A few weeks ago, the OPPO Reno 8 Pro appeared for review at Android Headlines. The OPPO Reno 5 Pro 5G debuted in February of last year and quickly became one of my favorite smartphones of 2021.
The current model differs significantly in appearance from the older model. Let’s start with the unboxing and then examine the updates that the most recent Reno 8 Pro contains.
THE OPPO RENO 8 PRO IS UNBOXED
The unpacking procedure has remained essentially unchanged since last year. There is still a transparent TPU case, papers, and a SIM tool in the box, and both the insert and box are identical. However, there is a bulky USB-A to USB-C connection and a more potent 80W SUPERVOOC charging brick (Euro edition).
Advertisement The Flagship Find X5 Pro is heavily referenced in the hardware design (
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At first appearance, you might assume that this smartphone’s rear was significantly influenced by the excellent Find X5 Pro. On closer inspection, you’ll see that there are some changes, including various corner radii and flat rails as well as flat front and back. Overall, the variations certainly give this item a distinctive personality.
The ultra-smooth and shiny back glass surface is another feature that is incredibly polarizing and distinctive. In essence, you may use the phone’s back as a mirror. It will be pointless to try to keep it clean. If you don’t like fingerprints on your gadgets, acquire a better cover or apply a vinyl skin to the back. Even the case that comes in the package is a fingerprint magnet.
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One of the best features of this smartphone is its front flat AMOLED display, which has a central punch hole and thin bezels. While the in-display fingerprint scanner is quick and precise, it might be a half-inch higher for simpler access. The device’s haptics are superb and offer satisfying feedback without causing excessive vibration.
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3 The volume controls are located on the left-hand rail, and the power button with the recognizable green line is located on the opposite side. The speaker grille, USB-C port, microphone, and dual-SIM tray holder are all located on the bottom rail. We have a second microphone and an IR blaster on the top rail.
Advertisement THE BACK’S CAMERA MODULE DESIGN IS POLARIZING
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The ultra-massive integrated camera module on the back, however, is the most prominent and divisive feature. This is most likely even more absurd than the latest ZTE Axon 40 Ultra model. However, OPPO chose to utilize a small amount of branding on the back glass, which I appreciate, to keep things in check. In conclusion, some people will find the device attractive, while others won’t even give it a passing glance.
THE OPPO 8 RENO PRO’S BEST FEATURE IS ITS DISPLAY
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Advertisement Beautiful flat 6.7-inch 120Hz AMOLED display. Specifications alone don’t do the OPPO Reno 8 Pro’s colorful screen justice because side-by-side comparisons with other handsets sporting similarly high ppi displays appear somewhat lifeless.
The fact that this display clearly appears brighter than the majority of other devices in this price range is another fantastic feature of it. On paper, the spec sheet claims 950 nits of peak brightness, and in practice, using it on a bright, hot, sunny day here in Southern California presents no problems at all.
Along with a color temperature change in the display settings, 10-bit color capability is built-in. On this display, I didn’t need to mess around much to achieve excellent color accuracy. In addition to these features, the OPPO performs a few software-related tasks in the background during video playback to enhance color and clarity; these tasks are compatible with 3rd party apps like YouTube and Instagram.
Advertisement A CUSTOM DIMENSITY 8100 MAX CPU IS USED BY THE OPPO RENO 8 PRO
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The MediaTek Dimensity 8100-MAX chipset, which is also found in the OnePlus 10R, powers the OPPO Reno8 Pro. The Dimensity 8100-MAX and the Dimensity 8100 that we have previously seen are nearly identical. This octa-core processor, which was created using a 5nm wafer production technique, has an LPDDR5 memory controller, a MediaTek Imagiq 780 ISP, 4x Cortex-A78 at 2.85 GHz, 4x Cortex-A55 at 2.0 GHz, a Mali-G610 MC6 GPU, a MediaTek APU 580 AI processing unit, and a MediaTek Imagiq 780 ISP.
The Dimensity 8100 is comparable to the Snapdragon 888 series from last year in terms of raw power. The MAX designation indicates that the base 8100 has had certain specific enhancements added for improved gameplay, greater AI performance, and assistance with low-light films. Although I believe the unique MariSilicon X chip inside of this gadget is mostly responsible for the improvements in the video quality.
Advertisement Leaving the technical jargon aside, let’s look at what the Geekbench 5 scores show. Both the single-core performance and the multi-core score are respectable at 906 and 3,466, respectively. The single-core score, in my opinion, is on level with the Snapdragon 870, and the multi-core score, with the Snapdragon 888 series. The phone feels quick and responsive in daily use, and it performs flawlessly while playing games. You are essentially getting the flagship performance from last year at a mid-range pricing, which is not bad at all.
COLOROS 12.1 IS PERFECT AND COMPLETE WITH UTILITIES
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1 On top of Android 12.1, my review unit of the OPPO Reno 8 Pro is running ColorOS 12.1. I think there isn’t much of a difference between the Realme UI and ColorOS. First of all, I appreciate how simple and clutter-free the UI is right out of the box.
There are no duplicate apps for this global version. For phone, messaging, browser, contacts, and even keeping notes, Google offers stock apps. Google Discover may be accessed by swiping left on the home screen. There are a few preinstalled apps, but you can essentially delete each and every one of them, which is fantastic.
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9 The ColorOS launcher is straightforward, resembling vanilla Android, and simple to use. The clear, simple notification and quick settings menu also appeals to me. You can personalize the phone according to your preferences by using the many handy choices in the settings menu like Always On Display and Edge illumination for notifications. In addition to these, you may change the app icons, accent colors, and fast settings like the shape, typeface, and even the motion of the fingerprint reader.
At least for my use scenario, the Smart Sidebar and Flexible Windows settings area is extremely helpful. These are available under the Special features menu. Both of these are beneficial for multitasking and yet quite useful for casual users. Software-wise, I believe ColorOS 12 on the OPPO Reno 8 Pro will satisfy your needs fairly well.
THE BATTERY IS SUFFICIENT FOR AN ENTIRE DAY OF HEAVY USE.
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The OPPO Reno8 Pro has a 4,500mAh battery inside, which is not very large given the enormous 6.7-inch display it must power. A bigger battery would have been excellent to get a light user through two days of use, but it would also make the device heavier.
A full day of intensive use is easily accomplished by the OPPO Reno 8 Pro because to its 4,500mAh battery and 5nm Dimensity 8100 MAX processor. Depending on the apps you use, screen-on time can easily be near to 6 hours, which is sufficient for a whole day in my opinion. The smartphone can be charged to 90% of its capacity in half an hour using the OEM cable and the 80W SUPERVOOC brick that come in the box. I’m assuming that the lack of wireless charging on this gadget is due to the fast charging.
THE OPPO RENO 8 PRO’S cameras are rather capable.
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The OPPO Reno8 Pro has three cameras on its back. A 50MP Sony IMX766 sensor, which has been around for a while, serves as the primary camera. The 8MP Ultrawide, which has a Sony IMX355 sensor, comes next. Since the device does not include the third camera, which is a 2MP macro camera, the review would not change.
A 32MP, f/2.4 aperture selfie camera with the same Sony IMX709 sensor as the OPPO Find X5 Pro is located on the front of the device. The unique MariSilicon X imaging chip is another holdover from the Find X5 Pro. The main purpose of this chip is to increase dynamic range in low light conditions, particularly for videos.
GREAT IMAGES FROM THE MAIN AND ULTRAWIDE CAMERAS Image 14 Image 15
The primary and ultrawide cameras capture images during the day that are full of detail, have natural colors, and don’t use artificial sharpening. I believe that the dynamic range is outstanding and accurate to what the human eye sees. You might need to add a filter or two to the final product from these cameras if you prefer the vivid, sharp, contrast, and punch from other devices.
Photos taken in low light are good, especially when the Night mode is used. Check out some of the images in our Flickr Gallery. Another quick observation is that, in this price range, it’s wonderful to see that the color science between the primary and ultrawide cameras is consistent.
The zoom images from the camera app are captured using the main camera because the third camera is a macro. One oddity is that the main camera’s starting position differs between ordinary and night modes, which is a little strange.
ON THE OPPO 8 RENO PRO, CONNECTIVITY WAS A PROBLEM IN THE USA
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Using OPPO smartphones on the T-Mobile network in the USA has never caused me any problems. With the Reno 8 Pro, however, such was not the case. On this device, I never consistently received a signal with data. Therefore, I infer that perhaps as a result of the customized Dimensity chip?
During the evaluation period, there were no other problems with WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, Screencast, or Multi-Screen Connect. I do not anticipate any data or signal connectivity concerns in the areas where this device will receive official support.
IS OPPO RENO 8 PRO VALUE FOR MONEY? The list price of the OPPO Reno 8 Pro is $550 in the markets where it is now sold. You get a phone with a distinctive style and a fantastic display for the money. In addition to this, you also get great performance, long battery life, and decent cameras.
But there are certain drawbacks. These include the absence of an IP rating and a hefty price. This is a great investment, in my opinion, if you can find it on sale for $400–$450. If not, you could want to choose any models from Xiaomi, Realme, or the OnePlus Nord series.
