Smartphone manufacturers like Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi are all set to launch their 2024 flagship lineups, including the Vivo X200 series, Oppo Find X8 series, and Xiaomi 15 series. Interestingly, many of the manufacturers are offering a compact yet capable flagship this year.
A recent leak on Weibo suggests that these base models will feature display sizes ranging from 6.3″ to 6.6″. For comparison, both the Oppo Find X7 and Vivo X100 featured significantly larger 6.78″ displays.
Why the shift to smaller sizes? Previously, larger form factors allowed for higher battery capacity, with thermal management as another key consideration. While these remain important, sustaining heavy workloads is still largely dependent on battery capacity.
The biggest issue with compact devices has finally been addressed
If you’ve been following rumors, you may know that the new base models mentioned above will include significantly larger batteries than their predecessors, effectively resolving compact phones’ historical battery limitations.
This shift is possible thanks to silicon-anode batteries, which offer improved energy density over traditional graphite-anode options. Although not new technology, its application in smartphones now solves the battery life issues compact devices have faced.
Beyond battery capacity, performance and camera quality are no longer constraints. Smartphone makers are integrating advanced cooling solutions, and paired with the latest process-node flagship chips, these compact devices can deliver impressive performance.
On the camera front, Vivo is demonstrating that a smaller form factor doesn’t have to compromise quality. The upcoming Vivo X200 Pro Mini is confirmed to include the same 1/1.28″ image sensor as the Pro model, aiming to combine ‘Pro’ performance with a ‘Mini’ form factor.
With increased battery capacity, users can now have top-tier performance without the bulk of Ultra-sized phones. Compact phones are no longer a thing of the past—they’re the new flagship trend.
