OPPO Factory Tour in Shenzhen, China : What I Learned About OPPO's Manufacturing Process

Last August  2017, our friends from OPPO Philippines flew me as well my peers in the blogging scene and local media to China for a brief tour of their factory and global headquarters.

I believe that the company did this as a sign of transparency -- all while proving to us and our followers online that their manufacturing process is truly world-class and top-notch.

OPPO Mobile's factory is located in Shenzhen. China -- just like the factories of many other leading gadget manufacturers in the world.

Success of OPPO and Vivo Smartphones in the Philippines, Explained

Within just a span of two years, Chinese handset brands OPPO and Vivo Mobile have been able to achieve tremendous success in the Philippines, the leading mobile devices market in the entire Asia Pacific region where competition among players in the smartphone industry is probably at its tightest.

In fact, based on the findings of a research conducted by  International Data Corporation (IDC), OPPO and Vivo were actually the 3rd and 5th most prolific handset vendors in the country in Q2 2017 -- joining Cherry Mobile (1), Samsung (2), and CloudFone (4) in the Top 5.

For consumers and tech enthusiasts who have yet to get their hands on a phone made by these two players from China and are now wondering how these brand achieved great success in our market, IDC offers an explanation.

According to Mr. Jerome Dominguez - Market Analyst for Client Devices of IDC Asia/Pacific, "OPPO and Vivo disrupted the smartphone retail space through cash-rich marketing, aggressive sales promoter incentives and previously unseen levels of retailer support. This challenged the traditional vendor-dealer relationship smartphone vendors have been accustomed to, and while leading vendors have been able to adapt, smaller players with less marketing and merchandising budget on their disposal were unable to do so, thus suffering drops in market shares."

"As the battle for mindshare intensifies, top global and local mobile phone vendors were left with no recourse but to double down on marketing spending to maintain the brand presence. Aside from the tried-and-tested formula of appointing A-list celebrity endorsers and conducting roadshows, new marketing strategies such as co-branding and strategic product placements are being explored by local and global vendors as means to remain competitive against Chinese vendors," he added.

As a technology blogger who is part of both OPPO and Vivo's digital marketing campaigns, I would say that their active partnership with bloggers and online influencers also contributed to their dominance in this space. As a millennial mobile consumer, I think their Selfie-Centric brand positioning also helped in capturing the interest of millions of Pinoy consumers who love to take selfies alone or with their friends and loved ones. I've heard many Filipinos praise the selfie-taking prowess of smartphone made by these companies.

On top of all that, I would say that OPPO and Vivo's partnership with Home Credit, a financial company that helps consumers purchase gadgets at 0% installment, along with wise choice of celebrity endorsers (Sarah Geronimo for OPPO and Steph Curry for Vivo), and carefully planned mall shows in the metro and in the provinces also became instrumental to their success.

Qouting IDC, The rise of OPPO and Vivo further affirmed the importance of combining an expansive sales and distribution approach with strong marketing and advertising strategies to capture consumer mindshare. To preserve brand equity among consumers, leading global and local vendors who have previously cut down on marketing spend back in 2016 were seen to divert their resources to funding actively on integrated marketing campaigns this year. (source)

OPPO F3 Red Edition Price, Specs, Features : Coming To the Philippines

Chinese handset maker OPPO Mobile is expected to formally launch the OPPO F3 Red Limited Edition in the Philippines within this month, August 2017.

Hot on the heels of the success of the Gold and Black variants of the same midrange handset model, the OPPO F3 Red should provide another attractive color option for consumers who see their smartphones as a representation of their style and personality.

A symbol of power, good fortune, courage, and prestige, Red has historically been a very popular choice of color for people who want to infuse positive vibes in their lives.

It's also a great option for fashion-forward consumers who want their gadgets to exude an air of exclusivity and to reflect their stand-out persona.

I would like to give credit to Mr. Tony Phung of Vietnam for all OPPO F3 Red photos in this post.

As shown in these images, OPPO F3 Red will have an all Black face, which perfectly complements Metallic Red finish of the aluminum back plate. I believe this look is largely similar to that of the OPPO R9s Red version.

As for the phone's specs and features, well, it should be exactly the same as that of the Gold and Black editions.

OPPO F3 Red will have a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS display, 13 MegaPixel rear camera with f/2.2 aperture, LED flash, phase detection autofocus and 1.12 µm pixel size, a non-removable 3,200 mAh battery pack, 4G LTE connectivity support, and Dual SIM Dual Standby capability.

Under the hood, this handset runs its Color OS 3.0 flavored Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS with a 64-Bit Octa Core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 and Mali-T860MP2 GPU based Mediatek MT6750T processor, has 4GB of RAM, and comes with 64GB of storage that you can quickly beef up using the dedicated microSD card slot, which means that there's no need to compromise Dual SIM capability.

The top selling point of the OPPO F3 is its Dual Front-Facing Camera that's comprised of a 16 MegaPixel f/2.0 optic with standard field of view for regular selfies plus a wide-angle 8 MegaPixel f/2.4 lens for group photos or groufies. This unique set-up benefits from OPPO's own Beautification Mode, which instantly improves selfie shots by evening out the user's skintone and highlighting his or her good facial features, delivering self-portraits that are instantly ready for sharing on social media.

OPPO Philippines has started posting teaser photos of the OPPO F3 Red Edition on its official Facebook page, which tells us that the handset should be officially launched within the next few days. As yet, though, the company hasn't disclosed the exact release date nor pricing information for this version. We are inclined to believe, however, that OPPO F3 Red will still have the same Php 15,990 price tag of the other versions. Here's to hoping that's the case -- but we'll let you know if OPPO Philippines ends up pricing it a bit higher.

Update: OPPO F3 Red has just been officially launched in the Philippines via a media and consumer event held at SM Aura in Bonifacio Global City on August 12, 2017. The handset is now available at all OPPO Stores nationwide for Php 15,990, which is just the same as the price of the Gold, Rose Gold, Black, and Sarah Geronimo Editions or Versions.

TechPinas Smartphone Technical Specs Table (TSTST)Name : OPPO F3 Red Limited Edition
Type : Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen)
Price Category : Upper Midrange
Dimensions : 153.3 x 75.2 x 7.3 mm
Weight : 153 grams
Available Colors : Red
Operating System : Android 6.0 Marshmallow with Color OS 3.0
Display : 5.5 inches (~72.3% screen-to-body ratio), 1080 x 1920 pixels (~401 ppi pixel density), IPS LCD, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, 2.5D Curved Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Processor : 64-Bit Octa Core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53, Mali-T860MP2 GPU, Mediatek MT6750T chipset
RAM : 4GB RAM
Internal Storage : 64GB ROM, expandable via dedicated microSD card slot supporting up to 256GB
Camera : Back: 13 MegaPixels, f/2.2 aperture, phase detection autofocus (PDAF), LED flash, 1/3" sensor size, 1.12 µm pixel size
Front: Dual Camera Module = 16 MegaPixels (1/3.1" sensor size, f/2.0) + 8 MegaPixels, f/2.4
Video Capture : Rear: Full HD 30 frames per second, Front: Full HD 1080p 30 frames per second
Audio and Video Playback : MP3, WAV, eAAC+, FLAC, MP4, H.264
Ports : microUSB 2.0, 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity : Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth v4.1 with A2DP, EDR, 3G HSPA+; 4G LTE Cat4
GPS : A-GPS
FM Radio : No
Sensors : Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Proximity, Gyroscope, Fingerprint Scanner
Network : 2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 and SIM 2,
3G HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100
4G LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 38(2600), 39(1900), 40(2300), 41(2500)
SIM Card Type : Dual nanoSIM
Battery : Non-removable 3,200 mAh Li-Ion battery
Uptime : 12 Hours of Uptime with Regular Use
Value-Added Features : Dual Selfie and Groufie Camera Set-up, Color OS features, Premium Build, Red Color
Announcement : Philippines - August 2017
Availability : Philippines - August 2017
Price : Official Price in the Philippines - Php 15,990

Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro vs OPPO F3 Specs Comparison Review, Price Fight in the Philippines

The Korean Giant's 2017 mid-level powerhouse release Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro is now up for pre-order in the Philippines and will officially become available in stores across the country come July 15, 2017. Once that model lands, it will go head to head with the very popular OPPO F3 Selfie Expert, which is the best-selling upper midrange smartphone in the Philippines for the first half of 2017.

For those who are currently trying to decide which of these two to get with their Php 15,990, which is the exact official suggested retail price of either models, I made this blog entry for you.

To make it easier for all of us to spot the key differences between these two midrange selfie-centric handsets, let's check out the TechPinas Smartphone Technical Specifications Comparison Table below:

Dimensions

OPPO F3 measures 153.3 x 75.2 x 7.3 mm while Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro has dimensions of 152.4 x 74.7 x 7.9 mm. OPPO's phone is slimmer while the Samsung's offering has a smaller footprint -- both by a bit. I'd say they're pretty even in this department.

Design and Construction

Both handsets flaunt a real metal shell and an overall aesthetic that's frankly reminiscent of the Apple iPhone. Which one looks better? It depends on the user's preference. Though, I want to note that the J7 Pro does have a unique looking U-shape antenna band design at the back, which - for me - makes it appear more interesting.

Display Quality

OPPO F3 and Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro both have similar 5.5-inch screen with Full HD resolution. In terms of size and pixel density (clarity), they're practically the same. Make makes them different is the display type. The Galaxy release feature's Samsung's very own SuperAMOLED display while the OPPO handset has IPS. Both look good in various viewing angles but SuperAMOLED has more vibrant colors with greater saturation while IPS shows more realistic hues, which some consumers might prefer.

Rear Camera

On paper, this is an area where the Galaxy J7 Pro can have clear superiority over its rival largely because of its 13 MegaPixel PDAF camera's very wide f/1.7 aperture, which allows it to perform very well in low light conditions. I'd love to try the camera first, though, to confirm this since software is also essential in boosting a cameraphone's low light capabilities.

Front-Facing Selfie Camera

The key-selling point of the OPPO F3 is its Dual Front-Facing Camera module which is comprised of a 16 MegaPixel autofocus f/2.0 lens plus an 8 MegaPixel fixed focus wide-angle f/2.4 optic; A Set-up that comes in handy for taking both standard selfies and groufies. Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro, on the other hand, has a 13 MegaPixel f/1.9 front cam with Soft LED flash that boosts its performance in low to zero lighting conditions. While I think both phones have stellar Beautification Modes for selfies, I personally believe OPPO F3 would be a finer choice for users who particularly enjoy taking photos of themselves alone or with their friends and loved ones; This is largely because of the Dual Camera module makes the Chinese handset maker's phone more flexible for this purpose. Also, it has bright screen flash which can somehow compensate for a lack of a Soft LED front-flash.

Internal Hardware and Gaming Performance

Apart from the selfie-camera set-up, this is an area where OPPO F3 is obviously superior to the Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro. The Chinese model's innards include the 64-Bit Octa Core ARM Cortex A53 based MediaTek MT6750T processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of expandable storage. In comparison, the Korean release has a 64-Bit Octa Core ARM Cortex A53 based Exynos 7870 Octa chipset and just 3GB of RAM plus 32GB of expandable storage. I don't have to tell you which one would give you smoother multitasking experience and more storage space for your files. Also, OPPO F3 - on paper - should be able to deliver better 3D gaming performance with its more powerful Mali-T860 MP2 GPU versus just Mali-T830 MP2 inside the Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro.

Battery Size

The Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro is the winner in this department - albeit not by much - as it has a 3,600 mAh Li-Ion battery versus just 3,200 mAh powering the OPPO F3. What's interesting to find out, though, is if J7 Pro can indeed last longer with regular use. We have to remember that uptime is also a function of the processor's energy efficiency apart from the battery capacity.

Notable Similar Features

Both handsets are equipped with a Fingerprint Scanner for quickly unlocking the interface with but a touch of a finger, a dedicated microSD card slot so the user won't have to sacrifice Dual SIM capability to get more storage space, Full HD 30fps video recorder, and 4G LTE support.

So based on their specs alone, which handset is a better purchase at Php 15,990?

It's a mixed bag, really. Studying their specs sheets, it would be hard to say which model is clearly superior across the board compared to the other. Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro sports a rear camera with wider aperture that's supposed to perform better in low light plus it has a larger battery pack. On top of that, some users might prefer its brilliant SuperAMOLED display over IPS. But we also have to consider that OPPO F3 has a Dual Front Facing camera, which should be more powerful and flexible in snapping selfies and groufies plus it has a far better set of internal hardware that ensures a butter smooth mobile experience. As a wrap-up, I'd say that it's good that the two phones have their own unique strengths and main selling points so the consumer just needs to weigh which specs and features are more important to him or her when making the big decision.

I hope you found this TechPinas Specs Comparison Review helpful. If you did, kindly share this entry with your friends on social media so they can benefit from it too. Thanks!

OPPO is PH's Best-Selling Php 15,000 to Php 20,000 Smartphone Brand - GFK

Despite stiff competition coming from other international smartphone brands, Chinese handset company OPPO Mobile retains its position as the leading upper midrange handset vendor by a large margin -- enough for the brand to still be second most profilic phone seller in the Philippines currently.

Based on a study done by GFK Philippines during the earlier part of this year (the results of which were published on the research agency's May 2017 report), the popular OPPO F3 has emerged as the Philippines' No.1 smartphone in the Php 15,000 to Php 20,000 price bracket with an overwhelming 48.5% market share.

The upper midrange model OPPO F3 became an instant success when 22,000 unit of which were sold within the first three days of its availability last May 2017.

More: OPPO F3 Philippines

Hot on the heels of OPPO F1s' overwhelming market performance in 2016 and earlier this year, OPPO F3 was able to likewise capture the fancy of Pinoy consumers with its selfie-centric features, great design, more than decent set of internal hardware, and fairly affordable price tag.

According to Mr. Stephen Cheng - OPPO Philippines Brand Marketing Manager, "The OPPO F3 is a well-received smartphone since the beginning, our competitive package, sleek design and trending dual selfie camera setup are the reasons why it is successful."

With the success of OPPO F3 and the stellar sales of the company's other handset models, OPPO was able to remain as the Philippines #2 best-selling smartphone brand for the first half of 2017.

Last June 16, 2017, the Chinese handset maker released the OPPO F3 Black edition, which catered to the taste of consumers who are looking for other 'elegant yet subdued' color options.

More: OPPO F3 Black Edition

The OPPO F3 is available at all OPPO Concept Stores and Partner Retail Outlets across the Philippines for a special discounted price of Php 15,990 via the brand's generous Back-to-School Promo, which will run until July 31, 2017. Retail units come with a pre-installed screen protector as well as a soft-transparent jelly case.

OPPO F3 Black Edition Released in the Philippines, Promo Price is Php 15,990

On Friday - June 16, 2017, Chinese handset company OPPO Mobile officially makes the Matte Black version of their best-selling Selfie Expert OPPO F3 available to consumers across the Philippines.

This one has the exact same technical specifications and key features as the Gold and Rose Gold versions but it comes with a more understated hue that some mobile users might find more elegant and attractive.

Aside from being a neutral color that goes well with any outfit, Black also symbolizes class, power, and authority -- so it's no wonder why many consumers prefer this hue over others.

OPPO F3's design language - in itself - looks sophisticated enough for even the most strict formal events or corporate gatherings. I would say, though, that the phone's rounded corners and sides as well as the 2.5D curved scratch-resistant glass touchscreen that protects the 5.5-inch Full HD IPS display make it look a lot like the Apple iPhone 7 Plus, which is not a bad thing at all -- at least, from an aesthetics perspective.

OPPO F3's main selling point is its Dual Front-Facing Camera, comprised of a 16 MegaPixel f/2.0 optic with standard field of view for regular selfies plus a wide-angle 8 MegaPixel f/2.4 lens for groufies. Both of these cameras feature OPPO's own Beautification Mode, which instantly enhances selfie shots by evening out skintone and highlighting good facial features, delivering images that are instantly ready for sharing on Instagram or Facebook.

This Dual Camera set-up also lets the user add 'depth of field' or bokeh and double exposure effects on selfies or groufies to make them look even more fun and appealing.

At the back, OPPO F3 Black sports a 13 MegaPixel autofocus camera with f/2.2 aperture, LED flash, and 1.12 µm pixel size that performs decently in various lighting conditions and particularly well in settings where there's ample ambient light.

Inside its shell, this smartphone its Color OS 3.0 flavored Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system with a 64-Bit Octa Core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 and Mali-T860MP2 GPU based Mediatek MT6750T chipset, has 4GB of RAM, and comes with 64GB of storage that's easily expandable using the dedicated microSD card slot. That's right; No need to sacrifice Dual SIM capability if you want to augment the storage space!

Powered by a non-removable 3,200 mAh battery pack and supporting 4G LTE connectivity, midrange OPPO F3 Black Edition is now available at all OPPO Concept Stores and authorized retail channels across the Philippines and even online. You can get it for Php 15,990 -- following a Php 1,000 Back-To-School Promo discount courtesy of OPPO Mobile Philippines!

TechPinas Smartphone Technical Specs Table (TSTST)Name : OPPO F3 Black Version
Type : Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen)
Price Category : Upper Midrange
Dimensions : 153.3 x 75.2 x 7.3 mm
Weight : 153 grams
Available Colors : Matte Black
Operating System : Android 6.0 Marshmallow with Color OS 3.0
Display : 5.5 inches (~72.3% screen-to-body ratio), 1080 x 1920 pixels (~401 ppi pixel density), IPS LCD, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, 2.5D Curved Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Processor : 64-Bit Octa Core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53, Mali-T860MP2 GPU, Mediatek MT6750T chipset
RAM : 4GB RAM
Internal Storage : 64GB ROM, expandable via dedicated microSD card slot supporting up to 256GB
Camera : Back: 13 MegaPixels, f/2.2 aperture, phase detection autofocus (PDAF), LED flash, 1/3" sensor size, 1.12 µm pixel size
Front: Dual Camera Module = 16 MegaPixels (1/3.1" sensor size, f/2.0) + 8 MegaPixels, f/2.4
Video Capture : Rear: Full HD 30 frames per second, Front: Full HD 1080p 30 frames per second
Audio and Video Playback : MP3, WAV, eAAC+, FLAC, MP4, H.264
Ports : microUSB 2.0, 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity : Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth v4.1 with A2DP, EDR, 3G HSPA+; 4G LTE Cat4
GPS : A-GPS
FM Radio : No
Sensors : Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Proximity, Gyroscope, Fingerprint Scanner
Network : 2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 and SIM 2,
3G HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100
4G LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 38(2600), 39(1900), 40(2300), 41(2500)
SIM Card Type : Dual nanoSIM
Battery : Non-removable 3,200 mAh Li-Ion battery
Uptime : 12 Hours of Uptime with Regular Use
Value-Added Features : Dual Selfie and Groufie Camera Set-up, Color OS features, Premium Build
Announcement : Philippines - June 13, 2017
Availability : Philippines - June 16, 2017
Price : Promo Price in the Philippines - Php 15,990

OPPO A57 Philippines Price is Php 11,990, Features a 16 MegaPixel Selfie Camera

On Tuesday - June 14, 2017, via an exclusive media event held in Makati City, Chinese handset-maker OPPO officially launched their fairly affordable OPPO A57 Android smartphone in the Philippine market.

I personally call this model the 'smaller sibling of the best-selling OPPO F1s'.

Donning an official suggested retail price of Php 11,990, the OPPO A57 sports a smaller 5.2-inch HD IPS display compared to the larger 5.5-inch screen of the OPPO F1s. Nonetheless, the two models are almost identical in looks and capabilities.

In terms of design, OPPO A57 simply looks like a shrunk version of the OPPO F1s. Although, I should note that while F1s' shell is made of anodized aluminum, A57's exterior is crafted from polycarbonate.

Nonetheless, this model looks just as elegant thanks to its slim form factor and metallic paint finish.

If you ask me, the strongest selling point of this smartphone would have to be its 16 MegaPixel f/2.0 front facing camera with Beautification Mode that delivers what the company calls "Unstoppable Selfies" that are instantly ready for sharing on Facebook or Instagram.

Currently, OPPO A57 is the most affordable Android smartphone with the highest resolution front camera. So if you're a bit on budget but you want the best Selfie Cameraphone that your money can get, you might want to check out this release.

The phone's 13 MegaPixel autofocus rear camera with f/2.2 aperture and LED flash also performs decently in various lighting conditions but it's most reliable in settings with enough ambient light.

Under the hood, OPPO A57 runs its Color-OS-skinned Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system with a 64-Bit Octa Core 1.4 GHz ARM Cortex-A53 and Adreno 505 GPU based Qualcomm MSM8940 Snapdragon 435 chipset, has 3GB of RAM, and comes with 32GB of internal storage that can easily be augmented using the dedicated microSD card memory expansion slot. That's right. With this smartphone, you don't have to compromise or sacrifice Dual SIM capability to increase storage space.

OPPO A57 will be available at all OPPO Concept Stores and authorized retail outlets nationwide come mid-June 2017.

This midrange Android smartphone will be out in three elegant colors, namely, Gold and Rose Gold with metallic finish as well as Black with matte texture.

TechPinas Smartphone Technical Specs Table (TSTST)Name : OPPO A57
Type : Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen)
Price Category : Midrange
Dimensions : 149.1 x 72.9 x 7.7 mm
Weight : 147 grams
Available Colors : Gold, Rose Gold, Black
Operating System : Android 6.0 Marshmallow with Color OS 3.0 Interface
Display : 5.2 inches (~68.6% screen-to-body ratio), 720 x 1280 pixels (~282 ppi pixel density), IPS LCD, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Processor : 64-Bit Octa Core 1.4 GHz ARM Cortex-A53, Adreno 505 GPU, Qualcomm MSM8940 Snapdragon 435 chipset
RAM : 3GB RAM
Internal Storage : 32GB ROM, expandable via dedicated microSD card slot supporting up to 256GB
Camera : Back: 13 MegaPixels, f/2.2 aperture, phase detection autofocus, LED flash
Front: 16 MegaPixels, f/2.0 aperture, 1.12 µm pixel size,
Video Capture : Front and Back: Full HD 1080p 30 frames per second
Audio and Video Playback : MP3, WAV, eAAC+, FLAC, MP4, H.264
Ports : microUSB 2.0, 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity : Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth, EDR, 3G HSPA+; 4G LTE Cat7
GPS : A-GPS, GLONASS
FM Radio : Yes
Sensors : Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Proximity, Gyroscope, Fingerprint Scanner
Network : 2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 and SIM 2,
3G HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 5(850), 8(900), 38(2600), 39(1900), 40(2300), 41(2500)
SIM Card Type : Dual nanoSIM
Battery : Non-removable 2,900 mAh Li-Ion battery
Uptime : 11 Hours of Uptime with Regular Use
Value-Added Features : Slim and Light Build, Selfie-Centric Features
Announcement : Philippines - June 2017
Availability : Philippines - June 16, 2017
Price : Official SRP in the Philippines - Php 11,990

The Best Selling Smartphone in the Philippines in Q4 2016 was The OPPO F1s

Chinese handset maker OPPO continues to dominate the local smartphone scene in the Philippines -- proving that they have figured out how to capture the interest and fancy of Pinoy mobile consumers.

In fact, based on data gathered by respected research company GfK in Q4 2016, the OPPO F1s accounted for 7.1 and 6.4 percent of total smartphone units sold in November and December 2016, respectively, across all price segments.

Other OPPO releases also made it to the top ten list including the OPPO Neo 7 at the fourth spot and the OPPO A37 at the tenth spot.

The OPPO F1s was so successful that the company even launched an improved version of this model with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage.

More: Upgraded OPPO F1s

According to Mr. Stephen Cheng - Brand Marketing Manager of OPPO Philippines, "We have always pushed the brand further to create [products] that consumers can trust. With the success of the OPPO F1s, we are confident that we have come up with a cameraphone that addresses the need for better-looking selfies as well as overall smartphone performance."

In July 2016, OPPO became the 2nd best-selling smartphone brand in the Philippines largely due to the massive market success of the OPPO F1s. This model practically catapulted the brand to being a top choice among phone buyers in various age brackets.

Positioned right in between the more affordable OPPO F1 and the high-end OPPO F1 Plus, OPPO F1s is a visually-pleasing midrange Android handset with stellar selfie-centric features along with more than decent internal hardware and technical specifications.

Flaunting a real metal back plate and 2.5D Curved Glass face, OPPO F1s sports a 5.5-inch HD display, which looks good regardless of viewing angle and gets fairly bright, making it readable even outdoors.

True to the brand's 'Selfie Expert' moniker, the OPPO F1s sports a high-resolution 16 MegaPixel f/2.2 front cam with 7-level Beautification mode that evens out the user's skintone automatically, delivering selfies that are instantly ready for sharing on Facebook and Instagram. Given that the Philippines is considered as the Selfie Capital of the World, I believe that this feature is one of the biggest things that attracted many Pinoys consumers to this model.

The handset is also equipped with a 13 MegaPixel f/2.2 rear camera also delivers clear and crisp photos -- especially when used in settings where there's enough ambient light.

Powered by a 3,075 mAh non-removable battery pack, Dua SIM 4G-enabled OPPO F1s runs its ColorOS-flavored Android 5.1 Lollipop operating system with a 64-Bit Octa-Core MediaTek MT6750 processor that incorporates eight ARM Cortex A53 cores clocked at 1.5GHz and a Mali T860MP2 GPU, has 3GB or 4GB RAM options, and comes with either 32GB or 64GB of internal storage that the user can easily beef up using the dedicated microSD card expansion slot.

Known as the world's first ever smartphone to have a 16 MegaPixel front-facing camera, the OPPO F1s is just one of many products by this trusted Chinese company that features fresh innovations and industry firsts. Some of the mobile industry breakthroughs developed by OPPO include the Ultra HD imaging feature, the first motorized rotating smartphone camera, and the world's first 5 times optical zoom on a smartphone, which is made possible by the landmark periscopic camera lens that the company showcased at the 2017 Mobile World Congress last February 28, 2017.

More: OPPO 5X Dual Camera Zoom Technology

OPPO Service Centers Across the Philippines : NCR, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao

Reliable after-sales support is one of the things that set great electronics companies apart from the average ones -- and Chinese handset maker OPPO sure has this department covered.

If your beloved OPPO Android smartphone - be it an OPPO F1s, F3, F1, F3 Plus or what-have-you - currently requires repair, you can bring it to any of the following authorized OPPO Service Centers located in NCR, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao:

Metro Manila:

SM Manila
OPPO Customer Service Center
Hotline:
+63 9063226776
+9235213914
+63 (2) 2309377
Operational Hours: Wednesday to Monday 10:30 AM - 6:30 PM
Address: CZ-001 Lower G/F SM Manila Arroceros cor. San Marcelino St. Brgy. 659 Zone 071 Ermita Manila

Pasay City:

SM Mall of Asia
OPPO Customer Service Center
Hotline:
+63 9053686776
Operational Hours: Wednesday to Monday 10:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Address: Unit 209-210 2/F North Parking Cyberzone SM City Mall of Asia Complex Jose Diokno BLVD. Pasay city

Quezon City:

Eastwood City
Hotline:
+63 (2) 5713204
+63 9052996776
+63 9329038888
Operational Hours: Wednesday to Monday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Address: Unit 10-D CyberOne Bldg. Eastwood City, Bagumbayan, Libis, Quezon City

Baguio City, Benguet:

Baguio Centermall
Hotline: +63 9153616776
Operational Hours: Wednesday to Monday 10:30 AM - 6:30 PM
Address: 2/F Baguio Centermall, Baguio Road, Baguio City, Luzon

Legazpi City, Albay:

Landco Business Park
Hotline: +63 9053706776
Operational Hours: Monday to Saturday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Address: Door 2 Tower Building 3, Landco Business Park, Legazpi City, Luzon

Santiago City, Isabela:

Robinsons Isabela
Hotline:
+63 9053506776
+63 783231773
Operational Hours: Wednesday to Monday 10:30 AM - 6:30 PM
Address: OPPO Concept Store 307 Robinson Bldg. Mabini, Santiago City, Isabela, Luzon

Pampanga:

Emerald Business Center
Hotline:
+63 9165336776
Operational Hours: Wednesday to Monday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Address: 3/F Emerald Business Center Dolores, City of San Fernando, Pampanga, Luzon

Laguna:

Milan Pristige
Hotline:
+63 9167326776
+63 25084865
Operational Hours: Wednesday-Monday 10:00AM-6:00PM
Address: Unit 1,3rd Flr. Milan Prestige Bldg, Brgy. Halang, Calamba, Laguna City, Luzon

Cebu City:

Capitol Square
Hotline:
+63 9278796776
+63 322311635
Operational Hours: Monday to Saturday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Address: Arcade 2 2/F Capitol Square N. Escario St. Kamputhaw Cebu City, Visayas

Iloilo:

Gaisano Iloilo
Hotline: +63 9276536776
Operational Hours: Monday to Sunday 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Address: 2nd Level Gaisano Capital City Mall,Luna St.,Lapaz, Iloilo City, Visayas

Davao City

OPPO Service Center Davao City
Hotline: +63 9165996776
Operational Hours: Monday to Saturday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Address: S. Bldg. 117 Gempesaw St., Cor. Monteverde St., Davao City, Mindanao

If you're bringing your handset for servicing in any of these centers, I would suggest that you first call their hotline to check if your device is still covered by service and parts warranty or if the exact incident that caused the damage is not included in the circumstances covered by warranty. Oh, and don't forget to bring your official receipt on the day that you're having your unit repaired.

OPPO F3 Philippines Price, Specs, Official Release Date in the Philippines

I've just arrived home from the official launch of OPPO F3 in the Philippine held at the Grand Ballroom of Conrad Hotel Manila earlier this evening, May 4, 2017.

Apart from unveiling the much awaited selfie-centric midrange handset at the event, the Chinese handset maker also took the opportunity to introduce their latest celebrity endorsers and influencers.

Pinoy celebs who are now promoting OPPO handsets include Sarah Geronimo, Alden Richards, Robi Domingo, Gretchen Ho, Ronnie Alonte, Ruru Madrid, Rocco Nacino, Ella Cruz, Kris Bernal, and Joshua Garcia, Jeron Teng, among others.

To put it simply, OPPO F3 is the smaller and more affordable version of the best-selling OPPO F3 Plus released in April 2017. For whereas F3 Plus sports a larger 6-inch display and sells for Php 23,990, this new release sports a smaller 5.5-inch Full HD IPS screen and dons an official SRP of just Php 16,990.

The OPPO F3 shares many similarities with its larger sibling -- two of which are its svelte form factor and metal-clad enclosure, which work together to give this model an air of understated elegance and corporate sophistication.

Frankly, just like the extremely popular OPPO F1s and F3 Plus, OPPO F3 looks like the iPhone 6s when viewed from some angles, which is certainly not a bad thing when we talk about aesthetics.

Nothing at the top panel but a pinhole for one of the microphones. I like it; Neat.

The microUSB 2.0 port, 3.5mm combo jack, the other microphone, and loud speaker are all located at the rear of the handset.

On the right panel, you'll find the power button and the tray for the Dual nanoSIM slots and the dedicated microSD memory expansion slot.

At the back, OPPO F3 sports a 13 MegaPixel autofocus camera with f/2.2 aperture, LED flash, and 1.12 µm pixel size. I got to play with this shooter at the exhibit area and I'd say that it focuses on subjects fast - thanks to PDAF - and performs relatively well indoors.

Just like the OPPO F3 Plus, the main selling point of the OPPO F3 is its Dual Front-Facing Selfie Camera module, which is made up of a 16MP f/2.0 optic for standard selfie shots plus a secondary 8MP f/2.4 wide-angle lens for groufies.

If you enjoy taking groufies with your family and friends, you're sure to love this feature!

The two optics also work together to add interesting bokeh and double exposure effects on selfies to make them look even more visually pleasing.

Under the hood, OPPO F3 runs its Color OS 3.0 flavored Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS with a 64-Bit Octa Core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 and Mali-T860MP2 GPU based Mediatek MT6750T chipset, has 4GB of RAM for multitasking, and comes with 64GB of expandable storage; A decent set of internal handset for a 2017 Android smartphone in this price echelon.

According to Mr. Stephen Cheng, OPPO Philippines' Brand Marketing Manager, "We at OPPO always strive to reinvent the mobile experience, and the release of the F3 reflects our relentless passion for even better smartphone photography. Through our continued innovation, we hope to cement our brand’s position as the leading camera phone in the industry." He added, "Our latest Group Selfie Expert is a total package that comes at an affordable price. With its combined features from the front and back cameras to the aesthetics and battery life (from a rather large 3,200 mAh pack), the F3 holds great potential in taking the groufie trend to new heights."

OPPO F3 will be available at all OPPO Concept Stores and official dealers across the Philippines starting on May 13, 2017. Budget-conscious consumers may opt to purchase the phone via installment through Home Credit.

TechPinas Smartphone Technical Specs Table (TSTST)Name : OPPO F3
Type : Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen)
Price Category : Upper Midrange
Dimensions : 153.3 x 75.2 x 7.3 mm
Weight : 153 grams
Available Colors : Gold, Rose Gold
Operating System : Android 6.0 Marshmallow with Color OS 3.0
Display : 5.5 inches (~72.3% screen-to-body ratio), 1080 x 1920 pixels (~401 ppi pixel density), IPS LCD, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, 2.5D Curved Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Processor : 64-Bit Octa Core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53, Mali-T860MP2 GPU, Mediatek MT6750T chipset
RAM : 4GB RAM
Internal Storage : 64GB ROM, expandable via dedicated microSD card slot supporting up to 256GB
Camera : Back: 13 MegaPixels, f/2.2 aperture, phase detection autofocus (PDAF), LED flash, 1/3" sensor size, 1.12 µm pixel size
Front: Dual Camera Module = 16 MegaPixels (1/3.1" sensor size, f/2.0) + 8 MegaPixels, f/2.4
Video Capture : Rear: Full HD 30 frames per second, Front: Full HD 1080p 30 frames per second
Audio and Video Playback : MP3, WAV, eAAC+, FLAC, MP4, H.264
Ports : microUSB 2.0, 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity : Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth v4.1 with A2DP, EDR, 3G HSPA+; 4G LTE Cat4
GPS : A-GPS
FM Radio : No
Sensors : Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Proximity, Gyroscope, Fingerprint Scanner
Network : 2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 and SIM 2,
3G HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100
4G LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 38(2600), 39(1900), 40(2300), 41(2500)
SIM Card Type : Dual nanoSIM
Battery : Non-removable 3,200 mAh Li-Ion battery
Uptime : TBD
Value-Added Features : Dual Selfie and Groufie Camera Set-up, Color OS features, Premium Build
Announcement : Philippines - May 4, 2017
Availability : Philippines - May 13, 2017
Price : Official SRP in the Philippines - Php 16,990

OPPO F3 Specs, Teased! May 4, 2017 Launch in the Philippines, Confirmed!

OPPO Philippines has just confirmed the final date for the media launch of the 2017 follow-up to the best-selling OPPO F1 from early 2016.

On May 4, 2017, the Chinese handset maker will formally unveil the new OPPO F3, which is expected to be more affordable the popular OPPO F3 Plus all while still sporting a number of compelling features and having a solid set of technical specifications.

Over the past few days, the company had released a few digital posters on social media that gave OPPO fans an idea about the key specs and features of this upcoming midrange Android smartphone.

The most exciting main selling-point teased is OPPO F3's Dual Front Facing camera module, which incorporates a 16 MegaPixel optic plus a wide-angle lens for Group Selfies.

OPPO F3 will be the second handset by the company to have a Dual Front Cam set-up for 'Groufies', following OPPO F3 Plus.

One of the things about mid-level and flagship OPPO smartphones that made them a big hit in the Philippines is that have a real metal shell. This feature allowed these devices to be both elegant and durable. And what's good is that, just like its predecessors, the OPPO F3 will also have a finely crafted and beautifully detailed sleek metal body.

In terms of display, internal hardware, and battery size, OPPO F3 definitely represents a clear upgrade coming from the OPPO F1.

Whereas the older model only had a 5-inch HD screen, this new one will have a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS panel, which is not only bigger but is also clearer, delivering more crisp details.

Last year, OPPO F1 had 3GB of RAM for multitasking and only 16GB of internal storage. This year, OPPO F3 will have 4GB of RAM and - get this - 64GB of ROM!

And finally, compared to OPPO F1 that was powered by a 2,500 mAh non-removable battery, the OPPO F3 now had a larger 3,200 mAh pack, which is expected to deliver longer uptime with regular use.

Now, as for official pricing details, we don't have word on that yet. I'm personally expecting this model to be a bit more expensive than the OPPO F1s 4GB version, which should put the fresh release in the price range of Php 15,000 to 16,000 -- but that's just my guesstimate. Like you, I'm also hoping that it would be more affordable. Anyway, we'll know the SRP for sure on the above-mentioned date -- so stay tuned!