Smartphones are getting expensive.
Nowadays, flagship models can cost you well over RM3,000 which is more than the average person’s monthly paycheck. But do you really need to spend all that cash for a good phone, or can you get a decent one for less? That’s the question the Oppo Reno8 T 5G tries to answer.
Positioned as a premium-level, mid-range phone, the Reno8 T 5G was launched earlier this year at just RM1,799. The phone comes in two colours: the sparkly Sunrise Gold and the more toned-down Midnight Black, which is the one we managed to get our hands on for this review.
At first glance, the Reno8 T 5G does seem like everything you need in a phone: a sensible ultra-slim design, a big, bright curved display, smooth performance and a set of versatile cameras. But it’s what’s under the hood that makes the phone a well-rounded contender to any of the more expensive models out there.
The Reno8 T 5G comes with an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G chipset, 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage, which you can expand further by slotting in a 1TB SD card.
One cool thing about the phone is that you can choose to expand the phone’s memory even more with its “virtual RAM expansion” function. It allows you to boost its RAM up to 13GB by using the phone’s available internal storage to improve its performance and multitasking capabilities at the cost of some internal storage space. However, to be completely fair, it’s a function that most people won’t bother using anyways.
The phone runs on Android 13 with Oppo’s signature ColorOS 13 that’s pretty intuitive and user-friendly, but is also chock full of bloatware that you’d probably want to get rid of immediately.
The phone is equipped with a 6.7-inch curved AMOLED screen with an in-display fingerprint sensor, 2412×1080 pixels of FHD+ resolution (sadly no HDR), a 120Hz refresh rate, supports 10-bit colour depth and an adaptive eye protection system—perfect for doom scrolling through social media, watching HD videos and gaming, even in bright conditions.
Power-wise, the phone stocks a decent 4,800mAh battery that supports 67W SuperVOOC fast charging—able to get the phone from 0 to fully charged in about 40 minutes and can last for about seven to eight hours of regular use. It also has reverse charging capabilities that can be handy if you’re in need of a battery bank in a pinch.
Weighing in at just around 171g and with a thickness of 7.7mm, the phone is comfortable to use with one hand and has a nice textured feel to it. It also comes with your standard USB-C port, dual SIM slots, and dual stereo speakers that are crisp and clear.
It also comes complete with NFC, Bluetooth 5.1, and Wifi 6 connectivity. But the phone does not come with a headphone jack or an IR blaster (though who really needs those anyway…).
The Reno8 T 5G has optimal cameras on the back that consists of a 108MP main portrait camera, a 2MP macro camera, and a 2MP depth sensor all neatly housed in a dual panel setup (that kinda looks like a pair of googly eyes.) and supports OIS, EIS, HDR, and night mode, along with some added AI enhancements if you choose to keep it on.
The pics it takes are decent and give you nice colours that are not too overblown.
Even in low light, the phone gives a nice point-and-shoot experience and adds some flair to your portrait photography with minimal effort.
The phone also has this fun microscope feature that allows you to get some unique shots at very close range. And you can also record videos up to 4K at 30fps or 1080p at 60fps.
On the front, the phone is equipped with a 32MP centre punch-hole selfie camera that’s not really the clearest, but it works well enough to make video calls and to take those quick we-fies with friends.
Overall, the Reno8 T 5G presents a well-rounded option for a phone to have by your side without breaking the bank.
