Heads up, OPPO fans! Your beloved international smartphone brand has just released a new smartphone here in the Philippines.
Priced at only PHP 18,999, the freshly announced OPPO Reno8 T looks great, takes amazing ultra-high-resolution photos, comes with rather powerful internal hardware, and has a large battery pack supporting fast charging, which should make it a very attractive offer for budget-conscious consumers who want to upgrade to a new device that reflects an aspirational lifestyle.
This stellar handset was officially launched via an exclusive media event held at The Enderun Tent in BGC, Taguig City on February 8, 2023. I graced OPPO Philippines’ invitation for this gathering, making it my first tech event appearance since March 2020.
You can watch highlights from the OPPO Reno8 T launch in the Philippines here:
OPPO Reno8 T Unboxing
This smartphone ships in this light grey box with an iridescent accent housing the number 8 printed on the cover along with the model name in the upper left partn.
OPPO Reno8 T’s official retail package includes the unit itself, the safety guide pamphlet, the metal pin for ejecting the SIM card tray, the USB charging cable, the SuperVOOC travel charger, and a free soft silicone case so you won’t have to buy one separately.
Design and Aesthetics
I’ve seen many, many gorgeous smartphones from OPPO through the years – from the ultra-popular F-Series to the flagship Find line of yesteryears – and I have to say that OPPO Reno8 T certainly stands shoulder to shoulder with all of those when we talk about aesthetics.
My review unit comes in the Orange Sunset colorway, which also inspired the name of this smartphone’s launch event, “The Golden Hour”. Personally, this is the variant that I recommend since it looks more striking and unique for this particular release.
OPPO Reno8 T also comes in Black Starlight color, which has a more subdued look that many young corporate professionals might prefer. I think it has a more serious and no-nonsense appeal, which can be very attactive to some.
Both variants come with what OPPO calls “Fiberglass Leather Finish” that doesn’t only look luxurious but also feels great to the touch. For me, it’s one of the three things that make this model a true headturner.
The second one would be the metallic mid-frame of the device, which comes in Gold for the Sunset Orange Variant. This accent gives OPPO Reno8 T an added air of elegance and sophistication, making it look more expensive than it actually is.
Finally, I like the balanced and proportioned look and feel of the handset when you have it in your hand. It’s not heavy or chunky in one side and too thin or flimsy in another. Additionally, the design of the camera module, which features two large circles, made the backe look cleaner and less triggering for those with trypophobia or fear of small hole clusters.
In front, OPPO Reno8 T’s features a large screen framed by fairly slim bezels, which helped in minimizing the footprint of the device. In the upper left corner of the display there’s a punch hole housing the front-facing camera. I will talk more about these features a bit later.
Slim and light, OPPO Reno8 T measures 160.8 x 73.8 x 7.8 mm and weighs just around 180 grams, making it a joy to hold or to keep in the pocket when you’re out and about.
As for the panels, the left side has the volume up and down buttons as well as the SIM card tray; The right side has the power button; Nothing on the top panel other than a microphone pinhole; And finally, at the rear, you will find a 3.5mm audio jack, another microphone pinhole – which means that the device supports stereo sound recording, the USB Type C charging port, and three holes for the loudspeaker.
Display
OPPO Reno8 T flaunts a 6.43-inch FullHD+ 1080 x 2400 pixels AMOLED that’s crisp, bright, and brilliant enough to deliver an enjoyable viewing experience when you’re watching videos on Youtube, Netflix, or HBO Go, reading blogs and websites, browsing social media apps, or even just reading emails and modules.
This screen also supports up to 90Hz Refresh Rate, which enables smoother or more fluid screen transitions when you’re navigating the interface with touch gestures and even when you’re playing mobile games that support higher frame rates.
Imaging Capabilities
OPPO Reno8 T sports a Triple Rear Camera module made up of the following:
1. 100 MegaPixels, f/1.7 Aperture, 26mm, PDAF
This is the most powerful camera of the bunch when it comes to sensor size, aperture, and sheer resolution. As such, naturally, it’s the one you will use the most for your everyday point-and-shoot photography. What’s particularly special about it is its ultra-high 100 MegaPixels resolution, allowing you to crop in on your images for better framing or composition without losing quality or clarity, especially when snapping portraits.
2. 2 MegaPixels, f/3.3, 34mm, Microscope Camera
This secondary Microscope camera of OPPO Reno8 T is what I think what sets it apart from all other smartphones – be it from OPPO or any other brand – that I have reviewed in the past. It’s just something I haven’t seen before. If you’ve ever wondered how your hair follicles, moles, or jewelry look under the microscope, this camera will make it possible for you to see those. It truly takes Macrophotography to a whole new level. I’m just not sure how practical this shooter will be to most consumers but I’m sure that some will find it wildly entertaining, amazing, or even funny to use.
3. 2 MegaPixels, f/2.4, Depth Sensor
Finally, the tertiary shooter enables Portrait Mode, which lets you add luscious background blur to your subjects to make Portraits look more eye-catching and visually pleasing. For me, this feature along with the 100MP main camera can help make the OPPO Reno8 T user a true Portrait Expert.
For those who love to take selfies, OPPO Reno8 T has a whopping 32 MegaPixel f/2.4 22mm front-facing camera that’s housed in the punch hole above the display. This snapper is powered by OPPO’s renowned beautification software and Portrait mode that deliver gorgeous selfies that are instantly ready for sharing on social media.
Aspiring TikTokers, Youtubers, and vloggers can also definitely use OPPO Reno8 T to shoot videos. This handset had FullHD 1080p 30fps front and back video recorders, which are decent enough for content creation. It’s not the best OPPO smartphone out there for this task but it can get the job done.
Stay tuned for a separate TechPinas article showing sample photos and videos taken using the OPPO Reno8 T.
Internal Hardware
Under the hood, OPPO Reno8 T runs its ColorOS 13 customized Android 13 operating system with a powerful and energy-efficient 6nm 2.2GHz Octa-Core Mediatek MT8781 Helio G99 processor that incorporates a Mali-G57 MC2 GPU delivering stutter-free interface navigation and fairly decent mobile gaming experience for popular titles like Mobile Legends Bang Bang.
The SoC is complemented by 8GB + 8GB of Expanded RAM for smooth multitasking experience or running multiple apps concurrently and 256GB of internal storage that can even be expanded using the hybrid microSD card slot as shown in the image above.
For me the notably large RAM + ROM combo of OPPO Reno8 T makes it a standout in its price bracket. The 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage, in particular is a real treat in its echelon.
Battery Size and Charging Speed
OPPO Reno8 T is powered by a sizable 5,000 mAh Li-Po Battery that easily enables a whole day of uptime even for power users. This high capacity pack can even eliminate the need for a powerbank for many users, which is great news for those who hate carrying too many accessories in their bags.
Additionally, the handset supports 33W Fast Charging, delivering 54% charge from 0% in just 30 Minutes. With this, the user can spend more time using the handset to celebrate his or her passions instead of plugging the device to an electrical outlet for an extended period.
Privacy and Security Features
On top of the familiar pattern and passcode unlock methods, OPPO Reno8 T comes with both Facial Recognition as well as an Under-Display Fingerprint Scanner. These features add a veritable later of privacy and security for the user against those who check other people’s smartphone content without permission.
The In-Display Fingerprint Sensor is also a big treat on a handset in this category as we usually only see it on smartphones that are double the price of OPPO Reno8 T.
Recommendation
To be completely fair, in terms of downright attractive design, clarity of display, decent set of internal hardware, high-res selfie camera, ultra-high-resolution main shooter, innovative security features, large battery size, and fast charging speed, OPPO Reno8 T is definitely a strong and attractive competitor in its price bracket.
Even if I wish that it had a ultra-wide-angle stills camera at the back along with a 4K video recorder, I think that this model has enough stellar selling points to warrant my recommendation. So if you’re thinking of buying a new smartphone for yourself or a loved one and your budget for it is around PHP 19,000, I suggest that you include OPPO Reno8 T in your list of smartphones to consider getting.
OPPO Reno8 T Specs
160.8 x 73.8 x 7.8 mm
180 or 183 grams
6.43 inches, FullHD+, 1080 x 2400 pixels, AMOLED
90Hz Refresh Rate
Triple Rear Camera Module:
100 MegaPixels, f/1.7 Aperture, 26mm, PDAF
2 MP, f/3.3, 34mm, Microscope Camera
2 MP, f/2.4, Depth Sensor
Front-Facing Camera:
32 MegaPixel, f/2.4, 22mm
Video Recorder:
Front and Back – FullHD 1080p 30fps
ColorOS 13
Android 13
6nm 2.2GHz Octa-Core Mediatek MT8781 Helio G99
Mali-G57 MC2 GPU
8GB RAM + 8GB RAM Expansion
256GB ROM UFS 2.2
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth 5.3
4G LTE-A
Under-Display Fingerprint Scanner
3.5mm Audio Jack
Gyroscope
USB Type C 2.0
USB OTG
33W Fast Charging, 54% in 30 Minutes
Non-Removable 5,000 mAh Li-Po Battery Pack
Fiberglass Leather Finish
Black Starlight, Orange Sunset
OPPO Reno8 T Price in the Philippines
Official SRP – PHP 18,999
Official Launch in the Philippines – February 8, 2023