Oppo Reno 14 Review: Sleek Design, AI Cameras, and Mid-Range Muscle

Introduction

Oppo’s Reno series has always focused on design and camera features, and the new Oppo Reno 14 wants to push that reputation further into the mid-range market. But with so many competitors around ₹30,000 in India, is the Reno 14 truly a standout? Or is it all style and no substance?

Let’s dig in.

Design and Build Quality

Oppo doesn’t mess around with its design language, and the Reno 14 is no exception. It’s slim, elegant, and looks far pricier than it is.

✅ Highlights:

• Glass back with subtle color gradients
• Metal-like frame (though it’s polycarbonate in reality)
• 7.6mm thickness makes it feel premium in-hand

It’s a phone that will turn heads, with Oppo’s well-known attention to color and finish. The in-hand feel is fantastic, but note it’s a bit slippery without a case.

Pros:

• Very sleek and modern look
• Lightweight and slim

Cons:

• Plastic frame, not metal
• Back panel can pick up smudges

Display: AMOLED Goodness

✅ Specs:

• 6.7-inch AMOLED
• 120Hz refresh rate
• Full HD+ resolution
• ~950 nits peak brightness

You get a crisp, colorful display with excellent contrast. Oppo’s color calibration is tuned for punchy, slightly saturated visuals, making it perfect for streaming and social media.

✅ User Experience:

• Smooth 120Hz scrolling
• Very good viewing angles
• Sufficient brightness for outdoor use

Pros:

• Vivid colors, true blacks
• Smooth refresh rate feels flagship-level

Cons:

• No HDR10+ certification
• Slight brightness drop-off at extreme angles

Performance and Hardware

The Reno 14 uses the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2—an interesting choice in the mid-range segment.

✅ Key Specs:

• Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (4nm)
• 8GB / 12GB LPDDR4X RAM options
• 256GB UFS 2.2 storage

Benchmark Results (approx):

• Antutu: ~650,000
• Geekbench: ~900 single-core / ~2800 multi-core

✅ Real-World Use:

• Fast for daily tasks—social, calls, messaging, camera use
• Medium settings for most popular games (BGMI, COD Mobile) with no heating issues
• App switching is smooth thanks to 8/12GB RAM and Oppo’s RAM expansion features

Oppo’s ColorOS 14 (based on Android 14) is polished but comes with a few preinstalled apps.

Pros:

• Smooth performance for price
• No thermal throttling with extended use

Cons:

• Not flagship-level GPU for high-end gaming
• Some bloatware to uninstall

Battery Life and Charging

Battery is a respectable 5000mAh.

✅ Battery Life (typical):

• Light use: 1.5–2 days
• Heavy use: Full day easily
• Screen-on time: ~7–8 hours

✅ Charging:

• 67W SuperVOOC charging
• ~45 minutes for 0–100%

SuperVOOC remains one of Oppo’s best features. Even if you forget to charge overnight, 10–15 mins in the morning gives ~50%.

Pros:

• Excellent charging speed
• Reliable battery life

Cons:

• No wireless charging (expected at price)
• Charger included only in some regions

Camera System: AI-Powered Imaging

✅ Rear Cameras:

• 50MP main sensor (Sony IMX890)
• 8MP ultrawide
• 2MP macro

✅ Front Camera:

• 32MP selfie shooter

Main Camera Performance:

• Excellent daylight shots with strong dynamic range
• Oppo’s AI processing boosts saturation for social-ready photos
• Decent low-light with night mode (but some noise if very dark)

Ultrawide and Macro:

• Serviceable but not amazing
• Good for occasional group shots

Selfie Camera:

• 32MP is great for social media—sharp and bright even indoors

Pros:

• Reliable main camera
• Excellent selfies
• Strong AI enhancements

Cons:

• Ultrawide isn’t flagship quality
• Macro lens is more marketing than practical

Connectivity and Extras

• 5G with wide band support
• Dual SIM
• Bluetooth 5.2
• Wi-Fi 6
• USB-C
• In-display fingerprint scanner (fast and reliable)
• No headphone jack

Oppo’s in-display scanner works quickly and supports app locking for extra security.

Pros:

• Full 5G support for India
• Modern connectivity (Wi-Fi 6)

Cons:

• No headphone jack
• No IP rating for water resistance

Software Experience

Runs ColorOS 14 (Android 14).

✅ Clean, customizable UI with themes and always-on display support.
✅ Comes with some pre-installed apps, but most can be removed.
✅ Oppo promises 2 years of Android updates + 3 years of security patches.

Pros:

• Feature-rich UI
• Smooth animations
• Good update promise

Cons:

• Some bloatware
• Ads in app recommendations (can be disabled)

Comparison with Rivals

Samsung Galaxy A35 5G:
✅ AMOLED 120Hz display too
✅ Slightly better update policy
❌ Slower charging (25W)

OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite:
✅ Similar battery and charging
✅ OxygenOS is lighter than ColorOS
❌ Cameras are slightly less polished

Verdict:
Oppo wins for design, selfie camera, and charging speed.

Who Should Buy the Oppo Reno 14?

✅ Social media users wanting great selfies
✅ Casual gamers on medium settings
✅ Style-focused buyers who want a premium look
✅ Users needing fast charging and solid battery life

❌ Skip if:

• You want top-tier gaming performance
• You need flagship-level ultrawide or zoom cameras

FAQs

Q: Does it support all 5G bands in India?
Yes, with good band coverage for Jio, Airtel, Vi.

Q: Is there a charger in the box?
Varies by region—check local bundle.

Q: Does ColorOS have ads?
Some app suggestions, but can be disabled.

Q: How is the display outdoors?
~950 nits peak brightness makes it usable in direct sunlight.

Final Verdict: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

The Oppo Reno 14 offers one of the sleekest designs in the segment, a fantastic AMOLED display, great selfies, and blazing-fast charging. It’s a solid all-rounder for anyone wanting style and substance in the ₹25–30K range—just don’t expect flagship gaming or ultrawide cameras.