Mobile phone manufacturers can always set off some waves at the price of 1999 yuan.
In August 2011, the Xiaomi Mi 1 used 1999 yuan to start a rectification campaign in China's copycat market.
Since the beginning of this year, major brands have not forgotten to update their 1999 yuan products in the fierce competition of high-end, folding, and AI.
We also got 7 latest models at a price of 1999 yuan from 6 brands at the first time, and compared with each other, we found that most of the current thousand-yuan machines are pursuing cost performance at the same time, and found a "unique school".
In a word, to summarize the characteristics of this type of model, it is "one after another".
Seeking common ground while reserving differences, the battle for performance
Before the horizontal comparison, let's explain the principles of our selection of target models this time:
1. 1999 yuan is the starting price of the mobile phone, which is the lowest configuration of this series of products;
2. The price of some models fluctuates a little, but it is only low and not high;
3. The price of the product is based on the current official website/online shopping flagship store;
4. All comparison products are the latest models in the series;
5. If there is a subordinate relationship between brands, they will be treated as independent individuals and will not be merged;
6. Why does it have to be lower than or close to 2,000 yuan? Because what we want to discuss is "what kind of mobile phone can you buy at the limit of the price of 1,000 yuan".
For a long time, the 1999 price segment was firmly tied to "value for money": they had everything and they were all enough, but very few of them stood up to scrutiny in their own right.
But now, after completing the cost-effective layout, the thousand-yuan machine is trying to use some outstanding functions to highlight its personality.
In the thousand-yuan stall, the "up" one after another is in the promotional slogan of each product.
First, let's look at the performance class representatives.
Although most manufacturers use advertising slogans to "pull the table" of the performance of their products, from the perspective of configuration parameters, there are also high and low.
The Redmi Turbo 3, which shouted the "performance whirlwind", is equipped with the Snapdragon 8S Gen3, which is a mid-range chip with the same architecture as this year's Snapdragon "strongest core" 8 Gen3, using TSMC's 4nm flagship process technology, and the Antutu running score has reached 1,754,299 points.
另一的 iQOO Z9 Turbo 也同样搭载了骁龙 8S Gen3，1,764,028 的安兔兔跑分。
The Redmi Turbo 3 and iQOO Z9 Turbo not only use the same chip, but also add "Turbo" to the name.
He even shouted the slogan of "real Turbo looks at iQOO".
No matter what price segment of the mobile phone, smoothness is always the biggest factor affecting your experience, and the SoC is a topic that can't be avoided, so let's start with the chip.
Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8s Gen3 and Snapdragon 7+ Gen3 launched this year have breathed new life into the mid-range market.
In terms of chip architecture, the Snapdragon 8s Gen3 has a higher frequency and stronger theoretical performance, while the Snapdragon 7+ Gen3 is more energy efficient and lasts longer.
▲ PICTURE FROM: DTCHAT
IT CAN ALSO BE SEEN FROM THE CPU RANKING RELEASED BY DCHATT THAT THESE TWO MID-RANGE CHIPS ARE PERFORMING WELL.
一加 Ace 3V 和真我GT Neo6 SE 都同时搭载了能效更优的骁龙 7+ Gen3。
However, the difference between the two chips is only relative, because the difference in performance and energy efficiency is almost noticeable in actual use, and the Snapdragon 8s Gen3 and Snapdragon 7+ Gen3 are already at the same level of processors.
We compare these four models side by side, not only because of their similar processor performance, but also because of the similarities in many ways.
First, the rear dual cameras of the four models are a combination of "50MP main camera + 8MP telephoto".
Second, the gadgets are very complete: NFC, infrared, X-axis linear motor, stereo dual speakers.
If you are accustomed to operating your mobile phone with vibration feedback on your usual life, and have also compared the difference between rotor motors and linear motors, you should have a deep understanding of the texture of X-axis linear motors. More diverse vibration methods, to the touch of a great improvement, for a long time, this is only the exclusive high-end flagship.
In gaming, video, and music scenarios, dual speakers generally play the function of "1+1>2", which is louder and can also express the characteristics of the sound source more realistically and three-dimensionally.
Interestingly, all four phones emphasize the heat dissipation capabilities of their models in their promotions, and the wording is quite strong:
- Redmi Turbo 3: Frozen cooling system
- iQOO Z9 Turbo 6K 天幕 VC 液冷散热
- OnePlus Ace 3V: Heavenly cooling system
- 真我GT Neo6 SE：万级 VC 散热
After reading it, I can even feel an inexplicable coolness.
Combined with the above-mentioned very close performance configurations, it is not difficult to find that these four performance small steel cannons are the main gaming experience.
But in fact, each mobile phone has a slightly higher advantage in some small items:
The Redmi Turbo 3 uses a 6.67-inch screen, which is the smallest of the nine comparison models, and the weight of 179g is also on the light side.
The iQOO Z9 Turbo has a huge 6000mAh battery, which is the largest capacity of all the representative models.
The Realme GT Neo6 SE is equipped with an AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, and the biggest highlight of this screen is "bright".
全局激发亮度有 1600nit,局部峰值亮度甚至能达到 6000nit.
The OnePlus Ace 3V and the Realme GT Neo6 SE are also very unified in the leading parts: 100W wired fast charging, a slightly larger 5500mAh battery, and IP65 for stronger dust and water resistance.
Judging from the data, it seems that it is difficult to solve, but when it is really necessary to choose one of the two in front of you, they all have the final decision push:
- The Realme GT Neo6 SE is 300 pieces cheaper, with an ultra-narrow bezel on a curved screen, and a higher pixel of 32mp on the front camera.
- OnePlus Ace 3V is a straight board machine, the overall body is matte material, it is not easy to stick fingerprints, and there is an ancestral three-stage switch, which is said to be good if you have used it.
Being maverick is also a selling point
The "sex" in the "cost performance" of the thousand-yuan machine often refers to the performance, and the above four models are based on performance and depict their respective 1999 yuan "god machine".
But then the problem arises: there are many similarities, no differences. In the end, the decision of which unit to buy will fall on the brand and appearance.
vivo S18 has captured the olive branch of "appearance".
The first appearance is the design of the phone itself, and even its slogan is "prismatic purple new color, extraordinarily blooming".
According to vivo's official website, the plain leather on the back of the phone is made of natural leather texture "lychee pattern", and is matched with a diamond-shaped embossing process.
What's more, vivo S18 is also sprayed with a nano-level anti-fouling and wear-resistant coating on the surface of the plain leather, which can not only delay the aging of the leather, but also easily erase stains and scratches in daily use.
The appearance makes the device very eye-catching, and it also captures many buyers who don't care so much about the configuration, but care about the texture.
The second look of the vivo S18 is "beauty photography", so it also has the highest front camera pixel among the 7 products: 50MP.
In order to achieve a natural selfie effect in most scenes, the front camera module of the vivo S18 is paired with two wide-angle soft lights.
The 90° wide-angle soft light not only satisfies the fill light, but also makes the front portrait shooting more three-dimensional.
This soft light for portrait shooting also has a circle under the rear module.
Built-in portrait soft light is a rarity.
vivo S18 has found the right "portrait shooting", and has also built an experience barrier with hardware.
In addition to vivo, there is also its sibling OPPO.
Some time ago, we detailed the OPPO A3 Pro and why they want to make a phone that can smash walnuts.
The most exaggerated thing about this mobile phone is that it is a three-proof mobile phone that can be called "special equipment", and even the promotional slogan is "Drop-resistant God of War".
- At the same time, it supports IP69, IP68 and IP66 protection standards;
- The whole machine has passed the national military standard impact test;
- The back glass is equipped with "Jingdun Glass", which has a 160% increase in drop resistance compared with products of the same grade;
- The structure has been redesigned as a "super fall-resistant diamond structure".
Compared with a mobile phone that pursues performance and appearance in this price segment, the OPPO A3 Pro advertises durability and drop resistance, which always feels a little unusual, and of course, this sense of disobedience is also reflected in another new machine of the brand: OPPO K12.
There were many highlights of the OPPO K12 press conference, such as smashing walnuts, smashing mobile phones, and Monica, which violently tested the hardness of the screen with high heels.
Although both phones are durable, they have their own advantages.
The Oppo A3 Pro's strategy is to be AII in rugged, spending almost all of its costs on the blade of rugged three-proof: a 5000mAh battery, 67w wired fast charging, and a 120Hz OLED display are all sufficient, and the Dimensity 7050's processor is likely to be the biggest concern when choosing the A3 Pro.
The Oppo K12 has a slightly lower IP54 rating, but it's more comprehensive overall.
The processor is equipped with a large 7,5500mAh battery of the third-generation Snapdragon and 100W wired fast charging, which is much stronger than the battery life and energy replenishment experience of the A3 Pro, and the 16MP pixel of the front camera is also double that of the A3 Pro.
OPPO currently has a total of four series on sale: Find X, Reno, K, and A, and the A series is the entry-level model, so the overall experience of the K series will be more prominent at the same price.
But if you especially need a phone that is resistant to drops and water, the OPPO A3 Pro is definitely the first choice, and it can even give you a rugged experience that flagship has never had.
1999 was the biggest surprise
At the beginning of this month, Redmi and OnePlus's online line rushed to the hot search, due to the announcement of the first batch of performance evaluations of Redmi Turbo 3, which was slightly inferior to the competing OnePlus Ace 3V in some game data.
Li Jie, president of OnePlus China, immediately replied on Weibo, "Welcome everyone to get started and experience, we are not afraid of comparison, we are not afraid of testing".
The person in charge of the two brands is so-for-tat, in fact, it is inseparable from the trade-off of 1999 yuan.
On the one hand, the thousand-yuan machine grasps a product feature, which may be performance, or appearance and durability, and then make it bigger and stronger, which is to take.
On the other hand, limited by price and cost, what should they give up, it may be taking pictures, or it may be materials and fast charging, and it has become a multiple-choice question of scratching ears and cheeks, which is a sacrifice.
Therefore, the labeling is especially obvious at the price of 1999 yuan.
Therefore, there are two heads who shout in the air, and besides, these two mobile phones have a pivotal position in their own brands.
According to IDC's statistical report, in 2023, models of 1000-2000 yuan will account for nearly 30% of global smartphone shipments, and even though Q4 will decline by 6% year-on-year, it still has a 25% share.
The thousand-yuan machine is still the main sales force of major manufacturers.
And, because of their very conspicuous selling points, they also have very clear user portraits.
For example, the performance-oriented Redmi Turbo 3 and Realme GT Neo6 SE will be more popular with students and mobile game enthusiasts.
The vivo S18, which focuses on appearance and portraits, especially when added with a soft light, may also attract the attention of some female users or groups who pay attention to portrait photography.
The OPPO A3 Pro, known as the God of Fall-resistant War, is more suitable for Didi drivers and takeaway brothers who are often on the go.
In addition, a mobile phone at this price is also very suitable as a backup. The main machine already has a good performance, and the endurance and thin feel of the standby machine are the first factors to consider.
You see, this is labeling and accurate user group positioning, doing a simple thing repeatedly and seriously, any brand is likely to find its own personality in the commonality of "cost performance".
Finally, I would like to talk about the overall feeling of using a few thousand-yuan machines.
At one point, I thought that a phone in this price segment should have the following features:
- On the lighter side, the middle frame and back cover are plastic
- It is not smooth, and the middle frame-back cover is connected with edges and corners
- Camera pull-over, CDC retro texture
-
LCD screen, the screen looks plastic
The operation is stuck, and the system is not smooth
- The game experience is 0, like flipping PPT
However, none of the 7 phones I've experienced have any of the above, and even after a few days of use, I suddenly forget about their prices, and they don't seem to be very different from flagships.
First of all, all the mobile phones meet my daily needs: the system is smooth, the image is okay, and the battery life is excellent;
Secondly, there are some surprises to be seen in the areas they are good at: the game is silky, the portrait is natural, and it is really resistant to falls.
On the basis of passing everywhere, you can also meet your needs a little more, which is the surprise brought by the current 1999 yuan domestic machine mid-range machine.