the back-to-school smartphone… or the outing?

2023-09-04 13:48:39

When Oppo presented its new Reno range to journalists in July, a curious feeling accompanied the discovery of the product. Stuck in a legal battle against Nokia for the use of technologies related to 4G / 5G, the Chinese brand did not seem to put the means to promote a phone supposed to be its flagship product.

In the Oppo galaxy, the Reno series represents the mid-range offering the best possible value for money. High-performance smartphones that we had come to know, in Belgium, with the Reno4. These phones have always wanted to address young people, in particular by highlighting the photo aspect. The Reno10 and Reno10 Pro are no exception to the rule with an improvement on the “portrait” feature.

Apart from this novelty, Oppo’s new device struggles to stand out. There is the design aspect that differs from last year. However, the break is not spectacular, we even have the impression of a return to the past by the format of the device. This does not spoil the user experience, however.

G. Pope.

This Reno10 Pro, we had it in hand for several weeks. The return is good since it offers the same qualities as its predecessor with a more powerful chip. This year, it’s with a Snapdragon 778G and no longer a Mediatek Dimensity (be careful, the Reno10 runs with a Mediatek Dimensity 7050). The photo part is still as good, the fast charge (SUPERVOOC 80W) is one of the best on the market, the OS remains customizable (negative point all the same to the many pre-installed applications)…

G. Pope. G. Pope.

Strict minimum ?

Finally, the problem is not at the level of the smartphone. Admittedly, we can blame the latter for a lack of ambition, but ultimately it remains a classic upgrade. Above all, unlike its competitors, Oppo achieves a tour de force by evolving its range… while lowering the price (-100 euros). But then what is the concern? He is on the side of Oppo’s strategy. The Chinese brand does not seem to want to impress, land with a smartphone that stands out as THE best value for money. It feels like the builder stuck to the bare minimum, probably tired of the uncertainty associated with legal issues.

In any case, this is the reading that we make of the current situation of Oppo with us. The non-release in 2023 of a Find X, the brand’s flagship, confirms things a little. In official communication, it is explained that the price of the device did not necessarily correspond to consumer demand. A final decision? “This does not mean that there will not be other Find X in the future”, we are told. Hoping that the next release removes fears and doubts.