The OPPO R-series has produced some of the best mid-range phones we here at EFTM have ever seen. I’ve been pushing them as some of the most exceptional android phones on a budget since first getting my hands on one. So it is with great pleasure we can announce that the OPPO R17 and it’s big brother the R17 Pro are on their way to Australia in the coming days.

OPPO are pushing the new camera technology they’ve got as the sale point for the R17, boasting that it has been “enhanced with AI and a new Sony sensor allows for new flagship features like Ultra Night Mode and TOF 3D Photography in the R17 Pro.” We’ll be sure to put the Night Mode to the test when we get the chance. There’s been a huge effort from Google and Huawei to optimize low light photography and it has ALWAYS been the thorn in the OPPO camera’s side. It’ll be interesting to see how the R17 changes the game.

We’re also hearing that the R17 is equipped with SuperVOOC Flash Charging – which in plain English means you can charge up to 40% battery life in just 10 minutes. Both models will have 6GB RAM, 128GB of internal memory and a massive 6.4-inch display.

OPPO have always been exceptional at getting the “gimmicks” right. By that I mean they’re very quick to market all of the latest and greatest from other brands relatively quickly. The R17 and R17 Pro will include a fingerprint sensor UNDERNEATH the screen, just like the brand new Huawei Mate 20 Pro. I will forever respect OPPO for what they do in this space.

This latest model in the R-series will be running ColorOS 5.2 which takes from Android 8.1 and while that software is quickly being lapped by phones such as the Pixel using Android P, the type of user buying the R17 couldn’t care less (as I’m sure you couldn’t care reading it). Previous iterations of ColorOS have proven incredibly frustrating – but ever since version 5, I’ve found it significantly more usable.

You’ll be able to pick one up at just about every consumer tech store (JB Hi-Fi, Officeworks, The Good Guys) from the 12th of November. The R17 will retail for $699 and the R17 Pro for $899.