OPPO Reno12 Pro 5G Review: Premium Style, Polished Experience, and Smart Everyday Features

Dee P.Software DeveloperSep 01, 2024

OPPO positions the Reno12 Pro 5G as the top model of the Reno12 lineup, and it clearly leans into luxury appeal, refined styling, and practical features rather than brute-force performance. Priced at around $580, this device is marketed toward users who prioritize premium aesthetics, display quality, camera versatility, and polished everyday usability.

Unboxing Experience and Charging

The box content is standard, but OPPO continues to deliver what many brands have stopped doing: a fast charger included. The Reno12 Pro comes with 80W SuperVOOC charging, capable of filling its 5000mAh battery in about 51 minutes, while a 30-minute charge takes it to around 67%. Fast charging remains one of OPPO’s most consistent strengths.

The included case deserves mention as well. Styled like a luxury suitcase with protective raised corners and textured grips, it is more than a throwaway accessory. It reinforces OPPO’s premium positioning effort.

Design and Build Quality

Design is one of the strongest selling points of this device. The display immediately gives off a premium vibe with extremely thin bezels that appear almost perfectly symmetrical, with only the bottom bezel being slightly thicker if examined closely. The edges are subtly curved only at the bezel area, while the actual display surface remains flat—an intelligent execution that blends elegance with practicality and screen protector compatibility.

The screen is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2, a flagship-grade durability layer rarely seen in this price segment.

Meanwhile the rear panel uses plastic, but OPPO has given it a sophisticated “silk-like folded fabric” visual design—distinctive, premium to the eye, and surprisingly pleasant in texture. The camera frame features engraved metallic-styled detailing, further adding to the luxurious aesthetic. The frame itself is a High Strength Alloy Framework, marketed as being as strong as metal while helping keep the device slim at 7.4mm and lightweight at 181g.

Despite not being a flagship, durability is well considered. The device carries IP65 certification, making it resistant to heavy splashes and running water exposure (though not submersion).

Ports, Features, and Practicality

The Reno12 Pro is feature-complete with:

  • Dual speakers with surprisingly clean output and decent bass
  • Dual SIM tray
  • NFC
  • Hardware gyroscope
  • IR blaster

One standout feature is BeaconLink, which allows voice communication via Bluetooth even without cellular signal, internet, or Wi-Fi—operating somewhat like a short-range walkie-talkie. In real-world use, this is extremely valuable in remote environments, although limited to supported devices only.

Display Quality

The 6.7-inch AMOLED panel delivers flagship-tier viewing:

  • Full HD+ resolution
  • 120Hz refresh rate
  • HDR10+ support
  • Brightness peaks around 1200–1300 nits

The display is easily one of the best parts of the Reno12 Pro 5G, making the price feel more justified.

AI Features

This generation sees OPPO pushing AI branding significantly. Useful yet familiar features include:

  • AI Eraser 2.0 for removing unwanted objects
  • AI Studio for creative portrait styling
  • AI Smart Mapping for object selection

While some of these feel like rebranded versions of previously existing tools, the implementation aligns well with OPPO’s lifestyle/creative audience positioning.

Performance and Thermals

This is where priorities clearly diverge from pure performance devices. The Reno12 Pro 5G runs on Dimensity 7300-Energy, essentially a rebadged Dimensity 7300, typically seen in cheaper mid-range phones. Paired with 12GB RAM and 512GB internal storage, multitasking remains very smooth, and general usage feels refined.

Gaming performance is capable but not enthusiast-oriented:

  • Mobile Legends averages ~70–79 FPS depending on settings
  • PUBG runs smoothly around 60 FPS
  • Genshin Impact averages around ~55 FPS on Lowest graphics settings

Thermals are impressively controlled, peaking around 42°C, and power efficiency is excellent:

  • 30 minutes MLBB ≈ 8% battery drain
  • 30 minutes PUBG ≈ 8%
  • 30 minutes Genshin ≈ 14%
  • 1 hour YouTube Full HD streaming ≈ 6%

Clearly, the device prioritizes stable cool performance rather than pushing maximum graphical output.

Camera System

OPPO equips the Reno12 Pro 5G with a complete and convincing camera setup:

  • 50MP wide with OIS
  • 8MP ultrawide
  • 50MP telephoto
  • 50MP selfie camera

Daylight photography is excellent. Colors are lively yet controlled, highlights are well-balanced, sky detail is retained, and telephoto quality is especially impressive for its class. The ultrawide camera is notably weaker, with darker exposure and reduced detail.

Front camera video recording supports 4K 30fps, though stabilization requires dropping to 1080p.

Verdict

The OPPO Reno12 Pro 5G clearly isn’t built to chase benchmark scores or gaming supremacy. Instead, it focuses on premium aesthetics, polished design, balanced features, strong camera performance, great display quality, solid durability, and everyday usability. For users who value luxury feel, lightweight build, big RAM and storage, reliable battery life, and visually pleasing hardware, this device delivers one of the most stylish and refined experiences in its class.

However, power users expecting flagship performance silicon will find significantly better value elsewhere.

Value Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆