THIS is no joke.
Mobile technology brand OPPO launched its flagship dual selfie camera phone, the F3 Plus—the first-ever smartphone with a wide-angle dual front camera to easily accommodate ‘groufies’ in a single shot on April Fool’s Day at Philippine stores as well as in India, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
Its new features, particularly the awesome dual camera and the high-capacity battery are nothing to be laughed at, either.
“Since OPPO started the Selfie Revolution in the Philippines with the F1 Series, we’ve gone through incredible growth especially when we became the country’s second bestselling smartphone in 2016,” OPPO Philippines Brand Marketing Manager Stephen Cheng said. “We are very excited to see the F3 Plus start a new trend in groufies and reinforce our position as the Selfie Expert.”
“The F3 Plus was developed for both selfie lovers and photography buffs who want a smartphone that lets them take stunning shots wherever they are, no matter the time of day. Our newest camera phone packs state-of-the-art hardware and software in a sleek body to deliver outstanding performance and style, perfect for the urban lifestyle,” Cheng added.
Effortless from selfie to groufie
Set to be the ultimate Selfie Expert, the F3 Plus builds upon the technology of the earlier OPPO F1s to deliver outstanding selfie photography. The new smartphone sports a similar 16-megapixel (MP) selfie camera with a 1/3-inch sensor for clear image results even in low light, as well as an f/2.0 aperture for depth-of-field aesthetic.
The difference lies in the additional secondary camera. This 8MP groufie-camera has a wide 120-degree angle—105 percent larger than the regular 80-degree lens field of view— which allows more people to fit inside the frame. The wide-angle shot is also complemented by a 6P lens to minimize distortion.
Ease of use has been carefully designed into the front camera’s functionality to reflect OPPO’s “user-oriented” philosophy. The built-in Smart Facial Recognition, for instance, notifies users to switch to “Groufie” mode when more than three people are detected. This makes the switch from selfie to groufie effortless while keeping image quality stable.
The new smartphone still comes with the brand’s pioneering image editing software, Beautify 4.0, which offers a range of beautification modes for a flawless look in every selfies and groufies.
Built for professional photography
Significant improvements have also been made for the rear-facing camera. Co-developed by Sony, the 16MP back camera is now powered by a customized 1/2.8-inch IMX398 sensor for fast focusing speed, outstanding noise reduction, and advanced low-light performance—ideal for serious photography.
The sensor has been developed using dual-phase autofocus (DUAL PDAF) technology to double the pixel array area, which is composed of photodiodes that determine the camera’s point of focus. This increases focusing speeds by 40 percent even in less-than-ideal lighting conditions.
Flawless inside and out
The F3 Plus is engineered with hardware designed to support its powerful front and rear cameras. The phone’s octa-core processor is backed by a 4GB RAM and 64GB ROM to ensure speed, while OPPO’s ColorOS 3.0 optimizes performance to lower energy consumption.
A built-in 4000mAh battery provides more than 284 hours of standby time for whole-day use. OPPO’s proprietary and industry-leading rapid VOOC Charging Solution also cuts charging duration by four times compared with standard units; even five minutes on the plug is enough for a continuous two-hour call.
Dual SIM users will be glad to know that the F3 Plus includes a double-slot card tray for holding two Nano 4GSIM cards. The second slot can be used for a Micro SD card to expand storage up to 256GB.
Lightning-Fast Touch Access also unlocks the phone in just 0.2 seconds—the fastest in the market. The same scanning technology allows users to assign fingerprints to quickly launch phone numbers and apps. An Avast-based virus scanner further adds protection to keep phone data secure.
Exquisite craftsmanship for an upscale look
At the core of every OPPO phone is the brand’s belief in “design excellence.” Casing the F3 Plus is a sleek metal unibody that gives the phone an elegant form either in luxurious Black or opulent Gold. The back shell also comes with an innovative ultra-fine six-string antenna to exude a more upscale appearance. But beyond aesthetics, the body is sculpted for proper hand grip so users can take selfies with comfort.
To match the polished look is the phone’s durability. The six-inch display screen is made of 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 5 to resist damage. Pre-applied protective coating further makes the screen scratch-proof.
The F3 Plus in Gold is now in the Philippines with the suggested retail price of P23,990.
Shoppers can get OPPO’s latest Selfie Expert via Home Credit through a nine-month installment plan at zero percent interest. They can also watch out for Globe’s exclusive offer for OPPO F3 Plus, with date and details to be announced soon.