Oppo Reno5 4G vs Realme 8 Pro: Which Mid-Range Phone Reigns Supreme?

The Oppo Reno5 4G and Realme 8 Pro represent compelling options in the competitive mid-range smartphone market. Both leverage the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G chipset and 50W fast charging, but diverge in their approach to camera systems and overall user experience. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device offers the best value.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing consistent performance and a slightly faster charging experience, the Realme 8 Pro emerges as the better choice. While both phones share the same chipset, the Realme 8 Pro’s endurance rating and marginally quicker full charge time provide a slight edge in daily usability.

PHONES
Phone Names Oppo Reno5 4G Realme 8 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 38, 40, 411, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 411, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 - Asia
Launch
Announced2020, December 312021, March 24
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, January 09Available. Released 2021, March 25
Body
Build-Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions159.1 x 73.3 x 7.7 mm (6.26 x 2.89 x 0.30 in)160.6 x 73.9 x 8.1 mm (6.32 x 2.91 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight171 g (6.03 oz)176 g (6.21 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3-
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density)
Size6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~84.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 90Hz, 430 nits (typ), 600 nits (peak)Super AMOLED, 430 nits (typ), 1000 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver)Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm)Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm)
GPUAdreno 618Adreno 618
OSAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 12, ColorOS 12Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, Realme UI 3.0
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM
 -UFS 2.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad64 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens108 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/480fps, 720p@960fps; gyro-EIS, HDR4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/480fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single44 MP, f/2.4, 24mm (wide)16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30/120fps, 720p@240fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30/120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDSGPS, GLONASS, BDS
RadioUnspecifiedNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging50W wired, 100% in 48 min Reverse wired50W wired, 50% in 17 min, 100% in 47 min
TypeLi-Po 4310 mAh4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsGalactic Silver (Fantasy Silver), Starlight Black (Starry Black)Infinite Blue, Infinite Black, Punk Black, Illuminating Yellow
ModelsCPH2159RMX3081
PriceAbout 310 EURAbout 550 EUR
SAR-1.10 W/kg (head)     0.53 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 116h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -28.2 LUFS (Average)
Performance- AnTuTu: 286666 (v8) GeekBench: 1678 (v5.1) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Oppo Reno5 4G

  • Potentially more refined software experience with ColorOS.
  • Sleek and stylish design aesthetic.
  • 50W fast charging for quick top-ups.

  • Slightly slower full charge time compared to Realme 8 Pro.
  • Less emphasis on camera features compared to Realme 8 Pro.

Realme 8 Pro

  • Excellent battery endurance (116h rating).
  • Faster 50W charging (47 minutes to 100%).
  • Potentially superior camera performance based on Realme's marketing focus.

  • Software experience may be less polished than Oppo's ColorOS.
  • May lack the premium design feel of the Oppo Reno5 4G.

Display Comparison

Both the Oppo Reno5 4G and Realme 8 Pro feature displays with an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting deep blacks typical of AMOLED panels. However, specific details like peak brightness and color gamut coverage are absent. Given the market positioning, we can infer both displays target a similar level of visual fidelity, prioritizing vibrant colors and good viewing angles. The lack of high refresh rate panels (90Hz or 120Hz) is a common trade-off in this price segment, focusing instead on power efficiency.

Camera Comparison

The Realme 8 Pro distinguishes itself with a focus on camera capabilities, though specific sensor details beyond 'Photo / Video' are missing. The absence of information regarding sensor size and aperture makes a direct comparison difficult. However, Realme’s marketing historically emphasizes camera performance, suggesting a potentially more refined image processing pipeline. The Oppo Reno5 4G, while capable, typically prioritizes a balanced feature set rather than solely focusing on camera prowess. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on the Realme 8 Pro is likely a marketing feature with limited practical benefit, given the inherent limitations of such small sensors.

Performance

Both devices are powered by the Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) with an identical CPU configuration: an octa-core setup featuring two 2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold cores and six 1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver cores. This means CPU performance will be virtually indistinguishable between the two. The real-world impact of this chipset is smooth multitasking and capable gaming at medium settings. Thermal management will likely be similar, with the 8nm process node offering reasonable efficiency. RAM configurations, not specified, will influence multitasking capabilities; higher RAM (6GB or 8GB) is preferable for demanding users.

Battery Life

The Realme 8 Pro boasts an endurance rating of 116 hours, indicating excellent battery life under typical usage scenarios. Both phones support 50W wired charging, but the Realme 8 Pro charges to 50% in 17 minutes and 100% in 47 minutes, while the Oppo Reno5 4G reaches 100% in 48 minutes. This slight difference in charging speed, coupled with the higher endurance rating, gives the Realme 8 Pro an advantage for users who prioritize minimizing downtime. The actual battery capacity (mAh) is not specified, but the endurance rating suggests the Realme 8 Pro has a more optimized power management system.

Buying Guide

Buy the Oppo Reno5 4G if you value a refined design aesthetic and potentially benefit from Oppo’s ColorOS software features. Buy the Realme 8 Pro if you prioritize maximizing battery life and appreciate a more straightforward Android experience, especially if you frequently capture photos and videos.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 720G in either phone struggle with demanding games like PUBG or Call of Duty?
The Snapdragon 720G is capable of running PUBG and Call of Duty, but you'll likely need to stick to medium graphics settings for a consistently smooth experience. Expect some frame drops during intense action sequences. Neither phone is a dedicated gaming device, but the chipset is adequate for casual gaming.
❓ Is the 50W charging truly fast, and will it degrade the battery health over time?
50W charging is considered fast charging and will significantly reduce charging times compared to standard chargers. While fast charging *can* contribute to slightly faster battery degradation over the long term, modern smartphones employ battery protection mechanisms to mitigate this effect. The convenience of quick charging generally outweighs the minimal impact on battery lifespan.
❓ How does the software experience differ between Oppo's ColorOS and Realme UI?
ColorOS (Oppo) is generally considered more feature-rich and visually polished, but can also feel more bloated with pre-installed apps. Realme UI aims for a cleaner, closer-to-stock Android experience with fewer customizations. Preference is subjective; some users prefer the added features of ColorOS, while others appreciate the simplicity of Realme UI.