The Oppo Reno 12 Pro promises ambitiously, but at the same time feels like a cheap budget phone. The device runs the risk of disappearing quickly if Oppo attacks.

Oppo has renewed its promise to the European market this year and we will have known it. Within four months, the company launched four new mid-range devices. The Reno 11F was only fresh on the shelves when the Reno 12 and the Reno 12 Pro were already ready, which were joined just as quickly by the Reno 12F.

The Reno 12 (549 euros including VAT) and the Reno 12 Pro (649 euros including VAT) are counterparts to each other in many specifications. The biggest difference is the cameras. We started working with the Pro model. These are some specifications of the tested model:

• 6.7 inch 20:9 screen
• 2,412 x 1,080 pixels – 120 Hz, HDR10+
• MediaTek Dimensity 7300 energy
• 12GB RAM
• 512GB storage
• 50 MP main camera (f/1.8, 26 mm, OIS, 1/1.95 inch)
• 8MP wide-angle camera (f/2.2, 16mm, 1/4.0″)
• 50MP telephoto camera (f/2.0, 47mm, 1/2.75″, 2x optical zoom)
• 50MP selfie camera (f/2.0, 21mm, 1/4.0″)
• 5,000mAh battery
• 80 watt fast charging
• ColorOS 14

Cheap look

The Oppo Reno 12 Pro doesn’t steal the show with its design. On the contrary: this device looks much cheaper than it actually is. The plastic on the back feels very cheap and the Oppo logo seems to have been quickly slapped on with a sticker at the end. The camera island sticks out a lot, causing the phone to wobble when lying on its back.

Oppo should take a look at its OnePlus neighbors, the Nord 4 looks much more attractive. Spoiler: It’s not the last time the OnePlus Nord 4 will be mentioned in this review.

The phone is remarkably thin for its size (6.7 inches). Nevertheless, the phone should be able to withstand a lot. The glass is armored Gorilla Glass Victus. The case contains “sponges” that absorb the impact of a fall.

This doesn’t mean you can throw the phone out the window, but an accidental slip shouldn’t have dramatic consequences. The device survived a trip to Jordan, so you don’t have to worry about warm temperatures and a little desert dust.

Flat or curved?

There are fans of flat screens and curved screens. We prefer flat screens. Oppo tries to please both camps by making the screen curvature very subtle: you can hardly see it.

The screen does its job perfectly without excelling. The image is sharp and colors are also displayed vividly. The peak brightness we measured (620 nits) is lower than normally measured, but this does not affect the readability of the screen under normal circumstances. The combination of bright light and sunglasses can be a disadvantage.

Low energy

Oppo opts for a MediaTek processor: a popular choice in the mid-range segment. Not just the first chip from MediaTek’s stable, but a Dimensity 7300 Energy. The last word mainly concerns marketing.

The device’s CPU performance is rather poor. The Oppo Reno 12 Pro is trumped by cheaper devices like the Samsung A35 and its cousin Reno 11 F. The comparison with the Google Pixel 8a and the Nord 4 should put Oppo to shame. This device can more than hold its own in everyday use, but the Reno 12 Pro doesn’t look like a powerhouse.

The Oppo Reno 12 has slightly more graphics performance than the Reno 11 F, but is again below the values ​​of most competitors. The OnePlus Nord 4 plays in a different category. The Google Pixel 8a also remains far out of reach for Oppo. We cannot recommend this device to anyone who likes to play a 3D game on their smartphone.

False promise

Refers to energy then to a better battery life? MediaTek claims that the processor uses up to thirty percent less CPU and GPU consumption is almost halved. The energy consumption of WLAN connections drops by twenty percent.

In any case, these beautiful promises are not reflected in the Oppo Reno 12 Pro. In the video test, the Oppo Reno 12 Pro is still clearly in the top group. The device completely failed the performance test, resulting in an embarrassing last place finish. Oppo was caught up in MediaTek’s marketing pitch.

Cable problems

Fortunately, the manufacturer can always rely on one of the company’s strengths: fast charging. The Oppo Reno 12 Pro promises a charging power of 80 W. This results in fast charging times that can only be achieved by Xiaomi and OnePlus.

Nevertheless, Oppo deserves praise for this. The promised charging capacity is only guaranteed if you use a branded SuperVOOC charger. The charger is not included.

We certainly don’t think manufacturers should provide a charger for every device: no one wants a drawer full of chargers. Then be fair and support the universal standards for USB-C. We get 45W via a universal charger with Power Delivery support. Still more than decent, but barely half of what Oppo promises.

The telephoto camera steals the show

What really makes the Oppo Reno 12 Pro stand out are the cameras. The mention of AI camera system next to the lenses stimulates the laughing muscles. The main camera (50MP) and wide-angle camera (8MP) aren’t that special on paper, but the telephoto camera (50MP) catches our attention. Typically you only see this type of camera in the most expensive models. The zoom range of this device is slightly more limited (2x optical).

With an optical zoom lens you will always take better pictures of distant objects than if the main camera has to try to use digital zoom. Therefore, zoomed photos are almost indistinguishable from photos taken with the main camera. The images remain sharp and the colors do not lose their strength. Even after dark, the telephoto camera continues to perform well.

If you go beyond 2x optical zoom, the camera resorts to digital zoom (up to 20x). You can zoom in up to 10x with reasonably good quality, but the sharpness of the colors decreases significantly. At maximum zoom, more noise creeps into your image, but that’s not illogical and it’s also forgivable.

In most situations you use the main camera, which is also more than solid. In good lighting conditions, the images are sharp. If they are less optimal, the sharpness visibly decreases, but the colors remain well preserved. Autofocus can sometimes be inconsistent.

As expected, the wide-angle camera is the smallest in the camera trio. Not that the camera is bad, but the difference in quality compared to the other cameras is clearly noticeable.

Software problems

Oppo markets the phone with ColorOS 14: a version of Android 14. This is basically a good operating system, but Oppo itself ruins it with an excess of bloatware. From advertising our own applications to TikTok, Amazon Shopping, Temu, Takeaway and six games that are installed on our cell phones without asking: we can do without everything like a toothache.

Another annoyance is the limited update policy that Oppo promises. The Reno 12 Pro receives three Android updates and four years of security updates. You will soon receive a software update for the switch to Android 15. In any case, the support is better than with the Reno 11 Q: The software now lasts at least as long as Oppo promises that the hardware will continue to work.

However, we see other brands offering longer support and price is no excuse here. The OnePlus Nord 4 enjoys six years of support and the Google Pixel 8a even seven years. Both devices are sold at a cheaper price than the Oppo Reno 12 Pro.

Too much of the same

The biggest problem with the Reno 12 Pro is the rhythm with which Oppo has released mid-range smartphones in the last few months. This device has the unfortunate position of being the most expensive of the four devices. In practice, the devices are close together, so the Reno 12 Pro can hardly be distinguished from the others.

The telephoto camera is unique in this price range, but is it enough? The answer is a resounding no. The hardware of the device is rather mediocre compared to competitors that are even slightly cheaper.

The higher price (649 euros including VAT) suggests that Oppo is promoting the Reno 12 Pro as a mid-range champion. You notice that the device is suffering from this pressure. That doesn’t make it a bad phone, but the Reno 12 Pro doesn’t leave an indelible impression.

The Oppo Reno 12 Pro is available in black for 649 euros. The price includes VAT.

Android Update Policy: Oppo guarantees that the Reno 12 Pro will receive security updates and three operating system updates for at least four years. This period begins with the market launch of Android 14 on June 18, 2024. The statutory warranty period is two years.