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Ten years ago, a mobile brand wanted to stand up to Apple and Samsung. That brand is Meizu, and has returned in style

In 2003 there was a Chinese brand that began by manufacturing MP3 players. That brand was called Meizuand was founded by Jack Wong, a former Soken worker, Singapore -based audio company.

Meizu ended up becoming one of the Chinese referents with their MP3. In 2006, its Meizu sales were worth more than 10,000 million yuan, becoming the first local success manufacturer in the MP3 market. The next logical jump went to the MP4 and, just three years later, he ventured with something that would change everything: mobile phones.

The Meizu M8

Meizu began to focus on the creation of mobile phones in 2006, but it was not until 2009 when the market launched its first proposal: the Meizu M8.

Meizu M8
Meizu M8

It is not necessary to mention the gagdet that I imitated, since it was quite evident. With a 3.3 -inch touch screen, resolution 720×480, bluetooth connectivity and an ARM processor, this first phone landed with Windows CE 6an operating system developed by Microsoft for consumer electronics. One of the first predecessors of Windows Phone.

What had to happen happened: the Meizu M8 generated a lot of stir because it was an iPhone tracing, although the company raised that its phone came to the market before. He was not right: the iPhone appeared four days later, on January 9, 2007.

The Meizu M9

Meizu
Meizu

With the Meizu M9presented in December 2011, the company looked at the face of Galaxy S. The new model arrived with a 960×640 resolution (the same as the Apple Display retina) and with the same processor as the processor of the Samsung Galaxy s (S5PC110) and Android 2.2 Custom with the meizu layer. It is important to highlight that these phones were only sold in China, the main market for Meizu at that time.

It is easy to understand why Meizu began to look towards Android. In that same 2010, Apple started responding to Meizu. He denounced before the patent office that phones like the M8 were a tracing of his iPhone. China ended up giving the reason to Apple, and Meizu was forced to M8 sales.

The MX3, MX4 and international expansion

MX3
MX3

In September 2013, Meizu launched an iconic device. One that server had in his pocket. It was about Meizu MX3a phone with Flyme 3.0 (Meizu’s customization layer), Exynos processorSony cameras, screen signed by Sharp and Japan Display … It was the beginning of a stage in which Meizu began to expand internationally, and that reached a high peak with the MX4.

Meizu never became a mass brand. In fact, the MX4 version that was sold in Europe (low invitation system) He arrived with Ubuntu. However, there were agreements with retail partners for distribution (Gearbest, mainly). There is no data on sales that the company achieved. In forums such as Htcmania he managed to earn the love of users, and Flymeos was one of the most different customization layers in the market.

A competition that could with them

Xiaomi Redmi Note
Xiaomi Redmi Note

Although Meizu made very good phones, there were two Chinese manufacturers taking absolutely all the cake: Huawei and Xiaomi. Meizu made no investment in marketing or post-sale, while its competition began to sign agreements with operators already have a presence throughout Europe.

Meizu was reducing his collaboration with partners and, over 2017, he ended up retreating to China and emerging markets. In short, Meizu was always focused on his native country, but gave small steps to try to approach Europe without too successful and without a solid distribution network.

Geely’s intervention

Slide 16 9 85 2
Slide 16 9 85 2

Geely is a Chinese giant in the automotive market. Is behind Zeekr, Lynk & Co and even Volvo, and Meizu bought through one of its subsidiary companies to integrate it into its intelligent mobility ecosystem. Its founders maintain participation, but the strategic direction is in the hands of Geely.

The plan: strengthen its technology division for vehicles, with systems such as Flyme Autothe interface that gives life to Lynk & Co. Geely cars found in Meizu a key ally in software, and Meizu obtained a new business course and resources under the umbrella of a giant in growth and expansion.

The return

Globalization It is the word that Meizu wanted to highlight in the presentation of its new products. Specifically, the company has just made five phones officers, new VR glasses and an intelligent ring. Namely:

  • Meizu Mblu 22
  • Meizu Mblu 22 Pro
  • Meizu Note 22
  • Meizu Note 22 5g
  • Meizu Note 22 Pro 5g
  • Meizu Starv View
  • Meizu Starv Ring 2

The company has presumed to be expanding for more than 30 countries, including Spain. It is the most important launch in its last years, one in which Meizu’s reentry in the international market marks.

Screen capture 20 05 2025 to 10 03 35 am
Screen capture 20 05 2025 to 10 03 35 am

Meizu is going to focus on input and medium -end mobiles. The crown jewel is the meizu note 22 pro 5ga telephone with IP68 water resistance, 6,200MAH battery with fast charging of 80W, Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, 1.5K screen with 4,500 nits and main camera of 50 megapixels. Its price will be around $ 299 to 369.

Regarding the rest of the models, they have more humble specifications (such as MediaTak Helio G99) and prices that are around $ 200. A product-centered strategy affordable with simple specs to conquer the market in quality-quality. You can consult The Specs of each of them on their website.

Starview
Starview

Even more striking are the Starv View, their glasses with a 188 -inch projector. They have speaker system, weigh only 74 grams, they come with Flyme XR 2.0 (Android based on the Meizu layer), 700 brightness nits and Full HD+ resolution for each eye.

Meizu now has two challenges. The first is to make your distribution system as powerful as that of its rivals: operators, Amazon and main Spanish distributors. The second, achieve a convincing product marketing. The brand is an absolute unknown in Spain, but has the opportunity to conquer by quality-price.

Image | Meizu

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