OPPO Reno16 Pro 5G Review: The Android Phone That Made Me Question My Loyalty to Apple

I’ve used iPhones since the original model and, despite occasional Android experiments, never seriously considered leaving Apple’s ecosystem. Retirement and a move to a new country changed that, loosening my ties to the workflow that had kept me firmly in Apple’s camp. So when I was offered the OPPO Reno16 Pro 5G, the timing felt right. I expected an interesting detour before returning to my iPhone. Instead, the experience turned out to be far more compelling than I anticipated.

That isn’t what happened. While the final jury is still out, I have to say that I’m loving this phone. In fact, it has been one of the most enjoyable smartphones I’ve used in years. Is it perfect? No. But I’ve yet to use a phone that is.

The OPPO Reno16 Pro 5G does so many things exceptionally well that I found myself reaching for it without thinking. And, eventually, I stopped comparing it to my iPhone altogether. But it didn’t start that way.

Out of the box, the similarities to the iPhone were impossible to ignore. It has the same clean, minimalist design language, familiar button placement, and “slabs-of-glass-and-metal-frame” aesthetic. In fact, from a distance, I doubt many people would think this was anything BUT an iPhone. But it isn’t.

It is a powerful, fast smartphone with amazing battery life, some genuinely useful features, an excellent camera system, and a level of refinement I honestly did not expect. More importantly, the OPPO Reno16 Pro 5G isn’t simply an iPhone alternative. It is a powerful, affordable smartphone that deserves attention in its own right. So, let’s dig in.

Inside the Box

Companies have gotten pretty cheap when it comes to what is included in the box when you buy a new phone. Gone are the days of included earbuds and a collection of nice extras.

Depending on the market, the OPPO Reno16 5G Pro’s box contents may vary. My review package included the phone, a charging cable, a wall adapter, a SIM tool, and a clear case. OPPO’s global specs list the charger and protective case in the box, while some regional listings are more limited, so buyers should check the local package before purchasing.

The SIM tool is useful because the Reno16 Pro 5G supports physical SIMs and eSIM. And the included clear case, while not fancy, meant my phone was protected from day one. I like that.

It Feels Like a Premium Phone

The first thing that struck me once I set up the phone and started using it was the build quality. The OPPO Reno16 Pro 5G doesn’t feel like a phone trying to imitate a flagship because, despite not being positioned like Apple’s most expensive phones, it feels like one.

The flat aluminum frame, beautifully finished glass, slim profile, and overall attention to detail make it feel every bit as premium as devices costing considerably more. My review unit is the Pop White model, which weighs about 191 grams and is about 8.36mm thick. The Starlight Black version is slightly thinner and lighter, at about 8.20mm and 188 grams.

The OPPO Reno16 5G Pro is comfortable to hold, fits easily in one hand, and has a reassuring solidity without becoming heavy. Many phones priced below true ultra-premium flagship levels feel like compromises were made to keep costs down. This isn’t one of them. And while I honestly don’t usually care much about a phone’s appearance since I keep my phones in cases, OPPO deserves credit for trying something different.

The subtle three-dimensional pattern beneath the glass catches the light in a way that’s elegant rather than flashy. Several people asked me what phone I was carrying.

It’s also remarkably durable. The Reno16 Pro 5G is rated for IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K water and dust resistance under controlled testing conditions. That, along with the included case in my box, gave me confidence using the phone in situations where I’d normally be more protective of my device.

The Display

The OPPO Reno16 5G Pro’s 6.32-inch AMOLED display is simply beautiful. It has a 2640 × 1216 resolution, 460 pixels per inch, support for 1.07 billion colors, and refresh rates up to 144Hz, though OPPO notes that 144Hz applies only in certain gaming scenarios.

In real-world use, the screen is gorgeous. It’s bright enough to remain perfectly visible outdoors. That’s especially important since I now live in the Middle East, where the sun is brighter and stronger than it was back in New Jersey. Colors are rich without looking exaggerated, blacks are deep, and everything feels incredibly smooth.

I should note that OPPO hides some of the display’s best features inside the settings menu. It took a bit of research to learn that I had to manually enable some of the highest display settings and the always-on display.

That is hardly a deal-breaker, but it felt a little like buying a sports car and discovering that Sport Mode wasn’t enabled by default and that there was no obvious way to know it was even there without doing some research. Once configured, though, this became one of my favorite smartphone displays I’ve used.

Performance That Delivers

I know some reviewers obsess over processors and benchmark scores. If you’ve read previous reviews I’ve written, you’ll know I don’t. What I care about is whether a phone disappears into the background and lets me get things done. That’s exactly what happened here.

The Reno16 Pro 5G runs on MediaTek’s Dimensity 8550 SUPER platform, paired in my market with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

Apps launched instantly. Multitasking never slowed down. Whether I was using navigation, taking photographs, answering emails, messaging, streaming video, browsing the web, or editing photos, everything felt effortless. I never found myself wishing the phone was faster or more powerful.

In other words, the OPPO Reno16 Pro 5G proves that, at a certain point, specifications become less important than the experience of actually using a phone. And this phone delivers an excellent experience.

The Cameras Are Outstanding

Early smartphones had cameras that were basically a joke. Over time, however, the camera became one of the most important features a smartphone could deliver. And this phone delivers.

The OPPO Reno16 Pro 5G has a 200MP main wide-angle camera with optical image stabilization, a 50MP ultrawide camera with autofocus, and a 50MP telephoto camera with optical image stabilization. Around front, there is a 50MP selfie camera with autofocus.

On paper, those are impressive numbers. More importantly, they translate into excellent photographs. The 200MP main sensor gives you enormous flexibility to crop into images while retaining impressive detail.

I like taking photos, but I’m far from being a photographer. The ability to quickly shoot something, crop down to the picture I really wanted, and still have the depth and clarity this phone delivers is a gift for a novice like me.

No doubt an experienced photographer could have a field day with this phone, but even someone like me can appreciate the flexibility of the camera system. The telephoto camera quickly became one of my favorite features.

Instead of relying entirely on mediocre digital zoom or a separate snap-on lens, I can zoom in and still produce photos I actually want to keep. OPPO lists support for up to 3.5x optical zoom and up to 18x digital zoom in video, and in everyday use the telephoto lens made a real difference.

Video is also strong. The rear cameras can shoot up to 4K at 60 frames per second, and the front camera can also shoot up to 4K at 60 frames per second.

What really stood out for me, though, were the OPPO Reno16 5G Pro’s AI editing tools. The AI Eraser can eliminate objects simply by highlighting or circling them. Even better, there is a tool specifically designed to remove people from photographs. It automatically identifies people in the image and then lets you select whom you want to remove.

Here are a few examples, with the original photo followed by versions produced using AI editing tools that took just a few taps and a couple of seconds.

Battery Life Without Compromise

This may be the feature that made me most jealous. I always carry a backup battery because I worry that my phone will die in the middle of the day. And now that I’m living in a country where almost everything depends on my phone—from banking and public transportation to navigation and security alerts—I need to make sure my phone never dies.

The OPPO Reno16 5G Pro makes that simple because the battery just keeps going and going and going. Battery capacity varies by market. OPPO’s global specs list a 6700mAh typical battery capacity, while the UK specs list a 6000mAh typical battery capacity. Either way, my experience was excellent.

After I started using the OPPO Reno16 Pro 5G, I simply stopped worrying about battery life. Even on days filled with photography, GPS navigation, messaging, web browsing, streaming, and social media, I routinely finished the day with plenty of battery remaining.

And then there’s charging. The Reno16 Pro 5G supports up to 80W SUPERVOOC charging. OPPO’s fast charging feels almost unfair if you’ve spent years living with Apple’s slower charging speeds.

Plug the phone in for a short while, and you’ve recovered enough battery to stop thinking about it. Once you experience charging this quickly, it’s surprisingly difficult to go back.

Software: Different, but That Isn’t a Bad Thing

ColorOS 16 is certainly different from iOS. And while it took a bit of time to adjust, I quickly discovered that different isn’t the same as difficult. Yes, there was a learning curve during the first week as I discovered where everything “lives.”

But coming from an iPhone that controls… and often limits… what you can do, I found the flexibility refreshing. And as I became more comfortable with the operating system, I actually found myself having fun. After a few days, I began appreciating just how much flexibility Android offers. The OS has matured nicely over the past few years.

Sure, there are AI features on the OPPO Reno16 5G Pro that I’ll probably never use, and there are a few pre-installed apps I’d happily remove. But overall, the software is polished, stable, intuitive, and refreshingly customizable.

Value That Stands Out

Price always matters. And pricing will vary depending on where the phone is sold and how OPPO positions it in each market. If this phone is priced directly against ultra-premium flagships, shoppers should compare carefully.

But at the right price, you’re getting premium hardware, an outstanding display, an excellent camera system, exceptional battery life, rapid charging, IP69K-level durability, physical SIM and eSIM support, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, and a refined user experience. That’s a compelling combination.

Final Thoughts

The biggest complement I can give the OPPO Reno16 Pro 5G is surprisingly simple. After years of using iPhones, I stopped thinking about the fact that I wasn’t using one. Instead, I simply enjoyed using the phone.

No, it isn’t perfect. There are still a few software quirks. Some AI features feel more like marketing than necessity. I’d love to see OPPO enable more of the phone’s capabilities right out of the box. And because specs and box contents vary by market, buyers should check the exact local version before purchasing.

But those are relatively small criticisms. This is a beautifully designed smartphone with an excellent camera system, terrific battery life, fast charging that borders on addictive, and an overall user experience that feels polished and mature.

OPPO Reno16 Pro 5G vs OPPO Reno16 5G

We received both the standard and Pro version of the Reno16 5G for this review, and at first glance, the phones are identical. The phones share external dimensions and weigh the same 193 grams. They share the same excellent screen and battery. The OPPO Reno16 Pro 5G has a faster processor and more memory: 3.5 GHz and 12 GB vs 2.8GHz and 8 GB, respectively. The Pro version also supports eSIMs while the standard version does not.

Their front facing cameras are the same, 50MP; f/2.0; FOV 100°; 5P lens; AF supported and although their back camera clusters look the same, the pro version’s consists of an Ultra-wide angle: 50MP; f/2.0; FOV 116°; 6P lens; AF supported, a Wide angle: 200MP; f/1.8; FOV 84°; 6P lens; AF supported; Supports 2-axis OIS and a Telephoto: 50MP; f/2.8; FOV 30°; 4P lens; AF supported; Supports 2-axis OIS. The standard model features the same lenses, except for the wide-angle, which is replaced with a 50MP f/1.8; FOV 79°; 5P lens; AF supported; 2-axis OIS.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Would I switch from an iPhone? A few weeks ago, I would have laughed at that question. Today, my answer is much more complicated. I’m still deep in Apple’s ecosystem. I still use a Mac, an iPad, AirPods, and an Apple Watch. Leaving the iPhone isn’t simply a matter of deciding which phone I like better.

But for the first time in years, I’m seriously asking the question. And that’s probably the strongest endorsement I can give the OPPO Reno16 Pro 5G.

The OPPO Reno16 5G Pro starts at $793 and is available (depending on your country) directly from the manufacturer and other retailers, including AliExpress, bludiode, WandaMobile, and eBay.

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample

What I Like: Solid build and elegant design; Amazing battery life and fast charging when needed; Mature Android OS version shows its mettle; Big beautiful screen; Plenty of power; AI integration is deep into the phone, and it shows; Priced well for a high-end mid-level phone

What Needs Improvement: Many settings are buried in the settings menu; People looking for a change from the iPhone may be disappointed as they share similar designs; May be hard to find in the US, and purchasers need to research the right regional model