OPPO Reno 10 5G Review: Power in style

If the devil works hard then OPPO works 10 times harder. Despite the first iteration of the OPPO Reno smartphone only launching back in April 2019 the phone is already in its tenth edition.

Reno is ostensibly OPPO’s photography line and in most aspects, it certainly lives up to this aspiration, especially well for a mid-range phone - but there's room for improvement. 

Great portraiture but not yet the best

Let's just get this out of the way, the OPPO Reno 10 can take some incredibly beautiful-looking photos. However, it falls slightly short against the Google Pixel 7a which continues to have the best smartphone camera in this price range.

Both phones have a 64MP main camera and comparatively, the Pixel 7a’s strengths lie in fine detail. It's hard to recreate studio-perfect production shots in the OPPO Reno 10’s marketing kit. 

The Pixel 7a's portrait mode software is more accurate and overall its portrait shots are sharper. Details are softer on the Reno 10, especially the darker areas of the image. This is most noticeable with dark hair and more generally shots taken in low light. 

Note: Portrait taken by the OPPO Reno 10 (left) and portrait taken by the Pixel 7a (right).

This shouldn't detract from the fact the OPPO Reno 10 5G is still a handy companion to have at your side for happy snaps, street photography and more. Its 32MP telephoto lens works great (far better than digital zoom) and outdoors it captures scenic shots well.

OPPO Reno 10 camera samples

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For a better idea of what the OPPO Reno 10 cameras can do take a look at these samples samples. Click or tap on any photo to see a larger version. 

While the camera is the most promoted aspect of this phone it’s the battery that had me seriously impressed. First, OPPO still includes a charging brick in the box with the Reno 10. In this case, it’s a 67W charger that can take the phone from flat to 100% in 40 minutes using OPPO’s proprietary SuperVOOC technology. There’s a nice little bit of UX at play here as well. While charging a graphic displays on the screen showing the battery percentage spring back to life rapidly in just a few seconds.

The 5,000mAh battery far surpasses the 4,385mAh one installed on the Pixel 7a. The Pixel 7a will last most of the day but will need a top up to get you through to the end of the night if headed out. The OPPO Reno 10 5G on the other hand can power through a lot longer. On a heavy-use day you can expect it to last five-and-a-half to six hours of screen time and still have juice in the tank. 

When my battery usage was lighter I managed to get through a full day and a half before I was considering putting the phone on the charger for a top-up.

Form and function

The OPPO Reno 10 5G has a seriously elegant design. The seemingly enormous camera bump is not as intrusive as it first appears. If it really bothers you throw on a phone case and it’s non-existent. 

The phone comes in two colours: Silvery Grey and Icy Blue. On the Icy Blue model, the rear glass has a striking pearlescent finish that adds to the premium look and feel of the phone. It’s a thin, lightweight handset which is impressive given its large battery.

However, the phone errs on the side of pretty rather than tough. The OPPO Reno 10 5G lacks a formal IP rating (even the $350 OPPO A78 5G has splash resistance) so you definitely don't want to drop it in water. 

There is some level of protection in the form of a pre-installed screen protector. While it forms a straight edge on an otherwise curved screen it isn’t too intrusive and provides moderate protection. It doesn’t detract from the quality of the display which holds up well in sunlight so you can use the phone unbothered.

In terms of performance the Reno 10 runs as smoothly as you’d hope for a phone that's only a couple hundred shy from a grand. There’s no noticeable lag when playing mobile games like Marvel Snap or Genshin Impact. The former doesn’t put too much strain on the battery but the latter does. Genshin Impact's graphics also don't hold up as well on the Reno 10 as they do on other phones at this price point. 

One software-related downside is the amount of bloatware OPPO includes. You can avoid a long list of games by deselecting the option during set up but then there's still a secondary app store, a separate theme store, a secondary web browser, and two music apps. It's enough to be a big nuisance if you can ever be bothered to clear it out. 

The phone has a couple of other features that surprise and delight. If you're ever coming home from a night out and are worried about a flat battery then Super Power Saving mode adds an extra level of security. While most power-saving modes limit background app activity to a degree, ColorOS does that and more. It actively limits you to just a few apps of your choosing. This helps curb your instinct to scroll apps that drain your battery faster. It also displays a helpful countdown for how much longer it can stay powered. 

Surprisingly, the OPPO Reno 10 also features an IR blaster which means you always have a television remote at hand if like me you’re prone to losing yours during your Netflix binge.

OPPO Reno 10 5G - Final Thoughts

For a $750 price tag the OPPO Reno 10 5G is a premium-feeling, all-round phone perfect for everyday users. Its powerful battery makes it a solid choice for anyone who wants a phone they can rely on across the day from start to finish without the need to carry a charger everywhere. 

Otherwise, the Reno 10's multi-camera system holds up perfectly well in most situations, but if you want a best-in-class camera you may have better luck elsewhere. The Pixel 7a can take better photos at the same price, or you might want to consider a more expensive flagship device if photography is the main reason you're buying a new phone. 

Dylan Crismale

Digital Content Editor

Dylan Crismale is a Digital Content Editor at WhistleOut, has been writing for almost a decade across a variety of Australian publications. He previously worked as a writer at Finder covering energy, internet and mobile plans. Dylan is passionate about finding the best deals to save people money and educating people about tech. When he's not sat at his desk Dylan loves working out, bingeing TV and hanging out with friends.​

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