Hands-On

Redmi 7A Hands-On: Nailing the basics

Plus major battery life

Published

August 12, 2019

One time a friend messaged me saying his phone broke and asked what’s affordable and reliable that he can buy and use in the meantime. My first instinct was to recommend a Redmi phone. And the Redmi 7A is one such phone that fits what he was looking for — affordable and reliable.

Getting the basics right

This is what Redmi — Xiaomi’s “budget line” — has always been. Something you can rely on when in a pinch, and something you can hold on to long after you’ve gone past that pinch.

The specs won’t jump out at you: Snapdragon 439 chip, 2GB of RAM with either 16GB or 32GB storage that’s expandable up to 256GB via a microSD card slot. But this combo is enough for what I consider basic smartphone needs.

Naturally, you would want access to social media. This phone can Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter with no problems whatsoever. However, to get the most out of this phone, I recommend getting the lite versions of these apps. There are also lite versions of Spotify and Messenger that I opted to use while I had this phone on hand.

Lite apps are your friends

Lite apps will take up less space — something you don’t have a lot of — and consumes less data. Perfect for this phone. You probably also need to get a bit of work done. For that there’s GMail Go. Another lite app for your convenience.

Of course, it’s also running MIUI 10 which is one of the smoother Android skins out there. Navigating the phone feels snappy enough that you don’t feel shortchanged.

It can game… sort of

Don’t expect to have a lot of games here — not unless you go out of your way to buy a microSD card. I tried Mobile Legends: Bang Bang on this phone and it handled it fine but I constantly got messages of my storage being full.

That said, it should have no trouble playing more casual games. The type you play while waiting in line, trying to pass the time, or just waiting in general. I have no recommendations because the casual ones I know are too old and I don’t know if they’re even in the Play store any more. 😂

Cameras are okay

You’re getting a 12MP rear shooter and a 5MP front-facing camera. Oh simpler times.

Single rear camera to keep things simple

The cameras are okay, you just have to make sure you’re at an area with natural light or at least somewhere with a good amount of light to capture respectable shots.

The last few shots were taken indoors with not ideal lighting which is why it’s grainy. You can just say it’s a filter. 😝

Superb battery and other features

Now here’s where this phone is at its best. When it’s powering you through your day. It has a 4000mAh battery and since it’s not supporting a lot of crazy features, you get extended hours on this thing.

I’ve used it as a secondary phone and it takes about three to four days before I even decide to charge it. And it’s not even completely drained at that point. With more regular use, it should last you about a day and a half before you feel the need to reach out for a charger.

Splash-proof and durable. Getting a case is optional

The phone also happens to be splash resistant. So you don’t necessarily have to go rushing to find a case to protect it. It’s pretty durable all on its own.

Another feature that some of you might find useful is the FM radio. When you’re at home and not sure what to listen to, you can just fire it app and toggle through radio stations quickly. If you’re in a public area, simply plug in your earphones because yes, this still has a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Is the Redmi 7A your GadgetMatch?

At PhP 4,790 (US$ 92) for the base model, to me it’s really that emergency phone or a starter phone. It’s the one you purchase for now as you’re trying to save up for a better, more powerful model.

The battery is no joke

That said, this will also work as a phone for older folks who simply want a way to stay in touch with their loved ones without having to figure out too many things on their phone. You can get this for your kids too, although getting a phone for your kid isn’t something I actually recommend. Maybe if they’re already in their teens. But I’m not a parent so what do I know.

If you need something that’s no frills, no fuss, and gets the basics just right. It’s hard to find other alternatives at exactly PhP 5,000 or below it. The Redmi 7A is the right choice.

Hands-On

OPPO Reno15 F 5G hands-on

More question marks than exclamation points?

Published

March 6, 2026

Manila Connoisseur

The OPPO Reno15 Series 5G made its way to the Philippines last month, and reception has been pretty great so far.

With a powerful camera package, AI, and a slew of upgrades, there’s a lot to love and not much negative to say. But that’s with both the standard and Pro models.

On the other hand, with the Reno15 F 5G — the series’ supposed budget-friendly “lite” variant —there were more question marks than exclamation points.

I attack this piece once more from a consumer standpoint: shelling out PhP 23,000 to PhP 26,000 for a midrange smartphone that feels and performs like it’s a few notches below its segment doesn’t sound too pleasant.

Performance

With a Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor, the OPPO Reno15 F performs pretty much like any sub PhP 20,000 mid-ranger. It’s acceptable, but does not punch above its weight as expected.

No major hiccups for light and casual usage. But performance struggles a lot for demanding video games.

It also heats up significantly just 10 minutes into a title like Honkai: Star Rail. This is a stark contrast to the marketed 25℃ and up to 10 hours straight of smooth gameplay.

Although, the experience was still enjoyable with several wins and MVP runs in Call of Duty Mobile. It only means the F variant remains a more camera-centric phone rather than an a hard-hitting all-arounder.

As with other devices, the 7000mAh battery with 80W SUPERVOOC is a strong suit. You’re fueled from dawn ’til dusk, with much to spare. Recharging takes a breeze, too.

Display

The OPPO Reno15 F has a 6.57-inch 120Hz display, with a 92.8% screen-to-body ratio. At least, that allows you to focus on content on the screen.

Content leans more towards the cooler tone, so you’ll have to adjust it manually if you want a warmer or more vivid look.

The 397ppi pixel density is fine to ensure sharper visuals, while the 1400 nits peak brightness is helpful outdoors.

Camera

The device’s 50MP main camera captures decent quality. The color science leans on being natural anew, without being too dull nor washed out. You can pull off smooth portraits too.

I hardly used the phone for stills as I focused on videos, but here are some samples, on the occasions I was able to take the handset with me:

The 50MP front camera is an intriguing add-on, as it is capable of up to 4K video and a wide 100° field of view.

What this does is it essentially removes the need to flip your phone for the popular “0.5” shots. And the quality doesn’t get compromised given the pixel count.

Here are some selfies from different focal lengths:

To its credit, filming with the back camera at 60fps does look and feel smooth, although it can be improved.

Same with the front camera; and the zoom range can be switched from 0.6 to 2x without cutting the recording.

Although, it’s still best to use a selfie stick or small tripod if you’re just after talking head videos.

Speaking of which, here are a few I’ve made with just this device:

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♬ original sound – Manila Connoisseur – Manila Connoisseur

But for travel and on-the-go captures, as OPPO markets for the series in general, even the Reno15 F can cover a lot of background along with your or your groups’ faces.

Make no mistake, there are some useful AI editing features here. In particular, AI Portrait Glow gives your raw capture an effect to make it look it was taken with flash.

I do not recall the device heating up as well when taking many photos or videos, so you can say it’s more optimized for that task rather than gaming.

Connectivity issues

Meanwhile, AI LinkBoost 3.0, as in the case of the OPPO A6 Pro, doesn’t seem to punch above its weight either.

Once, I also played Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and the session opened to a jittery start despite being on Wi-Fi and having a stable connection. I don’t know what triggered this.

Design, feel

We got the Aurora Blue variant which does kind of resemble the northern lights when you tilt the phone a certain way and when light hits its back panel.

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The cursive “Reno” on the large, protruding camera island gives it more style.

However, it’s all just aesthetics. On the downside, the phone is all sorts of slippery.

I couldn’t hold it properly without think of it slipping away from my hands; nor could I put it on my lap with confidence.

So I guess it’s good that it has structural integrity and waterproofing, because you’ll need that.

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The 6.57-inch body does have a good balance between being too compact and too large, like ultras and pro maxes.

It has a squarish body and has already adapted to the premium, aluminum frame look from the sides.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

Sadly, the OPPO Reno15 F 5G is a Swipe Left unlike its bigger, more capable siblings. There are plenty of plus points for the camera package but take that away, and I don’t see much difference between the Reno15 F and something like the A6 Pro.

Granted, the asking price of this phone will drop significantly in a few months. But throw in a little more, and you’ve got a legitimate mid-ranger that’s more on the premium side rather than the cheap end of the spectrum.