The Oppo A38, launched in September 2023, is a compelling smartphone that blends Oppo’s signature design aesthetics with practical features, targeting the budget to mid-range segment. It aims to provide a reliable and enjoyable user experience, emphasizing a smooth display, capable camera, and robust battery life, all at an accessible price point.
Design and Display
The Oppo A38 features a stylish and modern design, incorporating Oppo’s “Glow Design” which offers a subtle shimmering effect on the back panel, resisting fingerprints. It’s available in attractive colors like Glowing Black and Glowing Gold. The device measures 8.16mm in thickness and weighs 190g, providing a comfortable and lightweight feel in hand. It boasts an IP54 rating for dust and splash resistance, adding a layer of durability against everyday elements. A side-mounted fingerprint sensor is integrated for quick and secure unlocking.
Performance and Software
Under the hood, the Oppo A38 is powered by the MediaTek Helio G85 chipset (12nm). This octa-core processor, with its two Cortex-A75 cores clocked at 2.0 GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores at 1.8 GHz, delivers reliable performance for typical smartphone usage. It efficiently handles social media, web Browse, video streaming, and casual mobile games. The phone comes with 4GB or 6GB of LPDDR4X RAM (with up to 4GB of extended virtual RAM) and 128GB of eMMC 5.1 internal storage, which is expandable up to 1TB via a microSDXC card.
Camera Capabilities
The Oppo A38 features a dual-camera setup on the rear, centered around a capable 50MP main camera with an f/1.8 aperture and PDAF (Phase Detection Autofocus). This primary sensor is designed to capture detailed and vibrant photos in well-lit conditions. It’s complemented by a 2MP depth sensor (f/2.4), which assists in creating bokeh effects for portrait mode shots. Features like LED flash, HDR, and Panorama are included. For selfies and video calls, there’s a 5MP front camera (f/2.2), which provides decent quality for social sharing. Both front and rear cameras support 1080p video recording at 30fps.
Battery Life
A significant strong point of the Oppo A38 is its robust battery. It comes equipped with a large 5000mAh non-removable battery. This generous capacity, combined with the power-efficient Helio G85 chipset and the HD+ display, ensures excellent multi-day battery life for most users. The device supports 33W SUPERVOOC fast charging, allowing for remarkably quick top-ups (Oppo claims 50% charge in just 30 minutes).
Price and Value
The Oppo A38 offers excellent value for money in the competitive budget smartphone market. With prices in Nigeria starting from approximately ₦164,000 (around $110 USD) for the 6GB/128GB variant, it delivers a strong combination of a stylish design, a smooth 90Hz display, capable performance for daily tasks, a good 50MP main camera, and impressive battery life with very fast charging.
Conclusion
The Oppo A38 is a highly attractive option for budget-conscious consumers seeking a balanced and reliable smartphone. It successfully combines a modern and durable design with a fluid 90Hz display, dependable performance for everyday use, and outstanding battery life with rapid charging. While its front camera is modest, the overall package makes the Oppo A38 a compelling and practical choice in its segment.
