Average device for an average price

Oppo A54

Despite the pandemic, the smartphone market has been buzzing with all sorts of launches with a focus on budget devices. What is also interesting is the budget phones are also offering more bang for the buck when compared to their flagship counterparts. The Oppo A54 with its Rs 13,490 starting price this phone falls well into the budget category.

The A54 comes with a MediaTek Helio P35 processor that has eight cores and a maximum CPU frequency of 2.3Ghz. There are three variants available - 4+64GB, 6+128GB and 4+128GB. I tested the 6GB version of the phone. The phone supports dual 4G standby and has a dedicated MicroSD expansion in the SIM card tray. The phone also has a rare audio port at the bottom next to the USB-C charging port.

The back panel makes the phone look a lot more expensive than it is. The device is a little thicker than I would like it to be, and it feels even thicker once you add the included phone case.

The A54 has a triple-rear camera setup with a 13 MP main camera, 2 MP macro and a 2 MP depth camera. While this sound like it is on the lower side, the selfie camera is an impressive 16 MP. The phone, however, clicks very average pictures from the rear. I am glad the camera includes a pro mode, but the overall choices of modes available are few. I wish they had paid attention to the camera setup because it is a crucial selling point for most phones regardless of what category they come under.

The screen is 6.51 inches and it has an HD+ resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels. The display is pretty bright and you won't have problems looking at it under the sun. Again, this screen is a weird choice because most screens these days are at least Full HD+. Even the Micromax In 1, which costs less than this phone, has a Full HD+ screen.

The Oppo A54 is paired with a 5000mAh battery. This was enough to last more than a day of average use. With intense use, it lasted for around 4-5 hours. The phone package includes an 18W fast charger, it was able to recharge the phone in under two hours. It has an interesting night charging mode that keeps the phone at 80 per cent while plugged at night and then charges it to full just before it's time for you to wake. This is good because charging your phone to full overnight can be harmful to your battery.

The A54 is not a bad phone if you just want a smartphone. I feel the biggest problem Oppo will have is competition from other brands in a crowded market. There are many devices in this category that offer better specs or lower prices. For a middling phone like the A54, it is going to be a tough sell.