Oppo Reno 8 Review: Full Specifications, Price, Camera, Battery and Review

The Oppo Reno 8 (which is also being sold in most markets including India as Reno 8 5G) is the standard edition in Oppo’s camera-centric Reno 8 family. It’s located beneath the more potent Reno 8 Pro, but features the same primary camera configuration, and the same MediaTek Dimensity 1300 chipset, a 90Hz AMOLED screen and 80W quick charging. Oppo placed the phone in the middle of the price range, for those looking for flagship-level photography at mid-range prices.

Oppo Company Overview

Oppo is a Chinese consumer electronics and smartphone maker, whose headquarters is located in the city of Shenzhen in the province of Guangdong, China, and was founded in 2004 by Chen Mingyong (Tony Chen). BBK Electronics is China’s conglomerate holding the brands Oneplus, Vivo and Realme, meaning that these brands share the same supply chains and at times, are using similar hardware.

The Reno series has been traditionally positioned between Oppo’s budget A-series and its high-end Find X series, and is known to feature phones that are extremely camera-focused and design-conscious, running its own Android-based interface called ColorOS.

Release Date and Availability

Oppo introduced the Reno 8 series in China on 23 May 2022 and sales in China have started on 1 June 2022. The series has then gone global, beginning with India with the Reno 8 and Reno 8 Pro coming to the market on 18 July 2022. Later in 2022, Oppo introduced Oppo Pad Air tablet and versions of Reno 8 devices to the UK and Europe.

It should be noted that the “Reno 8” name was applied to several different hardware variants depending on the region, for example a Reno 8 4G variant was released in some markets, with a Snapdragon 680 chipset, so before buyers purchase they should always check the model number.

Oppo Reno 8 Price in India and Global Market

The Oppo Reno 8 5G was launched in India at a price of approximately ₹29,999 in the 8GB RAM/128GB storage variant, competing with other phones in the market such as OnePlus Nord 2T. As newer Reno models came in, the base variant was later re-revised to around ₹25,000–26,999.

The Reno 8, too, was sold globally through both Chinese and UK and European retail channels, with pricing and even hardware varying from market to market, such as the glass back (Corning Gorilla Glass 5) in China and the availability of 12GB of RAM on some markets which was not available on others.

Unlike many phones that are now several years old, the current market price is mostly based on what is available in the used and refurbished market and the quality of the phone and battery is more important than the original launch price.

Design and Build Quality

Oppo Reno 8’s dimensions and weight are around 160.6 x 73.4 x 7.7mm and 179g respectively, making it one of the slimmest and lightest phones in its segment. The front is covered with Corning Gorilla Glass 5, back and the frame are not glass or metal, which helped Oppo to make the phone lighter and cheaper than the Pro model.

A surprising missing feature is the lack of IP68 rating in the phone for protection against water and dust. The fingerprint sensor is designed into the display using the optical under-display method, while the phone doesn’t have a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Processor and Performance Review

The Reno 8 will run on the MediaTek Dimensity 1300 6nm octa-core processor with a Cortex-A78 core running at 3.0GHz, three additional Cortex-A78 core at 2.6GHz and four efficiency cores at 2.0GHz, and a Mali-G77 MC9 GPU. It was available with 8GB or 12GB of RAM, depending on its geographical market, and 128GB or 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage.

This chipset firmly positions Reno 8 in the upper mid-range performance bucket, where it can handle most mobile games and daily multitasking with ease, but at the same time, it’s not in true flagship territory. It’s one of the better chipsets available in its price range at launch, though those interested in a gaming platform had quicker alternatives available.

Oppo Reno 8 Camera Performance Review

The Reno 8’s standout feature compared to other cameras was its camera hardware. Backing it up is a 50-megapixel main camera with Sony’s IMX766 sensor with a large 1/1.56-inch sensor size and 1.0-micron pixel size, a 2-megapixel macro lens with a 108-degree field of view and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera, also with a 108-degree field of view. Oppo’s upfront camera features a 32 megapixel Sony sensor with a filter, which is likely used to enhance selfie quality, and more specifically, in low-light conditions.

Video up to 4K at 30fps and 1080p at 30fps (standard recording mode), slow motion recording up to 1080p at 120fps and 720p at 240fps. The reviewers noted that the spec sheet is relatively modest, when compared to some of its competitors, but when it comes to real-world photos, particularly from the primary camera sensor, it was impressive for the price. Most people mentioned the absence of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on the rear camera.

Battery Life and Charging

Oppo Reno 8 comes with a 4,500mAh battery and Oppo’s 80W SuperVOOC fast charging. In tests by GSMArena, the phone could charge from 1 to 50 percent in 11 minutes, and to 100 percent in 28 minutes via the included charger. The same charger is only capable of 66W versus 80W in 110V power grid markets.

Wireless charging is not supported for the phone and charging will be done via the USB Type-C port.

Software and UI Details

Oppo Reno 8 has been powered by the Android 12 OS and topped with the Oppo ColorOS 12.1 UI skin. ColorOS brings Oppo’s own customizations and app suite and visual design to Oppo stock Android. Afterwards, Oppo officially announced the device for future ColorOS update releases, as part of its software launch plan for the Reno series.

With any phone a few years old, buyers should ensure the phone has the right version of Android and security patch level, as extended software support periods are usually shorter for phones in the midfield than those in the high end.

Connectivity and Sensors

The Reno 8 comes with 5G support and dual SIM options and features NFC for contactless payments. Wirelessly, it includes WIFI 6 (802.11ax) in addition to the older Wi-Fi protocols, and charging/data transfer will be through the USB Type C port. The optical fingerprint sensor is built under the display and combined with normal motion and environmental sensors, has become the primary unlock method.

AI Features

Oppo integrated its AI and computational imaging capabilities into the camera’s app, applying the algorithms to deliver a range of new AI-driven features like AI portrait modes, scene recognition, etc. to boost the quality of standard photos. Oppo’s very own imaging processor, called the MariSilicon X, to enhance the night mode and video processing was reserved for the higher end Reno 8 Pro as well as not included in the standard Reno 8, forcing buyers who want this extra hardware to buy the Pro model.

Audio and Multimedia Experience

Reno 8 features a 6.43-inch AMOLED screen with Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2400 pixel), pixel density is around 411ppi and aspect ratio is 20:9. The panel can refresh up to 90Hz and as per GSMArena’s measurement typically reaches ~430 nits in use, ~600 nits in high brightness mode and ~800 nits at maximum brightness, plus, the panel can handle HDR10+ content.

The Reno 8’s audio is powered by one bottom-firing speaker, instead of a stereo speaker configuration, reviewers noted as a drawback for media playback compared to some competitors. As mentioned above, the 3.5mm headphone port is not equipped, which means you’ll need a USB-C adapter or accessory for wired audio.

Oppo Reno 8 Pros & Cons

Conclusion

For the Oppo Reno 8, the idea was to simply take all the camera and charging brilliance that the Reno series is known for, and make it available at a more budget-friendly price, while skipping the more premium features. When it was launched in 2022, it was a very capable option in its class with a 50MP Sony IMX766 sensor in its main camera, 90Hz AMOLED display and 80W SuperVOOC charging, and reviewers commented favorably about its performance for the price and camera capabilities.

On the downside, it didn’t get the features some buyers expect at this price tag, such as stereo speakers, no OIS on the main camera, and no IP68 rating. If a Reno 8 is in your frame of mind, right now — probably via the used or refurbished channel — you should think about those trade-offs in terms of how the unit is doing, how healthy its battery is, and how much software support it has.

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