Emir BardakçıAdditionally, research company CounterPoint Research observed that Chinese cell phone giants have begun shifting from conventional hardware competition to ecosystem-driven innovation. Recent high-tech offerings from Xiaomi, Vivo, OPPO, and Honor represent a milestone change that incorporates artificial intelligence, high-tech camera solutions, and consumer-oriented designs.
The Chinese flagships above $550 (4,000 yuan) now face a diversification stage where every brand aims to offer something exclusive. As noted by CounterPoint, it seems that Xiaomi leads on rear screen innovation, while Vivo and OPPO focus on imaging workflow, and Honor on AI experience.
Xiaomi: Innovating with the “Magic Back Screen”
The Xiaomi 17 Series, showcased on September 25, illustrates such an approach. Skipping the 16 Series, Xiaomi presented the first devices equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, thus providing a 20% CPU power increase.
The Xiaomi 17 Pro comes with an earth-shattering “Magic Back Screen”, which acts as a functional rear screen that supports notifications, picture previews, and can act as a selfie viewfinder through the primary camera. The new device comes with the Leica Summilux camera system and LOFIC 3.0, resulting in an unparalleled increase in dynamic range.
Vivo and OPPO: The Mastery of Professional Imaging
Vivo and OPPO remain at the forefront of camera capabilities. The X300 Series, launched on October 13, comes equipped with the Dimensity 9500 chipset, 200MP telephoto camera, and Zeiss T* coating, providing lifelike colors and professional-grade portrait clarity.
At the same time, OPPO Find X9 Pro, released on October 15, prides itself on being a genuine Hasselblad “travel photography gadget,” packed with a 200MP telephoto camera and an 8K Hasselblad photo shooting
Honor: Moving the Frontier of AI
Honor follows a different approach by emphasizing AI evolution. The Honor Magic8 Series, which went on sale on October 15, arrives with MagicOS 10, in addition to the YOYO AI assistant, an intelligent multi-app task manager. The 200MP periscope telephoto camera, assisted by the AiMAGE engine, provides better telephoto images in low light.
iQOO: Dedicated to Gaming Performance
In contrast, iQOO continues to excel at gaming. The iQOO 15, which went on sale on October 20, pairs the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor with the Q3 co-processor, delivering ultimate frame stability and low latencies.
The Emergence of Customized Flagship Strategies
According to CounterPoint, it shows that these high-quality phones represent a shift in the standards set by Chinese smartphones. Since users have become very particular, it takes more than just specs to define these particular smartphones. The intelligence of ai used in these smartphones stands out.
The trend toward high-end, AI-empowered smartphones appears irreversible. Xiaomi’s approach with rear-screen interaction may soon set the benchmark for flagship innovation in 2025.
Source: ITHome
