OPPO is bringing its Reno8 Pro handset to market and it’s not coming alone. Leveraging performance upgrades from chipmaker MediaTek, the Reno8 Pro will pack the new MediaTek Dimensity 8100-MAX processor at its heart. This is a bigger deal than might be immediately obvious.

In recent years, MediaTek has made serious strides in the mobile processor space. Going from the MediaTek Helio range of 4G processors, and right up to the launch of MediaTek Dimensity chipsets with integrated 5G, MediaTek has come a long way. And it’s bringing OPPO along with it for this latest innovation.

Mutual benefits

Or, rather, both OPPO and MediaTek are in this together! The 5nm MediaTek Dimensity 8100-MAX processor is a customized version of the chipmaker’s MediaTek Dimensity 8100, designed especially for OPPO thanks to MediaTek’s Dimensity 5G Open Resource Architecture (DORA). This is a platform designed to give device manufacturers like OPPO more creative control over the component in their hardware. In addition to the features MediaTek’s chip has natively, it also hosts OPPO’s own MariSilicon X neural/imaging processor. This is a high-powered addition used to upskill Sony’s already stellarIMX766 camera sensors inside the Reno8 Pro. More on that in a moment.

The chip has longer battery life, more computing power, and better software performance overall – both on a CPU and GPU level. 5G and high-performance network capabilities are present inside the chip. The chip also features MediaTek HyperEngine 5.0 gaming technology, which promises high-end gaming performance from Oppo’s 8 Pro handset. Other flagship stalwarts, like advanced rendering and support for 120Hz displays, are also part of the MediaTek Dimensity 8100. The MediaTek Dimensity 8100-MAX variant, obviously, just turns the dial up a little higher.

A trip to Reno

The OPPO Reno8 Pro packs a serious set of features of its own. One of the highlights is the 6.7 in AMOLED display. It runs at 120Hz, supports HDR10+, and does all the other lovely things you’ve come to expect from a flagship device’s display. If you want specifics, how do Amazon HDR and Netflix HD certifications grab you?

Besides the processor, there’s 8GB of RAM which is expandable to 13GB with RAM extension inside. The main 50MP IMX766 image sensor from Sony offers crystal clear pictures and a few nighttime smarts. An 8MP and 2MP assistant duo help out around the back, while the front selfie camera is a 32MP IMX709 sensor. Dual speakers, a haptic motor system, a glass rear panel, and a graphite-based heat-management system round out the features OPPO has crammed into its smartphone. Not only will it play games, it’ll do so extremely well. But that’s not the only area where this phone shines.

It’s an image thing

OPPO’s MariSilicon X NPU takes photography up to the next level. The Reno8 Pro’s night photography skills get a substantial bump. Even better, nighttime video performance has been upgraded to 4K HDR thanks to the custom CPU’s performance. If you’re taking videos at night, this is the device you should be taking along with you.

The powerful new NPU isn’t just confined to smarts. It’ll ramp up your standard photography with little to no additional input from you. It’s more intelligent than ever, which means your images will look better than ever.

MediaTek Dimensity 8100 chip features

Increased power means an increased feature set. MediaTek Dimensity 8100-MAX powers a more efficient 4,500mAh battery, which lasts longer than before. In the event that you’ve forgotten to charge it, OPPO’s 80W SUPERVOOC™ charging skills will rocket your handset back up to 50% in just eleven minutes. That’s more than enough to survive a South African load shedding session, even on very short notice.

OPPO has also dropped in a new feature — Battery Health Engine. The upgrade lets users squeeze up to 1,600 charge cycles out of their phones, double that of industry standards which is currently at only 800 charge cycles. That’s about four years of battery usage before any sort of degradation even begins to raise its head. This is great because the marriage of OPPO and MediaTek means you’ll want to have your Reno8 Pro hang around for a very long time indeed.

OPPO’s Reno8 Pro smartphone powered by MediaTek Dimensity 8100-MAX is available in South Africa from October 2022. It’s available from stores for just R19,999. Get yours today.