Oppo Reno 8 analysis: mid-range not to stand out in particular, but to match in all aspects

Exactly one year ago, we tested on the Hipertextual Oppo Reno 6, a phone that left us with good impressions, also thanks to a very attractive design with straight edges and rather interesting technical specifications.

Today, a year later, after the Oppo Reno 7 passed without much pain and glory, we have in our hands the new Oppo Reno 8, which, like the previous models, is also accompanied by a version with the surname Pro and a Lite version (the latter hardly communicated) , they are all 5G. After hearing about the new terminals first hand at an event in Paris, we decided to try the Oppo Reno 8, which seems to be the most balanced of the lot.

A bit in context: the middle range is the area in which almost all manufacturers move in an acceptable way, but where there is a clear rival, Xiaomi. Both the models of Xiaomi’s own brand and POCO offer very good performance in this category, which makes it very difficult for other manufacturers to work. Oppo’s marketing strategy is different: on the one hand, it has entry-level terminals that are very well received by operators; second, search range premium where it shows the best it can do and finally the high intermediate range where the Oppo Reno 8 and Oppo Reno 8 Pro meet and take on some of the aspects we’ve already seen in the Find X5.

If we put the Oppo Reno 8 head to head with its competitors, with phones between 400 and 600 euros, the main competitor will be Xiaomi with its Xiaomi 12X. However, we must not ignore other very interesting options, such as the new Google Pixel 6a, whose main trump card is the camera, or Nothing Phone, the phone is also quite balanced and with a design that draws a lot of attention.

One of the most beautiful designs we’ve seen

The Oppo Reno 8 has a very nice design and has some similarities with the Oppo Reno 6 (if something works, why change). For example: it is built from quality materials (aluminum in the frame and glass on the back), it has completely flat sides, and the screen takes up the entire front – except for a small “chin” at the bottom.

Result a phone that feels good in the hand. And if we add to this a successful palette of tones, with a neutral color (black), as well as a brighter version that changes color when turned (Shimmer Gold), then we will win the test of love at first sight.

The camera module is also quite remarkable, with two large lenses taking up a significant amount of space on the back. East blends in with the rest of the back of the phone thanks to the same glass plate that gradually rises, creating a kind of plateau. All this, with no change in material or glitches to the touch, a solution that we have also seen in other phones of the brand, such as the Find X3.

It can be said that Oppo has done a good job of achieving a great first impression when picking up the terminal. In addition, it is noticeably stable despite its lightness and thinness. We are talking about only 7.67mm thick and weighing less than 180 grams. The model we tested, which is gold in color, slightly changing color, is also able to repel fingerprints very well, which is always a positive thing.

An acceptable screen that the Pro model doesn’t envy

It would be logical to think that there were much more differences between the two models in terms of screen. However, it is not. They are, yes, but it is possible that for many it is not worth investing another 250 euros for it. The Oppo Reno 8 panel itself offers a good enough experience.

First, the size is smaller: 6.4 inches compared to 6.7 on the Pro model, however, we also have an AMOLED screen with FHD + resolution and a maximum brightness of 800 nits. The refresh rate is, yes, a little lower – 90 Hz compared to 120 for the Pro model.

The Pro model also makes better use of the front end. It’s not a significant difference, but it’s there. In particular, the screen of the Oppo Reno 8 takes up 90.8% of the front panel, while the Pro increases this figure to 93.4%. This is especially noticeable on the lower part of the chin – in Pro it is thinner.

under the screen fingerprint reader is also assembled. It works very well, being fast and accurate in almost all situations. The only downside is its location. It’s at the bottom of the screen, and it’s a little awkward in some cases. Also we have face unlockwhich works pretty well, although since it’s a 2D system it’s not as secure as other biometric methods.

Processor: not the best, but no problem

The processor is another aspect where the performance difference between the regular model and the Pro is most noticeable. The tested model includes the Mediatek Dimensity 1300, a chipset that we’re likely to see integrated into many future mid-range models. As of now, it is already integrated into some OnePlus phones and some Vivo phones.

Despite a clear setback compared to the Pro, the truth is that choosing this SoC is not unwise. Much less if we take into account the work that Mediatek has done in recent years with ever more powerful and efficient processors. Obviously, this Mediatek Dimensity 1300 cannot be expected to perform at the top level of the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, but yes, it is capable of delivering a fantastic experience for most people and in a wide variety of situations.

For reference: this MediaTek chip is in the same performance window as the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870, which we find exactly in phones like Xiaomi 12X, with which this Oppo Reno 8 competes. So we can say that the brand has assembled the SoC according to the range this phone belongs to.

Camera: Good main sensor, but slightly disappointing macro and ultra-wide angle

As we said at the beginning, the competition in this price range is fierce and the difference is noticeable in certain aspects. One of them is the camera. There are a few models in the mid range where the photographic aspect is really good. In the case of the Oppo Reno 8, while not being bad, it lacks a little more credibility in this area.

The main camera has the same sensor as the Xiaomi 12X: Sony IMX766 with 50 megapixels. This is an interesting sensor with good performance and excellent results. It also produces good images in low light, thanks in part to the large pixel size.

By the way, this model it does not have the Marisilicon X chip found in the Pro model, so there are some subtle differences despite using the same components. However, this is far from being decisive.

Where there is room for improvement is in the rest of the cameras. The module is complemented by an ultra-wide-angle (with an 8-megapixel IMX355 sensor and f / 2.2 aperture) and a macro camera (with a 2-megapixel sensor and f / 2.4 aperture). In this sense, its main competitor, Xiaomi 12X, performs a little better.

80W fast charging and no wireless charging

During the past Mobile World Congress, Oppo unveiled its new fast charging systems that we will see in the coming months, with speeds of 150W and 240W. However, we won’t see them in these Reno models, where both the regular model and the Pro include 80W SUPERVOOC fast charging system.. Thus, we can charge the battery by 50% in eleven minutes. The battery, by the way, is 4500 mAh. Enough to comfortably spend the day without leaving the outlet. And, if necessary, we will always have such a fast system to quickly get out of the way.

Finally, it should be noted that neither the Pro model nor the regular model has wireless chargingsomething that is not always typical for these ranges, but we can see in other terminals with a similar price, such as Nothing Phone (1).

conclusion

When we were at the presentation of the new Reno 8 family, we were offered to test the Pro model, however, after learning about both models, we decided to stick with the regular model. Cause? This phone is much easier to recommend than the Pro model, firstly because of its price. The Pro model has a starting price of 799 euros, while the regular model is 549 euros. Both models are up 50 euros compared to last year’s models at the moment. Not much for inflation, but to make up for it, both phones can be bought with headphones. true wireless Gift.

All in all, the Oppo Reno 8 is a good phone with a powerful processor, a fairly powerful camera, and ColorOS 12 that makes for a smooth experience. If we take it to compete with the rest of the manufacturers like Xiaomi 12X, the balance is tilted in favor of one or the other due to small differences. In fact, the choice may fall on something as superficial as design. And thankfully, the Oppo Reno 8 has a lot to say.