Oppo updates the F1s with a new name, price, processor

Six months after Oppo’s F1s first arrived, the company has a new model, and while it sports similar features, it manages to undercut the original.

It’s not unusual to see a new phone on a regular basis, with new models out frequently. That’s especially true in the months following Mobile World Congress in February, and now that it’s May, we can expect even more.

Often these announcements coincide with what will have been announced at the expo earlier in the year, but Oppo has this week chimed in with something else that appears to be unrelated, as the brand updates its $348 F1s with an even more cost-effective $328 A57.

And when you see these two on paper, you really do see how they’re similar.

While the screen size has dropped from 5.5 inches to 5.2, Oppo has kept the resolution the same, the design the same, and even the combination of a rear 13 megapixel camera and front 16 megapixel camera the same.

The new phone is lighter, a little thicker, and arrives with the same 3GB RAM and 32GB storage, as well as support for microSD, though the processor has been updated to a more modern and likely marginally faster Qualcomm Snapdragon 435.

Oppo has left the fingerprint scanner in too, and most of the connectivity appears to be spot on, with Wifi, GPS, Bluetooth, 4G internet, but no Near-Field Communication onboard, something we’ve questioned with the company.

The battery has also dropped in size a little, going from 3075mAh to 2900mAh, though given the processing and screen changes, we suspect the battery life will be close to what we reported in the Oppo F1s review, suggesting two days are likely still possible.

“The A57 offers fantastic value for money and an excellent user experience,” said Michael Tran, Executive Director for Oppo in Australia.

“It has many of the features of our leading smartphones, from rapid Touch Access to stunning camera technology, packaging them up into an affordable device for new smartphone users or travellers touring Australia,” he said.

Pricing of the Oppo A57 sits at $328 outright at JB HiFi and Officeworks in both gold and black variations, while we expect the F1s will shortly disappear, potentially dropping the price on that handset alongside.

Now we’re just curious why the F1s name is changing, and if Oppo plans to use the “F” moniker for something else, and why the A57 has a 5.2 inch screen but not a 5.7 inch display. So many unanswered questions, and so many reasons to jab Oppo politely to find out.

Oppo’s A57 has been added to the Pickr Trackr for your comparative needs.