Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G (Snapdragon) review

Competition

The Reno6 Pro 5G is going for €750-€800 in Europe, and that hefty price tag exposes it to some tough competition. There's little that it does wrong, but others do more for the same money or offer similar features and performance for less.

The Galaxy S21+, for example, falls in the former category. Nearing replacement, the Samsung can be had for a little over Reno's asking price. That will get you a brighter and higher refresh rate display and IP68-rated dust and water resistance. Samsung is also using the current-gen flagship chipset for extra performance. The Galaxy camera system is more versatile, too, offering more consistent results in adverse conditions, plus it's significantly more capable as a video camera. You even go for the smaller S21 and get essentially the same package but smaller and save money in the process.

Also in the same category is the Zenfone 8 Flip. Its party trick with the rotating camera assembly actually does wonders for its usefulness and makes it one of the best selfie cameras around. The Zenfone, too, has a faster chipset than the Reno, for that small edge in performance. The Flip also supports microSD cards for memory expansion, which could sway the right buyer.

Retailing for some 10% less than Reno6 Pro 5G money, the Motorola Edge 20 Pro has a lot going for it in this head-to-head. Longer-reaching tele and autofocusing ultrawide are both in its favor, though it doesn't have an edge in the dark. The 144Hz display is also in its favor, as is the 'Ready for' functionality for turning the phone into a desktop PC of sorts. The Reno does have stereo speakers (the Moto doesn't) and charges faster.

The Xiaomi 11T might sound like a surprising alternative, but hear us out. It's arguably better at taking pictures than the 11T Pro, and while it undoubtedly isn't a a cameraphone reference, its 108MP main unit works well and can also get you good 2x shots if you put in a little extra work, even though it doesn't have a dedicated tele. The Xiaomi has longer battery life with the screen on, and it's a 120Hz screen too, which you can brag about having Gorilla Glass Victus in front, and the 11T has an IP53 rating - not much, but better than the none on the Reno. But the best bit is probably the Xiaomi's price, which is around €300 less. The Oppo is arguably prettier and more premium looking, and its Snapdragon is more potent than the 11T's Dimensity 1200, so it's not without its strengths.

Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G • Asus Zenfone 8 Flip • Motorola Edge 20 Pro • Xiaomi 11T

Verdict

For all of its high-end aspirations, the Reno6 Pro 5G misses the mark in a few key areas. We're the most bummed about the lack of dust and water protection, and the 90Hz refresh rate is out of place at this price. The camera system has its imperfections, and while the 2MP macro camera is really unfixable, low-light photography could probably be tweaked in software.

Daylight photos are really good, as are videos, and selfies are one resize away from greatness. The Snapdragon 870 once again proves unscathed by long-term loads, and the ability to actually run games at high frame rates is appreciated too. Meanwhile, the fast charging complements the good battery life nicely.

In the end, it's a tougher decision than usual. Out of the things that the Reno6 Pro 5G does well, none does it do exceptionally well. Meanwhile, the cons list isn't filled with dealbreakers either, except maybe the IP rating. Ultimately, it's a good phone and a well-balanced package, but not quite worth its current list price.

Pros

• Outstanding design - sturdy and water-proof.
• Competitive battery life, very fast charging.
• Solid performance results, nearly no throttling, high frame rate gaming.
• Great all-round photo and video quality across all cameras.

Cons

• No IP rating for dust and water resistance.
• The display is just 90Hz when competitors are at 120Hz.
• Night mode underdelivers, low-light photography in general could be improved.
• Video stabilization is not quite as good as it should.
• The macro camera is as good as nonexistent.