OPPO A3s 64GB

To get the specifications out of the way first, the OPPO A3s comes with a rear-facing dual camera setup, which consists of a 13-megapixel primary sensor and a 2-megapixel secondary sensor, supported by an LED flash unit. At the front, we get an 8-megapixel sensor for taking selfies and video calling. Even though OPPO has a good reputation in terms of camera performance, I faced some glaring issues in this department (pun intended). The camera setups, both front and rear, presented some exposure issues while clicking pictures for us. Even when we tried to focus on the source of light, a procedure that usually helps in adjusting the exposure, there were prominent lens flare issues presented by the smartphone.If we talk about the default camera app, you get the portrait mode option, thanks to dual cameras, which offers depth effect in images. When it works, the depth effect manages to produce some really good pictures. You also get the option to capture images in portrait mode when taking images from the front camera. You also get the time-lapse and pano modes right from the homescreen in the camera app. There is an HDR mode, also available right from the home screen, and an AI-based beauty feature that allows users to take digitally enhanced images of themselves.

The new budget segment offering from OPPO runs Android 8.1 Oreo-based ColorOS 5.1 out of the box. The handset is powered by the Snapdragon 450 SoC, which is a popular choice among phone makers in this price range. The processor is coupled with 2GB RAM and 16GB built-in storage, which is further expandable up to 256GB via microSD card. As I have said with other OPPO phones in the past, the ColorOS platform tries to keep things minimalistic and does not bring much bloatware to the table. However, a section named Hot Apps comes with a suggestion to install certain apps, including MyJio, WhatsApp, JioTV, Facebook, among others. As you refresh this selection, the handset provides some more suggestions. In an otherwise neat platform, this feels like an unnecessary addition.There is a Game Space feature, which allows the handset to specifically optimise the handset's performance for certain games. This feature lets users adjust phone settings like power consumption, notification banners, and brightness, according to their gaming requirements. A full-screen multitasking feature allows users to keep one app open on the entire screen space and have another open in a small window (useful mostly for messaging apps). As the handset does not feature a fingerprint sensor, there is a face unlock option, which is definitely very fast in unlocking the handset but not as secure. For a better perspective, we managed to unlock the handset with half the face covered and even with the eyes closed.Coming to the performance, we managed to breeze past in terms of UI navigation but the smartphone could not handle slightly demanding apps and games all that well. We had some noticeable issues while playing PUBG and Injustice 2, which are both demanding games but currently a benchmark for performance. As there are other handsets in the range that come with better processors and more memory, the A3s falls short in this category.

OPPO A3s packs in a beefy 4,230mAh battery. As you might expect from the capacity, the handset manages to last beyond a day of heavy usage with ease. In our video loop test, the smartphone managed to last 19 hours before running out of battery. This means you can easily take the A3s out for a road trip without caring much about the charger.