It's time to flex our muscles again.

With the mid-range mobile phone battle in July coming to a close, the performance flagships, camera flagships, and cost-effective models of the current generation of Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 have basically completed their iterations. According to wccftech, Qualcomm's new flagship processor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, has entered the final testing phase and is expected to be released at the Snapdragon Summit in October this year. With the arrival of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, a new round of flagship battles will unfold.

(Image source: Gizchina)

At present, the new flagship models from domestic and international mobile phone brands such as Xiaomi, OnePlus, realme, and Samsung have entered the testing phase. According to the Digital Chat Station, the Xiaomi 15 series is expected to be scheduled for release within half a month after the Snapdragon Summit, further accelerating the release pace compared to the previous generation. This also means that most mobile phone brands will complete the updates and iterations of their flagship "middle cup" and "large cup" models within this year.

Of course, the iterative upgrade of chips significantly influences the pace at which mobile phone brands launch new products, but users' expectations for these products go far beyond mere performance improvements. So, what "big moves" will the players in this year's flagship battle unleash?

iQOO 13 takes on two, how will Xiaomi 15 series respond?

When it comes to the flagship battle at the end of last year, what impressed me most was the head-to-head showdown between the iQOO 12 series and the Xiaomi 14 series. Both had direct screen collisions in their standard versions and "cross-level" performance competitions in their Pro versions, with both sides facing the same market direction and product positioning in every aspect.

However, iQOO has chosen to abandon the "Pro" positioning in this generation, focusing instead on refining the standard version, suggesting an upcoming 1v2 showdown.

The iQOO 13 maintains the well-received flat screen design of its predecessor, with the resolution upgraded from 1.5K to 2K. The panel supplier is tentatively determined to be BOE, and it is estimated to be a new generation of 8T OLED panel, although the specific model is unknown. Additionally, the iQOO 13 will adopt a single-point ultrasonic fingerprint solution, the same as the iQOO Neo9S Pro+.

In terms of peripheral configurations, the iQOO 13 opts for a 6000mAh blue ocean battery, complemented by a 100W fast charging solution, but does not support wireless charging. The vibration motor is also upgraded to AAC ESA1016 from AAC, mainly to enhance the gaming experience of the iQOO.

(Image source: iQOO)

In terms of camera, the iQOO 13 retains the triple camera setup of its predecessor, consisting of a 50MP main camera, a 3x periscope zoom, and an ultra-wide-angle lens.

Of course, the upgrades of the Xiaomi 15 series can be described as hitting the mark, addressing all the shortcomings of its predecessor in one go.

The Xiaomi 15 standard edition focuses on battery life. After all, the previous generation Xiaomi 14 couldn't accommodate a large battery to maintain its 6.36-inch "slim figure," which was somewhat of a pity. The Xiaomi 15, on the other hand, upgrades to a 5100mAh battery, supporting 90W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. Like the iQOO 13, both models in the Xiaomi 15 series will adopt a single-point ultrasonic fingerprint solution.

The main difference between the Xiaomi 15 Pro and the Xiaomi 15 lies in the screen and camera. The former maintains a quad-curved display, while the latter is a flat screen. The Xiaomi 15 Pro also boasts a 3.2x periscope zoom lens, model IMX882.

(Image source: Xiaomi)

It has to be said that the upgrade directions of the iQOO 13 and Xiaomi 15 series are quite similar, but iQOO's decision to eliminate the Pro positioning makes its overall offering more comprehensive, with features like a large battery and periscope zoom. Meanwhile, the Xiaomi 15 series maintains a "specialized" approach, with the standard edition emphasizing a small screen experience and the Pro edition offering a premium experience. It's worth mentioning that the Xiaomi 15 standard edition will no longer offer an 8GB version, starting at 12GB, with prices slightly increased.

OnePlus, realme, Redmi melee: Who will emerge victorious?

As fellow "affiliates" in the mobile phone industry, the reputations of the OnePlus 12 and realme GT5 Pro are quite polarized. The former suffered from an overly long pre-release campaign that left consumers feeling underwhelmed by its actual performance, while realme quietly delivered extreme value for money, earning positive reviews. Nevertheless, both OnePlus and realme have grasped the essence of market trends, such as large batteries and periscope zoom, which makes us even more eager to see their next iterations.

The biggest upgrade of the OnePlus 13 lies in its battery. According to the Digital Chat Station, the most conservative battery capacity for this generation is 6600mAh, and there have even been test versions with 7000mAh batteries. Indeed, after the OnePlus 12 brought ultra-large batteries to the sub-flagship level last year, various brands have started to focus on long battery life. It seems that the OnePlus 13 will continue to excel in this area, further solidifying its market image.

(Image source: 9to5google)

In terms of peripheral configurations, the OnePlus 13 is expected to retain the large linear motor, Hasselblad-branded triple camera setup, and ultra-large VC cooling solution from its predecessor. Notably, since the OV64B has been discontinued, this generation of flagships is likely to switch to Sony's IMX882 or OV50M sensors, both suitable for periscope zoom. However, it's unclear which one will ultimately be chosen.

The realme GT6 Pro continues the focus on camera from last year, with the main camera still being the Sony LYT-808, the telephoto lens being the IMX890, and the ultra-wide-angle lens being the IMX355. However, the lens group Deco has changed from circular to rectangular. Additionally, the realme GT6 Pro has been updated to a quad-curved screen and ultrasonic fingerprint, supporting IP68 dust and water resistance, as well as an ultra-large 6000mAh battery.

(Image source: realme)

In fact, the previous flagships from realme and OnePlus were already quite balanced, especially OnePlus, which excelled in imaging, battery, motor, and screen among competitors in the same price range. However, the Redmi K series, a formidable rival in the same price range, seems to understand better how to please users.

If there are no surprises, the Redmi K80 Pro will likely be the first sub-series model to feature the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. Compared to its predecessor, the biggest upgrade lies in the battery capacity, which is expected to be upgraded to a large 6000mAh battery supporting 120W fast charging.

The Redmi K80 Pro continues to carry the Light Hunter main camera, with the telephoto lens upgraded from a 2x portrait lens to a 3x periscope zoom lens, which can be considered an epic upgrade for Redmi.

(Image source: Xiaomi)

Indeed, the Redmi K70 Pro was already a well-balanced sub-flagship, but compared to competitors like realme and OnePlus, its biggest遗憾was the lack of a telephoto lens. Now that Redmi has started using a periscope zoom lens, it has made up for this shortcoming, putting realme, OnePlus, and Redmi on the same starting line in the competition.

Objectively speaking, sub-series flagships have made significant progress in the past two years. If one doesn't have extreme demands for imaging, the iterative products from various brands have reached a nearly perfect level. This also means that the mobile phone market has shifted from pure hardware competition to the era of algorithms. Whose system optimization is outstanding will become the biggest trump card. In this regard, Redmi seems to need to continue to work hard to reverse its reputation.

Designed by a former Mercedes-Benz designer, the Galaxy S25 series undergoes a major upgrade

Early in 2023, Samsung Mobile announced the appointment of a new head, Hubert H. Lee, who was previously a designer at Mercedes-Benz and had facilitated the collaboration between the Galaxy S22 series and Mercedes-Benz for a co-branded gift box. However, Hubert H. Lee did not have time to influence the design cycle of the S24 series, so his true masterpiece will be the Galaxy S25 series.

Android Authority revealed that the Galaxy S25 series will have a brand-new design, but only for the S25 Ultra. This "Ultra" model may return to the rounded design of the Galaxy Note 7 and imitate the streamlined style of Mercedes-Benz, giving the entire device a futuristic feel.

However, in terms of hardware, Samsung remains conservative. The Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus will retain their original designs, but the frame will be upgraded to titanium alloy material. Notably, Samsung has chosen Grade 2 titanium alloy, which is softer than that used in the iPhone 15 Pro. The Galaxy S25 will retain an 8GB RAM option to ensure that its starting price remains similar to that of its predecessor.

(Image source: Samsung)

The Galaxy S25 Ultra will adopt a new camera strategy, with both telephoto lenses using the new ioscell sensor, featuring a larger sensor area, faster response speed, and significant improvements in low-light performance. However, the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus will not see many changes.

Of course, Qualcomm will prepare a "special edition" SoC for Samsung, namely the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 For Galaxy. Based on previous changes, this should only involve higher clock frequencies compared to the regular version. Another piece of information indicates that the entire Galaxy S25 series will adopt the new UFS 4.0 4-lane flash memory, with read/write speeds far exceeding UFS 4.0.

Compared to domestic brands, Samsung does not place much emphasis on hardware competition. The Galaxy S25 series primarily focuses on changes in appearance and optimization of the user experience. Among these, the highly anticipated OneUI 7 will not only introduce more continuous animations and interruption animations but also deep integration with Galaxy AI, which are Samsung's future main directions.

New flagship trends: Super battery life, super large-sensor telephoto

Overall, the first batch of flagship/sub-flagship models equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 this year are primarily focused on two areas: ultra-large battery capacity and large-sensor telephoto.

Ultra-large battery capacity has been a focus for many mobile phone brands since last year, with the OnePlus 12, for example, achieving flagship-level battery life with a 5400mAh battery. With the continuous development of ultra-thin battery technology and the gradual rollout of high-density batteries this year, we are starting to see various slim and high-capacity phones, such as Xiaomi's MIX Fold 4 and Honor Magic V3.

(Image source: OnePlus)

According to the leaks from the Digital Chat Station, the testing schemes for this batch of Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 flagship/sub-flagship models are generally targeting battery capacities above 5500mAh, with OnePlus and realme both achieving over 6000mAh, while Xiaomi 15, aiming to maintain a small screen size, can only be upgraded to around 5000-5100mAh.

The other direction is telephoto lenses, with most flagship/sub-flagship models choosing the Sony IMX882 for their periscope solutions. Although it may not match the popular OmniVision OV64B on paper, it still has many merits in terms of technology. Besides the IMX882, the OV50M will also be a popular choice, but considering its sensor size of only 1/2.88 inches, it seems unnecessary for a periscope solution.

(Image source: iQOO)

I have always believed that the market feedback from flagship phones improving telephoto performance will be more direct than improving the main camera. The main reason is that the focal length of current mobile phone main cameras is usually around 24mm, which can be challenging for ordinary consumers to take good photos with. On the other hand, telephoto lenses over 50mm are suitable for both humanistic photography and daily scenery. It is commendable that this batch of Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 flagships chooses to improve the hardware quality of telephoto lenses.

Regardless, the flagship battle at the end of 2024 will be more intense than the previous two years: mobile phone brands have reached a consensus, and the direction of competition is almost identical, leading to products being positioned in the same track. However, beyond hardware, users also attach great importance to the overall user experience of mobile phones, such as UI fluency, feature richness, and whether AI can be integrated with the system to bring different experiences. Therefore, I predict that this round of flagship battles will not only be a competition about hardware and pricing but also a battle of "soft power" among various brands.