Next-gen premium smartphones tipped to launch with advanced audio and tuning

The Redmi K80 Ultra and its almost unnecessarily developed Master Level 1115 coaxial symmetrical dual speaker system may have wielded more influence than previously thought, according to a new leak. Other smartphones of its ilk are now predicted to follow its lead with sophisticated, and possibly even branded, integrated audio of their own.

The tip might hint at the return of Sound by Harman Kardon in devices such as the impending Xiaomi 16 flagship series - then again, their forebears have gotten by without the co-branding for multiple generations, and have managed to accrue critical acclaim for their on-board sound nonetheless in some cases, most especially the 14 Ultra as of late.

Instead, these next-gen handsets are thought to come from the subsidiaries and sub-brands of main Android brands, such as Vivo's iQoo and Xiaomi's own Redmi. (The 16 series is projected to go in another direction with help from Nokia in any case.)

Accordingly, smartphones such as the K90 Ultra or Neo12 Pro might aim to be the equivalent of a Co-engineered with Zeiss flagship, just for audio rather than photography. 

If so, we might finally have something more positive to say about their bass performance in review for a change.

The Xiaomi Sound Outdoor IP67 portable speaker with an in-built strap: now available on Amazon for $65.99.