OPPO is a firm whose popularity in our country is still very far from others like Xiaomi but has increased its presence recently. The general public has begun to know her, and her advertising campaigns have filled bus stops in many of our cities.
In the large stores of a lifetime, it is not difficult to find a stand intended solely for OPPO terminals, among which we see a considerable variety. On the one hand, the Reno family models, such as the OPPO Reno2 and the OPPO Reno 10x Zoom, on the other, more modest terminals such as the OPPO A5 2020.
Despite having very different characteristics, they all share details in their design. OPPO has strived to create a recognizable line in which we can associate them beyond the price and range of the devices without problems.
During the last weeks, I have used the OPPO A9 2020 as a personal device, specifically its only model with 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. I have had the opportunity to test it thoroughly, and these are all my impressions.
OPPO A9 2020 datasheet
| OPPO A9 2020 | |
| specs | |
| Dimensions | 75.6 mm x 163.6 mm x 9.1 mm |
| Weight | 195 grams |
| Screen | 6.5-inch IPS, HD + resolution, and 270 pixels per inch |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Operating system | ColorOS 6 on Android 9 |
| Storage | 128 GB |
| Cameras | 48 MP f / 1.8 + 8 MP f / 2.25 + 2 MP f / 2.4 + 2 MP f / 2.4 rear | 16 megapixel front |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh with fast charging |
| Others | NFC, headphone jack, FM radio |
| Starting price | From 229 euros |
The best of the OPPO A9 2020
Design
The design of this OPPO A9 2020 is not surprising, but it is attractive and looks pretty, especially for its color. During these days, I have had in my hands the model Space Purple, a powerful violet that turned bluish at times and depending on the environment. Its back reflects light, not like other terminals that draw all kinds of shapes, but rather it outlines a letter S that is quite elegant.
I could say that we are in front of the ubiquitous “sandwich glass” style construction – I thought so at first – but it is not like that. The back of the Chinese terminal is plastic, but its solid construction makes it look like glass. And we have reached a point where it is difficult to know if an airport is made of glass or plastic just by touch.
Its four chambers are arranged vertically in a module that occupies a central position and does not protrude excessively. However, it will dance if you write while leaning on the table. The aluminum sides close a recognizable design that we have seen in other OPPO smartphones, which is still attractive.
Despite its weight being dangerously close to 200 grams, I have not felt holding a heavy terminal. The curvature of its back probably helps, making it comfortable in hand, making it easier to grip, and making it appear slimmer.
Autonomy
The OPPO terminal has a massive 5,000 mAh battery. Considering that its 6.5-inch screen has HD + resolution, from the first moment, I expected significant autonomy, and it has been. The OPPO A9 will not leave you lying down if you are one of those who charge the smartphone during the night. With my regular use, which includes several hours of social networks, photographs, and Netflix or YouTube, I have exceeded eight and even 9 hours of the screen without any problem.
Not long ago, I was able to analyze the Redmi Note 8T, which we would place more or less in the same price range, and in its analysis, we highlight a performance that brought us closer to 8 hours of screen. In this case, the OPPO terminal surpasses it without problems, as with most rivals, also at a higher price.
If your use is not too demanding, you may reach up to 3 days of use, numbers that cannot be talked about every day. This OPPO A9 may be one of the main rivals to beat in terms of autonomy in the mid-range of this year 2020.
Cameras
The rear of this A9 houses a total of 4 cameras. We find a 48-megapixel primary sensor, an 8-megapixel wide-angle sensor, a 2-megapixel sensor for the bokeh effect, and a last 2-megapixel camera. On the other hand, OPPO has opted for a 16-megapixel sensor and 2.0 focal length on the front.
When the conditions are right, the photographs we obtain are pretty good. OPPO has shown that its processing can become one of the benchmarks, with special photographic sections. As we pointed out in its review, the OPPO Reno2 could take good images in practically any scenario. This OPPO A9 has also been shown to have constant cameras, which call to shoot without fear of taking a bad picture.
Photography by day and portrait mode
The photographs that I have been able to take in broad daylight with this OPPO A9 2020 are pretty good, with a good level of detail and contrast. On the other hand, even if we subject it to somewhat unfavorable conditions, it achieves an appropriate white balance in most shots.
Although I do not recommend using it every time – you run the risk of finding somewhat burnt backgrounds – the HDR does a good job and can help you collect a more significant amount of information. We obtain very detailed and colorful photographs with an excellent dynamic range.
The portrait mode is another point that deserves to be highlighted in the OPPO device. When there is light and the subject does not have too many complications, we can take delightful photographs with a correct cutout and a remarkable amount of detail. In addition, the blur is not too artificial, so we find natural and pleasant results .
Night mode
The Chinese terminal has surprised me in night conditions. It is not the most common in devices of its range, but the night mode collects a significant amount of light, maintaining a correct level of detail and sharpness. In the gallery, you will find some less graceful images, very grainy, but they were taken practically in the total absence of light, so the result is commendable.
Frontal camera
You won’t have trouble taking good selfies with the front camera of this device. It does not stand out from its rivals, and of course, the level drops noticeably when the light falls, but you will obtain satisfactory results in more or less favorable conditions.
The not so good on the OPPO A9 2020
Screen
A panel 6.5-inch IPS and HD + resolution is the first thing you find when picking up the OPPO terminal. This one has a small chin and a drop-shaped notch at the top. Especially in recent months, we have seen how pop-up systems and other resources such as the hole in the screen have settled in the mid-range, which have allowed manufacturers to occupy a more significant percentage of the front. It is not the case of this OPPO, in which we could ask for better use.
The viewing angles are good, the colors somewhat cold – to be expected in an IPS panel – but nothing remarkable. On the other hand, I have missed a higher level of brightness outdoors. There were times when it was pretty challenging to know what was happening on the screen in broad daylight.
The resolution is another point that has not satisfied me. It is not something too serious, but there are times when the lack of resolution and the density of 270 pixels per inch becomes evident, not too high. You will not have any problem using it in your day-to-day and wandering between menus and applications, but you may miss a higher resolution when you want to watch videos, series, or movies. The audio, on the other hand, does not stand out for its quality either.
This is the experience with the OPPO A9 2020
Under the chassis of the OPPO A9 is a processor that we have come across on many occasions. We are talking about the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665, the same brain as other devices like the Redmi Note 8T or the Realme 5 Pro mount. Thanks to him, the OPPO smartphone moves smoothly on a day-to-day basis.
The OPPO keeps the type when we demand something more, with heavy games like F1 Manager or the already usual PUBG and Call of Duty: Mobile. You will enjoy playing in the Chinese terminal; I have not had any problems during these days, although, of course, you will not get the same experience as with higher rank processors.
ColorOS is the customization layer created by OPPO, which is already in its version number 6. Based on Android 10, it has a characteristic aesthetic. We are talking about a fluid layer, which works well and gives the user a lot of customization options.
Aesthetics aside, there are things that I liked about ColorOS 6. One of them is the possibility of setting applications so that they do not close while we do other tasks. It is helpful with apps you constantly use and do not want to be opening and closing. Yes, they will occupy a part of your 4 GB of RAM, but you can open them instantly whenever you need them.
OPPO A9 2020: conclusions and opinion
The OPPO A9 2020 is a device that stands out, much more than anything else, for its autonomy. I have completely not worry about the charger during these weeks, even if I spent the day on Netflix, playing games, or taking pictures.
Its performance is quite correct; we know very well Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 665, a processor with which you can rest easy. Along with ColorOS, which performs well, the applications that I use the most in my day to day have moved without any problem. If you want to enjoy somewhat more demanding games and apps, you can also do it.
As I mentioned earlier, the best thing is the feeling that you will be able to collect good images in almost any situation. OPPO’s mid-range cameras have been one of the surprises, giving me colorful and pleasant photographs. I’m not forgetting, the portrait mode, natural and with a good crop, also deserves a special mention.
It is not something serious, but the OPPO terminal has a clear weak point, its screen. Its IPS panel with HD + resolution is not the best way to enjoy series and movies, but it is still a correct screen. In addition, although we could indeed ask for a somewhat higher resolution, it contributes to its excellent autonomy.
OPPO A9 2020: price and where to buy it
We can currently find the OPPO A9 2020 for just under 220 euros on Amazon. Remember, we are talking about its only version with 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, correct numbers. If you prefer, you can also find it in physical stores such as El Corte Inglés or MediaMarkt .
| OPPO A9 2020, opinion and note from Andro4all | |
| Should you buy the OPPO A9 2020? | |
| In favor |
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| Against |
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| Conclusions | The OPPO A9 2020 is postulated as a great option, around 200 euros, with a massive battery, good performance, and cameras surprised us. |
| Punctuation |
OPPO A9 2020 Charger? What’s that? |
Sharlene Meriel is an avid gamer with a knack for technology. He has been writing about the latest technologies for the past 5 years. His contribution in technology journalism has been noteworthy. He is also a day trader with interest in the Forex market.
