Recall the opening lines of the OPPO A2 Pro review, which stated, "Flagships build the brand, while mid-rangers drive volume." This sentiment is especially true this year. Following the debut of various flagship models in the previous quarter, manufacturers are now shifting their focus to their main market offerings, like our protagonist today—the OPPO A3 Pro.
The previous two generations, A1 Pro and A2 Pro, left a good impression on me with their lightweight and agile design, showing OPPO's dedication to their products. The first thing we noticed about the OPPO A3 Pro was its lightness as well. Perhaps it's because we're used to handling phones over 200g, dubbed as "finger gym equipment," but at just 177g, the OPPO A3 Pro (in Distant Mountain Blue and Brocade Pink, leather version) is a pleasantly surprising find among phones with a 5000mAh large battery.
Whether used in hand daily or tucked into a pocket, it offers a lighter presence. With a 6.7-inch screen, the OPPO A3 Pro boasts a compact body width of 74.3mm, making it comfortable for chatting or scrolling through short videos without quickly tiring the hand. This is particularly beneficial for elderly family members or children, as its weight and ergonomics make it easier to use.
Compared to OPPO's flagship Find series and Reno series, which target the high-end market, the A series, although positioned for entry-level consumers, also boasts thoughtful product design. The standout feature of the OPPO A3 Pro's appearance is its adoption of the new "Sky Blue Glaze" craftsmanship, featuring classic design aesthetics reminiscent of the Song Dynasty. It offers three distinct back panel colors: Sky Blue, Distant Mountain Blue, and Cloud Brocade Pink. The Sky Blue variant presents a gradient of colors from dark to light, echoing its namesake, showcasing OPPO's precision in glass material craftsmanship.
Apart from the Sky Blue glass back panel, the other two versions feature a matte leather material. To emulate the soft touch of luxury leather goods, OPPO A3 Pro utilizes the same elastic material found in flagship models as the base for the matte leather back panel. This provides a naturally supple feel, with the glass in the middle seamlessly joined with the matte leather on both sides. The unique texture of the glass in the middle, combined with the embellishment of linear patterns on the matte leather, was previously only seen in high-end models. The OPPO A3 Pro, both visually and tactilely, exudes a sense of understated luxury typically found in flagship models.
To enhance the durability of the vegan leather material, the OPPO A3 Pro features a special siloxane coating on its vegan leather back. This coating reduces the surface energy of the back cover, improving its resistance to stains and making it better equipped to handle the challenges of everyday use.
The OPPO A3 Pro features a circular design for the rear camera's Deco, mirroring the previous generation A2 Pro. It is adorned with a circular ring, concentric circle markings, and camera specifications, full of detail and highly distinctive.
The OPPO A3 Pro features a rare curved screen design in the thousand-yuan market, with a restrained curvature that enhances grip while ensuring display quality and avoiding accidental touches. Both the front and back screens, as well as the rear cover, are curved, coupled with the rounded middle frame, greatly improving the grip sensation.
In addition to its high aesthetic appeal, thanks to OPPO's own factories with higher production standards and OPPO's focus on user needs and pain points, the OPPO A3 Pro has made "heaven-defying" progress in protection level, bringing three major durable technologies: super waterproof, super shockproof, and super durable. The official claim is that the A3 Pro's screen surface uses the same glass as OPPO's high-end flagship, achieving a 180% increase in drop resistance compared to the previous generation and an astonishing 300% improvement in blue damage resistance compared to flagship-level glass.
The OPPO A3 Pro has become the first to receive the Swiss SGS Gold Five-Star Full Machine Drop Resistance Certification, scoring full marks in the test! It is also rare in its class to pass the national military standard impact resistance test, hence earning the title of "Durable War God."
We are currently conducting rigorous testing on the OPPO A3 Pro's waterproof, drop-resistant, and durability performance. Stay tuned for the detailed experience on these aspects in our upcoming content on PConline.
