Oppo Reno 8 Pro-5G Review

The Oppo Reno 8 Pro is a great phone for the money, with its powerful processor, long-lasting battery, attractive display, and fast charging. While we like the way it looks, some might find the display polarizing. We don’t think the design improved the user experience. Additionally, you can find some very attractive competitors at this price, especially from Google.

Oppo promised its users four years of security updates and two significant OS upgrades when it debuted the Reno 8 series a few months ago. The latest version of Android 13 OS, layered with the company’s latest ColorOS 13 UI. It is installed on both devices as promised. Highlights of ColorOS 13 include a meeting assistant, multi-screen connect, dynamic computing engine, new always-on display animations, aquamorphic effect across the UI, and improved privacy and security capabilities. This is the Oppo Reno 8 Pro 5G review.

What’s in the box?

The following items are included in the retail bundle of OPPO Reno 8 Pro 5G:

  • Oppo Reno 8 Pro handset
  • Transparent case
  • SIM ejector tool
  • 80W charger
  • USB-C to USB-A cable
  • User manual
  • Safety Guide

Oppo Reno 8 Pro Short Review

It’s up to Oppo to price its new mid-range flagship phone at the same price as the Google Pixel 7, going up against the hugely successful tech giant.

It’s remarkable, however, that the new Oppo Reno 8 Pro can, at least for the most part, compete with Google’s 2021 top smartphone. On the other hand, Oppo is aiming for a different kind of customer than Google with its camera-focused Pixel phones.

The new series of mid-range phones from Oppo’s middle child brand, the Reno 8, was launched in late August 2022 with the Reno 8 and Reno 8 Lite. The company’s approach to launching its Renault brand in the West has been a “will they, won’t they” strategy. But the eighth series is the biggest song-and-dance it’s made about the line since its original release in 2019.

10x Zoom

It’s also understandable considering the Oppo Reno 8 Pro is the most expensive model in the family after the Reno 10x Zoom since its first release.

Since then, Oppo has spent years making more standard Android phones. But it’s also clearly learned the habits and preferences of its users. Reno 8 Pro ditches a lot of bells and whistles to focus on a few key areas.

Performance is one of them, as the Oppo Reno 8 Pro is among the most powerful phones we’ve tested at this price point. It performs like a real, albeit expensive, top-end processor and is great for gaming and intense workouts.

It also has a back that some people will find pretty, a screen that looks good and decent specs for the price. The design’s angular edges, which feel awkward in the hand, detract from the overall disappointing design.

80W charging

While Oppo has integrated its Battery HealthEngine to ensure the phone lasts long enough, the Reno boasts of fast 80W charging. This will prevent the phone’s battery life from draining too soon.

It’s hardly a flawless phone, and we’re not just talking about the awkward design; There are some notable areas where the manufacturer falls short. One is the camera; The Reno 8 Pro works perfectly for taking pictures though it has a neural processing chip built in to improve AI and photography. It’s not significantly better than any other phone for the price, and slightly more expensive devices will outperform it.

Even similarly priced phones can’t match it. Simply put, the cheaper Pixel 6 has better AI for photography, additional modes, and more pleasant retention while shooting. Considering how much the Reno 10x zoom has improved, it’s unfortunate that Oppo believes that integrating a zoom lens into their phone is superior to using its neural processing unit.

The Oppo Reno 8 Pro can’t compete with the Pixel 6 if you’re into photography or want a compact phone, but if gaming or streaming video are more important to you, you might want to check out Oppo’s new device.

Oppo Reno 8 Pro-5G Full Specification

LAUNCH
AnnouncedJuly 8, 20221
First ReleaseJuly 19, 2022
NETWORKGSM / HSPA / LTE/ 5G
BODY
Dimensions161.2 x 74.2 x 7.3 mm
Weight183 g
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5)
aluminum frame
glass back
SIMDual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
DISPLAY
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz
Size6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~90.3% screen-to-body ratio)
Resolution1080 x 2412 pixels
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5
PLATFORM
Operating SystemAndroid 13, ColorOS 13.1
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 8100 Max (5 nm)
CPUOcta-core
GPUMali-G610 MC6
MEMORY
Card SlotNo
Internal256GB/ 8GB RAM
256GB/ 12GB RAM
MAIN CAMERA
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide)
8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 112˚ (ultrawide)
2 MP, f/2.4, (macro)
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panorama
Video4K@30fps, gyro-EIS
SELFIE CAMERA
Single32 MP, f/2.4, 22mm (wide)
FeaturesPanorama, HDR
Video1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
SOUND
LoudspeakerYes, with stereo speakers
3.5mm jackNo
COMMS
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
NFCYes
RadioNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
FEATURES
SensorsFingerprint (under the display, optical)
BATTERY
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable
Charging80W wired, 1-45% in 10 min, 1-100% in 31 min (advertised)
MISC
ColorsGlazed Green, Glazed Black, House of the Dragon
ModelsCPH2357
TESTS
DisplayContrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
CameraPhoto / Video
Loudspeaker-25.5 LUFS (Very good)
Battery lifeEndurance rating 100h
Oppo Reno8 Pro Full Specification

Design and Display

The Oppo Reno 8 Pro has an aluminum frame and a glass back. The rear casing of the device incorporates the camera bump. It has an overall premium appeal. Above the display punch-hole on the front is an integrated speaker and earphone. As claimed by OPPO, the handset offers 93.4 percent screen space thanks to its extremely tiny chin.

I had the opportunity to visit Oppo Labs in September. The manufacturer told me during my visit that the Reno 8 series is built to last before being sold. It passes over 300 rigorous tests for quality and durability, including high-temperature and free-fall tests.

The Oppo Reno 8 Pro sports a 6.7-inch AMOLED screen with a punch-hole in the middle. The incredibly thin bezels typically found on flagship phones make the display look stunning.

The O1 Ultra Vision Engine provides features including Bright HDR Video Mode, Video Color Boost, and Image Sharpener (Video Upscaling) for an enhanced viewing experience. In terms of brightness, the screen can accommodate up to 950 nits of light. It offers two color profiles: Vivid (DCI-P3 color gamut) and Natural (sRGB color spectrum). In the latter, the colors seem more vibrant.

Standard (60Hz) and high (120Hz) refresh rate options are available for the Reno 8 Pro. A smooth user interface is the result of 120Hz RR. Both 4K HD YouTube videos and HD content from OTT providers can be played on the phone. Gaming is also enjoyable on the display.

Operating System-ColorOS 13

Oppo Reno 8 Pro’s ColorOS 13-based Android 13 OS update size is 2.70GB. It also includes the security update for Android from October.

The user interface of ColorOS 13 is not entirely new compared to the previous ColorOS 12. Rather, the updated version offers many additional enhancements for a better overall user experience.

Aquamorphic Design

ColorOS 13 mimics the fluidity of water, providing a fluid user experience. As a result, transitions and system animations appear softer and more realistic. The palette for the system theme was influenced by how lighting changes color from dawn to dusk.

Fonts, icons, and layout

Despite ColorOS 13 being used in multiple languages, fonts are more readable. Additionally, the revised iconography is easier to read. Compatible layouts are made possible by the adaptive layout for Oppo handsets with different screen sizes. Additionally, it provides a card-style layout with different-sized cards in settings and third-party applications.

Expanded folder on the home screen

You can maintain an expanded folder on your home screen that contains several apps. Instead of opening folders, users can now open internal programs with a tap.

Quantum Animation Engine 4.0

Quantum Animation Engine 4.0, which aims to provide an intuitive experience by eliminating as many stages as possible, is a feature of ColorOS 13. Behavioral prediction uses gestures to prioritize intended commands, reducing the number of actions required to perform better. Navigation experience.

Emoji for Contacts

When a call comes in, the Oppo Contacts app can display adorable, moving emoji avatars for your favorite contacts.

System Drawing

ColorOS 13 displays several interesting drawings throughout the user interface in place of blank spaces.

Quick Settings

A better user experience is now possible with Quick Settings Control over media playback is an enhancement.

Shelf

Widgets, practical tools, and a global search are accessible when swiping down on the home screen to reveal the shelf.

Always-On Display (AOD)

To encourage users to take better care of their surroundings, ColorOS 13 features some interesting AOD graphics, such as “Homeland” which features endangered species including clownfish, polar bears, and penguins. Some recent AODs provide real-time data from third-party food delivery apps, such as Spotify and Zomato/Swiggy, that display order status. Only Spotify AOD is enabled at the moment. Bitmoji AOD and Insight AOD are two other AOD choices.

Multi-Screen Connect: This feature has been enhanced to provide smooth connectivity between the Oppo Phone and PC as well as the Oppo Phone and Oppo Pad Air. You can synchronize files, alerts, and clipboards with the mirrored Oppo phone. As seen above, it can show up to three different screens for each app.

Meeting Assistant: This tool can detect when an online meeting is taking place, streamlining notifications to optimize the network and reduce interruptions.

Privacy: It provides an automatic pixelation tool for displaying names and profile photographs in chat snapshots. Users can now protect Private Safe using the popular Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)—allowing them to store personal information, including files, videos, and photos.

Performance boost: ColorOS 13’s dynamic computing engine can boost battery life, system performance, stability, and app experience. When playing games, HyperBoost GPA 4.0 can reduce power consumption and stabilize frame rates.

ColorOS 13 deployment status

For devices like Find X5, Find X5 Pro, Reno 8 Pro 5G, Reno 8 5G, K10 5G, F21 Pro, F21 Pro 5G, K10, A76, and Oppo A96, there is a stable version of ColorOS 13 based on Android 13.

A74, F19 Pro+, Reno 7 Pro 5G, Reno 6 Pro 5G, Reno 6 5G, and Reno 5 Pro 5G are among the devices that can run the OS update beta version.

OPPO RENO 8 PRO Availability and Price

With its 256GB storage capacity and single 8GB RAM, the Oppo Reno 8 Pro costs £599, which is equivalent to around $700 or AU$1,010. The phone is listed on Oppo’s Australian website (although it’s not priced there). So it’s likely to go on sale there soon. Oppo doesn’t sell the phone in the US, so don’t expect a release there.

As mentioned earlier, the Google Pixel 6 is a contender at that price point. Its starting price is $599 / £599 / AU$999, but for 256GB it costs $699 / AU$1,129.

These two phones fall somewhere between “mid-range” and “top-end,” undercutting the likes of the Xiaomi 12 and the Samsung Galaxy S22. But we’re priced higher than several excellent mid-rangers from Honor, Poco, and Moto. See you this year.

At the end of September 2022, the Oppo Reno 8 Pro went on sale.

Cameras of OPPO Renos 8 Pro

Considering the cameras aren’t particularly competitive for a phone this cheap, the Oppo Reno 8 makes a big deal of the cameras in the family.

The device’s primary camera is the Sony IMX766, a 50MP sensor that has been shaking up the phone industry since its release earlier this year. Its low cost and excellent low-light performance allow phone makers to exploit it while keeping prices low.

This is useful for taking pictures at night or in other low-light situations on the Reno, as with many other phones we’ve tried. Due to the large sensor size, photos are often vivid and attractive even in low light conditions.

The other cameras, though, aren’t really noteworthy. We avoid using the 2MP macro and 8MP ultra-wide cameras whenever possible. Because they don’t produce photos as well as the primary camera.

Selfie Camera

A 32 MP selfie camera joined the group, which we thought. What else would you use your selfie stick for, anyway?

All in all, these cameras serve their duties well, but they are not very noticeable. On the other hand, Oppo probably believes that the MariSilicon X will be its ace in the hole. With a variety of AI techniques and adjustments, this Neural Processing Unit (NPU). Which debuted in the company’s flagship Find X phone, can improve photographs beyond what they would otherwise be. A primary difference between the Pro Reno 8 and the regular phone is the lack of this chip.

It’s hard to determine exactly how much this chip contributes. Because we couldn’t test the phone without it, but during our time with it. We didn’t notice a significant improvement in picture quality compared to numerous other Android phones that have it. Camera combination (both Realme 9 Pro Plus and OnePlus 10T had identical cameras).

Unless you’re using a high-end camera phone like an iPhone or Samsung Galaxy. You’ll be satisfied with what’s on offer here. The picture still looks nice.

As expected of this cheap phone, video recording is offered at 4K at 30 frames per second or 1080p at 60 frames per second.

OPPO RENO 8 PRO PERFORMANCE

In terms of looks and camera, the Oppo Reno 8 Pro isn’t quite on par with its similarly priced competitor. The Pixel 6, but in terms of capabilities, it clearly dominates.

The MediaTek Dimension 8100 MAX chipset, powers the Reno. It is a slightly improved variant of the aptly named Dimension 8100. It can’t match the high-end A16 Bionic or Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chips, though. In the last phone, this reasonably capable chip was not really needed.

Practically speaking, the MediaTek chip has enough power for all the tasks your phone needs to perform. We captured high-definition video, downloaded many files at once without issue, and played many games, including some really complex ones.

The 256 GB of storage on this phone is a nice little surprise, as most phones only have 128 GB by default. Thanks to this you will have plenty of space for all the programs and downloads you need.

Since the phone has 5G features, you can connect to the network if you are in a supported location and have a contract. It’s unfair to evaluate the Reno-based on its connection speed alone because 5G speeds depend on a number of factors. None of which are related to the phone you’re using.

Oppo Reno 8 Pro Battery Life

Thankfully, the Reno 8 Pro has a decent battery life despite its large screen, 5G connectivity, and pretty powerful CPU.

The phone has a 4,500mAh battery, which is almost standard for a phone of its size and price. A slightly larger power bank but comparable battery life is seen with comparable phones. We can infer from this that Oppo has some clever optimizations in its software.

According to our tests, the Reno can usually coast through a full day of use and reach the middle of the next day without needing a recharge. It was from moderate use; Obviously, prolonged gaming will degrade it more quickly.

Fast Charging

When the phone’s battery is low, charging happens fairly quickly. Using the included 80W charger, the phone can go from empty to full in about 30 minutes. While some mid-rangers may have faster charge times, thirty minutes is enough for us.

Most phone batteries can suffer from running at that speed for an extended period of time. But Oppo’s Battery Health Engine debuted with the Reno 8 series. It is intended to prevent that from happening with a number of improvements. For example, the phone can determine your normal wake-up time and only charge you during that time.

There were times when the phone tried to charge slowly to trigger the timer. When we really wanted to power it up quickly before a night out. This can be annoying when the phone goes bad, but overall it was helpful. Although we were unable to test the device for the necessary number of years to observe the effects of these battery health adjustments. Those who have held onto their phones for several years will likely benefit greatly from them.

It’s hardly surprising that a phone at this price doesn’t have wireless charging.

Pros

  • Excellent processor
  • Good looking design
  • Fast Charging
  • 10x zoom

Cons

  • Weight is a bit heavy
  • Don’t capture good photos in low light

Should I Buy The Oppo Reno 8 Pro?

Buy it if…

It’s the powerful phone you want:

If you enjoy tearing through mobile games fast then this will be an excellent option for you. The MediaTek processor used here is good for various tasks, especially gaming.

Appearance matters:

With its sleek unibody design, the Reno 8 Pro is a very good-looking Android phone.

Fast charging is essential:

Reno 8 Pro’s 80W fast charging will get your phone up to 100% capacity in 30 minutes or less. The Battery Health Engine ensures that it won’t harm the device either.

Don’t buy it if…

Your hands are delicate:

We didn’t like holding the Oppo Reno 8 Pro at all. If you believe you might feel the same way. We advise against it.

Your budget is tight:

While the Reno 8 Pro is reasonably priced, it’s not particularly competitive for the money. If you compare prices, you can get a comparable phone for less.

Your main emphasis is photography:

If photography is your primary use for a phone, this should work just fine for you. Still, the Pixel 6 (or a more expensive phone) would be a much better option.

Verdict

Phones like the OnePlus 10R and Realme GT Neo 3 compete with the Oppo Reno 8 Pro in various markets. While the specs of these phones are comparable, the Reno 8 Pro is superior when it comes to selfies. Compared to its rivals, the Reno 8 Pro has a smaller battery and lacks OIS. But apart from amazing hardware, Reno 8 Pro has superior software and customer service.

In addition to the black and green colors, Dragon also has a unique limited-edition model known as the Reno 8 Pro House. It comes in unique packaging with accessories specially designed with the House of the Dragon concept in mind. Here is more information about it for readers. It is available for purchase in India and Bangladesh. It’s priced at Rs 45,999 ($554). The standard Oppo Reno 8 Pro is also reasonably priced At Rs 45,999 ($554).

Disclaimer

Based solely on my personal experience, I have developed the thoughts described in this OPPO Reno 8 Pro 5G review. According to Oppo, the review showcases some of the best features of ColorOS 13.