Tecno Camon 16 Premier vs Oppo Reno 5G: A Detailed Comparison

The Tecno Camon 16 Premier and Oppo Reno 5G represent distinct approaches to the mid-range smartphone market. The Camon 16 Premier, particularly in its international variant, prioritizes fast charging and a potentially longer endurance rating, while the Reno 5G leverages the Snapdragon 855 for a more powerful, albeit potentially less efficient, experience. This comparison dives deep into the specifics to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing sustained performance and 5G connectivity, the Oppo Reno 5G is the better choice. Its Snapdragon 855, built on a 7nm process, offers a significant architectural advantage over the Camon 16 Premier’s 12nm Helio G90T. However, the Camon 16 Premier’s faster 33W charging (internationally) and impressive endurance rating make it compelling for users who value battery life above all else.

PHONES
Phone Names Tecno Camon 16 Premier Oppo Reno 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Global
5G bands-78 NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 - IndiaCDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2020, September 04. Released 2020, September 042019, April. Released 2019, May
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic frame, plastic backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions170.6 x 77.2 x 9.1 mm (6.72 x 3.04 x 0.36 in)162 x 77.2 x 9.3 mm (6.38 x 3.04 x 0.37 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight210 g (7.41 oz)215 g (7.58 oz)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1080 x 2460 pixels (~392 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~387 ppi density)
Size6.85 inches, 111.4 cm2 (~84.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.6 inches, 108.6 cm2 (~86.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 90Hz, HDR10+, 480 nits (typ)AMOLED
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)
ChipsetMediatek MT6785 Helio G90T (12 nm)Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)
GPUMali-G76 MC4Adreno 640
OSAndroid 10, HIOS 6.0Android 9.0 (Pie), ColorOS 6
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.1UFS 2.1
Main Camera
FeaturesPenta-LED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP, f/2.4, (dedicated video camera) Auxiliary lens-
Triple-48 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/3.0, 130mm (periscope telephoto), 5x optical zoom, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, gyro-EIS; video rec. only with main camera
Selfie camera
Dual48 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm 8 MP, f/2.2, 105˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm-
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDRLED flash, HDR
Single-Motorized pop-up 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, EDR, LE, aptX HD
NFCNoYes
PositioningGPSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioFM radioNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C, 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging33W wired, 70% in 30 min (International) 18W wired (India)20W wired
Type4500 mAhLi-Po 4065 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsGlacial SilverOcean Green, Jet Black
ModelsCE9, CD6jCPH1921
PriceAbout 230 EURAbout 880 EUR
SAR1.25 W/kg (head)     0.88 W/kg (body)-
Tests
Battery lifeEndurance rating 118h-
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: 1896:1 (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -28.1 LUFS (Average)-
Performance AnTuTu: 283847 (v8) GeekBench: 6692 (v4.4), 1672 (v5.1) GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Tecno Camon 16 Premier

  • Faster 33W charging (International version)
  • Impressive 118-hour endurance rating
  • Potentially lower price point

  • Less powerful Helio G90T chipset
  • 12nm process may lead to throttling
  • Limited display information

Oppo Reno 5G

  • More powerful Snapdragon 855 chipset
  • 7nm process for better efficiency
  • 5G connectivity

  • Slower 20W charging
  • Battery life potentially lower than Camon 16 Premier
  • Potentially higher price

Display Comparison

Both phones lack detailed display specifications beyond the Camon 16 Premier’s measured 400 nits of brightness and 1896:1 contrast ratio. While the Reno 5G’s display specs are unavailable, Oppo generally employs high-quality AMOLED panels. The Camon 16 Premier’s contrast ratio suggests a VA panel, which delivers deep blacks but may suffer from narrower viewing angles compared to the IPS panels often found in this price bracket. The 400 nits brightness is adequate for indoor use but may struggle in direct sunlight. Without further data, it’s difficult to assess color accuracy on either device.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are advertised with a focus on photography, but detailed sensor information is lacking. The absence of specifics necessitates caution. The Reno 5G’s camera system likely benefits from Qualcomm’s image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 855, offering advanced image processing capabilities. The Camon 16 Premier’s camera is listed as supporting both photo and video, but without details on sensor size, aperture, or optical image stabilization (OIS), it’s impossible to assess its capabilities accurately. We can assume both phones will feature multiple lenses, but the quality of those lenses will be crucial.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Oppo Reno 5G’s Snapdragon 855, fabricated on a 7nm process, boasts a more efficient architecture than the Tecno Camon 16 Premier’s 12nm Helio G90T. The Snapdragon 855’s Kryo 485 cores, with their varying clock speeds (2.84 GHz, 2.42 GHz, and 1.78 GHz), offer a more sophisticated performance profile than the Helio G90T’s octa-core configuration (2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2.0 GHz Cortex-A55). This translates to better sustained performance under load, meaning less throttling during extended gaming sessions. While the G90T is capable, the Snapdragon 855 provides a clear advantage in raw processing power and graphical capabilities.

Battery Life

The Tecno Camon 16 Premier claims an impressive endurance rating of 118 hours, suggesting excellent battery life. This is coupled with 33W wired charging (international variant) capable of reaching 70% charge in 30 minutes, a significant advantage over the Reno 5G’s 20W charging. However, the Indian variant of the Camon 16 Premier is limited to 18W charging, diminishing this benefit. The Reno 5G’s battery capacity is unknown, but the Snapdragon 855’s 7nm process *should* offer better power efficiency, potentially offsetting the slower charging speed. The Camon 16 Premier’s endurance rating suggests a larger battery capacity, prioritizing longevity over quick top-ups (in the international version).

Buying Guide

Buy the Tecno Camon 16 Premier if you need a phone that can last a full day on a single charge and benefits from extremely fast charging (especially the international version). It’s ideal for users who prioritize battery endurance and don’t heavily rely on demanding mobile games. Buy the Oppo Reno 5G if you prefer a smoother, more responsive experience for gaming and everyday tasks, and require 5G connectivity. It’s the better option for power users and those who want a phone that feels more future-proof.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Helio G90T in the Camon 16 Premier overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Helio G90T is known to generate heat under sustained load. While Tecno may have implemented thermal management solutions, the 12nm process is less efficient than the 7nm Snapdragon 855, increasing the likelihood of throttling during extended gaming. Expect some performance degradation after 30-60 minutes of demanding games.
❓ Is the 33W charging on the Camon 16 Premier only available in certain regions?
Yes, the 33W fast charging is exclusive to the international variant of the Tecno Camon 16 Premier. The Indian version is limited to 18W charging, significantly reducing the charging speed. This is a crucial distinction for potential buyers in India.
❓ Does the Oppo Reno 5G support carrier aggregation for faster 5G speeds?
While specific carrier aggregation support varies by region and carrier, the Snapdragon 855 modem generally supports carrier aggregation, enabling faster 5G download and upload speeds where available. Check with your carrier for compatibility details.
❓ How does the image processing differ between the Snapdragon 855 and Helio G90T?
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 features a dedicated image signal processor (ISP) known for its advanced image processing algorithms, including noise reduction, dynamic range optimization, and color accuracy. The Helio G90T’s ISP is less sophisticated, potentially resulting in less refined image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions.