The battle for the mid-range market is heating up.

In October and November, brands such as vivo, OPPO, Xiaomi, Honor, and Huawei have successively released their new flagship phones, with many models setting new sales records.

In the final month of 2024, smartphone manufacturers have not slowed down, still preparing many attractive new products for us.

Compared to the flagship phones released in the previous two months, the new phones debuting in December offer more affordable pricing, making them suitable for budget-conscious consumers.

Honor: Dual launches focusing on both imaging and gaming

Honor has officially announced the release of the Honor 300 series on December 2. According to information from tech bloggers and Honor, the Honor 300 series includes standard, Pro, and Ultra versions. The standard version features a Snapdragon 7 series processor, a flat screen design, and supports 100W fast charging.

The Pro and Ultra versions are powered by Qualcomm's previous-generation flagship processor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, and are equipped with a 1.5K quad-curved screen, a Dynamic Island design, support for 100W fast charging, wireless charging, and ultrasonic fingerprint recognition. The battery capacity is expected to exceed 5000mAh across the series. The Pro version features a triple-camera setup with a 50MP main sensor, including a telephoto lens, while the Ultra version comes with a periscope telephoto lens.

(Image source: Honor)

From the official slogan, terms like "AI travel photography masterpiece" and "electronic lutein" indicate that the Honor 300 series emphasizes photography and eye protection. Considering the starting price of the Honor 200 series at 2699 yuan, I believe the starting price of the Honor 300 series will likely remain at 2699 yuan. The addition of ultrasonic fingerprint recognition makes this series even more attractive compared to other products in the same price range.

In addition to the Honor 300 series, Honor's new GT series is also expected to debut in December. According to Jiang Hairong, CMO of Honor Terminal Co., Ltd. in China, the Honor GT series is a brand-new line different from previous GT-suffixed models like the Honor X50 GT, Honor 80 GT, and Honor 90 GT. It targets the online market with a focus on performance.

(Image source: Weibo screenshot)

I believe the positioning of Honor's new GT series remains unchanged from past GT-suffixed models, but it has been spun off as a separate series. Online-focused phones are known for their cost-effectiveness, with less emphasis on texture and aesthetics, prioritizing performance instead, as seen in previous Honor GT models.

Although not much information has been revealed about this model, based on the specifications of the Honor 90 GT, I predict that the first model in the new Honor GT series will be upgraded to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, significantly boosting performance. The starting price is expected to be around 2699 yuan, not too different from the Honor 300 series.

Consumers who prioritize photography can choose the Honor 300 standard version, while those who value performance and gaming experience may consider the new GT series. For higher demands, the configurations of the Honor 300 Pro and Ultra models are more comprehensive, fully meeting users' needs.

realme: Super flagship experience with excellent battery life and performance

Following the Honor 300 series is realme's upcoming Neo7, scheduled for December 11.

The positioning of the realme Neo7 is similar to that of Honor's new GT series, emphasizing performance and gaming experience. It is powered by MediaTek's previous-generation flagship processor, the Dimensity 9300+, scoring over 2 million on AnTuTu. @DigitalChatStation also revealed that the realme Neo7 will feature a 7000mAh battery, IP69+IP68 ratings for enhanced durability and waterproof performance. Other specifications may include a 1.5K punch-hole straight screen with a body thickness of around 8.5mm. According to official sources, the starting price of the realme Neo7 will not exceed 2499 yuan.

(Image source: Weibo screenshot)

Like the spun-off Honor GT series, the realme Neo7 is the first model in the Neo series and likely had its naming finalized recently. The official promotion on November 22 still referred to it as the "realme GT Neo7," but it is now officially called the "realme Neo7." Sales of this phone are crucial for the future of the Neo series, so it is likely to be heavily stacked with features. Interested parties can look forward to it.

The realme Neo series, which emphasizes performance release, battery life, and quality, is also suitable for users who prioritize performance and gaming experience, making it a strong competitor to Honor's new GT series.

OnePlus: Ace rejuvenation, ace strike

On November 27, OnePlus's official Weibo account announced that the OnePlus Ace 5 series would be released in December. However, the specific release date has not been determined. The company only revealed that the series will include two models: the OnePlus Ace 5 and the OnePlus Ace 5 Pro, both powered by Snapdragon flagship processors.

@DigitalChatStation revealed an image of the OnePlus Ace 5 and stated that it features a pure flat screen, crystal shield glass, metal frame, ceramic body, a 6.78-inch 1.5K screen, 100W fast charging, and a battery capacity exceeding 6000mAh. It inherits the design philosophy of the previous generation and is equipped with a new gaming WiFi chip to enhance network stability.

(Image source: DigitalChatStation)

Combined with information from Li Jie, President of OnePlus China, the OnePlus Ace 5 series is powered by Qualcomm's previous-generation flagship processor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, with optimized power consumption, heat dissipation, and game frame rates comparable to the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1.

(Image source: Weibo screenshot)

Undoubtedly, the OnePlus Ace 5 series also emphasizes performance and gaming experience, particularly with the new gaming WiFi chip, which is expected to reduce game latency and packet loss. OnePlus's pursuit of elegance is perfectly embodied in this phone, especially with the rare ceramic body in this price range, adding a touch of premium quality.

In terms of pricing, the OnePlus Ace 5 is expected to continue the starting price of 2599 yuan from the previous generation, becoming another performance leader in the mid-range market.

Redmi: The mid-range guardian with a price starting at just over 2000 yuan is here

Recently, Redmi updated its brand logo and launched the K80 series, attracting many consumers with its 2K screen, ultrasonic fingerprint recognition, and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3/Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 configurations. The starting price and specifications of the Redmi K80 standard version have made it a dominant player in the mid-range market.

Below the K80, Redmi may also launch a lower-priced model, the Turbo 4, in December. This model has already obtained network access certification and is equipped with 90W fast charging technology. According to information from tech bloggers, the Redmi Turbo 4 features a 1.5K straight screen, a 6500mAh battery, and may be the first to use the Dimensity 8400 processor.

(Image source: Weibo screenshot)

The Dimensity 8400 features eight Cortex-A725 cores and an Immortalis-G925 GPU based on the same architecture as the Dimensity 9400, with an expected AnTuTu score of around 1.8 million, slightly higher than the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 used in the Redmi Turbo 3.

Notably, when netizens expressed concern in the comments section of @DigitalChatStation that the new phone might be dubbed the "Plastic 4," the blogger responded, "It won't be," hinting that the Redmi Turbo 4 will likely upgrade from the plastic back cover and frame of the previous generation to a metal frame and glass back cover, enhancing the phone's hand feel.

Compared to the three phones mentioned above, the Redmi Turbo 4 is positioned slightly lower and does not use the previous-generation flagship processor but instead opts for MediaTek's latest mid-range processor. However, with the performance of the Dimensity 8400, there should be no bottleneck for running mainstream games. The starting price of this phone is expected to be around 1999 yuan, making it a good choice for budget-conscious consumers.

December smartphone battle: Flagships take a break, mid-rangers go wild!

With the successive releases of the new generation of flagship phones, major smartphone manufacturers are unlikely to introduce new flagships this year. It is expected that in the first half of next year, vivo, OPPO, Xiaomi, and other manufacturers will gradually release their Ultra models. Therefore, most of the new phones released in December will focus on the mid-range market.

Unlike flagship phones that pursue balanced and comprehensive configurations, mid-range models require certain trade-offs due to cost constraints. From the new phone configurations of major manufacturers, performance remains a key focus for mid-range phones, with most of them equipped with Qualcomm's previous-generation flagship processor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, and MediaTek's previous-generation flagship processor, the Dimensity 9300+.

(Image source: Qualcomm)

For popular mobile games like Genshin Impact, Honor of Kings, and Game for Peace, these processors not only have no performance bottlenecks but may even show some performance overcapacity.

Beyond performance, smartphone manufacturers have also placed higher demands on product texture and quality, with some models incorporating IP68 and IP69 configurations. The Redmi Turbo 4 even upgrades the body material to a glass back cover and metal frame. With enhanced performance and texture, mid-range phones released in December should serve well for several years.

Additionally, with the independence of the Redmi Turbo series in the first half of this year and the recent spin-off of the Honor GT series and realme Neo series towards the end of the year, it indicates that these manufacturers are intensifying their focus on the mid-range market. The use of previous-generation flagship chips, IP68 and IP69 ratings, and upgraded body materials is just the beginning, with future mid-range models expected to see continuous upgrades in configuration and design.

Among the above products, the Honor 300 series and realme Neo7 have already been scheduled for release before the Double 12 shopping festival, with potential discounts during their initial sales period on e-commerce platforms. The remaining models have not yet confirmed specific release dates but are expected to be unveiled in the middle to late December.

As the year-end approaches, hardworking individuals who have received their salaries or year-end bonuses may consider upgrading their phones. The arrival of this batch of mid-range models provides more options. Those planning to upgrade their phones can start selecting their preferred models in advance.

Source: Lei Technology