The Flagship Phone Battle Begins in September: Huawei's Tri-fold Phone Leads the Charge, Android Counterattacks

The Flagship Phone Battle Begins in September: Huawei's Tri-fold Phone Leads the Charge, Android CounterattacksSeptember is set to witness an unprecedented battle in the smartphone market. Beyond the highly anticipated iPhone 16 series, a host of Android flagships, including Huawei's tri-fold phone, OPPO Find X8 series, and vivo X200 series, are poised to launch

The Flagship Phone Battle Begins in September: Huawei's Tri-fold Phone Leads the Charge, Android Counterattacks

September is set to witness an unprecedented battle in the smartphone market. Beyond the highly anticipated iPhone 16 series, a host of Android flagships, including Huawei's tri-fold phone, OPPO Find X8 series, and vivo X200 series, are poised to launch. This year, the release pace of flagship chips and phones has significantly accelerated, indicating an exceptionally captivating smartphone war.

Huawei's Tri-Fold Phone: A Game-Changer, Returning to the High-End Market

Rumors of Huawei's tri-fold phone have been circulating since the beginning of the year. Now, this mysterious device is finally set to meet the public, with the confirmation coming directly from Yu Chengdong, CEO of Huawei's Consumer Business. During the delivery ceremony of the S9 car in Shanghai, Yu Chengdong personally promised the release of this tri-fold phone in September.

While Transsion launched a tri-fold concept phone on August 28th, Huawei's tri-fold phone will be the first true tri-fold phone in terms of public availability. Since no other manufacturer has announced similar product plans, Huawei's tri-fold phone is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated flagship phones in September.

Huawei has maintained an extremely high level of secrecy surrounding this tri-fold phone. Almost no hardware specifications have been leaked online, only a few accidental photos of Yu Chengdong using the device. These images suggest that the unfolded display area could reach 10 inches, but due to narrow bezels, the overall size will be slightly smaller than a regular 10-inch tablet. The folded thickness appears manageable, only slightly thicker than a dual-fold phone.

The application scenarios of a tri-fold phone have been a hot topic among users. Compared to the single-hand operation space of a dual-fold phone, a tri-fold phone essentially requires both hands. We can refer to the demonstration video of Transsion's Tecno Phantom Ultimate2 for a better understanding. Currently, tri-fold phones are more likely to focus on business and mobile office needs. The unfolded display area, approaching that of a tablet, coupled with a stylus, allows for reviewing and editing files on the go. Additionally, the multi-task functionality of the three-screen partition enhances user experience for frequent app switching.

There are reports that this tri-fold phone will use the same processor as the PURA70, instead of the new generation Kirin chip from the Mate70 series. Moreover, the material used for the inner screen will be upgraded from CPI to UTG, significantly improving flatness and scratch resistance.

Dimensity 9400 Debut: Blue and Green Factory New Phones Arrive

This year, MTK has deviated from its usual practice of releasing new products after Apple and Qualcomm. This time, they will be the first to release the Dimensity 9400. This implies that flagship phones equipped with Dimensity chips will make their appearance earlier than before. Currently, two models featuring the Dimensity 9400 have been exposed: the OPPO Find X8 series and the vivo X200 series. Their expected release date is October, with the potential for official announcements starting in September.

OPPO Find X8 Series: Dual Periscope Design Widespread, Dimensity 9400 Takes Center Stage

OPPO holds high expectations for the Find X8 series, having started pre-release exposure and hype in July. OPPO has now confirmed that they will extend the dual periscope design to the Pro version.

Based on leaked information, the Find X8 series might encompass three models. The Find X8 and Find X8 Pro are expected to use the Dimensity 9400, while the Find X8 Ultra will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen4, maintaining OPPO's consistent dual-chip strategy. However, the Find X8 Ultra's release is likely to be in the first quarter of next year. This means that the Find X8 series launching in October will be primarily driven by the Dimensity 9400, marking the first time Snapdragon is absent from OPPO's flagship launch.

Although the ultra-premium model is postponed until next year, the configuration of the OPPO Find X8 Pro should closely resemble that of the Find X7 Ultra, with only the screen changing from 2K to 1.5K. The core imaging performance remains intact. Coupled with the impressive energy efficiency of the Dimensity 9400, the Find X8 Pro is expected to be highly competitive in the high-end market.

The Find X8 will adopt a 1.5K + smaller-size straight-screen design. After Xiaomi successfully secured significant market share in the high-end segment using a combination of large and small flagship models, OPPO is now following suit. In addition to the small straight-screen design, the Find X8's triple camera setup with a single periscope lens is particularly noteworthy. This design is expected to achieve breakthroughs in telephoto performance.

vivo X200 Series: Return of the All-Around Equal-Width Design, Comprehensive Upgrade in Imaging Performance

The vivo X200 series also presents numerous changes this year. The existing two models will be joined by a third, the vivo X200+. Interestingly, the X200+ is not an upgrade to the X200 but rather a smaller-screen version.

Current information suggests that the X200 and X200 Pro will maintain their screen sizes from the previous generation, staying around 6.78 inches. The X200+ will incorporate a 6.3-inch small straight-screen design, with hardware configuration nearly identical to the X200, differing only slightly in battery capacity.

It is noteworthy that the X200 series will feature the all-around equal-width + slightly curved/straight screen design across the board. Slightly curved screen design is increasingly becoming a mainstream feature in flagship phones, gaining considerable user favor. Although curved screens excel in terms of visual edge benefits, problems like fragility and accidental touches have consistently raised concerns.

In terms of imaging performance, current leaked design images indicate that the X200 standard version will retain the four-camera module design from its predecessor. The main camera will be a brand-new large-sensor main camera instead of the downsized version from the previous high-end model. Additionally, the X200 series will come equipped with a new generation of self-developed imaging chips across the range, positioning itself as a formidable contender for the Android camera crown.

Two key observations emerge from the exposure of OPPO and vivo's new phones: first, the proportion of products using the Dimensity 9400 has significantly increased compared to previous years. Second, both brands have introduced small straight-screen products, which will pose considerable pressure on the Xiaomi 15 series. At the same time, this offers more choices for users who prefer small straight screens.

iPhone 16's Underperformance: Android Flagships Dare to Clash

Apple has announced a September 10th event for the official release of the iPhone 16 series. Meanwhile, major brands in the Android camp, including Xiaomi, OPPO, and vivo, are highly likely to cluster their product launches between late September and mid-October. Considering that the actual release date of the iPhone often gets pushed back by nearly two weeks, this will be the first head-to-head confrontation between the two camps. Add to this the September launch of Huawei's folding screen phone, and Apple will face unprecedented pressure.

In the past, the Android camp consistently avoided direct conflict with new iPhone releases, as iPhone still held a strong dominance in the high-end market. However, times have changed. Today, iPhones are experiencing a steady decline in the domestic market, even dropping out of the top five at one point. In contrast, the market share of domestic flagship phones in the high-end segment is gradually increasing, and Huawei's return has rapidly captured a large portion of the market.

Recent leaks about the iPhone 16 series suggest a noticeable gap in imaging performance compared to Android flagships. Regarding performance, the Snapdragon 8 Gen4 and Dimensity 9400, boasting enhanced energy efficiency, are no slouches against the A18. Even in terms of the ecosystem, the Android camp has begun to build various smart interconnected systems. While the experience still falls short of Apple's ecosystem, the cost of building and the localized experience have clear advantages. In the coming years, once the Android camp has established its ecosystem, iPhone's remaining advantage might vanish.

However, before that happens, the iPhone 16 series remains a formidable adversary that the Android camp must treat with caution. Whether it's the first AI iPhone or the significantly upgraded imaging system, both have the potential to spark upgrade urges among loyal iPhone users. Adding to the pressure, an iPhone SE4, targeting the mid-to-low-end market, is on the horizon. This product will only intensify the pressure on the Android camp.

As September approaches, the new round of flagship phone battles is about to unfold. Whether it's the accelerated pace of Android flagships or the iPhone 16 series's mounting anticipation, it all points to an unprecedentedly fierce competition ahead.