The iQOO 13: Returning to its Gaming Roots? Design and Imaging Capabilities Stir Controversy

The iQOO 13: Returning to its Gaming Roots? Design and Imaging Capabilities Stir ControversySince its inception, iQOO has made a strong impression in the smartphone market with its high-performance digital series and cost-effective Neo series. As the launch date for the iQOO 13 approaches, discussions about its configuration become even more intense

The iQOO 13: Returning to its Gaming Roots? Design and Imaging Capabilities Stir Controversy

Since its inception, iQOO has made a strong impression in the smartphone market with its high-performance digital series and cost-effective Neo series. As the launch date for the iQOO 13 approaches, discussions about its configuration become even more intense. While it was expected that the iQOO 13 would continue its trend of packing in high-end features, it unexpectedly shifted direction, focusing heavily on the gaming sector. The company has also decided to drop the Pro model and focus on developing the standard version. However, two recent pieces of information have sparked controversy, leaving consumers with many questions about the new device.

iQOO 13 Reintroduces the Light Strip Design: A Tribute to the First Generation, or an Outdated Trend?

The first piece of news is that the iQOO 13 will return to the light strip design. For users of the first generation iQOO series, this is certainly a familiar design element. The RGB light strip initially gained popularity among PC hardware DIY enthusiasts who sought a cool effect. They would add RGB light strips to components like coolers, motherboards, memory, keyboards, and mice to create a strong gaming atmosphere. The RGB light strip on the early iQOO devices came from the Awei "Light Language" series. It used a diamond-cut process to create a scattered light path about 1mm deep on the glass back cover, allowing the light from the strip to "penetrate" through the path, creating a dazzling effect. iQOO also integrated some software-based lighting effects to enhance the visual appeal of the light strip design.

However, over time, this design gradually faded out. On the one hand, many users found the highly personalized light strip design too non-mainstream and it gradually disappeared from view. On the other hand, the iQOO digital series was no longer solely focused on gaming but expanded towards a more comprehensive direction, leading to the abandonment of the light strip design.

Nevertheless, leakers claim that the iQOO 13 will once again adopt the light strip design, indicating that the new device will return to its gaming focus and strive for excellence in this area. This news has sparked controversy, with some users believing that the light strip design is outdated and doesn't align with current aesthetics, while others are excited about it, believing that it can enhance the immersion and atmosphere of gaming.

Imaging Capabilities Seemingly Compromised: A Shortcoming for Gaming Phones?

The second piece of news suggests that the iQOO 13's imaging capabilities may be "downgraded." In recent years, periscope telephoto lenses have become standard equipment for flagship smartphones. Many new devices launched in the second half of the year are equipped with this type of lens. If the iQOO 13 doesnt include a periscope telephoto lens, its competitiveness will be significantly diminished. Considering that the iQOO 12 series already featured this lens, its apparent absence in the iQOO 13 is undoubtedly unacceptable for consumers.

While some users believe that gaming phones dont require powerful imaging capabilities, simply focusing on gaming can reduce the overall appeal of the product. Therefore, the emergence of these two pieces of information essentially suggests that the iQOO 13 will be heavily focused on gaming. However, the final outcome remains to be seen.

Performance Demonstrates Strength: Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen4 and Self-developed Esports Chip

Beyond the above-mentioned news, other specifications of the iQOO 13 are gradually becoming clearer. It will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen4 processor. For a device primarily focused on gaming, using this chip is a reasonable choice. The Snapdragon 8 Gen4 employs TSMC's 3nm fabrication process, minimizing the risk of failure.

The iQOO 12 series already incorporated the self-developed esports chip Q1, enabling super-resolution and super-frame concurrent technology in games, providing an experience exceeding native performance for certain games. The iQOO 13 is expected to also include the Q1 chip, further enhancing gaming performance. Additionally, the 12GB+256GB memory combination, combined with LPDDR5X and USF4.0, makes the product even more powerful.

Screen, Battery Life, and Other Features Receive Comprehensive Upgrades

The iQOO 13's front screen also features an upgrade, employing a 2K resolution LTPO AMOLED screen with a size of 6.8 inches. It supports high-frequency eye protection dimming technology, high refresh rate, and single-point ultrasonic fingerprint unlocking. The built-in battery capacity has been increased to 6000mAh or close to that value, a significant improvement over the 5000mAh battery in the iQOO 12. This is expected to deliver enhanced battery life.

Furthermore, the iQOO 13 might include an extra-large X-Axis linear motor, offer a higher waterproof and dustproof rating (IP68), and support full-function NFC, infrared remote control, dual speakers, X-Axis linear motor, and other features. Notably, it will come equipped with the OriginOS 5.0 version, with significant advancements in AI, which are essential factors in significantly boosting the product's overall strength.

Conclusion

Overall, the iQOO 13 has undergone upgrades in various aspects, especially appealing to gamers. However, the controversy surrounding the light strip design and imaging capabilities adds uncertainty to the future of this new device. Ultimately, the success of the iQOO 13 hinges on its ability to strike a balance between gaming performance and user experience, as well as finding its own unique competitive edge.