Not all smartphones can survive the unpredictability of everyday life, but the OPPO A5 Pro aims to do just that. With an IP69 rating, military-grade shock resistance, and a massive 5,800mAh battery, it is built for durability and endurance. But does it deliver beyond its rugged design? We take a closer look at its performance, display, cameras, and more to see if it’s worth considering.
OPPO A5 Pro Specifications
- Display: 6.72-inch LCD, 120Hz, 1000 nits peak brightness
- Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 6300
- RAM: 8GB (with expansion)
- Storage: Up to 256GB
- Rear Cameras: 50MP (main) + 2MP (portrait)
- Selfie Camera: 8MP
- Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC
- Other Features: IP69 rating, Military-grade shock resistance
- OS: ColorOS 15 Lite (Android 15)
- Battery and Fast Charge Tech: 5,800mAh, 45W SUPERVOOC
- Colors: Mocha Brown, Olive Green, Flower Pink
- Price: PHP 10,999 (8GB/128GB), PHP 15,999 (8GB/256GB)
Design and Construction
The OPPO A5 Pro is designed to withstand tough conditions while maintaining a sleek look. The Mocha Brown variant features a soft matte finish that feels premium while repelling fingerprints. At 7.76mm thick and weighing 194g, it remains relatively slim despite its rugged features.
The phone features a minimalist yet functional button and port layout. On the right side, you’ll find the power button, which doubles as a fingerprint sensor for quick and secure unlocking. The volume rocker sits on the left side, offering a responsive feel.
The bottom houses the USB-C charging port, a speaker grille, and a microphone while on the left is a SIM tray, which supports two nano-SIM cards and a microSD card for storage expansion. The absence of a 3.5mm headphone jack is noticeable, but OPPO seems to be encouraging a shift toward wireless audio.
Its IP69 rating is a standout feature, ensuring resistance against water, dust, and even high-pressure sprays. Reinforced with double-tempering glass and a shock-absorbing internal structure, it offers excellent durability for those who need a phone that can take a beating. The combination of the soft matte finish and curved edges also makes it comfortable to hold for extended periods.
Display and Audio
The 6.72-inch LCD panel in the OPPO A5 Pro supports a 120Hz refresh rate, delivering smooth scrolling and animations. While it lacks the deep contrast of an OLED, the 1000-nit peak brightness ensures decent visibility outdoors. Colors appear natural, though slightly muted compared to AMOLED screens, but I prefer this display as it really gives me better viewing as I have astigmatism. Viewing angles are decent, but the brightness drops slightly when viewed from the sides.
The Splash Touch feature enhances usability, allowing the screen to respond accurately even when wet. This is especially useful for users who live in humid environments or need to use their phone during rain.
Audio performance is decent, with dual stereo speakers that provide clear and loud output. The Ultra Volume Mode boosts sound up to 300%, making it useful in noisy environments. However, the absence of a 3.5mm headphone jack may inconvenience some users. Wireless audio quality is good, supporting multiple Bluetooth codecs, including SBC, AAC, and LDAC.
Camera
The OPPO A5 Pro features a 50MP main camera and a 2MP portrait sensor. The camera app includes several useful features like Dual-View Video, which allows you to record from both the front and rear cameras simultaneously, and Livephoto, which captures brief moments before and after a shot.
The main camera captures detailed images in well-lit conditions, good dynamic range. However, color reproduction leaves a lot to be desired, and details soften and become grainy in low-light scenarios, with noise becomes more noticeable, even with AI enhancements active.
Portrait shots have good subject isolation but occasionally struggle with edge detection. The background blur effect is convincing, but the camera tends to over-soften edges in some scenarios. The 8MP front camera is adequate for selfies and video calls, with AI enhancements that improve skin tones and reduce blemishes. However, details can sometimes appear overly processed.
Performance (Software, Hardware, and Connectivity)
Equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset, the OPPO A5 Pro handles everyday tasks smoothly. Multitasking is efficient with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and OPPO’s RAM Expansion technology allows an additional 8GB of virtual RAM, making switching between apps fast and responsive.
ColorOS 15 Lite, based on Android 15, keeps things optimized with its Trinity Engine, ensuring long-term fluidity. The UI is clean and easy to navigate, with useful customization options. App loading times are quick, and there’s minimal lag when switching between heavy apps.
Gaming performance is decent for a mid-range device. Casual games like Mobile Legends and Call of Duty: Mobile run smoothly at medium settings, but demanding titles like Genshin Impact require lower graphics settings to maintain smooth gameplay. The phone tends to warm up slightly during prolonged gaming sessions, but the VC cooling system helps keep temperatures under control.
Connectivity is a strong point, featuring 5G, Wi-Fi 5, and Bluetooth 5.3. OPPO’s AI LinkBoost 2.0 enhances signal reception, even in weak signal areas. BeaconLink allows Bluetooth calls even when there’s no mobile signal, which is especially useful in remote locations.
Battery and Charging
The OPPO A5 Pro’s 5,800mAh battery is one of its biggest strengths, offering excellent longevity. OPPO claims up to 16.1 hours of YouTube playback and over 35 hours of screen-off calling. With moderate usage, it easily lasts more than a day.
Charging is handled by a 45W SUPERVOOC charger, which powers the battery from 0 to 100% in about 83 minutes. A quick 10-minute charge provides enough juice for a couple of hours of usage. Additionally, OPPO’s battery tech ensures that the battery retains over 80% capacity even after four years of daily charging, adding to its long-term reliability.
The Rundown
The OPPO A5 Pro is ideal for users who need a durable, long-lasting smartphone with solid connectivity features. It excels in battery life, ruggedness, and general usability but falls short in camera performance and display quality compared to AMOLED-equipped competitors.
The OPPO A5 Pro 5G comes in two variants:
- 8GB + 128GB – PHP 10,999 (available in Mocha Brown and Olive Green)
- 8GB + 256GB – PHP 15,999 (available in Mocha Brown and Bloom Pink)
The device is available for purchase on Shopee, with added perks such as free shipping vouchers and 0% interest through SPayLater until March 28. Mobile Legends fans can also get a free OPPO x MLBB Skin Card with their purchase until March 28.
