Oppo A38 vs Xiaomi 16 Ultra
Compare Oppo A38 vs Xiaomi 16 Ultra side by side: MediaTek Helio G85 vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2, 5000mAh vs 6200mAh battery, $699 vs $1299. Full…
Oppo
Oppo A38
$699
3categories won
Xiaomi
16 Ultra
$1,299
10categories won
13 scored in total · add a third phone
Which one wins?
Xiaomi 16 Ultra takes the overall win
The Xiaomi 16 Ultra proves superior overall against the Oppo A38, outperforming on gaming and photography. In camera testing, the 16 Ultra leads with superior optics, while battery endurance leans towards the 16 Ultra. Choose the 16 Ultra if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the Oppo A38 if its lower retail price better fit your budget.
16 Ultra takes battery honors offering 6,200 mAh alongside 120W charging.
16 Ultra provides greater sustained gaming output with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 and 24GB RAM.
16 Ultra takes photography with 50MP optics and 3.2x optical telephoto capabilities.
Oppo A38 provides a sharper value proposition, coming in at $699 vs $1299.
Category verdicts are computed algorithmically from verified technical specifications and hardware benchmarks. Rows where neither figure is objectively better — screen size preference, operating system choice, aesthetic build materials — are displayed for direct reference without scoring bias.
Oppo A38 vs 16 Ultra: specifications compared
Display
| Specification | Oppo A38 | 16 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.56" | 6.73" |
| Resolution | 720 x 1612 | 1440 x 3200Winner |
| Pixel density | 269 ppi | 521 ppiWinner |
| Refresh rate | 90 Hz | 120 HzWinner |
| Peak brightness | 720 nits | 3600 nitsWinner |
Performance
| Specification | Oppo A38 | 16 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | MediaTek Helio G85 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 |
| Process node | — | 2 nm |
| AnTuTu score | 260,000 | 3,200,000Winner |
| Geekbench multi | 1390 | 10800Winner |
| Maximum RAM | — | 24 GB |
| Maximum storage | — | 2TB |
Camera
| Specification | Oppo A38 | 16 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Main sensor | — | 50 MP |
| Rear cameras | — | 4 |
| Optical zoom | — | 3.2x |
| Ultrawide | — | 50 MP |
| Selfie camera | 5 MP | 32 MPWinner |
| Max video | 1080p@30fps | 8K at 30fps / 4K at 120fps |
Battery and charging
| Specification | Oppo A38 | 16 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5,000 mAh | 6,200 mAhWinner |
| Wired charging | 33 W | 120 WWinner |
| Wireless charging | No | 80 WWinner |
Design
| Specification | Oppo A38 | 16 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 190 gWinner | 226 g |
| Thickness | 8.2 mmWinner | 9.2 mm |
| Water resistance | IP54 | IP68 |
| Build | — | Grade 5 Titanium frame, Ceramic Glass front and back |
Software and support
| Specification | Oppo A38 | 16 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | 13 (Upgradable to 14, ColorOS 14) | Android 17 |
| OS updates | — | 7 years |
| Security updates | — | 7 years |
Connectivity and value
| Specification | Oppo A38 | 16 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| 5G | No | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band 2.4/5/6GHz, 320MHz bandwidth) |
| Storage expansion | microSD | None |
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| Launch price | $699Winner | $1,299 |
Oppo A38
Oppo A38 brings 33W flash charging rarely seen in the ultra-budget class, coupled with a 50MP AI camera, 90Hz sunlight screen, and IP54 dust and splash resistance.
- Display
- 6.56"
- Chipset
- MediaTek Helio G85
- Battery
- 5,000mAh
- Software
- 13 (Upgradable to 14, ColorOS 14)
Xiaomi 16 Ultra
Equipped with a second-gen 1-inch LOFIC sensor with 15EV dynamic range, stepless physical f/1.6–f/4.0 aperture, a mammoth 200MP 1/1.4" periscope telephoto, 120W wired and 80W wireless charging, and 6,200 mAh capacity, the 16 Ultra is a DSLR in your pocket.
- Display
- 6.73"
- Chipset
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2
- Main camera
- 50MP
- Battery
- 6,200mAh