Vivo V40 vs OPPO Reno 12 Pro: The Better Camera-Focused Mid-Ranger?

The V40 is more affordable and has more RAM and Storage options, thus offering more value for money. However, if we solely consider the 12GB+512GB variant, the Reno 12 Pro can be considered as it is slightly more affordable.

Vivo V40 vs OPPO Reno 12 Pro: Design

Vivo has opted for a fresh design for the V40 and offers a solid build quality that feels premium. It’s also lightweight, so using with one hand won’t be a problem. It’s offered in Titanium Grey, Lotus Purple, and Ganges Blue, and the blue shade’s wavy texture is likeable. The inclusion of an IP68 rating is also a plus one.

The Reno 12 Pro has a more straightforward design, but the dual-tone finish and slim profile are positives. However, the shiny part of the back panel (which occupies 70% of the space) is a fingerprint magnet, which can be annoying for many. While holding the phone is comfortable, it may be a problem for people with small hands. It has an IP65 rating, which is fine, but this gives an edge to the V40, which has a better rating.

If you like a new design and the satisfaction of an IP68 rating, the Vivo V40 should be your pick. If you want a lighter, slimmer phone, the Reno 12 Pro is the one to consider.

Vivo V40 vs OPPO Reno 12 Pro: Display

The V40 has a 3D curved display that showcases vivid colours. The brightness levels are also balanced, and visibility is good indoors and outdoors. The 120Hz refresh rate makes things smooth; even the in-display fingerprint scanner is fast.

The Reno 12 Pro also has a curved screen, which is a delight for consuming content. The colours are accurate. The display is bright enough, but some positioning is required when viewing content outdoors. It also gets an in-display fingerprint sensor, which is quite reliable.

While both phones are quite similar in the display department, the V40 has an edge with its slightly better peak brightness. In our tests, the V40’s brightness was at 1697 nits, while the Reno 12 Pro had 782 nits.

Vivo V40 vs OPPO Reno 12 Pro: Cameras

The V40’s cameras are remarkable, thanks to ZEISS optics. This is the first time a non-Pro has got the integration. The photos taken with the primary camera are detailed, and the colours are close to natural. This is for the ultra-wide shots, too, but these appear a little stretched. The portraits are impressive and don’t show any colour shift, but the skin appears too smooth.

The Aura Light is a great help for low-light portrait shots and even shots taken via the primary cameras. Selfies turn out great and show every detail. The phone also has several AI features, which are good enough.

Vivo V40 Camera Samples

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The Reno 12 Pro has three rear cameras, and the primary snapper gives excellent photos with accurate colours. However, it can struggle when there is excessive light. The ultra-wide shots are good, but there’s noise around the edges, making the images look a bit unnatural.

The telephoto lens is good, too, but if you opt for the 5x zoom, you will notice graininess. The 2x and 3x modes are impressive, though. While the selfies come out nice and are social-media-ready, the portrait shots are a little disappointing. There are many AI camera features which do a fair job, but most of them weren’t accessible during our review.

OPPO Reno 12 Pro Camera Samples

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The V40 and the Reno 12 Pro stand neck-to-neck and perform well; therefore, choosing one can be confusing. So, if you want better portrait shots and the ZEISS-ness, the V40 is the one. And if you want more AI features and the presence of a telephoto lens, go for the Reno 12 Pro.

Vivo V40 vs OPPO Reno 12 Pro: Performance and Software

The Vivo V40 has the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset, which takes the lead in benchmark scores by a good margin. The phone is also a smooth performer in daily tasks like messaging, social media usage, etc. This is true for gaming, too, where we didn’t witness lags while playing COD: Mobile or BGMI.

While the Reno 12 Pro doesn’t give out good numbers, it does well in everyday usage. That said, the gaming performance isn’t as smooth as one would expect, and you will encounter some lags in BGMI and COD: Mobile. So, the V40 is the clear winner here.

As for the software, both phones have bloatware, but if you have to pick, the Reno 12 Pro is ahead, given it offers several customisations and AI features you would want to try.

Vivo V40 vs OPPO Reno 12 Pro: Battery and Charging

Both phones have the same battery capacity and charging speeds (the charger also comes in the box with both phones), but our testing data shows that the V40 has the upper hand as it takes less time to charge.

While both phones can last an entire day, including gaming and casual usage, the V40 performed much better in the PCMark battery test; it lasted 19 and 21 minutes, while the Reno 12 Pro lasted 15 and 45 minutes.

Vivo V40 vs OPPO Reno 12 Pro: Verdict

The Vivo V40 and the Reno 12 Pro are impressive phones, offering great specifications and doing well in most areas. However, the V40 is a much better offering for its lower price and better performance. The camera performance is also commendable. Plus, its battery life will impress you, and if these factors matter to you, the V40 should be included in your shopping cart.

However, if better customisations and AI features, along with a lightweight and simple design, are more important to you, the Reno 12 Pro should be your pick.