Oppo’s updated Reno 4 Pro boasts 5G and more processing power

The initial Reno 4 Pro was underwhelming given the sluggish performance for the price, but you might not have that complaint about its (rather rapid) follow-up. Oppo has introduced 5G versions of the Reno 4 Pro (pictured above) as well as the standard Reno 4 (middle) and an entry-level Reno 4 Z (shown at bottom).

Read more: Our Oppo Reno 4 Pro 5G hands-on

The 5G data is the most conspicuous addition, but the most important is a leap to a Snapdragon 765G for the Reno 4 and 4 Pro — a significant step up from the underwhelming 720G in the earlier versions. You still won’t mistake them for flagships, but they’ll be easier to justify. The entry Reno 4 Z has a MediaTek Dimensity 800.

You can also expect a few camera changes. The Reno 4 and 4 Pro 5G models still use a 48MP Sony IMX586 sensor for the main rear camera (the 4 Z uses an OmniVision OV48B), but you now get a 12MP “ultra night wide-angle” IMX708 sensor for dramatic low-light shots and a 13MP telephoto lens with a claimed 5X hybrid zoom and 20X digital zoom. The standard Reno 4 5G and the 4 Z 5G make do with an ordinary 8MP ultra-wide camera and either a lone 2MP monochrome lens (on the regular Reno 4) or dual 2MP standard mono and “vintage” lenses.

The 32MP selfie cameras of the Reno 4 and 4 Pro return for the 5G editions, although the lower-cost model adds a 2MP bokeh camera you won’t find on its counterpart. Oppo said it made the decision as budget phone buyers tended to use the selfie cameras more often. Buy the Reno 4 Z 5G and you’ll also get that secondary sensor, albeit with a 16MP primary front camera.

The updated phones will otherwise seem familiar. The Reno 4 Pro 5G centers around a 6.5-inch, 90Hz 1080p OLED display with an under-display fingerprint reader and Gorilla Glass 5. You’ll also get an ample 12GB of RAM, 256GB of non-expandable storage and a 4,000mAh battery with 65W Super VOOC fast charging. Step down to the Reno 4 5G and you’ll have to “settle” for a 6.4-inch OLED with a 60Hz refresh rate as well as 8GB of RAM and 128GB of non-expandable storage. You do get a 4,020mAh battery and 65W charging.

Read more: The best Android phones in the UK

The Reno 4 Z 5G has a 6.57-inch 1080p LCD, but you’ll get a speedy 120Hz refresh rate. You also get the same 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage as its mid-tier sibling. The 4,000mAh battery still supports 65W fast charging.

You won’t have to wait long to get any of the new models. Oppo is launching the Reno 4 Z, 4, and 4 Pro 5G phones in the UK on October 16 at respective prices of £329 ($423), £499 ($641), and £699 ($899) through major carriers and Carphone Warehouse. There’s no mention of an official US release as we write this. The 5G models still aren’t trivial purchases, but there’s now a better reason to buy into the Reno series.