The Oppo F27 is one of the latest smartphones in Oppo's F-series lineup, offering an appealing combination of modern features, a sleek design, and a solid performance profile for a mid-range device. With its 6.72-inch AMOLED display, Dimensity 7200 processor, and 50MP primary camera, it promises to deliver a balance between affordable pricing and premium features. However, as with any device, it isn’t without its flaws.
This article takes a deep dive into the common issues, problems, and bugs faced by users of the Oppo F27. We’ll explore the design, display, software, performance, camera quality, and battery life in detail to help you decide if this smartphone is worth your investment. Additionally, we will compare it to similar devices in the market to determine if there are better alternatives available.
1. Design and Build Quality: Stylish But Flawed
The Oppo F27 stands out with its sleek design, featuring thin bezels, a punch-hole camera, and a lightweight frame that makes it comfortable to hold. However, users have pointed out several issues regarding its build quality and durability.
a) Fragility of the Plastic Back Panel
- Problem: Despite its premium look, the plastic back panel of the Oppo F27 feels fragile and prone to scratches or cracks.
- Impact: After only a few weeks of use, users have reported noticeable wear and tear, especially on the back and sides. A drop or even light pressure on the rear can cause dents or cracks.
- User Experience:
“The back panel looks beautiful at first, but after a couple of days of use, I noticed a few scratches. I’m worried about it cracking if I drop it.” – User review on Amazon.
b) Screen Durability Issues
- Problem: While the 6.72-inch AMOLED display offers rich colors and good brightness levels, some users have reported that it is susceptible to scratches.
- Impact: Even with regular use, the screen can accumulate noticeable scratches, particularly in the central portion, which detracts from its visual appeal.
- User Experience:
“I had the phone for about a month, and the screen already has visible scratches despite being extra cautious.” – Comment from a customer on a tech forum.
c) Build Quality of the Power and Volume Buttons
- Problem: The power and volume buttons have been criticized for being slightly flimsy and offering a mushy feedback when pressed.
- Impact: This gives the impression that the device might not be as durable as it looks, especially when compared to other mid-range competitors that offer sturdier button mechanisms.
- User Experience:
“The power button feels soft and sometimes doesn’t respond properly unless pressed firmly. Not a huge issue, but it’s noticeable.” – Review on GSM Arena.
2. Display Issues: Stunning but with Flaws
The Oppo F27’s AMOLED display is one of its standout features, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks. While the screen looks great in most conditions, users have reported several display-related problems.
a) Color Inaccuracy
- Problem: A few users have reported that the color accuracy on the Oppo F27’s display is slightly off, with some hues appearing more saturated than others.
- Impact: This can affect the overall viewing experience, especially for users who are sensitive to color reproduction.
- User Experience:
“The screen is beautiful, but the colors sometimes feel unnatural, especially when I’m watching videos or editing photos. It’s not a deal-breaker but noticeable.” – User review on Reddit.
b) Screen Flickering at Low Brightness
- Problem: Some owners have noted that the screen flickers at low brightness levels, especially when in dimly lit environments.
- Impact: The flickering can be distracting and cause eye strain, making it difficult to use the phone in low-light conditions without adjusting the brightness frequently.
- User Experience:
“I noticed flickering on the screen when I turn down the brightness. It gets worse when I’m using the phone in bed at night.” – Comment from a tech reviewer.
c) Screen Responsiveness
- Problem: In certain scenarios, users have experienced issues with the screen’s touch responsiveness, particularly during fast scrolling or when multiple fingers are used simultaneously.
- Impact: This can result in a frustrating experience, especially when navigating through apps or browsing the web.
- User Experience:
“There are moments when the touch screen doesn’t respond well, especially when trying to swipe quickly. It sometimes lags behind my actions.” – Review on a smartphone forum.
3. Performance: Good, but Room for Improvement
Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 chipset and 8GB of RAM, the Oppo F27 offers solid performance for daily tasks and moderate multitasking. However, there are a few performance-related problems that users have reported.
a) Lag and Stuttering in Heavy Apps
- Problem: While the Oppo F27 handles most apps smoothly, users have noticed lag or stuttering when running more demanding applications, such as graphic-intensive games or video editing software.
- Impact: This diminishes the overall performance, particularly for users who expect the phone to perform well under more intensive workloads.
- User Experience:
“The phone handles most things fine, but when I tried playing PUBG or editing a 4K video, the performance dropped significantly. It lags, and the frame rate is unstable.” – User review on a tech forum.
b) App Crashes and Freezes
- Problem: A subset of users has reported that certain apps freeze or crash unexpectedly, requiring them to force-close the app or restart the phone to resume normal operation.
- Impact: This issue can be particularly frustrating for users who rely on their phone for work or entertainment.
- User Experience:
“I’ve had some apps, like Instagram and Google Maps, crash repeatedly. It gets annoying when I’m in the middle of something.” – Comment from a user on Reddit.
4. Camera Quality: Good on Paper, Mediocre in Practice
The 50MP primary camera and 2MP depth sensor on the Oppo F27 are designed to capture high-quality photos and videos. However, users have experienced mixed results with the camera.
a) Inconsistent Image Quality in Low Light
- Problem: While the Oppo F27’s camera can produce sharp images in well-lit conditions, low-light performance leaves much to be desired. Photos taken in dim environments often appear noisy, blurry, or grainy.
- Impact: This makes the phone less appealing for users who enjoy taking photos in challenging lighting conditions, such as at night or in dark rooms.
- User Experience:
“Low-light photography is definitely where this phone falls short. My pictures come out blurry, and the detail is lost in most shots.” – Review on GSMArena.
b) Overexposed Portraits
- Problem: Users have also complained that the portrait mode tends to overexpose the subject, resulting in washed-out images with a lack of detail in highlights.
- Impact: This diminishes the quality of portraits and can lead to unsatisfactory results for photography enthusiasts.
- User Experience:
“Portrait shots are not great on this phone. The background looks fine, but the subject is often overexposed.” – User feedback on a tech blog.
5. Battery Life and Charging: Impressive, But With Some Caveats
The Oppo F27 comes with a 5000mAh battery and supports 33W fast charging. While the battery life is generally considered to be decent, users have highlighted a few issues related to battery performance.
a) Inconsistent Battery Life
- Problem: Despite the large battery, users have experienced inconsistent battery performance, with some reporting that the phone drains quickly under certain conditions, such as heavy app usage or continuous screen-on time.
- Impact: This can be inconvenient for users who rely on their phone for an entire day of use without recharging.
- User Experience:
“The battery isn’t as long-lasting as I’d hoped. With heavy usage, I find myself charging it midday.” – User review from Amazon.
b) Slow Charging in Certain Conditions
- Problem: Some users have mentioned that the fast charging feature isn’t as fast as expected, with charging times sometimes taking longer than advertised under certain conditions.
- Impact: Slow charging can be frustrating for users who need a quick recharge during the day.
- User Experience:
“It takes longer than I expected to charge the phone fully, even with fast charging. It’s slower than my previous phone, which had a smaller battery.” – Comment on a smartphone comparison site.
Conclusion: Is the Oppo F27 Worth Buying?
The Oppo F27 is a solid mid-range smartphone offering a modern design, decent performance, and a good camera setup. However, its build quality issues, display inconsistencies, and performance lags during intensive use may give potential buyers pause.
Pros:
- Attractive design with a good screen-to-body ratio.
- Solid battery life for daily use.
- Good camera for daylight photography.
- Decent price-to-performance ratio for mid-range.
Cons:
- Fragile plastic back panel.
- Display issues like color inaccuracies and flickering.
- Performance stutters under heavy load.
- Inconsistent camera quality in low light.
- Slow charging in certain conditions.
Alternatives to Consider:
- Realme 11 Pro: A competitor with better build quality and performance for a similar price.
- Redmi Note 12 Pro: Offers excellent performance and camera quality at a competitive price point.
- Samsung Galaxy A54: Provides solid performance, great display, and better software support.
Verdict: The Oppo F27 is a solid device, but given its performance hiccups and camera limitations, it might not be the best choice for those who prioritize performance and consistency. If you are on a budget and seek something stylish with decent specs, it’s worth considering, but for a more reliable experience, exploring alternatives like the Realme 11 Pro or Redmi Note 12 Pro may be a better decision.