Hands-on review: The OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G

More often than not, smartphone manufacturers launch ‘new’ devices to suit the annual release cycle, with little to show in the way of innovation For OPPO, the story might be different with the brand’s recently-launched Reno5 Series

Having reviewed the OPPO Reno4 Pro 5G last year and getting our hands on its successor the Reno5 Pro 5G, we can confirm that OPPO’s upgrades are more than skin deep.

Design
Talking of skin, the Reno series exterior design is now becoming iconic in the marketplace. The upgraded Reno Glow 2.0 design process in the Reno5 Pro 5G features microscopic design techniques that create a shimmering, diamond-like look that is shinier and more translucent than the first generation. The pyramid crystal structure is hydrophobic, and water droplets simply bounce off rather than stick, repelling annoying fingerprints and grease. Colour-wise, the new Reno5 Pro 5G is offered in new unique colours – Starlight Black and Galactic Silver.

The Reno5 Pro 5G is sleek, at just 7.99mm in width and 184 gm in weight. The phone’s 6.5-inch Super AMOLED screen curves gently along the edges and has a refresh rate of 90Hz which yields sharp distortion-free images.

Functionality
The Reno5 Pro 5G is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset, which, combined with the 12GB RAM + 256GB ROM configuration and multi-cooling system, adds serious punch to an already powerful platform.

If you buy the Reno5 Pro 5G and keep the default settings, you will be missing out on some cool customisation options with OPPO’s ColorOS 11.1 operating system.

Start with creating a new design or add personal touches to the text style and layout in the Always – On Display. Users can also adjust the contrast ratio with the three options available, Enhanced, Medium, and Gentle. The contrast levels can also be applied to third-party apps.
FlexDrop lets users multitask on Reno5 Pro 5G through resized windows. Apps can be kept in full-screen mode, or as a small floating window (interactive mode), or even a smaller mini-window (view-only mode).

Camera
OPPO worked with Sony to co-create the IMX766 sensor for the main camera in the Reno5 Pro 5G.
Making its smartphone debut through the OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G, the IMX766 is one of the largest sensors in a smartphone whose large surface area allows for more light to hit the glass. This results in better clarity and brightness, even in low-lit, night-time scenes.

The camera architecture includes the 50MP main camera, a 16MP ultra wide-angle camera, a 13MP telephoto camera (5X hybrid zoom) and a new 2MP macro camera. A new Color Temperature Sensor reduces shooting and imaging time with a more accurate white balance.

An amateur you may be, but you don’t have to accept mediocre photos and videos. And thanks to the upgraded AI capabilities in the Reno5 Pro 5G, you don’t have to.

The AI platform in the Reno5 Pro 5G recognises objects such as faces, people, pets, flowers and other common video subjects and automatically locks the focus. The software can even remember the subjects to track as they move around the frame.

AI Highlight Video on the other hand uses algorithms to automatically adjust settings for various scenarios. In dim light, it uses the Ultra Night Video algorithm to optimise video quality, ensuring that even night-time shots look bright, sharp, and natural.

Battery
The Reno5 Pro 5G comes with a large 4500mAh battery. This is coupled with the 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 Flash Charge which can charge the phone’s large battery to 100 per cent in just 35 minutes.

OPPO has turned power saving into an art form, enabling the Reno5 Pro 5G to last longer not only in everyday use but in extreme environments too. Charging the Reno5 Pro 5G for five minutes allows for four-hour video playback.

Now available across UAE retailers, the Reno5 Pro 5G is priced at Dhs2,799. For that, you get a large battery backed by 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 fast charging technology, a powerful 5G chipset, a class-leading camera architecture, enhanced gaming capabilities and OPPO’s latest design innovation.

Rounding up the Reno5 series of 5G devices are the Reno5 5G, now available in the UAE for Dhs1,999, as well as the Gen-Z, focused Reno5 Z 5G priced at Dhs1,499.