OPPO Reno 8 review: medium range in OPPO sauce

In the blue box of OPPO Reno 8 we find a power supply from a good 80W, a USB/USB-C cable and surprisingly a USB-C to USB-A adapter. Unfortunately no cover included in the package.

OPPO Reno 8 very faithfully recalls the design of the Pro variant and this is absolutely an advantage, given that we have defined this model as the most beautiful phone of the year. However, unlike its older brother, this OPPO Reno 8 is made entirely of plastic and the difference is noticeable to the touch. However, this allows it to remain very light, with only 179 grams of weight. The smartphone is then anyway IP54 and therefore resistant to splashes. In the hand it is still comfortable to use and the attention to detail with regard to the design is pleased.

OPPO Reno 8 relies on the processor Dimension 1300 octa core 3Ghz at 6 nanometers. It is a very recent CPU and with Mali G77 MC9 graphics processor.

This SoC guarantees good performance, even under load, all coupled to 8 GB of RAM. The internal memory is available in a single 256 GB memory cut in UFS 3.1 technology, not expandable via microSD. Connectivity is 5G, we have Wi-Fi 6, the Bluetooth even 5.3 and the NFC chip. There is no video output via USB-C, but there is obviously the audio one, since there is no 3.5mm audio jack for headphones. The removable tray offers support for two nanoSIMs and there is a good optical fingerprint reader in the display.

OPPO Reno 8 it does not evolve particularly as regards the number and type of cameras it is equipped with. Indeed we have one 50 megapixels ƒ/1.8, an 8 megapixel ƒ/2.2 wide angle and a 2 megapixel ƒ/2.4 for macro. It’s a pretty compartment standard for current mid-range smartphones and to this is added a 32 megapixel ƒ/2.4 inside a hole in the display.

The photographic quality of this smartphone is still good, despite the fact that the technical data sheet does not present any particular innovations. In good light the photos are sharp and the focus is fast and precise. There are circumstances where HDR feels a little more ‘present’ than other higher-end smartphones, but nothing that really hurts the end result. The balance of the white point is also discreet, which however is less precise when shooting in dim light. Here too we have never had the opportunity to detect disappointing shots and so not even in the dark. Reno 8 thus proves to be a good companion for everyday photos. The wide-angle camera is decent in good light, even if obviously the limited resolution reduces its final definition. The front camera is good.

Videos can be recorded in 4K at 30fps and in Full HD from the wide-angle camera. The quality is sufficient, but it didn’t surprise us.

Video recording would definitely benefit from a software update, which could improve its stability while maintaining a high resolution.

OPPO Reno 8 has a flat display available from 6.4 inches with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels (FullHD+) in AMOLED technology. It is protected by glass Gorilla glass 5 and also guarantees a refresh rate increased to 90 Hz. It is an excellent panel with a peak brightness of 800 nits. The screen is brilliant and perfectly visible even outdoors. Of course, the refresh rate (albeit increased) has remained the same as two years ago, but considering the current price increases, we feel we can’t complain.

OPPO Reno 8 has available Android 12 customized with ColorOS 12. It is a pity that at the end of 2022 the smartphone did not receive the update to Android 13. The security patches are however quite recent and were updated in October 2022. The software offers the most classic functions of ColorOS, such as extensive customization (as well as on the screen of always-on), the ability to clone social and messaging apps, the ability to split the screen and use two apps or open them in a floating window.

Then there is also the sidebar for shortcuts, a children’s area and the possibility of improving the reproduction of colors in videos via software. OPPO’s interface is once again one of the smoothest, most complete and easiest to use in the Android landscape.

OPPO Reno 8 has a battery available 4,500mAh. It’s not huge, but it’s bigger than its spiritual predecessor (Reno 8 Pro) and thanks also to the processor it guarantees more than good autonomy, easily overcoming the entire working day with medium-intense use. The 80W recharge is excellent, one of the fastest on the market, absolutely and not just in the mid-range.

OPPO Reno 8 it is marketed at €599, a somewhat high price. At the time of writing it is discounted at €499 which is a decidedly more reasonable figure and is probably the fairest price for this smartphone, at least as an introductory price.

Keep checking the box below for any further discounts in the coming months.