A smartphone is an important part of our lives nowadays. From reading the morning news to staying up late on social media, this little device is a companion for every moment. Group chat on WhatsApp, Tutorials on YouTube, or online shopping- everything happens to the same device. Recently, I bought the Oppo A18, a cheap but reliable phone. In this article, I will talk about this phone’s design, screen, camera, battery, performance, and software based on my personal experiences. This is a common user story, which will help you decide whether this phone is best for you.
Design: Beauty in Simplicity
When I first saw the Oppo A18, I liked its lightweight design immediately. This phone weighs only 188 grams, which makes it very comfortable to hold it. Its back panel lies with a shiny pearl finish, which shines slightly in the light and gives the phone a premium touch. I chose a Glowing Blue Color, which changes between blue and light green in the sun. Once I placed the phone table in my office, and a colleague said, “That looks quite stylish!”
The plastic frames of the phone make the edges smooth, and although it is not the same as the metal frame of expensive phones, it looks great at this price. There is a 6.56-inch screen on the front, with a water drop notch where the front camera is fitted. Its screen-to-body ratio is about 85%, which gives it a big and attractive screen. The phone buttons are in a good place, and their feedback gives a satisfying click. There is a problem with fingerprints on the back panel, but I made a transparent case, which solved it. One of the biggest things is that the phone comes with an IP54 rating, meaning it is protected from light dust and water splashes, which is great for daily use.
Display: Bright and Comfortable
Oppo A18 has a 6.56-inch IPS LCD screen, with a resolution of 720 x 1612 pixels. The 90hz refresh rate makes the screen very smooth, whether I’m scrolling on Instagram or watching videos on YouTube. The colors are good enough, but since it is not AMOLED, the depth of colors is not as expensive as phones. Nevertheless, it is perfectly appropriate at this price.
One day I was in a shopping mall with a friend, and the screen appeared to be very clear thanks to the brightness of 720 nits brightness while exiting the sun. Watch a travel documentary on Netflix, and although HDR was missed, the overall video experience was good. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor is very fast, and the phone is immediately locked. However, if the hands are cold or lightly wet, then sometimes you have to touch them again. I put a screen protector, which protects from scratches, and the screen is still new.
Camera: To Secure Everyday Moments
Oppo A18‘s camera is according to the budget phone standard, and its dual camera setup includes:
- 8-megapixel primary sensor (with F/2.0 Appearance, with auto-focus)
- 2-megapixel depth sensor
One evening I took pictures in my neighborhood park, and the primary camera gave good results in daylight. The colors were clear, and the details were good, especially when the light was good. The depth sensor blurred the background in portrait mode, which was great in my family photos. But in low light, the photos have more noise, and the night mode is not as effective as it is in inexpensive phones.
The 5-megapixel front camera is great and ideal for social media use. I took selfies in a coffee shop with a friend, and AI beauty mode made the pictures light. It’s good for video calls on WhatsApp, but at night the quality drops slightly. The camera app has modes like panorama, portraits, and time lapses, which are good for simple photography. There is a 1080p video recording, which is enough for creating Instagram reels or TikTok. If you are an enthusiast of photography, you might see a more powerful camera phone, but it works for everyday moments.
Performance: And Everyday Trusted Partner
The Oppo A18 is equipped with a Mediatek MT6769 Helio G85 processor, which is manufactured using 12nm technology. Its Octa-Core is great for CPU and Mali-G52 GPU is great for everyday tasks. I use the phone for WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube, and emails, and it runs without a slowdown.
I played games like PUBG, Candy Crush, and Clash of Clans, and it went well on medium settings. High graphics occasionally have a mild slowing, but the Game Space feature improves gaming. The phone comes with 4GB RAM and 128GB storage and improves 4GB of Extended RAM multitasking. I opened 6-8 apps together, and the phone handled everything well. Storage can be extended from a microSD card to 1TB, which is enough for my photos and videos.
Software: Simplicity of Colors 13.1
Oppo A18 runs on the Android 13-based Colors 13.1, which is a user-friendly interface. From the smart sidebar, I can go to my favorite apps such as YouTube or WhatsApp. From the privacy dashboard, I check app permission, which is great for data security. However, there are some pre-installed apps that cannot be removed, which occasionally upsets.
AI features like text scanners work are very useful. Once, I scanned an address from a shop signboard, and it happened in seconds.
- The 5000mAh battery is the biggest benefit of this phone.
- Smart power-saving modes save battery, and the phone speed is not affected.
Battery: With All Day Long
The Oppo A18‘s 5000mAh battery represents the most significant advantage of this phone. I use the phone from morning to night, for calls, social media, and occasionally gaming-and 20-25% of the battery is saved at night.
The phone supports 10W charging, which is slow. It takes about an hour to charge up to 0 to 50% and for a full charge around two hours. The charger is included in the box, which is good. If you are in a hurry, the lack of fast charging is a problem sometimes.
Connectivity: Stay Connected All the Time
Oppo A18 supports 4G LTE, and the Internet speed is good. WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity is fast. A dual SIM facility is very useful to me, as I use one number for personal use and the other for work. The 3.5mm Audio jack is great for listening to music, but the speaker‘s voice is loud but the base is less. The sound quality can be improved with earbuds.
Price and Details
Oppo A18 includes:
- 4GB RAM
- 64GB Storage
Its price around Rs 27,999
Users Feedback
I received their opinion about Oppo A18 from some of my close relatives and neighbors. One relative said the phone’s battery affects it the most, as it uses video calls and social media all day and the battery still runs at night. A neighbor praised the screen brightness, especially when he uses the phone in the sun. However, a cousin said the camera was fine for every day, but the quality of the images could improve in the low light. Overall, everyone called the phone a good choice in terms of its price.
Final Verdict: Is it for you?
Oppo A18 is a great budget phone, which is great in terms of design, battery, and screen. If you want a cheap, reliable phone that is for everyday tasks, casual photography, and basic gaming, it is best for you. This phone is greater than my expectations, and Oppo proved that it can give good features at affordable prices. If you are thinking of buying it, definitely try-it will keep you happy!
Also Read: Oppo Reno 12F Real User Review: Stylish Design, Strong Battery & Smooth Performance in Budget