OPPO Reno6 Z 5G Review: Not Just A Pretty Face
October 8, 2021Premium looking phone with decent hardware, will that be enough?
Performance: MediaTek , 8GB RAM
Display: 6.43-inch Punch-Hole AMOLED FHD+ (1080 x 2400)
Weight: 173g
Storage: 128GB
Battery: 4.300mAh
Features:1080/720p
Rear Camera: 64MP Main, 8MP Ultra-angle, 2MP Macro
Front Camera: 32MP
Rating: 8/10
Price: RM 1,699.00
OPPO’s Reno6 Z 5G comes from a long line of reasonably priced smartphones that have the looks to back up their smarts. The svelte metal frame wraps around the phone’s body allowing the plastic rear shell to tuck neatly underneath to form a seamless pseudo-fold over. The mesmerizing colour scheme comprises green, reddish and silver hues overlapping each other.
It’s called Aurora, which I presume was done as a homage to the natural phenomenon that we’ve come to call the Northern Lights. While not as breathtaking as the actual aurora borealis, the Reno6 Z exudes class unlike anything else in its price range. The effect leads you to believe that it costs nearly twice or three times its actual MSRP, which is a very good thing.
The Looks
OPPO says that it has 20 patents applied for this unique matte Reno Glow. The camera array is raised slightly over the rest of the shell, adding to the premium feel with its metallic-look. It’s astonishing what the company is able to achieve with the right colour combination. If you’re looking for a pretty phone that turns heads – I’m doubtful you’ll find an alternative that exudes the same appeal.
On the right side is the power button and on the left are the volume ones. It seems like a puzzling combination at first glance, but in time it will dawn on you that it’s a well thought out placement. Instead of having to shuffle your thumb up and down, to press the power button and volume rockers, said jobs are split between your thumb and index finger.
It serves as evidence of OPPO’s perceived empathy toward user convenience. The same is true for biometric unlocking with the under-screen fingerprint sensor. The moment the phone senses hand movements or the action of picking up the phone, it activates the fingerprint sensor and displays the imprint location on screen.
The sensor is quick to unlock the screen once it is able to authenticate a user’s fingerprint. Since we’re talking about the screen, it’s a 6.43-inch, FHD+ AMOLED panel that displays vibrant colours, far superior to that of LCD screen phones. Its bottom chin is slightly thicker than its competitors, which is due to the 0.1-inch deficit in screen size.
Performance
This display has a resolution of 1080 x 2400, which offers a decent colour gamut but unlike most of its competitors, doesn’t try to overcompensate. As such, you can expect a more neutral toned output, that is easier on the eyes and good for battery life. This might not be to everyone’s liking because some prefer the punchy effect produced by an overzealous display setting.
But it’s perfect for watching movies and playing less-demanding games. Keep in mind that it only has a 60Hz refresh rate, so don’t expect the same buttery smooth effect offered by 90Hz or 120Hz displays. Its hole-punch is on the far left, an ideal location because you wouldn’t notice its presence when streaming content in horizontal mode.
All-day AI eye comfort is a feature baked in the Reno6 Z that automatically adjusts the screen brightness for the best viewing experience. It’s supposed to ensure that you enjoy the content without hurting your eyes. This is just one of several features that work behind the scenes to keep the phone behaving at its best.
There’s also a Game Focus Mode where the phone prioritizes your gaming experience by offering enhanced features. The Reno6 Z is by no means a dedicated gaming phone, but it can handle itself pretty well. This can be attributed to the underlying software that makes minute changes here and there, to make sure the user experience is prioritized above everything else.
This same mantra is carried on into the way the UI operates. Helpful suggestion boxes pop up from time to time, in order to help you find what you want or set things up just the way you’d like it. The same is true of gesture controls, navigation options and various other features, of which there are many! The level of customization goes far beyond what’s offered by vanilla Android.
OPPO’s engineers need to be commended for this. Instead of asking what users can do without, they choose to look into what they might need. Such an initiative hasn’t gone unnoticed, the hard work is greatly appreciated.
System booster speeds up the phone when you need the extra performance, allowing you to enjoy a smooth user experience. It has a MediaTek Dimensity 800U chipset, which is supposed to be on par if not edge out the Snapdragon 750G in various tests. I can attest to this. Despite the stigma that surrounds MediaTek SoCs, this one is capable of holding its own.
Multitasking between several different apps at once isn’t much of a bother. While chatting on WhatsApp, I had an inkling to check on my food delivery and whether it’ll arrive on time. Then I decided to see how my latest Instagram post was being received by my followers. I did all of this within the span of a few minutes without experiencing lagging or app crashes.
It’s a testament to the strides MediaTek has made in improving its chips. Gone are the days when they played second fiddle to Qualcomm’s powerhouses. Instead, the Dimensity 800U can stand toe-to-toe with its competitor in just about any test. Mind, this is a mid-range and as such, it can’t pull off miracles.
Graphically intensive games seem to struggle a little, especially when a lot of things are happening at once. This became especially apparent when playing games like Need For Speed No Limits. However, most of these titles are still playable at respectable framerates. All things considered, I’d temper my expectations when playing higher end games.
Now, the phone makes use of a multi-cooling system to help dissipate heat from its processor. While it is quite effective at its job, the phone does get a little warm when recording video or playing games for extended periods of time. It doesn’t get uncomfortably hot to the touch, but enough to make you notice the rise in temperature.
Cameras
Photography is OPPO’s forte. Over the years it has released phones that have made some professional cameras redundant. This is the same story with the Reno6 Z. Though its sensors aren’t cutting-edge, they work in tandem with clever AI software to capture impressive shots. Once a picture is taken, post-processing software tweaks the results for the best outcome.
The result is a sharp image with balanced colour saturation and contrast. Surprisingly, the software doesn’t try to boost these properties to produce punchy and overcorrected photos. Instead, it produces more natural ones similar to results attained on Pixel phones.
For portrait shots, the results are far more impressive. The AI is able to successfully identify the outline of the subject to enable bokeh flare in the background. As such, the subject is kept in perfect focus while the background is blurred out to such an extent that the results look surreal. I can’t think of any other mid-range phone that can achieve the same feat.
While many of them have portrait mode, the Reno6 Z’s software is far more astute at creating a bokeh effect. It isn’t a competition, because the comparison would be similar to that of comparing apples to oranges – it’s in a different league. As such you’re able to pull off some ‘pro’ level results without even trying.
This is also true of night photography. The AI software tries to sharpen and boost exposure around the subject, regardless of how low the ambient lighting may be. Now, it may not be a miracle worker, but the shots that are captured look far better than they ought to be. This is attributed to the AI software tweaking the details around the subject for the best outcome.
It’s the same story for video recording. The stabilization and image processing is quite good resulting in clips that feel naturally balanced. Now, that might be a deal breaker for the Instagram crowd, but to those who appreciate realism, the Reno 6 Z doesn’t disappoint. The sharpness and framerate are on par with other mid-range phones.
With that said, the phone captures decent videos in most lighting conditions. Its strength however is in photography especially when capturing portrait shots – this is an area where it shines the most. And if you’re the type who constantly post your travels and social gatherings, then this is your perfect companion.
Similar to that of bokeh results, the image processing software is quite aggressive at beautifying and smoothen skin texture. Though it might not be to everyone’s tastes, the results can be very good. The selfie images and videos captured are able to hide most blemishes and imperfections, resulting in flattering portraits.
This means that you don’t have to do much editing work yourself before posting pictures or videos on Instagram. The phone sorts everything out, leaving you the task of capturing as much content as you’d like.
Equipped with a 4,300mAh battery, the Reno6 Z 5G is able to offer a full day’s worth of battery life. I expected at least 4,500mAh since that is the bare minimum in 2021, but apparently OPPO begs to differ. It uses Super Power Saving Mode and Super Nighttime Standby to prolong battery life. To compensate for the less than stellar battery capacity, there’s the 30W VOOC.
OPPO’s fast charging tech allows you to recharge the phone to 100% in just 52 minutes. Now, what that means for overall battery health remains to be seen, but the level of convenience that this feature offers is undeniable. Even when the charge dips into “dangerously low” territory, plugging it into the wall socket for just 20-25 minutes will result in nearly 50% charge.
As such, battery life isn’t something you should be concerned about. Though the capacity isn’t great, the fast charging tech compensates for this quite well. My advice is to charge the phone when you wake up in the morning. That way, by the time you’re ready to leave the house, the charge level should hover around 90 to 100%.
Should I Buy This Phone
If you’re into photography, the answer is a resounding yes. That’s what this phone is built for. Its looks are actually backed by substance. This is a great companion to take on trips or events because it can capture sharp images with good depth and detail.
It’s also good at multitasking, especially when juggling several different apps at once. The Mediatek chipset is adept at doing several things at once. However, this isn’t a dedicated gaming phone, so you won’t be able to play demanding titles without noticing intermittent performance issues.
Don’t get me wrong, it can play most mobile games without much fuss, but it will struggle at rendering more graphically demanding ones. Many of such games require higher-end processors with greater computational thresholds to execute properly. This is a mid-range phone with pro-level portrait abilities.
