"OPPO, vivo, Xiaomi, and Honor" launched New Year mobile phones/accessories: The zodiac logos are almost gone. Why don't manufacturers create exclusive products for the Year of the Horse?

There are only a few days left before we bid farewell to the Year of the Snake and welcome the Year of the Horse.

The Spring Festival is not only the most important festival of the year but also a continuation of a sense of ritual. Behind the bustling gatherings of relatives and friends and the strong festive atmosphere of fireworks lies the longing for a better life.

In the past few days, several domestic mobile phone manufacturers seemed to have reached an agreement and launched major moves collectively just before the Spring Festival of the Year of the Horse. Moreover, this time, they are no longer simply painting the back covers of mobile phones red. Instead, they have extended the competition to flagship phones, smartwatches, and even small accessories like phone cases and power banks.

After taking a look at this year's new products, I have only one thought in mind:

The manufacturers have thoroughly studied the psychology of Chinese people during the Spring Festival in order to seize this huge wave of traffic.

Today, Let's talk about what tricks these mobile phone manufacturers are playing during the Spring Festival season of the Year of the Horse in 2026.

All - in - one set: The "red" during the Spring Festival season is not limited to mobile phones

This year's Spring Festival limited - edition products are not as simple as just "painting the phone red".

A simple observation reveals that the strategies of various manufacturers are clearly differentiated. There are the conservative ones, the ecosystem - oriented ones, the meme - playing ones, and even some unexpected players have joined in.

1. Redmi Note 15 Pro in Cherry Red: Deep, rich, and sophisticated, bringing good luck in the new year

Let's start with the most rule - abiding player, Redmi.

As a regular participant in the Spring Festival market every year, Redmi has brought the Redmi Note 15 Pro this year, still using the familiar approach - not high - end in configuration but solid and durable.

It has to be said that this strategy really works for many elders.

(Image source: Redmi)

Moreover, this time, the Note 15 Pro comes in a "Cherry Red" color scheme instead of the standard New Year red.

In previous years, the bright red color scheme seemed festive when you first got the phone, but after the Lantern Festival, taking it out always felt a bit too eye - catching and even a bit tacky. The cherry red this time is a deep, dark red. Paired with the frosted gold camera frame on the back of the phone, it really has a touch of sophistication.

Although the official hasn't explicitly said so, this color scheme is obviously targeted at the gift - giving market during the Spring Festival.

Recall that during the Year of the Snake last year, the Note 14 Pro became the top choice for many young people to give to their parents because of its hard - core features like drop - resistance and water - resistance. This year, the Note 15 Pro continues this idea. With a price just over a thousand yuan, combined with a large battery, fast charging, and a sturdy screen, these are the most practical needs for daily life.

2. vivo X300 in Good Luck Red: A flagship phone in one hand, health care in the other

Now let's take a look at vivo. They might be the most active manufacturer in this year's New Year customization.

First, for the mobile phone, vivo X300 directly launched a "Good Luck Red" version.

(Image source: vivo)

Different from Redmi's mid - range phones, the X300 is a real flagship. What does this mean? It means that manufacturers have begun to realize that not only elders need red phones, but also many young people with spending power want to buy a nice red phone for themselves as a treat during the New Year.

Speaking of the product, the Good Luck Red of the X300 has a very good texture. The matte glass back panel has a great feel, and it feels heavy in the hand, looking very high - end. It conveys a clear message: during the Spring Festival, we not only want to be "red", but also want to be red in a sophisticated and prestigious way.

Of course, there are also mid - range products. The vivo Y500i also added a new color scheme, "Lucky Red".

(Image source: vivo)

But what's more interesting is vivo's move in the smartwatch field.

vivo's smartwatches, such as WATCH 5 and GT 2, have specially launched a Spring Festival - limited dynamic watch face called "Rich Blossom", and if you buy a watch, they will also give you a "Good Luck Red" watch strap.

(Image source: vivo)

I have to say that this watch face is a stroke of genius.

During the Spring Festival, besides wishing for good health, what's the most common auspicious saying we hear? Isn't it "Congratulations on getting rich"? Putting these three characters on a dynamic watch face and wearing it on your wrist, who wouldn't be attracted by the meaning?

Moreover, smartwatches are becoming an increasingly popular gift option. Giving cigarettes and alcohol is harmful to health, and giving food might not suit the recipient's taste. Giving a watch that can measure heart rate and blood oxygen to elders not only shows your filial piety and concern for their health but also seems quite technological.

vivo has perfectly combined health anxiety and the desire for wealth with this move.

3. OPPO's Good Luck Set for the Year of the Horse: Selling accessories instead of phones

OPPO's move this year can be described as quite smart, even a bit tricky.

You may have noticed that although OPPO has red phones this year, such as the OPPO Find X9 in Chasing - Light Red, it hasn't promoted any Spring Festival - limited products. Instead, it sells the red color as a regular color scheme, and this red color is very sophisticated, a flowing light - and - shadow red. Even if you use it on normal days, you won't think it's just for the Spring Festival.

(Image source: OPPO)

OPPO's real play is hidden in the accessories.

Some days ago, OPPO launched a whole set of Good Luck Accessories for the Year of the Horse on platforms like JD.com. This set features the theme of "Good Luck" and uses a red - and - gold color scheme with auspicious patterns.

(Image source: OPPO)

There are many things in this set: a customized magnetic phone case for the Find X9 series priced at 99 yuan, a magnetic power bank priced at 149 yuan, a small square - bottle - shaped charging head that looks like a perfume bottle and is sold for 299 yuan, a magnetic cable, and a 100W super - fast - charging portable power source priced at 249 yuan.

Where is the brilliance of this move?

Think about it. Nowadays, people change their phones less frequently. In the past, people might change their phones once a year, but now a phone can be used for two or three years. During the Spring Festival, it's unrealistic to ask a user who bought a phone less than a year ago to buy a new one just for the red color.

However, spending a few dozen or a hundred yuan to buy a lively red phone case or a power bank with elements of the Year of the Horse to give an old phone a new look is a decision with much lower cost for people.

4. Other manufacturers: Lighting up the festival atmosphere with orange

Besides the festive red, there is a particularly interesting theme color during this year's Spring Festival season - orange.

While everyone is focusing on bright red, Honor chose to embrace orange. The Magic8 Pro Air comes in a "Light Orange" color, and the Honor Power2 even launched a "Sunrise Orange" version. These models stand out like a breath of fresh air among the deep red and dark red phones.

(Image source: Honor)

Redmi is not to be outdone and has come up with the Turbo 5 Max in "Sunshine Orange". The high - saturation orange back cover has become one of the few design highlights of this product.

Until now, the online discussion about "Will orange become the new favorite color scheme this year?" has been quite heated.

In my opinion, this is not only a reaction to aesthetic fatigue but also a projection of psychological needs. If red represents traditional festivity, then orange represents energy and renewal. For office workers who want to start the new year full of energy, this kind of energetic color scheme might be more appealing.

The zodiac logo disappears, and manufacturers finally stop with the Year - of - the - Horse exclusives

After looking at the moves of these manufacturers, I wonder if you've noticed an interesting phenomenon: There seem to be very few flamboyant custom designs this year.

Recall those years when vivo launched the X20 in Star - Shining Red and OPPO launched the R11s in Star - Curtain New Year Edition. At that time, the designs were not only exaggerated and the color schemes were flamboyant, but they were also very keen on printing a golden zodiac logo on the back of the phone.

(Image source: OPPO)

But in 2026, this kind of design has almost disappeared. Why?

First of all, customized phones really don't hold their value.

Think about it. If you buy a phone with a Year - of - the - Horse logo, won't it feel very awkward to take it out in the Year of the Goat? This kind of design that is strongly bound to the zodiac directly limits the service life of the phone to within one year. In the second - hand market, the recycling price of these customized models is often lower than that of the regular versions because buyers also think they are out - of - date.

This is not only the case for New Year - customized phones but also for most co - branded phones with well - known IPs.

(Image source: Lei Technology)

So now the manufacturers have become smarter. For example, the Redmi Note 15 Pro and vivo X300 only retain the core element of red. In this way, the phone is no longer a Spring Festival - limited product but just a red phone. Even in the Year of the Goat or the Year of the Monkey, you can still use it without any problem.

So where have the elements of the Year of the Horse gone? They have moved into the software and onto the accessories.

Both Apple and OPPO are selling Year - of - the - Horse phone cases, vivo has launched a Year - of - the - Horse watch face, and Huawei has created a Year - of - the - Horse exclusive watermark. These things can be replaced. This year it's the Year of the Horse, and next year you can just change the case or the watch face to the Year of the Goat. The cost is extremely low, but the sense of freshness is full.

Just like the "lipstick effect" often mentioned in economics, when people are more cautious about large - scale consumption, these small products that can bring emotional value tend to sell better.

(Image source: Apple)