Oppo F19 Pro+ Review with Pros and Cons
- Raju Shaik
- Mar 19, 2021
- 4 min read
Oppo launched two new mid-tier phones in India recently under the F19 series. And out of the two, here we will be taking an in-depth look at the F19 Pro+ model. It comes powered by the 5G capable 7nm-based MediaTek Dimensity 800U chipset. It differs from the non-plus variant mainly in terms of this processing power, i.e., the latter packs a MediaTek Helio P95 instead. Rest, they are pretty much identical.
Mobile Phone box contents
Handset
Charger
Earphones
USB-C cable
SIM ejector pin
Protective case
Quick guide and safety guide
Design and Display
Oppo has nailed the design. My unit looks like a slender body wrapped in a shimmering satin drape. At just 7.8mm thickness and 173g heftiness, it is one of the easily pocketable devices.
Upfront, you’re getting a 6.4-inch FHD+ AMOLED panel that only cycles 60 frames a second. So while the colors, quality, and clarity of the display are pleasing, the refresh rate fails to impress. That’s something you’d notice coming from a 90 or 120Hz screen. Else, you’d get by without a hint of a difference.
The hole punch also occupies a tiny space over the top left corner. That and slim bezels ensure a larger screen real estate for media consumption. The screen is HDR capable and you can also enjoy DRM certified HD content on OTT platforms. The in-display fingerprint scanner and face-unlock work just fine.
By the back, you have an Oppo branding and an upland housing the triple cameras. You may slap on the supplied TPU shell to level the bump and fend off smudges.
Left and right, there are tactile but slightly loose buttons, and at the foot, a headphone jack, one of the dual-microphones, Type-C fissure, and speaker grille.
Audio, Calls, and Connectivity
The speaker output is tinny. So, it’s a good thing that the phone comes with not only a 3.5mm hole but a wired earphone itself. Also, it’s when you plugin, you get to enjoy the Dirac equalizer within System Settings > Sound. While you are here, do check out the Notification Tone Tunes, which makes consecutive alerts sound less alarming.
Moving on, call quality was serviceable. Other connectivity options like 5G, dual VoLTE 4G, Bluetooth 5.1 (w/aptX HD codec), dual-band Wi-Fi, and GPS are sustainable. Now although the options are healthy, the internet speeds were relatively slower on my unit.
Dimensity 800U, and ColorOS 11
At the core, the Dimensity 800U handles the mantle with help from 8 gigs of LPDDR4x RAM and 128 gigs of UFS 2.1 ROM. We have used this chip and configuration inside the Realme X7 and Realme Narzo 30 Pro. Therefore, the experience was positively familiar.
ColorOS 11 is laid on top of this hardware. This OEM skin has come a long way from its previous version with this new Android 11-based update. Some fresh delicacies I liked using include — O Relax, Immersive Game Mode, Expandable Quick Settings Toggles, 3rd Party Apps, Enhanced Dark Mode, Wallpaper Creator, and other Personalization options.
For the minimalist out there, this flavor might still feel a bit much (*ahem* bloatware *ahem*). But, both on and behind the screen improvements add to the experience. Everything seems polished and zippy. Even the 4310mAh cell fared better than expected, probably because of optimized sleep standby, night charging, and overall battery use.
In my use case which includes a lot of browsing, multi-tasking between different socials, half an hour of casual gaming, some amount of Lightroom editing, Spotify playback, and YouTube, F19 Pro Plus ran till bedtime. The 50W charger can top up the juice in less than an hour.
Cameras
The camera assembly comprises a 48MP primary shooter, an 8MP ultrawide snapper, a 2MP macro module, and a 2MP depth mapper. The video recording is possible up to 4K30fps from the rear and 1080p30fps from the front.
That’s all a general set of sensors and shooting options. But, like in every other area, the software plays its part in enhancing the experience. Scroll to see what I mean.
With the main camera in broad daylight, you can capture some delectable shots. Although details won’t be enough to zoom in or spread out but should look good on your social grids n’ feeds. The shutter speed and autofocus lock are quick and the 48MP processing is also fairly fast.
Ultrawide shots retain a lesser amount of details and there is a color shift. Still, they are usable.
Close-up shots are alright.
There are similar treats hidden within the Night mode filter chest. Where the actual computational enhancement fails to impress, these add an artistic flair to the photos. Also, don’t bother employing ultrawide sensors during dark hours.
Some other cool camera trickeries worth trying are Dual-View Video, FHD Slo-mos at 120 fps, Timelapse, Panorama, Expert Mode, Text Scanner, etc.
Oppo F19 Pro+ Review: Should you buy it?
Oppo F19 Pro+ is loaded with features and still manages to feel light. The phone convenes tempting hardware in terms of aesthetics, day-to-day performance, reliable battery life, stupid-fast charging speeds, and a decent set of optics. It even boasts 5G for whenever that’s ready in India. However, if you do intend on holding on to the phone for long, the inherent software would be the real secret sauce, I reckon. You are more likely to come here for the hardware design and dynamics but stay for ColorOS 11’s crispness and convenience.
Having all that said, the device still has its foibles that could spoil the fun, such as the 60Hz refresh rate and tinny speaker sound. Also, stock Android fans might feel the software slightly overwhelming. Now if you can live with these, the rest of it is an alluring mix of ingredients for a lasting experience.
Pros
Sleek and dapper design
ColorOS 11 customizations
Snappy performance
Reliable battery life backed by 65W fast charging
5G future-readiness
Fancy camera tricks
Cons
Tinny speaker audio
No higher refresh rate for display
Oppo F19 Pro+ Specs and Price in India
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