GadgetsLab: OPPO RENO5 4G

REVIEWED BY MARIBELLE ALBA

Oppo has been generating a lot of buzz lately with their newest smartphone, the Reno5. We received a loaner unit of the base 4G model some weeks before the official launch, and we had a chance to find out why #PictureLifeTogether is a fitting tagline for this smartphone camera powerhouse.

DESIGN - 4 / 5

Straight out of the box, what you’ll immediately note about the Oppo Reno5 even before you turn it on is its lovely shimmery finish that’s almost a shame to cover up with the included clear case. However, because it is ultra-light at 171g and ultra-slim at 7.7mm, it does deserve some added protection.

It has a 6.4” AMOLED screen with a 20:9 aspect ratio, stretching edge-to-edge for an almost bezel-less display. The single punch hole for the front camera on the screen’s upper left corner is very discreetly positioned and relatively unobtrusive. Lined up at the back, on the upper left quadrant, are the rear cameras, along with the LED flash.

On the right edge is the power button, while on the left is the volume rocker as well as the tray for two nano-SIMS and a microSD memory card. On the top edge is the microphone, and on the bottom edge are the headphone jack, USB-C jack, and speakers.

HARDWARE - 4 / 5

The Oppo Reno5 4G is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G processor with 8GB RAM and 128GB ROM.

With 50W flash charge capability, its 4310mAh battery can be quickly charged to 100% in less than an hour. Five minutes of quick charging can give you 3 hours of video playback. It also has charging protection and a multi-cooling system, so the phone does not heat up even during gameplay while charging.

The quad-cam setup on the rear consists of a 65MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-widecamera, a 2MP macro camera, and a 2MP mono camera. In front is the superb 44MP selfie camera.

It runs on the latest ColorOS 11 based on Android 11.

USER EXPERIENCE - 4.5 / 5

Of all the great features packed into the Oppo Reno5, there are two areas I’d like to rave about.

First is the truly immersive HD viewing experience on the AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. I’m not a huge gamer, but I understand that this high refresh rate definitely makes gameplay smoother and snappier.

I have subscriptions to YouTube Premium, Netflix, and Prime Video, and I must confess to spending a lot of time binge-watching. The Oppo Reno5 has HD certifications from both Netflix and Amazon, so watching HD-quality videos is really gratifying with all the sharp contrasts and vivid colors. An added bonus is Dolby Atmos audio for excellent sound quality. Even with the volume set to max, there is no crackling or hissing, just clear, crisp, and well-balanced sound.

Moving on, I think the raison d’etre of the Oppo Reno5 is its outstanding camera setup. There is just so much packed into this smartphone, it will take a while for a user to fully master and appreciate the possibilities. Let me just give a quick run-down.

On top of the already great camera specs, Oppo packed some AI-powered imaging capabilities into the Reno5 to unleash the creative potential in everyone. For example, dual-view video lets you shoot simultaneously with your selfie and rear cameras, so you’re not left out of the action as it’s happening. With AI mixed portrait, you can shoot a video background and then superimpose yourself over it for artistic effect. There’s also a host of functions for shooting in low-light conditions for consistently clear and vibrant photos/ videos. And to make it easy for aspiring creators, there’s the Soloop app with built-in templates, filters, etc., to help you quickly edit and produce vlog-worthy content.

As a postscript, one small detail that I really love is the hidden fingerprint unlock feature, especially during these face-mask-wearing times when face unlock is not usable. All you have to do is press a previously configured finger on the designated “hidden” area on the screen to quickly unlock the Oppo Reno5—so cool!

VALUE - 5 / 5

Priced at PHP 18,999, the Oppo Reno5 is not an entry-level phone. But, considering its specifications and performance, I’d say that’s a very reasonable price point. With all the features and capabilities packed into this smartphone, users will most certainly be getting value for money.

SPECIFICATIONS

Operating System: ColorOS 11.1 based on Android 11

Display: 6.5’ AMOLED 20:9, FHD+ 2400x1080, single punch-hole display, 90Hz refresh rate

Biometrics: Hidden fingerprint unlock, facial recognition

Platform: Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G, Octa-core CPU up to 2.3GHz

Memory: 8GB RAM +128GB ROM, up to 256GB MicroSD

Battery: 4310mAh, 50W flash charge

Cameras: Rear - 64MP main, 8MP ultra-wide angle, 2MP macro, 2MP mono; Front - 44MP selfie

Video: Rear camera - up to 4K@30fps; Front camera - 1080P@30fps

Connectivity: WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.1, USB Type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack

Sensors: Geomagnetic, optical proximity, ambient light. accelerometer, gravity, gyroscope, pedometer

Dimensions: 159.1x73.3x7.7mm

Weight: 171g

WHAT'S HOT

- SoLoop!

- Great camera setup

- AMOLED screen

- Hidden fingerprint sensor

WHAT'S NOT

- Not the 5G version

BOTTOMLINE

The Oppo Reno5 definitely lives up to the hype!