Oppo’s new mid-range phone is ‘one of the most beautiful phones I’ve ever tested,’ with excellent performance and cameras to match — but one thing stops me from giving it top marks harry.padoan@futurenet.com (Harry Padoan) | usagoldmines.com

Oppo Reno 16 5G: two-minute review

The Oppo Reno 16 5G is a stunning mid-range phone with a lush display, fantastic camera and strong performance. If you’re looking for a phone with “summer looks” and “star vibes,” that’s exactly how Oppo is describing its new mid-range handset, which is aiming to be among the most trendy, flashy looking models on the market.

But it’s not all marketing hype — I really do think that the Oppo Reno 16 5G is a gorgeous phone. It’s slim, comes in some beautiful color options, and has a striking 3D holographic design on the reverse side, making it the ideal option for those seeking an aesthetically pleasing and stylish digital companion. It’s also lightweight and compact for those who prefer a smaller device.

Don’t be fooled, though, this thing isn’t just a pretty face. Like all of the best phones, the Oppo Reno 16 5G offers solid performance (thanks to its Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 processor), a clean and easy-to-use UI, and a 6,000mAh battery for seamless everyday use.

Another highlight for me, though, was the camera quality on the Reno 16 5G. It has a highly capable system of cameras, featuring a 50MP wide, ultra-wide, and selfie camera, as well as a 50MP telephoto lens. And for a mid-range phone, this thing produces really impressive results. The telephoto lens — which in itself isn’t always a guarantee to get at this price-point — can capture detailed, rich photos with surprisingly little compromise, and the phone is also able to capture 4K 60fps footage with its main or front camera — not bad, eh?

The display, though small, is also vibrant and punchy, and finer intricacies come through nicely when watching movies or YouTube videos in full HD. You won’t get the perfect contrast and detailing that the priciest flagships plate up, sure, but compared to rivals, the Reno 16 5G’s display is very decent indeed.

On the software side, things are pretty good — albeit slightly flawed. ColorOS, which runs on Android 16, runs like a dream the vast majority of the time, and is both well-laid out and easy to customize. Bloatware is relatively limited too, which was a relief for me, even if a handful of the usual offenders (like Temu and AliExpress) are pre-installed.

There are some small oddities, and the default AI-generated background carousel is truly awful, though it can be deactivated if you prefer (and yes, I do indeed prefer). Other AI features are more palatable, and all centralized in the Mind Pilot app, which is fine enough.

In fact, most of my gripes with the Oppo Reno 16 5G are relatively minor. I would’ve liked to have seen wireless charging onboard, and the device can get a little toasty when the processor is hard at work. But overall, this is an excellent phone.

The one thing that I consider a sticking point is the device’s price. At £649 (about $880), it’s more expensive than its recently released predecessor, and is certainly towards the top-end of that mid-range bracket. When rivals like the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro offer similar performance across the board (as well as a stunning design), the high cost could prove to be a turn off for a lot of consumers. Still, the Oppo Reno 16 5G is certainly a highly capable mid-range phone with the substance to back up its style, and I’d recommend it — especially if you spot it on sale!

Oppo Reno 16 5G review: price and availability

• Priced at £649 (about $880)
• Released in July 2026
• Not sold directly in the US, but could conceivably be imported

The Oppo Reno 16 5G was released in July 2026, just half a year after its predecessor. In the UK, the Oppo Reno 16 5G is priced at £649 (about $880), and comes with 512GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. However, some different storage options are available in other markets, such as India. The Reno 16 5G is quite expensive for a mid-range phone, and costs about £50 more than its predecessor did at launch.

The standard Reno 16 5G is not sold in Australia, but a similar model is available called the Oppo Reno 16F 5G. Although Oppo’s phones aren’t directly sold in the US, you could potentially import it. The Reno 16 5G is available in a range of colors across different markets, but in the UK there are two options: Pop White and Purple Black.

Oppo Reno 16 5G review: specs

Oppo Reno 16 5G review: design

• Impressive build quality
• Attractive look with 3D pattern
• Ultimate IP69K dust and waterproof rating

It really feels like a lot of the Oppo Reno 16 5G’s appeal is in its design. Even on Oppo’s website, a substantial amount of attention is placed on its aesthetic, which is meant to radiate “summer looks” and “star vibes”. And I have to say, this is a really great-looking phone.

The Pop White variant I tested is slim, lightweight, and has an excellent standard of build — it’s constructed from aerospace-grade aluminum, according to Oppo. The Reno 16 5G is a fairly compact device, with a 6.32-inch display, and it feels incredibly comfortable in-hand. It’s worth noting that it’s very similar form-wise to my Xiaomi 17, so moving across to the Reno 16 5G felt natural for me, but if you’re accustomed to a larger phone, like the iPhone 17 Pro Max, say, then it may feel a little undersized to you.

Something that’s unique about this device is its use of ‘Holoverse 3D technology’. On the glass back cover of the phone, you’ll see a visual of a floating planet that actually pops out at you, much like graphics on a 3D display but without having to wear the glasses. It looks fantastic, I’ve never seen this on a phone before, and it adds some nice flair to the Reno 16 5G’s aesthetic.

Right, we’ve ascertained that this is an excellent-looking phone, but does the Oppo Reno 16 5G have the practical elements to make it a true design marvel? Well, yes.

It has well-sized buttons, the camera module is pretty low-profile, and perhaps best of all, the device has an IP69K rating. IP69K is the pinnacle of the dust and waterproof rating tree, and means that the phone is fully protected against dust ingress and can survive high-pressure, high-temperature water jets from close range. It will even survive being submerged underwater, meaning it’s pretty accident-proof — though I still wouldn’t recommend scrolling in the shower or anything.

• Design score: 5/5

Oppo Reno 16 5G review: display

• 6.32-inch AMOLED display
• 120Hz refresh rate
• Solid peak brightness of 3,600 nits

The Oppo Reno 16 5G has the sort of screen you’d expect from a mid-range device. It has a 6.32-inch AMOLED display, with a 2640 x 1216 — sometimes known as Full HD+ — resolution.

But what does this mean in-use? Well, I found that the Reno 16 5G produced vibrant, punchy colors, solid contrast, and decent detailing. When watching a wildlife video on YouTube in 1080p HDR, I was struck by rich green tones, intense reds, and azure blues that helped every part of the environment pop. When tuning into The Dark Knight Rises on Netflix, black levels weren’t the best I’ve seen, but the picture was still relatively detailed, and finer elements, like lines on faces were still perfectly visible.

As you’d expect from a mid-range model, the Reno 16 5G’s display has a 120Hz refresh rate. That means that keen mobile gamers can enjoy 120fps gameplay, if software supports it that is. More generally, this meant that scrolling and typical use was incredibly smooth and fluid.

In addition, the Reno 16 5G has a commendable peak brightness of 3,600 nits. This meant that I had no issues using the phone outdoors during an incredibly bright (and sweltering) summer in the UK.

All in all, you’re getting good performance for a phone in the mid-range category. Don’t expect flagship quality in terms of detailing and resolution, but when comparing it against rivals, you’ll likely be satisfied with the Reno 16 5G’s display.

• Display score: 4/5

Oppo Reno 16 5G review: software

• Runs ColorOS 16.0, with five years of OS and six years of security updates
• Lots of AI functionality — but some parts are more welcome than others
• Relatively light on bloatware

The software experience on the Oppo Reno 16 5G is pretty good overall, but it isn’t without its flaws.

This phone runs ColorOS 16.0 out of the box, which is running on Android 16. You’ll get five years of OS updates, and six years worth of security updates. This is pretty good for a phone in this price-range, and will likely serve most users across their time with the device.

ColorOS 16.0 provides the kind of user experience that those familiar with Android would expect. The UI is clear and looks pretty stylish, accessing apps and settings is quick and easy, and you can customize the home screen swiftly.

But let’s take a deeper look at what the Reno 16 5G has to offer. Like a lot of rivals, Oppo is going pretty hard on AI functionality. To be honest, I don’t ever use AI functions on my usual phone, but there are a few options worth highlighting.

Most functions sit in the Mind Pilot app, which lets you make use of Gemini, Perplexity, or ChatGPT, or as I like to call them, the three horsemen of the apocalypse. You can insert basic prompts, ask it to remember vocal prompts and store them as memories, or manage your transactions. Essentially, it’s able to record and collect content on-screen, and help you organize it all in one central hub. Does it work? Sure. But I’d rather handle these sorts of tasks manually

The Reno 16 5G also uses AI to generate some wallpaper options for you — at least that’s what it did for me by default. The results are often ugly and unlikable. The prompts are also left on the wallpaper, a decision I find baffling decision. A lowlight was ‘Farmer saves kittens using a broom handle’, which literally just displayed a ginger cat swimming underwater. This is the sort of AI use that leaves a sour taste, and almost no one actually wants it. Thankfully, you can disable this, but Oppo, please just get rid of this feature.

Something that I did appreciate, however, was that the Reno 16 5G was pretty light on bloatware. You’ll see a few unwanted apps — AliExpress, Temu, and Block Blast to name a few. But I wasn’t subjected to a swathe of shoddy mobile games or unwanted AI chatbots — something I got on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G — and most of the pre-installed stuff was things you’d expect, like Google and Meta apps, for instance.

And to finish on a high, I want to shout-out the Snap Key. This is a button on the left side of the phone that enables you to instantly trigger one of many functions. Options include: taking a screenshot, turning on the torch, opening the camera, and more. It’s fully customizable and works like a dream, and I wish my flagship Xiaomi phone had this.

• Software score: 3.5/5

Oppo Reno 16 5G review: cameras

• Very solid 50MP main camera
• But the telephoto lens is a real highlight
• Solid selfie camera and video performance

I used the Oppo Reno 16 5G to take photos in a wide variety of lighting conditions, both inside and outside — testing all of its cameras and video performance in the process. And after checking the final results, I have to say that the Reno 16 5G is a pretty nifty phone for photography.

The main 50MP camera is really solid, delivering the exact kind of quality I’d expect from a mid-range device. In bright outdoor conditions, the camera is at its best, producing vibrant colors and plenty of detail. I snapped some trees by my office, and the richness of the greens and gorgeous blue sky were captured fantastically well. Taking photos also feels incredibly easy, with image stabilization on board.

On a more overcast day, the main camera maintained impressive color accuracy and delivered great contrast. Some finer details could’ve looked clearer, but the final results were strong overall. The main camera also did great indoors with, or without, artificial lighting. It replicated the striking emerald green color of my strange yet beloved frog ornament, for instance.

Something that truly exceeded my expectations, though, was the Reno 16 5G’s telephoto lens. Usually, budget or mid-range phones struggle to provide clear and detailed images when zooming in too far, but the Reno 16 5G is an exception. Even when taking a photo at 7x zoom, the intricacies of a building in the distance were surprisingly clear, and details of surrounding foliage were captured with relative ease.

You also get a good quality, 50MP selfie camera, which can zoom out to easily fit you and all of your friends in frame. No more weird arm craning needed.

Video is also great on the Reno 16 5G. You can capture footage in 4K at 60fps — either with the main or selfie camera. Advanced stabilization tech and tilt correction help you to get smooth, fluid, and quality footage at all times.

There are a number of editing and processing tools that also help you get impressive results on the Reno 16 5G. These include ProXDR, which shows your photos with enhanced dynamic range, and AI Remix Collage, which includes options like an AI eraser, and Perfect Shot (which detects stuff like closed eyes).

• Camera score: 4.5/5

Oppo Reno 16 5G review: performance

• Smooth everyday performance with Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 processor
• Really good built-in speakers, good codec support
• 8GB of RAM enough for multi-tasking, but gets a little hot with higher-demand stuff

Like a lot of its recently released fellow mid-rangers, the Oppo Reno 16 5G makes use of the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset. This is a pretty solid option shared by other models we’ve rated highly, like the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro. But how does it perform in practice?

Well, I found the Reno 16 5G to run nicely, and experienced very few performance blips during my intensive testing. Of course, it handles the standard stuff like social media scrolling, menu navigation, and surfing the web with ease. But I also found it up-to-the-task for gaming. I hopped onto Genshin Impact — a relatively demanding, 3D game — and the Reno 16 5G handled it without a hitch. Whether I was dashing around sprawling areas, doing battle with mysterious creatures, or watching cinematics, the phone held its own with frame drops kept pretty minimal.

Even when multi-tasking between a lot of apps at once, then Reno 16 5G seemed to keep things under control. I had one occasion where there was a bit of slow-down on the home screen, but this only lasted for a very brief moment. The model I used has 8GB of RAM, which is the standard for a mid-range handset.

One thing I will say is that when the processor is put to work, the device can get pretty hot to the touch. It’s something I’ve also experienced with my Xiaomi 17, and after I left the phone to cool off for a few minutes, it was fine to use again, but this is an issue that some more powerful phones may not pose.

An area of the phone’s performance that impressed me was its audio capabilities. I review a lot of audio gear here at TechRadar, so it’s fair to say that I have high standards. But I found this to be a great lil’ device sound-wise, right across the board. The built-in speakers provide surprisingly clean, articulate sound, and although there’s little in the way of bass, I’d never expect impactful low-end from phone speakers.

There’s also excellent Bluetooth codec support, with both LDAC and aptx (thanks to the Snapdragon chip). That means you can enjoy higher-res wireless streaming on the go, if you have compatible headphones or speakers, like the Sony WH-1000XM6 or Bose SoundLink Max.

• Performance score: 4/5

Oppo Reno 16 5G review: battery life

• 6,000mAh battery is good for a day’s use
• Supports 80W wired charging
• No wireless charging

The Oppo Reno 16 5G has a 6,000mAh battery, and while I’ve tested phones with more than this, that’s still quite large. I found it to be good for a day’s worth of mixed usage — gaming, watching videos, scrolling the web, and general use. Your mileage will vary depending on the applications you use and how intensive they are, but Oppo says you get over 60 hours worth of calling time with the Reno 16 5G. Not bad, is it?

When your phone does run dry, it doesn’t take all too long to bring it back to life, either. It supports very fast 80W wired charging, and I found it could charge to full in around an hour.

Something that I found slightly disappointing, though, is that the Reno 16 5G does not support wireless charging. At this price, it would’ve been a nice feature to have, especially as my wireless charger stand is a staple of my office desk setup.

It’s also worth noting you get the standard battery preservation options, battery saving settings, and a hub where you can view battery use by app.

• Battery life score: 4/5

Should I buy the Oppo Reno 16 5G?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Oppo Reno 16 5G review: also consider

How I tested the Oppo Reno 16 5G

• Tested over the course of a week
• Used for gaming, photography, and general productivity
• Made full use of various features and camera settings

I spent a week testing the Oppo Reno 16 5G, during which time I tested out its various features, put it through its paces with mobile games, and snapped a whole lot of photos.

When taking photos, I stuck mainly to the 16:9 aspect ratio, and tried snapping buildings, foliage, household objects and more in a range of lighting conditions. These included: artificial light, low-light indoors, natural light outdoors and indoors, and nighttime outdoors. I also made sure to assess the phone’s battery life across a full day of mixed usage, compare its software to that of my Xiaomi and Nothing phones, and test its display side by side with some rivals.

More generally, I’ve spent years testing gadgets here at TechRadar, where I serve as a Senior Reviews Writer. I’ve reviewed a number of phones including the budget-friendly Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G and the flashy Nothing Phone (4a).

• Read more about how we test
• First reviewed: August 2026