Oppo Reno 8T 5G : Sometimes you encounter a phone that makes you wonder why other manufacturers can’t seem to nail the basics as well. The Oppo Reno 8T 5G is one of those devices – frustratingly close to perfection, yet held back by choices that feel more like compromises than design decisions. After spending weeks with this device, I’m torn between admiration and mild disappointment.
Design Philosophy: When Thin Actually Means Something
Let’s start with what Oppo absolutely nailed: the build quality. At just 7.7mm thick and weighing only 171 grams, the Reno 8T 5G feels genuinely premium in ways that many thicker, heavier phones simply don’t. This isn’t just thinness for the sake of marketing numbers – it translates into real-world comfort during extended usage.
The Sunrise Gold variant I tested showcases Oppo’s attention to aesthetic detail. The polycarbonate back doesn’t just resist fingerprints; it actually changes appearance depending on lighting conditions, creating subtle color variations that keep catching your eye throughout the day. The dual circular camera arrangement looks distinctive without being ostentatious.
What impressed me most was the curved AMOLED display integration. Curved screens often feel gimmicky on mid-range phones, but Oppo managed to make it feel intentional rather than forced. The 93.5% screen-to-body ratio creates an genuinely immersive viewing experience.
Display Excellence: Premium Visual Experience at Mid-Range Pricing
The 6.7-inch AMOLED panel with 120Hz refresh rate delivers exactly what you’d expect from Oppo’s display expertise. Colors are vibrant without being oversaturated, black levels are properly deep, and the 950 nits peak brightness handles outdoor visibility admirably.
However, there’s one glaring omission that continues to baffle me: no HDR support. In 2025, when competitors consistently provide HDR capabilities at similar price points, this feels like an inexplicable oversight. The display looks gorgeous with regular content, but you’ll notice the limitation when streaming premium content.
The 120Hz refresh rate makes everyday interactions feel fluid, though Oppo’s implementation sometimes feels inconsistent. App switching occasionally reveals brief stutters that remind you this isn’t flagship-level optimization.
Performance Reality: Snapdragon 695 Shows Its Age
Here’s where things get complicated. The Snapdragon 695 5G processor paired with 8GB RAM handles daily tasks competently – social media scrolling, productivity apps, and light multitasking present no issues. For regular users, performance feels snappy and responsive.
Gaming performance tells a different story. Call of Duty Mobile runs acceptably on high settings, but demanding titles like Genshin Impact require significant graphical compromises. The processor stays reasonably cool under load, but you’ll definitely notice performance limitations compared to competitors using newer silicon.
The 4800mAh battery delivers impressive endurance, easily providing 6-7 hours of screen-on time with mixed usage. Combined with the 67W SuperVOOC charging that reaches 50% in about 19 minutes, the power management experience feels genuinely premium.
Camera Capabilities: 108MP That Actually Delivers
Oppo’s decision to include a 108MP main camera as their first such implementation outside China pays dividends in real-world usage. Daylight photography produces genuinely impressive results with excellent detail retention and pleasing color reproduction. The lack of optical image stabilization is noticeable in challenging conditions, but the large sensor size compensates reasonably well.
The camera setup’s weakness lies in versatility. Instead of an ultra-wide lens, you get a 2MP depth sensor and a 40x microscope lens. The microscope feature is initially fascinating but practically useless for most photography scenarios. Most users would benefit more from a standard ultra-wide lens.
Portrait photography showcases the depth sensor’s capabilities, producing convincing background blur with accurate edge detection. The 32MP front camera handles selfies and video calls excellently, though low-light performance drops off noticeably.
Software Experience: ColorOS 13 Grows Up
Running Android 13 with ColorOS 13 overlay, the software experience feels more mature than previous Oppo implementations. The interface strikes a better balance between customization options and visual clarity, though some pre-installed apps still feel unnecessary.
Features like Edge Lighting for OLED notifications and extensive Always-On Display customization add genuine utility. The auto-pixelate feature for chat screenshots demonstrates thoughtful attention to privacy concerns.
Oppo Reno 8T 5G The Verdict: Almost Greatness
Currently priced around ₹27,990, the Reno 8T 5G occupies an interesting market position. It’s more expensive than some alternatives but offers unique advantages in design, display quality, and camera performance that justify consideration.
The frustrating part? This could have been a standout device with better processor selection and more practical camera arrangement. Instead, it’s a very good phone that falls just short of being great.