Oppo Launches A5i and A5i Pro with Snapdragon 6s Gen 1, 90Hz Displays & Big Batteries

Oppo has quietly introduced two new budget-friendly smartphones – the Oppo A5i and Oppo A5i Pro. While these aren't groundbreaking in design, they offer a solid mix of performance and durability for their price points. Both devices are powered by the Snapdragon 6s Gen 1 chipset – essentially a rebranded Snapdragon 662 – the same chip used in the Oppo A5 Pro 4G.

Display and Build Quality

Both the A5i and A5i Pro come with 6.67-inch HD+ LCD displays that support a 90Hz refresh rate and reach up to 1,000 nits brightness. The Pro model uses a slightly better IPS panel, offering improved clarity and color. To enhance outdoor visibility, both displays feature an anti-glare coating.

In terms of protection, the front and back are shielded by China Southern Glass and Panda Glass, reinforced twice for durability. The devices have undergone MIL-STD-810H military-grade testing and are SGS certified.

IP Ratings and Durability

The Oppo A5i has an IP54 rating, suitable for light splashes, while the A5i Pro bumps this up to IP65, offering better dust and water resistance. Both phones also support wet touch operation – a nice touch for humid or rainy environments.

Battery & Charging

Battery life is another key area of difference:

Oppo A5i: 5,100mAh battery with 45W fast charging, designed to retain 80% capacity after four years.

Oppo A5i Pro: A larger 6,000mAh silicon-carbon (Si/C) battery, also with 45W charging support. The Pro is slightly thicker (7.99mm) and heavier (193g) compared to the vanilla model (7.68mm, 186g).

Cameras

Camera capabilities vary significantly:

Oppo A5i: Basic 8MP rear camera and 5MP front camera, both limited to 1080p @ 30fps.

Oppo A5i Pro: Upgraded 50MP rear camera with f/1.85 aperture and the same 5MP selfie camera. A secondary lens (likely for depth) is included.

Performance & Connectivity

While both models share the same Snapdragon 6s Gen 1 (11nm) platform, performance differs due to memory:

A5i Pro: 8GB LPDDR4X RAM, 128GB UFS 2.1 storage

A5i: Options of 4GB/6GB RAM and 64GB/128GB eMMC 5.1 storage

Connectivity includes dual-band Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth with aptX, and 4G LTE only (no 5G support). The A5i includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, while the Pro skips it but adds NFC and an IR blaster. Both feature side-mounted fingerprint sensors.

Pricing & Availability

Currently, the Oppo A5i Pro is available in the Philippines for PHP 9,000 (~$160/€140/₹14,000). It's sold exclusively on Shopee, with broader availability (TikTok Shop, Lazada) starting June 20. The Oppo A5i hasn't hit the shelves yet.

Color options include:

A5i: Starry Purple, Nebula Red

A5i Pro: Midnight Purple