Oppo A5 Pro: A big-battery budget phone that survives heavy rain, 30-min dip underwater

Oppo has always been that brand that pops up with something different. 

Remember seeing a rotating camera phone back in the day? While everyone was busy putting multiple cameras on both the front and back of the smartphone in 2013, Oppo was putting one camera on a motorised system that would move to the front when you take a selfie. 

While the practicality of such features may often raise debates, such features come with a sense of innovation and doing something new. Often presenting users with features that they couldn't have asked for. 

If not anything, this is something often necessary for the evolution of smartphone tech, where there is very little to do. 

In the year 2022, Oppo came up with its F21 Pro. A smartphone, which, among many other features, contains a microscopic lens. 

F21 Pro is still the primary device that my wife uses, and I still often find myself looking at tiny details on fabrics or gold designs while we go out shopping. 

It's not some features you would use daily. But it's crazy fun when you use it every once in a while. 

So what's the 'experiment' with A5 Pro?

Oppo, as a brand, was never afraid to experiment. Even in the year 2025, they have kept it going. 

At a time when "real waterproofing" remained a feature reserved for the crazy expensive kidney-selling six-digit flagship phones, they dropped a better version of that on a phone that comes with a price tag of Tk23,000. 

IP69 water rating on the Oppo A5 Pro is something that even the latest iPhones or Samsung flagships don't have. All of them go up to IP68. 

On paper, IP68 guarantees protection up to 1.5 meters of freshwater immersion for 30 minutes. 

IP69, however, adds resistance against powerful water jets, meaning that no matter how heavy the rain is, the phone would be able to withstand that. 

I wouldn't say that it's a fully rugged phone. That has a whole different definition. However, this can be considered a very durable consumer smartphone with some of the general features of a rugged phone. Features like being able to use your phone with gloves on, a feature that many smartphone users needing to wear gloves often complain about. 

The phone is also extremely lightweight [195 grammes] and thus easier to carry around compared to a rugged phone that would weigh at least half a kilogram. 

But is it practical? 

The rainy season is on its way this year. And let's be honest, the rain in Bangladesh isn't just a drizzle. It's a full-on downpour that can even last for weeks sometimes. 

While you can just carry a polybag on your wallet to protect your phone, that would also mean you won't be able to use your phone while you are out. And even inside a bag, you do carry the risk of your phone getting exposed to water one way or another. 

That's where the Oppo A5 Pro shines. 

In this price range, finding a phone that can confidently handle the monsoon's fury is rare. It's only recently that Realme came up with something similar. 

I have a feeling that the Oppo A5 Pro would become a hit among the bikers who often need to take a break during rain despite having raincoats on because they need to protect their phone.

Now that we have discussed the unique features of the phone let's move to the other specifications. 

First impression: Looks and feel

Right off the box, the Oppo A5 Pro does not look like a phone that offers the level of protection discussed earlier. It has the same form factor that any other phones in this price range come with. 

The smartphone does look and feel a lot more premium than its price, though. The hand feel is further enhanced by the smooth leather-like material that Oppo used on the back. 

Pros:
Durability and exceptional IP69 water resistance
Decent mid-range performance
Long battery life

Oppo has a history of making thin and lightweight smartphones. A5 Pro is no different. The fact that such a device includes a reinforced structure which protects against drops from all directions up to 1.8 meters in height on paper is quite surprising.

That being said, just because a phone can survive certain drops doesn't mean you should drop it all day. The phone does come with a transparent cover in the box, which is very flexible. I'm not sure if you would be able to put a glass screen protector on the phone and still use this cover. So, this might be something to consider after getting it. 

You can either go for a new cover and glass protector or use a regular poly-based screen protector with the case given to the phone. 

Performance: Not a powerhouse, but can handle regular tasks

Smartphones are complete packages where sacrifices are often required to be made in order to focus on one aspect. I thought Oppo would go for such a sacrifice on performance, but it did not. 

Under the hood, the phone comes with the Snapdragon 6S Gen 1. It's a solid mid-range chip. I would say it is better than the Helio G99 inside the Redmi Note 14 that we reviewed last month. 

This Snapdragon chipset is perfect for everyday tasks which involve using social media, browsing the web, and streaming videos. 

For gaming, though, it's a mixed bag like the rest of the budget smartphone segment at this price point. 

Casual games like Candy Crush or simpler racing games run flawlessly. Even popular titles like PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty Mobile are playable on medium settings. 

However, graphic-intensive games like Genshin Impact or the latest AAA titles will struggle, with noticeable frame drops and lag. 

It's a very capable chip, yes. But it is not designed for hardcore gaming. 

Display is where the trade-offs and heartbreak is

The 6.67-inch IPS LCD display is not bad. It has decent colours and brightness. But the 720p resolution of a smartphone display in 2025 is a bit of a letdown. 

I haven't noticed any major display issues using the phone. Maybe you won't either. But when you consider that you have the option to add another thousand bucks and get a 1080p AMOLED display, things get a little more interesting. 

Cons
Low display resolution
Camera performance could've been better

Oppo A5 Pro is a phone that has gone beyond seven to eight times more expensive flagships with its durability and protection against water. Yet the fact that the phone's display is just 720p IPS LCD compared to the 1080p AMOLED offered by the competition is a big thing to consider.

As for the refresh rate of the display, you can take it up to 90Hz.  

Camera is a 50/50

The dual camera setup of A5 Pro, with a 50MP main sensor, is okay for capturing quick moments during the day. But it struggles in low-light conditions, which is common among phones at this price range.

The front-facing selfie camera is just 8MP. I believe the quality of the camera sensors and image optimisation matter more than the resolution. Some companies can give you a 200MP camera on a budget phone. But that won't perform the same as the 200MP on a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra due to this difference in sensor and better hardware. 

But still did not expect an 8MP front-facing camera from a brand like Oppo, who had been well-known for their selfie game for more than a decade. 

They did include some nifty AI-based camera features to make up for it, though. And the phone's camera app is one of the best in this budget range. 

I liked that Oppo does not put the filters right on your face and actually gives some options to control and apply them by yourself. 

Battery and software to the rescue

Oppo A5 Pro comes with a massive 5800 mAh battery that would easily last you an entire day, even with heavy use. If you are a moderate to heavy user, you might need to charge the phone once every two days. 

As for the charging, the 45W fast charging will come in handy as just a 30-minute charge [or even less] would be more than enough for you to continue the whole day. 

There's nothing new to say about ColorOS. The ColourOS 15 with Android 15 is a clean and user-friendly experience. There are some pre-built apps and games that you may consider removing (if you don't want them) after the first boot. 

Should you buy this? 

Oppo A5 Pro is a tough, reliable phone that, within a budget, addresses two key elements of Bangladesh: rain and dust. 

Its water and dust resistance, combined with its long-lasting battery, makes it a great choice for anyone who needs a phone that can handle the rigours of daily life, especially during the monsoon. 

It is an ideal option for bikers who don't want the rain to stop them. The IP69 rating and protection against water spray represent such a use-case scenario. 

Apart from that, if you have tendencies to roughly handle your phone, getting this one would make it a bit more difficult to break your phone into a new one. 

You won't be happy with it if your sole priority is the display resolution, camera, or bigger storage. If any of these three are your priorities, you can consider Redmi Note 14 and Realme C75. 

The trade-off for choosing Redmi Note 14 over Oppo A5 Pro would be a weaker chipset, thus lower performance. Also, no water resistance, as Note 14 only protects against water splashes. You will get a better camera and display, though. 

The realme one, on the other hand, will give you more storage at Tk1,000 less the price of A5 Pro. But the performance will get a massive hit, and the camera performance won't be that good either. 

Whichever phone you decide to buy, make the decision wisely based on your exact preferences. With Eid approaching, all smartphone brands are coming up with exciting offers, and it is a good time to get your hands on a new smartphone if you need one. 

Specs sheet [for info].

Processor

Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen1

Cores: Octa-core

GPU: Adreno 610 @1050MHz

Display

Size: 6.67 inches

Panel Type: IPS LCD

Refresh rate: 90Hz

Resolution: 720 x 1604

Ratio: 20:9

Storage & RAM

8GB+128GB

Battery

5640mAh/22.11Wh (Rated)

5800mAh/22.74Wh (Typical)

Cameras

Rear 50MP (wide)

Monochrome: 2MP

Front: 8MP

Pros

Durability and exceptional IP69 water resistance

Decent mid-range performance

Long battery life

Cons

Low display resolution

Camera performance could've been better