Hardware

Published on October 21st, 2019 | by James Wright

OPPO Reno Z Review

The new OPPO Reno Z is an impressive mid-range phone from this company that comes in two new gradient colour finishes that include Aurora Purple (reviewed) and Jet Black which literally shimmers and changes colour when it hits the light. With that said, the OPPO Reno Z definitely looks high-end, particularly with its gradient colour finishes. Adding to its design is its 3D corning gorilla glass for its 6.4” AMOLED screen with a waterdrop design for its 32MP front facing camera.

In terms of screen quality, the OPPO Reno Z boasts sharp text and vibrant colours and the AMOLED really makes a huge difference to your overall experience. Like some other smartphones, there is even a finger print reader built into the screen which is very responsive. In terms of screen to body ratio, the OPPO Reno Z is 92%.

The OPPO Reno Z is also quite a zippy (or fast) phone thanks to its MediaTek Helio P90 processor with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, including dual-sims. The phone uses Android 9.0 with OPPO’s ColorOS that is basically a “skin” over the O/S and offers useful elements like swiping gestures for navigation and a smart assistant.

Specifications

Add VOOC 3.0 fast charging and this phone will be charged in no time! While most phone speakers are a little on the ho-hum side, the Reno Z’s stereo speakers boast clear and loud audio which is great for gaming. Speaking of gaming, the phone supports Game Boost 2.0 which increases the performance of games and while this uses more battery power, it’s definitely a great feature to have so that your games play better.

Installation was a breeze and once we followed the wizard, we were ready to start. You can also copy data from another phone and the setup does give you access to setting up security, including a sort of tutorial as well.

While all the games that we played on the OPPO Z worked great such as Call of Duty Android, Injustice 2 and Asphalt Legends. So yeah, this may be a mid-range phone but gaming is sure darn fun to play! We also benchmarked the phone with 3DMARK with Sling show Extreme scoring 1118 (a little on the lower end) but Ice Storm Extreme scoring a MAX! These benchmarks did indicate that was a midrange phone but even so, it was one of the better ones out there.

Box Contents

• OPPO Reno Z Handset
• VOOC 3 fast charger 5V/4A
• VOOC ‘green’ USB-A to USB-C cable
• 3.5 mm OPPO earbuds and mic
• Pre-fitted screen protector
• Silicon bumper case – Smokey black

However what has made OPPO so popular across the globe and more recently in Australia is the impressive photographic capabilities of their smartphones and the Reno Z is no exception to this rule. The phone features a 48 megapixel read camera that features a Sony IMX 586 sensor to help bring your images to life, including image stabilsation with a f/1.7ultra-large aperture. Adding to the photography is an AI chip to help reduce noise-reduction.

While the camera only supports a x2 zoom, it has some very clever pre-sets and detects, including… PUPPY! That’s right, the camera now knows when you’re taking a photo of your favourite pooch which I found beyond cool! Night photography is another feature of the OPPO Reno Z which easily outperforms its competitors, even some of the more expensive smartphones. Add in 4K, pano, expert, time-lapse, SLO-MO and Google Lens plus portrait and you have everything you need to be a “professional” photographer.

Final Thoughts?

For just $499, OPPO deliver something that is more than just a midrange phone but rather something that pushes what a midrange smartphone can do. Aesthetically it looks gorgeous and when matched with the specifications and clever camera(s) functions plus great resolution (the screen is brilliant) and the OPPO Reno Z deliver excellent value for money!

Manufacturers Specifications

6.4″ AMOLED Gorilla® glass 5 screen
ColorOS 6, based on Android 9
48MP & 5MP rear camera
32MP front camera
8GB RAM
128GB storage
Hidden fingerprint unlock
Ultra Night Mode 2.0
Dolby Atmos
Game Boost 2.0
3D sleek unified body

Color: Aurora Purple
Operating System: ColorOS 6, based on Android 9
Processor: MTK Helio P90
GPU: 9XM-HP8
Battery: 4035 mAh (TYP)
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB
VOOC Flash Charge: VOOC Flash Charge 3.0

Size: 6.4″
Touchscreen: Multi-touch, Capacitive Screen
Resolution: 2340 by 1080 pixels at 402 ppi
Colors: 16 million colors
Screen Ratio: 92%
Type: AMOLED on-cell

Rear Sensor: 48MP & 5MP
Front Sensor: 32MP
Flash: LED Flash
Aperture: Rear: f/1.7 + f/2.4
Front: f/2.0
Features: AI Low-light Shot, Ultra Night Mode 2.0, Backlit Selfie
Camera Mode: Photo, Portrait, Video, Night, Pano, Expert, Time-lapse, and Slo-mo
Video: 4K video shooting, 30fps; 1080p HD video shooting, 30fps/60fps; 720p HD video shooting, 30fps/60fps, EIS for video shooting (only support 1080p & 720p); Slo-mo video 1080p@120fps, 720p@240fps, Time lapse video shooting

Frequencies: FDD-LTE: Bands 28/29/40/41
TD-LTE: Bands 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/18/19/20/26/28
WCDMA: Bands 1/2/4/5/6/8/19
GSM: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
SIM Card Type: Dual Nano-SIM
GPS: Supported
Bluetooth: 5.0
WLAN Function: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
OTG: Support
NFC: Supported

Sensors: Geomagnetic Sensor, Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Accelerometer, Gyro Sensor, Other Sensors

OPPO Reno Z: x1
Adapter: x1
USB Type-C Cable: x1
Important Info. Booklet with Warranty Card: x1
Quick Guide: x1
SIM Card Ejector: x1
Screen Protector Film: x1 already applied
Case: x1
Earphones: x1

About the Author

James Wright

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