OPPO A76 4G – honest, reliable and fast charging (smartphone review)

The $349 OPPO A76 4G is one of those phones that won’t let you down, especially if it is all you can afford. It is not a spectacular performer, but the 33W fast charge really stands out.

Let’s position it

• Dual sim 4G so you can use lower-cost resellers, and the battery lasts longer
• Better than social media class camera
• Qualcomm SD680 processor, 4/128GB and micro-SD
• Mono but a 3.5mm headphone jack
• Bright 720p screen
• Killer 30+ hour PC Mark 3 battery life – incredible and 33W fast charge/
• OPPO’s excellent build quality and 2-year warranty

Head over to JB Hi-Fi or Harvey Norman, and you will be hard-pressed to find such value in a 2022 model. Motorola’s g51 5G capable at $399 would be the closest, and you may find some 2021 runouts at bargain-basement prices.

OPPO A76 4G CPH2375 4/128GB DUAL SIM

Website	Product page
Price	$349
Colours	Stary Black and Startrails Blue
From	JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, The Good Guys, Wireless1, Woolworths Mobile, Big W, Catch, TeleChoice, Amazon, OPPO online store, Retravision
Warranty	2-years ACL
Country of Origin	China
Company	OPPO is now #2 in Australia for Android smartphone market share. It has achieved that through excellent product and after-sales service.
More	CyberShack OPPO news and reviews

Deep-Dive review format

It is now in two parts. As this is a low-cost device, we will do a brief summary and a separate 300+ line database-driven spec, including over 70 tests to back up the findings. It also helps us compare different phones and features.

First impression – another glass slab

OK, this is where we get back to Glass slab territory. Fortunately, the back is not a fingerprint magnet and offers quite a grippy surface.

There is a dual camera (Primary and Depth) and flash on the back, a mono down-firing speaker below and OPPO’s usual right-side power and left-side volume rocker. It is relatively light at 164.4 x 75.7 x 8.4 mm x 189g.

Things that set it apart from the competition are a very long 30+ hour battery life and a 33W charger inbox. Buy it for that alone.

Screen: 6.56″ 60 or 90Hz or auto step

It Is a bright, relatively colour accurate, tempered glass screen capable of Netflix HD streaming. No better for the price.

Processor: Qualcomm SD 680 and 4/128/microSD

It is fit for purpose, but it is not for games. OPPO’s excellent thermal management means it can deliver full power over 15 minutes with a negligible 7% loss.

Comms – Wi-Fi 5 AC, BT 5.0 and NFC – all you need

NFC at this price is unusual. GPS performance is adequate and accurate to <10 metres.

Phone – city and suburbs

It has very strong phone signal strength finding two of the four closest towers.

Battery – 5000mAh and 33W charging

You can probably get up to a week between charges (light use) and recharge in under an hour.

Sound – mono but quite a nice sound

Mono is typical of phones in this price bracket, but it has a surprisingly pleasant sound signature. Bluetooth and 3.5mm headphones are excellent.

Build – better than most and 2-year warranty

Toughened glass front and plastic back and frame are well made and have a nice feel in hand. OPPO’s strength is its two-year warranty and excellent after-sales support.

Android 11 – you may get 12

At this price, most phones are ‘sell and forget’. OPPO may upgrade it to Android 12 and offers two years of security updates. The Fingerprint reader is conveniently on the power button.

OPPO A76 Camera – dual-sensor, but one does all the work

We use the term social media standard to denote the minimum quality you would post on social media. It is far better than that, but it is really a single sensor that does it all.

• Day (well, an overcast one): Primary sensor – the colours are slightly washed out, but the dynamic range is excellent. Good details in the shadows and highlights.
• Ultra-wide: N/A
• Macro: The primary sensor can take macro shots at 4cm
• Depth: A 2MP sensor helps for bokeh shots – nothing else
• Daylight zoom: It is good at 2x, but 6x is noisy and loses detail
• Office Light (<400 lumens): Good detail and natural colour. Bokeh (portrait) is fine.
• <40 lumens: The standard (not night mode) takes acceptable shots with some detail, but it is clearly struggling, and the image has some noise. Night mode improves the detail and saturates the colour a little but introduces a lot more noise
• Selfie: The MP selfie has natural skin tones and details and a range of filters to enhance any image.
• Video (we are not video experts): You can shoot at 1080p@30fps with some EIS (Electronic Image Stabilisation) for a reasonably stable image. The processor does have some issues in keeping up with post-processing, so it is best to shoot at 720pp@30 or 60fps.

CyberShack’s view – OPPO A76 4G – you can’t do better at $349

First, let me say that at this point, I read other reviews to see if my observations are at odds. The overwhelming feeling that I get is that many reviewers have a sense of entitlement wanting features that cost a damned side more. My attitude is that you can’t do better for this price.

There are phones <$200, and they are OK but cut a few too many corners. You will get a 12-month city phone – a burner if that is all you spend.

In the $200-300 bracket, you start to get some better phones 2021 runout models from vivo, realme, OPPO and Samsung, but these will usually have a low-level Qualcomm SD4XX or MediaTek Helio and 3/4GB RAM and 64/128GB storage.

In the $300-399 (2022 models), it is only a choice of OPPO A76 4G ($349) or Motorola g51 5G ($399). You would be happy with either, but don’t let the 5G seduce you. 4G is lower cost (you can use low-cost network resellers) and uses less power, as this review proves.

In my opinion, the OPPO A76 offers all you need whether you are a student, blue-collar, retiree or just want a reliable, lower-cost phone.

CyberShack Smartphone comparison v 1.1 (E&OE)

OPPO A76 CHP2375

Brand	OPPO
Model	A76
Model Number	CPH2375
Price Base	4/128
Price base	$349
Warranty months	24-months ACL
Tier	lower mid-range
Website	Product page
From	JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, The Good Guys, Wireless1, Woolworths Mobile, Big W, Catch, TeleChoice, Amazon, OPPO online store, Retravision
Country of Origin	China
Company	OPPO is now #2 in Australia for Android smartphone market share. It has achieved that through excellent product and after-sales service.
More
Test date	10-14 April
Ambient temp	22-25°
Release	Mar-22
Other models not for Australia (Don’t buy)	Do not buy the 6/128GB model

Screen

Size	6.56″
Type	A-SI LCD
Flat, Curve, 2D, 3D	Flat
Resolution	1612×720
PPI	269
Ratio	20.15:9
Screen to Body %	89.9
Colours bits	8-bit, 16.7m colours
Refresh Hz, adaptive	60 or 90Hz aut-step 180Hz touch rate
Response 120Hz	N/A
Nits typical/test	480 (tested 479)
Nits max/test	600 (tested 603)
Contrast	1500:1
sRGB	Gentle 100+%
DCI-P3	Vivid 100% of the 16.7million gamut
Rec.2020 or other	N/A
Delta E (<4 is excellent)	N/A
HDR Level	No
SDR Upscale	No
Bluelight control	Yes
PWM if known	N/A
Daylight readable	Not for direct sunlight
Always on Display	N/A
Edge display	N/A
Accessibility	Usual Android features
DRM	L1 for HD SDR playback
Gaming	40fps at best
Screen protection	Holitech/BOE: AGC DT-Pro (Dragontrail likje GG3)
Comment	Excellent, bright screen – slightly bluish cast, but you can adjust this.

Processor

Brand, Model	Qualcomm SD680
nm	6
Cores	4×2.4GHz + 4×1.9GHz
Modem	X11 4G
AI TOPS	Estimate 7 TOPS (low-end AI)
Geekbench 5 Single-core	386
Geekbench 5 multi-core	1680
Like	Similar to older flagship SD845
GPU	Adreno 610 1.1GHz
GPU Test
Open CL	437
Like	Slow
Vulcan	586
RAM, type	4GB LPDDR4x 2133 4 x 16-bit
Storage, free, type	128GB (97GB free) UFS 2.2
micro-SD	Up to 1TB
CPDT internal seq. Read MBps	681
CPDT internal seq. write MBps	398
CPDT microSD read, write MBps	43.65/30.27 and mountable as storage
CPDT external (mountable?) MBps	32/25 OTG only
Comment	All are fit for purpose, but the Adreno 610 GPU Is not for gamers
Throttle test
Max GIPS	176623
Average GIPS	169204
Minimum GIPS	157194
% Throttle	7
CPU Temp	74°
Comment	Excellent thermal management

Comms

Wi-FI Type, model	Wi-Fi 5 AC supports Wi-Fi display and tethering
Test 2m -dBm, Mbps	-24dBm/433
Test 5m	-32dBm/433
Test 10m	-47dBm/433
BT Type	5.0
GPS single, dual	Single accurate to <10m
USB type	USB-C 2.0 480Mbps
Alt DP, DeX, Ready For	Wi-Fi casting
NFC	Yes
Ultra-wideband	No
Sensors
Accelerometer	Yes -combo with Gyro is very sensitive
Gyro	Yes
e-Compass	Yes
Barometer
Gravity	Yes
Pedometer	Yes
Ambient light	Yes
Hall sensor
Proximity	Yes
Comment	433Mbps is well above NBN speeds, and the signal strength is strong.
LTE and 5G	4G
SIM	Dual and dedicated microSD
Active	Only one active at a time
Ring tone single, dual	Single
VoLTE	Carrier dependent
Wi-Fi calling	Carrier dependent
4G Bands	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41
Comment	All Australian 4G bands
5G sub-6Ghz	N/A
Comment
mmWave
Test Boost Mobile, Telstra
UL, DL, ms	10/10/38ms
Tower 1 -dBm, fW or pW	-82, 6-10pW
Tower 2	-96, 200-600fW
Tower 3	Occasional – unusable
Tower 4	No
Comment	Found two towers at exceptionally strong signal strengths. City, suburbs and regional town use.

Battery

mAh	5000 single battery
Charger, type, supplied	33W SUPERVOOC 5V/2A/10W or 5-11V/3A (33W) – charges at 4.741A
PD, QC level	PD capable – Overcharge protection may influence results
Qi, wattage	No
Reverse Qi or cable	No
Test (60Hz or adaptive screen)
Charge % 30mins	55%
Charge 0-100%	1 hours
Charge Qi	N/A
Charge 5V, 2A	4.75 hours
Video loop 50%, aeroplane	28 hours
PC Mark 3 battery	30+hours
GFX Bench Manhattan battery	683.9min (11.4hrs) 1840 frames
GFX Bench T-Rex	654.6min (10.91hrs) 3071 frames
Drain 100-0% full load screen on	6 hours 36 minutes
Watt full load	1000mA
Watt idle Screen on	175mA
Estimate loss at 120Hz	Expect about 20% less at 90Hz
Estimate typical use	Two to three days at typical use
Comment	Excellent battery life and a fast 33W charger make this a class-leader

Sound

Speakers	Earpiece and mono down-fixing speaker
Tuning	No
AMP	Qualcomm
Dolby Atmos decode	No
Hi-Res	No
3.5mm	Yes
BT Codecs	SBC, AAC, APTX, APTX HD, and LDAC
Multipoint	Should support it
Dolby Atmos (DA)	No
EQ	Real Original Sound Technology EQ Smart, Movie, Game, Music
Mics	2 with some noise-cancellation
Test dB – all on EQ flat DA off
Volume max	85dB
Media (music)	80
Ring	85
Alarm	75
Notifications	85
Earpiece	55
Hands-free	Decent hands-free with some mic noise cancellation.
BT headphones	Excellent Qualcomm stereo sound and a wide choice of codecs.

Sound quality

Deep Bass 20-40Hz	Nil
Middle Bass 40-100Hz	Nil
High Bass 100-200Hz	Steep build to 200Hz
Low Mid 200-400Hz	Flat
Mid 4000-1000Hz	Flat
High-Mid 1-2kHz	Flat
Low Treble 2-4kHz	Flat
Mid Treble 4-6kHz	Flat
High Treble 6-10kHz	Slow linear decline to 20kHz
Dog Whistle 10-20kHz	Decline
Sound Signature type	Bright Vocal (bass recessed, mid/treble boosted) – for vocal tracks and string instruments, but can make them harsh. But there is just enough high-bass to give a satisfying sound signature.
Soundstage	None – it is mono
Comment	At this price, mono is all you can expect, and it focuses on clear voice. But it is surprisingly listenable for most music genres.

Build

Size (H X W x D)	164.4 x 75.7 x 8.4 mm
Weight grams	189
Front glass	Dragontrail hardened
Rear material	Plastic
Frame	Plastic
IP rating	IPX4
Colours	Glowing Black Glowing Blue
Pen, Stylus support	No
In the box
Charger	33W SUPERVOOC
USB cable	USB-A to USB-C Supervooc
Buds	No
Bumper cover	Yes
Comment	OPPO leads this class with a 33W charger – it is fast.

OS

Android	11
Security patch date	5/02/2022
UI	ColorOS 11.1
OS upgrade policy	Should get Android 12
Security patch policy	Two years of security patches
Bloatware	A little too much – AliExpress, Amazon, Booking.com, Facebook, LinkedIn, O Relax, PUBG, Soloop Cui, TikTok, and OPPOs alternatives for Google Apps. All are removable
Comment	ColorOS is the light grease on Android wheels that makes it easier to use
Security
Fingerprint sensor location, type	On power button – 8/10 test
Face ID	Yes 2D
Other

Camera – OPPO A76 4G

Rear Primary	Wide
MP	13
Sensor	OmniVision OV13B10
Focus	PDAF
f-stop	2.2
um	1.12
FOV° (stated, actual)	80 (67.9)
Stabilisation	No
Zoom	6x digital
Rear 2	Depth
MP	2
Sensor	GalaxyCore GC02M1B
Focus	FF
f-stop	2.4
um	1.75
FOV (stated, actual)	89.1
Stabilisation	No
Zoom	No
Special
Video max	1080p@30fps and EIS
Flash	Yes
Auto-HDR	Primary lens
	Photo, Video, Night, Expert, Panoramic, Portrait, Time-lapse, Text scanner, and Sticker
QR code reader	Via Google Lens
Night mode	AI
Front
MP	8
Sensor	Samsung S5K4H7YX or OV08D10
Focus	FF
f-stop	2
um	1.12
FOV (stated, actual)	79 (67.2)
Stabilisation	No
Flash	Screen fill
Zoom	6x digital
Video max	1080p@30fps
Features	Photo, Video, Panoramic, Portrait, Night, Time-lapse, Sticker
Comment	Basic single 13MP camera with a depth sensor

Ratings – OPPO A76 4G

Features	8
	MicroSD mountable for video 3.5mm 33W fast charge
Value	7.5
	You would need to consider the 2021 TCL 20R 5G  (only 64GB), 2021 Samsung Galaxy A22 5G, vivo Y52 5G ($379), and Motorola G51 5g ($399)
Performance	7.5
	Despite being a Qualcomm SD6XX series it is no speed demon. Performance is adequate.
Ease of Use	10
	ColorOS 12 is easy to learn and offers the much-needed grease over Android 11 wheels. But it should have come with Android 12
Design	8
	Another bland glass slab
Rating out of 10	8.2
Pro
1	Adequate performance – not for gamers
2	Bright 720p 90Hz IPS screen
3	Excellent battery life and 33W charger
4	Good quality build and 2-year warranty
5	Average camera – better than social media class
Con
1	Mono speaker
2	Android 11 (maybe 12)
3	Needs to use the OPPO 33W SUPERVOOC charger and cable to reach charge speeds
Final comment	At $349, it is an excellent 4G phone, but you should consider the Motorola g51 5G at $399. Best advice – it is what it is, and that is all you need.