OPPO A3 Pro 5G
RM1,099.00
Pros
- Comes with AI editors
- Tough and durable
- Good battery life
- Splash proof
- Affordable
Cons
- Camera is just fine
- 720p only
- A little too much bloatwares
The Malaysian smartphone market is overflowing with midrange options, each one vying for your attention with a blend of performance, features, and value. Whether you’re looking for a device that can handle your daily tasks with ease or something that brings a little extra flair to your mobile experience, there’s plenty to choose from.
However, finding a phone that not only delivers solid performance but also turns heads with its design can be a bit of a challenge. Enter the OPPO A3 Pro—a smartphone that’s not just about what’s under the hood, but also about making a style statement.
With its sleek design, vibrant display, and thoughtful additions like a free drop case, the OPPO A3 Pro sets itself apart from the usual midrange crowd. It’s a device that promises to give you more than just the basics, blending aesthetic appeal with practical features that make it stand out.
Whether you’re someone who values a phone that looks as good as it performs or you simply want a reliable device that comes with a few extra perks, the OPPO A3 Pro could be exactly what you’re looking for. Let’s dive into a detailed review to help you decide if this flashy midranger deserves a spot in your pocket.
First Look and Design
First impressions matter, and the OPPO A3 Pro certainly knows how to make one. The phone sports flat sides with gently rounded corners, a design choice that gives it a modern, premium feel. But what truly steals the show is the shimmering back, especially in the Moonlight Purple variant we reviewed. The back panel reflects light beautifully, making the phone look different every time you turn it. For those who prefer something more understated, there’s also a Starry Black option.
Up front, you get a 6.67-inch LCD display with a neat little punch hole in the center for the 8MP front camera. The side houses the power button, which cleverly doubles as a fingerprint sensor—super convenient for quick unlocking. Just above it, you’ll find the volume rocker, while the other side holds the SIM tray. The bottom of the phone is where you’ll find the essentials: a speaker, a USB Type-C port, and surprisingly, a 3.5mm audio jack. It’s becoming rare to see the latter on mid-range devices, so that’s a nice touch for those still attached to their wired headphones.
Flip the phone over, and you’ll notice a minimal camera bump that houses a dual camera setup—50MP main and 2MP depth sensor—along with an LED flash. Despite packing a hefty 5100 mAh battery, the A3 Pro maintains a slim profile at just 7.68mm thick. It’s an impressive feat, and one that makes the phone comfortable to hold and easy to slip into your pocket.
Tech Specs and Features
The OPPO A3 Pro is all about giving you a great display experience without breaking the bank. Here’s a quick rundown of the tech specs:
- SoC: MediaTek Dimensity 6300 Octa-core (2×2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x Cortex-A55)
- GPU: Mali-G57 MC2
- OS: Android 14, ColorOS 14
- Memory: 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
- Display:
IPS LCD, 120Hz, 1000 nits
6.67 inches, 107.2 cm2 (~85.0% screen-to-body ratio)
720 x 1604 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~264 ppi density) - Battery: 5100 mAh, 45W SUPERVOOC
- Camera:
50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
2 MP, f/2.4, (depth) - Selfie Camera: 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
- Sensors: Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass
- Colours: Moonlight Purple, Starry Black
The 6.67-inch display is clearly one of OPPO’s main focuses for this model. It offers a 120Hz refresh rate and 1000 nits of brightness, making it a treat for browsing, streaming, and gaming. The screen is also protected by twice-reinforced China Southern Glass and Panda Glass, which should give you some peace of mind against accidental drops and scratches.
However, there’s a trade-off—OPPO opted for a 720p resolution instead of Full HD. While this is somewhat unusual for a midranger, it helps the phone maintain smooth performance and longer battery life. And speaking of extras, the free drop case in the box is a welcome addition. It’s nice to see a manufacturer considering both aesthetics and protection right out of the box.
At 186g, the phone is slightly on the heavier side, but that’s to be expected with a large 5100 mAh battery. The battery itself is a powerhouse, supporting 45W SUPERVOOC Flash Charge that juices up the phone in about an hour. Unfortunately, the IP54 rating means it’s only splash-resistant, so while it can survive a bit of rain, you’ll want to avoid any dunking.
Performance and Daily Use
Under the hood, the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset paired with 8GB of RAM so it should handle most day-to-day tasks with ease, whether you’re multitasking, streaming, or gaming. However, the device comes preloaded with a fair bit of bloatware. While most of it can be removed, a few stubborn apps might stick around, which is a minor annoyance.
On the bright side, ColorOS 14 is user-friendly and brings some nifty AI features like the AI Eraser in the Photos app, which helps you clean up images with ease. If you’re into gaming, the Hyperboost feature helps ensure smoother gameplay. Overall, the software does a good job of keeping things running efficiently, even with a few extra apps you might not use.
The OPPO A3 Pro runs on Android 14 with OPPO’s ColorOS 14 layered on top, giving you a smooth and user-friendly experience. One of the best things about ColorOS is how customizable it is—you can tweak the interface to match your style. The software itself is pretty intuitive, making it easy to navigate through your apps and settings.
When it comes to performance, the OPPO A3 Pro holds its ground pretty well. It might not match up to some of the more powerful midrange options out there, but it still manages to deliver a decent experience. For instance, gaming on this phone is surprisingly smooth, especially considering the 720p display. I was able to play PUBG Mobile on medium settings without much lag, although the phone did get a bit warm after prolonged sessions. Thankfully, the included case helps keep things comfortable.
Putting the OPPO A3 Pro on benchmark, it was able to perform just okay, in my opinion. It scored 1319 points on 3DMark Wild Life and 787 point on single score, 1957 points on multi-core while using the Geekbench 6 benchmarking app. Nothing much to shout about in the benchmarking side, but at least there were no crashes along the way.
The power button on the OPPO A3 Pro does double duty as a fingerprint sensor, making it super easy to unlock your phone with just a touch. If you prefer, you can also use Face Unlock, but keep in mind it’s not as secure as the fingerprint option.
When it comes to staying connected, this phone has you covered. It supports 5G for fast internet speeds, Wi-Fi 802.11ac for reliable wireless connections, Bluetooth 5.3 for all your wireless accessories, and even NFC for easy payments and data transfers.
On the audio front, the OPPO A3 Pro includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is great news for those who still love their wired headphones. It also has a single speaker that delivers decent sound. The 300% Ultra Volume feature cranks up the audio, but don’t expect it to replace your trusty Bluetooth speaker.
Battery life is another highlight. With moderate use, the phone easily lasts two days on a single charge. And when you do need to plug in, the 45W SUPERVOOC Flash Charge is a lifesaver, getting you back to full power in about an hour.
The audio experience is decent, with clear sound from the speaker. However, even with the 300% Ultra Volume mode, it’s not going to replace your Bluetooth speaker anytime soon. The OPPO AI features like Smart Lasso can be fun to play with, but be careful—if it misidentifies something, it might replace it with something unexpected.
Lastly, we did a bit of drop testing, and the free drop case held up well. Dropping the phone from shoulder height resulted in no visible damage, and OPPO claims it can even survive an 8-meter drop. But remember, glass is still glass, so it’s best to keep the case on. Also, the IP54 rating means it’s only splash-resistant, so while it can survive a bit of rain, you’ll want to avoid any dunking.
Camera and Photography
The OPPO A3 Pro is equipped with a dual-camera setup on the back, consisting of a 50MP main camera and a 2MP depth sensor. In bright, well-lit environments, the primary camera does a great job, delivering sharp and colorful photos that capture plenty of detail. However, when the lighting isn’t ideal—like in the evening or indoors—you’ll start to notice some noise and a drop in clarity, which can be a bit disappointing if you’re hoping to snap clear photos at night.
Up front, there’s an 8MP camera tucked into a neat punch hole at the top of the screen. It’s decent for selfies and video calls, giving you enough quality for your social media posts and chatting with friends, though it won’t blow you away with its performance. Overall, the cameras are solid for everyday use but might leave you wanting more if photography is a top priority for you.
AI Photography
The OPPO A3 Pro 5G is packed with some cool AI features that can take your photos to the next level. One of the standout tools is the AI Eraser, which lets you easily remove unwanted objects or people from the background of your shots. Whether it’s a random passerby or something distracting in the background, the AI Eraser helps you clean up your photos and leaves you with a seamless, realistic-looking image that’s ready to share.
Another handy feature is AI Portrait Retouching. This tool allows you to fine-tune your portraits to match your style and preferences, giving you beautiful, lifelike results. You can choose from eight different retouching modes, each designed to help you achieve the perfect look in your photos. Whether you’re going for a subtle touch-up or a more dramatic effect, this feature has you covered. Overall, these AI tools make it easier than ever to capture stunning photos with just a few taps.
If you look at the photo above, the AI Eraser managed to remove the photo of the little girl in the background at the left corner seamlessly. It worked really well here.
As for other photo samples, check out the gallery below:
Conclusion: A Tough Midranger
The OPPO A3 Pro 5G is a solid midrange option, especially if you’re after a phone with a flashy design, long battery life, and a bit of extra durability thanks to the free drop case. At RM1099, it offers good value for what you get, even if it has a few compromises like the 720p display and average camera performance.
If a tough, stylish, and long-lasting phone is what you’re after, the OPPO A3 Pro is definitely worth considering. With its sturdy design and the added protection of a free drop case, it’s a great pick for anyone who’s prone to the occasional slip-up. Beyond its tough exterior, the A3 Pro comes packed with useful AI photography tools and a vibrant display, making it a versatile option whether you’re into capturing photos or just want a reliable daily driver.
So, what do you think? Is the OPPO A3 Pro your next smartphone? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
More info: OPPO A3 Pro 5G | OPPO Malaysia
