So I just got to review the OPPO Reno 13F 5G earlier this year, and now the 14F is out. With the mid-range smartphone market getting more competitive by the day, let’s see whether this latest offering still has what it takes to stand out from the crowd.
13F vs 14F: What’s New?
OPPO has clearly taken user feedback seriously, making meaningful improvements to an already solid device. The most noticeable upgrade is the battery – jumping from the 13F’s impressive 5800mAh to a massive 6000mAh powerhouse. Despite this bigger battery, the 14F is actually slimmer (7.69mm vs 7.9mm) and lighter (180g vs 192g) than its predecessor.
The design has received a fresh makeover with the introduction of “Mermaidcore” aesthetics – a first in smartphones. My Luminous Green unit showcases the industry-first Luminous Loop design with a high-reflective coating that creates dynamic light effects as you move the phone.
Display quality has been refined with the 14F sporting a 6.57-inch AMOLED panel (versus 6.67-inch on the 13F) with the same 120Hz refresh rate but improved peak brightness at 1400 nits. The display is now more colorful with 1.07 billion colors versus the previous 16.7 million. The addition of Splash Touch and Glove Mode means the screen remains responsive even with wet hands or while wearing gloves – perfect for those living an active lifestyle.
The camera hardware remains similar on paper – a 50MP main with OIS, 8MP ultra-wide, and 32MP selfie – but it has improved AI features that we’ll dive into shortly.
The Reno 14 Family: Choosing Your Perfect Match
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, it’s worth understanding how the 14F fits into the broader Reno 14 lineup:
Reno 14F 5G (RM1,399): The affordable marathoner of the family, focused on battery life (6000mAh), IP69 rating, and practical features designed to keep the phone alive through long days. It’s the well-rounded option for those who prioritize endurance over raw power.
Reno 14 (RM2,399): Packs a more powerful Dimensity 8250 chip, faster 80W charging (though smaller 5000mAh battery), and better main camera sensor (IMX890).
Reno 14 Pro (RM2,999): Flagship-grade Dimensity 9200+ processor, premium 50MP telephoto lens, 100W charging, and up to 4500 nits peak brightness.
If charging speed is your priority, the standard Reno 14 with its 80W SUPERVOOC might be worth the upgrade. Similarly, if you’re a photography enthusiast, both the Reno 14 and 14 Pro offer better main camera sensors, with the Pro adding that dedicated telephoto lens for superior zoom capability. But for most users seeking the best value and battery life, the 14F hits the sweet spot.
Design & Build: Premium Feels Without Premium Price
The Reno 14F continues OPPO’s tradition of delivering premium aesthetics at mid-range prices. The Mermaidcore-inspired design isn’t just marketing fluff – it genuinely looks distinctive with its 12-layer iridescent coating that shifts colors beautifully under different lighting.
What truly impresses is the build quality. The phone maintains the IP69 water and dust resistance rating from the 13F – still a rarity at this price point – but now adds IP66 and IP68 certifications as well. IP69 is extremely rare in the smartphone industry, and even within the Reno 14 series lineup, only the F has this rating, making it exceptionally versatile and durable. This IP69 rating ensures protection against dust and high-pressure hot water jets, allowing the phone to handle everything from casual splashes to full submersion in water up to 2 meters deep for 30 minutes. It’s perfect for bringing to the pool or beach without worry – just make sure to get a strap so you don’t drop it! The platinum-plated USB port adds corrosion protection, making this phone practically life-proof.
Despite housing a larger 6000mAh battery, the 14F somehow manages to be slimmer and lighter than its predecessor. At just 180g and 7.69mm thin, it feels comfortable during extended use – a testament to OPPO’s engineering prowess.
AI Camera Features: Smart AI Tricks That Actually Help
While the camera hardware specs might look familiar on paper, the software experience has been improved with smart AI tools:
AI Flash Photography: The 14F features a dual flash system designed for excellent close-range illumination, achieving 100% greater brightness at distances up to 1 meter. In real-world use, this means noticeably better night portraits with more natural skin tones and better detail.
AI Livephoto 2.0: This feature captures 1.5 seconds before and after each shot, similar to iPhone’s Live Photos, but with several advantages. You can now convert any 3-second video clip into a high-quality Livephoto, preserving resolution up to 4K. What’s truly game-changing is that OPPO has partnered with Instagram to enable direct Livephoto sharing – a first for Android phones.
AI Recompose: Trained on professional photography data, it automatically configures aspect ratios, crops, and adjusts images for the best composition. In testing, I just took photos without bothering about framing, and with one tap, AI Recompose offered multiple perfectly balanced compositions that looked professionally edited. For social media enthusiasts, this is a massive time-saver.
AI Recompose Feature
AI Perfect Shot: This might be my favorite new tool. I tested this with my daughters where it’s quite tough as they move a lot, and a lot of times I’m caught in a situation where both of them take turns to blink. Well, AI Perfect Shot is here to make the shot perfect. What’s particularly smart about OPPO’s implementation is that it doesn’t just fix blinking eyes – it can change entire expressions too.
Unlike competitors’ AI blink fix features that make automated decisions (sometimes resulting in weird-looking eyes), OPPO’s approach is genuinely intelligent and flexible. It scans your photo gallery to find reference images of the same person, then offers multiple expression options you can choose from. Since it’s based on the person’s actual face from your own photos, the results look completely natural – no obvious AI editing artifacts or uncanny expressions.
Say goodbye to those group photo compromises where one person looks great but others look awkward. Now you can truly have the perfect shot without endless retakes. This intuitive, user-controlled approach makes OPPO’s AI Perfect Shot one of the most practical AI camera features I’ve seen in a mid-range phone.
AI Perfect Shot Feature
AI Clarity Enhancer: This tool intelligently boosts the detail in your photos, making textures pop and fine elements more visible. It’s particularly useful for landscape shots or close-ups where you want to emphasize intricate details without making the image look over-processed.
Other useful AI tools include enhanced versions of AI Eraser (for removing photobombers), AI Reflection Remover (for shooting through glass), and AI Unblur (for salvaging slightly blurry shots of moving subjects). These aren’t just gimmicks – they deliver results that genuinely improve your photos.
Display: Bright, Smooth, Immersive
The 6.57-inch AMOLED display is a joy to use. With FHD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and brightness peaking at 1400 nits, it outshines many competitors in this segment. Colors pop thanks to 10-bit color depth (1.07 billion colors), and the screen remains perfectly readable even under harsh sunlight.
With ultra-thin bezels starting from just 1.6mm, the screen-to-body ratio reaches an impressive 93.04%, creating a more immersive viewing experience than its predecessor.
Performance & Gaming: Smooth, Cool, Capable
Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1, the Reno 14F delivers noticeably smoother performance than the 13F. This 4nm chip offers a 35% improvement in CPU performance and 30% in GPU performance compared to previous generations, and the difference is palpable in daily use.
For everyday tasks – messaging, social media, web browsing – everything feels snappy and responsive. The 12GB LPDDR4X RAM and 512GB UFS 3.1 storage provide plenty of headroom for multitasking.
Gaming performance sees a meaningful upgrade with OPPO’s AI HyperBoost 2.0. Playing Mobile Legends: Bang Bang at 60fps or PUBG Mobile at HD settings remained smooth even after extended sessions. Frame rates were noticeably more stable than on the 13F, with fewer dips during intense moments.
The AI Adaptive Frame Rate Stabilization intelligently identifies high-load scenarios such as team battles in games, optimizing resource allocation in real-time. Using OPPO’s self-developed AIDL communication protocol, the system obtains key game indicator data to improve power efficiency and maintain stable frame rates. This means when you’re in the middle of a crucial gaming moment, the AI ensures your gameplay remains smooth instead of dropping frames just when you need performance most.
The Ultra-thin Dual-Drive Cooling Architecture, featuring a vapor chamber and aerospace-grade ultra-conductive graphite, keeps temperatures in check even during gaming marathons. The phone still remains cool even under hot temperatures and intensive use.
Battery Life: Even More Impressive Endurance
The upgraded 6000mAh battery is simply outstanding – delivering up to two full days of typical use. This is a meaningful improvement over the already impressive 5800mAh in the 13F.
In my testing, the phone easily lasted through heavy days of social media, photography, GPS navigation, and occasional gaming with 30-40% still remaining by bedtime. For moderate users, you might find yourself charging just twice a week.
Gaming endurance is equally impressive – I managed to get 9-10 hours of continuous gaming with Genshin Impact and MLBB, which is perfect for long commutes or travel.
The 45W SUPERVOOC charging remains unchanged from the 13F, fully charging the larger battery in about 79 minutes. A quick 10-minute top-up provides roughly 7.4 hours of phone calls or 3.7 hours of YouTube watching.
Software & Smart Features: ColorOS 15 Gets Smarter
Running on ColorOS 15 based on Android 15, the 14F brings several AI improvements beyond photography. OPPO’s commitment to 5 major ColorOS updates and 6 years of security patches means this phone will stay current for years to come – a significant value addition.
AI features like AI Call Summary for recording and transcribing calls, and AI VoiceScribe for real-time translation during videos or meetings add genuine utility. The AI Translate app leverages the camera for real-time understanding of physical content like menus or documents – I found this particularly useful on a recent trip.
The Trinity Engine and Luminous Rendering Engine ensure animations remain butter-smooth, and the AI optimizations keep everything running efficiently despite the feature-rich interface.
Verdict: Still a Mid-Range Champion
The OPPO Reno 14F 5G isn’t trying to win the spec sheet war – instead, it focuses on delivering a balanced, premium experience with features that enhance daily use. The combination of improved battery life, smart AI tools, excellent display, and capable camera system makes this one of the most well-rounded phones in its price segment.
It’s not without compromises – hardcore gamers might want more raw power, and those prioritizing zoom photography might miss a dedicated telephoto lens. But for most users seeking an all-around excellent phone without breaking the bank, the 14F delivers exceptional value.
The Reno 14F offers new and improved AI features from previous Reno series, enhancing the photography experience and overall functionality. These intelligent tools make everyday use more convenient and creative.
With its massive battery, IP69 water resistance, premium build quality, and smart AI features, the Reno 14F remains a very strong contender in the mid-range segment. It may not have the absolute best raw performance, but it excels where it matters most for everyday users – camera quality, battery life, display, and build quality. If you’re looking for a reliable, feature-packed phone that won’t break the bank, the Reno 14F should definitely be on your shortlist.
