OPPO Reno12 Pro Hands-On Review: AI Brilliance Meets Stunning Design and Enduring Hardware

The OPPO Reno series has consistently pushed the boundaries of power, design, and imaging, introducing amazing new features. And the upcoming OPPO Reno12 Pro is no exception! While the Reno12 Pro is stacked with innovative features and powerful hardware, the main highlight of this phone is its AI capabilities.

However, the Reno12 Pro doesn't just spam the AI moniker on everything, instead, the goal here is to seamlessly integrate AI into all aspects of your smartphone to ensure a more efficient and user-friendly experience. Now, let's dig deep into the AI capabilities, powerful hardware, and striking design of the Reno12 Pro 5G.

Style and Substance

OPPO's upcoming Reno12 Pro arrives in two elegant shades - Sunset Gold and Space Brown. Both models feature a timeless two-tone matte and gloss finish, highlighted by a metallic ribbon that runs horizontally across the back of the phone. Sticking with tradition, the Reno12 Pro also opts for a sleek and light form factor, measuring 7.4mm slim and weighing 180 grams.

But despite its beauty, the Reno12 Pro is built like a tank with a high-strength alloy that provides enhanced corrosion resistance temperature resistance, thermal conductivity, and more. The OPPO Reno12 Pro's frame also offers aerospace-grade levels of strength, while a customised cushioning material ensures optimal shock absorption to make the Reno12 Pro more shock and impact resistant.

Additionally, the Reno12 Pro is also tested by SGS for Premium Performance 5 Stars Multi-scene protection that covers water- and shock resistance. Above and beyond the already impressive IP65 rating for resistance to dust and water, OPPO has also reinforced critical components, including openings, speakers, the USB-C port, and the SIM tray to further improve waterproofing.

However, Splash Touch might be one of the best features yet. We were able to effortlessly switch between tracks in the shower and easily navigate Chrome out in the rain. The Reno12 Pro is tough as nails, comfortable to use, and looks stunning, earning it an A+ from us for form.

A Stunning Visual Experience

OPPO has equipped the Reno12 Pro with a 6.7-inch Quad Curved Infinite View screen with a 20:9 aspect ratio and an FHD+ (2412 × 1080 pixels) resolution. The display boasts a dynamic refresh rate that automatically switches between 60Hz, 90Hz, or 120Hz depending on the task. Moreover, the Reno12 Pro's panel also supports HDR10+ content. The display on the Reno12 Pro can reach a peak brightness of 1,500 nits, allowing you to easily view content on screen under direct sunlight.

The FHD+ resolution ensures sharp visuals, while the 120Hz refresh rate offers a smooth navigation and gaming experience. The Quad Curve display enables a comfortable and immersive experience. Additionally, the in-display fingerprint sensor was quick and accurate. Protecting the screen of the Reno12 Pro is flagship-grade Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, making the handset one of the sleekest sturdiest phones in India in the segment.

Moreover, watching content in the dark got a little more convenient thanks to the Infinite View Screen's 2160Hz high-frequency PWM Dimming. Bedtime Mode also worked well to adjust the display's colour temperature to minimize its impact on your natural melatonin levels, promoting better sleep.

Uncompromised Camera Hardware Enhanced by AI Magic!

The OPPO Reno12 Pro's cameras are getting a major upgrade. Headlining the setup is a 50MP Sony LYT-600 primary sensor with OIS and an f/1.8 aperture that captures detailed shots with crisp colours. It is accompanied by a 50MP Samsung S5KJN5 telephoto lens with an f/2.0 aperture and 2x optical zoom which aims to deliver excellent portrait shots.

Lastly, there's an 8MP ultrawide shooter with a 112-degree FOV, which offers a wide field of view, allowing you to fit more subjects in the frame. Up front, the Reno12 Pro uses a capable 50MP Samsung S5KJN5 selfie camera with autofocus. Additionally, both the front and rear cameras here support 4K video recording.

Beyond hardware, the Reno12 Pro also brings a new Ultra-Clear Portrait System, which offers phenomenal results with the aid of several AI-integrated features. The OPPO Reno12 Pro's AI features make photo editing a breeze. AI Eraser 2.0 removes unwanted objects seamlessly, while AI Clear Face enhances facial details in group selfies. AI Best Face fixes closed-eye expressions in group photos. AI Studio lets you transform photos into fun digital avatars. AI Portrait Retouching for Selfies offers various focal lengths and natural facial adjustments for perfect portraits.

For those preferring natural looks, Natural Tone intelligently adjusts exposure for realistic lighting and skin tones. There's nothing gimmicky about the Reno12 Pro's cameras, the formidable triple-rear cameras combined with a high-res selfie shooter as well as a myriad of AI features makes the Reno12 Pro one of the most enticing smartphones for photography.

Elevating the Software Experience Through AI Convenience

The OPPO Reno12 Pro runs Android 14 out of the box with ColorOS 14.1 on top. The latest version of OPPO's ColorOS operating system offers a bloat-free software experience, while providing a ton of customization options. OPPO also promises three years of Android OS updates and four years of regular security updates. The OPPO Reno12 Pro is stacked with a ton of AI features, making it an ideal everyday AI companion to bring more convenience to your smartphone experience.

The Reno12 Pro, with its AI Toolbox, is the perfect everyday AI companion. Its recognition capabilities suggest AI features based on your screen content. The AI Writer inspires creative social media posts, while AI Speak and AI Summary extract concise summaries from lengthy articles, saving reading time. AI Record Summary is invaluable in meetings, summarizing and exporting discussions to the Notes app. The File Dock conveniently saves and accesses images, text, or files across apps. Smart Touch allows easy content extraction from screenshots, letting you drag images or text into the File Dock for quick access.

A Perfect Blend of Performance and Power Efficiency

The OPPO Reno12 Pro uses a custom MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Energy SoC co designed by OPPO and MediaTek. The 4nm chip is equipped with an ARM Mali-GPU and an octa-core CPU, while the MediaTek NPU 655 enables the phone's AI magic. You can run just about any game, including Call of Duty: Mobile, BGMI, Asphalt 9: Legends, and more, on the Reno12 Pro in high graphics

Furthermore, the Reno12 Pro is equipped with 12GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage (Expandable via microSD card), thus ensuring smooth and fluid performance when gaming or multitasking. OPPO's Trinity Engine is a system-level solution designed to enhance system fluidity and reliability by precisely managing computing resources, memory, and storage.

Another trick up OPPO's sleeve is its exclusive RAM-Vita technology, which enhances RAM utilization, allowing you to launch and switch between apps quickly. Moreover, ColorOS's RAM Expansion converts up to 12GB of unused storage into temporary RAM, providing an extra boost of smoothness when needed.

Always Stay Connected

Connectivity options on the OPPO Reno12 Pro include Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, 5G, Dual SIM, and more. However, the Reno12 Pro also features AI LinkBoost, a cutting-edge proprietary communication technology that includes 360° Surround Antenna solution with nine individual antennas. This feature can intelligently recognize network conditions and seamlessly switch connections to ensure robust and reliable performance.

The OPPO Reno12 series is the first smartphone series to receive the High Network Performance certification from TÜV Rheinland. Moreover, the Reno12 Pro's BeaconLink tech lets you make voice calls via Bluetooth over long distances, even without a network signal - perfect for remote areas or crowded events. And since we're on the topic of calling, AI Clear Voice filters out background noise to ensure clear communication.

Unmatched Battery Life with Lightning-Fast Charging

We were able to squeeze out an entire day of battery life under moderate usage thanks to the Reno12 Pro's 5,000mAh cell. The phone still had a good 15% of juice left to take into the next day. But it was the 80W SUPERVOOCTM Flash Charge that was most impressive as it could take the phone from 1% to 100% in just 46 minutes. OPPO also offers over four years of optimal battery condition and fluid performance with the Reno12 Pro.

Final Thoughts on the OPPO Reno12 Pro

The OPPO Reno12 Pro is designed with a primary focus on convenience. This is made possible with the perfect union of intelligent AI features and powerful hardware. Beyond convenience, the Reno12 Pro is also equipped with an enduring battery, stunning display, and snappy performance. With the power of AI and upgraded sensors, the Reno12 Pro's camera prowess is second to none in the segment.

Design has always been a key pillar for the Reno series, and the Reno12 Pro is no exception with its sleek form factor and a gorgeous two-tone finish. But don't be fooled by its striking design, the Reno12 Pro also features a robust build to take on the rigours of the everyday life in India. Apart from being another excellent addition to the Reno series, the Reno12 Pro 5G aims to spark a new AI revolution in the country's smartphone market.

OPPO Reno12 Pro Price, Availability and Offers

The OPPO Reno12 Pro price in India starts from INR36,999 for the base 12GB/256GB model, while upgrading to the 12GB/512GB configuration will be priced at INR 40,999. The OPPO Reno12 Pro is already up on sale through Flipkart, mainline retail outlets and OPPO e-Store. Customers can get an instant cashback up to Rs 4,000 on the Reno12 Pro using cards from HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, SBI, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Bank of Baroda, and OneCard. Additionally, No Cost EMI payment options are available up to 9 months.