OPPO has refreshed its affordable A-series handsets, and like everything, they're a little more expensive this time around. The entry-level OPPO A6x 4G is only $10 more expensive than last year's equivalent, while the higher-end OPPO A6 5G is $100 more expensive, now coming at $399.
While that isn't an insignificant bump for a phone in this price category, OPPO has beefed up the specs. RAM is more at 6GB, up from 4GB in the OPPO A5 5G, and storage has been doubled to 256GB. The battery is also a little larger at 6,550mAh, and water-resistance is now at IP69, which means the OPPO A6 5G can survive exposure to high-pressure water jets.
Otherwise, there aren't too many changes between the OPPO A6 5G and last year's model. Other key specifications include a 6.75-inch 720p+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a Dimensity 6300 chipset. The camera configuration is made up of a 50MP primary lens and a 2MP monochrome lens on the back, and an 8MP selfie camera on the front.
The phone will get three years of major operating system upgrades and six years of security updates, which is solid for its price.
At $399, the OPPO A6 5G comes in at the same price as last year's OPPO A5 Pro 5G. The manufacturer does not currently plan to sell the OPPO A6 Pro in Australia.
OPPO Australia Managing Director Michael Tran told WhistleOut the generative AI-driven component crisis is the reason for the price increase. RAM and storage are two hardware categories hit the hardest.
"The supply chain capacity and cost pressures driven by the growth of the AI industry are a shared challenge across the smartphone industry," said Tran. "With the A6 series, our focus was on making deliberate choices about where we add value."
Tran gave examples of the software support promise, AI network optimisation, and background software optimisation as examples of the value OPPO is adding. He also noted that a screen protector and case are both included in the box.
The OPPO A6 5G is available in a choice of "aurora gold" or "sapphire blue".
Meanwhile, the entry-level OPPO A6x is available in two variants: a 4G-only model and a 5G-ready option. The pair share most of their specifications other than the chipset and rear cameras. The 4G model has a Snapdragon 685 chipset, 13MP primary lens, and a monochrome sensor. Meanwhile, the 5G variant is powered by a Dimensity 6300 chipset, has a 50MP primary lens, and a 2MP monochrome lens.
Other key hardware includes a 6.75-inch 720p+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 4GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a 6,100mAh battery. Both have a 5MP selfie camera on the front. Like the OPPO A6 5G, the A6x devices also get three years of software updates and six years of security.
The OPPO A6x 4G is available for $229 in "plum purple" and "ice blue", while the OPPO A6x 5G sells for $299 and comes in "black purple" and "violet purple".
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Alex Choros
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