The year 2023 finally entered the month of May. Pejam Celik has left us almost half of the year 2023. Among the things we find interesting this year is the emergence of many mid-range phones that are sold at affordable prices with satisfactory performance. Examples are iQOO Z7X, and OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite. Today we are reviewing the recently launched Oppo A98 5G. From the outside it may look like a new device but it actually has the same specifications as the previous two devices as well as the Reno8 T 5G.
If you feel the look is familiar, this is because the A98 has the same design as the Reno8 T 5G. The question is if you are given the choice of A98 5G, Reno8 T 5G, Z7X and Nord CE 3 Lite which is the best choice?
SPECIFICATIONS
Oppo A98 5G
6.72″ IPS LCD screen,
1080 x 2388 , 120Hz, HDR10
Snapdragon 695 processor (6nm)
2 X 2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold Chip
6 X 1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver
Adreno 619 Graphics Chip
RAM 8 GB LPDDR4X
Internal Storage 256 GB UFS 2.2
Micro SD up to 1TB
64MP Main Camera, (Wide Angle)
2MP (Micro)
2MP (Depth)
32 MP Selfie Camera
5000 mAh battery
67W wired charging
SIM/Telephony Dual SIM nano / 5G
NFC Yes
Audio Jack Yes
Waterproof None
Scan System Side finger scanner
Selling price
RM 1399 (8/256GB)
SCREEN
The 6.72″ FHD+ screen is from the IPS LCD family but supports a 120Hz refresh rate. The screen can be changed to dynamic settings, 60Hz, 90Hz or 120Hz all the time if needed. Scrolling and animations on the screen are smooth without stuttering issues due to the high refresh rate. Despite just using an IPS LCD screen, the display quality is satisfactory for browsing the web, and watching videos. The only common issues are that the colors aren't the most vibrant, aren't clear in the hot sun (like the current weather) and the blacks look grey.
These are the same specs as Nord CE 3 Lite and iQOO Z7X. The bezel does not have an even thickness with it being thickest at the chin making it look less symmetrical. In the category of devices under RM1500 this is common because more symmetrical designs are more commonly used on devices sold at higher prices. As we said in the iQOO Z7X review earlier today, if you want a better screen, buy the Reno8 T 5G which uses an OLED screen.
INFO iQOO Z7X Review – A Decent Cheap Device
FINGERPRINT SCANNER
The fingerprint scanner is placed on the right side built into the power button. There is a small groove that keeps fingers from finding this scanner easily. Throughout the review period the fingerprint scanner operated quickly and rarely malfunctioned.
DESIGN
The design of the A98 5G is very similar to the Reno8 T 5G with the back panel being almost indistinguishable. The body has boxy sides making it comfortable to hold. This design is similar to the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite which we also reviewed a few weeks ago. It's like Oppo took a bit of the sea from device A and then combined it with parts of device B. Like taking Lego blocks to sell a new device.
The back panel is made of a polycarbonate material that is neither slippery nor shiny. Dirt does not easily stick to this panel. On the model we reviewed it comes with a beautiful blue gradient color. The device is very comfortable in the hand without any difficulty to abuse it with one hand.
The power button is placed on the right side and it also doubles as a fingerprint scanner. Meanwhile, the audio and SIM tray buttons are placed on the left side. Talam only supports dual-SIM nano and micro SD card slot up to 1TB. The audio jack, speaker grille and USB-C charging port are located at the bottom of the device.
On the back there is a moderately large camera bump. It's not so tall that it makes the device dangle. The back panel is made of non-glossy polycarbonate so it doesn't get dirty easily. The oval-shaped rough texture on the back also helps keep the device from feeling slippery in the hand when the frame is not in use. Like other Oppo devices, a transparent polycarbonate frame comes free with every purchase.
USAGE AND SOFTWARE
ColorOS 13.1 operating system is used with it based on Android 13. During the review period of around a week, we did not have any serious issues with the use of the device. Scrolling still feels smooth and various daily use applications can be installed and run well. Although the Snapdragon 695 is no longer the best mid-range chip like the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 1 or the Snapdragon 782, we still feel it is satisfactory for an affordable mid-range device.
This is a chip with eight CPU cores using a configuration of 2x Cortex A78 cores and 6x Cortex A55 cores. It also supports the 5G network which is now a requirement in Malaysia. The same chip is used in the iQOO Z7X, Poco X5, OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite, Oppo Reno8 T and Realme 10. Since we have already reviewed all these devices this year, the A98 5G's performance is the same as the five devices listed earlier.
In Malaysia, only models with 8GB RAM memory and 256GB storage are offered. There is an Extended RAM option that adds up to 8GB of additional RAM with options of 4, 6 and 8 GB. With this up to 16GB of RAM can be used on the A98 5G which is very sufficient. This feature can be turned off if the user cares more about storage than memory.
No issues installing the majority of apps like Netflix, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Prime Video and TikTok. Launching the application is also fast because of the UFS type. The experience of using ColorOS 13.1 is very similar to the original Android so there are not so many additional features included. In the BBK Electronics umbrella, we feel ColorOS is the easiest interface to use. Packed with features but still provides a satisfying user experience as long as it's not compared to flagship devices like the Oppo Find N2 Flip.
Other features that we find interesting are.
Kid Space - Changed the interface to be more kid-friendly and limited the apps they could access.
Focus Mode – Concentration mode that avoids distractions from the device.
Smart Sidebar – Quickly access favorite applications through side tabs displayed on every device screen.
Split Screen/Flexible Windows -Launch two applications simultaneously on the screen or float more than one application on the screen using multi-window.
Safety & Emergency -Emergency mode makes a phone call to get help. SMS can be sent to selected people along with the GPS position when the battery is low.
App Lock - Lock access to some applications such as banking or gallery to prevent them from being used by unauthorized people.
Link to Windows – Access the device directly from a Windows PC.
BENCH MARK
In the main benchmark tests Antutu 3D, Geekbench 6 and 3D Mark it recorded a score comparable to the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite, iQOO Z7X, and Realme 10 Coca Cola equipped with the same chip. We've also included a score for the Samsung Galaxy A34 with Dimensity 1080 as a comparison for those looking for a slightly more powerful device.
Geekbench 6
Oppo A98 5G – 885/2034
iQOO Z7X – 899/2109
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite – 876/1972
Samsung Galaxy A34– 1032/2254
Realme 10 Pro Coca-Cola – 852/1907
AnTuTu 3D
Oppo A98 5G – 411,010
iQOO Z7X – 410,677
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite – 400,999
Samsung Galaxy A34 – 474,409
Realme 10 Pro Coca-Cola – 406,243
3DMark
Oppo A98 5G – 1212
iQOO Z7X – 1196
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite – 1209
Samsung Galaxy A34 –
Realme 10 Pro Coca-Cola – 1127
Popular games such as Free Fire, PUBG Mobile and COD Mobile can only run on medium graphics settings due to the old chips. We recommend the above three applications to be played on medium settings only if high frame rates are important to the device owner. Various popular applications can be launched without any issues. For a mid-range device, the A98 5G has performance comparable to other devices in the same class.
TELEPHONY And GPS
5G network can be enjoyed along with VoLTE feature and VoWiFi your telecom company supports it. Clear voice calls are possible without frequent dropout issues. The GPS performance is also good because the location can be tracked in the Waze and Google Maps applications in just a few seconds. Two 5G SIMs can be supported simultaneously as long as the micro SD card does not take up the second SIM slot.
CAMERA
The camera system used is quite unique because it combines a 64MP wide-angle sensor, 2MP depth and 2MP microscope lens. On the front, a 32MP sensor is used. There is no OIS system included which is a little disappointing. The lack of an ultra wide angle lens is also disappointing but this seems to be standard on devices priced below RM1500 in Malaysia now.
The Z7X's photographic capabilities are decent in good lighting situations but disappointing in poor lighting situations. We start with image quality first. All the pictures we took looked soft and not sharp enough. In a typical situation this is an issue in poor lighting conditions. But on A98 it is visible on all pictures.
Color reproduction is also unsatisfactory. The color of the plastic flower below for example should be cat instead of white like the picture taken. HDR mode is also less bright. Everything is simple. Nothing spectacular here.
BATTERY
Battery life is good with an average SOT of 9-10 hours a day with it still having around 20% battery at 10pm after being removed from the charger at 7am. Battery performance is comparable to other devices with a Snapdragon 695 and a 5000 mAh battery. So it's not surprising that it's the same as the iQOO Z7X and Reno 10 Pro. Battery recharge is under 1 hour using the SuperVOOC 67W charger included in the box.
AUDIO
The speakers are stereo and the audio produced is satisfactory even without Dolby Atmos support. The audio is less balanced because the bottom speaker is louder. In daily use the sound produced is clear, loud enough and does not break. The 3.5mm audio jack on the bottom is a handy bonus for those who still have wired audio accessories.
IN THE BOX
Here is what is received in the box with purchase.
1x Oppo A98 5G.
1x 67W Charger.
1x Silicone frame.
1x USB-A to USB-C charging cable.
1x Manual.
1x SIM Pin.
CONCLUSION
At a price of RM1399, the A98 5G is more expensive than the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite which has 90% of the same specifications. It's no exaggeration to say the A98 5G is a clone of the Nord CE 3 Lite but with a significant price jump. Therefore, it is a little difficult to recommend its purchase to readers at this time.
The A98 5G is not a bad device, but if there is a device with the same specifications and almost the same operating system it is difficult to recommend the device that is sold at a higher price. We feel like the A98 5G is like a Galactic Empire Stormtrooper cloned from Jango Fett.
You can buy if you want but Jango is more perfect and in this case OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is a better choice. If you want more savings, the iQOO Z7X is cheaper only with dual cameras but a much bigger battery and faster charging.
Pro
The 120Hz screen makes the use look smooth.
Satisfactory processor performance for the majority of applications.
Long lasting battery with 67W fast charging.
Interesting design.
Stereo speakers and audio jack.
Cons
The screen is just LCD.
Asymmetric thick screen bezels.
No ultra wide angle camera.