The Oppo A31 is a mid-range smartphone that offers a balanced combination of design, performance, and features at an accessible price point. As Oppo continues to expand its global presence, devices like the A31 demonstrate the company's ability to deliver quality smartphones that cater to everyday users without breaking the bank.

Design and Build Quality

At first glance, the Oppo A31 presents itself as a surprisingly premium device for its price category. The phone features a glossy plastic back with a geometric gradient pattern that catches light beautifully, creating visual depth that belies its affordable nature. The curved edges make it comfortable to hold, though the glossy finish does attract fingerprints quite easily. On the front, we find a 6.5-inch LCD display with a waterdrop notch that houses the front-facing camera. The power button sits on the right side, while the volume rocker occupies the left. A welcome inclusion at this price point is the dedicated microSD slot that doesn't compromise dual SIM functionality.

Display Performance

The 6.5-inch HD+ display delivers adequate brightness and color reproduction for daily use. With a resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels, it won't win any awards for sharpness, but text remains readable and videos appear decent enough for casual viewing. The LCD panel provides good viewing angles, though contrast could be better. Oppo has included their proprietary Eye Comfort mode which reduces blue light emission, a thoughtful addition for users who spend long hours staring at their screens. While the display won't dazzle enthusiasts, it gets the job done for social media browsing, video streaming, and light gaming.

Hardware and Performance

Powering the Oppo A31 is MediaTek's Helio P35 chipset paired with 4GB of RAM. This combination delivers performance that handles everyday tasks like social media, web browsing, and messaging apps without significant hiccups. The phone runs ColorOS 6.1 based on Android 9 Pie, which offers numerous customization options but comes with some pre-installed bloatware. Multitasking is manageable though heavy app switching may reveal some limitations. Gaming performance is modest - casual games run fine but graphically intensive titles require lowered settings. The 4230mAh battery is one of the phone's strongest assets, easily lasting a full day of moderate to heavy use and sometimes stretching into a second day for lighter users.

Camera Capabilities

The triple camera setup on the Oppo A31 consists of a 12MP main sensor, 2MP macro lens, and 2MP depth sensor. In daylight conditions, the primary camera captures decent shots with acceptable dynamic range and color accuracy. The dedicated Night mode helps in low-light situations, though results tend to be noisy. The 2MP macro camera feels more like a marketing checkbox than a genuinely useful feature, producing mediocre close-up shots. Video recording tops out at 1080p 30fps with electronic stabilization that works reasonably well for casual clips. The 8MP front-facing camera handles selfies adequately with Oppo's AI beautification features that can be toned down for more natural results.

Software Experience

ColorOS remains one of the more polarizing Android skins in the market. While it offers extensive customization options and some genuinely useful features like Smart Sidebar for quick app access, it strays quite far from stock Android in both aesthetics and functionality. The interface can feel cluttered at times, and the presence of numerous pre-installed apps might frustrate users who prefer a cleaner experience. On the positive side, Oppo has included useful tools like Game Space for optimizing gaming performance and a system-wide dark mode that helps conserve battery life on the LCD display.

Audio and Additional Features

The single bottom-firing speaker delivers adequate volume but lacks bass and can sound tinny at higher volumes. A 3.5mm headphone jack is present for those who prefer wired audio, and the sound quality through headphones is respectable. Face unlock works reasonably well in good lighting conditions, though the rear-mounted fingerprint sensor proves more reliable for quick authentication. The inclusion of a dedicated microSD slot (up to 256GB) is appreciated, as is the triple card slot that allows for two SIMs and a memory card simultaneously - a rarity in modern smartphones.

Final Verdict

The Oppo A31 positions itself as a competent all-rounder in the budget to mid-range segment. While it doesn't excel in any particular area, it delivers a balanced package that covers all the basics well. The standout features are undoubtedly the impressive battery life and the eye-catching design that punches above its price class. Performance is adequate for the target market, though power users might find it limiting. Camera performance is serviceable but unremarkable. If you're looking for an affordable smartphone that gets the fundamentals right without too many compromises, the Oppo A31 deserves consideration.

Oppo A31 Full Specifications:

Dimensions: 163.9 x 75.5 x 8.3 mm

Weight: 180 grams

Display: 6.5-inch IPS LCD, 720 x 1600 resolution (HD+), 20:9 aspect ratio

Chipset: MediaTek Helio P35 (12nm)

CPU: Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53)

GPU: PowerVR GE8320

RAM: 4GB

Storage: 64GB, expandable via microSD (dedicated slot)

Rear Cameras: 12MP (main, f/1.8) + 2MP (macro, f/2.4) + 2MP (depth, f/2.4)

Front Camera: 8MP (f/2.0)

Battery: 4230mAh, 10W charging

OS: Android 9 Pie with ColorOS 6.1

Connectivity: 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, microUSB 2.0

Sensors: Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass

Colors: Mystery Black, Fantasy White