Why the OPPO Reno5 Series Stands Out in Smartphone Market

OPPO Reno5 Series (Reno5 / Reno5 Pro / Reno5 Pro+ / Reno5 A) (2020–2021)

Definition

The OPPO Reno5 Series is a lineup of mid-to-premium smartphones launched by OPPO between December 2020 and early 2021, positioned as style-focused devices with flagship-level photography and mid-range performance. Targeting young consumers, content creators, and selfie enthusiasts, the series includes four models: Reno5 (mainstream mid-range), Reno5 Pro (premium mid-range with MediaTek chip), Reno5 Pro+ (top-tier variant with Snapdragon flagship chip), and Reno5 A (budget-friendly variant exclusive to the Japanese market). The Reno5 series is best known for its AI Portrait Video technology, slim lightweight design, and color-changing rear cover options, cementing OPPO’s position in the competitive mid-premium smartphone segment.

Series Overview

Model	Release Date	Market Positioning	Core Chipset	Key Differentiator
OPPO Reno5	December 10, 2020	Mainstream mid-range	Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G	Balanced performance, 65W fast charging
OPPO Reno5 Pro	December 10, 2020	Premium mid-range	MediaTek Dimensity 1000+	Slim design (7.6mm thickness), 44MP front camera
OPPO Reno5 Pro+	January 2021	Top-tier series variant	Qualcomm Snapdragon 865	Flagship performance, Sony IMX766 main sensor
OPPO Reno5 A	March 2021	Budget Japanese exclusive	Qualcomm Snapdragon 460	Compact form factor, 5000mAh large battery

1. OPPO Reno5 (Mainstream Mid-Range)

Core Specifications

Design & Display

Display: 6.43-inch Super AMOLED display, 2400×1080 resolution (410 ppi), 90Hz adaptive refresh rate, 180Hz touch sampling rate, HDR10+ support, 1000 nits peak brightness.
Build: Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, glass rear panel; available in Starry Black, Aurora Blue, and Shimmer Gold (the latter two feature OPPO’s Glow 2.0 gradient coating).
Dimensions & Weight: 159.3×73.9×7.9mm, 172g—slim and lightweight for one-handed operation.
Water/Dust Resistance: No official IP rating.

Processor & Performance

Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G (octa-core: 1×2.4GHz Kryo 475 Prime + 1×2.2GHz Kryo 475 Gold + 6×1.8GHz Kryo 475 Silver), Adreno 620 GPU, 5nm process.
RAM & Storage: 8GB/12GB LPDDR4X RAM; 128GB/256GB UFS 2.1 storage (non-expandable, no microSD slot).
Software: Launched with ColorOS 11.1 (based on Android 11), upgraded to ColorOS 13 (Android 13) later. Supports OPPO’s hallmark features like AI Highlight Video and Multi-Color AI Portrait.

Camera System

Rear Quad Camera:
- 64MP main camera (f/1.7, 1/1.72″ sensor, PDAF, OIS)
- 8MP ultra-wide camera (f/2.2, 119° FOV)
- 2MP mono camera (for depth sensing)
- 2MP macro camera (f/2.4, 4cm focusing distance)
Front Camera: 32MP (f/2.4, AI beauty mode, portrait video support)
Key Features: AI Portrait Video (supports real-time bokeh and background replacement), 4K video recording at 30fps, Night Mode for photos and videos.

Connectivity & Power

Cellular: 5G (sub-6GHz), 4G LTE, dual-SIM (nano-SIM + eSIM in select regions).
Wireless: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 5.1, NFC (for OPPO Pay), GPS/GLONASS/Galileo/BeiDou.
Battery & Charging: 4300mAh non-removable lithium-ion battery; 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 fast charging (0–100% charge in ~35 minutes). No wireless charging.

2. OPPO Reno5 Pro (Premium Mid-Range)

Core Specifications

Design & Display

Display: Same 6.43-inch 90Hz Super AMOLED panel as the Reno5, with identical resolution and brightness specs.
Build: Glass front/back, aluminum frame; thinner than the Reno5 at 7.6mm thickness. Color options: Starry Black, Aurora Blue, Shimmer Gold (Glow 2.0 coating).
Dimensions & Weight: 159.3×73.9×7.6mm, 173g—one of the slimmest 5G phones in 2020.
Water/Dust Resistance: No official IP rating.

Processor & Performance

Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 1000+ (octa-core: 4×2.6GHz Cortex-A77 + 4×2.0GHz Cortex-A55), Mali-G77 MC9 GPU, 7nm process. Delivers comparable multi-core performance to the Snapdragon 765G with better 5G connectivity.
RAM & Storage: 8GB/12GB LPDDR4X RAM; 128GB/256GB UFS 2.1 storage (non-expandable).
Software: ColorOS 11.1 (Android 11), upgradable to ColorOS 13 (Android 13). Optimized for Dimensity chipset with improved AI video processing.

Camera System

Rear Quad Camera: Identical to the Reno5 (64MP main + 8MP ultra-wide + 2MP mono + 2MP macro).
Front Camera: Upgraded to 44MP (f/2.0, 1/2.8″ sensor, AI portrait video with enhanced bokeh effect)—the key upgrade over the standard Reno5.
Key Features: Same AI Portrait Video and 4K recording capabilities as the Reno5, with more detailed selfies and portrait videos.

Connectivity & Power

Cellular & Wireless: Same specs as the Reno5 (5G sub-6GHz, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC).
Battery & Charging: 4350mAh battery with 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 fast charging (0–100% in ~34 minutes). No wireless charging.

3. OPPO Reno5 Pro+ (Top-Tier Variant)

Core Specifications

Design & Display

Display: 6.55-inch Super AMOLED curved display, 2400×1080 resolution (402 ppi), 90Hz refresh rate, 240Hz touch sampling rate, HDR10+ support, 1100 nits peak brightness. Curved edges for a more premium look and feel.
Build: Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame, glass rear panel with AG (Anti-Glare) matte coating to resist fingerprints. Color options: Galactic Silver, Starry Black.
Dimensions & Weight: 160.3×73.6×8.0mm, 184g—slightly heavier due to the larger display and flagship chip.
Water/Dust Resistance: No official IP rating.

Processor & Performance

Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (octa-core: 1×2.84GHz Kryo 585 Prime + 3×2.42GHz Kryo 585 Gold + 4×1.8GHz Kryo 585 Silver), Adreno 650 GPU, 7nm process—flagship performance for gaming and content creation.
RAM & Storage: 8GB/12GB LPDDR5 RAM; 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1 storage (faster read/write speeds than UFS 2.1).
Software: ColorOS 11.1 (Android 11), upgradable to ColorOS 13 (Android 13). Optimized for flagship gaming with Game Space and frame rate stabilization.

Camera System

Rear Quad Camera (Flagship-Level):
- 50MP main camera (Sony IMX766 sensor, f/1.8, 1/1.56″ sensor size, OIS, PDAF)—a major upgrade over the Reno5/Pro, delivering better low-light performance and dynamic range.
- 13MP telephoto camera (f/2.4, 2× optical zoom, PDAF)
- 13MP ultra-wide camera (f/2.2, 120° FOV)
- 2MP macro camera (f/2.4)
Front Camera: 32MP (f/2.4, AI portrait video, HDR selfies)
Key Features: Hasselblad color tuning (precursor to OPPO’s later Hasselblad partnership), 4K video recording at 60fps, 8K video at 24fps, AI Highlight Video with real-time HDR.

Connectivity & Power

Cellular: 5G (sub-6GHz + mmWave in select regions), 4G LTE, dual-SIM.
Wireless: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 ax), Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, GPS/GLONASS/Galileo/BeiDou.
Battery & Charging: 4500mAh battery with 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 fast charging (0–100% in ~32 minutes). No wireless charging.

4. OPPO Reno5 A (Japan-Exclusive Budget Variant)

Core Specifications

Design & Display

Display: 6.5-inch IPS LCD display, 2400×1080 resolution (405 ppi), 60Hz refresh rate, 450 nits typical brightness—budget-friendly LCD panel instead of AMOLED.
Build: Plastic front/back/frame for cost reduction; color options: Black, Blue, White.
Dimensions & Weight: 162.7×75.7×8.4mm, 191g.
Water/Dust Resistance: IP67 rating (unique to this model in the series)—resistant to dust and water immersion up to 1m for 30 minutes.

Processor & Performance

Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 (octa-core: 4×1.8GHz Kryo 240 Gold + 4×1.6GHz Kryo 240 Silver), Adreno 610 GPU, 11nm process—entry-level 4G chipset.
RAM & Storage: 4GB/6GB LPDDR4X RAM; 64GB/128GB eMMC 5.1 storage (expandable via microSD card up to 1TB).
Software: ColorOS 11 (Android 11) tailored for the Japanese market, with support for local services like LINE Pay and 5G carrier features (despite the 4G chipset).

Camera System

Rear Triple Camera:
- 48MP main camera (f/1.8, PDAF)
- 8MP ultra-wide camera (f/2.2, 119° FOV)
- 2MP depth sensor
Front Camera: 16MP (f/2.0, basic AI beauty mode)
Key Features: 1080p video recording at 30fps, basic Night Mode, no portrait video support.

Connectivity & Power

Cellular: 4G LTE (no 5G support), dual-SIM (nano-SIM), optimized for Japanese carriers like NTT Docomo and SoftBank.
Wireless: Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, GPS.
Battery & Charging: 5000mAh large-capacity battery (the biggest in the series); 18W fast charging (significantly slower than other models). No wireless charging.

Key Series Traits & Target Audience

AI Portrait Video Focus: The Reno5 series pioneered OPPO’s AI-driven portrait video technology, a key selling point for young users who frequently share short videos on social media.
Slim & Stylish Design: All non-Japanese models feature lightweight builds and gradient color options, catering to style-conscious consumers.
Tiered Performance Options: From entry-level (Reno5 A) to flagship (Reno5 Pro+), the series covers diverse user needs and budget ranges.
Fast Charging as Standard: 65W SuperVOOC fast charging is available on the Reno5, Reno5 Pro, and Reno5 Pro+, a major advantage over competitors in the mid-range segment.

Legacy & Discontinuation

The Reno5 Pro+’s Sony IMX766 sensor became a staple in OPPO’s subsequent mid-to-flagship models, establishing a benchmark for camera quality in the brand’s lineup.

The Reno5 series was a commercial success for OPPO, especially in China and Southeast Asia, thanks to its combination of style, camera performance, and fast charging.

The series was discontinued in late 2021, replaced by the OPPO Reno6 Series, which further refined AI portrait video and added more gaming-focused features.