Compact smartphones have become increasingly rare, especially in the mid-premium segment. Most brands have shifted towards larger displays, leaving users who prefer one-handed devices with limited choices. The Oppo Reno 16 attempts to fill that gap with a 6.32-inch display, premium build, capable cameras, and a massive 6,700mAh battery packed into a surprisingly compact body.
On paper, it ticks almost every box. You get four 50-megapixel cameras, IP69-level durability, ColorOS 16 with several new AI features, and long software support. However, there’s one specification that raises eyebrows considering its Rs 61,999 starting price.
After spending some time with the Twilight Violet 8GB+256GB variant, here’s whether the Reno 16 deserves a place on your shortlist.
5Battery Life That Keeps Going
The Reno 16 houses a massive 6,700mAh silicon-carbon battery, and battery life is one of its biggest strengths.
Even with a mix of photography, social media, streaming, navigation, messaging, and occasional gaming, the phone comfortably lasted an entire day with charge to spare. Lighter users could even stretch it into a second day.
Charging is handled by Oppo’s 80W fast charging, which keeps downtime minimal despite the large battery. A quick top-up before heading out is often enough to comfortably last the rest of the day.
Combined with the efficient software optimization, battery anxiety simply wasn’t part of my experience with the Reno 16.
One small omission worth mentioning is NFC support. It won’t affect everyone, but at this price point, it would have been nice to see it included.
