{"id":40397,"date":"2020-10-22T08:55:36","date_gmt":"2020-10-22T00:55:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.upgrademag.com\/web\/?p=40397"},"modified":"2020-10-22T09:40:06","modified_gmt":"2020-10-22T01:40:06","slug":"oppo-goes-classier-with-reno4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.upgrademag.com\/web\/2020\/10\/22\/oppo-goes-classier-with-reno4\/","title":{"rendered":"Oppo goes classier with Reno4"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Brands like Apple, Samsung and Huawei are still what come to mind when you think of\u2026 classy phones. No wonder, of course, considering the OC-ness given in the development\/production\/distribution of their heftily-priced units.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s the thing, though: not-as-gigantic and up-and-coming brands are trying to eat a big chunk of the markets of these giants by offering feature-filled units that aren’t not-too-shabby either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And here, Oppo Reno4 is a good example\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

FIRST LOOK<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a PhP18,990 unit, so this isn’t THAT cheap (also considering that there are units from Samsung’s A series that are cheaper). Nonetheless, because of the not-THAT-high price tag, this unit is actually\u2026 pretty. Considering that Oppo is low- to mid-range targeted, this is even… classier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reno4 measures about 160.3mm (height) x 73.9mm (width); that’s 6.4-inch FHD+ (2400 x 1080) AMOLED display (409 PPI pixel density). That it isn’t thick (just 7.7mm) means it’s not that heavy either (weighing about 165g), so carrying this around doesn’t burden the hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If there’s an immediate not-that-good reaction from me, it’s the “plasticky” feel of the unit (the way I feel when holding realme units). With this unit, Oppo actually used a new design it called \u201cReno Glow” wherein the plastic matte finish has shiny\/glowing\/glittery details on the back and metal frame on the sides. It’s not all that bad; but\u2026 plastic is plastic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The buttons, etc<\/em>. are “usual” – e.g. on the left side, you’d find the volume rocker and a dual SIM card tray (that also has a dedicated microSD card slot expandable to 256GB); on the top, you’d find the noise-canceling microphone; and at the bottom, you’d find the loudspeaker, USB Type-C port, primary microphone, and a 3.5mm audio port.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

SPECS + PERFORMANCE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Reno4 is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G, eight-core CPU with speed up to 2.3GHz, Adreno 618 GPU, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of internal storage (expandable to 256GB via microSD card, as already mentioned).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means that this is better-than-okay. My Mom, for instance, would say she just needs a unit for social media, checking YT, listening to Spotify, etc.; and if these are the “only” intentions, Reno4 more than suffices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now – and as noted above – Reno4 has Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G processor, a chipset designed for gaming. This means that this can do more than the “basics”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other features include: 4G LTE, WiFi 802.11 n, wireless hotspot, Bluetooth 5.0, and GPS. Alas, look elsewhere if you’re eyeing 5G.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The battery has 4,015mAh capacity (with Oppo\u2019s 30W VOOC 4.0 Flash Charge); it should last you close to 12 hours if heavily used, and close to 20 hours on less taxing mode\/s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And yeah, the cams aren’t bad, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the rear, you get a 48MP F1.7 main + 8MP Ultra Wide + 2MP Macro + 2MP Mono quad camera setup; and at the front, you et a 32MP + 2MP depth sensor selfie shooter. The rear cameras support up to 8000 x 6000 resolution (48MP mode) and 4000 x 3000 resolution (ordinary mode); while the front camera supports up to 6560 x 4928 resolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Typical of units in Reno4’s price range, daytime shoots are good. Here’s the good news: the phone’s Night Mode is actually better-than-okay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other shooting modes available include: expert, pano, portrait, time lapse, slow motion, text scanner, sticker, and Google Lens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There have been times when I had to use my phone to shoot B rolls for online flicks I make (e.g. when I didn’t expect to conduct interviews and so I didn’t bring my cameras with me). Reno4, I think, should be able to do this, too. The rear cameras can give you 4K at 30fps\/1080P at 60fps or 30fps; or 720P at 60fps or 30fps. That the cams support digital video zoom and slow-motion video are pluses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

IN THE END<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The thing is, Reno3 was just released in March. So if you just got that one, an immediate upgrade may not be in your books yet. This is understandable because – for all the good that Reno4 has – the earlier Reno3 wasn’t bad anyway. Heck, even Apple waits at least a year before releasing newer units (!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, almost-equal phones sell cheaper – e.g. off my head, realme XT is priced less than Reno4 (PhP16,990); and it’s not a shabby “cheap” unit either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
realme XT can help explain the brand\u2019s emergence<\/a><\/blockquote>