In a market where every rand counts, OPPO’s Reno14 5G lands with the swagger of a flagship – but does it deliver enough punch to justify its R19,999 price tag? Let’s unpack the essentials for South African consumers who want premium performance without the premium pain.
The Reno14 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 chipset, which offers snappy multitasking and solid gaming performance. Paired with 12GB of RAM (expandable by another 12 GB of virtual RAM) and a generous 512GB of storage, this device handles heavy apps and multitasking with ease. The 5000mAh battery ensures all-day usage, and OPPO’s 80W SUPERVOOC fast charging tech means you’re back to full power in under 40 minutes – ideal for busy professionals and content creators on the move.
Design-wise, the Reno14 5G is a head-turner. Available in Luminous Green and Opal White, it’s sleek and lightweight at just 187g, with a slim 7.42mm profile that feels premium in hand. The 6.59″ AMOLED (1256 x 2760; 460 PPI) display boasts a 120Hz refresh rate, making it a joy for gamers and binge-watchers alike. Gorilla Glass 7i front adds durability. The normal brightness of 600nits (typical) is good enough for in-door usage even under harsh office lighting conditions, while this can be boosted to 1200nits when used outdoors in direct sunlight to keep things visible onscreen.
Camera performance is also quite solid, though not groundbreaking. The rear setup includes a 50MP wide lens, an 8MP ultra-wide, and a 50MP telephoto sensor. Daylight shots are crisp and vibrant, but low-light photography remains average. The 50MP front-facing camera is a win for influencers and TikTok creators, offering sharp selfies and AI beautification features. Video recording tops out at 4K at 30fps with electronic image stabilization—good enough for vlogging, though not quite cinema-grade.
From a local perspective, the Reno14 5G ticks several boxes. It’s fully compatible with South Africa’s major 5G networks, including Vodacom, MTN, and Telkom. Dual SIM (Nano-SIM card + eSIM) support makes it ideal for users juggling business and personal lines. The device runs ColorOS 14 based on Android 14 (upgraded to ColorOS 15 over the course of the review period), offering a customizable experience, though it still carries a few bloatware quirks that may irk some purists.
So, is it worth your rands? If you’re looking for a phone that blends flagship specs with a midrange identity, the Reno14 5G is a compelling option. It’s ideal for creators, multitaskers, and anyone who wants future-proof connectivity. But at R19,999, it’s brushing shoulders with the iPhone 15, Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, Huawei Nova 12, and Honor 400 – all of which offer similarly specced alternatives with distinct brand appeal and ecosystem advantages. However, OPPO carries tremendous appeal with the Reno14 5G, and we would have no problem recommending this smartphone pick.
