It’s time to put the Reno8 T‘s 5G sibling, the flashier and more expensive OPPO Reno8 T 5G, through its paces.
OPPO formally announced the new model in the Philippines last week, with the Reno8 T 5G already available for preorder for P23,999 (around $436) on Shopee and in OPPO stores and authorized retailers in the Philippines until March 9, 2023. It will also be offered through local carriers Globe Telecom and Smart Communications without any upfront payment on certain data plans.
To justify the higher price point, there are several new features on offer here, including a curved OLED display that sits on top of a redesigned frame and a faster processor, which is also capable of connecting to 5G networks in the country — hence, the “5G” in the moniker.
Are there enough reasons to pick the OPPO Reno8 T 5G over the base 4G-only variant? Let’s take a look at the device’s design first.
The short OPPO Reno8 T 5G unboxing video we posted last February 24
Similar to the non-5G variant and other Reno8 models, this phone flaunts a flashy rear design that will make heads turn in public. However, unlike the standard version, the OPPO Reno8 T 5G features curves on the front and back, to give it a high-end look and feel — minus the fingerprint-magnet surface. The rear panel of the Sunrise Gold unit we used for this review is elegantly appointed, too, sporting a matte yet glittery finish that flashes a variety of colors depending on the reflection of light.
On top of that, you get a pair of large camera circles in an oblong camera module at the back for contrast, which helps create an admittedly attractive aesthetic. OPPO even added some subtle pattern work alongside the “108MP Portrait Camera” branding that stretches down below the camera lenses. All this makes the OPPO Reno8 T 5G appealing both visually and texturally.
One-handed use is also not a challenge, as the phone is exceptionally thin and light despite its screen size, measuring about 7.7mm in thickness and weighing only 171 grams. To put those numbers into context, the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max, which is nearly identical in display size, is 7.9mm at its thickest point and weighs about 240 grams.
Most basic actions such as tapping the screen and scrolling through feeds and lists can be done with one hand, though reaching for the top of the display to pull down the status bar or select an app’s menu icon can prove difficult. You can enable One-handed Mode in the Settings, and it does help a lot as long as you don’t mind reducing the size of the app window by half.
The curved OLED display comes in at 6.7 inches, offers FHD+ resolution and up to 950 nits of peak brightness, and boasts 120Hz refresh and 360Hz touch-sampling rates
The curved OLED display comes in at 6.7 inches and offers FHD+ resolution and up to 950 nits of peak brightness. It likewise boasts a 120Hz refresh rate and up to a 360Hz touch-sampling rate, making it decent for gaming. However, don’t expect to play light games like Alto’s Adventure and Dead Cells at 120 fps or anywhere near it due to OPPO capping gameplay performance at 60 fps.
The Reno8 T 5G gets Widevine L1 certification, too, so you can play HD videos in the Netflix app and on other streaming platforms. Unfortunately, there’s no HDR for the panel despite its high brightness output. It’s still good for media consumption and other tasks, though. And you can use it outdoors without needing to squint at the screen. This display also supports 2,160Hz high-frequency PWM dimming, which can bring a more comfortable viewing experience in low-light environments.
Another thing about the screen is that it comes with AGC DT-Star 2 glass protection from Japan’s Asahi Glass for added scratch and drop resistance. While we can’t say if it’s actually more durable than its Corning counterpart, it should be noted that the standard Reno8 T model is protected by Gorilla Glass 5.
Audio quality from the stereo speakers is above average as well, with the bottom-firing main speaker nicely complemented by a secondary speaker located along the top edge. The speakers produce crisp and loud sound, and they can get much louder — 200% of the volume level — once Ultra Volume Mode is activated by holding the “volume up” key. The device’s stereo setup also enables spatial audio for certain movies and shows on Netflix.
Audio quality from the stereo speakers is above average, with the bottom-firing main speaker nicely complemented…
…by a secondary speaker located along the top edge
The OPPO Reno8 T 5G has a familiar camera system, but it’s one of the most interesting ones you’ll find in the segment. It sports the same front and rear cameras as the regular variant.
The company has equipped the main back-facing camera with a 108-megapixel image sensor accompanied by a pair of 2-megapixel sensors for portrait and super-closeup shots. Depending on your interests, the latter is probably more compelling than the other cameras due to its microlens that offers 20x or 40x magnification and reveals small details you otherwise couldn’t see with the naked eye. It can bring a whole new dimension to your photos, if you’re interested in ultra-macro photography.
The selfie camera, on the other hand, has a 32-megapixel sensor. As expected, it’s capable of producing sharp selfies in good light. It has autofocus, too, and the lens is wide enough to fit two people in the frame.
If there is one complaint, it is that it takes a while for the smartphone to process photos, especially portraits taken with either the front or rear camera. An ultrawide shooter would have been a nice addition as well considering the handset’s price.
More sample shots. We shared a few initial sample pictures in We unbox the gorgeous OPPO Reno8 T 5G with 108MP portrait camera, 40x microlens cam
Inside, the OPPO Reno8 T 5G lists some familiar specs, including the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G platform coupled with LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 2.2 storage. The outdated storage technology is a bit of a letdown, especially given the phone’s local pricing. The unit we tested is equipped with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of expandable storage.
Our benchmark scores are pretty similar to what you’d find on the Snapdragon 695-based HONOR X9a 5G and Realme 10 Pro 5G. As expected from a chipset of this caliber, casual games on high settings run well, while graphically demanding games like Genshin Impact need to be toned down to be playable.
We have no complaints with regard to day-to-day usage, though. Basic apps typically load instantly; navigating around OPPO’s ColorOS 13 Android overlay feels smooth; and our unit does not heat up quickly during intense gaming sessions. Our results on the CPU Throttling Test app support this claim.
Some benchmarks
The battery life from the 4,800mAh cell is good enough for a full day of use without needing to be recharged. In PCMark’s battery-endurance test, the OPPO Reno8 T 5G pulled off 13 hours and 30 minutes with the brightness set to 50%. Getting the battery to 100% doesn’t take long, thanks to the brand’s 67-watt SUPERVOOC fast-charging standard, which tops up the battery in about 45 minutes.
So, while the OPPO Reno8 T 5G sits in the middle of the pack with regard to battery stamina, it ranks among the fastest-charging midrangers we’ve tested so far, handily beating both the HONOR X9a 5G and Realme 10 Pro 5G in charging speed.
Final thoughts
The new OPPO Reno8 T 5G is a tremendously attractive phone, no doubt about that. However, it also costs a few thousand pesos more than the competition and OPPO’s own Reno8 T, which is not far behind in terms of camera and everyday performance. Pricing aside, it does feel more like a complete offering compared to the other smartphones mentioned here.
It’s a joy to hold and use; the OLED screen has a nice curvature and is bright and pleasingly responsive; the cameras on the front and back are among the sharpest we’ve seen in the category; and the battery fills up quickly. If you don’t mind spending extra for a mid-tier handset, the OPPO Reno8 T 5G is one you might want to have on your shortlist.
The OPPO Reno8 T 5G is a joy to hold and use; the OLED screen has a nice curvature and is bright and pleasingly responsive; the cameras on the front and back are among the sharpest we’ve seen in the category; and the battery fills up really quickly
OPPO Reno8 T 5G specs
- 6.7-inch curved OLED display, FHD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rate
- 6nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor with 5G
- Adreno 619 GPU
- 8GB LPDDR4X RAM
- 256GB UFS 2.2 storage
- Triple 108-megapixel main, 2-megapixel depth, 2-megapixel microlens rear cameras
- 32-megapixel front camera
- Under-display fingerprint reader
- 4,800mAh battery with 67-watt fast wired charging
- ColorOS 13 based on Android 13
- Colors: Sunrise Gold, Midnight Black
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