Is OPPO a good brand? We compared the top rated OPPO phones to competitors to find out

Avleen M.Published on 12 June 2020 · Last updated on 17 Dec 2021

If you’re in the market for a new smartphone, you might be daydreaming about a iPhone or Samsung Galaxy model that could break the budget. Cue OPPO, a budget brand selling handsets with a sleek appearance and low price tag. But does this quiet contender in the smartphone game keep customers happy after sales are made? To find out, we compared OPPO's best handsets under $800 with the competitors.

How much are OPPO phones?

While the Chinese tech company has traditionally been known for its budget models since its inception in 2012, OPPO phones span a wide range of price points. For example, OPPO’s cheapest phone is the OPPO A15, which retails as low as $239 and is part of OPPO’s entry level ‘A Series.’

There are also plenty of mid-range models available in OPPO’s Reno range, which is the company’s offering of innovative technology at an affordable price point. The OPPO Reno Z (the cheapest Reno model) retails for $499, while the higher-end Reno2 Z is $599.

On the opposite end of the dollar spectrum you'll find OPPO's flagship smartphone, the Find X3 Pro. This phone will set you back $1,699. This is $870 cheaper than Apple's best offering, the iPhone 13 Pro 1TB, which costs $2, 569.

How does OPPO fare against its smartphone competitors?

We've selected four OPPO smartphone models that have been highly rated either on ProductReview.com.au, or been popular picks of tech commentators and everyday phone users alike. By comparing them side by side with equivalent models* of better-known brands, we hope this can give you a better idea of the overall performance and quality of OPPO phones.

*Equivalent models have been chosen based on their similarity to OPPO models in terms of price and technical specifications.

Entry level - OPPO AX5S v Samsung A11

Review Comparison	OPPO AX5S - $249	Samsung Galaxy A11 - $299
Overall rating
Value for money
Ease of use
Battery life
Camera quality
Hardware
Software

Tech Spec Comparison

Summary

In the Review Comparison, OPPO's AX5S scored higher than than the Galaxy A11 in all criteria, with a higher overall score of 3.8 stars compared to the A11's 3.1 stars.

While these overall ratings could both be more appealing, there are not many phones in this price point under $300. The higher OPPO score is promising, relative to other phones being sold by competitors in the same price point.

Plus points

• This phone is described as uncomplicated to use, which was a welcome discovery to those who said they weren't tech savvy
• This OPPO phone was a favourite amongst reviewers who were seeking a phone with more basic functions, such as making calls, SMSing and taking phones
• The reliably long-lasting battery life was one of the best things about this phone, with some reviewers that the battery lasts for days.
• The pre-installed glass screen protector and thick plastic casing on the back made the phone more durable.

Minus points

• Some users of the AX5 complained about their phones being unresponsive or 'laggy,' with the phone screen freezing at inopportune times.
• The Bluetooth connection frequently dropped out, which can be frustrating when in the car.
• The AX5's dual rear cameras are slightly less advanced than Samsung's, as they're 13MP Standard and 2MP Standard compared to the A11'S 13MP Wide, 5MP Ultrawide and 2MP Depth rear cams. The rear cameras are those you'll use to take most 'serious' photos (front-facing cameras are mainly for selfies and video calls).

Mid-range smartphones - OPPO Reno Z v Realme 7 5G

Review Comparison	OPPO Reno Z - $499	Realme 7 5G - $499
Overall rating
Value for money
Ease of use
Battery life
Camera quality
Hardware
Software
ProductReview.com.au Awards	None	Award Winner 2022

Tech Spec Comparison

Summary

Overall, Oppo’s Reno Z scored higher than the Realme 7 5G on value for money, camera quality, hardware and software. It ranked equal with the Realme 7 5G for its ease of use, with 4.1 stars.

Both phones have positive reviews, and they are roughly on an even footing with the Realme 7 5G's 2022 Award win in 2022, and its overall higher rating of 4.5 stars.

It's worthy of mention that over half of reviewers using the OPPO Reno Z awarded the smartphone 5 stars (23 out of 39 total reviews). Amongst the ranks of positive reviewers were phone users previously loyal to Samsung, who had switched over to OPPO with no regrets.

Plus Points

• Excellent value for money was cited by many reviewers. More than one customer noted their ‘surprise’ at the phone’s overall performance – albeit a pleasant surprise, as they praised the phone’s functionality for its affordable price.
• The Reno Z’s camera was an outstanding feature for many reviewers.
• Long battery life was appreciated, as the Reno Z's 4230 mAh battery life lasts about two days on a single charge, with moderate use.
• Fast speed/processing times were reported, thanks to an 8 GB RAM (which is matched in the Realme7 5G).
• Fast charge technology was appreciated by reviewers. The phone uses VOOC 3.0 Flash charging, which can reportedly charge the phone in half an hour.
• 128 GB storage was considered a good offering for the Reno Z’s price point.

Minus Points

• The low number of 1 and 2 star reviews of the Reno Z mentioned problems encountered when saving contacts, and an unfriendly user interface that was tricky to navigate.
• Some comments referred to the absence of certain features but also acknowledged that these features are usually the domain of more expensive phones, e.g. wireless charging and waterproofing.
• The Reno Z has no expandable storage despite it being a dual SIM phone, which means that you’re capped at 128 GB of storage. This is a downside when compared to the extra storage space offered by the Realme 7 5G and other phones in a similar price range, which have a micro SD card slot.

OPPO R17 v Google Pixel 4a

Review Comparison	OPPO R17 - $599	Google Pixel 4a - $599
Overall rating
Value for money
Ease of use
Battery life
Camera quality
Hardware
Software

Tech Spec Comparison

Summary

Despite the more dominant market presence of the Google Pixel 4a compared to OPPO’s R17 model, the R17 has managed to earn a higher score than the more well-known phone.

The R17 received 4 stars out of 27 reviews, while the Google Pixel 4a currently sits at 2.8 stars from 9 reviews.

The OPPO R17 scored higher than the Google Pixel 4a on all aspects of phone performance except camera quality, for which the Google smartphone did uncharacterisally well, with a 4.7-star rating. But the OPPO R17 still has a high camera quality rating of 4 stars. Since both phones are equally priced at $599, the OPPO model is the clear winner.

Plus points:

• Many OPPO R17 reviewers stated that the phone took good quality photos they were happy with.
• Though the same price, OPPO's R17 is rated as better value for money than the Pixel 41. This makes it one of the best value-for-money smartphones in its pricepoint, with the next-best value for money option being the Realme 7 Pro.
• Fast charging times and long-lasting battery life were features that were applauded.
• The R17’s build quality was praised by its users, who called it a robust phone.
• A number of reviewers concluded that the OPPO R17 was much better than their old Samsung phone.

Minus points:

• While most R17 phone users were satisfied with their camera, many Google Pixel 4a reviewers (even those who gave low ratings) loved theirs. While the R17’s dual rear cameras are technically better than the Pixel’s single 12.2MP wide camera, Google’s camera software (in particular, its auto-focus with dual-pixel phase detection) delivers high quality, crisp photos.
• Some R17 users experienced a few problems after software updates were installed, such as the inclusion of unwanted functions and having their previous phone preferences erased.
• Software updates were made available less frequently than other smartphones. The R17 uses the ColorOS 5.2.1 Operating System, based on Android 8.1, whereas the Google Pixel 4a currently uses the Android 10+ OS.

OPPO Find X3 Neo v Apple iPhone SE 2020

One of OPPO's newer offerings released in March 2021, the Find X3 Neo is a mid-range phone in OPPO's premium range, the Find X series. The iPhone SE 2020, on the other hand, is part of Apple's more budget offerings, although $829 is its cheapest variant (models with more internal memory will be more expensive).

Currently, reviews on the Find X3 Neo are limited, since the phone is still pretty new. However, by looking at specs, we can compare the pair on paper. Spoiler alert: The OPPO Find X3 Neo has much to offer, even compared to an iPhone.*

Tech Spec Comparison

Plus points

• Internal storage: While neither phone has an expandable storage option, the OPPO Find X3 Neo offers more value for money in this aspect. It has a generous 256 GB of internal storage for $799. By comparison, the iPhone SE model sells for $829 and comes with 128 GB storage. If you want more internal storage with the Apple, you’ll have to move up a price point to the iPhone SE with 256 GB, which costs $999.
• Battery life: The OPPO Find X3 Neo decidedly takes the medal for better battery life with its impressive 4,035 mAh battery, compared to Apple's 1, 821 mAh battery. Both phones have fast charging capabilities, going from 0% to 100% battery in one hour or under.
• Cameras: Technically the OPPO’s cameras appear better than the iPhone SE's. Both smartphones have single front cameras (or ‘selfie cameras’). OPPO’s front camera is 32MP, whereas Apple’s is 7MP. OPPO also has four rear or ‘main cameras’ (50MP, 16MP, and 13MP, and 2MP), whereas the iPhone SE has a single rear 12MP camera. The Find X3 Neo's pixel density is also higher, with 402 pixels per inch, compared to the iPhone SE's 326 ppi - leading to more detailed images. Both smartphones make use of camera software such as Portrait Mode, Night Mode, and lighting effects.
• Memory (RAM): OPPO's 12 GB of RAM is a much more generous offering than Apple's 2 GB of RAM. Affecting the short-term memory of a smartphone, more RAM lets you open and run apps faster and more smoothly. Most mid-range smartphones available at a cheaper price point have at least 3 GB of RAM.
• 5G Connectivity: The Find X3 Neo is one of the cheaper smartphones on the market with 5G connectivity, if you have a 5G-compatible SIM card. In comparison, the iPhone SE 2020 only runs using 4G technology. You'll have to pay for that privilege of 5G, which is only available with the iPhone 12 and 13 range.

Minus points

• It's worth noting that while the OPPO Find X3 Neo's amount of RAM is higher, Apple relies heavily on its effective A13 Bionic Chip as its CPU (Core Processing Unit). While this is no longer the same as Apple's flagship smartphone, the iPhone 13 Pro 1TB, which uses an A15 Bionic chip, the A13 is still powerful. As a smartphone's processor are its brains and will work together with its RAM, this improves the iPhone's smooth running and its battery life considerably, despite its low 2 GB of RAM.
• Depending on your preferences, you may find the Find X3 Neo's larger screen and heavier weight too big and bulky compared to the iPhone SE. To be fair though, OPPO's unit houses a much larger battery, which helps account for its 184g weight compared to Apple's 148g.

Conclusion

While OPPO is a budget phone company, according to its phone specs and OPPO phone reviews, it certainly doesn’t compromise on quality. New OPPO phone users are pleasantly surprised at the overall performance and endurance of their smartphones, especially considering how affordable they are compared to more popular phone brands. If you’re in the market for a new smartphone and would rather not have your wallet drastically slimmed down, a new OPPO phone could be the perfect choice for you.

Ratings, review data and technical specifications in this article are accurate as at December 17th 2021.