Oppo’s Reno Series gets a facelift with a new processor in tow. Does it have what it takes to compete in a crowded segment?
The Oppo Reno 11 and Reno 11 Pro, arrived less than half a year after the Reno 10 Series. Increasing competition, in the form of a glut of new arrivals, from its rivals in the segment could have forced its hand, but Oppo claims that it offers an improved experience from the Reno 10 Series even though there aren’t too many changes on the hardware front. The chip on the inside, now a MediaTek Dimensity 8200 SoC, instead of the Qualcomm silicon in the Reno 10, and the flamboyant design are the two major updates. Oppo does claim to have made strides with the software, especially with its Portrait mode camera. We have spent an extended period with Oppo’s latest which included a trip to sunny Goa to test out the phone’s camera capabilities.
The cameras on the Oppo Reno 11 Pro
We’d like to start this review by writing about the cameras on the Oppo Reno 11 Pro. Oppo seems to rely heavily on the Reno Series’ photographic abilities in its marketing, and that trend continues here as well. Oppo claims that the portrait mode is a highlight of the phone and we put it to the test extensively.
The device features a triple camera setup, which includes a 50MP primary sensor, a 32MP telephoto lens, and an 8MP ultrawide sensor. The primary 50MP camera, equipped with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), is the star of the show. It captures vibrant and detailed images, with Oppo’s HyperTone Imaging Engine coming in handy. The camera excels in broad daylight, capturing accurate colours and ample details without oversaturating the images. There are critics of how Oppo likes to process its images, but we think it does do a great job at how it goes about it, producing good photos more often than not.
The 32MP telephoto lens adds depth to the camera’s capabilities. It supports 2x optical zoom and 5x in-sensor zoom, delivering detailed and richly coloured photos. This lens is particularly effective for portrait shots, producing images with natural bokeh and accurate skin tones. However, the edge detection was way too aggressive and often cut off hair inconsistently. This was more prominent with people who had frizzy hair – the cutouts proved to be a challenge for the Oppo Reno 11 Pro.
We weren’t particularly happy with the 8MP ultrawide sensor. While it produced passable photos, it had limitations in terms of colour reproduction. That said, increasingly, the ultrawide is losing out to the telephoto in terms of usability in smartphone photography and I am not too concerned about the ultrawide on the Reno 11 Pro.
The front of the device houses a 32MP selfie camera, much like the telephoto at the back (a smart choice in our opinion). As a result, selfies come out sharp, with vibrant colours. The quality of selfies is commendable, with the camera performing particularly well in daylight conditions. However, it does struggle with low light. Once again, we were not very convinced by the edge detection in portrait mode.
Video capabilities of the Reno 11 Pro include 4K resolution at 30fps and 1080p at 30 and 60fps. The phone also offers an ultra-steady mode for smoother video capture. However, the video colours might appear a bit faded and washed out, with weak contrast in some conditions. Also, stabilization isn’t particularly good either.
It excels in still photography, especially in portrait mode, thanks to HyperTone. While there are some limitations in the ultrawide sensor and video recording, the overall camera performance positions the Reno 11 Pro as a strong contender in the mid-range smartphone market.
Design of the Reno 11 Pro
Weighing 181 grams and measuring 7.66mm in thickness, the Reno 11 Pro offers a sleek and lightweight form factor that is both visually appealing and comfortable to hold. Our review unit was in the glimmery grey shade that Oppo offers, however we quite like the white marble-like finish. The curved front and back of the phone, add to the aesthetic and also contribute to a more ergonomic grip.
The most striking bit of the Reno 11 Pro is its back cover, and I like the choice of materials here. The phone employs different materials with slightly different finishes on the back panel. A combination of polycarbonate and glass results in great finishes in both colourways. It feels nice to the touch and is not as slippery as it looks, something we were glad for after several slippery finishes on recent mid-range smartphones. We have never really cared about smudges too much on a smartphone’s back, but for people who do care about that both the colourways eliminate smudges on the back. The Pearl White edition has a slightly different thickness compared to the Black model, though the difference is barely noticeable.
The Oppo Reno 11 Pro doesn’t have an IP rating, even though it does seem to have the requisite seals around the SIM tray. While we do understand that an IP rating does not guarantee protection when it comes to water or dust damage, it does give you some peace of mind. Oppo’s decision to omit it altogether is a little perplexing considering that its rivals in the segment do get an IP rating.
That said, the Oppo Reno 11 Pro, despite its slender build, feels well-constructed and rugged. We unintentionally ended up dropping it twice on our wooden desk and the device bears no evidence of any damage.
Display and Performance of the Reno 11 Pro
Sporting a 6.7-inch AMOLED panel, the screen is vivid and bright (up to 950 nits). The curved nature of it does lead to some unwanted inputs occasionally but we don’t think that’s a problem a lot of people will have.
The display refresh rate can go up to 120Hz, but we found it to oscillate between 60 and 90Hz almost all the time. But then again, that won’t be something too many people would notice or care about as much. What a lot of people should care about is the fact that the phone supports HDR10+ on streaming apps, and that should help with the overall viewing experience. Something that detracts from the experience is the mono speaker on the Reno 11 Pro. It is sufficiently loud but offers no real detail or separation.
The Oppo Reno 11 Pro delivers robust performance, a key aspect that sets it apart in the mid-range smartphone segment. At its heart is the MediaTek Dimensity 8200 SoC, a chipset that strikes a balance between power efficiency and performance capabilities. And in practice, it is a significant upgrade from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G SoC that powered the Reno 10 Series. The phone sails through everyday tasks and also handles some gaming with relative ease. Complementing the powerful SoC is 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, which further enhances the phone’s ability to multitask and run demanding applications smoothly.
Even during extended gaming sessions, it manages to keep heating to a minimum, with no real signs of significant throttling either.
Even with our worsening addiction to doom-scrolling on Instagram, the Oppo Reno 11 Pro managed to last a full day with ease. Most users would be able to stretch battery life to a day and a half, we reckon.
Verdict
Priced at Rs. 39,999, the Oppo Reno 11 Pro is packaged very well. The move to a MediaTek processor has helped in terms of performance and the cameras on offer continue to perform well. The design too makes it stand out in a crowded segment. That said, it has some strong competitors that are trying to one-up it, especially when it comes to the camera hardware. If you are looking at getting yourself a new mid-range smartphone, consider if the Oppo Reno 11 Pro’s Portrait mode is the clincher for you.
