TL;DR: The Oppo Reno 14 5G is a masterclass in smartphone aesthetics, with one of the best telephoto cameras you’ll find in its segment, an absurdly large 6,000mAh battery that charges faster than some people get ready in the morning, and a display that makes Netflix binges dangerously addictive. But its choice of processor—the perfectly capable but not flagship-grade MediaTek Dimensity 8350—means spec sheet warriors might hesitate. If you’re into design and camera magic, go for it. If raw performance is your gospel, shop around.

Love at First Unboxing (Mostly)

Unboxing the Oppo Reno 14 5G feels a bit like opening a luxury skincare set—everything inside is arranged neatly, glossy where it should be, and matte where it matters. The Forest Green finish on my review unit looks like it belongs in a design catalogue, and Oppo’s packaging team clearly got the memo about first impressions. No flimsy accessories here: the box includes an 80W SuperVOOC charger, a sturdy USB-C cable, a transparent protective case that actually feels usable (not one of those tragic, foggy TPU freebies), and the obligatory SIM ejector pin that I will lose in exactly four days.

The weight distribution is… suspiciously perfect. You know that moment when you pick up a device and your brain says this shouldn’t feel this balanced for its size? That’s what the Reno 14 5G does. Inside, there’s a 6,000mAh battery, which is absurd for a phone that’s slimmer than some flagships with smaller cells. The Sponge Bionic Cushioning—Oppo’s term, not mine—means it sits comfortably in the palm without that slab-of-brick sensation.

And yes, before we get too serious: the smell of a fresh, out-of-the-box Reno 14 5G is real. If you’re a tech nerd, you know what I mean. That faint mix of polymer, factory-fresh aluminium, and “I’m about to be smudged forever” glass.

Design That Feels a Little Too Pretty for Its Own Good

I’ve always maintained that Oppo’s Reno series punches way above its weight in design. The Reno 14 5G continues that tradition with a flat glass back, matte finish (bless them for sparing us from a fingerprint festival), and polished aluminium frame. The symmetry is chef’s kiss. The camera island doesn’t jut out like it’s auditioning for a cyberpunk shoulder pad, and the branding is understated.

The phone has IP69 water and dust resistance, which is a flex. You could, theoretically, take it into the shower and watch YouTube—though if you’re the kind of person who does that, I have follow-up questions.

Physical buttons feel satisfyingly clicky. Ports are where you’d expect them, and yes, Oppo included an IR blaster—the forgotten, humble hero of the mid-2010s, here to let you prank friends by “mysteriously” changing the TV channel in restaurants.

The Display That’s Almost Too Good for TikTok

The 6.59-inch flat AMOLED here is everything you want for late-night scrolling and regrettably long “just one episode” marathons. The 1.5K resolution strikes a great balance—crisper than plain FHD+, but without the battery massacre of full QHD+.

Brightness tops at 600 nits in normal mode and 1200 nits in High Brightness Mode. I tested this under the brutal Dubai afternoon sun, and while you’re not getting “blinding OLED billboard” levels, it’s bright enough for most use cases. Colours pop with 100% DCI-P3 coverage, HDR10 support, and three selectable profiles—Vivid, Natural, and Pro.

Scrolling is silky thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate, which also drops intelligently to save battery. Oppo’s image sharpener quietly boosts low-res content without making it look like a badly upscaled DVD from 2003.

Cameras That Make You Forget the Mid-Range Label

Let’s talk cameras—the real reason you might pick up this phone instead of chasing pure raw specs.

The rear setup is unapologetically impressive for this segment:

• 50MP Sony IMX882 primary (OIS, f/1.8)
• 8MP ultra-wide (OV08D, f/2.2)
• 50MP 3.5x periscope telephoto (Samsung JN5, f/2.8)

Yes, the telephoto is the star. At 3.5x optical, it’s sharp and contrasty. Even at 30x zoom, images look social-media-ready. The 120x digital zoom? That’s more of a party trick—you’re not getting usable shots, unless your definition of “usable” is abstract impressionist photography.

Daylight photos are punchy without the over-processed look. The ultra-wide keeps distortion in check, though it can’t match the detail of the main sensor. Night Mode is strong—noise is controlled, shadows retain detail, and the software resists the temptation to turn every night scene into neon day.

Selfies get a 50MP JN5 sensor, and it’s good. Skin tones lean natural, and the front camera handles tricky backlighting with poise.

Video? Rear cameras do 4K at 60fps with solid stabilisation. Front camera video tops at 1080p, but Oppo’s Portrait Video mode works well for vlogging-style content.

GALLERY SAMPLES

The Processor Question

Here’s the deal with the MediaTek Dimensity 8350: it’s not a bad chip—far from it. It breezes through daily tasks, social media hopping, and even BGMI at 90fps with stable thermals (thanks to the Nano Dual-Drive Cooling System). On AnTuTu, it scored 1,368,197, which is right in line with upper mid-range territory.

But here’s the thing: in this price band, you’re brushing against phones with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and 8+ Gen 1, both of which pull ahead in raw sustained performance. So while you won’t feel slowdowns in most scenarios, the benchmark obsessives will raise an eyebrow.

Software – ColorOS in Its Most Polished Form (Mostly)

ColorOS on Android 15 is smooth, visually cohesive, and packed with thoughtful features. The Flux theme is lovely, and the widgets feel genuinely useful instead of “we needed something to fill this update.”

Where it really flexes is in its AI integration—and not the kind of throwaway AI gimmicks some brands shove into marketing slides. Here, the tools feel like they’re built to be used daily. The AI Eraser lets you remove unwanted objects or people from photos with a single tap. AI image upscaling sharpens low-resolution images without making them look artificial, while AI blur removal fixes motion-smudged shots in a way that feels almost like cheating. The AI reflection reduction feature is especially impressive for cleaning up glass or window shots that would normally be a nightmare to fix in editing apps.

On the productivity side, AI Summary condenses long articles or notes into bite-sized points, while live AI translationcan overlay real-time subtitles on video calls or transcribe spoken phrases in another language—perfect for travel or working with an international team. All of this is baked into the system without feeling tacked on.

Battery – A Marathon Runner with a Turbo Boost

That 6,000mAh battery is no joke. With my mix of camera testing, streaming, and gaming, the Reno 14 5G pushed nine hours of screen-on time. Light users could stretch it to two days.

Charging is ridiculous—0 to 100% in under 45 minutes with the in-box 80W charger. This is the kind of convenience that makes you judge other phones for shipping with 25W bricks.

The Verdict

The Oppo Reno 14 5G is a beautiful, comfortable-to-hold, and camera-strong device that will delight most users who prioritise design and photography over pure performance-per-dirham. The telephoto lens is a rare treat in this segment, the display is a joy, and battery life is among the best you can get without lugging around a power bank.

The catch? That processor choice. While the Dimensity 8350 is perfectly fine for almost everyone, power users chasing benchmark glory will find more raw horsepower in certain rivals.

If you’re willing to pay for the design, battery, and camera combo—and you don’t mind uninstalling some bloatware on day one—the Reno 14 5G will treat you very, very well.