Oppo Reno 15 Review: The “Portrait God” Returns?

Let’s cut straight to the chase. In the Indian market, the Oppo Reno series has always been about two things: Looks and Portraits. You buy a Reno if you want a phone that looks like jewelry and clicks photos that make you look like a Bollywood star.

Now, in January 2026, Oppo has dropped the Reno 15. The price has creeped up again—starting at ₹39,999 for the base variant. The marketing hype is all about “AI Portrait Era” and the new “Liquid Silk Design.” But as a tech journalist who has reviewed every Reno since the first “Shark Fin” pop-up camera, I have to ask: Is this just a pretty face, or does it have the muscle to justify the price tag?

I’ve used this phone as my daily driver for 10 days in Mumbai’s heat and traffic. Here is the unfiltered truth.

Quick Specs: The Numbers Game

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Design & Build: Jewelry You Can Make Calls With

Read more: HONOR Magic 8 Pro 

Oppo never misses with design. The Reno 15 is, hands down, the best-looking phone under ₹40k right now.

• The Feel: It’s impossibly thin (7.3mm) and light. Holding it feels premium.
• The Back: They are using a new “Ripple Glass” texture that feels like satin but looks like flowing water. It doesn’t catch fingerprints.
• The Durability: Finally, we get IP68 Water & Dust Resistance. You can drop this in a bucket of water, and it will survive.
• The Chin: The bezels are razor-thin, almost non-existent. It looks like you are holding just a piece of glass.

Display & Visuals: A Treat for the Eyes

The screen is a 1.5K Quad-Curved OLED.

• Brightness: I took this phone to Marine Drive at 2 PM. With 4500 nits peak brightness, the text was readable even under direct sunlight.
• Smoothness: The 144Hz refresh rate is buttery smooth. Scrolling through Instagram reels or Twitter feels instant.
• Protection: It uses Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, so it can handle keys in your pocket without scratching.

Performance: Good, But Not a “Gaming Beast”

Here is where the “Reno” identity shows. It runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 8400.

• Daily Usage: For opening apps, multitasking, and 5G browsing, it flies. No lag. Period.
• Gaming: I played BGMI and Call of Duty Warzone on High settings.
  • 30 Minutes: Smooth 90 FPS.
  • 60 Minutes: The phone gets warm near the camera module (approx 42°C).
  • Verdict: It handles gaming well, but if you are a hardcore gamer, the iQOO Neo 11 or Poco F8 (competitors) offer better sustained performance for less money. The Reno 15 throttles slightly to keep the temperature down.

Camera: The “Portrait Expert” Claims

This is why you are paying ₹40,000. The camera system is phenomenal.

1. Main Camera (50MP): Daylight shots are crisp, with excellent dynamic range. The color science is slightly punchy (classic Oppo), making the sky look bluer and grass greener.

2. The Star: 50MP Periscope Telephoto (3x Zoom): This is the game-changer.

• Portraits: I took portraits of my team members. The edge detection around hair is DSLR-level. The background blur (bokeh) looks natural, not fake.
• Zoom: Even at 10x hybrid zoom, the text on signboards was readable.
• Skin Tones: Oppo has mastered Indian skin tones. It doesn’t whiten your face; it retains the natural texture while removing blemishes.

3. Selfie Camera (50MP): It has Autofocus! Vlogging on this front camera is a joy. It stabilizes 4K video very well.

Battery & Charging: Surprising Endurance

Despite being thin, Oppo packed a 5600mAh battery.

• Drain Test: My day started at 8 AM. After 2 hours of social media, 1 hour of gaming, calls, and 4 hours of music streaming, I still had 25% battery left at 10 PM. It easily lasts a full day and a half for moderate users.
• Charging: The 100W SuperVOOC charger is in the box (thankfully). It charges 0 to 50% in just 11 minutes. A full charge takes about 26-28 minutes.

The Competition: Reno 15 vs The Rivals

We analyzed the market and found its two biggest headaches: the Vivo V50 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy A57.

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• Vs Vivo V50 Pro: The Vivo has a better “Aura Light” for night portraits, but the Reno 15 wins with its superior Zoom lens and build quality.
• Vs Samsung A57: The Samsung feels slower and charges painfully slow (25W). Unless you need OneUI, the Reno 15 destroys it in hardware.

Final Verdict: Should You Buy It?

The Oppo Reno 15 is the most “complete” Reno phone I have seen in years. It finally fixes the battery life and adds IP68 rating, removing the biggest complaints of the past.

Buy it if:

• You are a Camera Lover: Specifically, if you love taking photos of people (Portraits). The 3x lens is magic.
• Design Matters: You want a phone that turns heads and feels luxurious in hand.
• You hate charging: The 100W speed changes your lifestyle.

Skip it if:

• You are a Hardcore Gamer: You can get the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 processor in iQOO or OnePlus for the same price.
• You hate Bloatware: ColorOS still sends some annoying notifications (though you can turn them off).
• You want pure value: If you don’t care about curved screens or fancy cameras, the Poco F8 gives faster performance for ₹10k less.

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