OPPO is one of the companies that’s really great at making phones you want to look at. (I’m still a big fan of the OPPO Reno6’s design.) And having an aesthetically pleasing device sits high up on the priority list of some people.
If you’re one of those that need a device that can blend in with your wardrobe, OPPO’s more budget-friendly option comes in with the OPPO A55.
What else does it have to offer? I’m here to round up the most essential features you need to know about the OPPO A55, so you know if it’ll work for what you need.
You need a phone that stands out
As I’ve mentioned in the intro, design is possibly the biggest reason to get the OPPO A55. It’s an excellent example of a great design that doesn’t break the bank. Just a peso under PHP 10,000 (around USD 199 converted), you get a look and feel that seems like you can spend a few more thousand, and it still won’t feel out of place.
We were lent the Rainbow Blue option, which is the model to get if you want that standout phone. OPPO also offers the A55 in Starry Black, but the Rainbow Blue variant is definitely the one to get if you want to turn some heads.
The blue gets hints of rainbow hues around it, which OPPO wants to remind you of the Milky Way. The rainbow gradient can be seen all around the phone’s back when you move it, and it’s hit by light in different directions. It gives it a fun, youthful look.
According to the company, it used an improved spray coating texture for the back using silver metallic pigments mixed into the paint to give it a metallic finish and texture. That shiny back is a fingerprint magnet, but it doesn’t feel that slippery. I still prefer using the included jelly case to avoid getting smudges on it.
OPPO employed a triple spray process that improves the robustness of the back cover to make it more resistant to normal wear and tear. Its IPX4 rating helps protect it from splashes, which is always suitable for electronics.
While the display is flat, the back of the phone curves a bit to the edges, making it easy to grip. The side fingerprint sensor sits slightly above the center, but it’s still pretty easy to reach and relatively responsive. OPPO has the volume rocker on the left. Above it is the triple card slot for two SIM cards and a microSD card. The bottom houses the single speaker, USB-C port, and headphone jack. Yes, you can still use wired headphones with OPPO A55.
The camera protrudes slightly from the back, but putting it in the case will help flatten the phone out. The punch-hole for the selfie camera is at the upper left of the screen. It generally keeps out of the way, which is good paired with the minimal bezels on the side of the phone. The OPPO A55 has a screen-to-body ratio of 89.2%, which is decent for a phone at this price. You do get a thick chin, but that again is typical for phones in this segment.
You want to level up from your first smartphone
You’ve been using a budget-friendly smartphone for a while, but you’re ready to upgrade now. That said, you’re still working within a tight budget. The OPPO offers you this option with the A55.
It runs on a MediaTek G35 processor, which we’ve seen on the devices like the realme C15 and Xiaomi Redmi 9C, and Android 11-based ColorOS 11.1. It pairs that with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage expandable via microSD. If you’re coming from a cheaper device, you will get a smoother, speedier experience. I’ve used smartphones at varying price points, so it does temper my expectations a bit on what the OPPO A55 can do.
Sometimes it’ll take a second to load apps, but it works just fine once I’m in whatever app I’m using. It can let you play games in the low to mid settings without any trouble. It’s a phone for more casual users who spend more time consuming content on different apps. But it can also work as a device to work on. I’ve easily managed emails or typed quick story ideas on this phone.
I can enjoy my favorite Korean variety shows on Viu in Full HD or watch other clips on YouTube and TikTok. But I wish it supported more than SD streaming on Netflix. With Widevine L3 certification, unfortunately, that isn’t possible here.
Audio quality from the solitary speaker is so-so. I can listen to what I need to on it, but it isn’t spectacular. I prefer connecting the phone to a Bluetooth speaker or wireless earbuds. Again, you also get the option to use wired headphones, which is always beneficial for those who rely most on these accessories.
Also, the speaker’s position means I tend to block it when I’m holding the phone in hand. That’s a disadvantage of phones with a single speaker.
If you want to capture your memories and share these online, the OPPO A55 gives you an upgrade from cheaper options. It’s still not the best camera we’ve seen at its price point, but it gets the job done. You get some help from the 50-megapixel main sensor. By default, it uses four-in-one pixel binning technology to capture 12.5-megapixel shots.
As expected, it performs the best when shooting in natural, bright light. You’ll notice quality and sharpness dip as light fades. The Night mode can help you out a bit to balance out colors and brightness, but it’s still important to temper your expectations. Take note that this mode also crops into the pictures when shooting. I notice selfies also tend to be on the softer side, whether you shoot while it’s bright out or in low light.
If you want better quality images from the rear camera, you can use the full resolution to shoot. That’ll come in handy when you want to crop into the shot. One complaint I have about the 50-megapixel mode is I didn’t notice that it was in the pull-down menu of the Camera app. I feel like there’s a better position for the feature to encourage users to use it.
I’ve admittedly spent most of the time using the main sensor, even when I wanted to get close to a subject. The 2-megapixel macro camera isn’t really one I turn to when shooting closeups. Zooming in 2x is better than using the macro camera (you can zoom in up to 5x with the OPPO A55). After all, there’s only so much you can do with a 2-megapixel sensor.
The 2-megapixel depth sensor does help out a bit when shooting portraits. The separation of the subject from the background is definitely better than when you shoot portraits with the selfie camera.
When shooting videos, you can record these up to 1080p@30fps. There doesn’t seem to be any image stabilization here, so you have to keep steady when recording handheld videos.
LiTT Tip #1: If you want an easier way to see your important notifications, the OPPO A55 can sort these for you. All you need to do is head to Settings > Notifications & status bar > Manage notifications > More and then toggle on Auto sort notifications.
LiTT Tip# 2: The OPPO A55 makes it easier to take selfies by letting you use the fingerprint sensor as the shutter button. Tap on the cogwheel (Settings) > General to activate this feature. From there, you’ll already see the Fingerprint Shooting option.
You hope to get around comfortably even without a power bank
It’s easier to find large-capacity batteries in smartphones these days. And the OPPO A55 is no exception. You get a 5,000mAh battery that can last you more than a day’s use. I was out for around five hours yesterday and using the phone heavily to message, play some games, and check socials. It was at 100% at around 10:30 a.m., and it was down to approximately 42% by 9:42 p.m. Checking it now at 9:32 a.m. the next day, and I’m at 12%. I have been using it to listen to music and check socials since around 6:30 this morning.
It’s the kind of phone you’re assured to last you through the day, even if you don’t have a power bank or charger on-hand to top it up. And you will need a bit of time to charge. Thankfully, you already have 18W USB-C charging support here. But that will still take a bit of time to recharge. I get under three hours to do so, but that can be shorter if you charge in a colder environment.
LiTT Tip #3: A couple of tips to help preserve your battery can be enabled while you sleep. There’s Sleep standby optimization and Optimized night charging. The former makes it so the phone consumes less power while you sleep. OPPO claims the A55’s battery will only drop around 1.37% when you’re asleep between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. The latter learns your daily charging routine to control the charging speed at night and avoid overcharging the phone. Both are accessible via Settings > More battery settings. You can spot the toggles for both in that window.
What’s lit and what’s not?
What’s lit about it:
- Eye-catching design
- Solid build
- IPX4 splash protection
- Dual SIM + dedicated microSD slot
- Listening via wired headphones is available
- Offers flexibility with a 50-megapixel sensor
- Large capacity, long-lasting battery
- Battery settings to help lengthen and preserve battery life
What needs the extra spark:
- The finish makes it a smudge magnet
- Only supports SD streaming on Netflix
- Solitary speaker tends to get covered when in hand
- 50-megapixel mode is hidden a bit in the settings
- Struggles with getting sharp selfies
- Charging will take a bit of time
Final thoughts
OPPO wants you to think there’s more than meets the eye with the A55. And for those coming from a more affordable device, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what it can offer at this segment. It’s not a phone built for those who game a lot. But for the casual user looking for a little upgrade wrapped in a pretty package.
The OPPO A55 retails for PHP 9,999 (around USD 271 converted).
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