The smartphone market has become more competitive than ever, and the OPPO Reno 5 4G is supposed to be well-equipped to survive in this saturated market.
Today, we’ll see if OPPO’s latest mid-range phone is the one to get or the one to skip. We’ll find out in our OPPO Reno 5 4G full review.
OPPO Reno 5 4G Specs
- Android 11, ColorOS 11
- Dual SIM, dual standby
- 6.43-inch FHD+ AMOLED display, 2400 x 1080 pixel resolution, ~409ppi
- 90Hz refresh rate, 180Hz touch sampling, sRGB, DCI-P3
- 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G octa-core processor
- Adreno 618 GPU
- 8GB RAM
- 128GB internal storage, expandable via microSD
- 44-megapixel front camera
- 64-megapixel (f/1.7, PDAF) + 8-megapixel (ultra-wide, f/2.2) + 2-megapixel (macro) + 2-megapixel (depth sensor) rear cameras, LED flash
- In-display fingerprint scanner, Face unlock
- Headphone jack, Single loudspeaker
- HSPA+, 4G LTE
- WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
- Bluetooth 5.1
- GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BDS
- USB Type-C
- Dimensions: 159.1 x 73.3 x 7.7mm
- Weight: 171g
- Colors: Black, Silver
- 4,310mAh non-removable battery, 50W SuperVOOC fast charging
Design and Build Quality
Remember the pop-up camera phase of the smartphone industry? Thankfully we’re over that. Now we have ultra-sleek and light smartphones, and we gladly welcome punch-hole screens instead of sketchy moving mechanisms to achieve that all-screen look.
The back panel looks really clean, despite being made with plastic. The unit that we have here is the Starry Black option which looks way more elegant.
It’s also available in Fantasy Silver with OPPO’s Reno Glow signature look. We had that color for the Reno 5 5G, which is filled with a glitter-like finish and a color gradient paint job.
The device is also noticeably light and thin. It only weighs 171g and about 7.8mm thick. Despite its thin and light profile, the metal chassis makes the build really sturdy.
Taking a tour, we have the compact 6.43-inch AMOLED screen on the front. The bezels are ultra-thin and almost uniform. It’s protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3+ with a screen protector pre-installed.
We have the secondary microphone for noise isolation on the top. The SIM tray that can house two nano SIMs and a microSD card is on the top left, and below it is the volume controls.
On the other side is the lock/power button with an OPPO green accent. The buttons are plastic but provide an audible, tactile sound when pressed.
At the bottom, we have the USB Type-C, primary microphone, headphone jack, and loudspeakers.
Like its cousins, the design and build is definitely one of the OPPO Reno 5 4G’s strengths.
Display and Sound Quality
The OPPO Reno 5 4G features a 6.43-inch FHD+ AMOLED screen with a sharp FHD+ pixel resolution. Everything looks punchy, contrasty, and detailed on this thing. Binge-watchers will also be glad to hear about its Netflix HD and Amazon Prime Video HD certification.
We also have the fast 90Hz refresh rate, which makes everything extra smooth — from browsing the interface, swiping through social media, and more.
The 180Hz touch sampling rate is also here. It should make the screen more responsive to touch, great for playing games. Honestly, it’s hard to tell the difference. But I guess that’s when you know it works.
As for audio, the OPPO Reno 5 4G has a 3.5mm headphone jack and actually comes with a pair of earphones in the box, unlike what most budget phones have.
But unlike the competition, it lacks a stereo speaker setup. On the upside, the single bottom-firing speaker is so loud with clear treble and bass. It’s so loud that you don’t have to max out the volume as you’d do on other devices.
Hardware and Performance
Powering the OPPO Reno 5 4G is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G octa-core processor. Partnered with its 8GB of RAM and 90Hz screen, multitasking and most tasks you’d do regularly are doable on this handset without noticeable lags or hiccups.
OPPO Reno 5 4G benchmark scores
Gaming was also seamless. We were able to run a demanding game such as Call of Duty Mobile at high graphics quality with the frame rate maxed out. The game ran fluidly without noticeable frame drops. It should also run titles like League of Legends Wild Rift and Genshin Mobile very well, too.
The OPPO Reno 5 4G gets warm after long minutes of playing, but overheating should not be an issue.
Having 128GB of storage is standard on smartphones today. That’s exactly what we have here, but with 11.2GB reserved for the system. Still, you have enough to install a ton of triple-A games and a bunch of photos and videos if you’re a hoarder.
Software and User Interface
The OPPO Reno 5 4G runs on the latest Android 11-based ColosOS 11. Those who prefer the stock-Android look may not be a big fan, but for those who’re not familiar, they’d feel at home on this one.
We’re way past over-the-top user interfaces. This one looks clean and straightforward, with a bit of aesthetic touch to make ColorOS distinct.
Like most Android phones, the farthest home page on the left houses the Google window with the Google search and relevant news and information presented in cards. The notifications tab and control center is on the top. Nicely tucked away.
In-game, you can swipe from the top left for the Game Assistant, giving you quick access to top messaging apps, enable performance modes, touch optimization, and Game Focus Mode, which will disable any distractions while you’re playing.
It will also show notifications in bullet style, so you can see who’s contacting you without getting distracted.
OPPO also takes full advantage of the Always-On display with different customizable artsy patterns and text to choose from.
For those who want a stealthy look, the Dark Mode feature has its own dedicated setting for you to play with.
You can also choose whatever fingerprint icon animation you want if you’re really that picky.
The app drawer is disabled out of the box. You can enable the Drawer mode in the settings if you want to. A Simple mode option also if you want larger icons and layout.
These are just the key highlights of the OPPO Reno 5 4G’s interface. Overall, we like the extras that you wouldn’t get if it runs on stock Android.
Security
With its AMOLED screen, the OPPO Reno 5 4G managed to have an in-display fingerprint scanner, which worked surprisingly fast and accurately even if I have grease on my fingers.
You can also use the fingerprint to lock some apps and secure sensitive files and media on the private safe feature.
Face unlock is also here, which works fast in good lighting scenarios. In dark rooms, you can enable the setting where the screen brightness is increased to serve as a flash so the sensor can see your face. You can also enable the Raise to Wake function so it can instantly detect your face the moment you pick up the device.
Camera
The OPPO Reno 5 4G features a 64-megapixel main shooter with a bright f/1.7 aperture, 79.5-degree field-of-view, and closed-loop focus motor. We also have an 8-megapixel ultra-wide with f/2.2 and 119-degree FOV. Plus, the usual extras like a 2-megapixel macro f/2.4 and 2-megapixel mono. On the front, there’s a sharp 44-megapixel sensor at f/2.4 with 85-degree FOV.
Like most modern OPPO phones, there are camera features that take advantage of AI and its new processor. There’s the AI Mixed portrait, which is like double exposure for video. Dual-view Video can also use the front and rear cameras simultaneously for a game streaming-like look.
AI Highlight Video / Ultra NIght Video can drastically brighten a video, perfect for parties. Live HDR is also present, and AI Color Portrait separates the foreground by making the background black and white.
The 64-megapixel main camera takes vibrant, warm, and contrasty images with excellent dynamic range. However, you’d notice some blemish in details when you examine closely, but definitely not a big deal.
Low light images are swell, too. You can use the Nigh Mode if you want brighter and clearer images at night.
The 8-megapixel ultra-wide don’t take the sharpest images, but the colors and contrast are more than enough. Distortion or fish-eye effect you’d normally get on ultra-wides are not present, either.
We also have a 2-megapixel macro camera for really close-up shots. It may not be the most pixel-packed sensor, but it’s enough to do the job.
The 44-megapixel selfie camera takes unsurprisingly sharp images with acceptable colors and apt exposure. The high resolution also gives the AI Face Beauty more room to work with, so the image wouldn’t look too synthetic.
Connectivity
The key difference of the OPPO Reno 5 4G over the Reno 5 5G is, obviously, the lack of 5G connectivity. This shouldn’t be a big issue if you don’t live in areas with 5G (check 5G coverage for Smart and Globe).
However, we’re seeing a rapid increase in 5G locations in the Philippines. So if you want a futureproof device, you might want to spend more on the Reno 5 5G model instead.
In addition, the Reno 5 4G has WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, and USB Type-C port. All of which worked with no issues during our tests.
Battery
To achieve its thin and light profile, OPPO slightly made a compromise in the battery department. This one only has a 4,310mAh capacity, while most of the competition has 5,000mAh.
It got 10 hours and 46 minutes of screen-on time on the PCMark battery test. One of the lowest scores we got on that test.
The OPPO Reno 5 4G does have an impressive 50W SuperVOOC charger in the box on the upside. A full charge will only take about 40-50 minutes, with a quick 5-minute top-up that can already provide 3 hours of video streaming.
Verdict
The OPPO Reno 5 4G is a great all-around, modern smartphone. It has a vibrant and fast screen, a reliable performance for work and play, flexible cameras, 50W charging — all wrapped in a sleek and ergonomic body, which is rare in phones these days.
However, it lags behind the competition in some areas. For one, the lack of 5G connectivity is a big bummer to those who plan on keeping it for years to come. Longer battery life would have been nice, too. Despite its smooth performance, the processor of choice is inferior compared to some of the competition.
But if you can get past all the cons, the OPPO Reno 5 4G is a worthwhile device.
OPPO Reno 5 4G price and availability in the Philippines
The OPPO Reno 5 4G is now available in the Philippines for Php18,999. You can get it in tons of OPPO stores and partner retailers both online and offline.
Pros
- Sleek and comfortable design
- Fast and reliable performance
- Smooth and vibrant screen
- Flexible cameras
- Fast charging
Cons
- Subpar battery life
- no 5G