After the "Golden September and Silver October", Super-Sized Phones Are "Running Ahead" How Involve is the Smartphone Market?

After the "Golden September and Silver October", Super-Sized Phones Are "Running Ahead" How Involve is the Smartphone Market?Following the intense release of flagship phone new products in September and October 2023, November's market appears somewhat calm. Logically, manufacturers have already shown their trump cards this year, and subsequent super-sized models usually wouldn't be launched until early next year

After the "Golden September and Silver October", Super-Sized Phones Are "Running Ahead" How Involve is the Smartphone Market?

Following the intense release of flagship phone new products in September and October 2023, November's market appears somewhat calm. Logically, manufacturers have already shown their trump cards this year, and subsequent super-sized models usually wouldn't be launched until early next year. However, recent leaks from digital tech bloggers have revealed that OPPO, vivo, Xiaomi, and Honor's super-sized models are likely to be unveiled within the next two months. This news is startling: will such a concentrated release of super-sized models "backstab" users who just purchased Pro versions? More importantly, does this signal even more big moves from these smartphone manufacturers next year?

OPPO Find X8 Ultra: Beyond Pro, Flagship Price?

When releasing the Find X7 series last year, OPPO stated that the Pro version was good enough to rival other brands' Ultra models, hence renaming the original Find X7 Pro to Find X7 Ultra. However, this year, OPPO has reverted to the standard and Pro version naming scheme, leaving people scratching their heads. According to Lei Technology's previous reviews, the Find X8 Pro's performance falls short of true super-sized standards; there's been insufficient improvement in imaging, and some configurations have even regressed. This indicates that OPPO will launch even more powerful models later.

"Digital Chat Station" leaks suggest that the upcoming OPPO Find X8 Ultra will receive a comprehensive upgrade in configurations. It will feature a 6.82-inch 2K fully symmetrical micro-curved screen, supporting a 120Hz refresh rate, and adopt 8TLTPO technology and BOE X2 light-emitting materials. It's expected to use the same screen as the OnePlus 13.

In terms of cameras, this phone will be equipped with a four-camera module: a one-inch main camera + dual periscope telephoto lenses + ultra-wide-angle lens. The one-inch main camera is likely the LYT900 sensor from the X7 Ultra. While this isn't deliberately holding onto an older product by the manufacturer, it's because this sensor still has significant potential to be explored. Replacing it with a new sensor requires more time for optimization and fine-tuning, and the actual shooting results might not even be better than the older version.

Furthermore, the OPPO Find X8 Ultra will incorporate a new Hasselblad multi-spectral sensor capable of capturing all color information in the spectrum, achieving true Hasselblad color reproduction.

Regarding other configurations, the OPPO Find X8 Ultra will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy processor, support single-point ultrasonic fingerprint recognition, and have IP68/IP69 dust and water resistance. Overall, the configuration sees a substantial upgrade compared to the Find X8 Pro, and the price is also expected to rise slightly. Lei Technology predicts that the starting price could reach 6499 yuan.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra: When Top-Tier Hardware Meets HyperOS 2.0

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra released earlier this year left a lasting impression, with its hardware performance reaching industry-leading levels, but its software fell slightly short. Thankfully, Xiaomi launched the new HyperOS 2.0 at the Xiaomi 15 series launch event, offering significant improvements in smoothness and functionality compared to version 1.0. We believe that the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, equipped with this system, will deliver even more surprises.

So, what hardware upgrades can we expect in the Xiaomi 15 Ultra?

Firstly, imaging is worth looking forward to. According to tech bloggers, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra will be equipped with a 50MP one-inch sensor main camera, a 200MP 4.3X periscope telephoto lens, a 50MP 3X telephoto lens, and a 50MP ultra-wide-angle lens. The main camera is likely the LYT900, and the 200MP periscope telephoto lens is probably the same one used by Honor and vivo, featuring an F2.6 aperture and a massive 1/1.4-inch ultra-high-pixel sensor; its performance is worth anticipating.

In Lei Technology's view, the most significant upgrade in the Xiaomi 15 Ultra lies in the reintroduction of the one-piece ceramic body. While many users enjoy the feel of ceramic bodies, they aren't as good at controlling weight, easily exceeding 220g, making it uncomfortable to hold. In today's flagship phones, where "weight reduction" is increasingly crucial, Xiaomi's reintroduction of the one-piece ceramic body design might signify a breakthrough in materials and craftsmanship.

Regarding other configurations, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra's battery capacity might increase to over 6000mAh, combined with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy's lower power consumption, potentially making it the best in battery life among all super-sized models. In addition, it will boast the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy processor, 90W wired + 50W wireless charging, 2K resolution fully symmetrical micro-curved screen, IP68/IP69 dust and water resistance, and single-point ultrasonic fingerprint features.

Honor Magic7 RSR Porsche Design: The Pinnacle of Honor

At the recently concluded Honor Magic7 series launch event, Honor CEO Zhao Ming unveiled the Magic7 and Magic7 Pro, and alongside, revealed the exterior of the Magic7 RSR Porsche Design edition, but no configuration information was disclosed. This naturally sparks curiosity: can Honor achieve a "corner overtaking" in super-sized models this year?

Based on previous leaks and product positioning, the Honor Magic7 RSR Porsche Design edition will be a super-flagship product focused on imaging. It will feature a 50MP variable aperture main camera, complemented by a 200MP ultra-large sensor periscope telephoto lens. Industry insiders speculate that the main camera is likely the OV50K from OmniVision, boasting a dynamic range of 15EV, enabling it to capture richer image details. Other configurations are likely to remain consistent with the Honor Magic7 Pro, including a 5850mAh battery, 100W wired + 80W wireless fast charging, a 6.8-inch curved high-refresh-rate screen, and more.

In terms of appearance, it maintains the design style of its predecessors, employing the signature hexagonal design and classic matrix layout, retaining high recognition.

The price of the Honor Magic7 RSR Porsche Design is expected to be the highest among the four models, as it's the only one with co-branding premium. It might only be available in a 24GB+1TB version, priced at 9999 yuan.

vivo X200 Ultra: Self-Developed Chip Boost, Return to the Top?

The vivo X200 series has also garnered considerable attention this year. The vivo X200 exceeded expectations, and the X200 Pro mini, focusing on a compact screen, attracted many female users. However, the absence of a super-sized model left a sense of incompleteness.

According to tech bloggers, the vivo X200 Ultra will feature a brand-new independently developed chip. This chip isn't just an imaging chip; it will take care of screen performance, imaging AI algorithms, and other functions. With a larger chip area, it might be released under a new name.

In other aspects, the vivo X200 Ultra's overall design remains largely unchanged. The screen form factor will transition to a four-narrow-bezel symmetrical micro-curved screen, measuring 6.82 inches, with a 2K resolution and support for a maximum of 120Hz refresh rate and LTPO technology. The back of the phone will retain the circular triple-camera module, with the main camera adopting a new Sony sensor and featuring a 200MP large-sensor periscope telephoto lens. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy processor, a larger battery capacity, 90W wired charging + 50W wireless charging will also be present.

Unfortunately, the vivo X200 Ultra might not be released until after the Chinese New Year. Considering that this year, the vivo X100 Ultra was launched in May, which resulted in a lack of competitiveness, vivo might ensure that the next Ultra version won't keep everyone waiting too long.

Super-Sized Phones Racing Ahead, a Reflection of Smartphone Market Involution

Starting in 2021, smartphone manufacturers have been releasing new phones at an increasingly rapid pace, with the previously annual release cycle gradually shrinking to ten months, even nine months.

Some argue that it's the manufacturers' way of applying new technologies to products faster. However, for consumers who have just purchased a new model, such frequent updates are difficult to accept. While the mobile phone industry won't experience the kind of "backstabbing outrage" seen in the automotive sector, it's indeed frustrating to buy a Pro model only to have a super-sized version released shortly after, with more features for the same price.

Take Lei Technology as an example, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra owned has been in use for less than nine months, and now the Xiaomi