OPPO Reno 12 Pro Review: Almost Perfect Midrange AI Smartphone

OPPO Reno 12 Pro Review: Almost Perfect Midrange AI Smartphone [Image: Official Website]

In a market flooded with midrange smartphones, the OPPO Reno 12 Pro stands out with its sleek design, innovative AI features, and robust performance. But does it justify its price tag? Let's find out.

Unboxing a Game-Changer

Priced at Rs 36,999 onwards, the OPPO Reno 12 Pro promises more than just good looks. Its durable construction and premium design immediately catch the eye, but it’s the advanced artificial intelligence features that truly set it apart. The phone boasts a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset, ensuring smooth performance for daily tasks and even some high-end gaming.

Design: Aesthetic and Functional

The Reno 12 Pro continues OPPO’s tradition of unique design with a distinctive dual-glass finish at the back. The top section has a matte finish, while the lower part is glossy, divided by a thick glass strip showcasing the OPPO branding. The quad-curved glass design on the front over a flat display not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also improves ergonomics and prevents accidental touches.

However, the glossy lower half and the camera module tend to accumulate dust frequently, requiring regular cleaning. Additionally, the phone wobbles slightly when placed on flat surfaces.

Display: Bright and Vivid

The 6.7-inch fullHD+ display offers an immersive viewing experience with optimal color accuracy and vibrancy. With a 120 Hz refresh rate, the animations are smooth, providing a premium feel. The display is also bright enough for outdoor use, ensuring good visibility from all angles. Features like Adaptive Tone adjust the screen color temperature based on ambient lighting, reducing eye strain during long-term use.

Camera: Mixed Bag of Performance

Equipped with a 50-megapixel primary sensor, 50MP telephoto, and an 8MP ultra-wide lens, the Reno 12 Pro’s camera setup is impressive on paper. The primary sensor delivers clear and crisp images under natural lighting, but the software processing tends to overexpose brighter sections. The telephoto camera, however, performs well even in artificial lighting conditions, offering lifelike colors. The ultra-wide lens, unfortunately, falls short, producing grainy images in low light.

The 50MP front camera is a pleasant surprise, capturing realistic skin tones and well-saturated images. The phone supports 4K video recording, but recording with the telephoto camera is limited to 1080p at 30 fps.

Performance: Smooth but Glitchy

Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300, the Reno 12 Pro handles multitasking, web surfing, video streaming, and casual gaming with ease. However, minor glitches like delays in opening the keyboard and occasional app closures were noted, which could be addressed in future software updates.

Software: Feature-Rich but Intrusive

Running on ColorOS 14 based on Android 14, the Reno 12 Pro offers a stable and smooth user experience. Features like File Dock on the side panel and Flexible Window for multitasking are handy. However, the pre-installed third-party apps and suggestions for other apps and games can feel intrusive, although they can be easily uninstalled.

AI Features: Enhancing the Experience

The Reno 12 Pro shines with its AI integration. The AI toolbox on the Smart Sidebar offers features like "AI Speak" for reading out text and "AI Summary" for generating bullet-point summaries. The AI Writer assists in composing emails and social media captions. For photo editing, features like AI Eraser and AI Clear Face are useful, although AI Best Face needs improvement.

Battery: Decent but Not Exceptional

The 5,000 mAh battery ensures a full day of average use, but extended video streaming or gaming might require recharging within the same day. The 80W fast charging is a plus, with the battery reaching 70% in just 27 minutes from zero.

Verdict: Is It Worth the Price?

At Rs 36,999, the OPPO Reno 12 Pro offers durable construction, a premium design, a vivid display, and advanced AI features. However, it falls short in terms of battery life and consistent camera performance. While the performance is generally smooth, the occasional glitches detract from the overall experience. Despite its shortcomings, the Reno 12 Pro is a solid choice for those looking for a midrange smartphone with cutting-edge AI capabilities.

For more details, visit OPPO's official site.