Oppo Reno2 review

Wrap-up

With a price tag of just over EUR 450 and access to already highly saturated Asian markets, the Reno2 will be faced with the tough challenge of avoiding obscurity. It might sound simple, yet standing out in today's midranger crowd is a nearly impossible task. Since it isn't more powerful nor cheaper than its direct contenders, things might just be looking down for the Reno2.

Well, it certainly won't be breaking any sales records, but we have to give Oppo credit for really trying its best to capture its vision for the proper mid-range 2019 smartphone people are going to want. Apparently, high up on this list is a solid, modern camera setup. And we have to say, we kind of agree. Pretty much every average user out there will be able to get some benefit out of the versatile camera arrangement on the Reno2. Arguably a lot more so than, say, from the latest and greatest flagship chipset.

Plus, the Reno2 is no slouch in this regard either. The Snapdragon 730 can probably best be described as the most sensible performance option currently out there. It is not starved for raw power and has more than a few connectivity goodies, typically associated with flagship silicon. And the 730G, in particular, even offers some tangible benefits for mobile gaming. And the list of sensible goodies does not stop there either. In no small part, thanks to the Oppo manufacturing and RnD backing, the Reno2 is packed with all sorts of tech trickling down from the ex-flagships. You get an excellent, hole and cutout-free AMOLED panel, a snappy and reliable under-display fingerprint reader and a more than adequate 20W VOOC Fast Charger to top off the phone's sizeable 4,000 mAh battery.

Last and not least, the Reno2 is a looker as well. And since that is entirely subjective, we should probably rephrase. The "shark fin" selfie camera module, along with small yet significant details on the paint job and color accents make the Reno2 instantly recognizable as a Reno phone. Something surprisingly important in the sea of sameness that is the modern smartphone market. Especially the mid-range niche.

Competition

With an MSRP of over EUR 450, the Reno2 is on the expensive side of its market niche. Especially when you consider the kinds of deals that can be had in markets like India, where Oppo is offering the phone. Xiaomi instantly springs to mind when looking around for alternatives. Specs-wise, the Mi 9T is probably the closest you can get to the Rdno2. A pretty identical chipset, battery capacity, overall camera setup, display tech, and even additional features. These two will trade even blows if we had them in a match. You can currently pick up a Mi 9T for around EUR 300 in Europe (plus or minus EUR 50 depending on market and availability), which is a lot cheaper than the Reno2.

Xiaomi Mi 9T • Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro

This puts the Reno2 in a tight spot. So much so that if you already have the money lined up for the Reno2, you can probably move up to a Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro or, as it is also known as - Redmi K20 Pro. And that's a phone that comes with a Snapdragon 855 chipset, among other things.

And since we are on the topic of camera prowess, it is worth throwing another contender into the mix. One that falls very short in camera count, but has a mighty and well-deserved reputation as the poster child for modern computational photography. Costing a bit north of the EUR 450 mark, that would be the Pixel 3a XL.

Google Pixel 3a XL

Software-wise, opting for it pretty much puts you in the polar opposite camp of heavy skins like Oppo's ColorOS or Samsung's One UI. Whether you prefer that or not, of course, is entirely a matter of personal preference.

The Verdict

There is a lot to like, even love about the Oppo Reno2. We're willing to go as far as to say that there are very few bits we dislike about the Reno2. Some of the major ones are even subjective, like certain design and software package choices within Color OS. However, it is really hard to overlook the current pricing of the phone. As reviewers, we are sometimes guilty of focusing on the tech itself while losing the bigger picture out of sight. And this includes pricing. As things stand right now, the Reno2 is an easy device to love, but not necessarily an easy recommendation to buy and pay for.

As for the broader picture here, the Reno2 deserves to be appreciated as a focused and deliberate effort on Oppo's part to tune the Reno line to the liking of its customers. To give it some distinct priorities to go along with its already distinct styling.

Pros

• Instantly recognizable design. Excellent build quality and high-quality materials.
• Above average local and network connectivity and features.
• Pretty good AMOLED screen, large and notch-free, with a fast under-display fingerprint reader.
• Great battery life, 20W VOOC fast charging.
• Snapdragon 730G chipset offers above average mid-range performance, plus extra gaming features and optimisations.
• Overall excellent photo and video quality. Very versatile camera setup.

Cons

• No water or dust resistance.
• Mushy power and volume buttons.
• Video stabilization has its issues.