Oppo Reno 10 Pro Review - Wins big in the camera department

• Oppo today introduced 3 new devices in the Reno 10 series
• Oppo Reno 10 Pro is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G SoC
• The smartphone is offered at a price of ₹39,999

Oppo Reno series is famous for bringing serious imaging technology at a more affordable price point. Over time the name Reno has become synonymous with new and improved camera systems, while the smartphone size is only getting slimmer. The brand seems to have caught lighting in the bottle again with the Reno 10 Pro. The smartphone comes with a triple camera set-up, consisting of a 50MP primary camera, a 32MP telephoto portrait sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide sensor. On paper these specifications are a recipe for success, but what were the results in real time? And beyond the camera, what is the experience using the latest Reno 10 Pro. I talk about this in my detailed review.

Price & Availability
Oppo Reno 10 Pro is available in one variant. It features 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage priced at ₹39,999.

Design

The Oppo Reno 10 Pro continues the curved design language introduced in the Reno 8T. Although I personally preferred the flat form factor of the Reno 8 series, I must admit that the curved design gives a more premium appearance. After testing both curved and flat form factors this month on the OnePlus Nord 3 and Realme Narzo 60 Pro, I find myself increasingly inclined towards the curved design. Not only does it add a touch of luxury, but it also provides a comfortable grip when holding the device. While the plastic back does attract smudges, it is not excessively slippery.

The variant I have with me is in Glossy Purple, which is a bit flashy for my taste, but it has been executed tastefully. Even if you are not typically a fan of flashy devices, this color might grow on you. Compared to the Realme Narzo 60 Pro's Martian color, the Glossy Purple on the Oppo Reno 10 Pro is more subtle. There is also a silver grey color option available, which I personally find to be the more premium and stylish, although this is a matter of personal preference.

The smartphone's edges feature a metallic finish, which looks appealing. However, like myself, if you use your devices without a cover, you may start noticing minor scratches on the edges. This is a common issue with this type of finish, but it's important for me to mention.

On the back, there is a camera bump, but it doesn't protrude to an annoying extent. I appreciate the design treatment for the camera sensors, as they are housed in a metal casing. Although this may cause a slight wobble, I believe it's a fair trade-off for a solid design. If the wobble is a concern, using a case can easily solve the problem.

Moving on to the sides, the power button is conveniently located on the right side, while the left side houses the volume rockers. The buttons have a satisfactory quality with a sturdy finish. We also get an IR blaster on the device, which seems to be the flavor of this season. Considering we are seeing it on many devices lately. I am not complaining though, it is a utilitarian feature, and works well here.

At the bottom, there is a USB Type-C charging port next to the SIM card tray. The Reno 10 Pro is a 5G-enabled device and can accommodate two nano SIM cards.

Display

The Reno 10 Pro showcases a 6.7-inch OLED display with a screen resolution of 2412X1080 Pixels. The panel is notably bright, reaching a peak brightness of 950 Nits.

I emphasize the brightness because it proves useful in various scenarios. Whether you're watching content or simply checking the time on the always-on screen, a bright panel like this is easier on the eyes, even under direct sunlight. The details are crisp, the colors are natural, and the curved display enhances the overall viewing experience.

Oppo’s execution for the always-on display is also commendable. Other than having the generic perks of showing time and notifications the device also shows tracking information for apps like Zomato. I hope we see this grow and more devices adopt it over time.

However, as is common with curved screens, occasional mistouches are a minor inconvenience. Despite the excellent execution, it's difficult to avoid accidental touches and app openings or missing the volume slider in portrait mode. This is a minor trade-off in the grand scheme of things.

The display also integrates the fingerprint scanner, which is an optical sensor. It takes a split-second pause before unlocking the device, but it consistently performs without any misses, which is commendable.

Where the screen truly shines is in the viewing experience, especially when paired with the 120Hz refresh rate. Let's start with the refresh rate itself.

A standard 120Hz refresh rate provides a smoother experience for gaming and reading content. The Reno 10 Pro delivers this seamlessly, without any issues. You can choose between the standard 60Hz refresh rate and 120Hz, but I recommend sticking to the latter for optimal performance. While there may be a slight lag during the smart switch, the visual experience more than compensates for it. The bright panel with its color accuracy is a treat to watch. The smartphone also supports HDR 10 & 10+, allowing you to enjoy HD content on OTT apps like Amazon Prime.

As an example, I've been engrossed in watching Season 3 of The Boys on the platform, and it happens to be a perfect show for evaluating the display quality. The varying color tones, from bright outdoors to dark indoors, provide a diverse range for assessment. Fortunately, the Reno 10 Pro excels in these tests. The display never misses the mark, and the HDR performance is spot on. The blacks are truly deep, and the display exhibits minimal light leakage. So, if you enjoy consuming content on your smartphone, the Reno 10 Pro will not disappoint.

Oppo has also not compromised on sound quality. The stereo speaker setup ensures loud audio output. Even at lower volume levels, the sound retains a good amount of detail. However, in super volume mode, some details may fade away.

Before concluding, it's worth highlighting the in-display fingerprint sensor. This optical unit unlocks the device quickly and efficiently. However I found the Nord 3 sensor a bit faster.

Software

The Oppo Reno 10 Pro comes with Android 13 out of the box and features the Color OS 13.1 skin. While the overall user experience of the skin remains largely the same, there are some features worth mentioning.

Let's start with the general features. There is pre-installed bloatware, which is not something I appreciate. However, the good news is that it's minimal and can be uninstalled. I haven't come across any questionable app recommendations, which is a positive aspect.

Visually, Color OS 13.1 retains its strengths. The colors are vibrant, and the text appears crisp. The skin is user-friendly and easy to navigate, which is a plus. There are plenty of customization options available, allowing you to tweak every element on the screen. From widgets to icon designs and color schemes, you have the freedom to personalize everything. That being said, I personally feel that integrating the visual execution of stock Android 13, particularly in the drop-down menu, would have enhanced the experience. I've preferred the larger tiles of the default Android skin ever since I experienced it on the Pixel 7a.

Setting that aside, Oppo is promoting Color OS 13.1 as a smarter OS with some prominent features.

First, let's talk about auto pixelation. This feature automatically blurs the display of people in screenshots to protect their identity. Although it may miss some instances when working automatically, you can manually blur objects. The option to do so directly from the screenshot menu is a welcome addition.

Another feature is Multi Screen Connect, which enables connectivity between Oppo products like the Pad Air and allows you to connect your Oppo smartphone with PCs. This is particularly useful for presentations. However, the process of establishing the connection can be time-consuming.

The device also supports fast pairing with Oppo Buds, a feature that is becoming common these days. We have seen this with OnePlus devices and Nord Buds using OnePlus Fast Pair.

The meeting assistant happens to be one of the most useful features. During a video call, the device can switch to a mobile network for a stable internet connection. I tested it out, and it does come in handy. A practical use case would be if your router is located far from your seating area.

Oppo emphasizes that their devices are future-proof, and this is evident from their promise of update cycles. The brand states that the Reno 10 Pro will receive two years of Android updates and three years of security updates.

Performance
The Oppo Reno 10 Pro 5G is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G SoC, a tried and tested chipset. As expected, the smartphone delivers a consistent and reliable performance.

This can be attributed to the overall package that Oppo offers with this device. It comes with 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, which is already ample for most users. There is also the option to expand the RAM internally by using spare storage, but I haven't found a use case where this would be necessary.

Let's talk about performance, especially in power-hungry tasks like gaming. During my testing, I played BGMI on the Reno 10 Pro 5G daily for at least 2 hours. I had the settings maxed out with HDR graphics and Ultra frame rates, and so far, I haven't experienced any glitches or frame drops.

The 6.7-inch massive display is excellent for gaming, allowing you to spot and eliminate your enemies with ease. The combination of the high refresh rate and powerful SoC provides a smooth and fluid gaming experience. I can only compare it to the Nord 3, but the fluidity on the Reno 10 Pro 5G felt better, mainly due to the superior SoC.

After about 50 minutes of continuous gaming, the phone does heat up, but it becomes noticeably uncomfortable only after the 1-hour mark. However, it cools down quickly, allowing you to get back to your games without much delay.

The Reno 10 Pro 5G utilizes the RAM efficiently by holding applications in the background for extended periods. This includes apps like Instagram or WhatsApp, as well as heavier apps like COD: Mobile. Switching between apps is seamless, and the phone picks up right where you left off.

This performance extends to everyday use, and general users will not encounter any issues. The specifications and real-life performance of the Reno 10 Pro 5G may be overkill for basic users who don't push the limits or engage in heavy gaming.

The device offers 256GB of internal storage, of which the system takes up around 25GB. The remaining 225GB is more than sufficient for most consumers. If you still need more storage, you can consider purchasing additional cloud storage since the Reno 10 Pro does not support external SD cards.

Before concluding this section, it's important to mention the battery performance of the Reno 10 Pro 5G. It is equipped with a 4600mAh battery that is difficult to drain, especially for light users.

The numbers are impressive. With casual to heavy usage, I was averaging around 8 hours of screen time. This includes gaming sessions, video calls, and YouTube consumption.

For light users, the battery life extends even further, easily lasting a bit over a workday.

The device supports 80W SuperVOOC charging, which works wonders as expected. With the bundled 80W charger, it takes about 35 minutes to charge the device from 0% to 100%, which is remarkably efficient. This is with mobile data turned on, of course.

Camera

The Oppo Reno 10 Pro is indeed known for its camera capabilities, and it seems to excel in that aspect. With its triple camera setup, including a 50MP primary camera, a 32MP telephoto portrait camera, and an 8MP ultra-wide camera, it offers a versatile photography experience.

The 50MP camera produces impressive results, with crisp images, vivid colors, and excellent dynamic range in bright outdoor conditions. Oppo's algorithm further enhances the images, providing a final result that may differ from what you initially see in the viewfinder. Even spontaneous shots turn out well, allowing you to zoom in without losing details. Using the dedicated 50MP mode offers even higher levels of detail and accurate color tones.

Indoor photography, however, exhibits some drawbacks, particularly in terms of noise and dynamic range, especially under harsh lighting conditions. Nevertheless, enabling the night mode helps to improve the performance, although the device lacks the Marisilicon NPU found in the Reno 10 Pro+. Despite this, the default night mode still performs well.

The 32MP telephoto sensor impresses with its ability to capture ultra-crisp shots both indoors and outdoors. The portrait mode showcases solid edge detection and achieves a pleasing bokeh effect around multiple subjects in a frame.

The 8MP ultra-wide sensor performs admirably by preserving colors without significant shifts. This is essential for a dedicated ultra-wide sensor, as it allows for a wider perspective without compromising color accuracy.

When it comes to video recording, the Oppo Reno 10 Pro surprises with its ability to capture 4K videos at 60FPS, accompanied by clear audio. Content creators will find the camera setup beneficial for their needs.

On the front, the selfie camera is a 32MP shooter with Oppo's face filters. It handles Indian skin tones well, providing accurate colors in most situations. However, the camera may struggle under specific lighting conditions, causing colors to appear off. The device offers a variety of face filters, catering to users who enjoy this feature. Additionally, the front camera's video performance is satisfactory, but it may exhibit slower focus shifting and visible lag. Therefore, for content creation purposes, it's recommended to rely on the primary sensor on the back.

Verdict
Out of the two Reno devices launched this year, I believe Reno 10 Pro will provide bang for your buck. It delivers on the camera performance, comes with a beautiful display and can deliver solid performance. However if you want a more powerful telephoto lens and a slightly better display then 10 Pro+ is the option for you.