In the bustling world of mid-range smartphones, Oppo emerged strongly last month with the Oppo Reno10 5G, making its grand entry into the Kenyan market.
Aiming to take on the well-established Samsung Galaxy A54 5G, Oppo’s latest offering brings a compelling array of features. But how does it measure up against the beloved Samsung Galaxy A54 5G?
The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G indeed stands as a formidable competitor, boasting a premium design, a compact yet outstanding display, and commendable everyday performance.
However, the Oppo Reno 10 5G isn’t one to be overshadowed, showcasing a larger display, enhanced camera capabilities, and rapid charging.
The question that lingers: which of these mid-range champions aligns better with your unique needs and preferences?
I have meticulously tested both devices, presenting a comprehensive comparison highlighting the distinctive features of each, assisting you in making an informed choice.
Design: Premium vs. Stylish
With its minimalist design and housing-less rear cameras, the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G bears an uncanny resemblance to the premium Galaxy S23 series. At a glance, it’s nearly indistinguishable from its pricier sibling.
This sophisticated look stems largely from the A54’s glass back panel, an upgrade from the plastic used by most mid-range competitors like the Oppo Reno10 5G. The glass elevates the in-hand feel and provides a truly premium aesthetic belying the A54’s Ksh 54,900 price point. However, it also makes the phone more prone to shattering versus plastic.
Still, the Reno10 5G is an attractive device in its own right. Its subtle curved shape and exclusive Oppo Glow finish (especially in the ice blue color) lend a touch of modern style.
And unlike bare glass, the Glow coating provides scratch resistance to help the Reno 10 maintain a pristine look over time without a case.
Despite sporting expansive 6.7″ AMOLED display, the Reno10 5G remains pleasingly lightweight at just 185g. Overall, buyers can’t go wrong with either design, coming down to priorities of durability versus upscale materials.
The Oppo Reno10 5G Has A Telephoto Lens
The Oppo Reno10 5G pulls ahead of the Galaxy A54 5G for photography, despite both rocking triple rear cameras.
The Reno10 combines a 64MP main shooter with an 8MP ultrawide and a rare 32MP 2x telephoto lens. This versatile setup handles landscapes, portraits, and optical zoom shots capably.
Oppo also uses an RGBW sensor for superior low light shots. And Pro Portrait mode enables creative customization of colors, bokeh, and more.
However, in my full review of the Reno10 5G, images captured in night mode lack detail and appear hazy, failing to deliver the expected enhancement for night shots.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy A54 packs a 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, and rather pointless 5MP macro lens without a true telephoto.
While decent in bright light, low light performance falters. The macro lens also feels like an afterthought, producing mediocre closeup shots.
With its improved day light capabilities and 2x optical zoom versatility, the Reno10 simply provides a more well-rounded and practical photography experience versus the A54’s limitations.
Reno10 5G and Galaxy A54 Deliver Comparable Mid-Range Power
With a mainstream focus, neither device aims to compete on sheer processing power. The Oppo Reno10 packs MediaTek’s Dimensity 7050 chipset, which benchmarks similarly to the Exynos 1380 in the Galaxy A54.
Daily tasks, social media, and casual games run smoothly on both devices. However, more intensive gaming and multitasking may push it to the limits.
The other key factor to consider is storage, and this is an area where Oppo excels with 256GB on offer as standard from the Reno10 5G.
The Galaxy A54 5G is also available with 256GB of storage, but you’ll have to pay extra for it – the base model comes with half that at 128GB.
Vastly Superior Charging Speeds on Reno 10
Charging is where the Reno10 5G dominates, with its mammoth 67W SUPERVOOC system compared to just 25W support on the Galaxy A54.
In testing, the A54 reached only 41% charge in 30 minutes. A full recharge takes over 90 minutes. No charger comes included either with the A45.
The Reno10 5G can charge its large 5,000 mAh battery from 0 to 100% in only 47 minutes by comparison. And Oppo packs in a 67W charger to achieve those blazing replenishment speeds out of the box.
Pricing & Availability
The Reno10 and Galaxy A54 are both available from dealers across Kenya. Pricing sees the base Galaxy A54 8/128GB variant at approximately KES 55,000, undercutting the KES 57,000 Reno10.
However, the standard 256GB storage on the Reno10 makes it a better value for just KES 2,000 more. Opting for 256GB on the Galaxy A54 raises the cost considerably to around KES 61,000.
So while Samsung takes the crown for lowest starting price, the Reno10 gives you more built-in storage for your money. With double the space on the Oppo, power users may find its pricing more compelling overall.
Conclusion
In summary, the Oppo Reno10 5G and Samsung Galaxy A54 5G each bring their strengths to the table. The choice ultimately depends on your priorities.
The Oppo Reno10 5G excels in photography, base storage options and charging speed.
Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G offers a premium build and a better software experience. The decision is yours to make, tailored to your preferences and budget.
