The 8-Month Review Of The OPPO Reno8 5G Smartphone.

How time flies! This blog post has actually been eight months in the making since I got my hands on the OPPO Reno8 5G smartphone shortly after it launched in Kenya. Up until that point, I had been using the previous generation of the OPPO Reno7 which I was immensely happy with having used it for around six months or so — I had no qualms but newer is always better, yes?

Moving from the OPPO Reno7 to the OPPO Reno8 was remarkably easy given that both devices share the same software and OPPO DNA so I was up and running within an hour or so with all my data transferred. Don’t even get me started on my last transition from an iPhone X to the OPPO Reno7 so this was really smooth and painless.

The OPPO Reno8 5G was also my first 5G-enabled smartphone so I was more than a little keen to experience ‘warp speed’ Internet via Safaricom 5G once I managed to get it up and running (incidentally, Safaricom 5G also officially launched in Kenya in October 2023). Naturally, given that the OPPO Reno 8 5G has 5G means that this adds a significant premium to the price which is (still) Kes. 59,999.00 with most online and traditional retailers. This is NOT a cheap phone but it’s worth every shilling, trust me!

Out of the box, the design of the OPPO Reno8 5G is completely different from the OPPO Reno 7. Its predecessor had more curvy and rounded edges whereas the Reno8 5G has a more squared-off design that is quite reminiscent of the latest iterations of the Apple iPhone. The one I use has the Shimmer Black finish which gives me all sorts of cutting-edge vibes!

The OPPO Reno8 5G is also a dual SIM device which is more or less a standard with OPPO smartphones across the pricing spectrum so this is something you don’t even get with many brand flagships in the marketplace that can cost as much as four times what the OPPO Reno8 5G retails for in Kenya.

In terms of the fit and finish, the OPPO Reno8 5G screams premium quality in terms of the materials used such as the metal rails and the amazing finish. The flagship-level unibody design of the Reno8 5G is impressive as it has a seamless integration of the camera module and the back cover making it appear smoother with fewer possible entry points for dust or water.

The display on the OPPO Reno8 5G is a 6.4-inch AMOLED display with a 90.8% screen-to-body ratio meaning that there is almost no bezel on this thing. However, it comes with a decent 90Hz refresh rate although the majority of medium to high-end smartphones these days come with a 120Hz refresh rate as a bare minimum so this is somewhat disappointing. However, I have no qualms as it served me well when using it in all sorts of lighting conditions for work and play.

The fact that the OPPO Reno8 5G has 5G is a major reason for considering this smartphone. The reality is that 5G-capable smartphones will remain relatively expensive for the majority of Kenyans for at least the next couple of years as the technology matures and more smartphone manufacturers find ways to make less expensive components to make it work.

That all being said, I don’t even use 5G that often on the OPPO Reno8 5G since it absolutely kills my battery life and makes it really hot when used for long periods of time. I, therefore, resort to 4G as my default and only switch up to Safaricom 5G when I really feel the need for speed!

The area for me where the OPPO Reno8 5G really shines though is the cameras. These are dual Sony flagship sensors using the IMX709 for the front camera, and the IMX766 for the rear camera. In particular, compared to the OPPO Reno7, which already had great cameras, the ones on the OPPO Reno8 5G take things to a whole new level.

The OPPO Reno8 5G significantly enhances my low-light photography and videography experiences. Also, the Ultra Night Video and Night Portrait features are now my go-to options for late-evening shoots. Don’t take my word for it — have a look at the image below which is simply stunning without any editing required! I have posted many pictures taken using this phone on my social media and I can tell you for a fact that many people have purchased the OPPO Reno8 5G on the back of this social proof.

At the heart of the OPPO Reno8 5G experience are its brains which is the MediaTek Dimensity 1300 SoC, combined with an ample 8GB RAM and a generous 256GB storage which ensure smooth and lag-free performance, even when multitasking. I cannot tell you how many apps I run at any given time and this setup is able to adequately handle anything I throw it.

As part of the first OPPO smartphones to have ColorOS 12, the OPPO Reno8 5G gives users access to a comfortable and smooth operating system with popular features such as AI System Booster, Air Gestures, Adaptive Sleep, Five-Grade Access Control, and Photo Information Protection. Truth be said I don’t delve too much into these sorts of details in my reviews but all I can say is that it has everything you need even for the biggest technophiles out there.

The overall performance has remained largely the same since I got the OPPO Reno8 5G but invariably as you install more and more apps and start filling up the 256GB storage you do start to notice things are starting to lag a little which is to be expected on any smartphone device you can buy and use for an extended period of time.

When it comes to battery life, the OPPO Reno8 5G brings tears of joy to my eyes! I have often gone full days not needing to recharge until the end of the day since it comes with a beast of a 4500mAh battery. However, the icing on the battery cake is that you also get an 80W SUPERVOOC™ battery charger out of the box which easily eliminates any battery anxiety you could ever have!

Why? In just 11 minutes, the phone charges up to 50%, and a 5-minute plug-in gives me around 2 hours of battery life. I Iove the way when you plug in the charger it makes the phone indicator go blue showing that it’s working. However, unfortunately, the OPPO Reno8 5G does NOT have wireless charging which took me by surprise when I tried doing shortly after getting the phone.

All in all, the OPPO Reno8 5G has proved to be a reliable companion throughout the past 8 months. A few minor quibbles aside, this phone packs a punch with its powerful performance, stellar camera capabilities, and robust battery life. If you’re on the hunt for a new smartphone, even though the OPPO Reno8 5G has been in the market for close to 8 months, I strongly recommend it as it’s still my daily driver and meets all my needs, big and small!