The Return of the Compact Straight-Screen Flagship: Three New Devices Coming in October: vivo X200 Pro mini, OPPO Find X8, and Xiaomi 15

The Return of the Compact Straight-Screen Flagship: Three New Devices Coming in October: vivo X200 Pro mini, OPPO Find X8, and Xiaomi 15"Fashion is a circle", and this statement couldn't be truer for the smartphone market this year, as the compact straight-screen flagship has made a comeback. Recent years have seen a dominance of curved-screen, high-performance, and top-notch photography phones, with Pro, Pro+, and even Ultra versions flooding the market

The Return of the Compact Straight-Screen Flagship: Three New Devices Coming in October: vivo X200 Pro mini, OPPO Find X8, and Xiaomi 15

"Fashion is a circle", and this statement couldn't be truer for the smartphone market this year, as the compact straight-screen flagship has made a comeback. Recent years have seen a dominance of curved-screen, high-performance, and top-notch photography phones, with Pro, Pro+, and even Ultra versions flooding the market. Yet, in the comment sections of these flagship phones, the question users often raise is: "Is there a compact straight-screen version?"

The fact is, compact straight-screen flagships are not only attracting significant user attention, but their sales are also showing a steadily increasing trend. From the "pioneer" status of the iPhone Pro series to the Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 14 standard versions becoming sales pillars, the market performance of compact straight-screen flagship models is quite impressive. It's worth noting that not all compact straight-screen phones can succeed; only those that achieve flagship-level standards in imaging, performance, and screen quality, while also emphasizing thin and light design and portability, can gain user favor.

With the release of new products from the two major chip manufacturers, flagship updates from various manufacturers in the Android camp are about to kick off a new round. Notably, this round of new product updates will focus on compact straight-screen flagships. The three compact straight-screen flagships set to launch in October are sure to become market hotspots. Let's take a look at these upcoming new products and see if there's one that catches your eye!

vivo X200 Pro mini: A New Attempt at a Straight-Screen Flagship

vivo introduced a straight-screen flagship model in the previous X100s series, which received positive market feedback. In this new product cycle, vivo has gone a step further, revealing its compact straight-screen flagship early and officially naming it the vivo X200 Pro mini.

The name analysis reveals that vivo X200 represents the new flagship series, Pro signifies high performance, and mini indicates a compact size. According to available leaks, the new phone will be the first to feature the Dimensity 9400 processor and boast a larger battery capacity than similarly positioned products. To achieve a thinner and lighter body, the vivo X200 Pro mini could adopt fiberglass material.

The vivo X200 series has always excelled in imaging capabilities, and this new phone is expected to continue this strength. In terms of dimensions, the new phone will be equipped with a 6.3-inch display and support 3840Hz high-frequency PWM dimming eye protection technology. As a flagship model, vivo's new Blue Sea Endurance System and the evolved Blue Core large model integrating voice, vision, and multi-modal big data processing capabilities will naturally be present.

It's worth mentioning that the standard version of the vivo X200 series will also adopt a straight-screen design, with an estimated size of 6.5 inches. Currently, there is no official information regarding pricing. However, considering the upcoming price increase for the new processor, the new phone's price is expected to fluctuate.

OPPO Find X8: A Straight-Screen Flagship Focusing on Thin and Light Design

OPPO will also be launching its new flagship, the OPPO Find X8 series, this month. According to previous leaks, the standard version, OPPO Find X8, will be positioned as a compact straight-screen flagship.

It is rumored that the OPPO Find X8 will adopt a thin and light design, featuring a narrow-bezel centered punch-hole straight screen and a metal frame. The glass body will incorporate customizable virtual pressure-sensitive buttons on the sides, offering features like one-touch access to imaging functions. Additionally, the new phone will support iOS/Android cross-platform file transfer, live photos, magnetic wireless ecosystem, and other highlights.

In terms of configuration, the OPPO Find X8 will be powered by the Dimensity 9400 chip and support 80W fast charging. Overall, this new phone boasts comprehensive specifications. Similarly, due to the rise in chip prices, the price of this model is expected to fluctuate compared to last year.

Xiaomi 15: Continuing the Straight-Screen Path, Performance Gets a Comprehensive Upgrade

Undoubtedly, following the success of the previous two generations, the Xiaomi 15 will continue to adopt a straight-screen design this year. Leaks suggest that the Xiaomi 15 will feature a 6.3-6.4-inch 1.5K straight screen, further reducing screen bezels, improving screen ratio, and possibly supporting single-point ultrasonic in-display fingerprint recognition technology. On the rear camera side, the new phone will feature a 50-megapixel all-round large aperture triple camera system, equipped with a 3x upright telephoto macro lens.

Previously, Lei Jun, President of Xiaomi Group, disclosed that the Xiaomi 15 will be based on the Xiaomi Pengpai OS 2.0 system and the new generation Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, bringing a "human-vehicle-home" full-ecosystem AI experience. In terms of price, industry insiders have revealed that due to the rising chip prices, the starting price of the Xiaomi 15 may break through 3999 yuan, potentially reaching 4399 yuan, but the authenticity remains to be confirmed. According to the latest news from Lei Jun, Xiaomi will be holding a team meeting today, possibly to discuss the final pricing of the Xiaomi 15 series due to the approaching launch date.

Market Prospects for Compact Straight-Screen Flagships

Based on sales data over the past month, the iPhone 16 series has faced a tepid initial reception, presenting a greater market opportunity for compact straight-screen flagships in the Android camp. The actual sales performance will be evident by the end of this month.

Whether it's the vivo X200 Pro mini, OPPO Find X8, or the Xiaomi 15, these three upcoming compact straight-screen flagships all possess their own unique highlights and represent the future direction of the smartphone market. Which of these compact straight-screen flagships are you most looking forward to? What aspects do you consider crucial in a compact straight-screen flagship? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!