Oppo has officially unveiled its latest mid-range phone series, consisting of the Reno 12 and Reno 12 Pro. With advanced AI capabilities, interesting designs and impressive batteries, these new models aim to set a new standard for mid-range phones.
The Reno 12 Pro features a futuristic design, with a rear glass panel complete with what Oppo calls ‘Fluid Ripple Texture’ – essentially, a 3D ripple effect on the back of the phone. The device also features Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and has an IP65 rating for added protection.
The phone runs on the custom 4nm MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Energy, paired with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage, plus an option to expand it to 1TB via microSD.
It also boasts a 6.7-inch, HDR10+, flexible AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and four curved sides of equal height, potentially offering a visually immersive experience without any accidental touches or issues with grip.
AI is also at the heart of the Reno 12 Pro, with several generative AI features designed to enhance your everyday use.
The AI Eraser allows users to remove unwanted objects or people from photos with a simple tap. Group photos are also enhanced with AI Clear Face and AI Best Face, ensuring everyone looks their best.
AI Clear Face enhances group photos by restoring facial details like contour, hair and eyebrows, ensuring even distant subjects are captured with clarity. AI Best Face uses advanced features to identify closed eyes in photos and reopen them, ensuring no group shot is wasted.
Additionally, AI Studio provides creative possibilities by transforming single photos into digital avatars or artistic portraits.
However, will you be charged to use these AI features in the future? Oppo hasn’t ruled it out.
The camera system on the Reno 12 Pro includes a 50Mp main, 50Mp telephoto portrait with 2x optical zoom and, 8Mp 112° ultra wide.
On the front, a 50Mp selfie camera includes autofocus and enhanced ‘Flash Snapshot’ for realistic lighting effects. Both the front and rear cameras support 4K video recording at 30fps.
The Reno 12 Pro is also equipped with a 5,000mAh battery, supporting Oppo’s 80W SUPERVOOCTM Flash Charge. Oppo claims that the phone can reach 49% charge in just 18 minutes.
The Reno 12 Pro, priced at £499, will be available in Nebula Silver and Nebula Black finishes through the Oppo e-store, starting on 28 June. To sweeten the deal, Oppo offers a £100 enhanced trade-in promotion for those upgrading to the new AI experience from 19 June to 27 June.
Meanwhile, the standard Reno 12 model will be available from mid-August, offering many of the same features as the Pro version but at a more affordable price point. However, Oppo hasn’t revealed exactly how much it’ll cost.
It includes the same AI enhancements, the MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Energy chipset paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GM of storage and a capacious 5000mAh battery, making it a strong contender in the mid-range market.
However, differences are evident in, among other things, cameras. The phone still features a 50Mp main camera, but the ultrawide drops to an 8Mp 112° lens and there’s no telephoto. Instead, you get a 2Mp macro camera, while the 32Mp selfie lens has also been downgraded.
Both models come with a 6.7-inch, 120Hz OLED display. However, the Reno 12 Pro’s display includes the quad micro-curve design, enhancing its aesthetics and reducing accidental touches, a feature not present in the Reno 12.
The Reno 12 also uses Gorilla Glass 7i (compared to Victus 2) for drop protection and will be available in Nebula Silver and Black Brown colours.
Alongside the Reno 12 series, Oppo is also launching the Watch X smartwatch and Enco Air 4 Pro earbuds.
The Watch X, priced at £299, will be available on the Oppo e-store from 19 June, with an early bird promotion offering a £20 discount until 27 June. The Enco Air 4 Pro earbuds, priced at £69.90, will also be available starting 19 June.
As usual, none of the new products will be available in North America.
Will the Reno 12 and 12 Pro be contenders for the best mid-range phones of 2024? Time will tell.