The Oppo A53 is one of the budget smartphones in Oppo’s lineup, aimed at users who want a dependable device without spending too much. It brings a decent set of features for its price, including a 90Hz refresh rate display, a large battery, and a sleek design. The Oppo A53 positions itself as a solid choice for those looking for a budget smartphone that does the basics well without sacrificing some modern features. In this review, we’ll break down the performance, design, camera, and battery life of the Oppo A53 to help you decide if it’s worth your attention.
Design: Clean and Modern
The Oppo A53 offers a clean and modern design, which is often rare at this price point. The plastic body of the phone is sturdy but lightweight, weighing just 186 grams, making it easy to carry and use for extended periods. It measures 8.4mm thick, which gives it a slim profile, although not as thin as more premium devices.
The rear panel has a glossy finish that mimics glass, although it’s made of plastic. While it attracts fingerprints and smudges, it still looks premium. The phone is available in two colors: Electric Black and Fancy Blue. The Fancy Blue variant has a gradient finish that shifts shades depending on the angle of the light, giving it a more eye-catching appearance.
The camera module is neatly placed in the top left corner on the back, featuring a vertical layout with three lenses and a flash. The fingerprint sensor is conveniently positioned just below the camera module, and it works quickly to unlock the phone.
On the front, you’ll find a 6.5-inch display with slim bezels and a hole-punch cutout for the front camera. The phone feels well-built despite being an affordable device, and Oppo has done a good job in ensuring the design looks polished and modern for its price range.
Display: Smooth and Crisp with 90Hz Refresh Rate
One of the standout features of the Oppo A53 is its display, which boasts a 6.5-inch IPS LCD panel with a 90Hz refresh rate. At this price point, a 90Hz display is a rare find, giving the A53 an edge over many competitors in the budget segment. The higher refresh rate makes scrolling, swiping, and navigating through apps feel smoother and more responsive compared to the typical 60Hz displays found on most budget phones.
The display resolution is 720 x 1600 pixels, which translates to HD+. While this resolution is not as sharp as Full HD (1080p) screens, the 90Hz refresh rate compensates by offering a smoother user experience. For regular use, such as browsing social media, watching videos, and texting, the display is bright enough and colors are decent, though it lacks the vividness and contrast of AMOLED displays.
The screen has a peak brightness of around 480 nits, making it adequate for outdoor use under normal lighting conditions, although it may struggle in direct sunlight. The hole-punch cutout for the front camera does not take up much space, and overall, the display-to-body ratio is impressive for a budget device.
Performance: Decent for Everyday Use
Powering the Oppo A53 is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 chipset, which is an entry-level processor designed for budget devices. Paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, the A53 performs well for basic tasks such as browsing, streaming, and light gaming. You can also expand the storage up to 256GB using a microSD card, which is a great feature for users who store a lot of photos, videos, or apps.
In terms of real-world performance, the Oppo A53 handles multitasking fairly well, switching between apps without significant lag. The phone is not meant for heavy gaming, but it can handle casual games like Subway Surfers, Candy Crush, and light titles at lower graphics settings. More demanding games like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty: Mobile can be played, but only at lower settings, and even then, occasional frame drops may occur.
The 90Hz refresh rate also makes the interface feel snappier, although the Snapdragon 460 chipset is not the most powerful, so don’t expect ultra-smooth gaming or demanding applications to run flawlessly. For most users who need a phone for social media, messaging, and media consumption, the Oppo A53 is sufficient.
Camera: Decent for the Price
The Oppo A53 sports a triple-camera setup on the back, consisting of a 13MP primary sensor, a 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. The 13MP main camera performs decently in good lighting conditions, producing images that are detailed and have fairly accurate colors. However, the camera struggles in low-light situations, with noticeable noise and loss of detail.
The 2MP macro lens allows you to take close-up shots, but the quality is limited due to the low resolution. It’s more of a fun feature than a practical one, as the images lack the sharpness and detail that users might expect. The 2MP depth sensor helps with portrait shots, creating a blurred background (bokeh effect) around the subject. The results are good, with decent edge detection for a phone in this price range.
The 16MP front camera is good for selfies and video calls. It produces decent quality images with good lighting, though low-light selfies can appear grainy. The AI Beautification feature helps smooth skin tones and enhance facial features, making it popular among selfie enthusiasts.
Battery Life: Long-Lasting with Fast Charging
The Oppo A53 comes with a sizable 5000mAh battery, which is one of its major strengths. With moderate usage, including web browsing, watching videos, and social media, the phone easily lasts a full day, and with lighter usage, you could even stretch it to two days without needing to charge.
The phone supports 18W fast charging, which is decent at this price point, allowing you to charge the phone quickly when needed. Although it doesn’t offer the fastest charging speeds, it’s sufficient for most users who can top up the battery during breaks or overnight.
The combination of the 5000mAh battery and efficient Snapdragon 460 chipset means that the Oppo A53 is a great option for users who prioritize battery life over intensive performance. Whether you’re watching videos, playing casual games, or browsing, the phone holds up well in terms of endurance.
Software: ColorOS 7.2 on Android 10
The Oppo A53 runs on ColorOS 7.2, which is based on Android 10. ColorOS is Oppo’s custom skin for Android, and it brings several useful features and customization options. The interface is clean and user-friendly, with plenty of customization options for themes, icons, and wallpapers.
There are some pre-installed apps, but most of them can be removed if not needed. Oppo includes features like Game Boost, which optimizes performance during gaming, and Smart Sidebar, which gives users quick access to apps and tools from the edge of the screen. Dark Mode is also available, which helps reduce eye strain during nighttime use.
While ColorOS may not be as stock-like as some other Android skins, it offers plenty of features to enhance the user experience. The overall software experience on the Oppo A53 is smooth, and Oppo regularly pushes updates to improve performance and security.
Connectivity and Extras
The Oppo A53 comes with all the standard connectivity features you would expect from a budget smartphone, including 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0, and GPS. The phone also includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is becoming increasingly rare on modern smartphones, but is a welcome feature for users who still prefer wired audio.
There’s also a dual SIM card slot, allowing users to use two different numbers simultaneously. Unfortunately, the phone does not have NFC support, so features like contactless payments are not available. However, the phone’s overall connectivity options are sufficient for everyday use, especially considering its budget price point.
Conclusion: A Budget Phone That Gets the Job Done
The Oppo A53 is a well-rounded budget smartphone that offers good value for its price. Its 90Hz display, large battery, and modern design make it a solid option for users who are looking for a reliable phone without breaking the bank. The performance, while not exceptional, is decent for basic tasks and light gaming, making it suitable for most everyday users.
The camera setup is adequate, although not the best in its class, and the phone’s battery life is impressive, lasting well over a day of use. While it lacks some features found in more expensive devices, such as NFC or a high-resolution display, the Oppo A53 makes up for it with its affordable price and useful features like fast charging and expandable storage.
If you’re in the market for an affordable phone that performs well for its price, the Oppo A53 is worth considering. It may not be a powerhouse, but it delivers where it matters most: battery life, design, and display.
FAQs
- Does the Oppo A53 support 5G?
No, the Oppo A53 does not support 5G connectivity. It is limited to 4G LTE networks. - What is the refresh rate of the Oppo A53’s display?
The Oppo A53 has a 90Hz refresh rate display, which offers smoother scrolling and navigation compared to standard 60Hz displays. - Does the Oppo A53 have a fast-charging feature?
Yes, the Oppo A53 supports 18W fast charging, which allows you to charge the phone more quickly compared to standard chargers. - How long does the battery of the Oppo A53 last?
The Oppo A53 has a 5000mAh battery, which can easily last a full day of moderate use or even up to two days with lighter use. - Can the storage on the Oppo A53 be expanded?
Yes, the Oppo A53 supports microSD cards, allowing you to expand the storage up to 256GB.
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