Versatile mid-range phone with cool AI features

The Oppo Reno12 Pro 5G aims to make generative artificial intelligence (AI) more accessible by bringing some features that were previously reserved for flagships to a cheaper, mid-range version. And to some extent, the smartphone delivers on that promise.

The device has some cool AI-powered photo editing features that can easily compete with Google’s Pixel efforts. It also has a relatively good display, an attractive design, decent cameras, and a long-lasting battery.

Perhaps the only thing that holds the Reno12 Pro back is its price. At P34,999, it’s quite pricey, especially when you compare it to its competitors, some of which are true flagship killers with more capable hardware. On the other hand, I like the implementation of the AI ​​features enough that I’d say the price is almost worth it if you’re interested too.

One such feature is AI Eraser, which lets you easily remove unwanted people or objects from a photo without having to use any special photo editing software. It can be found among the available tools in the Photos app, and it’s pretty straightforward to use. Smart Lasso and Paint Over let you manually select the objects you want to remove, while Remove People lets the AI ​​do all the work.

Here’s an example of AI Eraser in action. On the left is the “before” photo, and on the right is the “after” photo:

AI Eraser is also similar to the tool used on more expensive Samsung Galaxy flagship phones, so it’s nice to see something like this coming to a more affordable device – though it would certainly be worth spending some time comparing how well the feature works against OPPO’s mid-ranger.

For the most part, the feature works as advertised, and the AI ​​is indeed smart enough to recognize people. However, you can’t expect it to always get good results. For example, if you have a busy background, the AI ​​may have trouble recreating the part of the photo where deletions were made. Still, it’s a useful feature if you want a quick and easy way to improve your photos.

Another useful feature is Smart Image Matting, which lets you cut out objects from photos and use them as stickers that you can send to others or place on another photo. Simply tap and hold the object you want to cut out, and the AI ​​will automatically outline it and separate it from the background. You can then choose to copy it, save it as another photo, or add it to your sticker gallery.

AI Studio, meanwhile, is a pre-installed app that can radically transform your photos in fun and creative ways. You select the photo you want to transform, then choose a template or filter, and wait a few seconds for the AI ​​to generate your new photo. It’s a fun feature to experiment with, although the limited number of templates available makes it much less versatile than other AI-based photo generators.

I’d also like to mention that this feature isn’t free, as it requires you to log in to your MyOppo account and pay credits every time you want to generate a photo. Again, Samsung’s flagship has similar generative AI features, and Samsung currently offers them for free.

Reliable main and telephoto lenses, attractive design

In terms of the actual photography experience, the Reno12 Pro’s triple rear setup is mostly satisfactory. The 50MP, f/1.8 main lens can take decent-looking photos with good dynamic range. It works very well in well-lit and sunny conditions, with details coming out sharp and clear. Oppo’s image processing software can sometimes oversaturate brighter colors, though, making them look more vibrant than they actually are. It’s not enough to make those colors look unnatural, but it’s worth noting.

The 50MP telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom also works very well, with photos coming out almost as good as those taken with the main lens. You usually get clean photos with plenty of detail. In some shooting situations, the photos can look a little underexposed compared to those taken with the main lens, but the difference isn’t huge. As for zoom, you can get good quality up to 2x, with 5x being hit or miss.

The 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens is the weakest member of the trio. It does its job of expanding the frame and fitting more into the photo, but it usually comes at the expense of detail. Photos taken in this mode also come out more unnatural compared to the other two lenses.

For selfies, you get a 50MP front-facing lens with phase detection autofocus. It can capture beautiful portraits rich in detail and color, which should be more than enough for your social media needs.

Photography aside, the Reno12 Pro has a pretty attractive design, highlighted by the eye-catching finish on its back that Oppo calls Fluid Ripple. The body is also relatively thin and light, making it easy to grip and very handy. Up front, it has a 6.7-inch AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. It’s a great display for the price, and it’s both vibrant and bright.

Inside the phone is the MediaTek Dimensity 7300, a mid-range octa-core chipset, paired with 12GB of RAM. It also has a 5,000mAh battery that supports Oppo’s 80W SuperVooc fast charging. You can expect to get at least a full day of heavy use thanks to the battery life and the chipset’s improved power efficiency.

All things considered, the Reno12 Pro is a solid mid-ranger. It’s versatile and has a ton of cool AI features. At the same time, however, its price puts it in direct competition with more value-oriented versions like the Xiaomi 13T Pro, to name just one example. That phone is a bit more expensive at P37,999, but it has a faster chipset and Leica lenses.

The Reno12, an entry-level model priced at PHP 24,999, also competes with the similarly priced Samsung A55, and one of its advantages is the presence of the aforementioned AI features that have yet to make their way from Samsung’s flagship models to its cheaper A-series phones.

In my opinion, you can’t go wrong with either of these two, as each brings a unique experience. The point is, if you want to get the most for your money, these are the options you need to consider.

Alternatively, if cameras aren’t that important to you, you can get the same experience as the Reno12 for less by opting for the entry-level model priced at PHP 24,999. It has the same 6.7-inch panel, MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset, and 5,000mAh battery as its more expensive counterpart, but instead of a 50MP telephoto lens, it’s got a 2MP macro lens, and instead of a 50MP selfie lens, it’s got a 32MP lens. – Rappler.com