Gundam-inspired Oppo Reno Ace celebrates franchise's 40th anniversary

After establishing a foothold in the smartphone market when it released the Find X, Oppo is back with another stunning flagship. This time, however, it's offering something special in the form of a tie-in with a beloved anime icon. The Chinese brand is not the first to offer a limited-edition collaboration with popular franchises. For example, Samsung and OnePlus previously featured handsets themed around Marvel's "The Avengers" and its characters. Meanwhile, Oppo is celebrating the 40<sup>th anniversary of the "Mobile Suit Gundam" series with an exclusive Gundam Edition Reno Ace.

Earlier this year, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer also showcased a tie-in with Marvel for the F11 Pro Avengers Edition. This was shortly followed by its first Japanese anime robot-themed model which was based on the Reno.

Now, its back with an upgrade just in time to commemorate 40 years of the "Gundam" series. Like the original collaboration, this latest flagship device is an homage to the iconic RX-78-2 Mobile Suit, Engadget reports.

The Gundam Edition Reno Ace looks exactly like the regular version. Nevertheless, a close-up look reveals a distinctive colour-scheme and aspects that highlight its tribute to the show's protagonist. The front panel does not have anything notable, but the rear section and the edges are where it matters. The top portion of the metal frame is a shade of blue, while the bottom is red, and the remaining part is silver.

The design extends to the back where the camera module sports a yellow tint, while the graphics underneath the glass cover sit on a background, which is mostly silver but emits a hint of gold in certain angles. Finally, an image of the robot's head in gold sits just below a red strip bearing the Oppo branding.

The packaging shows the "Mobile Suit Gundam" logo on the box and includes accessories that resemble iconic elements of the RX-78-2 mobile suit. The protective case is in the colour and shape of the shield, while the charging cable and charging brick tout similar aesthetics. The Gundam Edition Reno boasts a 65W charging technology, which reportedly fully charges the 4,000 mAh battery in 30 minutes.