Oppo A58: reasonable smartphone for 200 francs
26.9.2023
Translation: machine translated
Oppo is launching a new entry-level smartphone in Switzerland for 200 francs. The new A58 focuses on the display, battery life and speakers. However, savings have been made in some areas.
With inexpensive mobiles under 200 francs, manufacturers often save money in two areas: the cameras, because good sensors are expensive and it takes a lot of effort to perfectly tune the camera software. And the small details besides design, display or processor that don't immediately catch the eye.
Oppo has taken a slightly different approach with the new A58. The new smartphone is available from us in two colours at a price of just under 200 francs.
Waterproof and stereo speakers - amazing details
The manufacturer from China delivers some features that you rarely see in this price range. These include, for example, iP54 certification against environmental influences. This means that the A58 is protected against dust in damaging quantities and splash water
You shouldn't drop your mobile in water, but you don't have to worry about the device giving up the ghost in a rain shower. The certification (and sometimes also the waterproofing) is often omitted on inexpensive smartphones. Here you know what you can rely on.
Oppo has also placed a special focus on the speakers: There is a stereo pair built in, which is said to be 40 per cent better than its predecessor. The volume has been increased by 300 per cent, which should help in noisy environments. You can also turn up the volume for phone calls and voice calls via Messenger if required.
While the speakers on many inexpensive mobiles are rattling and rather quiet, Oppo wants to position the A58 as a multimedia device. And since young customers in particular also consume TikTok, Instagram, YouTube or streaming services directly via mobile and without headphones, this point should not be underestimated.
Source: Oppo
Screen and battery for lots of multimedia
Of course, good speakers also need an attractive screen. The 6.67-inch screen in the A58 has a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels. This is certainly enough for an appealing display, and the colour space should also be particularly good. However, you will have to do without a high refresh rate, as well as more than mediocre brightness. You can expect 550 to a maximum of 680 nits here.
The 5000 mAh battery, which can be charged with 33 watts, is a welcome feature. It should be fully charged in 75 minutes. Despite the large battery, the A58 is only 7.99 millimetres thick and weighs 192 grams.
Oppo has really saved money here
The most conspicuous feature that is completely missing is the 5G mobile network. The built-in MediaTek Helio G85 processor only supports 4G. This is considered a processor for the upper mid-range - but was launched over three years ago.
Update: In the press release, Oppo left open whether and for how long there will be updates for the A58. On request, there is now good news: The smartphone will receive two years of major colourOS updates and three years of security updates.
Source: Oppo
The processor comes with a generous 6 GB of RAM, which can be virtually expanded to 12 GB for demanding tasks. The fact that 128 GB of memory is now standard in this price range is also a positive aspect.
While the 50-megapixel main camera with f/1.8 aperture makes a good impression on paper, the possibilities are quickly limited. 4K videos are not possible, for example. And the second sensor with two megapixels is only there to measure depth information - for portrait photos, for example. There is no wide angle or zoom.
The selfie camera has a meagre eight megapixels, so you shouldn't expect too much. After all, Oppo has obviously invested money primarily in one sensor, namely the main sensor. And since many users need this the most, this is definitely a sensible decision.
The Oppo A58 also looks like a successful combination of a favourable price and sensible basic features. The device can therefore be a sensible choice for savers or as a first smartphone.
Cover photo: Oppo
Lorenz Keller
Senior Editor
Lorenz.Keller@digitecgalaxus.chGadgets are my passion - whether you need them for the home office, for the household, for sport and pleasure or for the smart home. Or, of course, for the big hobby next to the family, namely fishing.
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