The Reno5 series, launched this year, include the OPPO Reno5 Pro, OPPO Reno 5 5G, OPPO Reno 5, and OPPO Reno 5F. We have had our time with the Reno5, and now it is the turn of its more budget sibling. Come along and enjoy our OPPO Reno5 F review to see what it has to offer.
OPPO Reno5 F shares a number of key features and specs with the Reno5. These include the screen type and size, battery capacity, RAM and internal storage. But they are also different in many ways, including screen refresh rate, screen protection, processor, cameras, and charging speed, among others.
OPPO Reno5 F Review: Quick Specs
- Operating System: Android 11 + ColorOS 11.1
- Network Support: 2G/3G/4G
- Display: 6.43 inches, FHD+ (1080×2400 pixels), 20:9 aspect ratio, 60Hz screen refresh rate, single punch hole, AMOLED display
- Processor: Mediatek Helio P95
- Selfie Camera: 32 MP
- Rear camera: 48 MP main lens + 8MP ultrawide lens + 2 MP macro lens + 2MP depth sensor, auto-focus, LED flash, 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps video recording
- RAM: 8 GB
- ROM: 128 GB
- Battery: 4310 mAh.
- Charging: 30W VOOC Flash Charge 4.0
OPPO Reno5 F Review: In the box
In the sales box are the following items:
- OPPO Reno5 F smartphone itself
- Paper documentation
- Transparent rubber silicone case
- 3.5mm audio headphones
- USB-C connecting cable
- 30W VOOC wall charging adaptor
OPPO Reno5 F Review: Hardware and Design
A distinctive feature of the OPPO Reno5 F is what the manufacturer calls Flowing Light Design, which gives it a striking look. It is not as fascinating as the design as the Reno5, but it is beautiful too.
The back panel is glossy and more of a fingerprint magnet though. OPPO has a thing for keeping their smartphone profiles as thin as possible, and they have executed that well here again. The Reno5 F is slim and feels comfortable in the hand.
OPPO Reno5 F Review: Software
Out of the box, OPPO Reno5 F runs ColorOS 11.1, which is based on Android 11. ColorOS is OPPO’s custom user interface for their Android smartphones. It is one of the most refined and smoothest in the market. Like all other Android skins, it comes with added features to enhance the user experience.
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So we get it out of the way, there is Dark Mode, and you can fix it manually, or set it to auto-switch so it comes on and goes off at sunset and sunrise respectively, using your location info. It also gives you the ability to customise display options for your eye comfort, screen colour temperature, and more.
Always-on display is available for you to enable or disable as you desire.
ColorOS has been big on privacy for a while. And now, with Android 11, it does even more. It notifies you when an app wants access to use a service, like your location, or to access your Contacts, etc. You can then decline or grant the permission.
Also, you can lock apps, hide apps, as well as create a Private Safe to keep items and sensitive information securely. Kid Space is also built in, so if you have children and have to give your phone to them, they can be given restricted access in a child-friendly space.
The user interface of OPPO Reno5 feels light and smooth in usage. ColorOS 11.1 is a well refined OS.
OPPO Reno5 F Review: Network and Telephony
Like the Reno5, the Reno5 F is a 4G smartphone and so supports 2G, 3G, and 4G mobile networks.
Telephony is very good on this device. It holds on to a network signal well and the audio experience is deep and clear. Voices are clear at both end of the phone conversations. Of course, telephone calls are dependent on not just one phone, but also the phone at the other end, as well as the network(s) involved.
OPPO Reno5 F Review: Display and Multimedia
The Reno5 F has an AMOLED display, and that is a good thing. Everything looks great. The refresh rate of the screen is standard 60Hz and there is no Gorilla Glass protection here.
What is music playback on the OPPO Reno5 like? It is of good quality and it is loud. In terms of quality, the loudpseakers do not have as much bass as I’d like and it isn’t the loudest I have heard in the price range, but it is good enough.
OPPO Reno5 F Review: Photography
For photography and video recording, the Reno5 F has a 32-megapixel camera located in a punch hole on the display. It shoots standard, as well as portrait, selfies. Portrait selfies and videos can also be shot in enhanced mode, thanks to an AI Colour Portrait mode.
At the back of the phone is a quad-camera featuring a 48 MP main lens, an 8 MP ultrawide lens, a 2 MP macro lens, and a 2 MP depth sensor. There is an LED flash for low-light photos, and the camera records up to 4K quality video.
Similar to the front camera, the back camera also offers AI Colour Portrait mode, which turns your background into grayscale while leaving the foreground object in full colour. This is available for both photographs and video recording.
Below are sample shots from both the front camera and the main camera at the back.
First of all, selfie shots:
The above photo is a standard selfie shot indoors at a mall, but with a fair amount of natural lighting from a skylight.
And here (above), is an AI Colour Portrait selfie. It blurs out the background in monochrome, leaving you standing in full colour. AI Colour Portrait is perhaps my favourite selfie mode on the phone.
AI Colour Portrait Video produces the same effect when video recording.
Next, here are some sample photos from the main camera:
The above sample photo uses the Dynamic Bokeh filter, which is a new portrait effect that imposes a blurred, motion background, while keeping the subject appearing to pop out of an image. This is available in the main camera only.
When shooting at night, an AI Ultra Dark Mode kicks in automatically to help you squeeze more light and details into your photos. It makes a distinctive difference too. Above are two shots – the left shot in rwegular Photo mode, and the one on the right shot in Night mode and with Ultra Dark Mode active.
As you can see, the Ultra Dark Mode image is brighter and clearer.
Another lovely filter, available in the main camera, that I have come to love and enjoy on OPPO phone cameras is Neon Portrait. It adds neon-like effects to lights in your Portrait photos.
The above photo of a car dashboard was captured with Neon Portrait filter active. Everything just pops. If you are a night owl or love to take night shots, you should play with this a bit. It is super fun to use.
There are other interesting filters available in the Reno5 F’s cameras, each with varying results, so you can choose which suits your purposes per occassion.
Photography on the Reno5 F is fun, and today’s upwardly mobile young people who love to share selfies on social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat, as well as on their WhatsApp status, will enjoy a phone with these kinds of features.
OPPO Reno5 F Review: Video Recording, Editing and Production
The Reno5 F’s main camera shoots good quality vidoes. The results are sharp, crisp and bright. OPPO has a homegrown video production studio by way of an app called Soloop. It is an easy-to-use app for producing your own short videos.
Shoot the video, open Soloop and select the video from your files. You can select multiple videos and stitch them together. The app allows you to trim the video, and add music, stickers, and text, as well as apply filters and special effects.
Soloop requires an active Internet connection for certain features, e.g. downloading templates, stickers, music, etc, to work.
The Soloop app is not meant for more advanced video production, but any non-professional user will appreciate its simplicity and can easily knock up quick videos for sharing on social media. During my testing, I recorded and produced a quick look video for the Reno5 smartphone, and I like the results. Have a look below.
OPPO Reno5 F Review: Multitasking and Performance
Powering the phone is Mediatek’s Helio P95, which is a decent chip. That is coupled with 8GB of RAM. I wasn’t expecting anything less than smooth performance from the Reno5 F. Thankfully, it didn’t disappoint.
OPPO says that this is also due in part to some nifty optimisations that they built into the Reno5 F. The phone runs so smoothly that this is difficult to doubt.
Internal storage of the Reno5 F is 128GB and it is quite adequate for most people’s needs. The in-display fingerprint scanner is fast and accurate as well. In all, the Reno5 F is a smooth performer.
OPPO Reno5 F Review: Battery life
The 4310mAh battery capacity is quite adequate and provides a day of moderate usage. Intense usage will have you needing to plug it in before the day is over.
Thanks to the presence of VOOC Flash Charge 4.0, which delivers 30W fast charging, topping up the battery of the Reno5 F is fast. The included charger is VOOC 4.0 compliant, so you do not have to go in search of a fast charger.
How fast does it charge? 0 to 100% in 56 minutes.
OPPO Reno5 F Review: Final Words
OPPO makes beautiful and capable phones in the mid-range segment. The Reno5 F is another one of them, and it brings decent, near-flagship performance and sweet looks at a more pocket-friendly price. In summary, it provides most of the goodies of the Reno5, while costing much less. What is not to like?
In summary, here are a few reasons why the Reno5 F is a good deal:
- Well designed and built
- Slim and lightweight
- Good performance
- Creative photography features
- Fast battery charging.
Pricing and Availability
The Reno5 F is priced at ₦129,900. It is available on pre-order till the 21st of March, 2021 and get a free power bank valued at ₦15,900. The device can be pre-ordered on http://www.jumia.com.ng/mlp-oppo-store and in all accredited stores nationwide. For more information, visit www.oppo.com/ng.
Other OPPO Reno5 F Resources
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Author: Mister Mobility
Master storyteller and founder of Mobility Nigeria, Mister Mobility, has used and reviewed hundreds of mobile phones since 2001.
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