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MagyarOppo A73 5G in review: Light 5G smartphone for 300 Euros (~$369)
Besides the high-priced Reno4 Pro and the extremely affordable A52, Oppo is well positioned in the mid-range too. This also includes the Oppo A73 5G, which is equipped with a MediaTek Dimensity 720 SoC and 8 GB of RAM in addition to the new mobile network standard. Furthermore, it has 128 GB of UFS 2.1 storage and an ARM Mali-G57 MC3 graphics unit.
With this equipment, the A73 5G has to face the comparison with the rival devices listed below. Other smartphones from our database can also be added under each section.
Possible competitors compared
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Drive | Size | Resolution | Best Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80.1 % | 01/2021 | Oppo A73 5G Dimensity 720, Mali-G57 MP3 | 177 g | 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.50" | 2400x1080 | |
| 81.3 % | 12/2020 | OnePlus Nord N10 5G SD 690 5G, Adreno 619L | 190 g | 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.49" | 2400x1080 | |
| 80 % | 08/2020 | Motorola Moto G 5G Plus SD 765, Adreno 620 | 207 g | 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.70" | 2520x1080 | |
| 82.1 % | 12/2020 | Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G SD 750G 5G, Adreno 619 | 215 g | 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.67" | 2400x1080 | |
| 80.1 % | 12/2020 | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G SD 750G 5G, Adreno 619 | 193 g | 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.60" | 1600x720 |
Case - Thin 6.5-inch smartphone
Oppo has made the case of the A73 5G out of plastic and given the smartphone a metal frame. The front is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, whereas the back is only made of polycarbonate. The build quality is very high, and we couldn't determine any defects in our review sample. Thanks to the materials used, Oppo's smartphone is also very light and weighs just 177 grams. In combination with the other dimensions, it's not only the lightest but also the slimmest phone in our test field.
Connectivity - No memory card reader
Besides the hardware mentioned at the beginning, the Oppo A73 5G also offers a dual-SIM slot. This can accommodate a 5G-capable SIM card in both slots, and the VoLTE and VoWiFi functions are also available. However, a microSD card reader for memory expansion has been omitted. The USB Type-C port transfers data with the USB 2.0 standard, and a 3.5 mm audio jack is also available. While the Camera2 API supports the "Full" level, DRM Widevine L1 allows streaming video content in high resolutions.
Software - ColorOS 7 based on Android 10
The Oppo A73 5G runs Android 10 with security patches at the level of November 5, 2020 and ColorOS 7 as the user interface. The latter is very similar to pure Android and only differs in terms of customized icons and manufacturer-specific apps for accessing photos, files, and more. In addition, there are various third-party apps that can be uninstalled without any problems.
Communication and GPS - 5G on board
The Oppo A73 5G can establish mobile connections via GSM, 3G, LTE, and 5G networks. NFC, Bluetooth 5.1, and Wi-Fi 5 are available in close ranges. In combination with our Netgear Nighthawk AX12 reference router, average speeds of 340 Mb/s are possible for data reception and 341 Mb/s for sending data. As a result, the inexpensive 5G smartphone can place itself just ahead of the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G in our test field, but it lags behind the other contenders by a considerable margin.
Users of the A73 5G can use GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, and Galileo to determine their location. In combination with the GPS Test app, the device could pinpoint its location with an accuracy of up to three meters in our test.
During our required bike ride, Oppo's smartphone showed some significant deviations in comparison to the Garmin Edge 500 reference device on long straight roads. However, curves were registered comparatively well. Overall, the Oppo A73 5G is only suitable for very simple navigation tasks.
Telephone and call quality - Clear communication possible
Phone calls are made via the standard Android phone app on the Oppo A73 5G. During calls, the 5G phone shows high volume and a clear transmission of speech on both sides. Ambient noise is filtered out to a certain degree, which can lead to interference in somewhat louder environments.
Cameras - 16 MP is enough
The Oppo A73 5G's main camera allows users to take pictures with a resolution of 16 MP, and a 2 MP sensor is added for depth information. Details and fine structures are reproduced very well, and colors look vivid. Panoramic shots also show many details, but the camera has problems balancing very bright and very dark areas. This impression is further strengthened by our low-light photo, since only just a few details of our test subject can be recognized here. When the digital zoom is used, details are shown with slightly blurred edges. Moreover, ultra wide-angle shots are possible with the available 8 MP sensor; it reproduces subjects with a medium quality and also shows a weak contrast in dark image areas. A front-facing camera with an 8 MP sensor is available for selfie fans as well. It takes detailed pictures, but the contrast in dark picture areas is clearly weak here as well. Besides some beautification modes, further adjustments are possible via the Pro mode of the camera app, although this is reserved for the main camera. Manual settings for ISO, shutter speed, white balance, focus, and brightness can be configured here.
Video recordings offer a similar quality to the one shown in our sample photographs. The image is also kept shake-free by a stabilizer that works reliably, and the transition between bright and dark areas is balanced well too. The settings menu offers the choice of 4K, 1080p, and 720p resolutions. In addition, a high frame-rate mode or the like is not available.
Image Comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
Close-upPanoramaWide angleZoom (5x)Low light
The ColorChecker Passport image shows that the Oppo A73 5G's camera captures colors a bit darker than they should be. The test chart is reproduced a bit too dark as well but with clearly recognizable details. A slight contrast weakness is also noticeable in the lower corners.
Accessories and warranty - Headset and case included in the box
The Oppo A73 5G comes with a USB power adapter with a matching USB Type-C cable, a protective silicon case, a wired stereo headset, and a SIM needle.
Oppo grants buyers a warranty period of 24 months.
Input devices and handling - Face recognition and fingerprint scanner
Oppo uses Google's GBoard for text input. Text can be entered quickly and easily with it, and the keyboard can also be customized to the user's preferences. While GBoard appears as a docked keyboard in portrait mode, it's detached in landscape mode and can be dragged freely. However, users can change this setting at will. The touchscreen reacts reliably to touches and only offers fingertips a slight resistance. Consequently, even longer swipe gestures are possible without any problems.
The fingerprint scanner of the A73 5G is integrated into the power button and responds moderately well to stored prints. In our test, two to three attempts were often necessary to unlock the smartphone. Unlocking via facial recognition, on the other hand, worked without problems.
Display - Flicker-free IPS with good contrast
The display of the Oppo A73 5G consists of a 6.5-inch IPS panel and offers a resolution of 2400x1080 pixels. The average brightness of 499 cd/m² ranks second in our test field, but it drops to a maximum of 459 cd/m² when the ambient light sensor is disabled. A good value of 514 cd/m² is achieved in the APL50 test. In addition, the lowest configurable brightness is 1.54 cd/m².
No PWM is used for brightness control, which is convenient for users with sensitive eyes.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 87 %
Center on Battery: 527 cd/m²
Contrast: 1387:1 (Black: 0.38 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 3.5 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 2.9 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
98.6% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.29
| Oppo A73 5G IPS, 2400x1080, 6.50 | OnePlus Nord N10 5G IPS LCD, 2400x1080, 6.49 | Motorola Moto G 5G Plus LTPS, 2520x1080, 6.70 | Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G IPS, 2400x1080, 6.67 | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G AMOLED, 1600x720, 6.60 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | -7% | 13% | 2% | 12% | |
| Brightness middle | 527 | 450 -15% | 461 -13% | 606 15% | 466 -12% |
| Brightness | 499 | 422 -15% | 458 -8% | 574 15% | 462 -7% |
| Brightness Distribution | 87 | 89 2% | 93 7% | 89 2% | 85 -2% |
| Black Level * | 0.38 | 0.57 -50% | 0.52 -37% | 0.44 -16% | |
| Contrast | 1387 | 789 -43% | 887 -36% | 1377 -1% | |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 3.5 | 2.67 24% | 1.01 71% | 2.4 31% | 2.06 41% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 7.3 | 6.76 7% | 2.1 71% | 5.3 27% | 6.14 16% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 2.9 | 2 31% | 1.5 48% | 4.5 -55% | 1.8 38% |
| Gamma | 2.29 96% | 2.274 97% | 2.25 98% | 2.21 100% | 2.105 105% |
| CCT | 6502 100% | 6859 95% | 6701 97% | 6224 104% | 6444 101% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM not detected |  | ||
In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 17900 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. | |||
Our measurements show that the Oppo A73 5G has a very good contrast ratio of 1,387:1 and a barely increased black level of 0.38 cd/m². Therefore, it scores better than most of the rivals in our test field and is only relegated to second place by the AMOLED display of the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G.
Users can influence the color reproduction of the A73 5G via the settings menu. The most balanced option is achieved when the slider for the display color temperature is moved in the warmer direction but not pushed all the way to the end. The adjacent screenshot shows the optimal position.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 18.4 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 8.4 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 10 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 35 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.5 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 33.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 18 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 15.6 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 39 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (33.7 ms). | ||
The Oppo A73 5G can be used well outdoors. Depending on the viewing angle, however, there can be significant reflections and glare.
The Oppo smartphone's IPS panel is very viewing-angle stable, and even from very flat angles, it doesn't display image content with distortions or inaccurate colors.
Performance - New MediaTek SoC for the mid-range
The MediaTek Dimensity 720 installed here can only occasionally assert itself against the competition in the benchmarks. Consequently, the result is only sufficient for the last place in our test field in many system performance disciplines. In a direct SoC comparison, the CPU performance of the Dimensity 720 is on par with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 730, and the GPU performance is between an Adreno 618 and an Adreno 619L.
Both the Geekbench 5.3 OpenCL score and the 3DMark results show that the internal ARM Mali-G57 MP3 in the Oppo A73 5G performs slightly better than the Adreno 619L in the OnePlus Nord N10, for example. However, the system still runs smoothly in everyday use, and we didn't experience any stuttering or the like.
| AnTuTu v8 - Total Score (sort by value) | |
| Oppo A73 5G | |
| OnePlus Nord N10 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G 5G Plus | |
| Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | |
| Average MediaTek Dimensity 720 (252308 - 253013, n=2) | |
The A73 5G also shows rather low results in the browser benchmarks. However, at least the OnePlus Nord N10 5G can be outperformed here. In everyday use, nonetheless, websites are displayed quickly, and media content is made available comparatively promptly.
| Jetstream 2 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Smartphone (13.8 - 351, n=173, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A42 5G (Chrome 87) | |
| Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G (Chrome 87.0.4280.101) | |
| Motorola Moto G 5G Plus (Chrome 83) | |
| Average MediaTek Dimensity 720 (34 - 64.6, n=4) | |
| Oppo A73 5G (Chrome 83) | |
| OnePlus Nord N10 5G (Chrome 87) | |
| JetStream 1.1 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Smartphone (last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A42 5G (Chrome 87) | |
| Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G (Chrome 87.0.4280.101) | |
| Motorola Moto G 5G Plus (Chrome 83) | |
| Average MediaTek Dimensity 720 (67.3 - 75.3, n=3) | |
| Oppo A73 5G (Chrome 83) | |
| OnePlus Nord N10 5G (Chrome 87) | |
| Speedometer 2.0 - Result | |
| Average of class Smartphone (14.9 - 445, n=157, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A42 5G (Chome 87) | |
| Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G (Chrome 87.0.4280.101) | |
| Motorola Moto G 5G Plus (Chrome 83) | |
| Average MediaTek Dimensity 720 (35.3 - 54, n=3) | |
| Oppo A73 5G (Chrome 83) | |
| OnePlus Nord N10 5G (Chrome 87) | |
| WebXPRT 3 - Overall | |
| Average of class Smartphone (39 - 304, n=122, last 2 years) | |
| Motorola Moto G 5G Plus (Chrome 83) | |
| Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G (Chrome 87.0.4280.101) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A42 5G (Chrome 87) | |
| Average MediaTek Dimensity 720 (49 - 57, n=3) | |
| Oppo A73 5G (Chrome 83) | |
| OnePlus Nord N10 5G (Chrome 87) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Smartphone (4633 - 89112, n=213, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A42 5G (Chrome 87) | |
| Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G (Chrome 87.0.4280.101) | |
| Average MediaTek Dimensity 720 (14156 - 19201, n=4) | |
| Motorola Moto G 5G Plus (Chrome 83) | |
| Oppo A73 5G (Chrome 83) | |
| OnePlus Nord N10 5G (Chrome 87) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| OnePlus Nord N10 5G (Chrome 87) | |
| Oppo A73 5G (Chrome 83) | |
| Average MediaTek Dimensity 720 (2346 - 4059, n=4) | |
| Motorola Moto G 5G Plus (Chrome 83) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A42 5G (Chrome 87) | |
| Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G (Chrome 87.0.4280.101) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (388 - 9999, n=173, last 2 years) | |
* ... smaller is better
Oppo installs a 128 GB UFS 2.1 storage device in the A73 5G. However, it achieves rather moderate read and write speeds in the storage benchmark, which are only sufficient for the last place in our test field. Furthermore, there is no option to expand storage.
| Oppo A73 5G | OnePlus Nord N10 5G | Motorola Moto G 5G Plus | Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G | Average 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | 13% | 17% | 77% | 73% | 35% | 226% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 860 | 865 1% | 885 3% | 938 9% | 963 12% | 760 ? -12% | 1508 ? 75% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 193 | 187.2 -3% | 180.2 -7% | 463.5 140% | 476 147% | 297 ? 54% | 1118 ? 479% |
| Random Read 4KB | 102.2 | 137 34% | 138.1 35% | 176.6 73% | 168.5 65% | 152.9 ? 50% | 247 ? 142% |
| Random Write 4KB | 88.1 | 106 20% | 119.3 35% | 162.3 84% | 147.7 68% | 131.6 ? 49% | 272 ? 209% |
Games - Suitable for gaming with reduced settings
The ARM Mali-G57 MP3 used here is a mid-range graphics unit, and it can bring modern games smoothly onto the screen. However, the theoretically possible high frame rates of the 90 Hz panel are not achieved here. Users can expect a stable 40 fps with slightly reduced graphics settings in the games that we tested with Gamebench, but the frame rates can still drop in very demanding titles.
Emissions - Mono speaker
Temperature
Our measurements show moderate surface temperatures of up to 30.5 °C (~87 °F) for the A73 5G. Moreover, users shouldn't expect limitations due to high temperatures in daily use.
| 3DMark - Wild Life Stress Test Stability | |
| Oppo A73 5G | |
| Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G | |
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 30.5 °C / 87 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 29.6 °C / 85 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 26.9 °C / 80 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.
Speaker
The Oppo A73 5G's single speaker offers a relatively high volume and a sound spectrum with pronounced higher mids. This makes the Android smartphone perfectly suitable for playing media content.
Oppo A73 5G audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (91.1 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 22.2% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.7% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (5.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.8% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (3.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (18.6% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 15% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 76% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 37% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 56% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
OnePlus Nord N10 5G audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 68.7% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(-) | nearly no mids - on average 68.7% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(-) | nearly no highs - on average 68.7% lower than median
(+) | highs are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (117.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 85% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 7% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 95% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 2% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Battery life - Enduring 5G phone
Energy consumption
In our test, the Oppo A73 5G shows the lowest power consumption among our chosen comparison devices. The included USB power adapter has an output of 18 watts; therefore, it has a sufficiently high capacity.
| Off / Standby |   0.01 / 0.16 Watt |
| Idle |  0.58 / 1.86 / 1.88 Watt |
| Load |
3.1 / 5.01 Watt |
    
| |
| Oppo A73 5G 4040 mAh | OnePlus Nord N10 5G 4300 mAh | Motorola Moto G 5G Plus 5000 mAh | Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G 4820 mAh | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G 5000 mAh | Average MediaTek Dimensity 720 | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -42% | -85% | -27% | -88% | -34% | -33% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 0.58 | 0.9 -55% | 1.5 -159% | 0.5 14% | 1.6 -176% | 1.005 ? -73% | 0.897 ? -55% |
| Idle Average * | 1.86 | 1.6 14% | 2.1 -13% | 2.1 -13% | 2 -8% | 1.878 ? -1% | 1.452 ? 22% |
| Idle Maximum * | 1.88 | 2.1 -12% | 2.9 -54% | 2.13 -13% | 2.6 -38% | 2.04 ? -9% | 1.629 ? 13% |
| Load Average * | 3.1 | 6.2 -100% | 6.7 -116% | 5.39 -74% | 7.1 -129% | 4.47 ? -44% | 5.55 ? -79% |
| Load Maximum * | 5.01 | 7.8 -56% | 9.2 -84% | 7.4 -48% | 9.5 -90% | 7.08 ? -41% | 8.31 ? -66% |
* ... smaller is better
Battery life
In our practical WLAN test, the Oppo A73 5G achieves a runtime of almost 24 hours. Therefore, the 4,040 mAh battery is well utilized.
Oppo's smartphone is fully charged again after just under two hours with the included fast charger.
| Oppo A73 5G 4040 mAh | OnePlus Nord N10 5G 4300 mAh | Motorola Moto G 5G Plus 5000 mAh | Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G 4820 mAh | Samsung Galaxy A42 5G 5000 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | |||||
| WiFi v1.3 | 1426 | 974 -32% | 914 -36% | 1096 -23% | 967 -32% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict - Inexpensive 5G smartphone for everyday use
The Oppo A73 5G combines a low price with a good configuration. The installed MediaTek Dimensity 720 also provides enough performance for everyday applications and less demanding games. The display is flicker-free thanks to the IPS panel and offers a good contrast ratio. This makes the A73 5G interesting for users who would like to avoid an OLED display because of PWM.
5G has become even more affordable now with the Oppo A73 5G, and the smartphone's remaining features can also keep up with the competition.
Besides the extremely good battery life, the Oppo A73 5G's camera performance is also convincing. The pictures aren't great, but they are definitely alright for the lower mid-range. The lack of a microSD card slot can also be tolerated due to the generous internal storage. Users looking for an inexpensive 5G smartphone with good features should take a closer look at the Oppo A73 5G.
Price and availability
The Oppo A73 5G is available now and can currently be found in the "Navy Black" color, for example, at Cyberport for 287 Euros (~$352) and in the "Navy Neon" color also at Cyberport for 287 Euros (~$352).
Oppo A73 5G
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01/04/2021 v7
Mike Wobker
Pricecompare
