OPPO has launched quite a number of great devices in the past year. They are expanding their offering by delving into AI phones in a bid to increase accessibility of AI devices, with two phones – Reno 12 and Reno 12 F 5G. I got my hands on the Reno 12 F 5G a few weeks ago and have been using it to get a feel of what the user experience is like. I had unboxed the phone already and you can read about my first impression here.

Here are my thoughts on the OPPO Reno 12 F 5G.

Operating System, Memory and Processor

The OPPO Reno 12 F 5G is powered by the all new MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Energy mobile platform developed exclusively by MediaTek and OPPO, and runs on the latest Android 14 operating system, paired with ColorOS 14.0.

The RAM and ROM Capacities are 8GB + 256GB, 12GB + 256GB and 12GB + 512GB coupled with a refresh rate of 120Hz, multitasking especially for heavy users is seamless. I’ve been able to have multiple tabs open and work entirely on my phone all day with no issues. 

Build and Design

The OPPO Reno 12 F 5G comes in two colours: Amber Orange and Olive Green. I prefer my phones black but this one I got in Olive Green and I must say my mind has changed as it’s a lovely colour. At just 7.69 mm thick and only 187g*, the slim and lightweight phone also stays true to the Reno Series’ signature blend of stylish design and exceptional comfort.

Keeping this screen shielded is Corning® Gorilla® Glass 7i with its exceptional drop protection. With an IP65 rating, it also provides exceptional dust and water resistance, while critical components across the phone, including openings, speakers, the USB-C port, and the SIM card tray, have been reinforced to make the phones even more waterproof. I did do the shower test and drop test at the launch and was impressed by the drill test. 

The OPPO Reno 12 F 5G comes with an AI Brightness feature that automatically adjusts the brightness depending on the light in your environment. The screen also comes with Splash Touch which makes sure that you don’t tap what you don’t intend to even with wet fingers. The Smart Eye protection ensures that it reduces blue light emissions to reduce the effects of glare on your eyes. In addition, a new screen temperature curve adjusts the phone’s display depending on the sunrise and sunset times.

The all-new Cosmos Ring Design,  centered around the camera and inspired by classic wristwatches, mimics the layered look of a watch bezel, adding a three-dimensional effect that enhances the premium style of the phone with a sleek, elegant, and luxurious feel. 

Sound 

The Holo Audio feature keeps different audio sources in their own space so you can do things like listen to music over Bluetooth or listen to GPS while taking a call. 

The Ultra Volume Mode also lets you increase the volume by up to 300% which is great for videos with low volume, while the dual stereo speakers allow an immersive audio experience, which is great for your watching and listening experience.

Camera

The phone comes with an Ultra-Clear Camera System designed to capture sharp and natural portraits. The system includes a top-grade 50MP Main Camera, a 2MP Macro Camera for perfect close-up portraits, and a 112-degree 8MP Ultra-Wide-Angle camera, complemented by a 32MP selfie camera with multiple focal lengths.

I enjoyed using the camera and the pictures are fantastic. For videos, you shoot at 1080p, which is great, but would have loved it to be at 4K. 

Battery

Combined with OPPO’s 80W SUPERVOOCTM Flash Charge technology and the highest energy density 5,000mAh battery in Reno Series history, ensures ultra-long battery life, lightning-fast charging, and up to four year’s optimal battery lifespan.

The Flash Charge gives you an additional 14% of battery in just 5 minutes. If that’s not enough, it can take you from 1-24% in 10 minutes or fill you all the way up to 100% in just 71 minutes.

Connectivity

The OPPO Reno 12 F 5G keeps you connected even in areas with little to no network or slow connection. When you travel to a distant location or are in a building with dead zones, you can remain in touch with your friends. It has a 360-degree surround antenna, so there’s no lag even when you tilt your phone when playing a game or on a video call.

AI LinkBoost boosts connectivity by making the phone switch between networks without causing any delays in what you’re doing. If you’re in a crowded network, it reduces buffering making it easier to send or watch videos. The accuracy of Google Maps is also so much better, which is something I really appreciated.

In case of an emergency, you don’t have to worry because BeaconLink boosts the power of your phone’s Bluetooth to ensure you remain connected to others even in a network dead zone, while NFC (Near Field Communication) technology lets you access your digital wallets by tapping the upper part of the front, back, or top of the phone to an NFC reader.

AI Features

This is an AI focused device so it’s heavy on AI features including:

1.AI Eraser 2.0

This feature can easily remove passing strangers in photos with a simple tap supporting removal of a wide range of objects and natural filling in generated backgrounds at a faster speed.

2. AI Smart Image Matting 2.0 

This feature has been updated with enhanced accuracy, allowing for multi-subject cutouts that can be saved as standalone stickers for future use. 

3.AI Studio

This feature provides a personalized AI-powered photography experience that can transform regular portraits into unique digital avatars. For even more imaginative possibilities, AI Studio can create digital avatars or artistic portrait styles from just one single user photo. Users can reimagine themselves as cowboys, stars in a cyberpunk manga, or many other styles leveraging the new GenAI capabilities. 

4. AI Recording Summary

This is an AI productivity tool that can process voice recordings and extract key information into easy-to-read summaries. 

5. AI Toolbox

More features are wrapped in the AI Toolbox, including AI Writer for crafting quick emails, social media posts and comments, AI Summary for extracting essential details from long passages of text, and AI Speak for reading articles aloud. Thanks to the easy-to-use AI Toolbox, users can conveniently call on these features from the sidebar to boost their productivity across a range of scenarios.

Price and Availability

OPPO Reno12 and Reno12 F are available for Pre-order from 23rd August to 1st September 2024. At a Recommended Retail Price of Ksh 69,999 for the Reno12 and Ksh 49,999 for the Reno12 F through OPPO Kenya Website, Ecommerce partners, LOOP and OPPO physical stores across the country.

As a special-pre-order campaign, in partnership with LOOP, customers who purchase any of the Reno12 series devices using either their LOOP Card or LOOP App  will get up to Ksh 6,000 cash back and a special-pre-order gift. 

Warranty and Support

The phone comes with a 1 year warranty. Support and service is available via OPPO service centres.

Verdict

The OPPO Reno 12 F 5G delivers a great device that has fantastic features at an affordable price point. The AI features, especially, deliver a device that is a sure winner for consumers and it delivers on OPPO’s intention of making accessible AI phones with great features and beautiful design.

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OPPO has launched quite a number of great devices in the past year. They are expanding their offering by delving into AI phones in a bid to increase accessibility of AI devices, with two phones - Reno 12 and Reno 12 F 5G. I got my hands on the...