Midrange smartphones have probably been the highlight of the year so far with a number of brands looking to rival each other with devices that offer solid value to the point of offering alternative options in place of flagship devices. So we have seen some interesting designs and innovative charging tech come in to this price range. With the Oppo Reno 12 though, I found a device that is quite classy yet simple in terms of what it offers and I tend to like that.
Design & Display
Straight from the box, the device comes with a very ordinary look that you would expect from a device of its price. The main highlight is the curved screen design which compliments the glossy frame. Other than the back cover being plastic, the phone is quite straightforward in terms of looks and even the rectangular triple-camera bump reiterates that.
I would have hoped to have the phone in a glass cover but it’s been quite clear from Oppo that they want this device to be as sturdy as possible which is probably why it’s plastic. An IP65 rating ensures that the phone is protected from dust and fine particles, as well as water splashes like rain or an accidental hit from the garden hose. It won’t stand up to immersion in water though, so don’t drop it in, say, a bath.
The Oppo Reno 12 is super light as well which is one of my favourite aspects about the Reno series generally and it seems like Oppo has kept that reputation.
The phone sports a 6.7-inch AMOLED curved display which I have no complaints about whatsoever. The bezels are thin enough that you barely notice them especially if you have dark mode on 24/7. Watching content on the phone was a seamless experience as the display offers rich blacks and the colours actually pop well enough so you can even get to install your vibrant wallpapers to show the phone off.
The Reno 12 Pro supports HDR viewing, producing more vibrant colours and deeper blacks for compatible content. It also includes a Bright HDR video mode, which increases screen brightness for HDR-supported content even further, when enabled. OPPO has incorporated several AI features through the side panel for an enhanced viewing experience.
Performance
The phone is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Energy processor which I would say, offers performance levels that were impressive enough. As the name suggests, the chipset is also designed to focus alot more on power efficiency, which is the kind of lower mid-range that you’d expect to be associated with a phone at this price point – it’s not exactly blazing power but it’s enough for normal tasks.
Opening and closing apps and games was flawless as you barely notice the time taken for these commands. The 12GB model that I had made the user experience even better as multitasking was never a problem and switching between apps in the background was super easy without having to worry about losing progress. You get up to 4GB of expandable RAM space which I don’t even think anyone would need no matter the kind of apps you have installed. With a 120Hz refresh rate, you get to also scroll through your social media apps as you wish.
You also get 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage space with this particular model which was a blessing, especially for me since I tend to have alot of huge files on my devices. So, I don’t think users would have an issue with this capacity.
Android 14 is what the phone comes loaded with from the box with ColorOS 14 as the proprietary skin. The biggest ick that I still have with these skins is the pre-installed apps and bloatware which is a huge ick if you wish to have a phone that you can set up from scratch. However, the OS is generally smooth and easily customisable which is a plus. It’s still not clear how many updates this device will be getting in the future.
The speakers placed at the top and bottom are loud enough and you get to have up to 300% maximum volume, but they are typical Android speakers that don’t offer any premium quality.
Generally, the phone performs its daily tasks perfectly which is what you would expect for this price point.
Camera
The Oppo Reno 12 comes with three rear cameras; 50MP main, 8MP ultrawide and 2MP macro sensor. The main highlight with the cameras is that Oppo brought back super zooming which is a feature they had dropped with this series a couple of years ago.
The cameras come paired with OIS which caters for users with shaky hands and PDAF (phase detection auto-focus) to help with quick focusing.
Photos you take with this phone on the main camera are nice, vibrant and bold. They might lose more detail in dark environments than one would like but the vibrancy makes up for it.
The device offers up to 20x digital zoom and surprisingly offers decent images at that level. The 8MP ultrawide lens offers a 112-degree field of view even though it slightly misses out on quality compared to the main shooter.
The front camera is a 50MP selfie which has been the standard for a number of midrange devices released this year. It’s bright enough but I still despise the beautification that these front cameras bring which takes away the realism from the photos. If high-res selfies is you thing though, then you won’t have an issue with it at all.
Beyond the smart features, you’re getting the same features that most modern mobiles have: Pro, Portrait, Night, Full-Res, Slow-Mo, and Time-Lapse round out what you’re used to. In terms of video, you can record up to 4K at 30fps or 1080p at 60fps on the front or rear cameras; don’t expect 8K recording here.
Battery
5000mAh is what you get with the Reno 12 which I found to be more than enough capacity lasting about a day and a half on normal usage. Even in testing, the battery was pretty solid and held its own giving me enough time to play games without having to worry on running low.
80W charging is impressively fast as it took me less than an hour to juice it up from 0 to 100%. So you can expect quick charging when you’re preparing to go out.
You also get reversed wired charging which is not the fastest but makes you grateful that it’s an option. But don’t expect wireless charging which is a real bummer.
Verdict
The Oppo Reno 12 is a mid-ranger that has its flaws, but they are in areas where it tries to outstep its bounds. You get a decent display, camera and battery which I think are the fundamentals of what a good phone should have.
I would have hoped that it cost lower than KES 69,999 but I wouldn’t fault anyone who chose to go for it.
