual-rear camera which consists of a 13 MP, 26mm f/2.2 main camera, and a 2 MP f/2.4 (depth). In front, it has an 8MP f/2.0 for selfies and video calls.

Despite having only 13MP, the quality of images it produces is sharp. The colors are also quite dynamic for the price of the camera with minimal editing from Lightroom. Indoors and in darker areas, the quality does suffer a bit, and you’ll notice more noise and grain. It’s a similar story when shooting under low- to no-light conditions even when using night mode. With that, it’s best to use the camera of the A57 in a well-lit environment for photos.

When it comes to videos, the A57 only records at a maximum of 1080P 30FPS. Quality is okay, interestingly even under low light conditions. However, you do need to be a bit more stable when shooting since the camera is quite sensitive to shaking and movement.

OS and Apps

With regards to software, the A57 uses OPPO ColorOS 12.1 which is based on Android 12. That means previous Android won’t have a hard time using it when transferring to this new phone. Aside from the Google PlayStore, it comes with its own app market which offers various apps and games. There are also helpful tools when you do want to play games or do various work such as split screen, smart sidebar, and more.

Like most Android phones today, it does come preinstalled with several apps that we won’t be using. As a result, the home screen can look a bit messy. At the same time, you can mistakenly install more apps that you won’t need or use if you skim through the installation part too quickly. Still, you can just delete them individually after, but it can be quite a hassle.

Performance and Benchmarks

The OPPO A57 is powered by a MediaTek MT6765G Helio G35 chipset, a 2.3GHz octa-core processor, and a PowerVR GE8320 GPU. This specific unit we’re testing comes with 64GB of storage and 4GB of RAM.

Using it for social media such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, I did not encounter any issues or slowing down even when I left the applications running. It’s the same story while playing games such as Mobile Legends or Call of Duty: Mobile.

However, playing more graphic intensive games or rhythm games such as Genshin Impact or D4DJ, I did notice the phone lagging or slowing down at some parts. The phone also heats up a bit while playing these games after a while.

Connectivity and Battery Life

A question most people ask about smartphones nowadays is their battery life. The OPPO A57 comes with a 5,000mAh Li-Po battery which can easily last you more than a day of heavy use. It’s a relatively large battery size for its price point, considering most smartphones today use batteries below 5,000mAh. There are also various batter modes to save power – Power Saving Mode and Super Power Saving Mode.

If you do plan to play games and battery isn’t an issue, there’s also High-Performance Mode. Before you turn it on, there is a warning that says battery consumption will increase and the phone could heat up.

Conclusion

If you’re in the market for a new smartphone for under PHP 10,000USD 170INR 14,446EUR 162CNY 1,241 then the OPPO A57 is a great choice. It looks and feels premium compared to other models within the same price range. At the same time, it has a big battery. While the camera could be better at night or in dark places, it is great in well-lit environments. The only downside would be playing games. Graphic intensive titles have a hard time with the phone, and there is noticeable lag too.

All in all, I think the Oppo A57 is a great phone if you’re looking to get a new unit. If you do need more space, OPPO says storage is expandable up to 1TB.

The OPPO A57 retails for PHP 8,999USD 153INR 13,000EUR 146CNY 1,117.

OPPO A57 4G specs:
6.56-inch HD+ (1612 x 720) IPS display
MediaTek Helio G35 chipset
PowerVR GE8320 GPU
4GB RAM
64GB storage
microSD card support
Dual-rear cameras:
• 13MP main
• 2MP depth
8MP front camera
Dual-SIM
4G LTE
WiFi
Bluetooth
GPS, A-GPS
USB-C
3.5mm audio jack
Fingerprint scanner (side)
IP54 dust and water resistance
ColorOS 12.1 (Android 12)
5,000mAh battery w/ 33W fast charging
163.7 x 75 x 8 mm
187 g
Glowing Green, Glowing Black