The title of this review must seem a bit strange to anybody reading from Europe or Asia. Although Oppo is a massive player in many regions, by the end of last year it accounted for less than 10% of the market here (according to a March 2024 report by the New Zealand Herald).

No prizes for guessing the big two brands battling it out for top billing at around 40% each. Still, although a fair distance behind, third is still third and Oppo has managed to claim that spot over the last few years with a consistent line of reliable, well designed handsets boasting excellent battery-life, market-leading fast-charging and camera technology that rivals the very best around.

So what have they done for us lately?

In New Zealand, the Oppo Reno12 Pro comes in two colourways; Nebula Black or Nebula Silver. I was sent the black version to review which features a matte finish over the top eighty percent of the rear panel, with a glossier section below the Oppo logo - all with a slightly purplish hue to it. The Nebula Silver is much more eye-catching - more shiny with a wave-like pattern that seems to shimmer in a 3D way.

As I removed it from the box I was struck by how slim and light the Reno12 Pro feels - it slips very easily into my pocket yet its beveled edges make it secure enough to grip without a case. The other item of note in the box is the charging brick - notable not only because you actually get one with this phone but also because it's a legendary SuperVOOC charger - this time delivering an insane 80W to have the phone juiced up in no time.

In fact, I wouldn't usually give a phone like this much consideration as my primary handset based solely on the fact it has no wireless charging. However, the Reno12 Pro charges so quickly and the battery lasts so long (it gets me through two days of heavy use without coming close to going flat) I'm prepared to make an exception.

Part of the key to this impressive power-efficiency must be to do with the MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Energy chip running the show. I'm not particularly familiar with this CPU although I've been reading a lot of favourable reports about the latest chips MediaTek has been supplying. Certainly this phone blazes through its work, thanks also to the 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage.

At NZ$1099.00, good luck finding another phone with that much storage anywhere near that price. These days I'd argue if you shoot any amount of pictures and video at all, 512GB should be your starting point. The Reno12 Pro makes that starting point a lot more attainable.

Speaking of photography, the Reno12 Pro wouldn't be an Oppo phone if it didn't have a great camera setup and there's no doubt this array is up to the task. Dual 50MP wide and ultra-wide lenses combine with an 8MP telephoto sensor to provide high-level performance at a mid-range price.

Check out the detail captured in both the foreground and distance in this shot, looking almost directly into the sun...

There are also some pretty nifty AI tricks at hand that seem to emulate what we've seen from some of the other "flagship phones" over the last year. Here's a sunset shot I took using night mode.

But then I decided I didn't need the couple sitting on the electrical transformer box at the left side, so I AI-Erased them out...

Or maybe you want to take the world's cutest dog...

And stick him somewhere else. The Reno12 Pro can do that too.

Other AI tools allow portrait touchups of group shots and opening the eyes of that one person who always seems to blink just as you're taking the shot.

Oppo uses AI to keep your phone connected when swapping between Wi-Fi and 5G the dictation and summary tools suddenly seem to be standard offerings on all AI-empowered devices.

Sadly, the Reno12 Pro is not eSIM-capable. I found this a bit of a surprise, given this seems to be more the norm than the exception with new phones these days.

On the plus side, for the first time I can recall, Oppo is being much more upfront with the durability claims. The Reno12 Pro is now more than just splash-proof - it carries an official IP65 water/dust resistance rating. Oppo also claims it's been tested to resist extreme temperatures and high humidity, not to mention being run over by a 3-tonne vehicle! (They mean the equivalent pressure on that last claim - as long as the phone is face down. Still pretty wild and no, I'm not going to try it.)

Not only is there physical, shock absorbing cushioning built into the high-strength alloy chassis, you also get Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 covering the display. Again, this is a very high-end feature more likely found on flagships twice the price.

And I think that's the nice little niche Oppo has found itself in the Kiwi market... If you're willing to forego eSIM and wireless charging you'll get a hell of a lot of phone for around a thousand bucks; outstanding battery life, super fast charging, great photos and a host of AI tools that aren't just clever, they're genuinely useful too.