Many smartphone buyers focus on cameras, battery life, performance, and design. Yet a surprising number still ask: “Do I really need NFC on my phone?”
The answer is simple. For most smartphone users in India, NFC is a nice-to-have feature rather than a must-have. UPI QR payments are widely used for everyday transactions in India, meaning many users may have little need for NFC in their day-to-day payments.
If you’re choosing a new device under ₹70,000 in 2026, you’re often better off prioritising camera quality, battery endurance, AI features, durability, and long-term software experience rather than NFC alone.
What Is NFC?
NFC (Near Field Communication) is a short-range wireless technology that allows devices to communicate when placed close together.
Typical uses include:
- Tap-to-pay transactions
- Contactless card payments
- Quick device pairing
- Digital access cards
- Transit ticket systems
In markets such as the US, the UK, and parts of Europe, contactless payments using NFC are widely used. In India, however, QR-code-based UPI payments remain the dominant method for everyday purchases.
Do You Need NFC in India?
When NFC Makes Sense
You may benefit from NFC if you:
- Frequently use contactless card payments
- Travel internationally
- Use digital access cards at work
- Prefer tap-based payment experiences
For these users, NFC can be genuinely useful.
When NFC Doesn’t Matter Much
Many buyers may not miss NFC if they:
- Primarily use UPI QR payments
- Focus on photography and social media creation
- Prioritise display quality and design
- Need a dependable 5G phone
For these users, the overall smartphone experience is often far more important than whether NFC is included.
NFC or Everyday Smartphone Features: What Matters More?
When choosing a smartphone, it is worth considering how often you would actually use NFC. If you primarily rely on UPI QR payments, NFC may not be a priority.
Instead, features you use every day, such as the camera, battery, display, performance and software experience, may play a bigger role in deciding which phone suits you.
This is where the OPPO Reno16 5G and OPPO Reno16c 5G may be worth considering. Both phones place greater emphasis on photography, AI-powered content creation, battery life and design, features that can have a more noticeable impact on everyday smartphone use. OPPO’s official India pricing starts from ₹61,999 for the OPPO Reno16 5G and ₹46,999 for the OPPO Reno16c 5G. Both devices are positioned as the Trendy Portrait Bestie and built around the Trend-Setting AI Portrait Camera experience.
Why the OPPO Reno16 Series Stands Out
Camera Systems Built for Portrait Lovers
Both devices centre their photography experience around Natural Tone Imaging, 3.5x Telephoto Vibe Portrait, and the 50MP Ultra-Wide Selfie Camera, making them attractive options for users who prioritise selfies, portraits, and social content creation.
- OPPO Reno16 5G
- 50MP Ultra-Clear Main Camera
- 50MP 3.5x Telephoto Vibe Portrait
- 50MP Ultra-Wide Camera
- 50MP Ultra-Wide Selfie Camera
- Natural Tone Imaging is designed to reproduce Indian skin tones naturally, while the high-resolution cameras provide additional flexibility for portrait photography.
- OPPO Reno16c 5G
- 50MP Ultra-Clear Main Camera
- 50MP 3.5x Telephoto
- 8MP Ultra-Wide Camera
- 50MP Ultra-Wide Selfie Camera
- The Reno16c 5G also includes a dedicated 50MP 3.5x telephoto camera, while Natural Tone Imaging focuses on natural skin-tone reproduction.
Strong AI Features for Social Media
Beyond photography, the Reno16 Series includes several AI-powered content creation tools, including:
- AI Remix Collage
- Pop Cam
- Popout 2.0
- Dual-View Video 2.0
- 4K Auto Straighten Video
These tools can support the creation of short videos, social-media content and shareable photos directly on the phone, reducing the need to switch between multiple editing apps.
AI Remix Collage works differently across the two models. The OPPO Reno16 5G supports video backgrounds, Live Photos, animated stickers and advanced cut-out features, while the OPPO Reno16c 5G supports static-image collages and stickers.
Key Hardware Features for Everyday Use
When comparing smartphones under ₹70,000, it is worth considering features that affect everyday use, including battery life, charging speed, performance and display quality.
- OPPO Reno16 5G
- Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 Mobile Platform
- 6700mAh Battery
- 80W SUPERVOOC
- ColorOS 16 (Android 16)
- IP66 / IP68 / IP69 / IP69K Water and Dust Resistance
- OPPO Reno16c 5G
- MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Energy
- 7000mAh Battery
- 80W SUPERVOOC
- ColorOS 16 (Android 16)
- IP66 / IP68 / IP69 / IP69K Water and Dust Resistance
Final Verdict
For many smartphone users in India, NFC may be useful rather than essential, especially for those who primarily rely on UPI QR payments. When choosing a phone, it is therefore worth looking beyond NFC and considering everyday factors such as camera quality, battery life, performance, AI features and durability.
For buyers looking for a smartphone under ₹70,000, the OPPO Reno16 5G and OPPO Reno16c 5G bring together features such as Natural Tone Imaging, AI Remix Collage, large batteries and 80W SUPERVOOC charging, with a particular focus on photography, content creation and everyday use.