Oppo A78 5G : Oppo quietly slashed the A78 5G’s price last month without any fanfare. The base 8GB/128GB variant now costs ₹18,999, down from the launch price of ₹21,999. That’s a hefty ₹3,000 discount that puts it squarely against the Redmi Note 13 and Realme 12 in the budget battleground. My local retailer says units have been flying off shelves since the price cut, especially the Glowing Black variant that somehow looks different under various lighting conditions. He’s even offering additional ₹1,500 off on exchange deals, making this an even sweeter proposition for budget-conscious buyers. The timing seems strategic with festival season approaching, though Oppo hasn’t officially linked the price cut to any seasonal promotion. Smart move in a segment where every thousand bucks matters.
That Display – Bright Enough But Missing Something
The 6.56-inch LCD panel is perfectly adequate for daily use, getting bright enough for outdoor visibility unless you’re standing in direct sunlight. Colors look natural rather than oversaturated, and the 90Hz refresh rate makes scrolling noticeably smoother than 60Hz budget phones. But let’s be honest – after using AMOLED displays, going back to LCD feels like a downgrade. Blacks aren’t truly black, viewing angles aren’t great, and there’s no always-on display feature. The teardrop notch feels dated in 2025 when even budget phones are moving to punch-holes, but you stop noticing it after a few days. Netflix caps at HD resolution due to Widevine L1 certification, which is adequate for casual viewing but might disappoint cinephiles. For social media, messaging, and web browsing, it’s completely fine, but definitely not a standout feature.
Performance: Dimensity 700 Gets The Job Done
The MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset isn’t winning any benchmark competitions, but it handles everyday tasks without breaking a sweat. Social media, messaging, email, and web browsing feel responsive enough that most users won’t notice any limitations. Gaming is where the constraints become apparent – PUBG Mobile runs at medium settings with occasional frame drops during intense firefights. Lighter titles like Subway Surfers and Candy Crush play perfectly fine. App launch times feel competitive with similarly priced phones, though there’s a noticeable pause before heavier apps fully load. RAM management is surprisingly good, keeping 8-10 apps in memory without aggressive background killing. For normal smartphone tasks, it’s perfectly usable, but power users might find the limitations frustrating within weeks, not months.
Battery Life: The Unexpected MVP
The 5,000mAh battery consistently delivers excellent endurance, even with heavy usage. I regularly end days with 35-40% remaining after a mix of social media, photography, YouTube binges, and occasional gaming. Screen-on time typically hits 7-8 hours, impressive for this price segment. The included 33W SUPERVOOC charger isn’t breaking any speed records in 2025, but it gets the job done, taking the phone from dead to 50% in about 30 minutes and to full in just under 70 minutes. One odd quirk – the battery percentage occasionally jumps around erratically, dropping from 42% to 36% in seconds, then creeping back up again. Probably just a calibration issue, but jarring nonetheless. The battery anxiety I experienced with previous phones has completely vanished, which might be the highest praise I can give any smartphone feature.
Camera System: Decent Daylight Shooter, Forget About Night
Let’s be straightforward about the 50MP main camera – it’s perfectly adequate in good lighting but falls apart faster than wet tissue paper when the sun goes down. Daylight shots exhibit nice colors and sufficient detail for social media, though dynamic range is limited compared to pricier phones. Portrait mode edge detection is hit-or-miss, creating weird artifacts around hair and glasses. The secondary 2MP depth sensor feels like it’s there just to bump up the camera count in marketing materials. Night mode exists in name only, producing dark, grainy messes unless your hands are surgeon-steady and your subject perfectly still. Selfies from the 8MP front camera look fine in good lighting but get noisy indoors. For documenting everyday moments in daylight, it’s perfectly serviceable, but photography enthusiasts will find the limitations frustrating.
Software Experience: Color OS 13.1 Feels Surprisingly Mature
OPPO’s ColorOS has evolved significantly from the iOS copycat it once was. Version 13.1 (based on Android 13) offers a clean, intuitive interface with useful features like flexible always-on display options, effective battery optimization, and a surprisingly capable theme engine. The bloatware situation has improved dramatically – there are still pre-installed apps, but most can be uninstalled rather than just disabled. System animations feel smooth without being flashy, and the UI remains responsive even after weeks of use without restarting. Oppo promises two years of OS updates and three years of security patches, which isn’t class-leading but acceptable at this price point. The May 2025 security patch arrived on time, suggesting they’re taking update commitments seriously.
Oppo A78 5G Build Quality: Plastic Fantastic or Just Plain Cheap?
The polycarbonate (fancy word for plastic) back and frame don’t feel premium, but they’re durable and resist fingerprints better than glossy alternatives. Button placement is sensible, with good tactile feedback and no wobble. The side-mounted fingerprint scanner works surprisingly well, recognizing fingers quickly and accurately even with slightly damp hands. The inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack is increasingly rare even in budget phones, making this a welcome feature for those still using wired earphones. The stereo speakers get reasonably loud, though they lack bass and sound tinny at maximum volume. There’s no official IP rating, so keeping it away from water is advisable, though it survived a light rain shower without issues. For daily use, the build quality is perfectly adequate – nothing feels flimsy or likely to break under normal handling.