September 16 2019: The difference between a Rs. 6000 Titan watch and a Rs. 30,000  from Michael Kors is usually not about what it does. It  lies in the experience, right from the leather box packaging, the subtle use of tasteful colours, and a sense of pride in owning and unboxing it every time you wish to wear it. The Oppo Reno 2 gives you a similar experience with a smart phone. What immediately catches your attention is the larger than usual box it comes in -- almost double the size of a regular phone box.
The combination of grey and silver in the packaging is accentuated by a cryptic image of the back panel, with the camera module. Inside the phone is placed in the top compartment while the charger is tucked nicely at the bottom. This is just the start. What sets  this device  apart,  is its glass back, where the camera bump is non-existent, thanks to some clever engineering.  Nothing juts out of the panel and the camera module is placed right in the centre of the device, each lens making a tasteful pothole. The front 16 MP camera shark fin pop up adds more swag to the design.
The Reno 2 is the first device from Oppo with a quad camera setup (48 MP primary + 8 MP wide angle + 13 MP telephoto + 2 MP portrait lens) and comes with 5X hybrid zoom, an ultra-dark mode and bokeh effects for videos. Powered by the Snapdragon 730G processor and a 4000 mAh battery. Available in blue and black, Oppo has also launched alongside, the Reno 2Z, with a regular pop-up camera with similar specs. While the Reno 2 is available at Rs. 36,990, the 2Z sells at Rs. 29,990, both with 8 GB + 256 GB. It is a steal if you value good design!
VISHNU ANAND