Oppo Reno12 hands-on

20 June 2024

Oppo unveiled the Reno12 series at a dazzling event on the picturesque island of Ibiza, and we had the privilege of experiencing the devices firsthand.

We've already shared our initial thoughts on the Reno12 Pro 5G, and now it's time to dive into the Reno12, straight from the sun-kissed shores of the Mediterranean.

The global variant of the Oppo Reno12 is notably different from its Chinese counterpart, featuring a downgraded chipset and camera system. We'll conduct an in-depth review to evaluate its performance, but first, let's talk about its design.

We appreciate the look, reminiscent of a few years ago, with its curved screen and minimal bezel. In a market where makers are increasingly moving back to flat screens, Oppo's approach is refreshing.

Our unit, in the Astro Silver color, appears white under certain lighting and angles. The matte back, however, is quite slippery, and we certainly believe it will benefit from a case, which is not included in the box.

The back panel's finish is interacting with light in a way that creates a moving effect, altering its color and the visibility of the Oppo logo. The frame is extremely polished, almost mirror-like, reflecting light in all directions, constantly.

The camera setup includes a 50 MP main shooter, an 8 MP ultra-wide unit, and a 2 MP macro sensor.

A full set of camera samples will be available in our comprehensive review, where we'll test under consistent conditions. For now, enjoy these photos we took around Ibiza.

The Reno12 sports a 6.7” AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution, protected by Gorilla Glass 7i. While Oppo claims the screen achieves 1,200 nits peak brightness, our brief experience in bright sunlight was not great. The screen is hard to read outdoors, hindered further by its high reflectivity.

Performance seems promising at first glance. The interface is snappy and responsive, but we'll reserve judgment until we've spent more time with the phone.

The slim retail box was a letdown, as Oppo no longer includes a protective case or a charging adapter. The package only contains a USB-C cable.

The phone supports PD 10-55W and SuperVOOC 80W, but you'll need a compatible charger to reach these charging speeds.

Oppo's Reno12 launch in Europe marks the company's return to the continent after a challenging period due to a patent dispute with Nokia, which had restricted the sale of 5G devices.

With these issues now resolved, we're excited to see what Oppo has in store for its European customers. Stay tuned for our full review!