Review: Is Oppo Reno 12 Pro The Ultimate Phone For You?

From the moment you lay eyes on the Oppo Reno 12 Pro, it's clear that this device is designed to impress. The phone offers a distinct aesthetic appeal in Astro Silver, Sunset Peach, and Matte Brown. The Sunset Peach variant features a graphic liquid crystal process that combines soft peach tones with cloud patterns, giving it a refreshing, retro look. Despite its robust construction, the Reno 12 Pro maintains a slim profile at just 7.6mm and weighs a mere 177g, making it stylish and easy to handle.

The device is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i on the front, ensuring durability and resistance against scratches. Additionally, the phone boasts an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance, providing peace of mind for everyday use.

The high-strength alloy framework adds to its durability, making it comparable to metal in strength. In the UAE, the retail package includes a charger and a case, which is a welcome addition compared to the European variant that lacks these accessories.

Display

The Oppo Reno 12 Pro features a 6.7-inch quad-curved Full HD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The display is crisp and vibrant, offering a peak brightness of 1500 nits, which ensures readability even under the UAE’s bright sunlight. The colours are true to life, and the viewing angles are excellent, making it perfect for content consumption.

The display also supports various customization options, including Vivid, Natural, Cinematic, and Brilliant modes. The new Bedtime Mode adjusts the colour temperature to warmer tones after sunset, reducing eye strain. An Adaptive Tone feature adjusts the colour temperature based on ambient lighting, enhancing the viewing experience.

AI Features

The Oppo Reno 12 Pro is packed with AI features that enhance user experience. The AI Writer recommends AI-generated captions or text for social media posts, while the AI Summary helps summarize articles in the browser.

The AI Speak feature can turn any article into an audiobook, and the AI Recording Summary can summarize recorded meetings or interviews. These features are particularly useful for productivity and convenience.

Performance

Under the hood, the Oppo Reno 12 Pro is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Energy SoC, paired with 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage. The chipset promises a 25% improvement in efficiency compared to its predecessor. In real-world usage, the phone handles multitasking and heavy applications smoothly. Gaming performance is also impressive, with titles like Call of Duty: Mobile running lag-free at high settings.

Benchmark scores are as follows:

Geekbench 6 Single Core: 1013
Geekbench 6 Multi Core: 2938
AnTuTu v10: 619,149
3D Mark Wild Life: 3170

These scores indicate solid performance, though the device might lag slightly behind some competitors in the same price range.

Camera

The camera setup includes a 50-megapixel primary sensor, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 50-megapixel telephoto lens. The primary sensor captures sharp images with vibrant colours and a balanced dynamic range. The ultra-wide and telephoto lenses also deliver good results, though low-light performance can be a bit inconsistent.

The AI Eraser 2.0 tool is a standout feature, allowing users to remove background distractions with options like Smart Lasso, Paint Over, and Remove People. The AI Studio feature uses generative AI to create fun and unique portraits.

Battery Life

The Oppo Reno 12 Pro is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery that supports 80W SuperVOOC fast charging. The battery life is impressive, lasting a full day with typical usage, including emails, music, gaming, and photography. The fast charging capability allows the phone to reach 56% in just 15 minutes and fully charge in 40 minutes.

Pros:

- Stylish Design: The sleek and sophisticated design, available in multiple colors, ensures that the phone stands out.

- High-Quality Display: The 6.7-inch Quad Curved Full HD+ AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate offers vibrant and crisp visuals.
- Robust Build: With Corning Gorilla Glass 7i and an IP65 rating, the phone is durable and resistant to everyday mishaps.
- Advanced AI Features: Useful AI functionalities like AI Writer, AI Summary, and AI Recording Summary enhance productivity and user experience.
- Good Performance: Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Energy SoC, the phone handles multitasking and gaming efficiently.
- Versatile Camera System: The triple camera setup with AI enhancements provides high-quality photos and videos in various conditions.
- Fast Charging: The 80W SuperVOOC fast charging quickly powers up the 5,000mAh battery.

Cons:

- Bloatware: The user interface comes with a significant amount of pre-installed apps that can be annoying to remove.
- No MicroSD Slot: Lack of expandable storage might be a drawback for some users.
- Heats Up During Gaming: Extended gaming sessions can cause the device to heat up noticeably.
- Pricey for the Chipset: While the performance is good, the choice of chipset might not justify the price compared to competitors.

Final Thoughts

At a starting price of Dh1,492, the Oppo Reno 12 Pro offers a sleek design, useful AI features, and solid performance. While it faces stiff competition from other brands like Realme, iQoo, OnePlus, and Xiaomi, its unique AI capabilities and design aesthetics make it a compelling choice. For tech enthusiasts in the UAE looking for a stylish smartphone with advanced AI features, the Oppo Reno 12 Pro is worth considering.