OPPO Reno12 5G Review: OPPO Reno12 5G wants to offer a premium flagship experience at a modest price. Despite strong competition, I’ve spent a good amount of time with the phone, and it is sitting nicely among the contenders for the best mid-range smartphone in the market.
We’ve already done a tour of the cameras, and in this article, we dive into the rest of its performance.
UNBOXING
Inside the box, the OPPO Reno12 5G has an upgraded 80W charger, Type-C cable, guide, sim ejector tool, and back case – the phone itself with a factory-applied screen protector.
DESIGN
Reno12 is a stunning and superb device with an enamoring design – it comes with a polished and stylish look. My unit comes in Astro Silver but you can get yours in Matte Brown, or Sunset Pink. The matte back looks beautiful with the silvery tones and the fluid ripple 3D texture design, especially in certain light or when outdoors, and the smooth curved back(it also has quad-curved corners) makes it enjoyable to hold without a case. The frame like the back is plastic but has a polished design. I liked the rectangular camera island design with the vertical cameras instead of the pill-shaped design of the Reno11 and Reno10 series.
It is light too, coming in at 177 grams and 7.57mm thick, which gives it a lightweight feeling that many of you, including me, appreciate – not just when holding and using it but also when it’s in your pocket or handbag.
The curved back design flows to the curved screen which I love. This is a 3D FHD+ 6.7-inch 10bit OLED curved screen with 120Hz refresh rate and 1200 nits brightness.
The screen is punchier and vibrant which I really enjoyed interacting with. It is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i which was unveiled early this year and adds a level of protection for fall and scratch resistance to the phone.
It is worth noting that OPPO is the first company to use this modern offering from Corning, making the Reno12 more durable and physically tougher than ever.
The phone also sports an IP65 dust and water-resistant rating which is nice.
Other features are stereo speakers at the top and bottom, dual microphones, an IR blaster, and NFC support. It also has an optical under-display fingerprint reader.
The screen gets plenty bright at 1378 nits which is handy when you’re outdoors now that it’s getting sunny during the day and need to multitask when you’re out and about. The speakers are loud too so you can consume multimedia content comfortably, whether listening to music or podcasts or watching videos.
OPPO Reno12 5G PERFORMANCE REVIEW
Performance is solid with the Reno12. It packs 12GB RAM and 12GB virtual RAM alongside 512GB storage(UFS3.1). It also has a Dimensity 7300 Energy processor, a comparatively better chipset than its predecessor – the Dimensity 7050 processor. However, I will point out that the China version has a much more powerful processor – the Dimensity 8250. This is not to say the Reno12 is underpowered, the Dimensity 7300 Energy delivers optimum power for casual and heavy users like me. I didn’t experience any lag during my time which I’m happy to report – switching between apps including heavy gaming and that fast refresh rate gives the phone a buttery smooth experience.
You get Android 14 and ColorOS 14.1 powered with AI straight out of the box. OPPO seamlessly integrated AI features into Color OS for creativity and productivity, ensuring easy access across the entire operating system and specific applications. Some of the AI features are available from the Smart Sidebar. You get AI Summary and AI Speak on browser apps with a quick swipe for the sidebar. I loved using the AI-generated summaries from my audio recording which come in handy when you attend lots of interviews or meetings. The AI Eraser in the gallery app lets you paint over, remove people, or use the smart lasso to remove objects in pictures. Other neat features include AI link boost communication, BeaconLink, AI clear voice, Hollow audio, AI Clear Face, and AI studio which I enjoyed goofing around with.
The Reno12 will get two years of major software updates and three years of monthly security patches. It is slated to get Android 15 very soon as OPPO is timely with rolling out updates and we’ll keep you posted when that happens. My favorite features of OPPO phones are timely and reliable software updates, especially with its midrange lineup, ensuring future long-term support.
CAMERAS
We’ve already done an in-depth camera performance review as shared above so I’ll brush through what to expect with the Reno12. It has a 50MP primary camera with OIS, an 8MP ultrawide and 2MP macro. It also has a 32MP selfie camera. All cameras shoot 4K video. After taking many videos and photos, I was impressed with the results, including lowlight performance. The stabilization kept shots nice and steady and the 2X digital zoom photos, portraits, and ultrawide pictures were impressive. Overall, you’ll be well taken care of regarding your photography and videography needs with the Reno12.
BATTERY LIFE
Reno12 has a 5000mAh battery that charges even faster thanks to 80W SuperVOOC charging. You can get to 80% from empty in 37 minutes with smart charging while 55 minutes can get you from 0% to full charge. Besides the ultra-fast charging, the phone holds its own – with moderate use, you can pull two days effortlessly and heavy use gets you a day of charge comfortably and still around 20 and 25% of juice to check late-night tweets or Instagram stories.
@techtrendske OPPO seamlessly incorporated AI features into ColorOS 14 for the Reno12Series, making them easily accessible across the OS, including the Smart sidebar and select third-party apps. Here are our favourite AI features: 1. AI Eraser 2.0 in the gallery app lets you delete unwanted objects from photos using tools like the Smart Lasso or Paint tool. 2. Create various style template portraits using just one photo with AI Studio, allowing you to unleash your creativity. 3. AI Summary/Speak that provides a summary of an online article or reads it aloud for you. 4. Generate AI-powered audio recording summaries with key points and transcripts for maximum efficiency. #TapIntoAI #Reno12Series
VERDICT
Having lived with the Reno12 5G, I’m totally sold and in love with this midrange jewel. OPPO’s feature upgrades and design elevate the Reno12 to new heights, placing the phone among the best of the best in the midrange category.
PRICING
The OPPO Reno12 and Reno12 F are now available in the country, with the Reno12 priced at Ksh 69,999 and the Reno12 F at Ksh 49,999. They can be purchased through the OPPO Kenya website, e-commerce partners, LOOP, and OPPO physical stores nationwide.
Have anything to add to our OPPO Reno12 5G Review? Follow us on Telegram, Twitter, and Facebook, or subscribe to our weekly newsletter to ensure you don’t miss out on any future updates. Send tips to editorial@techtrendsmedia.co.ke
