Initial Verdict: The OPPO A96 might face tough competition in the Philippines because of what it has to offer compared to similarly-priced rivals. Its possible ace lies in the optimization of ColorOS 11.1.

Pros

• Better processor vs A95
• Bigger internal storage

Cons

• Downgrade to IPS
• Pricey

 

OPPO A96 Philippines Specs

• Snapdragon 680 processor
• 8GB LPDDR4X RAM
• 256GB UFS 2.2 storage
• 6.59-inch Full HD+ 90Hz IPS display, DCI-P3
• 50-megapixel f/1.8 main camera w/ PDAF, 2-megapixel f/2.4 depth sensor
• 16-megapixel f/2.0 selfie camera
• 4G, LTE
• WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0
• Stereo speakers, Side-mounted fingerprint scanner, IP54 rating
• 5000 mAh battery
• 33W fast charging
• ColorOS 11.1, Android 11

OPPO brings over its trademark Glow aesthetic to the entry-level A-series, and the A96 is one of the first models in the Philippines to have this updated design. The top-end A-series variant for 2022 just went official in the Philippines, and we check out what it has to offer.

Unboxing and packaging contents

Like other A-series models released in the past two years, you get a light blue outer sleeve for the A96 and a black box for housing all of the contents. Inside the box, you have your documentation, 33w charger, USB-C cable, silicone case, and the phone itself.

Design

With OPPO bringing over the Glow aesthetic of the Reno7 to the A-series, the A96 looks very similar to its more expensive mid-range sibling. The visual differences are evident with the A96 only having two cameras at the back, along with a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.

You still get a headphone jack and MicroSD card with the A96, and both the Starry Black and Pearl Pink colorways have a glitter-like finish. The Pearl Pink is the better colorway, as it has a color-shifting effect. The back panel comes with a matte finish that does a good job of repelling fingerprints.

Stereo speakers still remain on the A96, and it’s nice of OPPO to make it a standard for all of its A9x phones since the A92. A new addition to the A96 is the IP54 rating, which makes it resistant to accidental water splashes.

 

Display

OPPO has been using AMOLED panels since the A91, and we’re surprised that they decided to revert back to an IPS panel (and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner) for the A96. It may sound like a downgrade for the A-series top dog, but OPPO gave the A96 a Full HD+ resolution and a 90hz refresh rate. Colors are not as vibrant as AMOLED panels, but the A96’s IPS display is good enough for consuming content.

Like its predecessor, you still get stereo speakers on the A96. The overall sound quality is just as good, with good overall audio fidelity even when you try to max out the volume.

 

Cameras

OPPO kept the cameras simpler with the A96, giving it a dual-rear camera setup and ditching one of the 2-megapixel cameras. Only the 50-megapixel snapper is the useful camera here, as the 2-megapixel depth sensor is more of a stat stuffer.

Compared to the A95, the A96 has a higher-resolution main camera–though we will have to put it through the wringer to see if they are a good upgrade.

 

Internals

Aside from getting double the internal storage at 256GB, the A96 now uses a Snapdragon 680 processor, which has a higher CPU clock speed than the Snapdragon 662 used on the A95. We have tested several phones using a Snapdragon 680, and our general impression is that Qualcomm’s 2022 mid-range chip is designed more for power efficiency than gaming. We will have to see if ColorOS has other software-level tweaks that can maximize what the Snapdragon 680 has to offer.

You still get the same 5000mAh battery on the A96, along with 33w wired charging. Given that the Snapdragon 680 is focused on power efficiency, we expect the A96 to do very well when it comes to PCMark’s battery benchmark test.

 

Wrap up and Initial Verdict

While it may seem like a downgrade to last year’s A95 due to a shift from AMOLED to IPS display, the A96 offers a fair share of upgrades with the processor, main camera, and internal storage. However, its asking price is steep for the specs it has to offer.

OPPO A96 Price Philippines

The OPPO A96 is priced at Php 15,999 and is available today in Lazada, on OPPO stores nationwide on May 8, and in Shopee on May 25.

Those buying the A96 in Lazada from May 5 to 9 will get a Php 400 voucher and Enco W11 earphones with their purchase.