Assessing the Design of the OPPO A53 Phone
When it comes to phone design, OPPO rarely makes mistakes – even their more affordable models demonstrate quality, and the A53 is no exception. Available in Electric Black and Mint Cream, the back of the device features what OPPO calls a '3D wave-like design,' or a series of intricate folds that reflect light in a manner reminiscent of crashing ocean waves.

The Display of the OPPO A53 Phone
OPPO A53 boasts a power button in the middle on the right side, along with volume control buttons on the left and retains the headphone jack at the bottom along with the speaker – good news for potential buyers who prefer the option of using traditional headphones rather than wireless ones.
OPPO A53 features a 6.5-inch display with a resolution of 720 x 1600. The lower resolution might be a downside for users seeking a high-definition phone experience, but you can still notice the difference compared to devices with sharper screens. However, the A53 has a refresh rate of up to 90Hz. The automatic refresh is enabled, meaning the device will switch between 90Hz and 60Hz when necessary to save battery; however, you can manually opt for just 90Hz if you want a smoother experience when gaming or watching movies.
Overall, OPPO A53 provides a good display and better-than-expected sound quality. OPPO has equipped it with dual stereo speakers with automatic sound optimization feature Dirac, so music and podcasts will sound clear both through headphones and from the main speaker.

Other notable features include microSD support, giving you an additional 256GB of storage capacity on top of the 64GB on-board, and a rear fingerprint sensor right in the middle above. Included in the box are a charger, USB-C cable, and headphones, along with a plastic protective case – you'll definitely want some kind of case for this device, as the A53 is not certified waterproof or dustproof.
Processing Performance and Battery Life
OPPO A53 features a fairly average Snapdragon 460 chipset with speeds up to 1.8 GHz. While it doesn't constantly experience slowdowns or lag, there are certainly signs of struggle in some activities: opening apps (especially YouTube), switching between tasks, and opening multiple tabs all exhibit delays at certain stages. If you're into multitasking and have little patience, this is not the phone for you, but for users with simple needs that don't require heavy processing, OPPO A53 will be a good choice.
A53 comes pre-installed with OPPO's ColorOS 7.2, the company's Android-based mobile operating system. This version is built on Android 10 and offers a simple interface and many time-saving features, such as Smart Assistant, Smart Sidebar for quick access to frequently used apps, and Clone Phone for quick data and media transfer to your device. Privacy features like Privacy Safe and App Lock are also great for securing your personal information, and Multi-user Mode is ideal for separating your work and personal life if you're using a single device for both.

One major plus for the A53 is its impressive battery life. The massive 5,000mAh battery of the A53 ensures it stays with you from your morning alarm all the way through the day without needing extra charging. Features like Power Saving Mode and standby optimization further help conserve battery.
If you need quick recharging, the A53 also supports 18W fast charging. Whether you're a heavy user or simply forget to plug in your phone overnight, you'll find the A53 very suitable to get you through a regular workday or entertainment, especially with energy-saving features enabled and your screen refresh rate set to automatic.
OPPO A53 Camera
A53 offers three rear cameras, almost becoming a standard for devices in the mid-range and high-end price ranges. OPPO's setup includes a 13-megapixel main camera, a 2-megapixel macro lens, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor, providing users with some versatility and additional utilities for close-up photography.

You'll find a range of shooting modes on the main camera of the A53, including panorama, portrait, and time-lapse. If using the front camera, you can also choose from various filters and additional features like Bokeh and AI Beautification, features designed to blur the background and smoothen facial features respectively.