Cheatsheet:

 

• The Oppo Reno 7 Pro 5G is the successor to the Reno 6 Pro

 

• It stands out with its design aesthetic that might remind you of the flat-edge iPhone 12 Pro and 13 Pro

 

• Powered by a zippier processor—Mediatek Dimensity 1200 Max

 

• It’s loaded with camera features; good results in low-light as well as portrait photography

 

• The 6.65-inch display features a 90Hz refresh rate. It’s truly immersive with a 92.7 percent screen: body ratio

 

• There’s no Android 12 out of the Box. The device runs on Android 11 layered with Oppo’s Color OS 12

 

If there’s one thing that has consistently drawn us towards Oppo’s flagship Reno series, it’s its slinky form factor. At a time when many premium smartphones weigh above 200gm, the Reno devices have remained light, finding the balance between form and a robust battery. The Reno 7 Pro is the more formidable sibling of the Oppo Reno 7 duo and has our attention for its design aesthetic. But is there more to this device than just good looks?

Clean lines, stunning design

You’re likely to be reminded of the iPhone 12 Pro and 13 Pro during your first brush with the Oppo Reno 7 Pro. The curves have made way for clean lines and a flat-edge design that seeks inspiration from the iPhone playbook. It’s a shade thinner than the 13 Pro though and is 10 percent lighter thanks in part to its aircraft-grade aluminium chassis. It comes in Startrails Blue and a refined Starlight Black colour. We checked out the latter, and it’s a gorgeous shade of black with a smooth finish that makes the device a tad slippery. We dig the design of the rear camera with its mix of matte and glossy finish. At 180gm, the Reno 7 Pro feels great in your hand.

Ultra-narrow bezel

It’s tough to find a smartphone with such a thin bezel. Oppo manages to stretch the screen: body ratio to 92.8 percent with a ridiculously narrow 1.55mm bezel. The thin (7.45mm) frame adds to its immersive appeal. The 6.55-inch  Full HD+ Super AMOLED display (2400×1080 pixels) packs 402 pixels per inch (PPI). It features a 90Hz refresh rate, while that’s not a deal-breaker, there are rivals at a similar price point that boast a 120Hz refresh rate. Colours are vibrant thought, and the display is fluidic.

A whole bag of camera tricks

Oppo has played up the 32MP selfie camera—the first to feature a Sony IMX709 camera sensor. Selfies have long been Oppo’s calling card and selfie fiends will totally approve of this front cam. Portraits are terrific and if you like aggressive skin control tools to conceal those Saturday night dark circles, you won’t be disappointed. I noticed a marked improvement in the lowlight images snapped on the rear cam; this included images shot on ultra-wide mode. The rear set-up includes a 50MP Sony IMX766 sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide cam and 2MP macro cam that shoots decent close-up shots. Portrait images were particularly impressive even in sub-optimal lighting conditions. There’s a whole bunch of camera tools including Oppo’s Bokeh Flare Portrait Video.

0 to 100 percent in a flash

It’s fun to watch your phone power up with Oppo’s Super VOOC 65W charger (bundled in the box). It charges your phone from 0 to 100 percent in just 31 minutes flat. It’s not just charging speed, this device feels faster and smoother especially in gaming scenarios thanks to the improved Mediatek Dimensity 1200 Max chipset. There’s only one hardware variant—12GB/256GB. The improved performance over the Reno 6 Pro was reflected in our Geekbench benchmark test where the device clocked an impressive score of 2738 (multi-core).

Bottomline

The Oppo Reno 7 Pro comes with Android 11 and Oppo’s Color OS 12 out of the box. There’s no Android 12 and the phone comes with heaps of pre-installed apps; I uninstalled almost 20 Apps as soon as I unboxed the phone. The Reno 7 Pro scores high with its gorgeous form factor, robust battery (4500 mAh), and versatile camera. Oppo has widened its appeal beyond design and camera fans with a faster processor. All this makes it a serious contender in the sub-Rs 40,000 affordable flagship segment.

The OPPO Reno 7 Pro costs Rs 39,999 and comes in Startrails Blue and Starlight Black shades.