The End of the "Impossible Triangle" for Compact Flagships: OPPO Find X9 Promini May Lead a New Trend

The End of the "Impossible Triangle" for Compact Flagships: OPPO Find X9 Promini May Lead a New TrendSince last year, "new compact phones" have re-emerged into the public eye, attracting widespread attention. From the Xiaomi 13S and vivo X200 Pro mini to the upcoming OPPO Find X8 mini, numerous manufacturers have launched smaller flagship models, attempting to satisfy consumer demand for compact devices

The End of the "Impossible Triangle" for Compact Flagships: OPPO Find X9 Promini May Lead a New Trend

Since last year, "new compact phones" have re-emerged into the public eye, attracting widespread attention. From the Xiaomi 13S and vivo X200 Pro mini to the upcoming OPPO Find X8 mini, numerous manufacturers have launched smaller flagship models, attempting to satisfy consumer demand for compact devices. However, due to cost and space constraints, these compact flagships often compromise on features. Ultrasonic fingerprint sensors, periscope telephoto lenses, and wireless chargingthree flagship-level featuresseem to form an insurmountable "impossible triangle." But a recent leak (January 14th) suggests that the next generation of flagship phones, expected later this year, may break this barrier, completely ending the "impossible triangle." This article delves into the implications of this leak and the future development trends of compact flagship phones.

I. The "Impossible Triangle" of Compact Flagships: A Trade-off Between Features and Space

In the current flagship phone market, ultrasonic fingerprint sensors, periscope telephoto lenses, and wireless charging are key selling points for many manufacturers and focal points for consumers. However, achieving all three simultaneously in a compact phone proves challenging.

The Xiaomi 13S features an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and wireless charging, but its telephoto capabilities are relatively weak, with a significantly smaller sensor than competitors. The vivo X200 Pro mini, while boasting a 1/2-inch sensor periscope telephoto lens, sacrifices the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. Based on current information, the upcoming OPPO Find X8 mini will likely feature a periscope telephoto lens and wireless charging but will also lack an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. Its "sibling" model, the OnePlus 13T/13 mini, also employs an optical fingerprint sensor. The Samsung Galaxy S25 supports ultrasonic fingerprint and wireless charging, but its telephoto lens is a small, standard type.

Clearly, integrating ultrasonic fingerprint sensors, periscope telephoto lenses, and wireless charging into a compact body presents a significant challenge for manufacturers. These three features form an "impossible triangle," seemingly forcing a choice between two.

II. OPPO Find X9 Promini: Hope for Breaking the "Impossible Triangle"

However, recent leaks offer a glimmer of hope. A Weibo blogger revealed that, following vivo, another top 5 smartphone manufacturer is testing a model called "Promini." This model is expected to feature an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, a periscope telephoto lens, and wireless charging simultaneously, potentially breaking the "impossible triangle." The phone is expected to launch around October.

While the leak doesn't explicitly name the manufacturer, through a process of elimination, it's highly likely to be OPPO. Therefore, we tentatively name this phone the "OPPO Find X9 Promini."

Even for the Promini, fitting Pro-level features into a compact body remains a significant challenge. For instance, the Find X8 Pro's dual periscope telephoto lenses (3x and 6x) are unlikely to be fully replicated in the mini model. Many Pro-level features, such as dual speakers, 3D facial recognition, and high-performance vibration motors, come at the expense of internal space.

Imagine trying to fit the Find X8 Pro's dual 1216 speakers, 3D facial recognition, and the OnePlus 13's CSA0916T vibration motor into a compact phone the battery capacity might shrink to the level of the iPhone 16 Pro. Therefore, the Promini will inevitably have some compromises compared to its Pro-level counterparts.

III. The Return of Compact Phones and Finding the Right Size

After Apple discontinued the iPhone 13 mini, there were virtually no true compact flagship phones on the market. Attempts by smaller manufacturers, like the Unihertz Jelly Max, failed to gain mainstream acceptance. Currently, compact phones are generally defined as those with dimensions similar to the standard iPhone.

This isn't a new phenomenon but a return to the past. Previously, standard and Pro versions of flagship phones often had different sizes; not all were large-screened. For example, the 2020 Huawei P40 had a 6.1-inch screen, a width of only 71.1mm, and weighed 175gsignificantly smaller than the P40 Pro.

However, with increasing demands on flagship phone specifications, only Apple and Samsung have consistently offered smaller standard versions in recent years. Since the 2020 iPhone 12 adopted the "trendy small straight edges" design, its width has remained around 71.5mm. While the iPhone 15 Pro's width slightly decreased to 70.6mm, the iPhone 16 Pro returned to 71.5mm. Samsung's S-series standard models have a similar width.

A width of around 71mm has become a new equilibrium point for compact flagships. Thanks to breakthroughs in silicon-carbon anode battery technology, compact phones can now have larger batteries. The Xiaomi 13S uses a Jin Sha Jiang battery with an energy density of 850Wh/L and a capacity of 5400mAh. The vivo X200 Pro mini packs a 5700mAh battery and a periscope telephoto lens into a 187g body.

If the OPPO Find X9 Promini successfully breaks the "impossible triangle," the compact flagship market will enter a new development phase. In the future, the screen sizes of compact phones may decrease further, with the possibility of smaller models from the vivo S series and OPPO A series.

IV. Beyond Compact: The Challenge of Ultra-Thin Phones

After the popularization of compact phones, the next competitive focus may shift to ultra-thin phones. Recent leaks from Ming-Chi Kuo suggest that the upcoming iPhone 17 Air will be only 5.5mm thick.

However, there is currently no information indicating that the top 5 domestic phone manufacturers have any ultra-thin phone projects underway. Samsung, however, hinted at an ultra-thin S25 Slim in the Galaxy S25 series launch poster, marking a fourth model in the S25 series.

A decade ago, OPPO and vivo pushed phone thickness to below 5mm. Whether they will revisit this path remains uncertain. Domestic manufacturers may still be wary of the Xiaomi 9's "barely lasting a day" controversy. Creating an ultra-thin phone at the expense of battery life requires significant courage.

Beyond ultra-thin phones, many other avenues for innovation exist, awaiting further exploration and breakthroughs from manufacturers. Ultimately, consumers will benefit from this technological competition, resulting in a more diverse range of product choices.