The OPPO Reno 8 series continues to grow with the introduction of a more affordable model, the Reno 8T.

OPPO has been one of the most prominent names in the midrange category offering devices with clean designs and attractive camera prowess. But in today’s competitive market, does the brand still has what it takes to lure customers in? We find out in our OPPO Reno 8 T 4G review.

OPPO Reno 8 T 4G Specs

  • Android 13, ColorOS 13
  • Dual SIM, Dual standby
  • 6.43-inch FHD+ AMOLED display, 2400 x 1080 pixel resolution, 409ppi
  • 90Hz refresh rate, 180Hz touch sampling rate
  • 2.2GHz MediaTek Helio G99 octa-core processor
  • Mali-G57 MC2 GPU
  • 8GB RAM
  • 256GB UFS 2.2 internal storage, expandable via microSD
  • 32-megapixel front camera
  • 100-megapixel (f/1.7) + 2-megapixel + 2-megapixel (depth sensor) rear cameras, LED flash
  • Under-display fingerprint scanner
  • Stereo speakers
  • LED ring light indicator
  • Headphone jack
  • HSPA+, 4G LTE
  • WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
  • Bluetooth 5.2
  • GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, QZSS, BDS
  • NFC
  • USB Type-C
  • Dimensions: 160.8 x 73.8 x 7.8mm
  • Weight: 180g
  • Colors: Black Starlight, Orange Sunset
  • 5,000mAh non-removable battery, 33W SuperVOOC charging

Design and Build Quality

The OPPO Reno 8 T 4G shares a similar design we’ve seen on a few other OPPO phones. The long design accent on the camera area is similar to the OPPO A78 5G and A17K. It also inherited the current trend of having the cameras in their separate areas instead of using a single camera island. It does provide a cleaner look but definitely doesn’t stand out from the rest.

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What will make it stand out is the LED ring that surrounds the main camera. Although, it only lights up when you receive a notification, charging, or if you’re playing a game.

As for the color options, it comes in Orange Sunset, and the unit that we got, Black Starlight. As the name suggests, it has a shimmering effect as it reacts to light. It also has a matte finish which keeps it clean from fingerprint marks and smudges. Out of the two, the Orange Sunset is without a doubt the better option.

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The device is noticeably thin and light. It’s only 7.7mm thick and weighs 171g. To give you a perspective, most phones average at 8mm and 180g, respectively. Even with the matte black case, the Reno 8 T 5G feels really comfortable to hold, even after an extended amount of time. It also has a sturdy frame and tactile buttons. Plus, a preinstalled screen protector for extra peace of mind.

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The right side has the SIM tray for two nano SIM cards and a microSD card slot. We also have here the volume controls, while the other side only has the lock/power switch. The physical buttons are slightly curved, so it sits nicely with the chassis.

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We only have the second microphone on top for noise isolation on calls, while at the bottom there are the USB Type-C port, loudspeaker, and the 3.5mm headphone jack.

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The OPPO Reno 8 T is a well-built device and it shows. The design may not stand out among the rest, but the thin and light construction will surely entice those who want to own one.

Display and Sound Quality

The OPPO Reno 8 T has a standard 6.5-inch display like what almost everyone has. It also has a standard package, which include an FHD+ resolution, 90Hz refresh rate, and 180Hz touch sampling for responsiveness.

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Display quality is fine, but definitely not the best. It‘s contrasty and colorful enough, but not as vibrant as other OLED screens we’ve seen.

Screen brightness is not the best either. We thought we can still increase the brightness slider, but it’s already maxed out. Using this device outdoors while it’s very sunny can be a bit challenging.

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On the upside, the stereo speakers were delightful with a loud volume that makes it audible even in loud environments like coffee shops.

Related

Hardware and Performance

The OPPO Reno 8 T 4G comes with a MediaTek Helio G99 octa-core processor, paired with 8GB of RAM, and a generous 256GB of storage. If that’s not enough, it has a microSD card slot for expansion.

OPPO Reno 8 T 4G Benchmark Scores

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The chipset was able to handle basic and day-to-day tasks well. With the fast 90Hz display, browsing through the interface and scrolling through social media feeds are smooth. Taking pictures is quick and loading videos from streaming services is seamless.

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Gaming performance is satisfactory for the price. A few favorites like Call of Duty Mobile and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang ran with little to no hiccups at medium settings.

Cameras

The OPPO Reno 8 T boasts an ultra-sharp 100-megapixel main camera with a bright aperture of f/1.7. It’s joined by two 2-megapixel sensors instead of going with a single camera that has a more useful ultra-wide or telephoto lens.

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Image quality from the main camera is pleasing and social media-ready. They look vibrant and colorful, albeit a bit too much at times, resulting in over-saturated photos in some shots. We noticed the issue in low-light shots or in scenarios with poor lighting, which may confuse the white balance and also sets the wrong contrast.

If you like editing photos, then that shouldn’t be a big problem, especially since the sharp sensors can capture a lot of details, giving you enough to work with.

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100-megapixel main camera | Food
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100-megapixel main camera | Food
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100-megapixel main camera | Outdoors
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100-megapixel main camera | Indoors
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100-megapixel main camera | Outdoors
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100-megapixel main camera | Indoors
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100-megapixel main camera | Outdoors
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100-megapixel main camera | Portrait mode
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100-megapixel main camera | Night mode
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100-megapixel main camera | Night mode

We also have a 2-megapixel magnifying lens. It may look like a novelty and just a party trick, but it’s actually quite useful at times. For one, I was experiencing volume issues on my personal phone. After using the magnifying camera on the Reno 8 T 4G, I found out that the speaker grills have been blocked by grime and dirt. I was able to find out about it and clean it up with the help of this lens.

So, if you’re wondering if it’s useless, well, not entirely. You can check the samples below.

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2-megapixel magnifying camera | Smartphone speaker grill
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2-megapixel magnifying camera | Pixels on a laptop screen
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2-megapixel magnifying camera | Leather wallet

The pixel-packed 32-megapixel camera takes unsurprisingly sharp selfies with tons of detail. Skin tones look fairly natural, although shutter speed is a bit slow which results to blurry images if you’re moving. As always, you can play with the face beauty modes if you want to hide unwanted blemishes.

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32-megapixel selfie camera
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32-megapixel selfie camera | Outdoors

Both OPPO’s main and rear cameras will appeal to those who want Instagram-ready images. The magnifying camera proves itself that it’s more than just a novelty. However, some software fine-tuning can make it even better. Also, the lack of an ultra-wide and/or telephoto lens was a wasted opportunity.

Software and User Interface

The OPPO Reno 8 T runs on ColorOS 13, which looks a lot like OxygenOS 13 from our OnePlus 11 review. This isn’t surprising since they are from the same company and are also based on the same Android 13 OS.

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That said, they both share a clean and straightforward interface with the control center now more customizable to give you access to the things you want and need.

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Speaking of which, there’s a dedicated setting for visual customization that lets you play with the interface colors, font, icons, fingerprint animation, edge lighting, and the breathing light on the back.

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Multitasking features like Split Screen mode, Flexible windows, Quick Return, Quick launch, and Smart Sidebar are also here. Plus, Kid Space lets you limit content access, and Simple mode makes the UI easier for the elderly.

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The gesture navigation also works really well on a smartphone this smooth, but traditional on-screen buttons are also available.

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We have the Google Keyboard working as a default, albeit having the ñ letter have its dedicated key is quite annoying and causes a lot of typos. Fortunately, it can be configured in the settings. The camera app is simple and easy to use.

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Security features include an under-display fingerprint scanner. A feature that has greatly improved over the years and now works incredibly fast and accurately. AI Face unlock is also here, which was effective, even in low-light scenarios.

Battery

The OPPO Reno 8 T 4G has a 5,000mAh battery. Based on our test, we were able to get a screen-on time of 11 hours and 22 minutes. That’s the active usage of the device while the total used time was 16 hours and 4 minutes during its last charge.

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This means that the device can easily last you for an entire day, with a little juice left to use the next morning. But if you’re a more casual user who are in it just for messaging, casual web browsing, and making a few calls, then you might be able to stretch it for two full days.

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But if you’re a heavy user, you might have to charge it before the day ends. Fortunately, it comes with a 33W SuperVOOC charger. Based on our test, we were able to get from 15% to 52% charge in just 23 minutes. It was able to hit 100% in under an hour.

Connectivity

As the name suggests, the OPPO Reno 8 T 4G lacks 5G connectivity. We’re yet to see if the Reno 8 T 5G version will ever make it to the country.

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That said, the fastest mobile data we were able to get is 4G+, which is reliable enough for downloading apps and streaming videos in 1080p. WiFi 5 (no WiFi 6), Bluetooth 5.2, and USB Type-C — all worked fine during our tests. As a cherry on top, NFC was included for cashless payments and instant pairing on compatible accessories.

Conclusion

The OPPO Reno 8 T is a nice smartphone which features a light and comfortable design, a cool breathing LED light on the back, capable performance for day-to-day tasks, a main camera that takes Instagram-ready images that pops, and a magnifying lens that can be handy at times.

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However, the lack of 5G connectivity, especially for the price, is a huge bummer. We also wish they went with a single ultra-wide or telephoto lens instead of two less useful 2-megapixel sensors. But that depends on the consumer’s needs, so make sure to test it out before buying.

OPPO Reno 8 T price and availability in the Philippines

The OPPO Reno 8 T 4G has an official price of Php18,999 in the Philippines. It’s available in OPPO kiosks and concept stores nationwide. You can also purchase it online at Lazada and Shopee.

Pros

  • Light and thin design
  • Cool breathing LED light
  • Capable performance
  • Decent camera quality

Cons

  • No 5G
  • No ultra-wide, telephoto
  • Display quality could be better

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