Oppo A8 vs Oppo A5 (2020): A Detailed Budget Phone Showdown

The Oppo A series consistently delivers affordable smartphones packed with features. Today, we're pitting two popular contenders against each other: the Oppo A8 and the Oppo A5 (2020). Both offer compelling value, but which one reigns supreme in this budget battle?
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Oppo A5 (2020) edges out the A8 thanks to its superior Snapdragon 665 chipset, offering noticeably better performance and efficiency. While the A8 has a slightly larger battery, the A5's reverse charging and overall smoother experience make it the better choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Oppo A8 Oppo A5 (2020)
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 400/50 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41
Launch
Announced2019, December. Released 2019, December2019, September 21. Released 2019, October
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic back, plastic frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions163.9 x 75.5 x 8.3 mm (6.45 x 2.97 x 0.33 in)163.6 x 75.4 x 9.1 mm (6.44 x 2.97 x 0.36 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight180 g (6.35 oz)195 g (6.88 oz)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density)720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~82.7% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 480 nits (typ)IPS LCD, 480 nits (typ)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53)Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver)
ChipsetMediatek MT6765V/CB Helio P35 (12 nm)Qualcomm SDM665 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm)
GPUPowerVR GE8320Adreno 610
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie), ColorOS 6.1Android 9.0 (Pie), ColorOS 6.1
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal128GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1UFS 2.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad-12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.25µm, PDAF 8 MP, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm Auxiliary lens Auxiliary lens
Triple12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens-
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single8 MP, f/2.08 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCNoYes (market dependent)
PositioningGPS, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioFM radioFM radio
USBmicroUSB 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compassFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging-Reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 4230 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsGreen, BlackMirror Black, Dazzling White
ModelsPDBM00CPH1931, CPH1959, CPH1933, CPH1935, CPH1943
PriceAbout 150 EURAbout 170 EUR

Oppo A8

  • Larger Battery
  • Potentially Lower Price
  • Large Display

  • Slower Performance
  • Less Efficient Chipset
  • Lower Camera Quality

Oppo A5 (2020)

  • Better Performance (Snapdragon 665)
  • Reverse Wired Charging
  • Improved Camera Quality
  • More Efficient Chipset

  • Smaller Battery
  • Potentially Higher Price

Display Comparison

Both phones feature large displays, with the A8 potentially having a slightly larger screen size (likely around 6.5 inches) and the A5 (2020) around 6.3 inches. Expect similar resolutions (likely HD+). The A5 (2020) might offer slightly better color accuracy due to the Snapdragon chipset's better GPU.

Camera Comparison

The A5 (2020) typically features a quad-camera setup (48MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro, 2MP depth), while the A8 likely has a triple-camera setup (13MP main, 2MP depth, 2MP macro). The A5 (2020) generally produces better image quality, especially in low light, thanks to its more capable processor and potentially better image processing algorithms.

Performance

This is where the A5 (2020) shines. The Snapdragon 665 is significantly more powerful and efficient than the Helio P35. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the A5 (2020). The A8 will feel noticeably slower, especially with demanding apps.

Battery Life

The Oppo A8 boasts a larger battery capacity (likely 5000mAh) compared to the A5 (2020) (likely 4000mAh). However, the A5 (2020)'s more efficient chipset means battery life might be comparable in real-world usage. The A5 (2020) also offers reverse wired charging, a valuable feature for topping up other devices.

Buying Guide

The Oppo A8 is a good option for users prioritizing a larger screen and battery capacity above all else, and who are on a very tight budget. The Oppo A5 (2020) is ideal for those seeking a more responsive and reliable daily driver with better performance and the added convenience of reverse wired charging.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Oppo A5 (2020) is significantly better for gaming due to its Snapdragon 665 chipset, which offers superior graphics processing and overall performance.
❓ Does the Oppo A8 have reverse charging?
No, the Oppo A8 does not offer reverse wired charging. The Oppo A5 (2020) does, allowing you to charge other devices using your phone's battery.