OPPO has recently announced its flagship Reno8 Series in India. The series comprises two smartphones – Reno 8 5G and Reno 8 Pro 5G. Recently I got an opportunity to visit OPPO’s QE Reliability Lab located in Kasna, Uttar Pradesh, India, where OPPO subjects its Reno 8 Series devices to intense tests. Both devices will undergo more than 300 rigorous tests, including a Micro drop test, Temperature test, USB cable swing test, Dust testing, and many more.
Doing these tests regularly needs a hefty investment, but the primary aim of these tests is to make the durability of the devices as high as possible. According to an internal survey, in 2015, many Indian consumers upgraded their handsets every six months, followed by up to 9-12 months in 2016-17.
This buying behavior continued to increase and stood at two years in 2020. The buying behavior has increased, and users are likely to use their devices for nearly two-and-a-half years. This is the primary reason OPPO has pushed its Research and Development efforts to create a durable device that lasts longer. Let’s check out more information about a few tests conducted on the Reno 8 Series devices in the OPPO QE Reliability Lab below.
Rain Water Testing
OPPO Reno 8 and Reno 8 Pro will undergo water testing by simulating a heavy rainfall of 10±0.5 L/min. The phone is sprayed with water onto its four surfaces at a 75° angle during the test. It is also tested the same way while the phone is playing video or making a voice call. After completion of the test, the device is wiped dry and disassembled to examine if the main PCB interface or the display shows signs of corrosion.
Rain/Water Testing pic.twitter.com/zz761eVFdg
— Satwik (@Satwik680) September 18, 2022
Accidental Drop test
It simulates a typical free-fall scenario from various heights up to 1.5 meters, which is more than 80% higher than the industry standard of 0.8 meters. This simulation is carried out 12 to 24 times with the phone being dropped on six different surfaces, eight corners, and twelve edges. Immediately after the drop test, the engineer will inspect the phone’s essential functions, such as the camera, microphone, display, etc.
Drop Testing pic.twitter.com/dhLE6KdyCV
— Satwik (@Satwik680) September 18, 2022
Low and High-Temperature Testing
OPPO subjects the Reno 8 and Reno 8 Pro to an extremely low temperature of as low as -50°C and as high as 75°C for a week, which is way higher than the industry standard of three days. These comprehensive, demanding tests ensure OPPO devices can be used as expected in both regular and extreme environments.
Dust Chamber Test
Both Reno 8 and Reno 8 Pro do not include any IP rating, so, on paper, these devices are not dust-proof and water-resistant. However, OPPO conducts water and dust tests so that these devices offer some level of dust and water protection. These phones will be kept in a dust chamber for a few minutes to hours and inspected for any dust blockages. Most importantly, speakers, microphones, USB port, and cameras.
Roller Chamber Test
In this test, these devices in ON condition will be dropped into a roller chamber that rotates slowly and continuously until it completes 150 rotations. After completion, technical will evaluate the devices for any functionality issues.
Roller Chamber Test pic.twitter.com/iWaZvWz7Qv
— Satwik (@Satwik680) September 18, 2022
USB Cable Swing Test
The USB Cable Swing test is conducted to check the durability of the USB cables. One end of the connector (USB-C) is connected to the swing attachment, and a block with 250 grams weight is attached to another end of the cable. The swing test will be conducted as high as 1 lakh times or till the wire breaks.
USB Cable Swing Test pic.twitter.com/enfvEhtefE
— Satwik (@Satwik680) September 18, 2022
GPS Test
In GPS testing, the devices will be kept in the GPS testing matching, and the computer will test the GPS functionalities at different angles and coordinates.
USB Port Test
This test is conducted to check the durability of the USB port of the Reno 8 Series devices. An automatic machine will plug in and plug out the USB cable continuously at regular intervals for at least 10,000 times. Generally, we charge our phones on average three times a day (3 plug-ins and three plug-outs). According to OPPO, this test will be done to make sure the USB port of the Reno 8 Series should work without any issue for at least five years.
USB Port Testing pic.twitter.com/vTyn2iaPW2
— Satwik (@Satwik680) September 18, 2022
Once the operation is completed (10,000 plug-ins/outs), the USB port of the device will be tested for any issues, including wear and tear. Along with USB port testing, the USB Port Swing test will also be performed on the Left/Right and Up/down positions.
USB Swing Test pic.twitter.com/Mo39jTNhMS
— Satwik (@Satwik680) September 18, 2022
Soft Pressure Test
This is also called as bend test. It is conducted by bending the phone to see whether it is strong enough to withstand the bend or not. Initially, a weight of 15KGs will be applied and goes up to 40 KGs.
Soft Pressure Testing pic.twitter.com/QNZJU3xITH
— Satwik (@Satwik680) September 18, 2022
Micro Drop Test
The Micro Drop test is conducted on all six sides – Front, Rear, Left, Right, Up, and Down. The test will be conducted on each side 26,000 times. The devices will be dropped from 10 centimeters of height continuously at regular intervals. Once the testing is done, the phone will be thoroughly checked for any functionality issues as well as for any hardware issues.
Micro Drop Testing (Rear) pic.twitter.com/2SLnlLFwRG
— Satwik (@Satwik680) September 18, 2022
Micro Drop Test Screen Facing Downwards pic.twitter.com/qXEAcYcQ8s
— Satwik (@Satwik680) September 18, 2022
Electro Static Discharge Test
This test is conducted to check the effects of ESD on mobile devices. The test will be conducted on various test cases such as Mobile On condition, Data transfer to mobile or Mobile to computer, Video calling, Watching a video on Youtube, and many more. This test is completely done manually, and an engineer will conduct this test continuously for eight hours.
WiFi OTA Dark Chamber Test
This test checks the 2G, 3G, and 4G functionalities. All bands, including channels and frequencies, are tested to check whether all the bands supported by the phone are properly working or not. All the tests will be conducted in a normal environment, just like outside.
WiFi OTA Dark Chamber Testing pic.twitter.com/D7biB0TBOH
— Satwik (@Satwik680) September 18, 2022
Pencil Hardness Test
In this test, the pencil’s tip is placed on various surfaces such as Plastic, Glass, and LCD of the phone at an angle, and 1 KG weight is applied to the pencil. Once the test is done, the surfaces are tested for any scratches.
Camera Testing
The camera will be tested under various lighting conditions. During the test, various parameters such as Brightness, Contrast under various camera modes are tested and analyzed.
Camera Testing pic.twitter.com/YLyDp7IOTS
— Satwik (@Satwik680) September 18, 2022
Apart from these tests, there will be other various tests such as 5G test, Alcohol rubber friction test, Battery cell test, Steel ball drop test, Bluetooth/WiFi test, Boiling test, Charger test, Cosmetic test, GPS test, Humidity test, Paper belt friction test, Salt spray test, Sandpaper test, Sweat test, UV test, Temperature rise test and many more. Check out this Twitter thread for more details.
Battery Health Engine (BHE) – Safer and faster battery charging
The Reno 8 and Reno 8 Pro are powered by OPPO’s proprietary Battery Health Engine (BHE) technology. These phones are equipped with a dedicated BHE chipset with a Smart Battery Health Algorithm and Battery Healing Technology for better safety and performance.
The algorithm dynamically adjusts and maintains the maximum charging current to prolong battery lifespan and allow for faster-charging speeds. On the other hand, OPPO’s Battery Healing Technology extends battery life by constantly repairing the electrodes while the battery goes through its normal charge and discharge cycles.
With these technologies in the Reno 8 Series, OPPO has increased the battery charge cycles to 1,600, which is twice the industry average of 800 charge cycles. In addition, OPPO batteries now retain 80% of their original capacity for as long as four years with the same high levels of safety to make it the most extended smartphone battery lifespan on the market.
TÜV SÜD 36-Month Fluency Rating ‘A’ Mark
To ensure the Reno 8 series handsets run smoothly in the early stages when the handset is brand new, and even after 36 months of sustained use, OPPO has partnered with TÜV SÜD to measure the smartphone’s fluency performance. The Reno8 Series smartphone, after undergoing nearly 500 tests, meets the certification requirements in relevant standards established by TÜV SÜD to obtain the 36-Month Fluency Rating A Mark. The certification comprises five ratings from E to A, of which A is the highest standard.
Two Operating System Updates and 4-year Software Updates
To ensure users get the newest features, OPPO has promised two operating system updates for its Reno8 Series. Both devices run on ColorOS 12 out of the box. The first update to ColorOS 13 based on the newest Android 13 will arrive on Reno 8 Pro in September, followed by Reno8 in October. These devices will also be one of the first to receive the ColorOS 14 update (most probably), which is slated to release in 2023. This means these handsets will run on the most current OS until the second quarter of 2024.
Apart from the two major software updates, the Reno 8 Series will also receive four years of security updates to protect user information from various malware, viruses, and attacks that mine or steal sensitive user information. In addition, with its new OS update, the Reno 8 Series devices will automatically get the newest security features of Android 13.
For enhanced privacy, the system can hide the contents of the notification once the front-facing camera detects someone other than the real owner of the device. The ColorOS 13 is certified by ISO, ePrivacy, and TrustArc for advanced privacy and security. For instance, users can protect their recent app activity or set up a password when turning off the device.
Special Service Privileges for All Reno 8 Series Users
Buyers of Reno 8 and Reno 8 Pro also get a host of special service privileges. After purchasing either of these phones, they can contact OPPO through Facebook and Twitter to register themselves for preferential Platinum after-sales service. The registration is completed in four working hours, post which customers can contact Platinum Care on 9958808080 (24X7) for exclusive support on Reno devices.
OPPO is also offering doorstep pick-and-drop service for its Reno devices. Consumers can call the toll-free number 1800-103-2777 for any service-related queries or send an email to support.in[at]oppo.com, and even connect via WhatsApp Chat ta 9871502777. Customers can avail of an EMI on repair services to reduce any possible hindrance. Additionally, OPPO offers a 30-day replacement duration and customer support in regional languages.
That’s it for now. If you have any queries, do let me know in the comments. Follow GizArena on Facebook and Twitter for the latest tech updates.