OPPO’s Reno series is the brand’s main line of smartphones that offer high-end flagship specs in a device, at a competitive price point. And with every new release, as expected (and demanded by consumers), the technology improves — especially with the camera system. Last week, ahead of other industry announcements, OPPO revealed their Reno11 series, and this includes the highly-anticipated Reno11 Pro 5G that runs Android 14 and ColorOS 14, and boasts some pretty serious specs for phones at its price range.

COLOURS INSPIRED BY NATURE

The oppo reno11 Pro 5g in rock grey. it’s a soft touch, matte finish with a slight shimmer that reflects light, similar to the rocks on the seashore.

The OPPO Reno11 Pro 5G comes in two beautiful finishes inspired by nature, Rock Grey and Pearl White.

The oppo reno11 Pro 5g in pearl white.

Both exteriors are very classy. The slender frame is lightweight and curved at the right places that makes it feel really good in the hand. With the Pearl White model we have for review, the most striking part of it is the Shimmering Pearl Design on its back. It’s made by integrating three layers into one piece of glass, and incorporating 3.6 million tiny reflective surfaces to create the lustre. It looks almost like marble or stone, and we love that it stays free from fingerprint smudges.

PORTRAIT CAMERA

The Reno11 Pro 5G smartphone debuts OPPO’s Ultra-Clear Portrait Camera System with Portrait Expert Engine. We spoke with Eleven Wei, Product Manager of OPPO’s Reno Series and she has this to say about the camera system:

“We understand that users now have a strong demand for better photos, so we need to give strong imaging performance [in our products]. For the Reno11 Pro 5G, OPPO has upgraded the 2x zoom portrait, which includes the imaging capacity to have better facial expression representation in our images. Furthermore, considering the global audience, people around the world have different skin colours, so we put in a lot of effort to make sure that different skin tones can be represented naturally and beautifully. Finally, the upgraded algorithm and capacity of imaging ensures a natural representation of the interplay between light and shadow.”

Above: The oppo reno11 Pro 5g screen.

The camera system on this phone was made for everyone to shoot the best portraits possible. There are three lenses on the back of the phone:
— Main 50MP, f1.8, 24mm
— Telephoto 32MP portrait camera, f2, 47mm
— Ultra-wide 8MP, f2.2, 16mm

While the main camera has the highest megapixels and widest aperture, it’ll be the telephoto lens that you’ll use most often to take people’s portraits. What’s exciting is that OPPO has included their flagship algorithm, HyperTone Imaging Engine, which was made for the Find X6 Pro and Find N3 — both of which have excellent camera systems (with Hasselblad lens calibration, no less). This function results in enhanced image clarity, better dynamic range and richer colour in photos.

Above: desaru coast in the evening, shot on reno11 pro 5g.

PORTRAIT EXPERT

With the Reno11 Pro 5G, OPPO is really positioning the phone as the portrait expert; built into the camera system are Portrait Mode, Portrait Expert Engine, and AI Portrait Retouching.

Above: security guard at one&only desaru coast, shot on reno11 pro 5g in portrait mode.

Portrait Mode is pretty standard and easy and straightforward to use; it’s the Portrait Expert Engine that really does all the work in the background for your photo — it recognises faces, ensures that the skin tone is true to life, it senses the face curve, texture, highlights and shadows, and even boosts the dynamic range for the best subject / background scene balance. This means your subject stands out, and you get a pro-level portrait photo typically achieved by DSLRs.

Above: jerry, shot on oppo reno11 pro 5g in portrait mode.

For AI Portrait Retouching, there’s an in-built optimiser that allows you to fine-tune your selfies and enhance natural features (like the lips and eyes for accurate shadowing and lipstick shades).

Above: sara, shot on oppo reno11 pro 5g in portrait mode.

The portrait camera on this new OPPO smartphone does not disappoint. Photos turn out pleasing, and as Eleven Wei says, “skin tones can be represented naturally and beautifully”. Here’s my favourite photo taken with the Reno11 Pro 5G: