The Oppo A53 debuted in South Africa in early 2021 and is fast becoming a favourite across the world thanks largely to it being budget friendly yet offering plenty of tech in a high quality form factor.
__Under the Hood__
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 (aka SM4250) chipset powers the Oppo A53 and the device comes standard with ColorOS 7.2 running atop Google Android Version 10.
The device boasts a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels, a 90Hz refresh rate and an Oppo-specific setting called Eye Comfort, which warms up the screen brightness and colours for comfortable viewing.
The A53 comes standard with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, which can be expanded to a whopping 256GB with the addition of a Micro SD card.
An interesting in-built addition is the inclusion of the Oppo Game Space, which allows users to manage and optimise every individual game added onto the device!
__Screen and Body__
Despite its budget status, the Oppo A53 has a pricey look and feel. The device has a gently curved back which adds to its allure and sets it apart from its competitors in the looks department. Add to that its glossy plastic finish and Gorilla Glass 6.5” display and you have a winner!
The A53 is available in four colours – Electric Black, Fairy White, Fancy Blue and Mint Cream.
In terms of security, the A53 is doubly equipped with a rear fingerprint sensor and a facial recognition sensor.
__Camera__
The Oppo A53 comes fitted with a Triple Lens Camera, with 13MP primary sensor, 2MP depth sensor and a 2MP macro camera. The telephoto, wide angle and nightmode feature have all been dropped from this particular Oppo model, which is unfortunate for photography fanatics.
That being said, the A53 is able to shoot to a good standard for its price and will fulfil the needs of anyone just wanting to upload to social media. On the plus side, the device includes some cool enhancing options such as HDR, portrait mode and a feature called Dazzle Color, which helps images really pop.
The Oppo A53’s video capabilities are good. Despite shooting solely in HD, the device handles changes in brightness and quick movements well.
The selfie camera makes up for any lingering disappointment caused by the rear camera. The 16MP camera is able to shoot beautifully detailed shots with or without the AI Beautification mode on.
__Battery__
[Oppo](https://www.mondo.co.za/deals/search?device=phone&brand=oppo) is on a constant mission to create the fastest charging phone in the world. The A53 may not be that device just yet but the phone’s battery life is very impressive. It can hold out for close to two days on a single charge on medium to high usage. As a bonus, the A53 comes with a 18W quick charger.
__Verdict__
If you’re looking for near pro-level photography specs, maybe give this one a miss. But if photography isn’t a make or break factor for you, then the excellent battery life, price and snazzy looks alone will make the Oppo A53 a definite front-runner.
