Oppo’s Reno12 series has finally landed in Europe, bringing with it the Reno12 Pro, a smartphone that seamlessly blends style with substance. Designed with a youthful, social media-centric audience in mind, this device is set to impress with its dual “portrait” cameras and sleek aesthetics. Despite sporting a 6.7-inch display, the Reno12 Pro manages to stay impressively light and compact.
Portrait Perfection: The Camera Setup
Oppo’s marketing touts the secondary 2x zoom and selfie cameras as “portrait cameras,” and the reasons are clear. Both cameras feature 50MP sensors optimized for portrait photography, with the zoom lens boasting a wide aperture and robust sensor. The front-facing camera, sharing the same 50MP sensor, offers a wider 21mm focal length and autofocus, enhanced by AI-powered portrait optimizations.
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Specs at a Glance
- Body: 161.5×74.8×7.4mm, 180g; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front, plastic frame, plastic back; IP65 dust and water resistance.
- Display: 6.70″ AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits peak brightness, 1080x2412px resolution, 20.1:9 aspect ratio, 394ppi.
- Chipset: Mediatek Dimensity 7300 Energy (4 nm): Octa-core (4×2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55); Mali-G615 MC2.
- Memory: Options of 256GB 12GB RAM or 512GB 12GB RAM; UFS 3.1; expandable via microSDXC.
- OS/Software: Android 14, ColorOS 14.1.
- Rear Camera:
- Wide: 50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm, 1/1.95″, 0.8µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS.
- Telephoto: 50 MP, f/2.0, 47mm, 1/2.75″, PDAF, 2x optical zoom.
- Ultra wide: 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 112˚, 1/4.0″, 1.12µm.
- Front Camera: 50 MP, f/2.0, 21mm (wide), 1/2.75″, PDAF.
- Video Capture:
- Rear: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/480fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS, OIS, HDR.
- Front: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS.
- Battery: 5000mAh with 80W wired charging, PD2.0, 1-47% in 18 min, 1-100% in 46 min, reverse wired.
- Connectivity: 5G, Dual SIM, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, aptX HD, LHDC, NFC, Infrared port.
- Miscellaneous: Under-display optical fingerprint reader, stereo speakers, BeaconLink calls via Bluetooth up to 200m.
Performance and Optimization
Oppo’s collaboration with MediaTek has led to the development of the Dimensity 7300-Energy SoC, an optimized version of the chipset aimed at enhancing energy efficiency. This ensures that the Reno12 Pro not only performs well but also maintains battery life.
Storage and Convenience
One of the standout features in the Reno12 Pro is the inclusion of a microSD card slot and an IR blaster, rare finds in modern smartphones.
Display and Charging
The 6.7-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support offers a vibrant and smooth visual experience. The 80W fast charging capability is a lifesaver, delivering a significant battery boost in just 15-20 minutes.
Unboxing Experience
The Reno12 Pro’s retail package is minimalist, including only a USB-A to USB-C cable for charging and data transfer. However, Oppo ensures that the Indian market receives the appropriate charger in the box.
Design and Handling:
The Oppo Reno12 Pro continues the legacy of its predecessors, staying true to the Reno ethos with its light, compact, and stylish build. Aimed at appealing to a younger demographic, the Reno12 Pro prioritizes design without compromising on functionality.
A Premium Feel in a Plastic Body
Despite its predominantly plastic construction, the Reno12 Pro exudes a premium feel. Our unit, in Nebula Silver, showcases an intriguing wavy pattern on the back, reminiscent of silk in both appearance and texture. This finish is not only smooth and grippy but also resistant to fingerprints and smudges, ensuring it maintains its pristine look. Other color options include Space Brown and Sunset Gold, each offering a unique aesthetic.
Modern Curves and Classic Touches
The front of the Reno12 Pro is adorned with Gorilla Glass Victus 2, featuring curves on all sides that harken back to the design of the iPhone 8. This curvature adds to the ease of operation, making it a pleasure to use.
Lightweight Yet Powerful
For a smartphone with a 6.7-inch display, the Reno12 Pro is impressively lightweight at just 180 grams. It also houses a substantial 5,000 mAh battery within its slim 7.4mm chassis, striking a balance between power and portability.
Enhanced Durability and Practicality
This generation of the Reno series brings an IP65 certification for dust and water resistance, a notable upgrade from the Reno11 Pro. Additionally, the SIM card tray now accommodates a microSD card, a feature missing in the previous model.
User-Friendly Design with Minor Quirks
The under-display fingerprint reader is both reliable and responsive. However, its placement near the bottom edge of the screen can be slightly awkward to reach with your thumb during normal use.
Lab Tests:
Flagship-Worthy 6.7-Inch OLED Display
The Oppo Reno12 Pro boasts an impressive 6.7-inch OLED display, complete with a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support. With a resolution of 1080 x 2412px and 10-bit color depth, this display meets the high standards expected of 2024 hardware.
Brightness and Clarity
In our tests, the Reno12 Pro achieved 538 nits in manual mode and 963 nits in auto mode. While these numbers aren’t the highest in the market, they are sufficient for comfortable outdoor use, even in bright sunlight. Oppo claims a peak brightness of 1,200 nits, which is specifically for HDR content in smaller screen areas.
| Max Display Brightness Test | Manual Mode | Auto Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S24 | 1401 nits | |
| Motorola Edge 50 Pro | 1295 nits | |
| Poco F6 Pro | 1203 nits | |
| OnePlus 12R | 1181 nits | |
| Xiaomi 13T Pro | 1094 nits | |
| Oppo Reno12 Pro | 963 nits |
Refresh Rate Anomalies
The Reno12 Pro’s refresh rate management leaves much to be desired. In automatic mode, the display remains at 120Hz even without interaction but drops to 60Hz in apps like Google Chrome. Forcing the display to stay at 120Hz only boosts Chrome to 90Hz, resulting in unnecessary high refresh rates when idle and lower rates during active use. This inconsistency can be frustrating for users expecting a smooth experience across all apps.
Battery Life: A True Marathon Runner
The Reno12 Pro is equipped with a 5,000 mAh battery, and thanks to the optimized Dimensity 7300-Energy SoC, it delivers excellent battery life. The device achieved a remarkable 14:54 hours of active use, outshining most competitors and matching the OnePlus 12R’s performance.
| Device | Battery Capacity | Active Use | 4G Talk Time | Web Browsing | Video Playback | Gaming |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oppo Reno12 Pro | 5000 mAh | 14:54h | 32:30h | 14:10h | 20:08h | 8:02h |
| Realme GT 6 | 5500 mAh | 14:32h | 32:14h | 13:47h | 19:20h | 7:54h |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 | 4000 mAh | 12:06h | 23:26h | 9:46h | 17:40h | 7:34h |
| OnePlus 12R | 5500 mAh | 14:32h | 39:09h | 12:57h | 20:30h | 7:44h |
| Motorola Edge 50 Pro | 4500 mAh | 11:59h | 33:28h | 10:10h | 15:27h | 7:00h |
| Xiaomi Poco F6 Pro | 5000 mAh | 10:29h | 29:11h | 8:40h | 11:12h | 7:21h |
Charging Speed: Fast and Flexible
While the Reno12 Pro supports Oppo’s proprietary 80W SuperVOOC fast charging, it doesn’t include the charger outside of the Indian market. However, the device performs well with other chargers, including 100W Power Delivery (PD) units. The 80W charger achieves a full charge in 46 minutes, while the PD charger takes 53 minutes. Interestingly, the PD charger is slightly faster at the 15 and 30-minute marks.
| Charging Speed | 15 min | 30 min | Time to Full Charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorola Edge 50 Pro | 100% | 125W TurboPower | |
| Xiaomi 13T Pro | 100% | 120W Xiaomi HyperCharge | |
| OnePlus 12R | 100% | 100W SuperVOOC | |
| Poco F6 | 89% | 90W Xiaomi HyperCharge | |
| Oppo Reno12 Pro PD | 69% | USB-PD | |
| Oppo Reno12 Pro | 67% | 80W SuperVOOC | |
| Galaxy S24 | 59% | 25W Samsung PD+PPS |
Audio Experience: Mixed Results
The Reno12 Pro features a hybrid speaker setup, with the secondary speaker doubling as an earpiece. The bottom speaker is slightly louder, but the overall sound is balanced. The loudness is rated “Very Good” at -24.0 LUFS, but there’s noticeable distortion at higher volumes. The mids and highs can sound overly distorted, and the bass is barely perceptible.
| Device | Loudness Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Oppo Reno12 Pro | -24.0 LUFS | VERY GOOD |
| Realme GT 6 | -24.5 LUFS | VERY GOOD |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 | -25.2 LUFS | VERY GOOD |
| OnePlus 12R | -25.8 LUFS | VERY GOOD |
Final Thoughts
The Oppo Reno12 Pro is more than just a pretty face. Its impressive camera setup, powerful yet efficient chipset, and thoughtful design elements make it a compelling choice for the young and the social media savvy. Whether you’re capturing stunning portraits or enjoying a binge-watching session, the Reno12 Pro has got you covered.
