In the mobile phone industry, “innovation” is a keyword that is often mentioned. Although major manufacturers emphasize the advanced technology and powerful configuration in their publicity, the overall design of the mobile phone often fails to give consumers a refreshing feeling. In order to break this situation, some manufacturers have begun to try novel designs such as three-fold screen mobile phones. Although the actual effect of these attempts remains to be seen, they at least represent a breakthrough in existing designs.
CNMO has noticed that some manufacturers have begun to look back on past design concepts, trying to inspire new inspiration by “refurbishing” old design elements. According to information from multiple sources, CNMO has noticed that small-screen and straight-screen phones seem to be gradually returning to people’s attention. It is expected that from the end of 2024 to the beginning of 2025, a number of domestic flagship and mid-to-high-end mobile phones will be released, many of which have abandoned previous design trends and turned to more classic small-screen and straight-screen designs.
This “reversal” in design is actually a return to the design style of five or six years ago or even earlier. With the diversified demands of consumers for mobile phone user experience, this return to classic design ideas may bring new vitality to the market. For those users who miss the traditional feel and user experience, this is undoubtedly good news.
Big screen becomes small screen
A few years ago, when Apple decided to eliminate the mini model in the iPhone series and launched the Plus series with a larger screen, many people thought that the era of small-screen mobile phones was over. However, recent sales data has proved that this prediction is not accurate. Neither the iPhone mini nor the Plus series has gained widespread favor in the market. It is worth mentioning that in markets such as Japan, the iPhone mini still maintains good sales performance. The success of two consecutive generations of small-screen flagships, Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 14, proves that there is still huge potential in the small-screen mobile phone market.
As a result, in just two or three years, the small-screen mobile phone design that was once thought to be dying is rapidly returning. Not only international giants such as Apple and Samsung, but also domestic mobile phone manufacturers that once almost completely abandoned the design of small-screen mobile phones have begun to re-examine this market. For example, Xiaomi 15 has confirmed that it will continue to use a 6.36-inch screen size. The screen sizes of the two flagship models, vivo X200 and OPPO Find X8, have also been greatly reduced. The screen size of vivo X200 is likely to be similar to that of Xiaomi 15. In addition, there are rumors that another undisclosed manufacturer is developing a small-screen flagship, which may be Meizu, Realme or Huawei.
Although these measures are somewhat rehashed, the existing information shows that the upcoming small-screen mobile phones have made significant progress compared to the products three or four years ago. They are equipped with advanced Snapdragon 8 Gen 4/Dimensity 9400 processors, ultrasonic fingerprint unlocking modules, periscope telephoto lenses, and large-capacity silicon negative battery configurations, making them more complete and versatile products.
However, the problem still exists. Although Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 14 have achieved excellent market results, this is partly because these models lack sufficient competitors. Whether the small-screen mobile phone market can accommodate several domestic flagships at the same time is still an unknown.
Curved screen becomes straight screen
Similar to the recovery of the small-screen mobile phone market, the straight-screen design in mid-to-high-end mobile phones seems to be transforming from marginal to mainstream. Although curved screens have gradually occupied more market share in the past few years and penetrated into more affordable price ranges, the straight-screen design has not been completely marginalized. Products such as the Redmi K series and iQOO digital series have always been firm supporters of the straight-screen design and have achieved good sales results in the market.
It is reported that the two small-screen flagships, vivo X200 and OPPO Find X8, not only reduced the screen size, but also abandoned the curved screen design of the previous generation and adopted a straight screen. At the same time, the new models of the OnePlus Ace series have also joined the straight-screen camp. According to the whistleblower, from the end of 2024 to the beginning of 2025, the Redmi K80 series, iQOO 13, OnePlus Ace series new machines and realme GT Neo series new machines will all adopt a straight-screen design. This means that straight-screen party will have more choices.
It is no accident that mobile phone manufacturers are paying more attention to the straight screen design. Compared with the curved screen, the straight screen has many advantages, including lower production costs, easier body design, and reduced chance of accidental touches. The only price may be a slightly rough frame and a slightly inferior grip. However, the straight screen can generally use tempered film, which minimizes the risk of screen damage, which is one of the reasons why consumers prefer straight screens.
With the advancement of technology, mobile phone manufacturers have made remarkable achievements in reducing screen borders. Many straight-screen flagships have been able to achieve extremely narrow border designs, which has significantly improved the disadvantages of straight screens compared to a few years ago. Although the top flagships currently named “Ultra” still tend to use curved screen designs, with the revival of straight-screen designs, the possibility of changing this situation in the future is increasing.
Rehash the old stuff or take advice?
In the past, it was often said that it was almost impossible to succeed in making a mobile phone by following the opinions of netizens. However, nowadays, both the restart of the small-screen flagship and the return of the straight-screen design seem to be welcomed by consumers. Although some people accuse this of rehashing old ideas, the actual situation is not that simple.
CNMO believes that although small-screen and straight-screen designs are not new, today’s mobile phone industry has changed significantly compared to a few years ago. In the past, small-screen designs were gradually eliminated, mainly because the advent of the 5G era led to a surge in the number of components inside mobile phones. However, with the advancement of body stacking technology and the continued calls from consumers, the conditions for manufacturers to return to small-screen flagships have gradually matured. In particular, the successful market performance of Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 14 has given other manufacturers confidence, prompting them to re-launch small-screen flagships.
As for the popularity of straight screen design, there may be more complicated reasons. In recent years, the craze of consumerism has gradually subsided, consumers have become more rational, and have begun to pay more attention to practicality and durability. Although the curved screen has many advantages, it is also associated with labels such as “fragile ” and “ vase”. In contrast, the more sturdy and durable straight screen design is increasingly favored by consumers. In addition, the straight screen design can also effectively reduce production costs, which is undoubtedly a big benefit for mobile phone manufacturers.
More importantly, the technological progress of mobile phone products has never stopped in recent years. The upcoming small-screen flagships and straight-screen flagships are incomparable to those of the past. They have been significantly improved in design, performance and user experience, providing consumers with more choices.
In summary, whether it is the return of small-screen design or the popularization of straight-screen design, it is not a simple rehash, but the result of adapting to market changes and technological progress. With the diversification of consumer demand and the continuous innovation of technology, the mobile phone industry will continue to show a more diversified trend.
