OPPO Reno 14 Review: Sleek All-Rounder That Nails Essentials

With each Reno generation, OPPO tends to refine rather than reinvent.

This strategy has paid off in the mid-range segment. The new OPPO Reno14 is no exception.

It doesn’t scream for attention with flashy gimmicks, but underneath its calm exterior is a surprisingly well-equipped smartphone that aims to please power users, content creators, and casual users alike.

From a return to periscope zoom, to solid all-round performance, and a high-quality AMOLED display, the Reno14 positions itself as a compelling contender around the Rs 38,000 mark.

Let’s break down how it stacks up in real-world use.

Design

Right out of the box, the Reno14 impresses with its industrial design. We tested the Pearl White variant, which features a way pattern on its back, giving it a sophisticated look.

The back glass has a matte finish that resists fingerprints, feels smooth, and provides a better grip than glossy backs.

The aerospace-grade aluminium frame adds to its premium feel, and the phone feels solid but not heavy at 187 grams, especially considering it houses a huge 6000mAh battery inside.

Also Read: OPPO Find X8 Ultra Review

One drawback, however, is that there’s no NFC.

Where the Reno14 really flexes is in its durability.

It carries IP66, IP68, and IP69 ratings, making it highly resistant to dust and water.

It’s rare to see all three certifications in a non-flagship, and it gives the Reno14 serious credibility as a rugged daily driver that’s perfect for underwater shots.

Display and sound

The 6.59-inch 1.5K flat AMOLED display (2760 × 1256 px) delivers crisp visuals and vibrant colours.

The 120Hz adaptive refresh rate keeps UI fluid, and OPPO lets you switch between FHD+ and 1.5K resolution to save battery.

It gets 600 nits normal brightness, peaking at 1,200 nits HBM, which isn’t top-tier but sufficient for daylight viewing.

And of course, it supports HDR10, Widevine L1, and 3840Hz PWM dimming, which means minimal eye strain at night.

As for the speakers, they are stereo in nature and are loud and crisp with zero distortion.

Camera

This time, OPPO has made a bold move.

The 3.5x periscope telephoto lens is back, and it’s genuinely useful.

The main camera is a 50MP main Sony IMX882 sensor with an f/1.8 aperture lens and OIS support.

It’s accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 50MP 3.5X periscope telephoto.

On top of that, there’s a 50MP front camera present as well. Shots from the main sensor are sharp, punchy, and consistent.

Auto HDR works reliably to balance highlights, and skin tones feel natural without being overprocessed.

Portraits at 1x, 2x, and 3.5x come out with excellent subject separation and a pleasing background blur.

The 8MP ultra-wide sensor is serviceable but clearly not on the same level as the main or telephoto.

In low light, the dedicated Night Mode helps pull in detail and clean up noise, though brighter areas can sometimes be a bit overexposed.

The 50MP front cam is excellent.

Autofocus helps nail crisp shots, and skin texture looks believable without excessive smoothing.

Front-facing 4K video at 60fps is rare in this price segment and is a big win for vloggers.

Performance

Under the hood, the Reno14 runs the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 (4nm), the same chip as the Reno13, but still a competent performer.

It’s paired with up to 12GB LPDDR5X RAM, UFS 3.1 storage, and a 6-core Mali-G615 GPU.

While benchmark fans may scoff at it not using the latest SoC, the real-world experience is anything but slow.

BGMI runs at 90fps, Free Fire at 60fps, and Genshin Impact is playable on Medium settings.

The phone’s Nano Dual-Drive Cooling System (vapour chamber + aerospace graphite) kept temperatures in check.

Even after 40 minutes of gaming, the phone warmed up but never became uncomfortably hot.

Battery Life

The 6000mAh battery is a welcome sight.

With moderate usage (Wi-Fi, streaming, some photography), I got 5.5+ hours of screen-on time consistently.

However, if you’re on 5G + high brightness + 1.5K + 120Hz, expect that number to dip.

Power management could use some optimisation.

That said, 80W SuperVOOC charging is a lifesaver. You’ll get 50 percent juice in 20 to 5 minutes.

Software

Running on Android 15 with ColorOS 15, the Reno14’s UI feels fluid, clean, and well-optimised.

ColorOS continues to mature with a flatter design language, Flux Themes, and minimal visual clutter.

You also get several useful AI features, as is the norm these days.

AI Clarity Enhance & Unblur is good for recovering old/low-res photos, while Reflection Remover is useful for clearing glass glares in your pictures.

Mind Space is another handy tool. You can swipe up with three fingers to quickly capture and organise screen content like bookings, lists, or tasks.

But yes, there is bloatware. Facebook, LinkedIn, Amazon, PhonePe, FinShell Pay, etc.

Fortunately, most of it can be uninstalled.