In these tough times, it's hard to find a good smartphone for 1000 PLN, but I found one especially for you.
Over the past few years, you might have started to get the impression that money is losing its value. A full shopping cart at the store used to cost me 200 PLN, and now it's at least 300 PLN every time. Although, maybe it's because of my weakness for pistachios and "Ptasie Mleczko".
Can you still buy a good smartphone for 1000 PLN?
In any case, smartphones have never been the best way to invest capital – I, as a Viking, would rather bet on gold and silver from plundered villages – but recently, in the era of inflation, it's even more so... A phone bought for 1000 PLN two years ago will be better in many aspects than the latest models available at the same price. And for something that's not better, but just newer, you can exchange your refrigerator when it breaks, not your smartphone! New phones should always delight you!
Fortunately, there's the OPPO A78 4G – in my opinion, the most interesting model sold for a three-digit sum overall. Okay, it's not without its shortcomings. The lack of 5G support is even in the name; can you imagine such a situation in other markets? Like there's some new Opel Astra Free? 😉 But generally, it's a very nice device that works exceptionally smoothly and pampers users' senses with a surprisingly good screen and speakers.
OPPO A78 4G – preliminary conclusions
But I'll start with the basics. The plastic casing doesn't impress particularly, but the smartphone is at least light and fits comfortably in the hand. From a distance, it doesn't look so cheap, so it's hard to demand anything more. It also has solid fundamentals – a modern Snapdragon 680 processor, 8 GB of RAM, 128 GB of internal storage, Dual SIM support, and microSD card support. This setup should be enough for you not to expand your vocabulary of curses and expletives for the next few years. The OPPO will work quite efficiently, and you won't run out of space for your data.
Multimedia is enchanting! The nearly 6.5-inch screen refreshes more often than a Viking showers. And more often than the four-times-more-expensive iPhone 15. The display is AMOLED with a built-in fast fingerprint reader, operating at 90 Hz. For such a price, literally every word in the previous sentence is impressive. You'll also enjoy watching ambitious videos online thanks to the stereo speakers, and when you desire some privacy, not only Bluetooth headphones will help you, but also wired ones. Because yes, for Viking traditionalists, there's a mini-jack port here.
OPPO A78 4G Technical Specifications
I also love the battery life and charging speed of the A78. The 5000 mAh battery is enough for at least a day of intense use, and charging with the included 67W charger takes only 45 minutes. These are also results usually reserved for much more expensive models. I'm greatly impressed!
Smartphones for less than 1000 PLN are mainly associated with compromises, and this one works fast, lasts long, charges quickly, and still enchants with the quality of its display and speakers. To be perfectly happy, all that's missing are great cameras, right?
The weakest element is the camera
Well, unfortunately, there won't be a plot twist here. On the back, there's only one lens that, like a plant, needs a lot of light to work effectively. Photos and videos taken during the day are okay, but you'll probably never say to your friends during a Viking feast: "wait, let me take it, because I have a good camera." Selfies are also okay, but probably not against the light and in controlled conditions. For this price range, it's not bad – it's just that in other categories, it was exceptionally good, which raised my expectations.
Nevertheless, if I were to buy a smartphone for 1000 PLN right now, I would choose this one. Firstly, it's noticeably better than "thousand-zloty phones" from a few years ago, which is not the rule at all. Secondly, OPPO is also known for its simple, intuitive, and non-irritating software, and the A78 is no exception in this regard. This is, by the way, the overarching theme of this entire smartphone: it simply doesn't annoy you with anything. Videos look nice on it, music sounds good, games run decently, the battery will never let you down. It's just a shame you won't experience the power, might, and grandeur of Viking 5G with it, but better Mobile Vikings and OPPO with 4G in hand, than another operator... also in hand. Mobile Vikings are still the best. ❤️
