OPPO A95
RM1,099.00
Pros
- Long lasting battery
- Lightweight
- AMOLED display
- Affordable
- RAM expansion
Cons
- Dated SoC
OPPO Malaysia just launched the brand new OPPO A95 today, 15 November 2021 and I can tell you that this is a capable phone that performs well for daily use. I had the chance to use and review the new OPPO A95 for a week or so and this is what I think about it thus far.
First Impression and Design
My first thought is that the new OPPO A95 looks similar to my recently reviewed OPPO A75 5G but there are many differences in terms of the performance and internal specifications. The OPPO A95 is a toned down version from the China only OPPO A95 5G device. However, it does use the very same design and size.
The OPPO A95 is quite light in my opinion, and the size feels right in my hands. The large 6.43” AMOLED screen with a resolution of 1080×2400 pixels looks good and there is the punch hole 16MP selfie camera on the top left side of the display. There is also an under display fingerprint sensor near the bottom which I think is quite responsive.
The power/standby button is located on the right side of the phone while the volume rocker sits on the opposite side on the left. This layout is already a standard layout by OPPO and most OPPO users will find it right at home. The dual SIM and MicroSD card slot sits above the volume rockers.
There is also an 3.5mm audio jack, along with the USB type-C port and a bottom firing speaker grille at the bottom. I was expecting by this time, most phones would come with stereo speakers but alas, the OPPO A95 only has one speaker. Top of the phone stayed clear of any modules.
Around the back, you will find a three camera setup on the top left side and the OPPO logo near the bottom right. I particularly love the colour option for the review unit called Aurora. It shines in a different shade of colours under different lighting conditions. Good thing it is not the glossed type. Otherwise it will be a fingerprint magnet, and I don’t like that. I’ve always preferred a soft textured matte finish on my phone any time.
Performance and Usage
The new OPPO A95 comes with a dated Snapdragon 662 SoC based on 11nm processing technology and supported by 8GB of RAM and 128GB storage. The China version of OPPO A95 5G comes with Dimensity 800U SoC, therefore this Snapdragon variant is a toned down version made for International users.
Having said that, the OPPO A95 comes with OPPO’s very own RAM Expansion Technology whereby you will be able to increase up to an extra 5GB of unused ROM storage into RAM.
But I’m fairly impressed by the overall performance of the new OPPO A95. The ColorOS 11 based on Android 11 is snappy and stable. Browsing through the phone or having multiple apps opened at once doesn’t slow down its performance. However, I noticed a slight performance lag when it comes to heavy graphic usage especially in gaming.
The dated SD662 chipset worked well enough for the OPPO A95 to breeze through some usual daily tasks such as for social media, emails, note taking, online chats and productivity apps. It doesn’t come with 5G like its China counterpart so it relies on the standard 4G network for a relatively fast data connection.
As for battery endurance, the 5000mAh battery can last me the whole day which I’m grateful for as I am a heavy user. The OPPO A95 supports SuperVOOC 2.0 with 33W fast charging capability. It can charge up to about 55% within 30 minutes from below 5%. And that 55% of juice can continue on for at least another 5 hours or so.
I have tested the OPPO A95 for gaming and it is just above average in terms of performance. If you’re a heavy graphic gaming enthusiast, you may find it a little bit below your usual performance threshold. It can run games like PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty Mobile, but don’t expect it to run smoothly. But the battery can last a long time even when playing graphic-hungry games.
But if you’re playing normal games like Pokemon Go or Angry Birds, you won’t have any problems with those.
While playing PUBG Mobile, I can only set it to medium graphic performance. Means I can only choose up to 30fps (and below) for the graphics. No options to bump it up higher at all. And the overall gaming performance for PUBG Mobile is just okay and playable. You will notice the lag when engaging multiple enemies in the game.
Having said that, the OPPO A95 comes with OPPO’s very own Game Space app to optimise the phone’s gaming performance. Within this app, you can select your modes. I choose the Pro Gamer mode when playing games and it does help a little bit. So be sure to turn this option on when playing games.
Camera and Photography
I am pretty much happy with the camera performance on the OPPO A95. OPPO has always been consistent with the camera performance so I don’t have much problems getting some good shots with it. But as a mid-range phone, don’t expect it to be fantastic. However, most of the photos that I captured are above my own expectations.
Okay, let’s check out the camera specs.
Main camera
48MP f/1.7, 26mm (wide angle)
2 MP, f/2.4, (macro)
2 MP, f/2.4, (depth sensor)
Selfie camera
16 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide)
If you notice, the OPPO A95 doesn’t come with an ultra-wide angle camera or a telephoto camera. It only has the 48MP main shooter as well as a 2MP macro camera. I am happy with what the main 48MP camera can shoot and I can easily give a rate of 7.5 out of 10.
You can find some sample shots below and see for yourself.
You will be happy with the overall camera/photography quality with the OPPO A95. I managed to capture many usable shots for prints and above average shots for your social media postings. The video quality captured with the main 48MP camera is good as well. But it doesn’t come with OIS or any anti-shake features.
Nevertheless, the overall camera performance doesn’t disappoint me at all.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for an affordable mid-range smartphone, you can’t go wrong with the OPPO A95. The dated Snapdragon 662 chipset is good enough for your daily use and it comes with a generous 8GB of RAM and storage option.
The under display optical fingerprint sensor is responsive and it unlocks the phone quickly and accurately. During the time that I was testing the OPPO A95, I couldn’t find anything else that I dislike about it. The design is simple and light. The Aurora colour option is beautiful and it also comes in Black.
My personal opinion, this is a reliable device to have if you’re looking for a normal, cheaper option as an upgrade to your old phone. The OPPO A95 is finally launched in Malaysia and is available for pre-order right now only RM1,099.00. Another great news, customers who pre-order OPPO A95 from 15th November to 19th November 2021 will be entitled to get an OPPO Enco Buds worth RM159 by adding RM1 only and more rewards.
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