Last year, Oppo unveiled the Oppo F21 Pro, the Oppo F21s Pro, and the OPPO F21 Pro 5G in the Indian market. There was no standard OPPO F21. In the previous week, the company unveiled the Oppo F23 5G in the country. The same phone is available under the Oppo A98 5G moniker in the global market.
The Oppo F23 mainly focuses on offering worry-free battery performance and lag-free experiences through longer software support. Apart from this, the phone offers a 120Hz LCD screen, a Snapdragon 695, and a 64-megapixel triple camera unit, which includes a 40x micro-lens. Here is our review of the Oppo F23.
Oppo F23 5G review: What’s in the box?
Opening the Oppo F23 box will greet you with the following items:
- Oppo F23 5G handset
- SIM ejector tool
- 80W SuperVOOC charger
- USB-C to USB-A cable
- User manual
- Safety Guide
Design and Display
| Dimensions | Display | |
| Size – 165.6 x 76.1 x 82mm | 6.72-inch LTPS LCD display | 391 ppi pixel density |
| Weight – 192 grams | 1080 x 2400 pixels (FHD+) | Widevine L1 |
| No IP rating | 20:9 aspect ratio | Panda 1681 secondary tempered glass |
| 120Hz refresh rate | Netflix and Amazon Prime certified | |
| Color variants | 100 percent DCI-P3 color gamut | |
| Cool Black | Up to 680 nits of brightness | |
| Bold Gold | 91.4% screen-to-body ratio |
The Oppo F23 showcases a polycarbonate back with a glossy section located below the camera module. Its rear design bears a resemblance to the Oppo Reno 8T 5G (review). I received the Bold Gold color option of the device, so I cannot comment on the appearance of the Cool Black variant. However, in the case of the gold variant, it exudes charm, thanks to Oppo’s innovative Glow design technology. On the front, the phone features a punch-hole display and a slightly thicker bottom bezel. According to the brand, it boasts a screen-to-body ratio of 91.4 percent.
The hybrid SIM slot and volume buttons are available on the left, while the right side of the device has the power key, which is integrated with a speaker. The top edge has a microphone, and the top bezel houses an earpiece, which doubles up as a speaker. The bottom edge of the phone has a speaker grille, a USB-C port, a microphone, and a 3.5mm audio jack. A good thing about the rear panel of the phone is that it does not attract fingerprint marks.
The F23 boasts a spacious 6.72-inch LTPS LCD display that delivers FHD+ resolution and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. With a maximum brightness of 680 nits, the screen provides vivid visuals. Although the screen is generally bright, it can be challenging to view it clearly under intense sunlight. Additionally, the phone holds certifications from Netflix and Amazon Prime, allowing users to indulge in uninterrupted binge-watching on these popular OTT platforms. To enhance the audio experience, the F23 is equipped with dual stereo speakers, tested by Dirac. These speakers feature an Ultra Volume mode, which amplifies the volume up to 200 percent, ensuring optimal sound quality even in noisy environments. While an AMOLED panel would have been preferable, the F23’s LCD panel still offers commendable features.
The display offers Vivid and Natural color modes, each offering options like Cooler, Default, and Warmer. When it comes to refresh rate, it does not offer an automatic option. Instead, there are 60Hz and 120Hz refresh rate options available.
Performance and Software
| Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 | 5,000mAh battery |
| 8GB LPDDR4x RAM | 67W charging |
| 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage | Android 13 OS with ColorOS 13.1 |
| Up to 8GB of virtual RAM |
Oppo opted for the reliable Snapdragon 695 chip to power the Oppo F23. The SoC is coupled with 8 GB of LPDDR4x RAM, up to 8 GB of virtual RAM, and 256 GB of UFS 2.2 storage. The device runs on ColorOS 13.1-based Android 13 OS. These hardware and software combinations offer smooth performance. There is a microSD card slot for additional storage. As far as gaming is concerned, the SD695 is good enough for casual gaming.
The 5,000mAh battery fuels the Oppo F23 5G. The retail package of the device includes an 80W SuperVOOC, but the phone supports 67W fast charging. In my battery charging test, it took around 46 minutes for the phone to achieve a full charge. It also offers an AI power-saving mode and a super power-saving mode. The latter can let the phone last for up to 17 hours and run up to six apps with a 5 percent battery. Super Night-time Standby consumes only 2 percent battery juice at night, which means it will not lose a significant amount of battery throughout the night.
Oppo is boasting about the battery and charging capabilities of the F23 on its official product page. It comes with 5-layer charging protection and a Battery Health Engine that extends the battery lifespan with up to 1600 charging cycles. According to Oppo, the BHE offers 58 months of “Fluency Protection” meaning it is capable of working smoothly for four years. The remarks section of the F23’s official website states that “Fluency Protection” does not mean that there is absolutely no lag. Due to factors such as network environment and personal usage, the actual experience may be different. Please refer to the actual experience.
Oppo has officially announced that the Oppo F23 will be eligible for four years of Android updates and five years of security updates. The ColorOS 13.1, although packed with numerous features and customization options, and generally operating smoothly, does come bundled with several pre-installed applications that may not be essential for all users. Fortunately, the good news is that many of these apps can be uninstalled. Here’s how it performs on the benchmark apps.
Photography and Other Features
| Rear Camera | Other features | |
| 64MP OmniVision OV64B camera | Side-mounted fingerprint scanner, face unlock | 3.5mm audio jack |
| 2MP depth sensor | 5G (n1/n3/n5/n8/n28A/n40/n41/n77/n78) | Dual stereo speakers |
| 40x microlens | Wi-Fi 802.11ac | |
| Dual-LED flash | Bluetooth 5.1 | |
| GPS | ||
| Front Camera | USB-C | |
| 32MP OmniVision OV32B camera | microSD card via hybrid SIM slot |
The Oppo F23 5G camera setup comprises a 64-megapixel primary camera, a 2-megapixel depth sensor, and a 2-megapixel microlens. On the front is a 32-megapixel selfie camera. The camera app offers photography modes, such as Night, Video, Photo, Portrait, Pro, Extra HD, Pano, Slow-Mo, Time-Lapse, Dual-View Video, Microscope (20x, 40x options), Sticker, and Text Scanner.
The 64-megapixel primary camera does a decent job in environments with brightness and daylight, as can be seen in the samples above. In low light conditions, it is better to use the Night mode rather than the Photo mode as it mellows down the effect of reflected light and enhances the shot.
When it comes to video shooting, the F23 can shoot up to 30fps 1080p videos with EIS support. Videos with Retouch or Filters captured in 720p quality. The front camera also supports 30fps 1080p video recording. Speaking of the front, it takes commendable regular and portrait selfies. However, the front camera’s performance struggles in low-light conditions.
Verdict
Purchasing the Oppo F23 during the promotional period can be a worthwhile investment. Outside of the offer, it may seem slightly pricey. Nevertheless, one of its key advantages is its extended software support, which lasts for up to 5 years and ensures a smoother user experience for 4 years.
While Oppo typically provides this prolonged support for its higher-priced Reno models, the F23 is the first Oppo phone priced below Rs 25,000 to offer such longevity. Consequently, F23 buyers can potentially avoid the need to switch to a different phone for at least a couple of years, making it a favourable choice in the long term.
Variants, Price and Availability
The Oppo F23 is available for purchase through offline stores, OPPO India’s online store, and Amazon.
- 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage – Rs 24,999 (~$362)
- Colors: Cool Black and Bold Gold
Those who wish to buy the Oppo F23 before May 31 in India can take advantage of 10 percent cashback and no-cost EMI up to 6 months from ICICI Bank, SBI Cards, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and other leading banks and financiers. The offer can also be availed from Bajaj Finance, TVS Credit, and HDB Financials on EMI Finance schemes.
Loyal Oppo customers can avail an exchange + loyalty bonus of up to Rs 2,500. Customers owning smartphones other than Oppo can also avail an exchange offer of up to Rs 1,500. Attractive EMI schemes, including zero downpayment, are available on Bajaj Finance, TVS Credit, IDFC First Bank, HDB Financials, and other leading financiers. Those who purchase the F23 before May 23 will get the Enco Air 2i at a discounted price of Rs 1,799.
Disclaimer: All of the opinions in this Oppo F23 review are mine and based on my own experiences. There has been no editorial input from Oppo.
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