Oppo Reno4 Pro review

Design

The Reno4 Pro is one of the lightest phones we've seen in a while, let's start with that. At 161g it'll be easy on your pocket and it'll go easy on your pinkie in prolonged one-handed scrolling sessions.

Part of the reason is Oppo has used plastic on the back and frame. They call it 'glass-like co-polymer PC (polycarbonate) resin' which is about the most words you can use to say plastic. Plastic is no bad thing in itself and will likely not crack in the event of a drop quite as easily as the more brittle glass, and it's also lighter than glass, clearly. It's not as premium feeling, however, which may or may not matter depending on where you stand on case usage.

The back of the Reno4 Pro has this matte finish which is slightly grittier than the uber smooth matte glass panels we've seen on, say, a OnePlus 8. It may feel a bit sandpaper-y, but it wards off fingerprints nicely, and it offers slightly improved grip compared to its glass counterparts.

Our review unit is in the Starry Night colorway and that's a gray gradient with a darker hue on the bottom and a lighter one on the top - the stars illuminating the sky, perhaps. We did also try a Silky White one, and this one has a subtle pearlescent effect to it.

Oppo Reno4 Pro in Silky White

The camera cluster has all four modules grouped together on a slightly raised glossy platform. Each cam's circular front element then sticks out a bit further the glass somewhat protected by an outer ring. Yes, the phone wobbles on a table.

The display side greets you with a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED that has slightly curved side edges - yes, those are curved edges on a reasonably priced midranger. The curve is just big enough to not present issues with handling, we think, though it will inevitably prove problematic if you want to install a glass screen protector. The phone does come with a pre-installed plastic sheet on the display, so there's that.

There are thin black borders on the sides where the display flows into the frame. The top bezel is about as thick, or ever so slightly thicker, meaning it's quite slim after all. The chin is a tiny bit bigger, but remains among of the more elegant ones we've seen, particularly on a non-flagship handset. Overall, the Reno4 Pro's bezel game is pretty strong.

The top houses the earpiece, which sadly doesn't serve double duty as an extra speaker. To its right is the proximity sensor and the ambient light sensor, each behind its own tiny barely visible window. There's no notification light on the Reno4 Pro, though.

The control layout is our favorite - power button on the right, volume buttons on the left. This gives clear separation what's where and allows for easy screenshots with one hand without crazy finger gymnastics. The power button has a signature Oppo green accent in it, the volume buttons are separate as opposed to a rocker, all three click positively - no complaints here.

Power button on the right • Volume buttons on the left

Our positive impressions from touring the Reno4 Pro perimeter continue on the top of the phone where we find the card slot. It accepts two nano SIMs and a microSD card, all three together, so you don't have to sacrifice your extra line to get the storage or the other way around.

Down on the bottom of the handset, Oppo fitted the USB-C port as well as 3.5mm headphone jack. The primary mic and the only loudspeaker are here as well.

Triple card slot up top • Cables go in the bottom

Circling back to the matter of size, the Reno4 Pro measures 160.2x73.2x7.7mm - it's among the more compact 6.5-inch smartphones you can get these days, not just the lighter ones. The 7.7mm waistline means it's objectively thin, and when you combine that with the curved sides, front and back, you get a very elegant handset - without compromising on battery life, as we'll establish on the next page.