Smartphones have evolved. We are not going to handle them with kid gloves anymore. We do not expect them to have lives of their own. The OPPO F-series is no stranger to sturdiness, and the new OPPO F31 Pro+ does all it can to maintain this tradition. This new version has an even stronger case, a gigantic 7000 mAh battery pack, and the competent Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 CPU.
For the past two weeks, I have been making OPPO racket with their F31 Pro+. This is my take on it and its ups and downs. Is the OPPO F31 Pro+ for INR 32,999 worth it? Let’s dive in.
OPPO F31 Pro+ Review: Overview
OPPO’s latest smartphone in India is the F31 Pro+, yet another notch-housing Android phone that does not live up to expectations.
So the OPPO F31 Pro+ is a solid proposition at the INR 31,999 price. It boasts the same excellent battery life and sturdy protection as its forebears. This phone is designed to stand up to nearly any condition.
But it is not all sunshine and unicorns. The processor is nearly two years old, even if it is silky smooth. The software experience, ColorOS, also has its share of clutter. At the end of the day, the F31 Pro+ is best suited for customers who care most about looks, longevity, and battery life.
Design & Hardware: Feast for the Eyes
OPPO is always good at design, and the F31 Pro+ follows the legacy. This phone truly stands out. It comes in three attractive colors: Gemstone Blue, Himalayan White, and Festive Pink. Both options are unique in appearance.
My review unit, the Himalayan White, was downright beautiful. The fine print, soft sheens, and dynamic light reflections are entrancing. From some angles, you can even make out the individual brush strokes that catch a glittery green light. They also feature a nice matte finish that does not show off your fingerprints.
The circular camera island barely protrudes and flaunts a fashionable white halo. This delicate touch adds to the very high-end feel. Every person I showed the phone to raved about its design.
Ergonomics and Enhanced Durability
I think the popular flat style is very beautiful, and I like it. In the hand, the phone feels secure and comfortable. The 3’s sides are made from shiny aluminum and give it a premium look. They are fingerprint magnets, but they do offer strong protection as well.
For the F31 Pro+, the longest-lasting durability is its main selling point. OPPO has made a bunch of internal improvements. Foam and cushioning pads safeguard critical parts, such as the cameras, from impact. A newly designed part-board cover offers approximately 10% greater defense compared to former models.
I rarely drop my phone. But for purposes of this review, I deliberately did a handful of drop tests from different heights. The F31 Pro+ was mostly unharmed. A few scratches to the sides, but no significant damage.
And the phone is water- and dust-resistant with IP65, IP68, and IP69 certifications. That means accidental spills and even a quick rinse under the tap should not be an issue. If you are after a phone that can handle the rough and tumble of everyday life, then it is hard to go past the OPPO F31 Pro+.
Display: A Visual Treat
The OPPO F31 Pro+ packs a 6.78-inch Flat FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED screen. It’s a truly gorgeous panel. Colors are bright, text is clear, and blacks are super dark. Together, they deliver an engaging multimedia streaming experience on Netflix and Prime Video.
Outdoor visibility is also excellent. It boasts a maximum brightness of 1600 nits, so you will be able to read everything on the screen in direct sunlight. OPPO also brings high-frequency PWM dimming of 2160Hz. This helps reduce flicker, especially for low-light viewing, and by extension reduces eye fatigue. Uniform bezels around the display also help contribute to its premium look and feel.
Performance: Smooth, But Aging Hardware
Speaking of the internal specifications, it will be running on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 when we look under the hood. One Cortex-A715 single prime core, up to 2.63 GHz; three Cortex-A715 performance cores, up to 2.4 GHz; and four Cortex-A510 efficiency cores, clocked at. Graphics are handled by an Adreno 720 GPU. My review unit is equipped with 12 GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256 GB of UFS 3.1 storage.
Let’s be blunt here: the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 is closing in on two years old. That is ancient history in the dog years world of technology. The Snapdragon 855 was a time-tested, superior chip of its class, but the successor to it has been released by Qualcomm and is yet more powerful.
But if we set the age of the processor aside and focus solely on real-world performance, then I have no issues here. The 7 Gen 3 is still a pretty solid chip. It squashes everyday work without breaking a sweat, like scrolling through social media into infinity or watching YouTube and reading articles.
ColorOS is no small part of making this experience so smooth. OPPO is known for its snappy Android skin. It comes with slick animations, quick loading times, and thoughtful features.
Bloatware and Software Experience
Regrettably, ColorOS is also the source of a lot of bloatware. Even with a minimal installation of “recommended apps” during setup, my phone filled up with about 20 unwanted games and apps. They took a while to get rid of.
Google and OPPO dialer and messaging apps are also pre-installed on the device. This is such a waste and redundant, especially when the OPPO dialer cannot be removed. Although the software is slick, this experience makes it all feel very cluttered.
Benchmarks And Gaming: Good, Not Great
I took the F31 Pro+’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor to task and put it through my usual set of benchmark tests. It got 728 in Geekbench’s single-core tests and 2485 for the multi-core. It tested the chip on AnTuTu with a score of 1,076,254. And the device did not show any signs of thermal throttling despite running the CPU stress test for around 30 minutes.
As for gaming, the OPPO F31 Pro+ offers an average performance. Popular titles such as PUBG and Call of Duty Mobile run at 60fps on high settings with no difficulty. I did not experience any lag or overheating during long gaming sessions. While it is not going to break any records when it comes to performance, it will give most gamers a good experience.
Battery Life: A Marathon Runner
In addition to its sturdy construction, another strong argument for the F31 Pro+ is its battery. It contains a huge 7,000 mAh cell, and two days of heavy to moderate usage were no problem. That involved a few hours of scrolling through social media, watching YouTube videos to consume content directly from the camera, or a light bit of gaming in BGMI.
The phone also comes with an 80W fast charger. That lets you ramp the juice up in a hurry, to reach 80% from a 20% low bar in just under an hour. The OPPO F31 Pro+ (12GB RAM, 256GB Storage) is a great choice for people who are looking for a phone with a long battery.
Cameras: Surprisingly Capable
The OPPO F31 Pro+ houses a 50 MP primary sensor with an f/1.8 aperture on the back. Had I not received one to review, with its single rear camera, there would be no heading on a portrait mode like the R17 Pro.
In good light, the images it captures look punchy and clear. You get realistic skin tones, and there is also a lush amount of HDR. There were some blown highlights when shooting a couple of scenes, but that was just me nitpicking.
Performance in low artificial lighting is also just as impressive. Pictures keep good details and feel accurate when it comes to color. But there is a lag in capturing photos, which could be difficult when taking fast-moving subjects.
Because there is no dedicated telephoto lens, the main sensor also steps in for portraiture. It generally performs well. Daytime photos of faces are detailed, exhibiting a pleasing amount of shallow depth of field and accurate skin tones.
Selfies are reliably good, in both well-lit and low-light situations. Thanks to its large field of view, you can welcome more guests. Colors are precise, and details are unblurred.
Should You Purchase the OPPO F31 Pro+?
The OPPO F31 Pro+ is available for INR 31,999 and offers quite a punch. It has excellent longevity, the best battery, and a killer look. These are its core strengths.
But the processor is a little old, and the ColorOS software experience feels bloated with bloatware.
The F31 Pro+ is designed for users who demand design, rugged protection, and extreme battery life. If these are the things you want, then the OPPO F31 Pro+ makes a ton of sense.
For others who are looking for options or certain features:
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OPPO F31 Pro+ Review: Durability Still Reigns Supreme. Part: This is what we think of the robust build and IP65/68/69 ratings, as well as internal shock absorption.
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OPPO F31 Pro+ Review: Durability is the King. Still, Price: The price of the device comes in at an Indian pricing of INR 31,999 to offer a premium experience with added attention towards getting longevity.
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OPPO Reno14 5G Review: Although this review is for the F31 Pro+, those interested in one may also want to look into the OPPO Reno range for different specifications and price points.
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OPPO Reno 14 5G Camera Review: If you want a phone with a prioritized camera performance, when comparing to the single sensor of F31 Pro+, it is worth noting some of the multi-cameras that are offered in series like the Reno, or indeed the Reno 14 5G.
After all, the OPPO F31 Pro+ is a niche device. It has hit the high notes that matter most to its core demographic: surviving everyday encounters and lasting for days on a single charge. For people tired of fragile phones and constantly hunting for a charger, the Pro+ is well worth considering.
FAQs about the OPPO F31 Pro+
