Oppo Reno 7 Pro: Stylish Upgrade with Competitive Features, But Is It Enough to Stand Out?

Oppo’s Reno lineup has been the brand’s premier selection in India for several years now, particularly after discontinuing new releases in the Find series. The strategy for the Reno Pro models has been consistently clear — sleek designs with curved screens and exceptionally fast charging capabilities. While the charging specs remain unchanged for the latest Oppo Reno 7 Pro, Oppo has opted for a fresh design approach. This new flagship also introduces a somewhat newer SoC, improved camera technology, and stereo sound, making it a considerable enhancement compared to the Reno 6 Pro (Review).

Nonetheless, the rivalry in this market has reached new heights. Samsung leads the field with its Galaxy S20 FE 5G (Review), while OnePlus has introduced its own 9RT (Review), alongside numerous enticing choices from Xiaomi and Realme, all brimming with top-tier features. The Oppo Reno 7 Pro requires more than just appealing aesthetics to attract consumers, and it’s time to evaluate whether it can achieve that in this comprehensive review.

Oppo Reno 7 Pro pricing in India

The Oppo Reno 7 Pro comes in a single configuration in India, offering 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, with a price tag of Rs. 39,999. This is lower than the launch price of the Reno 6 Pro, which sets a positive tone. It is offered in two colors: Starlight Black and Startrails Blue.

Oppo Reno 7 Pro aesthetics

Aesthetics have always been a significant highlight for the Reno series, and the Reno 7 Pro continues this tradition. However, rather than the anticipated curved display and shiny frame, the 7 Pro borrows design elements from last year’s Reno 6 (Review), featuring a comparably flat aluminum frame and a flat display. The borders surrounding the display are notably narrow, and together with the diminutive hole-punch cutout, the Reno 7 Pro makes an impressive first impression. Personally, I appreciate this design decision as I favor flat displays over curved edges, which can complicate typing and swiping.

The glass back of the Oppo Reno 7 Pro features an innovative finish. Oppo claims to have employed a new laser technique to produce hundreds of diagonal micro-etches, visible from particular angles. This finish feels excellent and resists fingerprints. The camera setup also showcases a visually intriguing multilayered design, accompanied by a light strip that illuminates for notifications and during charging. Unfortunately, you cannot alter the strip’s color (a feature that would have been appreciated), but you can select which apps and events activate it.

The revamped design of the back enables the Oppo Reno 7 Pro to stand out
Photo Credit: Roydon Cerejo

 

The Oppo Reno 7 Pro lacks a headphone jack, unlike the Reno 7, and does not allow expandable storage. However, it features stereo speakers, a welcome addition that was absent in preceding Pro models. Its 6.5-inch AMOLED display offers vibrant colors and excellent contrast. This is a full-HD+ display with a 90Hz maximum refresh rate and 180Hz touch sampling rate, plus it’s protected by Corning Gorilla 5. While a 120Hz refresh rate or an even higher touch sampling rate would have been more significant upgrades, users will have to settle for what is provided.

Oppo has not compromised on included accessories. The Reno 7 Pro comes packaged with a 65W charger and a case, along with a USB cable and SIM eject tool. Overall, Oppo has excelled in crafting the design. The phone is also impressively slim (7.45mm) and lightweight (180g), which I appreciate.

The notification LED strip surrounding the camera module of the Oppo Reno 7 Pro is a nice touch
Photo Credit: Roydon Cerejo

 

Oppo Reno 7 Pro features and software

Featuring a new SoC, the Oppo Reno 7 Pro is powered by the Dimensity 1200-Max from MediaTek. Essentially, this is a standard Dimensity 1200 SoC with two specific enhancements tailored for the Reno 7 Pro: AI Deblur, claimed to enhance selfie quality, and AI-PQ, intended to produce an HDR-like impression in regular videos. There seems to be no performance gain associated with this ‘Max’ version of the SoC, so for all other functions, expect typical performance. The 12GB of RAM can be augmented by designating 7GB of storage, thanks to a RAM expansion feature in ColorOS.

In terms of connectivity, the Oppo Reno 7 Pro supports Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, and a standard suite of satellite navigation systems. It also houses a 4,500mAh battery capable of 65W fast charging via Oppo’s unique SuperVOOC charger. When considering premium features, the Reno 7 Pro still lacks an IP rating for water resistance and wireless charging capabilities. Such features are not commonplace in devices in this category, and their inclusion would have been an excellent way for Oppo to truly differentiate itself.

The Oppo Reno 7 Pro finally includes stereo speakers
Photo Credit: Roydon Cerejo

 

Running ColorOS 12 based on Android 11, the Oppo Reno 7 Pro falls short of the Android 12 standard that many new phones now support. This is disappointing considering the number of devices launching with the latest software. It comes with the usual set of shortcuts and gestures, in addition to several preinstalled apps, mirroring previous versions of ColorOS. Most default apps are third-party and can be removed. There’s a new Omoji feature similar to Apple’s Memoji avatars, allowing you to craft digital avatars of your likeness or select from pre-existing ones, though its usage is limited to the always-on display and the phone’s account profile picture.

Oppo Reno 7 Pro capabilities and battery performance

During a week of use, I tested the Oppo Reno 7 Pro alongside the more affordable Reno 7 (First impressions), and the experience was mostly smooth. The phone’s shape is quite comfortable, the power and volume buttons provide solid feedback, and the display responds well, remaining clear even in sunlight. The in-display fingerprint sensor functions effectively, as does face unlock. I didn’t encounter any excessive heating, aside from gaming sessions where the metal edges and back got warm. Some preinstalled apps are notorious for sending excessive notifications, but, as mentioned before, you can easily uninstall them.

Video playback on the Oppo Reno 7 Pro’s display was quite impressive. Viewing angles were adequate. HDR content appeared stunning, though it’s unclear how much the AI-PQ feature in this custom SoC impacted the quality – regular videos also looked good, likely due to the AMOLED screen quality.

For a gaming test, I played PUBG: New State at max graphical settings. The performance was fluid, and the display’s responsiveness was excellent. The phone did get warm after about half an hour of play, but the frame rates remained stable throughout. Benchmark enthusiasts will find the Reno 7 Pro delivers commendable results, though it’s not at Snapdragon 888 performance levels. It achieved 6,28,794 points in AnTuTu, which is respectable.

SuperVOOC fast charging can completely recharge the Oppo Reno 7 Pro in less than an hour

 

Battery endurance is quite impressive as well. In our HD video loop test, it lasted nearly 22 hours before switching off. This is a remarkable runtime, and for daily use, you can expect the Reno 7 Pro to last a day and a half, if not longer. During testing, my usage averaged nearly two full days under medium to light use, which I found to be quite good. Charging is reasonably fast with the included charger, providing around 66% in thirty minutes and achieving a full charge well under one hour.

Oppo Reno 7 Pro camera quality

The camera systems on the Oppo Reno 7 Pro have been refreshed compared to its predecessor. The 32-megapixel front camera features a new Sony IMX709 sensor with an RGBW pixel arrangement for improved light sensitivity and DOL-HDR support. It lacks autofocus, has a relatively narrow f/2.4 aperture, and video recording is limited to 1080p. The primary rear camera has also been upgraded to a Sony IMX766 sensor, a popular choice this year, which we also see in the OnePlus 9RT. However, Oppo did not include optical stabilization, which is disappointing. The phone also includes an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens and a 2-megapixel macro camera.

Beyond the camera hardware, Oppo is focusing on notable features within the camera app, such as AI Highlight Video and a Bokeh Flare Portrait filter, which were present in the Reno 6 series as well. A new feature allows you to adjust the aperture when recording videos with either front or rear cameras. Several other shooting modes are available, including dual-video, expert, and slow-motion.

Oppo Reno 7 Pro main camera sample (tap to see full size)

Oppo Reno 7 Pro ultra-wide camera sample (tap to see full size)

Oppo Reno 7 Pro close-up camera sample (tap to see full size)

 

In daylight conditions, the Oppo Reno 7 Pro produced high-quality images with its main rear camera. Color accuracy was decent, although I noticed that the phone occasionally had trouble managing exposure in challenging HDR conditions. Conversely, the ultra-wide camera performed better under such circumstances, though exhibited slightly less detail. Close-up images captured with the primary camera appeared nice, though it again struggled with exposure and color accuracy in direct sunlight. For most scenarios, however, it performed admirably. The macro lens is likely to be useful for well-lit subjects.

Oppo Reno 7 Pro Macro camera sample (tap to see full size)

Oppo Reno 7 Pro main camera low-light sample (tap to see full size)

Oppo Reno 7 Pro main camera low-light sample (tap to see full size)

 

The primary rear camera performed commendably in low-light settings. Close-ups were sharp and well-defined, and colors remained true even in minimal lighting. Landscape captures tended to be overly sharpened occasionally, while low-light images lacked vibrancy, unless I utilized Night mode. The selfies from the new front camera sensor were quite satisfactory as well. By disabling beauty filters, I managed to achieve accurate skin tones and commendable detail during daytime shots. Low-light selfies turned out well, though maintaining stability was crucial for sharp images.

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Oppo Reno 7 Pro selfie camera sample with Bokeh Flare Portrait (tap to see full size)

 

The bokeh filter functioned effectively during daylight, producing a shallow depth of field effect and turning bright highlights into round blobs of color. This effect was pleasing in videos as well, provided one remained relatively still.

Regarding video capabilities, the Oppo Reno 7 Pro can record in up to 4K via the main rear camera, though only at 30fps. To achieve 60fps, the resolution must drop to 1080p. Additionally, enabling AI effects and filters or using the ultra-wide camera caps the resolution at 1080p, which feels limiting for a device at this price point. The quality of 4K videos shot in daylight was average. Stabilization was commendable, although bright sections often suffered exposure issues. The ultra-wide camera performed surprisingly well when recording video, managing to crop the frame to minimize the fish-eye effect. Low-light video performance left much to be desired, especially with AI processing turned on, resulting in grainy and jerky footage, which was disappointing.

Conclusion

The Oppo Reno 7 Pro represents a solid advancement over the Reno 6 Pro, and Oppo has made a wise decision to set its price lower. The flat display, stereo audio capabilities, and enhanced camera technology are all positive updates. The battery life is also commendable, coupled with rapid charging capabilities. The AI-driven camera features and filters add a playful touch for those looking to capture social media-ready images and videos without having to delve into additional apps.

That said, there is still significant room for enhancement. I had anticipated more substantial improvements in both display and SoC performance. Video recording was a drawback with the Reno 6 Pro, and it appears that no meaningful advancements have been made in this regard. Even with a lower price, I believe that better value can be found with competing devices. Models like the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G (Review), Moto Edge 20 Pro (Review), Realme GT (Review) and Xiaomi 11T Pro boast more powerful processors and displays with higher refresh rates. You can find impressive telephoto cameras within the same price bracket.

Ultimately, if stylish design and innovative camera features outweigh raw performance for you, the Reno 7 Pro might satisfy your needs. It certainly offers better value compared to the Reno 6 Pro; however, it’s essential to remember that more feature-rich options are available in the marketplace.