OPPO A79 5G

The OPPO A79 5G is an entry-level phone from OPPO's A series, introduced in the autumn of 2023. Its pitch is straightforward: a large 6.72-inch screen with a 90Hz refresh rate, a 5,000 mAh battery with 33W fast charging, stereo speakers and a design that borrows a shimmering "feather" finish from more expensive phones. It does not try to compete with flagships; it tries to give a first-time smartphone buyer or a budget-conscious family a phone that feels fresh, lasts a long day and supports 5G. This page is based on the published specifications and manufacturer information, and it covers the strengths, the limits and the type of buyer the phone is aimed at.

Where it sits in the line-up

OPPO's A series sits below the Reno and Find families and is aimed at people who care about battery life and price more than camera or processor performance. The A79 5G is one of the more fully equipped A-series phones of its generation because it combines a 90Hz screen, a large battery and 5G in one body. Later models carry the idea forward, and if you want to see what changed, the OPPO A5 Pro and the OPPO A6 Pro have their own pages, while the table OPPO A79 vs OPPO A5 Pro places the numbers next to each other. Because the A79 is a 2023 model, it is best judged as a low-cost option today, not as a current-generation device.

Design and colours

The phone measures about 165.6 mm in height, 76.0 mm in width and 7.99 mm in thickness, and weighs about 193 g. The Dazzling Purple version is very slightly thicker at 8.04 mm. Three colours are listed: Glowing Green, Mystery Black and Dazzling Purple. OPPO describes the Glowing Green version as having a feather-inspired pattern that shimmers and shifts in the light; the other colours use their own finishes, and official images show a streaked green back, a plain black back and a pearly purple back. The camera module is a raised rectangle with two circular lenses and the flash beside it, and the phone has a flat-edged frame.

The protective rating is IPX4, which OPPO describes as resistance to splashes from all directions under laboratory conditions. That rating covers water only, with no dust protection stated, and the company reminds buyers not to charge a wet phone and notes that liquid damage is not covered by warranty. In other words, it is fine in light rain or after a spill, but it is not a phone to drop in a pool.

Display and speakers

The screen is a 6.72-inch LCD with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels (FHD+), a pixel density of 391 ppi and a screen-to-body ratio of 91.4 percent. The panel is described as LTPS, and the refresh rate is selectable between 60Hz and 90Hz. Peak brightness is listed at 680 nits, which OPPO markets as its "Sunlight Display", and colour reproduction covers 96 percent of the NTSC gamut with 16.7 million colours. Touch sampling reaches 180Hz at best, and the cover glass is a reinforced material OPPO calls Panda glass.

These numbers mean a clear, smooth and reasonably bright screen for the price, but not an OLED: contrast is that of an LCD, and 680 nits is adequate rather than exceptional in direct sun. There are dual stereo speakers, and OPPO says the Ultra Volume mode can push the earpiece to 200 percent and the speakers to 300 percent above the standard limit, a feature intended to help in noisy places. A 3.5 mm headphone jack is also present, which many buyers will appreciate.

Performance and software

The processor is the MediaTek Dimensity 6020, identified by OPPO's specification sheet as the MT6833, an eight-core chip with a Mali-G57 MC2 graphics unit. It is an efficient 5G chip rather than a fast one; it handles messaging, social apps, video and light gaming but will struggle with demanding 3D titles. Memory is LPDDR4x in 4GB or 8GB, with 128GB or 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage, in three combinations: 4GB with 128GB, 8GB with 128GB and 8GB with 256GB. A storage card is supported for extra space. OPPO also provides RAM Expansion, which borrows spare storage as virtual memory, and it states that the phone passed a 36-month fluency test in its laboratory, while adding the caution that this does not mean the phone will never lag.

The operating system is ColorOS 13.1, based on Android 13. ColorOS adds features such as automatic pixelation of avatars and names in screenshots, removal of location data from shared photos and a system-level engine to keep performance steady. As with other OPPO phones, check the current update policy for your region before you rely on a specific period of support.

Camera

The camera setup is simple. The main rear camera is a 50MP sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and a 77-degree field of view, using autofocus with an open-loop motor, and next to it is a 2MP secondary camera that provides depth information for portrait mode. There is no optical stabilisation and no dedicated ultrawide or telephoto. Rear video is limited to 1080p at 30 frames per second, with 720p slow motion at 120fps. The front camera is an 8MP unit with an f/2.0 aperture, aided by a selfie HDR mode that OPPO says keeps detail in difficult light, and video from the front is capped at 1080p or 720p at 30fps.

In practice this is a camera for daylight photos, social sharing and casual portraits. The 2MP depth camera exists mainly to create the bokeh effect OPPO advertises, and its contribution is modest. Anyone who cares about low-light pictures or video stabilisation should look to more expensive phones.

Battery and charging

The battery has a typical capacity of 5,000 mAh (rated at 4,880 mAh) and OPPO states it will deliver up to 26 hours of calls or 14 hours of video in its laboratory tests. Charging uses 33W SUPERVOOC, with a charger included in the box. OPPO says a 30-minute charge reaches 51 percent and a five-minute charge gives about 2.6 hours of calls. These are manufacturer figures obtained under laboratory conditions, so real results will vary with temperature and use. Power-saving modes, including an ultimate standby mode at night, are meant to stretch the battery further.

Connectivity and extras

The phone supports dual nano-SIM with 5G on a range of bands that differ by regional version, Bluetooth 5.3 with a wide range of audio codecs including AAC, aptX HD and LDAC, a USB Type-C port, GPS and other satellite systems, and NFC depending on the region. Wi-Fi covers the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. A fingerprint sensor and face unlock are both available. The box contains the phone, a charger, a USB cable, a SIM tool and a protective case.

Who it is for and what to weigh

The A79 5G suits first-time smartphone users, parents buying for teenagers and anyone who wants a long-lasting, simple phone with a big screen and a headphone jack. It is less suitable for gamers, for people who take many low-light photos and for those who want a long software support commitment. Compare it with other budget devices, browse the phones category or open the rankings.

• Strengths: 90Hz screen, 5,000 mAh battery with 33W charging, stereo speakers, headphone jack, microSD support.
• Limits: LCD rather than OLED, basic cameras without stabilisation, entry-level chip, IPX4 protection only.