Following the success of the OPPO A60, OPPO Philippines is set to launch the budget-friendly OPPO A3.
This new smartphone stands out with its Military-Grade Shock Resistance, Multiple Liquid Protection, a 1000nit Ultra-Bright display, and lightning-fast 45W SUPERVOOC Flash Charge technology, making it a compelling option for durability and performance.
Today, I will be sharing with you my first impressions about this device since OPPO Philippines sent us one recently.
Design and Build Quality
When I first laid eyes on the OPPO A3, I hardly noticed it was a budget smartphone thanks to its vibrant and eye-catching design. Its stylish and practical design truly stand out.
Available in three colorways—Starlight White, Starry Purple, and Sparkle Black—each brings an elegant touch to the device. The unit I have is the Starlight White, which exudes a chic vibe that would especially appeal to women. I also got a closer look at the Sparkle Black variant, and its minimalist charm definitely holds its own.
The back of the device boasts a smooth, sleek finish that minimizes the appearance of fingerprints and smudges, thanks to its glowing design that shifts beautifully when tilted. At the bottom, you’ll find the OPPO branding, while the upper section features a prominent camera island that houses the 50MP main camera alongside an auxiliary lens, adding both functionality and visual appeal.
At just 7.68mm thick and weighing 186g, the OPPO A3 is comfortable to hold throughout the day. Its 2.5D curved screen is made from shatter-resistant glass, enhancing durability and helping it survive accidental drops.
Mentioning the screen, it boasts a large 6.67-inch LCD with HD+ resolution, a 90Hz refresh rate, and up to 1,000 nits of peak brightness. We’ll dive deeper into its screen performance in our full review.
Additionally, the OPPO A3 boasts MIL-STD 810H and SGS certifications, making it one of the most rugged phones in its price range, particularly when it comes to drop resistance.
During the pre-launch briefing, we had the chance to put the OPPO A3’s durability to the test. From hitting it with a billiard ball to subjecting it to beer pong mishaps, the phone survived it all without a hitch. I was genuinely impressed by how well it held up, and it’s safe to say this device is an excellent choice for anyone prone to accidental drops.
In terms of ports and buttons, the OPPO A3 features a dedicated SIM tray on the left, with the volume rockers and power button, which doubles as a fingerprint scanner, on the right. At the bottom, you’ll find a 3.5mm headphone jack, microphone, USB-C port, and stereo speakers, while the top remains clean and unobstructed.
Overall, if you’re looking for a durable smartphone that can withstand the occasional drop, the OPPO A3 is a top contender.
What’s inside the OPPO A3?
Powering the OPPO A3 is the 4nm Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen1 octa-core chipset. While it’s not the most powerful processor, it still delivers decent performance, especially becaused it is paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. If 128GB isn’t enough, the storage is expandable via microSD card.
On the software side, the OPPO A3 runs on the latest ColorOS 14.0.1, based on Android 14, straight out of the box. OPPO also mentioned that the ColorOS Trinity Engine will provide us a further boost to all-round smoothness and stability. Speaking of smoothness, this device also passed OPPO’s 50/36-Month Fluency Protection test, guaranteeing long-term smoothness for at least regular use which is a good thing for users that uses their phones long-term.
The OPPO A3 is also equipped with a large 5,100mAh battery, ensuring long battery life. It supports 45W SUPERVOOC fast charging, so you can quickly power up when needed.
Considering its overall specs, features, and pricing, the OPPO A3 offers great value for money. What do you think—does this sound like a worthy investment? Stay tuned for our in-depth review!
OPPO A3 Specifications
- Display: 6.67-inch LCD, HD+ resolution, 90Hz refresh rate, 1,000nits max brightness
- CPU: 6nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen1
- GPU: Adreno 610
- RAM: 6GB LPDDR4X
- ROM: 128GB eMMC 5.1, expandable via microSD card slot
- Rear Camera: 50MP + Auxiliary lens + LED flash
- Front Camera: 5MP
- Battery: 5,100mAh, 45W SUPERVOOC charging
- OS: ColorOS 14, Android 14
- Connectivity: 2.4GHz & 5GHz WiFi, 4G LTE, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, Hybrid SIM (nano), NFC
- Sensors: Accelerometer, light, orientation, proximity, gyroscope
- Colors: Amber Orange, Olive Green
- Weight: 186g
- Dimensions: 165.77mm (H) × 76.08mm (W) x 7.68mm (D)
- Others: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor, AI face unlock, USB-C, military-grade shock resistance, multi-liquid protection
Price and availability
OPPO A3 – PHP 8,999 | Shopee link | Lazada link
The OPPO A3 is now available for just PHP 8,999 at all authorized OPPO resellers, as well as through their official stores on Shopee and Lazada.
