Smartphone manufacturer OPPO has introduced its latest device under the Reno Series, the Reno4 in the Kenyan market, which will retail at Ksh39,999. The new device, which has already been launched in other markets globally comes with additional features from its predecessor, the Reno3, which include the AI Colour Portrait for both the front and rear cameras – feature that now also applies for videos, monochrome video capture, three new stabilisation modes under the Ultra Steady Video 3.0 and an Electronic Image Stabilization algorithm to the front camera with Front Steady Video.
On the accessories front, the smartphone firm has also introduced the OPPO Watch, its first smartwatch in the market.
Muthoni Wachira, Head of Communications & Projects at OPPO Kenya said, “Reno4 introduces fun and new ways to be in with the latest trends and fully express creativity through OPPO’s innovative imaging technology. This means that Reno4 will make it easy to capture creative portraits at any moment or imaginative videos that are designed to give every user a chance to “Clearly Unlock the Best You.”
The Reno4 also comes with touch-free interactions for the first time, powered by an AI-enhanced Smart Sensor and AI algorithm to secure the phone from peeping eyes, while allowing users to control their phone with a wave.
“The Reno Series has always been one of the pioneers in smartphone camera technology and with Reno4 we’re proud to continue innovating with new portrait shooting and videography features that empower our users to truly stand out. From innovative imaging technology to the futuristic touch-free interaction, and from stunning designs to VOOC Flash Charging, we’ve walked the extra mile”
Muthoni Wachira, Head of Communications & Projects at OPPO Kenya.
Design
The Reno4 strikes a delicate balance between a slim and sleek design. Equipped with a 6.4-inch Dual Punch-hole Display, Reno4 comes in at 7.7mm thick so that it fits in the hand and pocket easily, while it’s lightweight at 165g, ensuring that your hand won’t be fatigued while holding Reno4.
The device comes with two colours: Galactic Blue and Space Black, with OPPO introducing a new design technique dubbed ‘Reno Glow’ for the Reno series. This is an innovative back cover design that combines a matte fingerprint resistant texture with subtle glittery details, which gives the Galactic Blue colour a more vibrant and glossier look. Reno Glow adds a shimmer to Galactic Blue’s silver and blue colour gradients when reflected under the light, achieving a dazzling effect. Together with looming OPPO monogram at the bottom, which adds a sense of mystery, these colours offer a more premium appearance and great in-hand feel.
Camera
Continuing to strengthen its foothold with smartphone imaging technology, Reno4 leads the way this time with exceptional portrait shooting and videography capabilities. Reno4’s rear camera features a 3 + 1 four-shot matrix including a 48MP Main Camera, 8MP Ultra Wide-angle Camera, a 2MP Macro Camera and a 2MP Mono Camera, while the 32MP Front Camera captures clear selfies.
With AI Colour Portrait, both the front and rear cameras of Reno4 can capture portraits that use the AI Colour Portrait effect. With AI Colour Portrait Photo, only the person in the shot is highlighted in natural colour, while the background colours are muted black and white. This feature is also available for taking videos. Furthermore, Monochrome Video is made of three kinds of video filters, which adds an effect that only retains the red, green or blue colours of objects in the video, while also turning the others black and white.
Reno4 can also take amazing night-time portraits with Night Flare Portrait. It automatically superimposes a mix of transparent and bright blurred light spots on the background and brightens the face of the subject of the portrait shot, to create a clear and bright night portrait with vibrant bokeh effect. In addition, Ultra Night Selfie Mode and Ultra Dark Mode improve night-time photography capabilities as both features enable users to capture clearer and brighter night shots using both the front and rear cameras.
Reno4 offers Ultra Steady Video 3.0 which has three different stabilization modes. For the first time, Reno4 brings an Electronic Image Stabilization algorithm to the front camera with Front Steady Video. With the Ultra Steady Video, supported by the Main Rear Camera, and Ultra Steady Video Pro, supported by the Ultra Wide-angle Camera, ensures that videos shot by the rear camera are steady and without the concern of shaky hands while filming a video.
AI-enhanced Smart Sensor
The Reno4 is equipped with an AI-enhanced Smart Sensor to perform functions like Smart Spying Prevention, Smart AirControl, Smart Rotation and Smart Always-on Display. The AI-enhanced Smart Sensor can leverage a smart recognition algorithm and automatically detect whether the owner and only the owner of the phone is watching it when there is a notification on the phone. If a notification pops up as a stranger is peeping at the phone, the detailed content in the notification, including drop-down notification drawers and banner notifications, will be hidden.
Also, the AI-enhanced Smart Sensor offers an intuitive and futuristic way to control your phone touch-free and can adapt to your habits. With Smart Air Control, you can pick up a phone call or scroll through social media apps like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok all with just a wave of your hand. When the phone and the user’s face is rotated simultaneously, Smart Rotation, enabled by the AI-enhanced Smart Sensor and pose-recognition algorithm to intelligently detect the orientation of the face and the phone to help determine whether to rotate the screen. This feature provides users with convenient viewing experience while visiting websites lying down. In addition, with Smart Always-on Display the AI-enhanced Smart Sensor can detect whether you’re looking at your phone and keeps the screen “On”, so you won’t be interrupted while you’re browsing your phone.
Performance
Reno4 is packed with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G processor, with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of ROM.
Equipped with 30W VOOC Flash Charge 4.0 and 4015mAh battery, Reno4 can be charged 50% within 20 minutes, and fully charged within 57 minutes. Moreover, Superpower Saving Mode gives Reno4 an extra kick to keep the phone running longer. It gives 1.5 hours of messaging on WhatsApp or calls for more than one hour with just 5% of battery, according to test results from OPPO laboratory. At night, Super Nighttime Standby is designed to learn the sleep schedule and optimizes the battery life so that only 2% of battery is used throughout the entire night for about 8 hours.
ColorOS 7.2
The ColorOS 7.2 will arrive on Reno4 that offers a more user-friendly experience, gets tasks done faster, enables you to enhance your mobile gaming experience, while also giving you a chance to express yourself through your home screen.
In this updated version of ColorOS, Quick Return Bubble minimizes a game mid-way and enables one to switch between multi-tasks as a floating bubble, with crucial information to remind the user when to come back. To add a bit of flair and entertainment within your Reno4, ColorOS 7.2 will come with OPPO Lab, a new collection app of fun and innovative features where one can interact with the product team by liking or disliking a certain feature. The first two fun features announced with the OPPO Lab include Lab Ringtone and Decision Spinner.
Market Availability
OPPO Kenya have opened the pre-orders for the Reno4 starting September 21, 2020 till September 28, 2020 in the two colours; Galactic Blue and Space Black.
