Oppo Reno 14 5G review: Premium looks, sharp cameras; but is it worth₹37,999?

Oppo has unveiled the Reno 14 5G series in India, targeting the premium mid-range market. This smartphone is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 chipset and comes equipped with a triple rear camera system, highlighted by a 50MP primary sensor. The lineup includes a notable variant featuring 12GB of RAM and a spacious 512GB of internal storage. The starting price for the Oppo Reno 14 5G is ₹37,999 for the base model, which includes 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Available in three stylish colors—Forest Green, Mint Green, and Pearl White—our review unit showcased the sophisticated Forest Green finish. Let's delve into the performance of the Oppo Reno 14 5G and see if it meets expectations at its price point. Inside the box, users will find an 80W SuperVOOC charger, a USB Type-C cable, a protective back case, user documentation, and a SIM ejector tool. Right out of the box, the Oppo Reno 14 5G exudes a premium feel, boasting a clean and symmetrical design with slim bezels that enhance its sleek appearance. The aluminum frame is smooth to the touch, contributing to a solid and well-constructed feel. Oppo's design philosophy known as Sponge Bionic Cushioning aims to boost comfort and durability. The rear of the device features a flat glass panel with a matte finish that resists fingerprints effectively. Despite housing a substantial 6,000mAh battery, the phone maintains a lightweight profile, which is a commendable achievement. On the front, a 50MP punch-hole selfie camera is complemented by an in-display fingerprint scanner that responds quickly and accurately. The earpiece also serves as an additional speaker, and the device carries an IP69 rating for water and dust resistance. When it comes to ports and buttons, the power button is located on the right side, while the bottom houses the dual SIM slot, primary microphone, and USB Type-C port. There's also an IR blaster on the top, a useful feature for those who use their phone as a remote control. The Reno 14 5G boasts a 6.59-inch flat AMOLED display with a 1.5K resolution and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, allowing users to switch between FHD+ and the higher resolution based on preference. Corning Gorilla Glass 7i protects the screen, which delivers impressive brightness levels—reaching up to 600 nits in standard use and peaking at 1200 nits in High Brightness Mode (HBM). With 100% DCI-P3 coverage, the colors appear vibrant, and users have the option to select between Vivid, Natural, and Pro color modes. HDR10 support and an image sharpener further enhance the viewing experience. The Reno 14 5G's rear camera array is impressive, featuring a 50MP primary camera with a 1/1.5” Sony IMX882 sensor, an f/1.8 aperture, and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). An 8MP ultra-wide camera complements the setup, along with a remarkable 50MP 3.5x periscope telephoto lens that utilizes a 1/2.76” Samsung JN5 sensor with an f/2.8 aperture. For selfies, the phone features the same high-resolution 50MP front camera. The camera app is loaded with functionalities such as Night Mode, Hi-Res, Panorama, Slo-Mo, Time-Lapse, Underwater Mode, Dual-View Video, and Breeno Scan. In daylight, the camera captures vibrant colors and manages dynamic range effectively, even in challenging lighting conditions. While the 8MP ultra-wide lens performs adequately, it doesn't quite match the sharpness of the main sensor. Macro photography through the primary lens could benefit from additional detail. The periscope lens represents a significant upgrade from its predecessor, producing sharp images even at 30x zoom, although quality declines at 120x digital zoom. Portrait shots are commendable in both 2x and 3.5x modes, showcasing good subject separation and natural bokeh. Low-light performance is also impressive, with the Night Mode maintaining detail and reducing noise effectively. The 50MP selfie camera delivers sharp images with accurate skin tones, even in low-light settings. Video recording capabilities are robust, supporting up to 4K at 60fps, and slow-motion videos come out clear and well-stabilized. The front camera can also record high-quality footage, though Portrait Video mode is limited to 1080p resolution. Under the hood, the Reno 14 5G features the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 chipset, operating on ColorOS based on Android 15. It includes four Arm Cortex-A715 cores clocked at 3.35GHz and four Arm Cortex-A510 cores at 2.2GHz, with graphics powered by the Mali-G615 6-core GPU, delivering solid gaming performance. A Nano Dual-Drive Cooling System helps manage heat during intensive gaming sessions. During gameplay on BGMI at high settings, the device ran smoothly without any frame drops or overheating. On the AnTuTu benchmark, it scored an impressive 1,368,197, with a peak stress test temperature of 43.3°C. Oppo promises three years of Android updates and five years of security patches, providing reassurance to users. The interface is smooth and visually appealing, enhanced by updated icons and widgets, along with a new Flux theme for a personalized touch. However, the device does come with some pre-installed bloatware, most of which can be uninstalled. AI-powered features are integrated throughout the software, offering enhancements for low-resolution images and smart productivity tools like AI summaries and live translations. The audio experience is enhanced by multiple modes—Music, Game, Movie, and Smart—allowing for tailored sound profiles. The speakers deliver clear sound quality suitable for the segment, and call quality is reliable, with no dropped calls reported. The 6,000mAh battery is a notable improvement from the previous model, providing excellent performance in daily use. Even with heavy activities like streaming and social media, the device lasted nearly nine hours. Charging is rapid with the included 80W SuperVOOC fast charger, reaching full capacity in under 45 minutes. In summary, the Oppo Reno 14 5G stands out with its premium design, smooth display, impressive camera features, and reliable battery life. It's an excellent choice for mobile photography lovers. However, potential buyers should be prepared for some initial app cleanup due to pre-installed software, and the pricing may seem high considering the mid-range processor.