The Oppo Reno series has cemented its reputation as a go-to option for those seeking a balance between affordability and premium features in a smartphone. The latest entrants to this series, the Oppo Reno 12 and Oppo Reno 12 Pro, uphold this tradition with several enhancements and unique features.
In this comprehensive review, we will explore the nuances between these two devices, delving into their design, display, performance, battery life, camera capabilities, and more to help you decide if one of them is your next ideal mid-range phone.
- Nothing CMF Phone 1 Review
- CMF Watch Pro 2 Review
- Hohem iSteady V3: The Ultimate Smartphone Gimbal for 2024?
- Honor 200 Pro Review: The Best Mid-Range Phone for Portrait Photography
Design and Build Quality
The Oppo Reno 12 and Reno 12 Pro are almost identical in design, but subtle differences set them apart. Both phones sport a sleek and modern aesthetic, featuring a plastic back and frame. While plastic may not sound premium, Oppo has executed it well. The back panel is finished with a matte and metallic texture, which is silky smooth to the touch. This finish incorporates an S-shaped wavy pattern that shimmers when it catches the light, giving the phones a unique and appealing look.
Build Differences
The primary difference in build lies in the frame. The Oppo Reno 12 has a thinner frame, with the front and back panels curving into it, which gives it a more seamless and comfortable grip. On the other hand, the Reno 12 Pro has a flatter and wider frame, which some might find gives it a more substantial and premium feel. Despite the difference in design, both phones feel solid and durable in hand.
Ingress Protection
Both models come with an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance, offering a layer of protection against everyday accidents like splashes and dust exposure. While this is not the highest level of water resistance, it is a welcome feature for mid-range devices and ensures that the phones can withstand occasional mishaps without damage.
Display
The display is a significant selling point for both the Oppo Reno 12 and Reno 12 Pro. They both feature a 6.7-inch OLED screen with a 1080p resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, providing a vibrant and smooth visual experience.
Curved vs. Flat Display
A notable distinction between the two is the type of display. The Reno 12 boasts a curved screen at the edges, which not only enhances the phone’s aesthetic appeal but also improves the handling experience by making the phone feel slimmer in the hand. The Reno 12 Pro, in contrast, opts for a flat display, which some users might prefer for its more traditional look and potentially fewer accidental touches.
Screen Protection
The type of glass used for screen protection also differs between the two models. The Reno 12 Pro is equipped with Gorilla Glass Victus 2, known for its superior durability and resistance to scratches and drops. The non-Pro model uses the new Gorilla Glass 7i, designed specifically for upper mid-range devices, offering good protection but not quite matching the robustness of Victus 2.
- Amazon For Babies:
- Pampers Swaddlers Diapers – Size 4
- Huggies Natural Care Sensitive Baby Wipes
- Video Baby Monitor with Camera and Audio
Display Performance
In terms of display performance, both models are impressive. They deliver excellent maximum brightness levels, with around 650 nits available through manual adjustment and up to 1,400 nits in auto mode under bright sunlight. This makes the screens easy to read even in direct sunlight. Both displays offer great contrast, vivid colors, and sharpness, and they support 10-bit color and HDR10+ video, making them ideal for media consumption and gaming.
Refresh Rate Handling
However, the refresh rate handling could use some improvement. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and swiping, but it does not dynamically adjust when the phone is idle. Instead, it only reduces in certain apps like Chrome. This means the phones might not be as efficient with battery life as those with more adaptive refresh rate systems.
Audio
Both the Oppo Reno 12 and Reno 12 Pro come with stereo speakers, which is a significant advantage for media consumption and gaming. The loudness is quite good, but the sound quality leaves something to be desired. The audio output suffers from noticeable distortion at higher volumes and lacks substantial bass, which could be a downside for users who prioritize audio quality in their devices.
Under-Display Fingerprint Reader
For biometrics, both phones feature an under-display fingerprint reader. This technology has become more common in mid-range and flagship devices, providing a convenient and fast way to unlock the phone. The fingerprint reader on these devices works well, but the placement could be more ergonomic. Positioned slightly higher up on the display would make it easier to reach, especially for users with smaller hands.
Storage and Software
Storage Options
Storage is another area where the two models differ. The Oppo Reno 12 comes with 256GB of onboard storage, which is ample for most users. However, the Reno 12 Pro doubles this with 512GB of storage, catering to power users who need more space for apps, photos, videos, and other data. Both models support expandable storage via a microSD card, providing additional flexibility for those who need even more storage capacity.
Software Experience
Both devices run Oppo’s latest ColorOS 14.1, layered over Android 14. This software combination brings several new features and improvements to enhance the user experience.
AI-Based Features
One of the standout features of ColorOS 14.1 is its AI-based capabilities. These include text summarization, which can condense long articles or emails into shorter summaries, and voice transcription, which converts spoken words into text in real-time. Another useful feature is advanced noise cancellation during calls, which helps to ensure clear communication even in noisy environments.
AI Eraser
The AI Eraser tool allows users to remove unwanted elements from photos easily. This feature can be particularly handy for improving the quality of pictures by eliminating distractions or unwanted objects.
Beacon Link
Another innovative addition is Beacon Link, which functions as a Bluetooth-enabled walkie-talkie between supporting phones. This can be useful for quick and direct communication without relying on a cellular network.
IR Blaster
Both phones include an IR blaster, enabling them to act as remote controls for various devices such as TVs and air conditioners. This feature can be quite convenient for users who enjoy having all-in-one control over their home electronics.
Software Updates
Oppo has committed to providing two years of major software updates and three years of security patches for both models. This ensures that the phones will remain up-to-date with the latest features and security improvements, offering users a degree of future-proofing.
Performance
Under the hood, both the Oppo Reno 12 and Reno 12 Pro are powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset, built on a 4nm process. This chipset is designed to provide a balance between performance and efficiency, making it suitable for a wide range of tasks.
Benchmark Performance
In benchmark tests, the Dimensity 7300 performs adequately but does not stand out compared to competitors in the same price range. Many mid-range devices now feature flagship-grade silicon like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which offers superior performance. As a result, the Oppo Reno 12 and 12 Pro may fall behind in terms of raw power.
Thermal Management
Despite not being the most powerful chipset available, the Dimensity 7300 manages thermal performance well. The phones remain cool even during extended use, which is a testament to the efficient thermal management systems in place. This ensures that users can enjoy gaming and other intensive tasks without worrying about overheating.
Everyday Performance
For everyday tasks such as browsing the web, streaming videos, and using social media, the performance of both the Oppo Reno 12 and 12 Pro is more than sufficient. The phones handle multitasking with ease and provide a smooth user experience.
- Xiaomi G34WQi Monitor Review: Is it 2024’s Best Deal for a Curved Gaming Monitor?
- Moto Edge 50 Pro vs. Moto Edge 50 Fusion: Which One is Right for You?
- OnePlus Ace 3 Pro Review: A Gaming Powerhouse with Unmatched Battery Life
Battery Life and Charging
Battery life is a crucial aspect of any smartphone, and both the Oppo Reno 12 and Reno 12 Pro excel in this area. Each phone is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery, providing excellent endurance.
Battery Performance
In our tests, both models achieved nearly 15 hours of active use, placing them among the best in their class. This means that users can expect a full day of usage without needing to recharge, even with heavy use.
Charging Capabilities
Charging is equally impressive, with support for 80W SuperVOOC charging. This fast-charging technology allows the phones to charge rapidly, reducing downtime significantly. It’s worth noting that only the Indian market receives a charger in the box. For other regions, users will need to purchase a charger separately. Using a Power Delivery 2.0 compliant charger, we were able to charge both phones from 0 to 67% in just 30 minutes, with a full charge taking 46 minutes.
Camera
The camera setup is one of the main areas where the Oppo Reno 12 and Reno 12 Pro differ. While both phones have impressive camera capabilities, the Pro model offers a few enhancements that might be worth the extra cost for photography enthusiasts.
Main Camera
The Oppo Reno 12 features a 50MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, and a 2MP macro camera on the back. The Reno 12 Pro, on the other hand, replaces the macro camera with a 50MP 2x telephoto camera and upgrades the selfie camera to a 50MP sensor with autofocus. This gives the Pro model an edge in zoom and selfie photography.
Daylight Photography
Both models deliver similar performance with their main cameras. Daylight photos are vibrant with saturated colors and high contrast. Sharpness is adequate, though fine detail can be lacking when viewed up close. The dynamic range is decent but not exceptional. The Pro model’s telephoto camera captures sharp, detailed images with vibrant colors, though exposure can be a bit lower in some scenes.
Low Light Photography
In low light, both phones benefit from automatic night mode processing, producing good results with well-preserved detail and controlled noise. Light sources are well-contained, and colors remain rich. The Reno 12 Pro’s telephoto camera continues to perform well in low light, with good detail and color preservation.
Ultra-Wide Camera
The ultra-wide cameras on both models perform similarly. Daytime shots are decent with punchy colors, though the ultra-wide camera tends to underexpose in some scenes, resulting in darker shadows. At night, the ultra-wide camera’s performance is underwhelming, with poor detail and sharpness.
Selfies
The Reno 12 Pro excels in selfie photography thanks to its 50MP front camera. Selfies are sharp, detailed, and benefit from a wide dynamic range. The autofocus ensures that subjects are always in focus. In comparison, the Reno 12’s 32MP selfie camera performs well but falls short of the Pro model in terms of detail and sharpness.
Video Recording
Both phones can record 4K videos with their main cameras, offering wide dynamic range, excellent sharpness, and plenty of detail. Colors are vivid but natural-looking. However, the electronic stabilization is unimpressive, providing minimal compensation for motion. The ultra-wide camera is limited to 1080p video recording, with average sharpness and detail.
- Shopping Links:
- Get it here: Amazon link Red Magic 9 Pro>> Or Aliexpress Red Magic 9 Pro>>
- Get it here: Amazon link Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro>> Or Aliexpress Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro
Connectivity and Additional Features
5G Connectivity
Both the Oppo Reno 12 and Reno 12 Pro support 5G connectivity, ensuring fast and reliable internet speeds for browsing, streaming, and downloading. This future-proofs the devices, making them compatible with the latest network technologies.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
The phones also support Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, providing stable and fast connections for wireless devices and accessories. These features enhance the overall user experience by ensuring seamless connectivity.
NFC and Payment Options
Both models come with NFC support, enabling contactless payments through services like Google Pay. This adds a layer of convenience for users who prefer using their phones for transactions.
Dual SIM
Dual SIM support is available on both phones, allowing users to manage two numbers simultaneously. This is particularly useful for those who travel frequently or need to separate work and personal contacts.
Conclusion
The Oppo Reno 12 and Reno 12 Pro are solid mid-range smartphones that offer a compelling combination of design, display quality, battery life, and camera performance. While they have some shortcomings, such as average audio quality and chipset performance, they make up for these with their excellent build quality, impressive battery life, and robust camera capabilities.
Choosing Between Reno 12 and Reno 12 Pro
When comparing the two models, the differences come down to the screen protection, storage options, and camera capabilities. The Pro model offers superior glass protection, more storage, and better zoom and selfie cameras. The price difference between the two is not significant, so if these upgrades are important to you, the Reno 12 Pro is worth the extra investment.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, both the Oppo Reno 12 and Reno 12 Pro offer good value for mid-range smartphones. The Pro model provides a bit more in terms of features and performance, making it the better choice for users who prioritize camera quality and storage.
However, the standard Reno 12 still delivers a solid experience at a slightly lower price point, making it an excellent option for those looking for a well-rounded mid-range phone. Whether you choose the Reno 12 or the Reno 12 Pro, you can expect a reliable and enjoyable smartphone experience.
