Above: The Oppo Reno16 series dropped in Aotearoa in July.

Oppo has dubbed its new smartphone series a “creative studio in your pocket”. Reviewer and tech enthusiast Jegan Nithianandan puts this claim to the test.

There’s a multitude of third-party editing apps out there these days, allowing users to download as needed to create content. However, this creative expression can often come at the expense of storage and potential licensing costs.

Oppo’s new smartphone aims to combat this by bringing everything from the photography tech to the editing tools to one device. The Reno16 series launched in Aotearoa on July 16, with Oppo touting it as a “creative studio in your pocket”.

Currently owning a Reno 10 Pro, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to review the Reno16 Pro when it came knocking.

Oppo NZ’s managing director Morgan Halim believes that for many consumers, smartphones have become a part of how they express themselves, connect with others and tell their story. It is clear this belief has shaped much of the development and design of the Reno16 series.

Tech specs

In the rather expressive phone box for the Reno16 Pro, Oppo has included a creative companion called the Oppo Bubble, which primarily acts as a remote viewfinder/shutter, allowing for high-quality selfies and photographs using the phone’s rear camera. In addition, the bubble can also act as a personable second screen which magnetically attaches to the phone.

In the hand, the phone sits comfortably thanks to its compact 6.32’ display and the absence of a camera bump. The device itself feels well-built and does not have any sharp edges, adding to its ergonomics. The test unit that I received was Pop White variant, showcasing Oppo’s HoloVerse 3D technology. This generates a trippy hologram effect on the back of the phone by reconstructing light in space using millions of micro lenses. Although somewhat a small feature, it sets it apart from other phones in the market, making the Pop White version instantly recognisable as an Oppo Reno16 Pro.


The Oppo Reno16 Pro Pop White version. It is also available in black.

The display of the Oppo Reno 16 Pro is a 6.32-inch AMOLED unit with ultra-thin bezels, giving it a screen-to-body ratio of 93.4%. Using the phone under harsh(er) lighting conditions was never an issue thanks to its FHD+ panel with a peak brightness of 3600 nits, an adaptive refresh rate up to 144 Hz and an in-display optical fingerprint sensor which was quick to detect my oily fingerprints. The screen also has some nice-to-have features such as 3840Hz PWM eye protection, Splash Touch technology to assist with screen response accuracy when wet and Crystal Guard, Oppo’s proprietary display protection.

A multimedia experience is never complete without the right audio, and Oppo has nailed the speakers on the Reno16 Pro. It features a stereo speaker setup – one on the bottom of the phone, and the earpiece doubles up as the second speaker. This combination blew my Reno 10 pro out of the water when it came to the media experience.

In terms of performance, the speakers manage to get quite loud without major distortions at max volume although it is slightly lacking in providing a deep bass impact. However, given that most people listen to music on dedicated Bluetooth speakers and headphones, the Reno16 pro supports high-res wireless audio codecs including SBC, AAC, LDAC, aptX, aptX HD and LHDC 5.0.

The Oppo Bubble can become a second screen or a remote viewfinder. It attaches to the phone magentically.

Enter the creative studio

As a creative studio, a device should not only be able to edit but also capture wonderful moments. Oppo has retrofitted the Reno16 Pro with a few camera options:

200MP main (Samsung ISOCELL HP5 sensor, f/1.8, OIS, PDAF)

50MP ultra- Wide (GalaxyCore sensor, f/2.0, 116-degree field of view)

50MP telephoto (Samsung ISOCELL JN5 sensor, f/2.8, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom)

50MP front camera (Samsung ISOCELL JN5 sensor, f/2.0, ultrawide with a 100 degree field of view, autofocus)

Throughout the two-week testing period, I had fun with the Reno16’s cameras. I can attribute this to the combination of high-end Samsung sensors used, versatility of the individual lenses and a smart use of integrated software and AI functionality to quickly access editing options without compromising on media quality. Apart from the default Android camera filters, Pop Cam provides several other camera styles at capture. This made photography enjoyable because the individual styles could be used toset the tone of a photo.

When it comes to video, both cameras on the Reno16 Pro can record up to 4K 60 fps. In addition, there are features such as HDR video, Ultra Steady and Sound Focus to enhance the quality of your video on both cameras. With the rear camera video, there are also two preset filters called Stage and Fireworks which slightly alters the filter and the mic’s audio profile.

Once I was done exploring the camera, I could not wait to check out the creativity suite that is integrated into the Photo app. AI Portrait Glow was my favourite. It analyses your photo and applies lighting effects to generate high-quality edits in seconds. If you feel like devoting more time to creating unique and stand out edits, a new create hub within the Photos app brings together all the AI editing tools, meaning you don’t have to rely on third-party editing apps to create unique masterpieces. This will not only free you from yet another app, but it also saves phone storage for more photos!


Trying out the Oppo’s photography tech was a lot of fun while out and about.

AI tools that work for you

Oppo has also done a great job utilising AI to make everyday tasks simpler and more intuitive. For instance, the default sound recorder has several AI functions built into it: Transcribe, Summary and AI Clear Voice. During testing, I only tried the AI Clear Voice function. This feature helps to reduce background noise so your voice stays clear and easy to hear during phone calls. Based on how effective I found this function, I can safely say that the phone will also work well in transcribing and summarising audio. Other features like AI Snap Key provides custom shortcuts that allow you to use apps like the camera and voice recorder with a single press.

A double press activates AI Mind Space, allowing users to quickly capture, organise and revisit important information like screenshots from across their device. If you transact using your digital wallet, the AI Bill Manager can automatically recognise and organise digital payments and physical receipts into clear spending records and insights. Should you enjoy travelling, the Reno16 Pro has got you covered with AI Menu Translation which not only translates the menu, but also a breakdown of the ingredients and a visual description of the items. Furthermore, AI Mind Space uses AI models such as Gemini, Perplexity and ChatGPT to deliver tailored brainstorming, planning, and problem-solving.

Oppo NZ senior marketing manager Eduardo Sampaio says the opportunity they saw with Reno16 series wasn’t to add more AI features, but to make them genuinely useful in the way people were already using their phones.

“That means integrating tools into core experiences and automating tasks where it makes sense, rather than asking people to navigate another app. We hope that makes the technology feel almost invisible – helping Kiwis create and get things done with less friction.”

Polished and practical

During my testing period, I was able to average one and a half to two days of battery life on a single charge thanks to a massive 6000mAH battery. Should you need intermittent top ups in between the days, the Reno16 Pro supports wired charging up to 80W which charged the phone from 0 to 100% in about an hour.

Likes:                                                                                                            Dislikes:

✅ Ergonomics & build                                                        ❌ No wireless charging                                          

✅ Charging speed                                                               ❌ Lack of bass in built in speakers

✅ Speakers                                                                          ❌ High price point

✅ Photography and sharing tools

✅ IR Blaster

✅ IP68/69 rating

✅ Smart use of AI

An easy recommendation

Overall, the Oppo Reno16 Pro does a great job of being a creative studio in your pocket.

During my time with the phone, it genuinely felt like a device designed for people who enjoy capturing, editing and sharing content without needing to jump between multiple apps. The cameras are versatile, the AI tools are useful rather than gimmicky, the display and speakers can provide an immersive media experience and the battery life easily keeps up with proper use.

It is not perfect, especially with the lack of wireless charging, slightly limited bass from the speakers and its high price point – retailing in Aotearoa for $1799.

However, the overall package feels polished, practical and fun. For anyone who values creativity, photography and smart everyday features in a compact and well-built phone, the Reno16 Pro is a very easy phone to recommend.

The Oppo Reno16 series was made available in Aotearoa from July 16. From the Oppo store, the Pro retails for $1799 while the Reno16 F 5G retails for $1,199.