Simply a phone for the fashion conscious, or is there more to OPPO’s Reno16 F than just a pretty face? Read the below to find out more.

1. Yet another unique design

Since OPPO’s arrival in South Africa back in 2022 with the Reno8 Pro (review), the Reno range always had a unique design element that sets it apart from other midrange black rectangles. The Reno16 F does this again with its oddly titled 3D Pop Planet Design.

This is a distinctive holographic planet design that pops-out from the back and “moves” around as you change viewing angles. If you’re looking for a unique Android device, there are few devices that can show-off like the Reno16 F.

2. OPPO Bubble pops up

Yet another unique extra to the Reno16 F is the OPPO Bubble, a small, round disk-shaped display that allows you to trigger the phone’s camera remotely. But why would you need it? In most cases, smartphones’ front facing camera is not as good as the camera solution at the back, which is why some people prefer to use the latter for selfies. The problem is that composition is hit-or-miss.

OPPO’s Bubble sets out to solve this problem, mirroring the phone’s screen once it’s connected. This way you can compose, zoom in or out, set a countdown timer and trigger the shutter once ready, all from the Bubble.

In the box you’ll find a protective cover with a keychain. OPPO also provides a magnetic sticker to so that the Bubble can be mounted on the back of the phone. This works well, since when moving between portrait and landscape, the Bubble reflects this back. When simply holding the Bubble in your hand, you need to twist it similarly to the way the phone is being held – something that’s maybe not immediately apparent. The magnetic sticker is unfortunately placed over a part of the 3D pop-out design. 

OPPO allows you a few cute Pet and other animations that adorns the screen of the Bubble when not in use, while you can also customise this by adding your own photos, videos or images.

The Bubble is clearly not aimed at my age bracket, but I can see a younger audience loving it.

3. 7000 mAh battery aims for two days

The OPPO Reno16 F’s 7000 mAh battery is truly a standout feature, with very few other units able to match this, especially in this size. With 7000 mAh onboard, you can manage two days without charging – if you are frugal with YouTube, doomscrolling and GPS. If not, then a midday charge on the second day might be required.

When you do need to charge, 80 W SUPERVOOC Flash Charge capabilities are available, which OPPO claims fully charge the device in 62 minutes. In our tests, 30 minutes worth of charging provided about 54% of juice, with the phone fully charged in under 70 minutes.

Keep in mind, the previous Reno15 F also had the same battery and charging capabilities – something to think about when considering the R4k price difference.

4. Great camera system

New to the Reno ranges is the POP feature when taking photos. Selectable alongside Photo, Video and Portrait, the POP feature adds interesting capturing styles for different photo styles. As examples, it can simulate Instant Film from instant cameras such as Instax by providing a white border; a Digicam astechic from the 2000s; or old 35mm film stock such as Porta.

As per usual, OPPO includes a number of AI editing options such as unblurring, reflection removal from glass, or AI Eraser which can be highly effective in eradicating unwanted people or objects from images.

However, the OPPO Reno16 F’s camera system itself is really good. Autofocus is quick, images are beautifully coloured and they retain clarity, even with a bit of zooming in.

Talking of which, the Reno16 F took a few lessons from OPPO’s Find X9 Pro, offering a 7x zoom as a quick press option (Find X9 provides 6x). If you are out and about sightseeing or on holiday, this 7x zoom will come in very handy, although it does so digitally. If you happy enough with zooming at a shorter distance but with better image quality, the Reno16 F offers a very capable 3.5x optical zoom.

The OPPO Reno16 F 5G (centre) next to the Redmi Note 17 Pro (left) and the Motorola Edge 70 (right)

More than just F for Fashion

OPPO’s Reno16 F 5G is a fashion-conscious device that sets its sights on a younger audience, especially with the OPPO Bubble in the mix. However, with its notable camera system, strong battery life and quality display, it’s far from just a stylish device.

OPPO’s ColorOS user interface is also one of the best when it comes to general usage, only adding to the Reno16 F’s long-term prospects. The device retails for just under R16k (or less depending on where you look) and is available at the newly launched OPPO store. 

OPPO Reno16 F 5G FULL SPECIFICATIONS:

Display & Dimensions

• Screen Size: 6.57 inches
• Resolution: FHD+ (2372 × 1080 pixels)
• Refresh Rate: Maximum 120Hz
• Size: 158.16 mm (Height) × 74.93 mm (Width) × 8.58 mm (Thickness)
• Weight: 197g

Performance & Hardware

• Processor (SoC): MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Energy
• CPU: 8-core
• RAM & Storage: 8GB RAM + 256GB ROM
• Operating System: ColorOS 16.0

Cameras & Video

• Rear Cameras:
  • Wide angle: 50 MP
  • Telephoto: 50 MP
  • Ultra-wide angle: 8 MP
• Front Camera: 50 MP
• Video Recording:
• Rear: 4K at 30 fps | 1080P at 60 fps / 30 fps
• Front: 4K at 30 fps | 1080P at 30 fps (with Retouch on)

Battery & Charging

• Capacity: 7000 mAh / 27.44 Wh (Typical) | 6850 mAh / 26.86 Wh (Rated)
• Fast Charging Support:
  • Max 80W SUPERVOOC
  • Compatible with 67W and below SUPERVOOC, 55W PPS, 13.5W PD, and 13.5W QC

Connectivity & Network

• SIM Support: Dual-SIM capability (Nano-SIM / Nano-USIM card, with SIM 2 support and eSIM supported)
• Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6
• USB Interface: USB Type-C
• NFC: Supported