REVIEW: Oppo A40 is a cheap smartphone that takes great photos

With the promise of being a great model for those who don't want to spend a lot on a more basic smartphone, the Oppo A40 can currently be purchased for around a thousand reais and stands out for having a very elegant look for models in this category. But is that enough? See our full review right now.

Design

Launched in colors Lilac e Wine, showmetech received the darker variant of the smartphone from Oppo. It has three buttons: two for volume control and one more to turn on the screen and also some actions.

The fingerprint reader is located on the screen's power button, making it easy to use on a daily basis. The total weight is 186 grams and it is 7,7 mm thick. It has a military certification that includes shock and drop resistance.

The Oppo A40 has more curved edges, which eliminates that discomfort after using it for hours. Its back is the highlight: it has a rough material that simulates ceramic and prevents the device from slipping. Still, I would take advantage of the silicone case sent by Oppo to increase the durability of the device.

There's no denying that this smartphone is very pretty, and its wine-colored color will draw attention wherever you go. Even though it's part of the entry-level category, this model has important certifications for the most inattentive (myself included): the Oppo A40 comes to the market with IP54 support, meaning it's resistant to dust and splashes of water (but it's not waterproof).

Regarding connections, it has two: a USB-C to recharge the battery and a P2 input for wired headphones. It has a triple tray: it can accommodate up to two physical SIMs and a microSD memory card of up to 1 TB at the same time.

The model has a very simple design with plastic back and edges, but it is elegant: you can see here that Oppo did not want to reinvent the wheel and applied the design and formats that worked well in this model. Which is great, because considering the type of user who would buy this device, sophisticated design is far from their priority.

Fabric

Its screen also lives up to the adage that “you don’t change a winning team”: the simplest IPS LCD screen usually seen on cheaper models measures 6,67 inches, reaching a peak brightness of 1.000 nits that performs well even outdoors, situations in which I strongly recommend that you already keep the ambient light sensor activated here.

The screen displays images in HD+ resolution, which is still not the FHD+ that seems ideal for this model, but delivers a good visual experience. Even though it does not have OLED technology, the colors displayed by the Oppo A40 are favorable for less demanding users.

The Chinese company has introduced a technology that allows the operating system to be used even with splashes, something interesting to see in cheaper models like this one. Still, the refresh rate of only 90 Hz leaves something to be desired in some aspects.

Processor

To run all applications and other features, the Oppo chose the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 1, a renamed version of Snapdragon 695. It is aimed at more basic activities and will be able to run several applications at the same time without any problems.

But, let's keep something in mind: this is a processor aimed at simpler activities and is not recommended for those who like to play heavier titles or do something more complete on their smartphone, such as video editing and rendering.

Em Asphalt 9For example, the Oppo A40 It managed to do well on 90% of the tracks, but there were times when I saw crashes, even with the minimum configuration activated. The point is: the processor will be able to run simpler games, but don't even think about running something at maximum configuration, because it is likely that you will not even get past the home screen.

System and interface

Over here, we have the ColorOS 14.0, Oppo's interface for its devices, based on Android 14. There are many interesting features, such as the Secure Vault, which allows you to hide applications and also put a password on them.

The manufacturer has promised that the device will be updated for up to two years, with support ending when it receives Android 16. The same goes for security updates: two years are guaranteed.

Who uses devices from realme You'll notice that the interface is very similar to Realme UI, because it's actually the same: Oppo is part of the BCG group, which controls both companies. The icons, features, and functions like the floating drawer are the same.

Here is a personal comment that the same realme UI errors are in coloros: everything is very gray. It's hard to distinguish between notifications, as everything looks the same. It's worth investing in more colors in the next generation.

One interesting feature that we know came directly from iOS is the ability to have different protections on the lock screen. You can choose the operating system's options or choose up to 50 photos of whoever (or whatever) you want to always see different images.

In the end, you can see that the success of more expensive models like the Oppo Reno 11F 5G was well used here and the interface is well integrated into the device. Even though it has a very basic processor, everything ran well in 95% of the time I spent with the Oppo A40.

Memory and storage

We come to one of the problems of Oppo A40. While companies like Xiaomi and the very realme are choosing to put 6 GB of RAM as a base even in its cheapest devices, Oppo has only put 4 GB on the A40. And let's get to the facts: it's not enough even for users who do very few things on their smartphone.

Another problem is the type of storage eMMC 5.1, which has low read and write speeds. So, even though the device has 256 GB, it's hard not to notice apps and games crashing on a daily basis, especially when starting up.

The company tries to compensate for the low amount of RAM by allowing RAM expansion using the freest internal storage. However, as it is an outdated type of storage, the performance is not what the company promises.

There were situations where Gmail, a relatively simple app, took a few seconds to open. Google Maps also took a while to start running its functionalities. In addition, even the camera app crashed when recording in FHD quality. More demanding games faced the same problems.

Therefore, the negative point remains Oppo A40: the combination of only 4 GB of RAM Having a low-speed internal storage makes applications and the operating system itself stutter on a daily basis. It doesn't prevent you from using the device, but it's frustrating for an entry-level cell phone that should run the basics without any problems.

In the international market, a version of the smartphone with 8 GB of RAM was launched, and I believe that this should arrive in Brazil. Since this will not happen, Brazilians will have to settle for 4 GB of RAM and manage applications to minimize stuttering.

Connectivity

We have the basics of the basics in terms of connectivity due to the processor: there is only one modem 4G, without support for 5G networks. It also does not have NFC for contactless payments and its Bluetooth antenna follows the 5.0 standard.

That said, it follows the pattern of more basic models, but in 2025, not offering the option of 5G connectivity could be a deciding factor for those who like faster connections. Competitors like the Moto G15, found for below R$900, already offers 5G connectivity, so it's worth checking whether this wouldn't be a better option for your day-to-day life.

Audio

In addition to the 3,5mm headphone jack, the Oppo A40 has a mono speaker system that is quite loud and fills a good part of the room where we are. The bass is also very clear, but it is worth remembering that this is an entry-level smartphone and there is no reason to expect high sound quality certifications.

Battery and charging

One of the points that deserves to be highlighted in the review of Oppo A40 is its great battery life. I spent a week with the device and its battery impressed me by lasting an incredible twelve hours, this connected only to Wi-Fi and using social networks like Instagram, WhatsApp and X/Twitter.

I also ventured into an hour of matches of Asphalt 9 with the graphics at minimum and I spent 12%, favorable for an entry-level model. Despite being a cell phone bem basic, we have a 33W charger in the box for fast charging with 45W SuperVOOC technology.

That said, the battery of 5.100 mAh It will be fully charged in just one hour. There were times when I only needed to plug it in for a maximum of 30 minutes to have battery power for the rest of the day. It's great and ensures that you don't have to spend a little extra on an external battery.

Rear cameras

I thought that the lack of an ultrawide camera would be a big deal, but when you look at it and understand the category this model is in, it becomes easy to understand some things. The truth is that the type of audience that can invest in models that cost less than a thousand reais won't check whether the device has a certain type of camera. Check out some photos:

That said, the Oppo A40 It has a 50 MP main lens (with LED flash) and an auxiliary lens that the company says helps with focusing. With this game, it can record in 1080p (FHD) quality at 30 fps, but the default in the camera app is always HD (720p), for one reason: the camera app starts to lag a bit when recording in 1080p is started.

The zoom ranges from 2x, 5x, and 10x. I would say that the zoom is ideal up to 2x, and above that, everything looks very pixelated. This is because with a processor without an ISP or dedicated AI to improve photos, you can't expect much. It's best to keep everything up to 2x. Check out the photos at 2x, 5x, and 10x:

Photos taken during the day and with good natural lighting are quite satisfactory and this has a small AI correction applied in post-processing. The lighter tones are well reproduced without that washed-out effect and in some cases, you are even impressed to think that this device is part of the entry-level category.

Due to its simpler sensor, photos taken at night are noisy and are not a big problem, but the Oppo A40 will definitely do better in photos taken during the day.

Frontal camera

The front camera is a lens that takes photos in up to 5 SM which also performs better outdoors. It is interesting that the portrait mode here ends up being the big highlight and the correction in post-processing is done with great quality.

Although I did notice a slight wash of my skin that made me look whiter than I actually am, this can be fixed with a quick edit in the app's own gallery. Still, it would be worth it if an update stopped this from happening.

The video part that disappointed me the most is that the 4 GB of native RAM is not enough to record video in FHD quality. You might think: but Victor, isn't recording in HD resolution enough? Yes, it is, but why put a resolution above that when not even the smartphone can do it?

These are questions that end up going unanswered and the user ends up being forced to record videos in a lower quality to avoid crashes in everyday life. Which, in the end, is disappointing: the camera can go further, but the manufacturer did not do the most basic tests to know if this would work in everyday life (and kept this for the final launch).

Price and availability

O Oppo A40 was released in Brazil in November 2024 with a suggested price of R$1.399, but can currently be found for less than R$1000. See the options below:

• On Mercado Livre by $ 995 Add to cart
• In Magazine Luiza by BRL 1.259,10 on Pix

In Brazil, the device is a direct competitor of Moto G85, but the option of Motorola stands out for having support for 5G networks and 8 GB of RAM, something that should make a difference in everyday life. The Oppo A40 can also compete in the market with models from its “sister” realme, since the realme C75 can now be found in the same price range of R$1 and has similar configurations.

Conclusion

I come to the end of the analysis of Oppo A40 with the opinion that the concept of the device was interesting, but its execution was not as successful as the company had hoped. It stands out for having a 50 MP lens that takes great photos outdoors during the day, and its front lens is also interesting for a device that can be found for less than a thousand reais.

Despite this, the decision to only bring the 4GB RAM version to Brazil, accompanied by a type of storage that takes time to read files and even open simpler applications, is the device's biggest Achilles heel. It's curious: even though it has the RAM expansion feature, applications still appear slow when they are being launched.

An update that would make the interface lighter would be essential for the Oppo A40 to be considered a perfect entry-level device, but it's hard to say that when the company hasn't managed to solve even this problem. It's an interesting option to invest in for less than R$800,00, but the price tag above R$XNUMX doesn't match what it delivers in everyday use.

Technical specifications

Brand	OPPO
Córdoba	OPPO A40
Dimensions	Height: approx. 165.77mm Width: approx. 76.08mm Thickness: approx. 7.68mm Weight: approx. 186g
Storage	4GB RAM + 256GB Internal Storage
RAM Type	LPDDR4X at 2133 MHz, 2 x 16 bits
ROM Specifications	UFS 3.1
Memory card	Compatible
Fabric	6.67″ with HD+ resolution (1604×720) 1000 nits peak brightness 90 Hz refresh rate
Touch Sampling Rate	Up to 180Hz
Range of colors	100% DCI-P3 (Vivid Mode), 100% sRGB (Natural Mode)
Color Depth	1,07 billion colors
Pixel Density	PPI 394
Covering Glass	Panda Glass (twice reinforced)
Back camera	Main Camera: 50MP; f/1.8; FOV 76° 5P lens; AF; open-loop focus motor
Frontal camera	5MP; f/2.2, FOV 78°; 3P lens; FF
Rear Firing Modes	Pro, Video, Photo, Night, Panorama, Slow motion, Time-lapse, Sticker, Text Scanner, and Extra HD
Front Shooting Modes	Video, Photo, Portrait, Night, Panorama, Time-lapse, Sticker, and Extra HD
Rear Video	1080P@30fps, 720P@30fps Time-lapse mode: 1080P@30fps
Front Video	Up to 1080/720P@30fps 720P@30fps by default
CPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen1
CPU Speed	2.1 GHz
GPU	Adreno 710
Battery	Typical Value: 5100mAh/19.95Wh Nominal Value: 4970mAh/19.44Wh
Fast Charge	45W SuperVOOC
Fingerprint	Yes
Facial recognition	Yes
Standard	Geomagnetic sensor, light sensor, proximity sensor, acceleration sensor, gravity sensor, gyroscope, step counting
YES	Compatible
SIM chip	Nano-SIM chip
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 5, 802.11a/b/g/n; Wi-Fi 2.4GHz/5GHz; Bluetooth v5.2; USB Type-C; Type C for headphone jack; NFC
Bluetooth Audio Codec	SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, LDAC
Operational system	ColorOS 14.0
Location Technology	BeiDou, GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS
Official site	OPPO official website
Price	On Mercado Livre by $ 995 Add to cart In Magazine Luiza by BRL 1.259,10 on Pix
Availability in Brazil	As of November 12, 2024

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Text proofread by: Daniel Coutinho in 04 / 02 / 2025