OPPO A9 2020 Philippines Complete Specs, Actual Unit Photos, Key Features

Last week, our friends from OPPO Philippines sent me a unit of one of their upcoming Android smartphone models so I could test and review it ahead of its imminent release.

The OPPO A9 2020 is the first ever handset from the Chinese company's popular A-Series phone line to sport a Quad Rear Camera Module, which should make it a pretty flexible cameraphone.

OPPO A9 2020, OPPO A9 2020 Philippines

This set-up is made up of a 48 MegaPixel f/1.8 primary shooter which is the most capable of the bunch when it comes to capturing clear images even in challenging conditions, a secondary 8 MegaPixel f/2.3 cam with Ultra-Wide lens that's great for snapping landscape, architecture, as well as group photos, and finally, two 2 MegaPixel Depth Sensors that enable Artistic Bokeh Effect in Portrait Mode which essentially adds a beautiful background blur behind your subject.

This cameraphone even has a dedicated Ultra Night Mode 2.0 that greatly boosts its performance in snapping clear and brilliant images even in settings with little ambient light.

Given the kinds of shots that we usually take using our smartphones, I'd say that all of this smartphone's cameras pretty much covers the needs of most budding mobile photographers. For me, this makes OPPO A9 2020 quite a compelling offer for those who want to get started on this hobby or passion but are still on a tight budget for a new gadget.

OPPO A9 2020, OPPO A9 2020 Philippines

Good imaging capabilities are clearly the best selling point of the OPPO A9 2020. However, having played with this device for a several days now, I'd say that it has so much more exciting and useful features that will delight consumers.

For one, it has a very large 6.5-inch HD+ IPS display with tall aspect ratio and very thin bezels, especially atop and on the sides. The nearly all-screen face makes the OPPO A9 2020 a good handset for viewing photos, watching videos, and even playing games. I wish, though, that the screen's resolution was FullHD+ for better clarity but it is what it is.

OPPO A9 2020, OPPO A9 2020 Philippines

Another strong suit of the OPPO A9 2020 is definitely its eye-catching design identity. I've reviewed many OPPO A-Series smartphones in the past and I can honestly say that this one is the best-looking so far.

OPPO A9 2020, OPPO A9 2020 Philippines

Although this phone's shell is made predominantly of polycarbonate, it hardly feels plasticky or cheap. If anything, I think it looks very elegant and classy. Heck, this is a handset that you won't be shy to put on the table even in corporate meetings or to flaunt in formal events.

OPPO A9 2020, OPPO A9 2020 Philippines

My review unit is the Space Purple version and this colorway features a Blue to Purple color gradient on the back plate, which has always been a visually pleasing combo. Additionally, it has a high-gloss, metallic sheen that makes it look like a gem in the hand.

I also like the middle placement of the camera module as well as the fingerprint scanner below it as it gave the handset a more symmetric look.

OPPO A9 2020, OPPO A9 2020 Philippines

OPPO A9 2020 certainly has an attractive exterior -- and I'd use the same adjective to describe what's inside it.

This model runs ColorOS 6.1 customized Android 9.0 Pie operating system with a capable yet energy-efficient 11nm Octa Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 processor that incorporates an Adreno 610 GPU for smooth gaming and overall mobile experience.

OPPO A9 2020, OPPO A9 2020 Philippines

This chipset is complemented by a whopping 8GB of RAM, which is the same amount you will see on several 2019 flagship level Android smartphone models. This is certainly a big treat considering that this OPPO A9 2020 is positioned as a midrange handset.

There's also a sizable 128GB of internal storage that you can even beef up further using the phone's dedicated microSD card slot. No need to lose Dual SIM capability just to get more space for large files, including the 4K videos that you will take using the primary rear camera or the large 16 MegaPixel selfies that you will snap with the front-facing camera housed in the notch.

OPPO A9 2020, OPPO A9 2020 Philippines

If you hate carrying a powerbank everywhere you go or charging your handset in the office come lunchtime just to be sure that it won't run out of juice on your way home in the evening, then you will definitely love the ultra-large 5,000 mAh Li-Po battery of the OPPO A9 2020.

Being powered by such a high capacity pack, this handset offers tremendous uptime even for power users or those who play mobile games every chance they can. With just regular or light usage, I'd say you can easily get around two days of uptime from this phone starting at 100% charge.

OPPO A9 2020, OPPO A9 2020 Philippines

The huge battery also enables OPPO A9 2020's unique and useful reverse charging feature, which essentially lets you use this smartphone as a powerbank for other devices and accessories! Simply use the required cables or dongles and you're good to go.

One downside of the large battery, though, is the phone's increased heft or weight. At 195 grams, OPPO A9 2020 is definitely one of the heavier Android smartphones released this year. But hey, considering the peace of mind that the big battery offers, it's a point for improvement that I gladly welcome. I mean, if this phone weighed as much as this but lacked that ultra big battery pack, then it would be an issue for me.

OPPO A9 2020, OPPO A9 2020 Philippines

As of writing, OPPO Philippines has yet to formally announce the suggested retail price of the OPPO A9 2020. I have my own guesstimate for its price but I've decided to share that with you later. Right now, I want to ask you, "What would be a fair price for this 2019 midrange Android smartphone?" In answering that, consider this model's main competitors in the market and their price tags.

Update as of September 19, 2019: OPPO Philippines has just formally launched the OPPO A9 2020 via an exclusive media event held at Whitespace in Makati City. The official suggested retail price of this model is PHP 15,990.

Let me know your thoughts about the OPPO A9 2020 in the comment section below. If you have questions about its key features - especially its imaging capabilities, you can also leave them below or you may message me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Let's talk.

OPPO A9 2020 Specs
163.6 x 75.6 x 9.1 mm
195 grams
6.5-inch, HD+ 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 Aspect Ratio, 270 ppi, IPS LCD
Waterdrop Notch
Quad Rear Camera Module:
48 MegaPixels, f/1.8 Aperture, Standard Wide, 1/2.3", 0.8µm, Phase Detection AutoFocus
8 MegaPixels, f/2.3, 13mm Ultra-Wide Lens, 1/4", 1.12µm, AF
2 MegaPixels, f/2.4, 1/5", 1.75µm, Depth Sensor
2 MegaPixels, f/2.4, 1/5", 1.75µm, Depth Sensor
Front Facing Camera:
16 MegaPixels, f/2.0
Video Recorder:
Back - 4K and 1080p 30fps, Gyro-EIS
Front - 1080p 30fps
ColorOS 6.1
Android 9.0 Pie
11nm Octa Core Qualcomm SDM665 Snapdragon 665
Adreno 610 GPU
4GB and 8GB RAM Options
128GB Internal Storage
Dedicated microSD Card Slot
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth 5.0
4G LTE-A
Dual nanoSIM
Rear-mounted Fingerprint Scanner
Stereo Speakers
Dolby Atmos Sound
USB Type C Port
USB On The Go
Reverse Charging Technology
Non-Removable 5,000 mAh Li-Po Battery Pack
High-Gloss Polycarbonate Shell
Marine Green, Space Purple

OPPO A9 2020 Price in the Philippines
Official SRP - PHP 15,990

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