Oppo A3 5g Phone- In today’s fast-moving smartphone market, it is often the budget and mid-range phones that truly c apture the attention of the masses. While flagships hog headlines with their jaw-dropping prices and futuristic features, it’s the affordable models that end up in the hands of most consumers. That’s where Oppo has consistently carved out its space, offering stylish, dependable, and camera-friendly smartphones without burning a hole in the pocket.
The Oppo A3, with its 6.2-inch Full HD display, 16MP AI-powered camera, MediaTek Helio P60 processor, and 3400mAh battery, is a classic example of Oppo’s philosophy. It is not the most expensive or the most powerful device out there, but it tries to deliver the essentials in a package that feels premium enough for everyday users.
In this in-depth article, we will explore everything about the Oppo A3 — from design and display to performance, cameras, software, and real-world usage. By the end, you’ll know exactly what this phone brings to the table and whether it still holds relevance in 2025’s crowded market of budget-friendly smartphones.
Oppo A3 Design: Premium Feel in a Budget Package
One of the first things you notice about the Oppo A3 is its design. Oppo has always paid attention to aesthetics, even in its affordable devices, and the A3 is no exception. The phone sports a sleek unibody finish with a diamond-cut textured back panel, which reflects light beautifully and gives the impression of a much more expensive handset.
At 156 grams, the Oppo A3 feels lightweight, making it comfortable for one-handed use. The rounded corners and slim profile add to its ergonomic design. Unlike some bulkier devices in this price range, the A3 does not feel like a brick in your pocket.
The fingerprint scanner is missing here, which was a talking point at the time of its launch. Instead, Oppo leaned heavily on AI face unlock, which is quick enough under most lighting conditions. It was one of the first budget devices that pushed facial recognition at a time when it was largely seen in premium models.
Oppo A3 Display: A 6.2-Inch Full HD Experience
The Oppo A3 features a 6.2-inch Full HD+ display with a resolution of 2280×1080 pixels. This gives the screen a crisp pixel density, ensuring sharp text and detailed visuals whether you are reading news articles, browsing Instagram, or streaming YouTube videos.
Oppo opted for a tall 19:9 aspect ratio, which makes the phone modern-looking, especially with its slim bezels. The display has good brightness levels, which means outdoor visibility is not much of an issue. Viewing angles are strong as well, thanks to the IPS LCD technology.
Colors appear vibrant, though not as punchy as AMOLED screens. But considering the phone’s positioning, the Oppo A3 does a commendable job of delivering a pleasant multimedia experience. Watching movies or playing games on this display feels immersive enough, especially with its generous screen-to-body ratio.
Oppo A3 Key Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.2-inch Full HD+ (2280×1080), 19:9 aspect ratio |
| Processor | MediaTek Helio P60 |
| Rear Camera | 16MP with AI scene recognition |
| Front Camera | 8MP |
| Battery | 3400mAh |
| RAM & Storage | 4GB RAM + 128GB storage (expandable) |
| OS | ColorOS based on Android 8.1 (Oreo at launch) |
| Design | Diamond-cut textured back, Face Unlock |
Oppo A3 Performance: Helio P60 at the Core
Under the hood, the Oppo A3 is powered by the MediaTek Helio P60 processor, which was quite a breakthrough chip when it first arrived. Built on a 12nm process, it was one of the first mid-range chipsets to bring AI processing capabilities, enabling smarter cameras and efficient multitasking.
In everyday use, the Oppo A3 performs reliably. Apps open quickly, navigation feels smooth, and basic multitasking is handled without noticeable lag. The combination of 4GB RAM and 128GB storage gives enough headroom for an average user. Storage expansion via microSD card is also available, which is useful for media-heavy users.
Gaming performance is respectable for its category. Casual titles like Subway Surfers, Clash Royale, and Candy Crush run flawlessly. Heavier games like PUBG (back when it was at its peak) could be played at medium settings without major frame drops, thanks to the Mali-G72 MP3 GPU. Of course, compared to today’s mid-range powerhouses, the Helio P60 feels dated, but at the time of launch, it was a strong performer.
Oppo A3 Camera: AI-Powered Simplicity
Oppo has built its brand reputation around cameras, and even with the A3, it made sure to include features that appeal to photography lovers. The rear houses a 16MP single-lens shooter, backed by AI scene recognition.
In daylight, the camera produces crisp images with decent color reproduction. The AI engine detects different scenarios like landscapes, food, or portraits, and adjusts settings automatically to enhance the output. For instance, greenery looks more vibrant in landscape shots, while skin tones in portraits appear natural.
Low-light photography is decent but not extraordinary. Noise creeps in when the lighting gets poor, but considering its price, the performance is still acceptable.
The front camera is 8MP, and it benefits from Oppo’s beautification algorithms. Selfies come out bright, with smooth skin tones, sometimes overly beautified for purists but perfect for social media enthusiasts.
Video recording is capped at 1080p, and stabilization is minimal. While it won’t replace a flagship for serious video creators, it works fine for casual recordings and video calls.
Oppo A3 Software Experience: ColorOS with AI Touch
The Oppo A3 runs ColorOS 5.0 based on Android 8.1 Oreo at launch. ColorOS is known for being colorful, customizable, and heavily inspired by iOS in its design language.
Oppo integrated AI features into the software, such as AI battery management, which learns user habits to extend battery life, and AI app management, which allocates resources smartly for smoother performance.
Even though the phone originally launched with an older version of Android, the interface felt fluid and user-friendly. Oppo’s emphasis on gestures, app cloning, and theme customization gave the A3 a lively personality.
Of course, in 2025, the software feels outdated compared to today’s Android 14-powered smartphones. But for its time, it was competitive and intuitive for everyday users.
Oppo A3 Battery Life: 3400mAh of Dependable Power
The Oppo A3 packs a 3400mAh battery, which was standard for its category at launch. With efficient power management from the Helio P60 and Oppo’s AI-driven optimization, the phone comfortably lasts a full day of regular use.
For average users engaging in browsing, messaging, streaming, and a bit of gaming, the A3 delivers consistent performance. Heavy users may need a top-up by evening, but overall, the endurance is respectable.
What it lacks, however, is fast charging. The Oppo A3 sticks to standard charging speeds, which feels slow by today’s standards. At the time of launch, it wasn’t a huge deal, but as competitors began pushing VOOC and Quick Charge technologies, this became an area where the A3 showed its age.
Oppo A3 Multimedia and Entertainment
For entertainment, the Oppo A3 makes good use of its large Full HD display. Watching YouTube videos or streaming shows is a pleasant experience. The speaker output is average — clear enough indoors but not particularly loud or bass-heavy.
Headphone performance is decent, and Oppo’s software tweaks allow you to customize sound profiles. With wired earphones, the experience improves considerably.
Gaming on the A3, as mentioned earlier, is enjoyable at medium settings. The combination of Helio P60 and Mali-G72 GPU was tuned well for casual entertainment.
Oppo A3 vs Rivals at Launch
When the Oppo A3 launched, it was competing against models from Xiaomi, Huawei, and Vivo. To understand its positioning, here’s a comparison with some of its rivals of that time:
| Feature | Oppo A3 | Xiaomi Mi A2 | Vivo V9 | Huawei P20 Lite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.2″ FHD+ (2280×1080) | 5.99″ FHD+ | 6.3″ FHD+ | 5.84″ FHD+ |
| Processor | Helio P60 | Snapdragon 660 | Snapdragon 626 | Kirin 659 |
| Rear Camera | 16MP | 12MP + 20MP | 16MP + 5MP | 16MP + 2MP |
| Front Camera | 8MP | 20MP | 24MP | 16MP |
| Battery | 3400mAh | 3010mAh | 3260mAh | 3000mAh |
| Price (at launch) | ~₹20,000 | ~₹16,999 | ~₹18,990 | ~₹19,999 |
From the table, it’s clear that the Oppo A3 leaned more on design and AI features, while competitors like Vivo and Xiaomi focused heavily on selfie cameras or dual-camera setups. Oppo’s decision to stick with a single rear camera was unusual at the time but highlighted its confidence in AI image processing.
Oppo A3 Price and Availability
At launch, the Oppo A3 was priced around ₹20,000 in India, placing it firmly in the mid-range segment. This price point brought it in direct competition with Xiaomi’s aggressively priced Mi A2 and Vivo’s selfie-centric models.
While some felt the A3 was slightly expensive for what it offered, Oppo justified the price through design, storage capacity (128GB as standard), and AI-driven features. Over time, with offers and discounts, the phone became more accessible for a wider audience.
Oppo A3 Real-World Experience: Who Was It For?
The Oppo A3 was never about being a specs monster. Instead, it targeted users who wanted a stylish, dependable phone for daily use — people who cared about design, selfies, and having enough storage without paying flagship prices.
For college students, casual users, and those stepping up from entry-level smartphones, the A3 delivered a polished experience. Even today, many Oppo A3 units remain in use, a testament to its durability and Oppo’s focus on build quality.
Final Verdict: Oppo A3 in Retrospect
Looking back, the Oppo A3 was a bold attempt by Oppo to differentiate itself in the crowded mid-range market. It offered a premium design, Full HD display, decent AI-powered camera, and reliable performance in a package that felt aspirational for many buyers.
Yes, it had its shortcomings — lack of fast charging, absence of a fingerprint sensor, and dated software by today’s standards. But for its time, it carved out a niche by prioritizing design and AI features over raw hardware numbers.
In 2025, the Oppo A3 is no longer a phone you’d buy new, but it remains an important milestone in Oppo’s journey. It showcased the company’s commitment to blending style, innovation, and affordability, a formula that still defines its A-series today.
Closing Thoughts: Oppo A3
The story of the Oppo A3 is not just about specifications. It’s about a smartphone that tried to bring a premium vibe to the mid-range, giving buyers a taste of modern design and AI-driven features without going all out on price.
For many first-time buyers, it was a gateway into Oppo’s world of stylish yet functional devices. And while technology has moved on dramatically since its launch, the A3 remains a reminder that sometimes, a phone’s charm lies not just in benchmarks or megapixels, but in the way it makes users feel.