OPPO is set to bring "all screen" displays to the masses with the newly released A73: a budget smartphone featuring the same kind of extra tall 18:9 display we've been seeing in flagships like the iPhone X and Samsung Galaxy S8.
An all screen display isn't the only feature the OPPO A73 is borrowing from top end devices; the phone also features basic facial recognition that can be used to unlock the phone. It is however worth noting that OPPO's website says facial recognition is less secure than unlocking your phone with your fingerprint or PIN.
While facial recognition might not be super secure, OPPO is using the same tech to improve your selfies. Using a combination of software and 200 positioning dots, the A73's 16MP selfie camera is able to accentuate facial features, enhance symmetry, and blur the background behind your face.
Key specifications for the A73 include a 6-inch Full HD+ display, an eight-core MediaTek MT6763T processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of expandable storage, a rear-mounted fingerprint reader, a 13MP rear-facing camera, and a 3,200mAh battery. The A73 runs OPPO's customised version of Android, based on Nougat.
You'll find the A73 available outright from today though JB Hi-Fi and Officeworks for $359. The Good Guys will be ranging it from February.
If you're after the A73 on a plan, you'll be able to get it as a prepaid device through Optus later this month for a discounted price of $289, but it will be locked to Optus. Vodafone and Woolworths Mobile will both sell the A73 as a postpaid handset in February.
While the OPPO A73 might currently be the cheapest smartphone with an all screen display, it's not your only option: Huawei recently launched the Nova 2i in Australia at $499, and LG has its Q6 at $399. Looking further forward, Alcatel has confirmed that all of its 2018 smartphones will have 18:9 displays, and OPPO's R11s is expected to launch in Australia in the coming months, although we're expecting that to cost around $650.
Alex Choros
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