The Oppo Reno 7 Pro 5G (Review) was a good upgrade over the Reno 6 Pro (Review) as it switched to a flat display, got stereo speakers and had improved camera sensors, all packaged in a premium design with a fancy notification LED strip around the camera module. Now, Oppo has launched its Reno 8 Pro 5G in India, along with the Reno 8 5G. It boasts of an overhauled design, similar cameras but with a few minor updates, and it gets a newer processor.
But it has also received a new higher price tag and now, goes shoulder-to-shoulder with smartphones such as the OnePlus 10R 5G Endurance Edition (Review) and Realme GT Neo 3 (150W) (Review). I’ve been using the phone for a day and here are my first impressions.
As with every Reno smartphone in the past, design has always been a highlight. With the Nothing Phone 1’s (First Impressions) flashy array of LEDs, I kind of expected something similar from Oppo with the Reno 8 Pro 5G, mainly because the Reno 7 Pro 5G also had an LED ring around its camera bump for notifications. However, the new Oppo Reno 8 Pro takes a more subtle design route with a classy look and no flashing LED lights.
The rear panel does not have a matte finish that most manufacturers seem to be going for these days, but instead uses a glossy finish. It’s made out of Corning’s Gorilla Glass 5 and has a raised camera module, which is fused with the rear glass panel itself. It all feels premium and looks very unique compared to everything else that I’ve seen in this price segment. Oppo also claims that the Reno 8 Pro has an official IP54 rating for dust and water resistance which is good to see at this price point. The frame is made out of metal, but the phone feels surprisingly light (183g), especially given its large footprint.