The OPPO Reno 7 Z 5G seems to be packed with camera features mostly focused on enhancing selfies. Launching on March 28, OPPO will be releasing its Reno 7 Series 5G. While waiting for more updates on this, read on below to get an overview of my first impressions. The full specifications table can be found at the end.
Unboxing
In the box:
- OPPO Reno 7 Z 5G
- Transparent phone case
- 33W SUPERVOOC charger
- USB-C Cable
- SIM eject tool
- Manual and Warranty pamphlets
Design
I always find myself gravitating towards pastel or dark colors when choosing a design I like. Coincidentally, the OPPO Reno 7 Z 5G will be available in two colors – Rainbow Spectrum and Cosmic Black. If you prefer a minimalist design, go with their Cosmic Black instead of the Rainbow Spectrum that I got. The textured iridescent finish on the back cover of the device is quite pretty to look at – you might like this if you are also into the subtle holographic effect. Its color slightly shifts depending on the angle and lighting. Unlike the OPPO Reno 7 5G that has round edges, this can stand on its own when placed standing on a table.
Surrounding the rear cameras on the back are Dual Orbit Lights that glow for notifications and charging progress.
Specifications
- Display: 6.4in. FHD+ (1080 x 2400) 60Hz OLED screen
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G Octa-core
- Battery: 4500 mAh (63min full charge with 33W SUPERVOOC)
- RAM: 8GB + up to 5GB virtual memory
- ROM: 128GB UFS 2.2
- Rear Camera: 64MP Main Camera + 2MP Depth + 2MP Macro
- Front Camera: 16MP Front Camera
- Dual-SIM + microSD card slot
- OS: ColorOS 12, Android 11
- Weight: 173g approx.
Performance and Software Features
This device should support streaming in HD on Amazon Prime Video and Netflix. On Google Play Store, this device is not compatible with the current version 8.19.0 build of the app when I tried opening Netflix as of the February 24, 2022 update. Should this problem persist for you, my recommendation is to either get the working version 8.20.0 build of Netflix on APKPure or wait for it to roll out on Google Play Store. Hopefully this would not be a problem by the time this device launches.
Housing a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G, it could run Very High or Ultra graphics settings on games like Call of Duty Mobile or Mobile Legends
It is recommended to run Genshin Impact on Low graphics. Anything Medium and above might be too much for the device.
The Game Toolkit offers a variety of shortcuts for you to access while in-game such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Discord. Screen Recording, and Voice Changer are also included by default. You can always remove or add any other application shortcut you want like Google Chrome, or even Spotify and Zoom.
If you are concerned about your data privacy and personal information security, it may put you at ease to know that OPPO has been certified by ISO27001, ePrivacy, and TRUSTe. You can also enable the Anti-Peeping for Notifications feature for further protection in public areas, aside from its In-Display Fingerprint Unlock. A few other features that will be further showcased in the upcoming full review are Game Focus Mode, Air Gestures (only available with Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok as of writing), custom Omoji, and O Relax to help with sleep and focus.
Camera
Finally, the main highlight of this device: the camera. The OPPO Reno 7 Z 5G offers a lot of options that will help enhance your photographs. This will make it a lot easier for people who usually do minimal edits on their shots. Right now, I am impressed by what this device can offer at face value. However, I want to spend more time observing how these main highlights will perform. I already have a few thoughts in mind that I want to reconfirm with further testing. So, in the meantime, listed below are the camera features:
- Bokeh Flare Portrait
- AI Scene Enhancement
- Selfie HDR
- Portrait Retouching
- AI Color Portrait
- AI Palettes
- Ultra-Clear 108MP Image
- Dual-View Video
Here are some sample photos using this smartphone:
Initial Verdict
If you do not need the OPPO Reno 7 5G‘s extra features, then you can settle for this Z variant. The upgrades are not that big and they both offer 8GB of RAM. If you are after bigger storage, good news for those who still have their MicroSD cards: this device lets you expand the storage if 128GB is not enough for you. This is a bonus feature if you also like to take a lot of high-quality photos.
When compared to its predecessor, the OPPO Reno 6 Z 5G, it seems that the OPPO Reno 7 Z 5G is a downgrade from that. These two have pretty similar specs unless you are into that additional 200mAh for the batter. When you look at their camera specs on paper it seems that the 6 Z 5G is already better. The predecessor has a 32MP Front Camera and 8MP Ultra Wide Rear Camera, while the upcoming one has a 16MP Front Camera and it does not even have an ultra wide lens. Furthermore, the 6 Z 5G can record videos in 4K at 30 fps, but the 7 Z 5G can only support up to 1080p at 30 fps.
Personally, I would suggest that this is not a worthwhile upgrade as of now. I would still like to give the OPPO Reno 7 Z 5G a chance. We have not received any news on its pricing yet, so that could have an effect on my final verdict. Of course, this will be a good device if you do not have the OPPO Reno 6 Z 5G. You can also benefit from this if you are currently using an older smartphone without these camera features. This is one of the first smartphones that received an A rating for the 36-month Fluency Certification by TÜV SÜD. This means that it is expected to perform as well even after 3 years of use. Check back here on March 18 for my full review after I test this device out some more.
Caroline seems like she has done it all; from petting every four-legged friend out on the street, indulging in different stories through books and anime, or even vibing to any song especially EDM. Nothing can stop her curiosity from trying anything under the sun for that Life XP. Having grown up with a GBA emulator, then owning a PSP and NDS, nothing piqued her interest more than gaming. Fun fact: another hobby of hers is watching gameplay videos while eating brunch. For years, despite her love for all things digital, all she had was a potato laptop and a dream - until now. Although, according to the prophecy, rarely will anyone ever see her go outside after completing her PC setup.
