At a look
Skilled’s Ranking
Professionals
- Gorgeous colour-changing end
- Two-day battery life
- Speedy charging
- Succesful efficiency
Cons
- Blended digital camera set-up
- Solely two years of assured software program updates
- No variable refresh price
Our Verdict
With a aggressive worth, a surprising design, sturdy efficiency and an ideal primary digital camera, the Oppo Reno 8 is a real challenger within the mid-range area.
Worth When Reviewed
Not accessible within the US
Oppo has three telephones in its Reno 8 line: the premium mid-range Reno 8 Professional, the extra reasonably priced Reno 8 Lite, after which the Goldilocks mannequin, the Reno 8.
While this telephone doesn’t have the identical flagship digital camera tech that the Reno 8 Professional boasts, it nonetheless has a smooth construct, fast-charging expertise and a good processor for the worth. However is the Reno 8 actually the perfect of the bunch?
Design & construct
- Gorgeous gold end with Oppo Glow
- IP54 score
- No case included
The Oppo Reno 8 is available in two color choices: Shimmer Black and Shimmer Gold. I examined the latter possibility, which can also be fitted with Oppo’s Glow end. Which means below completely different lighting situations and angles, the physique displays a number of colors, together with reds, blues and greens.
Total, it’s a beautiful, high-end look – this creator even acquired compliments on it. Because the again is plastic, it feels extra sturdy than glass telephones, and it doesn’t have the Reno 8 Professional’s nasty behavior of throwing itself off surfaces. The digital camera module is kind of an announcement, protruding out on the left-hand facet with giant, round lenses.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
The telephone is 7.67mm thick, and weighs 179g, making it slim by trendy requirements. It comes with an IP54 score, which implies that it’s protected in opposition to restricted mud and light-weight water spray – however I’d advise in opposition to utilizing it in true moist climate. No MicroSD card slot is included.
The Reno 8 comes with a USB-C port for charging, which additionally doubles as a port for headphones – you’ll discover no headphone jack on this mannequin. Just like the Reno 8 Professional, this telephone doesn’t embrace a case within the field. While Oppo claims that is to assist cut back waste, it’s an annoyance as circumstances aren’t as available as these which are designed for flagship fashions.
Display screen & audio system
- 6.43in FHD AMOLED show
- As much as 90Hz refresh price
- Common stereo audio system
The Reno 8 is fitted with a 6.43in FHD AMOLED show with Gorilla Glass 5. The display screen is energetic and vibrant, with vibrant colors that come out.
The telephone comes with as much as a 90Hz refresh price, which can be a disappointment should you’re a giant cell gamer hoping for a quicker 120Hz show. There’s additionally no dynamic refresh price – you’ll be able to solely select between the decrease 60Hz possibility, and the upper 90Hz model. Nonetheless, the display screen is completely enough for day-to-day duties similar to scrolling by way of social media and typing up notes, so most individuals actually received’t thoughts.
The under-display fingerprint sensor on the gadget additionally works constantly – an enchancment from what I discovered on older telephones from Oppo.
The Oppo Reno 8 comes with twin stereo audio system, which produce loud audio with respectable bass. Nonetheless, the standard doesn’t fairly measure as much as the perfect telephones, with extra audio processing software program.
Specs & efficiency
- 8GB RAM and 256GB storage
- MediaTek Dimensity 1300
- Stable efficiency general
You possibly can solely get the Oppo Reno 8 in a single configuration: 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. Underneath the hood there’s a MediaTek Dimensity 1300 chipset, the identical processor that’s discovered within the mid-range heavyweight, the OnePlus Nord 2T.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
This creates fast and responsive efficiency throughout use, even when multitasking between quite a few apps. I used to be in a position to browse social media, stream Twitch, take images and name my household with ease. The telephone is even able to some gentle gaming. Nonetheless, should you play something strenuous, it will throttle the processor and warmth up the telephone a bit.
It’s not fairly as highly effective because the Reno 8 Professional, which manages to face in opposition to some flagships – however it could possibly definitely maintain its personal in opposition to equally priced mid-range fashions from OnePlus and Google:
Battery life & charging
- Large previous battery
- Speedy 80W charging
While the Oppo Reno 8 solely has a 4500mAh battery, it goes an actual good distance. I used to be in a position to stream movies, browse the web, doom scroll on Twitter and extra for nearly two days on common – even utilizing the upper refresh price.
Our PCMark battery take a look at additionally displays this, with the telephone attaining a powerful rating of 14 hours and 18 minutes.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Within the field, Oppo consists of an 80W SuperVooC quick charger, together with a appropriate USB-C cable. No wi-fi charging or reverse wi-fi charging is included on the Oppo Reno 8.
The fast-charging tech is spectacular, with the telephone attending to 99% from empty on a 30-minute cost. At one level, the telephone was near 1%, and a five-minute juice earlier than I went out the door made it final just a few extra hours.
It’s uncommon to discover a telephone that has such a powerful battery and charging this quick – Oppo actually does excel on this space, particularly for the worth.
Cameras & video
- Triple rear digital camera
- Good primary lens, forgettable others
- Respectable 32Mp selfie digital camera
The Oppo Reno has a triple digital camera set-up, made up of a primary 50Mp lens with a Sony IMX766 sensor, in addition to a 5Mp wide-angle lens and a 2Mp macro lens. The primary digital camera is similar {hardware} seen on the extra premium Reno 8 Professional. Nonetheless, this telephone misses out on Oppo’s devoted Marisilicon X NPU.
Total, this digital camera produces respectable images, performing finest below vibrant daylight situations, with indoor photographs and dimmer environments dropping a little bit of readability. It captures issues in movement similar to transferring water and fireworks fairly nicely too – even with out the inclusion of OIS.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Like another mid-range snappers, the HDR mode overblows some colors – notably the greens on grass, which get an unnatural tinge. It’s a disgrace, as different parts are enhanced nicely with this on.
The alternative will be mentioned for the 5Mp wide-angle snapper, which ought to solely actually be used for big panorama photographs. The sky appeared washed out, while constructing particulars appear fuzzy and muddy. The 2Mp macro lens can also be a trouble to get a half-decent shot with.
When zooming, something as much as 5x is helpful for closeups, however keep away from something increased than that. At 20x, the digital camera shakes a lot that it’s nearly unusable – that is the place OIS actually would have helped. As well as, colors don’t have the identical punch as they do when utilizing the primary digital camera with out the zoom, and lighting glare is usually a difficulty as nicely.
Evening mode isn’t as crisp as it’s on Oppo telephones with the Marisilicon X chip, with particulars typically blurring into each other, particularly for topics which are far-off. Nonetheless, it’s ample sufficient to carry lighter colors, and the night time sky doesn’t have that jarring blue tinge that I’ve seen from the likes of Realme.
On the entrance, you get a 32Mp, f/2.4 selfie digital camera with Sony’s IMX709 sensor. While the photographs seem comparatively good high quality, the bokeh impact struggles to establish textures similar to high-quality items of hair, even on the bottom energy (which might solely be adjusted earlier than you are taking the picture). Shades are way more vivid and energetic on photographs taken in brighter situations.
Video recording is on the market from 4K as much as 30fps, and 1080p as much as 60fps. The ultra-steady mode (accessible at 1080p) minimises handshake, however I discovered the general impact too sturdy and unnatural.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Software program & updates
- Ships with Android 12
- Solely two years of OS updates assured
The Reno 8 comes with ColorOS 12.1, which is Oppo’s model of Android 12. Oppo’s skins of Android are at all times user-friendly and nicely laid out. You possibly can multitask between apps utilizing both cut up display screen or floating home windows – although the gestures for these will be finnicky.
There may be some annoying bloatware, with video games similar to Piggy Go and Tile Grasp 3D. Nonetheless, Oppo isn’t fairly as responsible because the likes of Huawei and Xiaomi for this form of factor.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
The telephone has additionally been confirmed to get an replace to ColorOS 13, however this received’t come till both the tip of 2022, or within the first few months of 2023.
Oppo gives two years of assured OS updates and three years of safety updates. This isn’t as spectacular as rivals similar to Samsung, whose units have 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of safety updates. It could be good to see Oppo enhance the period of those updates in future fashions, particularly with the price of residing ever creeping up.
Worth & availability
Costs for the Oppo Reno 8 begins from £419/€599. Within the UK you should purchase it from the likes of Oppo, Amazon, Currys, and Carphone Warehouse SIM-free, and on contract from Vodafone and EE.
Oppo telephones aren’t accessible formally within the US. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to nonetheless get it imported from websites similar to AliExpress.
While the Reno 8 Professional outshines this telephone with its Marisilicon X NPU, flagship killer chip, and higher waterproofing, the Reno 8 is a extra aggressive possibility within the mid-range area, slicing again in all the proper areas to maintain the worth down.
For the same worth you possibly can take into account both the OnePlus Nord 2T, or the Google Pixel 6a. Alternatively, you’ll be able to learn up on our picks of the perfect mid-range telephones for extra choices.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Verdict
Just like the Reno 8 Professional, the Reno 8 holds its personal as strong mid-range telephone. It has a surprising design, succesful efficiency, a user-friendly OS, speedy charging and a particularly sturdy battery life. The primary digital camera can also be largely spectacular – although the opposite lenses aren’t something to shout about.
While there are some notable downgrades from the Professional variant of this telephone – notably the processor, the refresh price, the digital camera software program and the IP score, the £419 price ticket is significantly better located within the mid-range market. It’s a true gem, and a worthy rival to different telephones from OnePlus and Google.
Specs
- Android 12 with ColorOS 12.1
- 6.4in 90Hz Full HD (2412×1080) AMOLED show
- In-display fingerprint sensor
- MediaTek Dimensity 1300
- 8GB RAM
- 256GB storage
- 50Mp primary digital camera, f/1.8
- 5Mp ultrawide digital camera, f/2.2
- 3Mp macro digital camera
- 32Mp hole-punch entrance digital camera, f/2.4
- USB-C
- WiFi 6
- Bluetooth 5.3
- NFC
- 4500mAh battery
- Wired charging as much as 80W
- 179g
- 160 x 73.4 x 7.67mm