OPPO is no stranger to a wide variety of entry-level, mid-range, and even premium phones for various users and budgets. Their newest entry-level option, the A5 Pro 5G, proves to be a decent choice in certain areas.
For A$399, you’re getting fantastic battery life, 45W SUPERVOOC fast charging, and plenty of software support for added longevity. While the camera feels a little unpredictable, depending on the environment and level of lighting, the A5 Pro 5G exceeds its value at certain times, and at other times, it feels bound by it.
Design
Phones might be getting bigger with each passing year, and the PPO A5 Pro 5G is certainly on the larger side. It feels like a trend with entry-level phones to be a little larger, but I think when value is concerned, you still want the most bang for your buck for things like streaming and browsing. Even with its 6.67-inch display, the phone still feels fine in the hands, and the plastic backing feels smooth to the touch without feeling slippery.
Available in either Mocha Brown or Olive Green, we got our hands on the former and are pleased with it. I love just how different it looks without feeling over the top or outrageous. You’ll find the lock button and volume slider around the right side, and a SIM tray that also supports microSD expandable storage of up to 2TB, which is just massive.
Around the back, you’ll find the camera module on the top left, and while I feel as though the overall size of the module, sporting two lenses and a flash, seems normal by today’s standards, it feels a bit large given what it’s doing. We’ll tap into that a little later.
It’s a largely standard affair for the OPPO A5 Pro 5G, but I also feel like that works in its favour. Its minimal design and reserved colours go a long way in adding a more premium finish to the overall package. I mentioned before that while it at times exceeds its value, it can sometimes be bound by it. In that respect, I will say that the chin of the phone feels a little large compared to the side and top bezels, but I guess we’re not there yet as far as entry-level options are concerned.
Display
The OPPO A5 Pro 5G provides a 6.67-inch LCD 120Hz HD+ (1604×720) display that’s certainly serviceable, even if it won’t blow you away.
While I will always push for the 120Hz display to be a standard feature in phones moving forward, as it simply looks great and helps the phone feel more responsive, its peak brightness of 1000 nits struggles in direct sunlight. It’s not terrible, but it’s in these moments where you realise it can’t escape its entry-level nature.
Overall colour depth is fine, so it’s not a bad option for streaming and browsing, even if the LCD doesn’t come with the deepest blacks. Once again, it’s a serviceable display, but it never really outshines its value here.
Performance
The OPPO A5 Pro 5G packs in the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 octa-core chip, and it’s generally fine for everyday tasks. It also features 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage out of the box, and feels fine under pressure, even when a handful of background apps were open at the same time. While I would always recommend closing background apps every now and then for optimal performance, it’s a welcome inclusion that sways in the direction of a more premium-feeling device.
For gaming, unfortunately, the results are a mixed bag. I tend to use Call of Duty: Mobile as the benchmark for phone reviews, but it only served to immediately highlight the chip’s flaws. Frame rates were dipping at every opportunity, and the device got quite warm, quite quickly. Now, while I don’t mean to drag this through the mud, as most entry-level phones aren’t made for that sort of high-end mobile gaming, but it’s always worth keeping in mind when buying a phone, as certain games can have a way of pushing the device to its limits in an instant.
For daily social media consumption, streaming and general browsing, this will still feel fine. The phone even provides dual stereo speakers, with one up top near the selfie camera and one down below next to the USB-C charging port. While general audio quality still sounds a little tinny at times, it helps with the overall soundstage and volume levels, which is always a welcome addition.
Certain remaining aspects of the phone, like its 5G support, IP69 water and dust resistance rating and decent microphone quality, help build its value beyond what is expected in a phone at this price. The microphone can be slightly bothered by strong winds or a fair amount of background noise, but it’s hardly detrimental to the overall call quality.
I also love the inclusion of fingerprint and facial unlocking for added security. While the facial recognition takes a little longer than a fingerprint device to unlock, it’s still pretty consistent. The lock button doubles as the fingerprint scanner, but I feel like it’s too sensitive. By the time I even grab my phone to begin to unlock it, the phone has already vibrated, indicating it hasn’t recognised my finger. Simply resting any part of your hand over it when grabbing the phone is met with a failed attempt, until you pop the right finger over it.
Finally, there’s the battery. The OPPO A5 Pro 5G comes with a large 5800mAh battery, which is essentially going to last you around one and a half to two days. Not only is that incredibly impressive, but the A5 Pro 5G also features 45W SUPERVOOC charging, which I’ve always admired. You’ll essentially get this thing charged in around 35-40 minutes, and you’re good to go all over again. Even when you’re in between something and need a quick charge, 10-15 minutes is generally going to get you through the rest of the day.
But for as much as I’ve praised this feature, given I’ve used it in other OPPO phones in the past, there’s a more glaring issue here. That 45W SUPERVOOC power adapter does not come in the box. It’s an extra A$45 from OPPO, and while you get a USB-A to USB-C cable in the box, it’s a massive feature you’re missing out on unless you fork out the extra cash.
Software
The phone comes with the latest ColorOS 15 software, and while it hasn’t changed much over the years, it is still super clean, easy to navigate and instantly recognisable to anyone who has used an OPPO or Android phone in the past. Given that fact, I don’t have too much to say about the software experience, given that it generally feels great.
The only downside to ColorOS at this stage is that it packs in way too much bloatware out of the box. While these apps are on here so that OPPO can get a little extra spending money to pack in a little more bang for your buck, it shows when you see just how many apps outside of the basic OPPO apps are already on here, ready to go, whether you like it or not.
What I feel must be noted, however, is OPPO’s decision to provide long-term software support for this phone. Users will be getting five years of software updates and six years of security updates. It’s a feature that’s generally reserved for flagship phones, and I’m genuinely surprised OPPO have suggested such an idea here.
While it’s not really possible to determine just yet, flagship phones tend to get such love because they’re generally packing more powerful, faster chipsets, so that they can keep up with more demanding software upgrades and apps. But at the very least, it’s a nice touch for those who don’t necessarily upgrade every 2-3 years.
Camera
The OPPO A5 Pro 5G is packing a 50MP main rear sensor and an 8MP front-facing camera. While the rear camera looks like it’s using two lenses, that second one is only there to help with the phone’s Portrait mode. You’ll also get a Pro mode for adjusting things like the shutter and ISO settings, but overall, you’ll need to pick your battles.
The rear sensor with 2X zoom is fine in adequate lighting, but unfortunately, really poor in low-light environments. Things simply look too grainy, and while the ‘AI Camera System’ will do its best to smooth out edges and touch up colours, it’s clear the hardware just isn’t there. Even in portrait mode, the level of blur feels inconsistent at best, leaving the image feeling uneven.
The 8MP selfie camera is fine and feels par for the course. But much like previous OPPO phones around this price, the AI integration has a tendency to overly smooth out certain features like skin, leaving things feeling a little washed at times, and artificially saturated at others.
Verdict & Value
Overall, the OPPO A5 Pro 5G provides some decent value for money through its fantastic battery life, 45W SUPERVOOC charging, 120Hz display, sleek design, solid colour options and a whopping five years of software support.
While the cheaper build quality and 720p HD+ screen don’t do much to bring the experience down, the camera system and entry-level chipset might cause certain users to reconsider, depending on how they’re looking to get the most out of this phone. But for everyday browsing, streaming and social media consumption, I feel this is a decent option.
THREE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Great battery life; 45W SUPERVOOC charging; Nice colour options; 120Hz display; IP69 water and dust resistance; Five years of software support
Lowlights: Camera quality is poor in low-light situations; Display doesn’t perform under direct sunlight; No 45W SUPERVOOC power adapter in the box; Too much bloatware
Manufacturer: OPPO
Price: A$399
Available: Now
Review based on unit supplied by OPPO.
