Create and Construct

In January 2023, Oppo has introduced a smartphone called A78 5G which has a solid plastic body with a shiny finish and it is also made with the Panda glass front for extra protection. The phone is 6.46 x 2.96 x 0.31 inches (164.1 x 75.1 x 7.9 mm) and weighs 6.63 ounces (188g) which makes it a bit heavier but still ergonomic. The phone comes in two colors Glowing Black and Glowing Purple, it has a fingerprint sensor on the side and also it has a microSD slot for a dedicated card. The device’s IPX4 rating means it is splash-resistant, so it can handle a little rain.

• Plastic frame, Panda glass front
• IPX4 splash resistance
• Glossy back, fingerprint-prone
• Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
• MicroSD slot
• USB-C 2.0 port
• Dual Nano-SIM

The A78 5G puts a focus on low prices, leaving out features like wireless charging and using more luxurious materials. The conventional notch on the front is where the camera is located, thus making the design more budget-friendly. The users are satisfied with the building quality, however, they also point out that the plastic back tends to get smudges.

Oppo A78 5G Display

The 6.56-inch IPS LCD screen has a resolution of 720 x 1612 (269 PPI) and a refresh rate of 90Hz to provide a smoother experience while scrolling. Getting a typical brightness of 480 nits and a peak of 600 nits, it is good enough for indoor use but it is not very good when used under direct sunlight. It does not support HDR which is one of the features missing as a result of the lower price.

• 6.56-inch IPS LCD
• 720 x 1612 (269 PPI)
• 480 nits (typical), 600 nits (peak)
• 90Hz refresh rate
• Panda glass

The screen works well for everyday use, however, the low resolution and brightness affect the media quality negatively. The 90Hz refresh rate is mentioned by reviewers as a good point for the budget segment.

Software and Processor

The A78 5G is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset that has an 8-core CPU (2x Cortex-A76 at 2.2 GHz, 6x Cortex-A55 at 2.0 GHz) and the Mali-G57 MC2 GPU. It comes with 8GB RAM (plus 8GB virtual RAM) and 128/256GB storage and is good for basic tasks. ColorOS 13 on Android 13 is a neat UI and comes with 2 years of OS updates.

• Dimensity 700 chipset
• 8GB RAM + 8GB virtual
• Storage: 128GB, 256GB
• ColorOS 13 (Android 13)

The performance is only sufficient for casual tasks, however, it can cause lagging when playing games or multitasking. The user interface of the software is easy to navigate but it comes with pre-installed applications.

Camera System

The dual rear camera is packed with a 50MP main (f/1.8, PDAF) and a 2MP depth sensor (f/2.4). The 8MP front camera (f/2.0) is able to record 1080p video. Night Mode and Portrait features are available and 1080p video recording at 30fps is supported.

• Rear: 50MP main, 2MP depth
• Front: 8MP
• Video: 1080p at 30fps
• Modes: Night, Portrait

The primary camera is brilliant in bright light, but the pictures taken in dimmer conditions are not detailed enough. The depth sensor really does not contribute much.

Battery Specifications

The 5000mAh battery is compatible with 33W SUPERVOOC charging which has a time of ~30 minutes to get to 50%. It can give up to ~18 hours of video playback or ~14 hours of combined use, just right for budget users.

• 5000mAh battery
• Up to 18 hours video playback
• 33W SUPERVOOC charging
• USB-C (charger included)

Connectivity

Supports 5G (sub-6 GHz), Wi-Fi 5, and Bluetooth 5.3. Includes dual Nano-SIM, NFC, and GPS (A-GPS, GLONASS). No ultra-wideband support.

• 5G (sub-6 GHz)
• Wi-Fi 5
• Bluetooth 5.3
• Dual Nano-SIM
• NFC
• GPS: A-GPS, GLONASS