Oppo A16

OhoPrice editorial review

Our Take: The Oppo A16 is difficult to recommend at 39,999 PKR, and the reason is two lines: 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. That is entry-level memory on an entry-level budget phone, but it is being sold at a midrange price — 32GB fills up fast once apps, photos and system files accumulate, and 3GB of RAM means aggressive app reloading and sluggish multitasking even on the Helio G35, which is itself a modest 2019 chip. The 13MP main camera with PDAF is decent for daylight shots, the 8MP front is fine, and the 5000mAh battery is dependable. But the 720p panel (~269 PPI) is nothing special. This phone only makes sense if you find it far below list price or need a basic second phone and nothing else. The Infinix Smart 20 is 6,000 PKR cheaper and beats the A16 on the specs that define daily usability. Its Helio G81 (despite the garbled MediaTek Hello label in the data) is in a different performance class from the A16's Helio G35, it offers 4GB RAM expandable to 8GB against the Oppo's fixed 3GB, up to 128GB of storage against 32GB, and a 5200mAh battery against 5000mAh. What the A16 keeps is a better camera — 13MP with AF and an 8MP front versus the Smart 20's 8MP/8MP pairing — plus the OPPO brand and its service network. For most buyers, the Smart 20 delivers far more phone for less money; the A16 is only for OPPO loyalists or anyone who values the camera over everything else. If you still choose the A16, verify the IMEI in PTA's DIRBS — and seriously consider whether the 32GB storage will be enough for your apps.