What year is this? Rumors say 90Hz waterdrop notch, SIM+SD‑card support and other features are making a comeback

Nostalgia sells — and so do cheap, practical features

It has been reported that a wave of budget and mid‑range phones is bringing back older design and feature choices: 90Hz waterdrop notches, physical SIM+SD card slots, 8GB+512GB storage tiers and plastic mid‑frames that sell at the 3K‑yuan price point. Reportedly, the trend is visible across recent launches and leaks, suggesting manufacturers are re‑prioritizing cost, expandability and familiar user experiences over flagship gestures.

Recent models show the pattern

Examples cited by IT之家 include vivo (维沃)’s Y37+ which ships with a MediaTek Dimensity 6300, a 6.74‑inch 1600×720 90Hz LCD waterdrop screen and an 8GB+256GB entry price of ¥1,599. OPPO (欧珀)’s A6i+ used the same Dimensity 6300 with a 6.75‑inch 1520×720 120Hz LCD punch‑hole panel and launched at ¥1,499 for 8GB+256GB. Xiaomi (小米)’s POCO X8 Pro and Apple’s iPhone 17e were both pointed to as devices again offering an 8GB+512GB configuration. Other examples include the Redmi (红米) Turbo 5 and WIKO’s Hi Enjoy 80 Plus in the low‑to‑mid price bands, showing that vendors are pairing mature SoCs with downgraded but cheaper displays and larger base memory options.

Why are companies backtracking on flagship trends?

Why the U‑turn? Reportedly, a mix of consumer price sensitivity, the availability of mature components and supply‑chain realities is driving the move. Manufacturers can hit aggressive price points by choosing LCDs, older chipsets and plastic frames while still marketing higher RAM and storage configurations. Geopolitical factors — including export controls and broader trade pressures that make cutting‑edge components more costly or harder to source — have also been cited as contributing to the emphasis on tried‑and‑true hardware for mass markets.

Outlook: a retro trend — but only for some segments

This isn’t a reversal of high‑end design, but a tactical shift in the budget and value segments where expansion slots and bigger base storage still influence buyer decisions. Will consumers welcome the return of the waterdrop notch and SIM+SD flexibility, or is this a stopgap until component costs stabilize? For now, the market looks set to favor familiar, practical choices over the latest aesthetic bells and whistles.