The Oppo Reno15 is now official in Malaysia and once again I was given the opportunity to evaluate the experience of using this device more thoroughly. The main focus is still on the camera system, but this time it has been given a new lease of life specifically for the selfie section.
In terms of design, the Reno15 also features a new touch with an Aurora motif that adds visual appeal. But what about other aspects? Is it really worth the value offered? Continue reading this full review.
Device Specifications
OPPO Reno15 5G
AMOLED screen, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+
6.59-inch 1256 x 2760 pixels
(~460 ppi density)
Corning Gorilla Glass 7i
Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 processor (4 nm)
1 x 2.8 GHz Cortex-720 chip
4 x 2.4 GHz Cortex-720
3 x 1.8 GHz Cortex-520
Adreno 722 Graphics Chip
RAM 12GB RAM LPDDR5X
Virtual RAM (+12GB RAM)
Internal Storage 512GB UFS 4.0
Primary Camera 50 MP, f/1.8 (wide), PDAF, OIS
50 MP, f/2.8, (telephoto), PDAF, OIS,
3.5x optical zoom
8 MP, f/2.2 (ultra-wide)
50 MP Front Camera, f/2.0 (ultra-wide)
Battery 6500 mAh
80W wired
SIM/Dual SIM Nano /5G Telephony
NFC Yes
Infrared Yes
Waterproof IP68/69
Scanning System Fingerprint Scan
Face Scan
Selling Price RM1999 (12+256 GB)
RM2399 (12+512 GB)
Usage Experience
Honestly, the overall experience of using this device is almost the same as the previous generation, the Reno14 Pro. In terms of design, its body resembles the Reno14 Pro, but what makes it more interesting is Oppo's approach of choosing to make the standard version larger than the Pro version.
I also had the opportunity to hold the Reno15 Pro, which is smaller and feels more solid. Despite this, both still provide a comfortable usage experience. This smartphone comes with a body that is partly flat with curved sides, matched with a square-shaped camera module that houses three different lenses.
The design of this device resembles Apple's concept, but Oppo gives it its own touch. Each corner is shaped with a neat curve to reduce pressure on the palm, thus making the device more comfortable to hold. This review unit comes in a Dancing Aurora color that looks interesting as it changes according to the reflection of light. The finish is also resistant to fingerprint smudges thanks to Oppo Glow technology.
Durability is also a key aspect of the Reno15 with Corning Gorilla Glass 7i display protection and IP68/IP69 rating that protects against dust and high-pressure water jets. In addition, it is equipped with an IR Blaster for home appliance control support, a USB Type-C port and an in-screen fingerprint scanner for increased security.
The Reno15 may come in a compact size but it still maintains the viewing quality. The device is equipped with a 6.57-inch AMOLED FHD+ panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support and peak brightness of up to 1,200 nits. The display is clear and able to maintain color uniformity from various angles. The high brightness level also ensures that the screen is easy to read even under bright sunlight.
In addition, the device comes with stereo speakers which in my opinion are less satisfactory because the bottom sounds louder than the top, which is a common occurrence. However, at times the sound sounds a bit hollow. Although it is capable of producing loud audio, the quality is still slightly affected by interference to a certain extent.
Internal Hardware and Software
This device comes with a Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chip combined with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. This device also offers an additional function that allows some of the storage space to be used to expand the RAM capacity when needed. Through this feature, the Reno15 provides up to 12GB of virtual RAM which can be changed according to the needs of several other Oppo models. However, the internal storage cannot be expanded which makes users completely tied to the 512GB capacity available.
AnTuTu 3D
Score Device
Oppo Reno15 1,412,018
Oppo Reno14 Pro 1,437,541
Honor 400 Pro 1,861,573
Xiaomi 15 2,341,598
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 1,946,864
Oppo Find X8 Pro 2,629,017
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max 1,720,751
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL 1,016,712
Geekbench 6
Single Core Multi Core Device
Oppo Reno15 1280 3857
Oppo Reno14 Pro 1615 6174
Honor 400 Pro 12024 6083
Xiaomi 15 2918 8917
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 2957 9435
Oppo Find X8 Pro 2663 8959
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max 3359 8129
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL 1916 4644
3DMark Wildlife Extreme
Chip Score
Oppo Reno15 2082
Oppo Reno14 Pro 3780
Honor 400 Pro 4467
Xiaomi 15 Can not be done
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 6135
Oppo Find X8 Pro 6251
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max 4560
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL 2567
The usage experience shows that most daily activities and applications run smoothly and satisfactorily. Scrolling feels more responsive especially when the 120Hz screen is activated. However, as usual, high refresh rates require more battery power. There is also a slight issue when the Spotify application suddenly stops working until the screen goes blank.
This situation only happened once and can be resolved by refreshing the home screen without closing the application in the background. After that, the animation transition when switching applications remains smooth without interruption while the application download process runs fast with a minor issue that only occurred once during use.
In terms of the gaming experience, the performance level is at a good level in its class. The system does not show any malfunction problems, and the overall experience feels enjoyable because the performance remains stable and satisfactory.
The device also runs the new ColorOS 16 software that was previously used on the flagship Find X9 Pro model. The usage experience is the same as I mentioned in the previous review, which is very smooth. The icon colors still look cheerful and are neatly arranged. Meanwhile, the animation transition between applications also runs smoothly, providing comfort during navigation.
Features such as Flux Themes are still maintained along with several AI functions that facilitate users' daily affairs. Among them is AI Mind Space which allows various important information to be automatically saved with relevant results. This function works well although not all users will take full advantage of it. However, one thing that needs to be mentioned is that this device is not equipped with a Snap Key button like the X9 Pro model.
There is also AI Suggest which provides smart suggestions based on current activities such as work and entertainment. In fact, it managed to detect my usage patterns well, for example suggesting notes when I open a work application. Next, AI Assistant for Notes helps summarize notes so that they are neater and easier to refer to, making this feature very useful for short notes.
AI Recording is able to generate summaries from voice recordings such as meetings or interviews. However, sometimes there is information left out if the conversation is too complex. Finally, AI Voice Transcribe can automatically convert voice to text. However, after I tried it, its accuracy is still lacking, especially when used in video calls such as on Telegram.
ColorOS 16 certainly looks interesting because it has been given a lot of new life. In fact, Oppo also offers it directly to mid-range devices after their flagship model. From my experience, I found that the system provides good smoothness and features several new features that add value to the overall experience.
However, the issue that has not yet been properly resolved is the problem of advertisements. These advertisements often appear at times when they are not needed and are mostly irrelevant to my needs as a user. Therefore, this somewhat affects the overall experience because it disrupts the flow of daily use.
Camera and Image Quality
My experience using the Reno15 camera overall provides satisfactory results depending on the situation. The colors produced by the main camera sometimes have quite high contrast, while the saturation level depends on the lighting. If the lighting is controlled, the colors appear more saturated, while in other conditions, they appear more natural.
Autofocus is also less impressive because moving subjects are difficult to capture well, while the filter options are still the same as the previous model. The results of images at night or in dim conditions are only satisfactory and still depend on the lighting. However, the camera is still able to reduce the issue of too bright lights, especially in colorful lights. In addition, the noise level is also controlled and not too noticeable.
When using 50MP Mode, the image quality looks sharper and is able to detect the subject well as long as the subject is not moving too fast. The colors produced look more natural, not too dull and not too saturated. In addition, the bright lighting is still well maintained.
In Portrait Mode, the color temperature plays an important role in the subject's skin tone because if the lighting is too yellow, the skin tone will look a little yellowish. The bokeh produced is also pleasing to the eye and successfully separates the subject from the background well in addition to the minimal ghosting issue.
If the background is too bright, there is a slight defect in edge detection. However, the defect is only noticeable when observed closely and is not very obvious to the naked eye. To get a more attractive bokeh result, the distance between the subject and the background and the use of 2x or 3x zoom give a better effect.
The quality of the selfie mode is almost similar to the rear camera with sharp results. The ultra-wide selfie mode also does not show the excessive fisheye effect, the subject's face is not so concave and the quality at each corner of the picture still remains sharp. However, the skin tone issue is still the same as other modes when the color temperature is not controlled and this makes it one of the significant shortcomings for the selfie mode.
In addition, the post-processing still has a slight time lag, while the filter options are quite simple and still retain the three old options, namely firework, silhouette and stage. However, the new function, Pop-Up Mode, is quite interesting because it is suitable for those who want to upload pictures to social media stories without having to use other applications to create collages.
Overall, this proves that this device is capable of providing satisfactory performance in most situations, especially in terms of image quality in 50MP and portrait modes. Despite some shortcomings such as autofocus issues and skin tones affected by certain lighting, this device still offers interesting features that are suitable for daily use and sharing on social media.
Battery and Fast Charging
The battery used has a capacity of 6500mAh and supports 80W wired fast charging system. Based on my experience using this device, the battery performance is very satisfactory as it is able to support active use throughout the day in its class. Most of the SOT readings that I got exceeded 10 hours with normal daily use, thus showing a good level of battery endurance.
In one situation, I managed to achieve SOT for 13 hours 3 minutes with 'Screen Off' for 2 hours 51 minutes. In another situation, the SOT reading recorded 10 hours 23 minutes, while in another use I got 10 hours 37 minutes. There was also a low of around 5 hours 30 minutes. All these records prove that the device's battery is not only long-lasting, but also consistent in supporting various usage patterns.
In addition, the 80W fast charging also provides advantages because it can reduce the waiting time to recharge the battery. This makes the usage experience more practical, especially for those who actively use the device. Overall, I found the device's battery performance to be at a satisfactory level and suitable for intensive daily use.
What's in the Box
Here is what was included in the box we received:
1 x Oppo Reno15 5G.
1 x 80W Charging Head.
1 x USB-C to USB-A Cable.
1 x Silicone Case.
1 x User Manual.
1 x SIM Ejector.
Conclusion
Overall, the experience of using the Reno15 shows that it is a balanced device with several improvements compared to the previous generation. The camera is the main focus with improvements in selfie support that are clearer and suitable for social media use. Meanwhile, its main camera is seen to produce colors with high contrast and saturation levels that depend on lighting.
Reno15 is worth owning for users who value a quality display, a solid selfie camera, and a stylish design. It is also suitable for those who are active on social media. The audio system can still be improved, but the overall package offered makes Reno15 a valuable choice in its class. From a price point of view, although the evaluation can be considered subjective, it is at a slightly higher level than some users' expectations.
Pros
Ergonomic design with a stylish Aurora finish.
The AMOLED display is bright, clear, and smooth scrolling.
The processing chip performs well in its class.
The selfie camera is better, the pictures are clear and suitable for social media.
The main camera has high contrast, the colors sometimes look natural depending on the lighting.
IP68/IP69 protection makes the device more durable.
The battery is long-lasting with fast charging support.
Cons
The stereo audio is not balanced.
The colors of the main camera are sometimes too saturated in certain lighting.
There are advertising problems that disrupt the user experience.
The price is quite high, although the evaluation can be considered subjective.
