Of the Chinese phone brands that are gaining popularity in the West, Oppo is notable – its reach is increasing rapidly, with a wide selection of smartphones reaching most price ranges.
Of course, it is not on the same level as Samsung or Apple, or even its Chinese rivals such as Xiaomi and Huawei, but its popularity is certainly growing, and we hope to see a lot of company news in 2021 and beyond.
If you’re a fan of premium-looking smartphones, top-of-the-line camera capabilities and screen innovations, then it would be worth keeping an eye on the Oppo and the devices it launches.
To help you learn more about Oppo, this guide covers the company’s history, the phones it launched and what we can see about Oppo in the future.
A brief history of Oppo
Oppo was founded in 2004, with its first products focused on the audio device market. The company continued to keep a finger on the audio and home theater pie.
In 2008, Oppo launched its first cell phone – a distinctive device as a result of the smiling face on the back. Then came the company’s first smartphone in 2011.
The brand has continued to grow since then, now selling products in about 40 different countries around the world.
Like Realme, OnePlus and Vivo, Oppo is also affiliated with the technology conglomerate BBK Electronics, and we often see Oppo launch products very similar to those of OnePlus, so it seems that companies share R&D or production. Just compare Oppo Find X2 Pro and OnePlus 8 Pro if in doubt.
Some of the other BBK brands have moved away from the conglomerate; for example, Vivo affirmed its independence from the company.
What phones does Oppo manufacture?
In most countries, Oppo sells handsets on three main lines; in others, the company has a few more lines, but they are not widely available. We also saw some of the company’s concept devices, such as the Oppo X Nendo and the Oppo X 2021.
At the top of the tree is the Find X line, with the Find X3 series the flagship of the brand for 2021. Available in Pro and Lite models, the phones feature cutting-edge screen specifications, Sony-made camera sensors and generally charge high prices. Lite models are usually cheaper, however.
The next is the mid-range Reno smartphone series, the latest addition to which is the Reno 5 line. These include ‘standard’, Pro and ‘Z’ models (‘Lite’ on all but the name), and follow specifications and features of the Find X line, but in more accessible bodies.
Reno devices are launched sporadically in several regions, or made available in only one country, and then sold elsewhere afterwards with adjusted specifications. We also saw Reno phones renamed as Find X devices, sold as mid-spec models on those lines, so it can get a little confusing.
Finally, we have the Oppo A phones. These phones usually come with decent sized screens, generous batteries and low prices. There are good and bad Oppo A phones, but if you’re looking for a cheap and cheerful device, you could do a lot worse.
Oppo phone availability information
Oppo sells its devices in the United Kingdom, in European countries such as Italy, France and Germany and in Australia. However, it has not sold smartphones in the United States for a few years, although some of its first smartphones were launched there.
Oppo Find X phones follow an annual release pattern, with launches around March. In the past, this usually coincided with the annual technology show, MWC.
Oppo Reno phones are launched approximately twice a year, but that is not definitive. Since its launch in mid 2019, the Oppo Reno line has seen five generations. It is difficult to say exactly when we will see each new line, especially since the company can rock launches in several regions.
There is no concrete launch pattern for Oppo’s A-series devices, although in the past we have seen a new model hit the market every two months.
Another technology that Oppo sells
As mentioned, Oppo is an established name in the audio device market, selling wireless and truly wireless headsets alongside its range of smartphones.
To date, the company has also launched a smartwatch, called Oppo Watch, and we will likely see more of these devices in the future.