OPPO Reno 6 5G review: a lot to like on a smartphone up to €500
The OPPO Reno 6 5G arrived in Europe in September 2021 with the younger crowd in mind. It was accompanied by the Reno 6 Pro 5G with whom it shared the mid/high range segment, despite being the most affordable of the OPPO Reno6 models.
Also geared towards content creators and TikTok generation, the OPPO Reno 6 5G has access to Google's services and apps, as well as some of the best OPPO technologies. The price, in Portugal, is €499, but we already got it at €449.00 .
Overall look of the OPPO Reno 6 5G smartphone in arctic blue.
It's the ideal phone for anyone who likes the physical shape of the iPhone 12 / 13 with sharp edges and angular look. The hand fit is perfect, very easy to use, with even weight and impeccable build quality, with two color schemes.
OPPO's fast charging at 65 W is again present, raising this phone above the average, especially in the price range up to 500 euros. It is also equipped with very good cameras, but it hides other surprises.
Phone information menu OPPO Reno 6 5G .
Main specifications OPPO Reno 6 5G
Display: 6.43-inch AMOLED with refresh rate up to 90 Hz
Resolution: Full-HD+ 2400 x 1 080 pixels, maximum brightness 750 nits
Processor: MediaTek's Dimensity 900 with maximum clock rate of 2.4 GHz
RAM memory: 8 GB
Storage: 128GB
Battery: 4300 mAh capacity with quick charge at 65W
Unboxing and first impressions of the OPPO Reno 6 5G
The box is well constructed and includes all essential accessories.
The case of the OPPO Reno 6 5G is, like the Pro version, well built, with a mint green or turquoise background with black lettering. The exception is the reference to the 5G in a clearer graphics, basing the box on a pleasant aesthetic.
Its interior contains the quick start guide, legal documentation, SIM card tray eject pin, protective cover in transparent plastic (TPU), as well as a screen film already applied to the smartphone, in addition to the charger and cable.
The OPPO Reno 6 5G smartphone charger is bigger than most.
Immediately below we find the OPPO Reno 6 5G smartphone in its plastic casing, and underneath we have the Type C USB cable (thick) as well as the USB charger / adapter with 65W of charging power - standard Super VOOC 2.0.
It is precisely this 65W fast charger that adds a lot of value to the phone. In addition, we have a Type-C USB cable, also thicker than usual, ready for fast charging that sets the Reno 6 5G apart from direct competition.
The classic design is one of the best aspects of the OPPO Reno 6 5G
On / Off button on the right side of the OPPO Reno 6 5G smartphone.
The OPPO Reno 6 5G smartphone is undeniably beautiful and a statement of elegance and classicism in its lines. It will be familiar to any Apple iPhone 12 / iPhone 13 user with the sharp -edged, angular metal chassis.
Volume selection buttons on the left side of the OPPO Reno 6 5G smartphone.
For this reason, the Reno 6 5G is very nice to have in hand, it is the ideal phone for those who do not like screens with curved corners, or prefer the aesthetics of the iPhone 12 / iPhone 13. It has excellent weight distribution, with all the emphasis on the metallic structure.
OPPO Reno 6 5G smartphone ports and speaker on the bottom edge.
The OPPO Reno 6 5G smartphone has a Type-C USB port, a single speaker, main microphone, as well as the nano SIM card tray at the bottom edge. Here we see the sharp edges with the metal standing out in the structure.
Secondary microphone on the upper edge of the OPPO Reno 6 5G smartphone.
The upper edge, also in metal, features only the secondary microphone for video recording purposes, decreasing ambient noise during calls and other effects. Once again, it's this metal chassis that defines the OPPO phone.
The phone is available in two color tones, here in Arctic Blue.
The phone's back panel is covered in beautifully crafted plastic and has an iridescent treatment. It has a slight shine and peculiar texture, making it pleasant to the touch and, despite the plastic, remains solid and well built.
Angular lines define the OPPO Reno 6 5G smartphone.
In summary, the phone looks quite compact and is very pleasant to use with one hand. More specifically, the dimensions are 156.8 x 72.1 x 7.6 mm (height x thickness x width). Also, the phone's weight is 182 grams.
The earpiece is somewhat hidden between the screen and the aluminum casing.
In other words, it's a relatively compact phone, weighing enough to look solid, dense and well-built, but not in the pocket. It has an average thickness and, on a personal note, I preferred this angular shape to the curved edges of the Reno 6 Pro 5G.
The smartphone's build quality is above average, but it lacks IP certification
The angular frame gives it a more classic look, just like the iPhone 12 / 13.
This is a very well built phone. However, like its brother - Reno 6 Pro 5G - the IPxx certification (resistance to water and dust) is also lacking. However, the phone is solid and creaking free, in addition to having metallic buttons.
The OPPO Reno 6 5G smartphone has a triple camera module.
Corning's Gorilla Glass 5 glass is added to the metal of the structure, protected by the plastic film already applied to the phone. There is also an acrylic application on the island / rear camera section, details that support the product's quality.
We also highlight the positive feedback from the metallic buttons. There is, in effect, a satisfying click , with all the physical elements of its construction inspiring confidence. It is a well built phone with good finishes.
The slightly iridescent rear is the highlight of the Arctic Blue color scheme.
We also have a linear vibration engine that enhances the phone experience. It should be noted that the OPPO Reno 6 5G smartphone can also be purchased in Black Star, more sober, with a slight shine.
There are, however, notable absences such as IP certification, or the second loudspeaker. In fact, the lack of dual speakers was particularly felt in a smartphone created mainly for capturing and consuming entertainment and multimedia.
The build quality is visible in every corner and detail of the phone.
In summary, we have a very well-built phone, but it lacks dual speakers. Although the single speaker, on the lower edge, fulfills its purpose well, the content consumption experience is not comparable. Here it fell short of expectations.
The OPPO phone features the fingerprint reader built into the screen, fast and reliable, with various animations to choose from.
The AMOLED screen is another highlight with up to 90 Hz
Margins are tiny on the OPPO Reno 6 5G smartphone.
The screen of the OPPO Reno 6 5G is 6.43 inches with AMOLED technology, with Full-HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. This panel achieves a maximum brightness of 600 nits (peak) and an average brightness of 430 nits, not being breath-holding values.
However, we also have a high refresh rate of up to 90 Hz on this screen that increases the fluidity of the animations. It is therefore a very good screen, with small edges and rounded corners, slightly compact by today's standards.
Colors have very good saturation with equally pleasant contrast. In fact, the viewing experience is one of the best aspects of the OPPO Reno 6 5G smartphone, with good viewing angles and AMOLED colors, always in demand.
This is a screen with a density of 409 pixels per inch, so all content will look extremely sharp. I would like it to have a wider dynamic range as well as more brightness to make it easier to use outdoors.
Finally, from the settings we can take advantage of some of OPPO's own image optimization modes, such as the "Screen Color Mode". In addition, we also have Video Color Enhancer.
We have, in fact, the possibility of customizing the color temperature as well, among other adjustments for the display . Furthermore, it is possible to set the screen effects always on (Always-on), as well as the side lighting for notifications.
The camera is quite versatile on the OPPO Reno 6 5G
The OPPO Reno 6 5G smartphone is equipped with a triple main camera. The primary sensor has 64 MP (wide angle), the secondary sensor has 8 MP (ultra wide angle) and the third sensor has 2 MP (macro) as well as dual LED flash.
For selfies we have a 32 MP sensor with a wide angle lens and f/2.4 focal aperture. The results of the selfie camera lack detail and overall edge sharpness. By the way, for a 32 MP camera I expected to see at least more precision.
The results are below average for the front camera, even with good lighting conditions, but we have a good dynamic range. Furthermore, the exposure is correct, with the face being almost always well exposed.
The 64 MP main camera behaves as you would expect. It is a good camera for outdoor photography with good lighting conditions. It has a wide dynamic range, good sharpness and plenty of detail even when enlarging captured images.
There is sometimes some inconsistency in the results, but nothing alarming. The camera will not disappoint, quite the opposite and this is one of its main selling points, a camera more than capable to shine on TikTok and other social networks.
It is important to warn of less-than-optimal results in low-light conditions, for example, indoor photos. There is less detail in the images, but here I blame the noise reduction (AI) algorithm that can suppress the detail.
Where the OPPO Reno 6 5G smartphone camera gets extra points is its versatility. That's because we also have an ultra-wide-angle lens capable of delivering good results. In fact, it was the biggest surprise in this range of triple cameras.
OPPO has a succinct and functional camera application, with several dedicated shooting modes. In addition, AI algorithms help to reduce image noise, even though they can be aggressive in low-light conditions.
Results are consistently good. especially outdoors. It's not perfect, it doesn't have as good dynamic range or details as the 64MP camera, but it will surprise you. For an 8 MP camera it does an excellent job.
Finally, we have a 2 MP camera for macro that suffers when the light fades. It will be used to capture details, photos of details, very close to the object to be photographed and, not being perfect, it adds versatility to the general camera system.
OPPO also includes several aids for creating and capturing content such as "AI Highlight Video" and "Live HDR" to name a few that use the power of algorithms to significantly improve the quality of recordings.
We can capture video up to 2160p at 30fps with the main camera. The ultra wide angle can record up to 1080p at 30 fps due to the 8 MP resolution. The quality is not impressive in the details, but in other aspects we have generally very good results!
Dynamic range is good, colors are accurate and correctly balanced, with little digital noise, even on smooth, even surfaces where it is usually easier to detect. Still, the best results are in the main chamber. As captivating as the ultra-wide-angle lens is, the 8MP sensor is anything but great for video.
Battery life is the strongest point of the OPPO Reno 6 5G
The phone has a 4300 mAh battery capacity with fast charging at 65W - SuperVOOC 2.0. It's a somewhat above average capacity in this smartphone format with good autonomy for a day and a half of normal to heavy use.
This smartphone has a 6.43-inch OLED screen and MediaTek's Dimensity 900 processor that helps it to have one of the best autonomy on the market. Especially for Internet browsing, this is one of the most cost-effective phones.
Even though the battery capacity is surpassed by several models such as Xiaomi's, the autonomy of this OPPO is solid, especially in terms of standby time and phone calls. It is the ideal phone for a user who is more restrained in use.
In summary, we have a very good battery life in this compact and well-built phone. The ColorOS interface features several energy saving and optimization modes that will help you get more hours of use with this phone, especially in Dark Theme or Dark Mode.
Best of all is its fast charger and 65W fast charge capability, SuperVOOC 2.0 technology. Especially for its price range, this is an asset that you won't find in competitive smartphones, really useful.
In practice, we have a full load (0% - 100%) in 29 minutes, metrics that will surprise any user. The heat generated is minimal, being a record-breaker for fast charging in phones up to 500 euros. This is, without a doubt, its greatest asset.
The phone's software includes optimized charging mode overnight to prevent battery overcharging, something that will decrease your health over time. It is one of the options that we recommend activating in Phone Settings.
The performance of the OPPO Reno 6 5G is not perfect, but it is good with MediaTek chip.
The OPPO Reno 6 5G is fast enough for most everyday users and tasks. It's not at all perfect insofar as we casually feel a hiccup, a slight delay when performing some task or animation of your ColorOS interface.
Note that the phone uses MediaTek's Dimensity 900 chip with 8GB of RAM and up to an additional 3GB with virtual RAM expansion. As a general rule, it's a phone that's fast enough for today's performance standards.
More than enough for any game you need, although it can take another second or two to get started with a heavy game. Nevertheless, he proved to be competent and without causing frustration in work, communications, games, photography, etc.
In summary, it's not the fastest phone on the market and you'll notice some millisecond delays on certain tasks. My suspicions fall on UI optimization in conjunction with this processor, but it's not a cause for frustration.
ColorOS 11.3 is extremely customizable and relatively lightweight
The phone uses ColorOS 11.3, the brand's own interface or skin that covers all aspects of Google's Android 11. It's a relatively lightweight UI, familiar to anyone familiar with OnePlus smartphones, but here with (many) more customization options.
It is a pleasant interface, with mostly useful tools and, above all, a great diversity of options in its Settings. Best of all is the option to customize the icon format, among other aspects of the home screen.
That said, ColorOS natively has excellent customization options without forcing a habituation period or steep learning curve. Gradually the user will discover their options and will end up liking most of the tools.
The menus are also customizable, whether in Dark Mode or Light Mode, but also in accent colors, animations and layout of various elements. There's even a nice notification light function that lights up the sides of the screen.
In short, ColorOS is synonymous with freedom of customization, without imposing anything on the user. We even have several animations for the built-in fingerprint reader effect and a configuration suite for the visual aspects you'll want to explore.
Are there lighter and possibly faster interfaces? Yes, without a doubt - OxygenOS from OnePlus - but ColorOS is effectively the right choice for the general public. Here we have everything but little bloatware that we might reasonably need in a UI.
Conclusion: style and build quality for young content creators
Those who value construction quality above all will find the OPPO Reno 6 5G smartphone a good phone with access to Google apps and services. It's available in two color tones, this one vibrant in light blue, but we also have a darker one.
The phone lacks IPxx certification (water resistance), with the performance being good, but not perfect. There are episodes of slight lag that can be fixed with a software update, but it also lacks stereo speakers.
This is perhaps the biggest offense for a phone created for content creators and young audiences. In short, it's not the fastest phone up to 500 euros, for that purpose there are better deals from Xiaomi, for example.
Where the OPPO smartphone stands out is its build quality, fast charging at 65W, as well as its excellent battery life. To fulfill its main purpose - the capture and creation of content - it has relatively good and versatile cameras.
There is a lot where OPPO can improve on this phone, but at least the quality / price ratio already deserves a higher note here compared to its "more expensive" brother, the Reno 6 Pro 5G. That said, this is one of the phones that could well use as my daily driver , especially because of the angular shape to there iPhone 12/13.
Strengths of OPPO Reno 6 5G
Sleek, solid design and good weight
Very good build quality and attention to detail
Very good 64 MP main camera
Good AMOLED display with 90 Hz update
Excellent battery life and excellent fast charging at 65W
Weaknesses of the OPPO Reno 6 5G
Lack of dual speakers (stereo sound)
Good performance, but there are some "hiccups"
Is there any bloatware - pre-installed apps - of questionable usefulness
Lack of IPxx certification (resistance to water and dust)
Front camera leaves something to be desired on selfies
