Definitely a different look and configuration for the real product vs the rendering that they have on their sites! I particularly wanted a device with lock button for travel use and a dedicated line out would have been sweet.
I called their sales manager once I got my T6s because I thought they had sent me the wrong product, the start of what has turned out to be about a dozen WeChat and email messages back and forth so far.
No firm date on the T8. I have to read between the lines but my guess is end of Q1 as they wanted to better gauge interest at CES to refine the spec.
The T3 should be out very soon now as it will be manufactured at a relatively inexpensive price point and thus be more economically viable for them to produce in volume, but I have not seen it in a recent cursory search of Chinese distributor web sites. Of course, Benjie does have a variety of models that are presented in one way and then released in a different form or OEM'd so I might be missing it as named or ultimately configured.
I believe that most recently, as a business model, they get a spec identified and then build to that level with an aim to undercut competitor pricing. They have generally released decent quality for very low price points in both the music player and voice recording niches when they do so. The S5 really is an excellent example of engineering to a very low price point. However, some Russian sites have commented that in the past Benjie sought out out deals on component parts and then built around those they found, rather than do spec work, so their product can be hit or miss based on component sourcing. Probably why they have so many different models with such close specs.
Will have to see how well a T8 level of build works against competing product lines from Fiio, XDuoo, Cowon and the host of others that are chasing relatively low numbers of audiophiles, albeit at higher profit margins.