OPPO A71 Hands-on, First Impressions

OPPO has officially launched its newest smartphone in the block called the A71, and it’s not the usual Selfie Smartphone the brand usually markets as this touts speed with its Octa-core chip and 3GB RAM. Here’s your first look at the device.

The device carries the usual OPPO design, this time sporting a unique look that sets it apart from the series. The front still has the usual sensors coupled with a five-megapixel camera and a 5.2-inch display sporting an HD resolution. Three buttons are at the bottom of the front panel which does not illuminate.

The volume keys are on the left side, while the tray that houses two nano SIM cards and a dedicated microSD card, as well as the power/lock button, are all on the right side.

The 3.5mm audio jack sits atop the device, with two columns of dotted holes that may look like it sports a stereo speaker at first, but only the left side is the one working with audio blasting down.

Flip the device over and we have a clean back with an ergonomic design that may remind you of the flagship R11, sans the signature top and bottom lines, in a polycarbonate treatment. The 13-megapixel rear camera protrudes a millimeter out at the upper left side, with the LED flash beside it. The OPPO logo is at the center of the device.

As with my own OPPO A57, the matte black finish of the A71 does make the device look a lot more premium but is susceptible to smudges and grime from time to time. At 137 grams at 7.6mm thin, holding the device is not a problem as it is lightweight and can be used for longer periods of time. The ergonomics at the back gives the user a complete grip unless you have sweaty hands to which the phone may be a bit slippery due to the curved out edges.

The A71 sports an updated version of ColorOS which is based off Google’s Android Nougat mobile operating system. Noticeable aesthetic improvements include updates to system icons and the placement of quick toggles at the bottom which may be reminiscent of Vivo’s FunTouch OS.

Its 13-megapixel rear camera produces quite good shots with balanced colors, contrast, and sharpness. Likewise, the five-megapixel front camera still brings in OPPO’s unique selfie smartphone makings as it produces decent photos. here are some samples from the launch event:

Our initial AnTuTu score, on the other hand, gives the A71 at 42,058 score.

OPPO A71 specs:
5.2-inch HD IPS TFT display @ 1280 x 720 pixels
1.5GHz MT6750 Octa-core processor
3GB RAM
16GB internal storage
Expandable up to 256GB via microSD
13.0MP f/2.2 rear camera
5.0MP f/2.4 front camera
4G LTE
Dual SIM (nano-SIM)
Wi-Fi
Bluetooth
GPS
ColorOS 3.1(based on Android 7.1 Nougat)
3000mAh battery
148.1 x 73.8 x 7.6 mm
Gold, Black

The OPPO A71 will be available in Black and Gold colors, and will hit retail stores in the Philippines starting in September 8 at OPPO concept stores and authorized dealers for Php8,990USD 153INR 12,987EUR 146CNY 1,116.