Oppo Reno10 Pro+ Review: A Flagship Smartphone with a Camera that Brings the Heat

Photography has never been as prolific as it is today, and we can thank mobile phone cameras for that. While a lot of photographers look down on smartphone cameras, the reality is many smartphone shooters are undeniably good, especially for beginners. Some people say that you can’t take great photographs without a dedicated camera; whether it be a sophisticated classic point-and-shoot or a high-end DSLR. Those people are unequivocally wrong.

To say that everyone needs a DSLR is like saying everyone needs a gaming PC or everyone needs a Macbook Pro. It’s simply untrue and disingenuous. In fact, some might argue that even content creators don’t need to invest in a DSLR or mirrorless camera for their videos and images. What’s more, as smartphone cameras become even more advanced, classic point-and-shoot cameras are looking like even less of an appealing purchase for everyday amateur photographers.

The truth is that far too many people waste money on DSLRs with features they’ll never fully take advantage of. And, as compact as they may be, an expensive point-and-shoot camera is useless if you don’t have it on you when you want to take a picture. So, why not go the convenient route and invest in a smartphone with a great camera instead?

The absolute best thing about smartphone cameras is that you already carry your smartphone with you everywhere you go — and that means you always have a camera to use. And, because you already know how to operate your smartphone, the learning curve for operating a smartphone camera is incredibly easy to overcome.

If there was ever a case for a smartphone that compels you to ditch your traditional point-and-shoot camera or DSLR, it’s the new Oppo Reno10 Pro+ 5G. This flagship device from Oppo features a 6.74-inch AMOLED display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen1 chipset, 16GBs of RAM, 256GBs of storage, a 64MP telephoto camera, and a 4,700mAh battery with 100W Supervooc charging.

A glance at the features of the device makes it clear that it’s an Android device worth considering. Plus, once you see the price, compared to other flagships on the market in South Africa, you’ll be hard-pressed not to opt for the Reno10 Pro+ when upgrading to a new phone. The Oppo Reno10 Pro Plus is now available in South Africa at a recommended price-point of R22,999, giving it a distinctive edge against competitor flagships that are well over the R35,000 price tag.

Hands-on with the Oppo Reno10 Pro+ camera

But, it’s the camera on the Oppo Reno10 Pro Plus that really blew me away. The 64MP telephoto portrait camera on Reno10 Pro+ 5G provides a 71 mm equivalent focal length for professional-looking portrait images. Together with its large f/2.5 aperture, 25cm minimum focus distance, and large 1/2-inch camera sensor, the telephoto portrait camera creates a professional portrait shooting experience on the Reno10 Pro+ 5G, enabling high-level portraits to be captured with just a simple click.

Over the past month, I’ve been exclusively using the Oppo Reno10 Pro+ to shoot my videos as well as my product, restaurant, and travel review images for our online publication. The images and footage I’ve shot have been nothing short of exceptional. Thanks to the image processing software built into the Oppo Reno10 Pro+ I’ve had to do almost no editing to my images, even those shot in low-lighting conditions. As someone who is taking photographs and shooting footage every day for work, this has saved me an immense amount of time tinkering on my laptop with stand-alone editing software.

I can’t say enough amazing things about the built-in camera on the Oppo Reno10 Pro+, it’s a truly life-changing camera for content creators and if you want to be one of those people who have the freedom to point and shoot anytime and anywhere, then this is the smartphone for you.

If you’re not a professional photographer or content creator, and you simply want to snap fun, great shots of your friends, family and travel then you most certainly can get away with having nothing but this smartphone in your pocket. I’ve used it to shoot culinary creations at restaurants, animal encounters in the bush, and to capture memories with friends on the weekends. In fact, whenever we go to capture a photo moment, my friends, colleagues, and acquaintances have started to insist we only use my Oppo Reno10 Pro+ to capture moments together.

A breakdown of the Oppo Reno 10 Pro+ camera set-up

The camera module has 3 lenses. Starting with the 50MP primary camera equipped with a Sony IMX890 sensor, it excels in capturing light and delivering excellent picture quality. Thanks to the Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS), even shaky hands or moving objects won’t blur the images. In good lighting conditions, the shots are sharp and filled with an impressive amount of detail and accurate colours. The natural representations of greens, reds, and blues boosts the overall image quality of every shot and demonstrates the ability of the Oppo Reno10 Pro Plus to capture breathtaking landscapes while preserving the intricate elements.

Indoor shots, with lower natural light, are just as impressive using the Oppo Reno10 Pro Plus. Shots taken inside, with low but aesthetic lighting, are also filled with detail and the image processing software goes a long way to help enhance these photos to make the colours look as true-to-life as possible. Even with lower lighting, the objects in the frame of shots have a striking appearance and details are also visible.

Special mention must go to the 64MP telephoto portrait lens featured in the Oppo Reno 10 Pro Plus camera set-up. While most smartphones typically offer a 2MP depth or macro lens for portrait mode, Oppo has chosen to stack its telephoto lens for the ultimate in portrait photography. The telephoto portrait lens is equipped with OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) and offers up to 3x optical zoom, ensuring excellent results in both good and low light conditions. Photographs taken in daylight using the telephoto lens in portrait mode burst with intricate details and boast remarkable sharpness with vibrant colours.

There is no doubt, the Reno 10 Pro Plus excels at capturing portraits with precise subject definition, clean edges, and no unwanted, artificial-looking blur. The camera smoothly and gradually creates a bokeh effect comparable to what you would expect from a DSLR. This was a big one for me, as with many smartphones it is immediately apparent the photo was taken with a poor-man’s bokeh effect filter.

I was really impressed with the 3X portrait shots that I managed to take with the Oppo Reno 10 Pro+ telephoto camera. The results were impressive, with the camera producing stunning shots that showcased a good amount of detail. The ability to zoom in while maintaining image quality is a significant advantage, allowing for capturing close-up portraits without compromising on sharpness or accuracy.

At the front of the device, you’ll find another game changer: the 32MP selfie camera. With this front camera, you get the freedom to shoot ultra-clear selfies during the day as well as at night time. Group selfies are top-notch, with the subjects kept in focus while the background is slightly blurred, skin tones look natural and the colour reproduction is gorgeous as well.

The camera setup on the Oppo Reno 10 Pro+ is undoubtedly one of the biggest flexes of this device and justifies the purchase of the Oppo Reno 10 Pro+ all on its own. Of course, it also helps that the device is a flagship in the truest sense with impressive features that will satisfy even the most discerning super user.

In addition to the impressive camera, the Oppo Reno10 Pro+ also features an in-display fingerprint sensor, reverse charging capabilities, and runs on Android 13 on launch.

Price and availability

The Oppo Reno10 Pro+ is now available in South Africa. It comes in two colours: purple or grey.