I had the opportunity to use the Oppo Reno 12 5G, a standout contender in the smartphone market in the Rs 30,000 to Rs 35,000 range in the Indian market, a couple of days before its official announcement in India. Readers should note that the Reno 12 available in India and other markets is significantly different from the Chinese market. You can read this post to know the differences. From its sleek design to its powerful camera capabilities and advanced AI features, here’s a closer look at what the Reno 12 5G offers to users.
1. Design and Build
The first thing that struck me about the Reno 12 5G is its sleek and sophisticated design. Available in Astro Silver, Sunset Peach, and Matte Brown, each variant offers a distinct aesthetic appeal. My review unit is the Sunset Peach variant, which features a unique graphic liquid crystal process, combining soft peach tones with cloud patterns for a refreshing, retro look. The phone feels incredibly well-built, with a Fluid Ripple Texture on the glass back adding both style and grip.
Despite its robust construction, the Reno 12 maintains a slim profile at just 7.6mm thickness and weighs a comfortable 177g. When it comes to durability, the Reno 12 offers Corning Gorilla Glass 7i protection on the front protecting the curved-edge screen, an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance, and a high-strength alloy framework that according to Oppo is comparable to metal.
In India, the retail package of the Reno 12 includes a charger and case. These items are unavailable in the retail box of the Reno 12 available in Europe.
Readers can visit this page to see the entire specifications of the Reno 12 5G mentioned on its official website.
2. Display and Audio
The Reno 12 has a stunning 6.7-inch curved-edge AMOLED panel that offers an FHD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and up to 1200 nits of peak brightness. Whether I was streaming videos, gaming, or browsing photos, the AMOLED display with HDR10+ support delivered rich contrasts and deep blacks.
A notable addition to the Reno 12 series is dual speakers, absent in previous non-Pro Reno models. These speakers provide evenly balanced audio, making the device ideal for multimedia activities such as watching movies and playing games. Reno 12 has the Holo Audio support, which is Oppo’s audio spatialization technology designed to provide seamless audio experiences with headphones or earphones. It ensures that different audio sources, such as music, navigation directions, and calls, remain distinct and unobtrusive, allowing users to multitask without interruptions.
3. Performance and Software
Powered by the all-new MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Energy platform, the Reno 12 offers decent performance without any lag. The 4nm chip, coupled with 8 GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256 GB of UFS 3.1 storage, ensured smooth multitasking and rapid app launches. ColorOS 14.1, based on Android 14, as usual, offers a stutter-free experience. However, like the previous Reno models, the Reno 12 comes with plenty of preloaded apps, which many may not like. The device is promised to receive updates.
The 5,000mAh battery, supported by Oppo’s 80W SuperVOOC charge, impressed me with its rapid charging capabilities. The battery can go from 0 to 100 percent in around 45 minutes. To recall, the Reno 11 has the same-sized battery with 67W charging support. The above images showcase the performance of Reno 12 on benchmarking platforms.
4. Camera capabilities
The Oppo Reno 12 has a 50-megapixel Sony LYT-600 main camera with OIS support. It is joined by an 8-megapixel IMX355 ultrawide camera and a 2-megapixel macro camera. Unfortunately, the macro camera replaces the 32-megapixel IMX709 telephoto with 2x optical zoom, which was seen on the Reno 11.
While the Reno 12 can capture portrait shots with up to 2x zoom using the primary camera, having a dedicated lens would have always been appreciated. For selfies, the device is equipped with an autofocus-enabled 32-megapixel GalaxyCore GC32E2 sensor. In the Photo mode, it offers 0.8x, 1x, and 2x zoom options, and 0.8x and 1x options in the Portrait mode. It can produce natural-looking selfies with enhanced facial details and skin tones, perfect for social media enthusiasts. However, the quality diminishes in low-light and indoor environments.
The 50-megapixel main camera delivered impressive clarity and colour accuracy, especially in well-lit conditions. The AI-enhanced Flash Snapshot feature adjusts shutter speed based on lighting conditions, resulting in sharp and vibrant photos even in challenging environments. The 8-megapixel ultrawide camera shots are consistent with the primary camera.
The front and the rear cameras support up to 4K 30fps video shooting. On the front, it offers EIS support for up HD and FHD videos, whereas there is OIS support for 60fps Full HD videos. The latter does not allow to modify or zoom into the subject. The 30fps 4K videos only allow the application of filters and nothing else. The front camera as well as the rear-facing primary camera allow users can adjust the aperture to add background blur effect in 30fps HD videos.
5. Oppo AI features
Oppo’s GenAI features on the Reno 12 elevate the user experience to new heights. The AI Eraser 2.0 was particularly handy for removing unwanted objects from photos with remarkable accuracy. AI Clear Face and AI Best Face enhanced group photos by improving facial details and correcting closed-eye expressions, ensuring every shot was picture-perfect. AI Studio, a dedicated app from Oppo, leverages Generative AI technology to transform your photos into unique digital avatars.
AI LinkBoost ensures seamless connectivity even in challenging network conditions, reducing the possibility of dropped calls. BeaconLink takes it a step further, enabling device-to-device voice calls over Bluetooth when there’s no mobile signal. This works well, but users have to be in the Bluetooth range of up to 30 metres.
The AI Recording Summary is a productivity powerhouse, distilling lengthy meetings into concise notes and to-do lists. The AI Toolbox is equally handy, offering AI Summary for quick article comprehension, AI Writer for crafting engaging social media posts, and AI Speak for hands-free reading. These AI Toolbox features are available via the sidebar. Finally, AI Clear Voice ensures crystal-clear calls by filtering out background noise.
Other additions
Gone is the portrait camera on the Reno 12, but the device brings several features that were available on the Reno 11. These include dual speakers, a microSD card slot, UFS 3.1 storage (Reno 11 has UFS 2.2), and an IR blaster.
6. Verdict
The Oppo Reno 12 faces stiff competition in its price range, with many other options offering impressive specifications. However, what sets the Reno 12 apart is its wide range of AI-driven features that are unavailable on other smartphones. Additionally, the Reno 12 boasts a sleek and improved build, featuring an attractive design with a vibrant screen. Its decent photography capabilities, fast charging capabilities, and new additions like dual speakers, UFS 3.1 storage, a microSD card slot, BeaconLink, and an IR blaster further enhance the device’s versatility. Overall, the Oppo Reno 12 is a well-rounded smartphone that combines strong performance, appealing design, and innovative features.
Oppo Reno 12 5G price in India
The Oppo Reno 12 5G is priced at Rs 32,999 (~$395) for the 8GB + 256GB variant in India. It is available in three stylish colours—Sunset Peach, Matte Brown, and Astro Silver.
The Reno 12 5G will officially go on sale starting July 25, with pre-orders now live through the Oppo India website, Flipkart, and various offline stores.
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