Released in 2018, the Oppo A3 and Nokia 7 Plus represent distinct approaches to the mid-range smartphone market. The Oppo A3 leverages MediaTek’s Helio P60, while the Nokia 7 Plus opts for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 660. This comparison dissects their key differences, focusing on performance, battery life, and display quality to determine which device offers the best value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing sustained performance and a slightly faster charging experience, the Nokia 7 Plus emerges as the better choice. Its Snapdragon 660, built on a 14nm process, offers a more efficient architecture than the Oppo A3’s Helio P60, translating to smoother multitasking and potentially better long-term stability.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - Global |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat13 600/100 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| | - | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2018, April. Released 2018, May | 2018, February 25. Released 2018, April 30 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum back, aluminum frame (6000 series) |
| Dimensions | 156 x 75.3 x 7.8 mm (6.14 x 2.96 x 0.31 in) | 158.4 x 75.6 x 8 mm (6.24 x 2.98 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 159 g (5.61 oz) | 183 g (6.46 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2280 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) | 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.2 inches, 96.9 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.0 inches, 92.4 cm2 (~77.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6771 Helio P60 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SDM660 Snapdragon 660 (14 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G72 MP3 | Adreno 512 |
| OS | Android 8.1 (Oreo), ColorOS 5 | Android 8.1 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10, Android One |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 12 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF
13 MP, f/2.6, (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, AF, 2x optical zoom |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Zeiss optics, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/1.8, PDAF | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS) |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | Zeiss optics |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2 | 16 MP, f/2.0, 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 18W wired |
| Music play | - | Up to 126 h |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 723 h (3G) |
| Talk time | - | Up to 19 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 3400 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3800 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Knight Black, Soybean Meal, Stardust Silver, Garnet Red | Black/Copper, White/Copper |
| Models | PADM00, CPH1837, PADT00 | TA-1041, TA-1062, TA-1046 |
| Price | About 330 EUR | About 490 EUR |
| SAR EU | - | 0.36 W/kg (head) 1.78 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -38.8dB / Crosstalk -95.9dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 87h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1701:1 (nominal), 3.479 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 67dB / Noise 71dB / Ring 79dB
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 140820 (v7)
GeekBench: 5893 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 8.6fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Oppo A3 (2018)
- Sleek and modern design (assumed based on brand aesthetic)
- Potentially more power-efficient chipset (due to 12nm process)
- Competitive price point (likely lower than Nokia 7 Plus at launch)
- Helio P60 chipset offers lower peak performance than Snapdragon 660
- Unspecified charging speed may result in slower charging times
- Less established software support compared to Nokia
Nokia 7 plus
- Snapdragon 660 provides superior CPU and GPU performance
- 18W fast charging for quicker battery replenishment
- Stronger brand reputation for software updates and support
- 14nm process may result in slightly higher power consumption
- Potentially higher price point compared to Oppo A3
- Design may appear slightly dated compared to newer models
Display Comparison
Both the Oppo A3 and Nokia 7 Plus share a nominal contrast ratio of 1701:1 and a sunlight contrast ratio of 3.479, suggesting similar outdoor visibility. However, detailed panel specifications like peak brightness and color gamut coverage are missing. The Nokia 7 Plus benefits from a more established brand reputation for display calibration, potentially offering slightly more accurate colors. Without further data, it's difficult to definitively declare a winner, but the Nokia 7 Plus's display is likely more consistent.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack specific details regarding sensor size, aperture, or image processing algorithms. Given the era, it’s reasonable to assume both feature 12MP or 16MP primary sensors. The Nokia 7 Plus, benefiting from Qualcomm’s image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 660, likely offers more refined image processing, particularly in low-light conditions. Without detailed camera specs, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment, but the Nokia 7 Plus has a slight edge due to its ISP.
Performance
The Nokia 7 Plus’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 (14nm) and the Oppo A3’s MediaTek Helio P60 (12nm) represent different architectural philosophies. While the Helio P60’s 12nm process *should* theoretically offer better power efficiency, the Snapdragon 660’s Kryo 260 cores (4x2.2 GHz Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Silver) are generally considered more performant than the Helio P60’s Cortex-A73/A53 configuration (4x2.0 GHz each). This translates to a noticeable advantage for the Nokia 7 Plus in CPU-intensive tasks and gaming. The Snapdragon 660’s Adreno 512 GPU also outperforms the Helio P60’s Mali-G72 MP3, providing a smoother gaming experience.
Battery Life
Both the Oppo A3 and Nokia 7 Plus achieve an impressive endurance rating of 87 hours, indicating comparable battery life under similar usage scenarios. However, the Nokia 7 Plus boasts 18W wired charging, a significant advantage over the Oppo A3’s unspecified charging speed. This faster charging capability allows the Nokia 7 Plus to replenish its battery more quickly, minimizing downtime and providing a more convenient user experience.
Buying Guide
Buy the Oppo A3 (2018) if you prioritize a sleek design and are primarily focused on everyday tasks like social media and light browsing. Buy the Nokia 7 Plus if you value consistent performance, a proven chipset, and a slightly more refined software experience, especially if you anticipate moderate gaming or demanding app usage.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 660 in the Nokia 7 Plus handle demanding games like PUBG Mobile smoothly?
Yes, the Snapdragon 660’s Adreno 512 GPU is capable of running PUBG Mobile at medium to high settings with stable frame rates. While it won’t deliver the same experience as a flagship chipset, it provides a significantly smoother gaming experience compared to the Helio P60 in the Oppo A3.
❓ How does the software experience differ between the Oppo A3 and Nokia 7 Plus?
The Nokia 7 Plus, as part of the Android One program, offers a near-stock Android experience with guaranteed software updates and security patches. The Oppo A3 runs ColorOS, Oppo’s custom Android skin, which includes additional features and customizations but may receive fewer updates and potentially include bloatware.
❓ Is the difference in chipset performance noticeable for everyday tasks like browsing and social media?
For basic tasks like browsing and social media, the difference between the Helio P60 and Snapdragon 660 is less pronounced. However, the Snapdragon 660’s superior processing power will result in snappier app launches and smoother multitasking, especially when switching between multiple applications.
