Phones are getting small again—without compromising power. Xiaomi, Vivo, OnePlus, Oppo and iQOO all have sub-6.5-inch flagships scheduled for the next six months, and every single one carries a top-tier chipset and a perfectly flat display. Here’s what to expect.
The Return of the Pocket-Friendly Flagship
Upcoming smartphone wave is about to delight fans of pocket-friendly power. For early 2025 and the end of 2024, Xiaomi, Vivo, OnePlus, Oppo and iQOO are lining up compact handsets with flat 120 Hz displays, next-gen chipsets and 100 W+ charging. These phones promise flagship-grade cameras and battery life in bodies that finally fit skinny jeans and smaller hands. Below we break down what to expect from each model, why flat screens beat curved edges for usability, and how pricing might compare to the rumored Galaxy S25 Edge and iPhone 17 Air. Get ready for the year of the mini flagship.
Xiaomi 15: Mini Size, Mega Specs
Xiaomi’s next-generation compact star is the Xiaomi 15, pencilled in for a February or March reveal. Despite its manageable 6.36-inch footprint, leaks point to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, a 1.5 K 120 Hz OLED panel and a revamped triple-camera array tuned by Leica. A large 4,900 mAh cell paired with 120 W wired and 50 W wireless charging should erase battery-life anxiety, while MIUI 16 is expected to ship with four Android version updates promised. Early certification filings suggest the chassis will be only 7.9 mm thick yet pack stereo speakers, IP68 sealing and an under-display fingerprint reader, all for roughly ¥4,799 in China.
Vivo X200 Pro Mini: Zeiss Optics in Your Palm
Vivo’s forthcoming X200 Pro Mini is shaping up to be the photographic darling of the bunch. Rumours hint at a super-portable 6.25-inch 144 Hz AMOLED that’s perfectly flat, flanked by razor-thin aluminium rails with the signature pastel matte finish. Power will likely come from MediaTek’s yet-to-be-announced Dimensity 9400, built on a 3 nm process for measurable gains in efficiency. The camera stack could mirror the X200 Pro: a 50 MP main sensor with a large 1/1.28-inch aperture, a 50 MP ultra-wide and a 2× telemacro, all coated in Zeiss T*. Expect Vivo’s V4 imaging chip for blistering night shots, plus 80 W FlashCharge and OriginOS 5.
OnePlus 13 Mini/Edge: Same Muscle, Smaller Frame
OnePlus is reportedly toying with two branding directions for its smaller flagship: “OnePlus 13 Mini” if it wants a literal name, or “OnePlus 13 Edge” to highlight the squared-off styling. Whatever the label, the device is said to drop in Q2 with the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 as the bigger OnePlus 13, but squeezed into a 6.1-inch flat LTPO panel. Expect OxygenOS 15, a refreshed periscope-free camera block featuring Sony’s customised LYT-808 sensor and at least 67 W SuperVOOC charging. Battery size will hover near 4,700 mAh, and wireless charging might finally return after a one-generation hiatus. All eyes are on whether OnePlus keeps the beloved alert slider.
Oppo Find X8: The Flat-Screen Trendsetter
Oppo has already fired the opening salvo with the Find X8, unveiled last month and headed to stores before year’s end. The handset feels like a spiritual successor to the Find X5: matte glass back, polished aluminium frame and, crucially, a perfectly flat 6.4-inch 2,770 × 1,240 OLED. Inside sits Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, backed by 12 GB RAM and up to 512 GB storage with the new Trinity Engine for memory optimisation. The camera island integrates a 50 MP Sony LYT-900 main, 48 MP ultra-wide and 32 MP 2× portrait lens, all driven by the in-house MariSilicon X2 ISP. ColorOS 14 glides at 120 Hz, while 100 W SuperVOOC tops up the 4,800 mAh cell in under 25 minutes.
Where Will OnePlus Price Its Mini Marvel?
One puzzling detail still circling Twitter concerns where the forthcoming OnePlus mini will sit in the company’s crowded line-up. A well-known leaker replied, “It should be between 13R and 13,” hinting at a mid-premium price rather than true budget. Translation: expect a launch tag around ₹55,000 in India and roughly $599 in the United States, placing it above the value-focused 13R yet comfortably below the fully loaded OnePlus 13. That bracket would allow OnePlus to shave a few marquee features, perhaps wireless charging or the highest storage tier, while still keeping the core flagship processor and display tech intact.
iQOO Neo 7 with Dimensity 9300+: Gaming Power Goes Compact
Another compact challenger slated for a March debut is iQOO’s Neo 7, which an insider claims will launch with MediaTek’s souped-up Dimensity 9300+. The “plus” suffix usually signals higher clock speeds, so expect benchmark numbers brushing against Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 territory. Rumoured hardware includes a flat 6.5-inch 1.5 K OLED, 144 Hz touch sampling for game responsiveness and an ample 5,200 mAh battery with blazing 120 W FlashCharge. iQOO traditionally undercuts rivals on price, making the Neo 7 a potentially irresistible option for performance-hungry users who don’t want the bulk of the company’s gaming phones. Early teasers promise sub-4,500 CNY pricing and a graphite cooling chamber.