Year-End Flagship Phone Buying Guide: New Pro or Old Ultra?

Year-End Flagship Phone Buying Guide: New Pro or Old Ultra?The end of the year brings a deluge of new phone releases and price drops on older models, leaving many consumers with a tough choice: with a similar budget, should they opt for the new Pro model or the older Ultra model? This article will delve into this question, using specific models as examples.I

Year-End Flagship Phone Buying Guide: New Pro or Old Ultra?

The end of the year brings a deluge of new phone releases and price drops on older models, leaving many consumers with a tough choice: with a similar budget, should they opt for the new Pro model or the older Ultra model? This article will delve into this question, using specific models as examples.

I. The New Pro: Heir to the Old Ultra

Many phone manufacturers have adopted a "three-tier" strategy: standard, Pro, and Ultra. Typically, after Qualcomm, MediaTek, or other chip manufacturers release a new flagship platform, phone makers quickly launch new standard and Pro models. The Ultra model, or "super-sized" version, usually follows in the spring of the next year. This strategy helps maintain brand visibility and avoids a product launch gap in the spring. The Ultra, as the manufacturer's flagship, typically incorporates more aggressive advancements in hardware and software, requiring longer tuning periods. By the time the Ultra launches widely, the cost of new technologies has been amortized. Therefore, the new Pro model released in the fall of the following year often inherits many features from the older Ultra model, transitioning from "super-sized" to "large-sized." Xiaomi, vivo, and OPPO, among other major brands, employ this strategy. Huawei uses a "dual flagship" strategy with the P-series in the first half of the year and the Mate series in the second half; Samsung has the S-series in the first half and its foldable series in the second half; Apple generally sticks to a yearly update cycle. The "three-tier relay" strategy adopted by brands like Xiaomi, vivo, and OPPO is primarily a compromise, as they find it difficult to simultaneously manage dual flagship product lines like Huawei and Samsung in the high-end market.

II. New Performance, Older Imaging: A Case Study of Xiaomi 14 Ultra and Xiaomi 15 Pro

Take the Xiaomi 14 Ultra and Xiaomi 15 Pro as an example. The Xiaomi 15 Pro, as the newer flagship, boasts advantages primarily in processor and battery. However, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra offers superior overall camera specifications and advantages in wireless fast charging. Currently, the 16+512GB versions of both phones are similarly priced. Therefore, with the same budget, choosing the older 14 Ultra provides superior imaging capabilities; opting for the new Xiaomi 15 Pro offers stronger performance and longer battery life.

This trend generally holds true for other manufacturers' Ultra and Pro models. The older Ultra's advantages lie mainly in its camera, particularly in post-launch image optimization. After half a year of optimization, the image quality of the Ultra model is more reliable in extreme and complex shooting scenarios.

However, from the perspective of late 2024, the new Pro model is recommended for most users. This is because this year's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 boasts significant improvements in performance and power consumption, while the widespread adoption of new silicon-carbon anode batteries has drastically improved the battery life of new flagships.

III. Recommending the New Pro for Most Users: The Best Choice Considering All Factors

Flagship phones with similar prices this fall offer superior performance and battery life, two key factors determining a phone's lifespan. For most people, the imaging capabilities of the Xiaomi 15 Pro, vivo X200 Pro, and OPPO Find X8 Pro are sufficient and not necessarily inferior to older Ultra models. Furthermore, Ultra models, due to their more powerful multi-camera systems, tend to be heavier and thicker, while Pro models are generally lighter and thinner for daily use.

In terms of overall capabilities, the new Pro models, especially this year's versions, are more worthwhile for most users. Of course, if you prioritize photography and want the best imaging capabilities, choosing the older Ultra is also a viable option. But if you truly want the absolute best imaging, consider waiting another two or three months for the launch of the new Ultra model, which may offer more surprises.

The "buy new, not old" principle also applies to Huawei. The Mate 70 series released in the second half of this year shows significant improvements over the P-series from the first half of the year and last year's Mate 60 series in processor performance, camera, and AI. If you need a Huawei phone soon, consider the new Mate 70 or the upcoming P80 series.

The situation is different for Samsung and Apple, where the differences between new and old models are smaller, and older models offer a significant price advantage. Choose based on your specific needs. However, note that the differences in configuration between the "large" and "super-sized" models from these two brands are relatively larger. Theoretically, with the same budget, the older "super-sized" models from Samsung and Apple offer better value.

Last year, older Ultra models had a more significant advantage in experience and configuration, making them a more attractive choice. However, this year, the situation has changed due to alterations in product update cycles and iteration strategies across manufacturers. There's no universal formula for choosing a phone; various factors need to be considered comprehensively.

IV. Conclusion: Rational Choice, The Right One for You

In conclusion, choosing between a new Pro and an older Ultra with a similar budget requires weighing the pros and cons based on your needs. For most users, the new Pro's superior performance and battery life better suit daily use. For professional photography enthusiasts, the older Ultra still holds an advantage in image quality. Ultimately, the best choice is the one that suits you. Hopefully, this article helps you make an informed purchase decision.