OPPO is redefining what it means to stay on top of the mid-range smartphone market with the huge update on their Reno series launched earlier this year. The OPPO Reno 2 and the OPPO Reno 2F are creating gigantic waves in the tech and smartphone industry because of the standout features the phones have.
We’ve already been impressed with how the OPPO Reno 2’s Ultra Steady Stabilization can handle the tough terrain of the off-road, so we tested the OPPO Reno 2 out on the most mundane of things to see if it can be a geek’s true companion.
Geek-sthetic
Jumping from the initial OPPO Reno, the Reno 2 copies the exact same aesthetic of its predecessor but made a few adjustments to render this version much sexier in our opinion.
As with the original Reno, the OPPO Reno 2 lines all the rear elements down by the center. That means your 4 cameras, the “O” ring (a small pearl-like circle protruding from the rear to give the phone and whatever surface it lies on ample space as added protection), and other pertinent design elements like logo and other pertinent text runs through the middle of the phone.
More than that, the OPPO Reno 2 just screams pure luxury even if the rear casing is made of polycarbonate. The paint job is good enough to make people feel like it’s part of the aluminum trimmings that run through the sides.
This is especially true with the latest colorway to be introduced by OPPO – namely, the Sunset Pink. The soft pink hues and pearlescent effect helps break the phone away from the sea of never-ending gradient blue-greens.
Binge-watching Factor
Watching anything on the Reno 2 is a treat! A TREAT! OPPO Reno 2 houses a huge 6.55 inch Dynamic AMOLED screen for crazy vibrant entertainment! Similar to the first iteration, there is zero notch on the OPPO Reno 2 opting for a shark-fin pop-up camera that houses the front facing shooter.
Gaming Prowess
While still considered as a mid-range processor, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G offers robust computing powers able to execute most games with relative ease. According to the literature, the Snapdragon 730G offers 15% Graphic boost over its 730 counterpart for a more robust gaming experience. The concentration of this configuration really helps mobile gamers experience a richer, more immersive experience while playing their favorite games like PUBG Mobile, COD Mobile and Mobile Legends.
OPPO’s Color OS Game Center and Game Boost capabilities enhances the experience even further by letting you take screenshots, record screen and/or stream your game natively. That eats up sooo many resources but the OPPO Reno 2 can take it.
Geek Photoshoot Capabilities
The entire clip below was taken with the OPPO Reno 2 and rendered with very minimal post-processing.
Ultimately this is where the OPPO Reno 2 absolutely shines! The 48 MP shooter coupled with the Ultra Steady Camera stabilization is a godsend! As mentioned previously, we’ve tested it out on rocky, bumpy terrain and the phone was able to keep up and shoot a fairly steady video. With video qualities like these, taking photos would be a cinch! Of course, we’ve subjected the phone in various shooting scenarios as well and the results can be seen below:
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- Macro Photography Realness
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- Night Mode Captures everything in sharp details
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- Capture landscapes with very difficult lighting
Needless to say, the OPPO Reno 2 performed exceptionally well. Finally, OPPO is stepping up its optics game ready to go head-to-head with industry stalwarts like Samsung and Huawei.
The only downside of the OPPO Reno 2 (for now) is its somewhat inability to recognize an external microphone. We’ve tried hooking the phone up with our trusty ol’ BOYA Lapel to no avail. Luckily it does come with some impressive native mic configuration.
The OPPO Reno 2 has 2 modes for audio recording – 3D Sound (which mimics a surround sound effect taking into account all the ambient noises and tracking the one that seemed to be the most dominant) and Zoom Mic –zeroing in on a singular audio source (takes voice as priority). There’s also a switch to help minimize ambient noise so that you can record your voice overs, talking heads and vlogs with relatively more confidence. Still, an external mic would be the preferred option here – especially if you’re starting to take video content creation seriously. We’re hoping that a future software patch can fix this up.
Everyday Reliability
Yes, that’s the premium case the OPPO Reno 2 comes with.
Because of the 8nm processor, the OPPO Reno 2 is power efficient to a fault. But even if you decide to turn your phone into a whole day video-recording machine, you’re hard press to drain the 4000mah internal battery that’s powering this wonderful machine. If and when you do manage to do so, the OPPO Reno 2 is equipped with OPPO’s signature VOOC Flash-Charging ver 3.0 being able to recharge your battery quicker than before.
Final Geek Verdict – 9.5/10
A masterclass in making things more accessible, OPPO essentially offered the ability to produce cinema-like videos to practically a wider set of audience. With a price that’s hard to beat, internals that can rival flagships of the past, and a camera stabilization so steady it renders mobile accessories such as gimbals useless, the OPPO Reno 2 allows you to tell your stories the way you want them – without restriction and with much ease.
The OPPO Reno 2 is currently priced at Php 28,990 and will also be available on Globe’s Plan 1799 (no cash-out; available now) as well as Smart’s Plan M 1499 (w/ PHP 7,500 cash-out) on November 8.
OPPO Reno 2 specs:
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G
- 6.5 inch FULL HD+ Dynamic AMOLED display, Gorilla Glass 6
- 8GB RAM/ 128 or 256 GB ROM configuration
- 48 MP, f/1.7 +13 MP f/2.4 Telephoto Camera + 8 MP f/2.2 Ultrawide Angle/ Macro Camera + 2 MP Mono
- 16 MP, f/2.0 front camera
- 4000mah Battery with VOOC Flash-Charging 3.0
- USB Type C, 3.5mm Jack
- Color OS 6
- 4G, LTE
- Hybrid Dual SIM