Oppo Reno 12F Smartphone Review
Oppo Reno 12F Smartphone Review – The Oppo Reno series is not always considered the best options in the mid-range segment. However, Oppo has learned from its past mistake and started producing decent phones over the past few years. Recently, the smartphone makers launched the Oppo Reno 12F in Thailand which is expected to be launched in the global market. However, there is a high chance that the company might rebrand this phone for other markets. As of now, they have already launched a Reno 12F 4G version with slightly different specifications.
On the other hand, this phone doesn’t look quite ordinary at first glance. As usual, the display is top-notch with an intriguing camera module on the back panel and a decent screen on the front. However, if we look at the hardware section, we find a mediocre chipset while the good news would be the integration of Oppo AI. But is this Oppo Reno 12F a great option in the budget segment? Let’s check it out in the following review.
Oppo Reno 12F Smartphone Review
Highlights
- The device comes with the standard 6.67-inch AMOLED panel setup with FHD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate.
- On the software side, you will get Android 14 and ColorOS 14 interface integrated with Oppo AI software.
- In terms of performance, the phone is based on the Dimensiity 6300 chipset and a regular GPU configuration.
- The Oppo Reno 12F features a decent 50MP triple camera setup with a 32MP selfie lens.
- Last but not least, it packs a 5000mAh battery with 45W wired charging support.
Design and exhibition
The Oppo Reno 12F has a plastic build with a unique design on the back panel. In its early days, Oppo was known for producing stylish phones with creative designs. But today, the company is focusing on a rather generic build. Even the Olive Green looks bland, while the Amber Orange is something that stands out for us. Still, the design aspect is subjective to each one. Both paint jobs look good.
Apart from the circular camera display, the phone looks identical to last year’s Reno 11 phone. However, the company claims that IP-rated protection is provided with a biometric scanner on the 6.67-inch AMOLED display. Vibrant colours and precise contrast control give this phone a decent viewing experience. Plus, you can watch content at up to FHD+ resolution. Overall, Oppo’s displays are bright enough for daylight.
Thankfully, the company has added a 120Hz refresh rate with haptic feedback and navigation on the UI. At the same time, the build quality isn’t that boring, you get a metallic finish with the standard volume rocker and power button. As for the display protection, you get the Asahi Glass AGC DT-Star2 protection. Overall, the Oppo Reno 12F provides an excellent experience.
Memory and internal
Oppo phones are often lacking in terms of hardware configuration, especially in mid-range phones. Here, you will find the Dimensity 6300 chipset. Typically, this chipset can handle normal tasks if you want to enjoy gaming, content streaming, and other activities. Despite this, the octa-core processor can provide a cloaking speed of up to 2×2.4 GHz to support almost all day-to-day tasks.
As for the hardware, the visual aspect is handled adequately via the Mali-G57 MC2 chipset. As for the software interface, Android 14 is based on the custom ColorOS 14 UI. Along with this, the company also introduced its new Oppo AI UI. With this, users can adjust the overall software settings according to their design. It includes elements like AI summary, AI speaking, and more.
The AI software is also integrated in the camera department, allowing users to capture precious memories without any issues. Coming to the performance aspect, the performance feels disappointing, especially during the CPU throttling tests. Nothing much can be done about the performance. Still, the Oppo Reno 12F is offered in 256G to 512GB UFS 2.2 internal storage with 8GB to 12GB RAM configuration. You can choose any one that suits your needs.
Camera
At first glance, the camera module is reminiscent of the setup on the Oppo Find N3. This camera design also introduces a circular light ring, which doubles as a flash. The company decided to call it Cosmos Ring, which gives a sporty look to the rear panel. As for the camera setup, the phone offers a 50 MP primary lens, 8 MP ultra-wide-angle, and 2 MP macro setup. On paper, it doesn’t look that disappointing, and you can take decent photos with this setup as well.
The usual daylight and low-light photos look good with crisp colors. Also, it is good to see that Oppo has finally improved the night mode. Not to forget, the AI-powered studio features were the highlights of the native camera app. The AI-powered features bring better filters, AI-powered erasing, and other cool features that we recommend you explore in your free time. As for video recording, the Oppo Reno 12F delivers videos in FHD resolution.
It is acceptable, as smartphone manufacturers introduced this phone as a low-end device in the market. However, you need to keep this factor in mind if you want to capture beautiful videos. Anyway, the front display features a 32MP hole-punch selfie camera. With this setup, the camera results will not be disappointing if you want to capture beautiful photos. However, video recording may not be a strong point of this phone.
Battery and others
The 5000mAh battery performance is worth highlighting as you will get a screen-on time of over 5 hours with just a 56-minute recharge via a 45W wired charger. In addition to this, the device also supports reverse wired charging. Typically, the device will need less than an hour to recharge the battery with ease. You will get enough screen-on time for a couple of games and other activities as well.
Now, let’s look at the other important sensors. The phone is equipped with above-average Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS sensors with a mix of NFC support depending on the market. At the same time, the stereo speakers produce good sound with incredible clarity and treble control. Last but not the least, the Oppo Reno 12F will be priced around $360 (Rs 29,990 in India) approximately for the starting variant. Still, you will find several phones with similar or better specifications.
Pros and cons of the Oppo Reno 12F
Detailed specifications of Oppo Reno 12F
Below you can see the Oppo Reno 12F Smartphone Full Specifications.
| Budget | Oppo Reno 12F | Oppo Reno 12F 4G |
| Grid | 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G | 2G, 3G, 4G |
| Announced | June 2024 | July 2024 |
| SIM card | Dual SIM | Same |
| Dimensions | 6.42 x 2.98 x 0.31 inches | 6.42 x 2.98 x 0.30 inches |
| Weight | 187 grams | Same |
| Size | 6.67 inches | Same |
| Show | AMOLED 1B Colors 120 Hz Brightness from 600 to 2100 nits Ratio 20:9 Density of ~395 PPI |
AMOLED 120 Hz Brightness from 600 to 2100 nits Ratio 20:9 Density of ~395 PPI |
| Protection/Others | Asahi AGC DT-Star2 glass IP64 waterproof and dustproof |
Same |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels | Same |
| Operating system | Android 14, ColorOS 14 | Same |
| Chipset | 6nm: Mediatek Dimensity 6300 | 6nm: Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 685 |
| UPC | Octa-core 2x 2.4GHz Cortex-A76 processors 6x Cortex-A55 |
Octa-core 4×2.8GHz Cortex-A73 processor 4×1.9GHz Cortex-A53 processor |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Adreno 610 |
| Card slot | microSDXC | Same |
| RAM | 8 GB, 12 GB | 8 GB |
| Internal | 256 GB, 512 GB UFS2.2 |
Same |
| Camera | 50 MP (wide angle), PDAF, OIS 8 MP (112˚ ultra-wide angle) 2 MP (macro) LED flash, HDR, panorama Max: 1080p at 30/60 fps, gyro EIS |
50 MP (wide angle), PDAF, OIS 8 MP (112˚ ultra-wide angle) 2 MP (macro) LED flash, HDR, panorama Max: 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie | 32 MP (wide angle) Panorama Max: 1080p@30fps |
Same |
| Loudspeaker | Yeah (stereo speakers) |
Same |
| 3.5mm connector | No | Same |
| Wireless network (WLAN) | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual band |
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX |
| GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | Same |
| NFC | Yes (depends on market/region) | No |
| Infrared port | Yeah | Same |
| Radio | No | Same |
| USB | USB Type C 2.0, OTG | Same |
| Sensors | Under-display fingerprint, accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity, compass. | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor, accelerometer, proximity and compass. |
| Battery | 5000 mAh 45W Wired, PD2.0 Reverse wiring |
5000 mAh 45W Wired, PD2.0, PPS Reverse wiring |
| Flag | Olive green, amber orange | Amber orange, olive green, matte grey |
| Expected price | $360 (Rs. 29,990 in India) approximately | $238 (Rs. 19,990 in India) approximately |
Conclusion
The Oppo Reno 12F is not a bad phone in the mid-range segment. However, it just cannot outperform its predecessor Oppo Reno 11F due to poor hardware configuration. We all know that a typical Oppo smartphone often lacks decent performance. Still, it is good to see higher brightness nits on the display with an advanced refresh rate. Along with this, the AI software integration is something unexpected.
Do we really get those AI upgrades? Probably not, a stable user experience would be a better option. Anyway, the camera, display, and battery aspect didn’t give a disappointing feel. Overall, the Oppo Reno 12F could be a remarkable option in the mid-range if you can overlook that shortcoming. Still, there are alternative options like the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion that would be a good choice compared to this phone. Nonetheless, we would suggest you make a decision based on your needs.
