OPPO Reno6 5G First Impressions; Justifiable?

Let’s quickly address pricing:

To be honest, KES 59,999 is a lot of money to ask for a phone. And everyone around might want to yap and say OPPO didn’t think this through! It’s too high! And blah blah. Yes. Yes. Yes. 60K is a lot of money! I agree. The only time I’ve spent that much money on a phone was with the OnePlus 5 many years ago. But I justified my decision.

So, let’s try to understand why the phone is priced this way. To do that, let’s start with something people are complaining about without fully grasping!

1. The Processor:

People are arguing that 60k for a Mediatek chip is wrong! But here’s the problem: the Dimensity 900 5G isn’t just any other Mediatek chip. First of all, it uses the 6nm process node from TSMC. Meaning it is supper efficient, and very battery friendly.

At the same time, it has a 5G modem fully integrated. This is something just a few years ago wasn’t capable, and when it just recently became a thing, it was a preserve of the ultra-expensive high-end phones. But here we are in 2021: a 6nm chip with 5G on an upper mid-range device.

Guys, not only is this chipset efficient, you also get support for 4K HDR Capture and Playback, but also support for something currently only in high-end devices: that’s WiFi6 Support.

At the end of last year, Mediatek had surpassed Qualcomm as the world’s largest SoC vendor. This year, they’ve widened the gap even further. And that gap is expected to grow in the coming months. Why? Because the company is doing so much more in ensuring budget and mid-range devices have powerful processors.

From my first few days of use, this is a very capable processor. It’s apparently comparable to the high-end Snapdragon 865 flagship from 2019, now with 5G, but more efficient. I believe it will handle everything I throw at it well.

RAM:

The 8GB of RAM is plenty enough. However, if you feel you need more RAM, OPPO has built-in a way to expand your RAM. You can pull up to an extra 5GB from your on-board storage and use it as Virtual RAM. So for heavy gamers, and the like you can say your phone has 13GB RAM. By default, you get 3GB of virtual RAM already allocated.

Storage:

The company is also using fast UFS 2.1 storage. Which makes sense for the virtual RAM, yes. But also improves overall performance of the device. Apps load faster, and processes are completed much quickly.

2. The Display:

The Reno6 uses a 90Hz AMOLED display. It can reach up to 750nits of peak brightness allowing for HDR content. There’s also Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. Meaning you need not fear scratches from coins and keys.

I wish they went with 120Hz refresh rate. Just a higher number – though 90Hz is pretty good, and the software as you’ll see down below is also already very smooth.

OPPO said they’ve done a lot to make this a very colour accurate display. I already loved the display on the Reno5, and I cannot really tell the difference between the two side to side – apart from brightness levels.

I need to say I don’t quite like the bottom chin on the display. It is a little thicker than the one at the top of the display. It isn’t a huge issue to be honest, but it feels somewhat annoying given this is a boxy phone, where you’d want everything to be equal on all sides.

3. The Design:

This is the killer part of the phone for me. I know it looks really really good in this Reno Glow finish, but get the black version guys. A boxy phone should always come in black.

And a boxy phone should always have that premium metallic finish! So that it is cold on the hand when you pick it up. OPPO nailed it here. This phone stands out completely from other devices.

I feel like they spent quite a lot in achieving this boxy finish, the polishing of the material to ensure it feels sleek and smooth, but also avoids fingerprints and dust. And doing all that while ensuring 5G still works. No wonder you get so many antenna bands across the device.

4. The Software:

I already said OPPO has come a long way in terms of software. They have managed to make ColorOS feel so different, but also quite familiar. I like it. And I like that one is assured that they will receive the next version of Android in a timely manner.

With ColorOS 12 expected next week, I will be detailing what’s new in an article once I get an opportunity to join the beta group.

5. Fast Charging:

Have you ever used a 65W charger on a phone? OPPO’s engineering remains a marvel for me. How a 4300mAh batter charges from 0-100% in 30mins is something I cannot wrap my head around yet. I loved it in the Reno5 and I loooove it in the Reno6. A quick plug and I am ready to go.

And don’t think the battery doesn’t last. Here’s proof:

To everyone who argues 4300mah is small….

I’m sure if I didn’t use it to watch lots of YouTube I’d still have over 20% remaining.

And I love that in 30mins it’ll be 100% thanks to the 65W charger.

22hrs of use from 100-6. #OPPOReno65G pic.twitter.com/fAVy3z7yfc

— #GetVaccinated (@DicksonOtieno) September 7, 2021

So, do these features justify the pricing?

Good question.

Before we discuss it, let’s see what’s missing from the Reno6, something we can argue should be there for phones within this pricing:

1. IP Rating – wouldn’t it be nice to get an official IP rating to know you can dunk your phone in water? (It’s just the rating that’s missing to be honest. Because the phone is sealed with rubber so nicely around every opening).
2. No headphone jack – But they include type-C headphones in the box. And you also get the OPPO ENCO wireless buds! So no complains.
3. No MicroSD card slot – which I personally don’t take issue with. 128GB is enough for me, and for many people. I don’t remember the last time I saw someone with a MicroSD card tbh.
4. No OIS – Which is quite a bummer. But there’s EIS (currently only for 1080p videos). We’ll discuss more of this in the camera review, don’t worry. (I’ve seen comments on Reno cameras being bad, I can’t agree. I have loved my Reno5 cameras, and I am expecting to see the same, if not better with the Reno6.)

Now, with all these missing features, is that pricing still justifiable? Let me give you my answer in parts:

• First, we are living in a time where there’s a huge chip shortage thanks to the pandemic disrupting production while increasing demand. So its a struggle out here! But OPPO is here selling you a phone that came out of the factory in August (last month) with the Dimensity 900 5G.
• Secondly, the Reno lineup has always been quite pricey, as we saw with the Reno5 and the Reno4. The premium pricing caters for a couple of things: the build quality of the phone, the premiums SoCs they always use, plus the software upgrades over time that users expect, and demand.
• Thirdly, OPPO is bundling wired earbuds, wireless earbuds, and a smart fitness band within the deal which I would say is sweet. I don’t know about you.

So which side do you fall on? Can you justify the pricing? Or is it unforgivably, terribly priced? Before you answer me, first of all, would you ever buy a 60k phone? Let’s talk!

OPPO Reno6 5G Specifications:

PRICE	KES 59,999
Display	6.43 inches 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio AMOLED, 90Hz, 430 nits (typ), 600 nits (HBM), 750 nits (peak) Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Rear Camera	64MP + 8MP ultrawide + 2MP macro
Front Camera	32 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8″, 0.8µm
Chipset	MediaTek MT6877 Dimensity 900 5G (6 nm)
RAM	8GB RAM
Storage	128GB UFS 2.1
Operating System	Android 11, ColorOS 11.3
Battery	4300mAh, 65W Fast Charger
Network	2G, 3G, 4G, 5G
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot WiFi 6  Bluetooth 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD GPS with dual-band A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS USB 3.1, Type-C 1.0 reversible connector, USB On-The-Go
Colour options	Black, Blue, Aurora, Purple