OPPO Reno5 has been selling in Kenya in the last couple of weeks.

As reported before, it succeeds the Reno4 from 2020, with a set of upgrades in tow.

Has the device been impressive in our hands?

Mostly, yes, and we have particularly been impressed about its software experience, Flash Charging that tops up the phone in about 50 minutes from 0%, and an overall exemplary camera experience.

Before we can look into the details, albeit briefly, here are the Reno5’s specifications and price in Kenya:

SPECS

Weight: 171g

Screen: 6.4”, 1080 by 2400 pixels, Gorilla Glass 3, 90 Hz refresh rate

OS: Android 11 and ColorOS 11.1

CPU: Snapdragon 720G

GPU: Adreno 618

Main cameras: 64 MP main, 8 MP ultrawide, 2 MP macro, 2 MP depth sensor

Selfie: 44 MP

Headphone jack: Yes

Battery: 4310 mAh, 50W Flash charge

Price: Ksh. 42,000

PERFORMANCE

As we said, again, the Reno5 does not perform any better than the Reno4, mainly because their share the same chip and largely the same software experience.

However, it does not mean that the Reno5 is a slow phone; it feels as fast as the most expensive phone on the planet, which has also been aided by a screen that refreshes at 90 Hz, even though its processing power and graphics-churning silicon are midrange at best.

Still, it does not mean that the Reno5 needed a better CPU – because genuinely, there is no need considered that the majority of people do not push their devices to the limits – and even if that was the case here, the Reno5 would still chew through basic tasks without a sweat. Simply put, this is how good modern smartphone chipsets have gotten, and we are at that level where flagship and midrange performance is not drastically different. And OPPO’s Reno line try to cement this development.

So, in a normal language, what do we have here? Well, you will not slow this phone down, and you will perform ordinary and more pressing operations without an issue, be it jumping in an out of games, or using the camera extensively.

SOFTWARE

OPPO’s ColorOS has really shown that bad software can grow and be a leading example about an experience should be, especially in the Android side of the world.

This is what happened: when OPPO started developing the overlay, it was not the best in the world. Of course, enthsisasts and tech journalists voiced their concerns – and OPPO listened.

ColorOS 11, which is the immediate successor of ColorOS 7 (the company made the drastic name jump to match the skin with Android 11), is excellent, and we know it will only get better.

It does everything you can ask for in a phone: you can change the shape of app icons, you can change accent colours, fingerprint animation, edge lighting when receiving notfications, edit always-on display to you liking, fonts and so much.

There are other features such as gestures and motions, navigation options, screen recording and assistive ball.

The Settings panel is full of these adjustments, and if you look deeper, you will find something new and fun to use.

The experience is appealing because OPPO has ensured that the many features are bundled in the right manner, and do not come into the way of your experience.

Besides, the features do not bog down the software experience, which is something we couldn’t say a half a decade or so ago.

We really enjoy using ColorOS, and we know most of you will.

HARDWARE

Most of the hardware features have been stated in the specs stated above.

However, we need to bring up two main things: the manner the phone has been packaged (design), and the way different hardware elements make the whole experience better.

First, OPPO Reno5 does not skimp on useful hardware features such as dual-SIM and micoSD card expansion.

The company has also ensured that the phone’s overall footprint is as compact as possible, bearing in mind most phones are huge nowadays. For instance, the power key and volume controls are placed where you can reach them easily.

Also, the back is made of plastic, which means that it sheds of some weight to keep it more compact in your palms.

The speaker is also at the bottom, and it gets laud, although a stereo solution should grace the successor.

The phone also comes with all accessors (fast 50W charger with a cable, earphones, case), which something that people will not be seeing soon in phones as manufacturers attempt to ‘save’ the planet.

The Reno5 does not have any kind of IP rating, which is a loss because competitors from Samsung have it, but we hope this will be fixed with the Reno6.

Still, the inclusion of the said features complements each other to make one of the most attractive offerings in the said price bracket.

BATTERY

The 4310 mAh is a large cell, that also juices faster using the included 50W Flash charger.

You can get a whole day from the phone, and if you are the frugal type that use their phones lightly, two days of life can be squeezed out of this device.

Even if you were hard on the Reno5, charging it to a full charge only takes 50 minutes! You can’t say that about many phones.

Find out more here.

CAMERA

Refer to the spec sheet listed above and see the Reno5’s camera hardware.

The lenses do their job well, and have been upgraded from the Reno4’s; you now have a 64 MP main sensor and a 44 MP selfie snapper.

How does the camera system work, and how do those images look like?

Glad you asked. Find the samples here, as well as what we think about the camera on the whole.

CONCLUSION

Does the Reno5 meet its Ksh 42K asking price? Mostly, yes, because there are few phones that bring such a robust set of features to the table. Performance? You got it. Good cameras? Yes. Battery and charging? Unmatched in the price range. 

And what could be better? Well, we hope OPPO gives its next release stereo speakers, IP rating and maybe, a faster screen at 120Hz.