Budget phones usually come with a catch — weak cameras, laggy performance, or designs that look dated fast. But in August 2025, the Oppo A97 5G feels like the exception. Sleek on the outside and surprisingly capable on the inside, it handles daily tasks with ease while still keeping the price in check. After spending weeks with it, I can honestly say it punches higher than its category, making it a strong contender for best mid-range pick this season.
First Impressions: Sleek & Surprisingly Solid
Unboxing the A97 5G, that “sleek design” tagline isn’t just marketing fluff. Holding the “Starry Black” model, it feels way more premium than its mid-range status suggests. The back has this lovely matte finish that resists fingerprints (a lifesaver in sweaty July!), and the whole thing is impressively slim and light. The display is a vibrant 6.72-inch HD+ screen – perfect brightness for reading outdoors under the summer sun. It just feels nice in the hand, no awkward sharp edges.
The Big Draw: That Camera Setup (Especially for Summer!)
This is where the A97 5G truly shines for its price, and why it’s trending right now. Summer 2025 is all about capturing those spontaneous moments – beach sunsets, firework displays, late-night hangs. Oppo packed a surprisingly versatile dual-camera system on the back:
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48MP Main Sensor: The star of the show. Daylight shots are crisp with vibrant, true-to-life colors. Dynamic range is decent, handling bright skies and shaded areas better than I expected.
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2MP Depth Sensor: Helps with those lovely portrait shots where the background melts away softly. Great for highlighting your friends against that vacation backdrop.
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8MP Selfie Camera: Sharp and flattering for those essential group selfies or video calls home.
The real summer winner? The Night Mode. It genuinely works wonders. Testing it out at a local July 4th fireworks preview event, it captured the bursts clearly without turning everything into a noisy mess. Low-light dinner pics? Significantly brighter and more detailed than many phones in this bracket. Key camera features perfect for right now:
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AI Portrait Enhancement: Makes skin tones look natural in bright sun.
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Pro Mode: For budding photographers wanting more control over sunset shots.
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Dual-View Video: Record from front and back cameras simultaneously – perfect for vlogging your summer adventures!
Performance: Smooth Sailing for Everyday Life
Powered by a MediaTek Dimensity chip and 8GB RAM (with RAM expansion tech), the A97 5G handles everyday tasks effortlessly. Scrolling through social feeds? Smooth. Switching between Google Maps, Spotify, and your camera app while exploring a new city? No stutters. Streaming HD video? Perfectly fine.
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5G Connectivity: Future-proofing is key, and 5G speeds are snappy where available – great for quickly uploading those summer highlight reels or downloading maps on the go.
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128GB Storage: Plenty of room for thousands of summer photos and apps. Expandable via microSD too!
Battery Life: Gets You Through the Long Summer Day
The 5000mAh battery is a champ. On a typical summer day (lots of camera use, GPS navigation, social media scrolling, some music streaming), I comfortably got from morning coffee to bedtime without panic. When you do need a boost, the 33W SUPERVOOC charging is impressively fast – a quick 20-minute plug-in can give you hours more life.
Oppo A97 5G: Should You Buy It? (July 2025 Verdict)
Absolutely, if you:
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Prioritize Camera Quality on a Budget: Especially for well-lit and low-light shots – it’s exceptional value here.
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Want a Stylish, Comfortable Phone: That sleek, lightweight design is a winner.
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Need Reliable All-Day Battery: 5000mAh delivers, and fast charging is a bonus.
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Seek Smooth Everyday Performance: Handles social media, streaming, navigation, and multi-tasking with ease.
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Are Looking for a Great Summer Phone: The camera features and battery life are tailor-made for the season.
Maybe Look Elsewhere if you:
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Are a Hardcore Mobile Gamer: While it handles casual games fine, demanding 3D games won’t run at max settings.
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Need Ultra-High-Resolution Displays: The HD+ screen is good, but not Full HD+ sharp.
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Require Flagship-Level Processing Power: This is about smooth daily use, not benchmark-busting.
Also Read: Vivo X100 5G: 16GB RAM + Next-Level Performance
Hi, I’m Ricky, the founder of OKSociety.in. I’m a tech enthusiast with a deep passion for smartphones, mobile technology, and everything that makes our digital lives smarter. I started OKSociety to share honest reviews, the latest phone updates, and practical buying guides to help people make better choices in this fast-paced tech world.