Oppo Reno 14 5G first impressions

Barring flagships, most other phones play a game of seesaw. One feature shines, while another is compromised. For instance, if you get a good camera, the performance might be mediocre, and when you get a solid performance, the camera often lets you down.

The Oppo Reno 14 5G, however, finds itself comfortably in the middle. It boasts a stylish design, good cameras, and capable hardware, all in the mid-range segment. We spent some time with the Oppo Reno 14 5G and here are first impressions.

A design that dresses up for the part

Smartphones today are an extension of your personal style. And if you’re someone who believes their accessories and gadgets should match the vibe of their outfit, the Oppo Reno 14 5G might just be your kind of aesthetic.

It’s slim at 7.4mm thickness and lightweight at 187 grams. At first glance itself, we fell in love with the Forest Green shade. It’s not too flashy and exactly the opposite of dull; it’s rather aesthetically pleasing to look at and brings a sophisticated shimmer to the table. And the matte finish and curvy body make it classy.

The cleaner triple camera setup on the back and tactile buttons on the sides make it look quite premium in hands. Oppo says that it’s a one-piece sculpted glass build and it just adds to the phone’s aesthetics. Not to forget the aluminium frame, which holds everything intact. There’s also an IP68 and IP69 rating for added durability.

A display that’s content worthy

With a 6.59-inch display, the Reno 14 5G offers a better in-hand feel and usage than the competition. The adaptive OLED screen is quite bright and is easily visible in the daytime. But during peak afternoons, you might have a hard time trying to see what’s on the screen.

The display has slim bezels, making the viewing experience intuitive. The panel supports HDR10+, making it ready for binge-watching Netflix content.

Flagship-esque cameras in the midrange

One of the key features that makes the Oppo Reno 14 5G stand out from the crowd is its camera. Oppo has gone for a flagship-esque camera system here, with a 50MP main camera, a 50MP telephoto camera, and an 8MP ultra-wide sensor.

The daylight shots are sharp and have the Oppo pop. Skin tones look almost natural, and the photos from the telephoto camera look cinematic. The device also does a good job of clicking selfies. Not too dramatic nor bland, instead they are likeable and shareable.

Smooth performance and AI add-ons

The Reno 14 5G doesn’t pack the most powerful chipset. Instead, it gets the Dimensity 8350, which is fairly powerful enough to handle all your daily tasks. The device feels buttery smooth and switching between apps is quick.

As for software, unlike the Reno 14 Pro 5G, the Reno 14 5G does have some bloatware, including some app suggestions. But thankfully, these apps can be deleted and the overall UI does feel smooth. After all, it boots on Android 15-based ColorOS 15, and it’s optimised well.

The UI also brings AI features, like AI Editor and Circle to Search. It’s great to see that Oppo isn’t limiting the AI experience to only flagships.

The Reno 14 also houses a large 6,000mAh battery with 80W fast charging support. With our brief time with the device, we couldn’t exactly test Oppo’s loft battery claims. But that’s for the full review.

Oppo Reno 14 5G first impressions

Overall, the Oppo Reno 14 5G appears to be a lucrative choice at Rs 37,999. We are a fan of the minimal build and design, love the Forest Green shade, and the cameras are impressive.

ALSO READ: Oppo Find X8 Pro long-term review

However, there’s more to test to give a verdict, like the video quality, sustained performance, and battery life. For all that, stay tuned to Unboxed by Croma.