Through a lengthy press release, Meizu updated users on the status of the new flagship, and no, it’s not good news. Over the past weeks there have been numerous speculations about the brand’s future, mostly limited to Chinese media – the company operates very little here nowadays.
The new Meizu 23 will not see the light of day: however the brand categorically denies the existence of a crisis and – above all – the rumors of bankruptcy.
The latest model in the main line dates back to last September: Meizu 22 debuted with a refreshed design and an ultrathin-bezel display, but the newcomer wasn’t enough. In the following months there was talk of Meizu 22 Air, canceled but still shown by the Chinese company, and then of Meizu 23.
In a press release, a strategic halt to hardware development and production was announced. All work will be focused on AI software and the Flyme ecosystem, but it’s not new: Meizu has long been steering in this direction since its acquisition by the Chinese automotive giant Geely.
Below you will find the full text of the statement published on the Chinese social network Weibo.
Dear Meizu community and friends:
Recently online there have been several rumors about Meizu, generating many misinterpretations. With this announcement we officially clarify that the rumors of “bankruptcy and restructuring, suspension of activities and exit from the smartphone market” are false and unfounded. We reserve the right to take legal action against those who spread such calumnies.
Twenty-three years ago, Meizu was born from passion. From MP3 players to smartphones, from smart cabins to the concept of “no Meizu without the fans”, our mission has always been to create the most beautiful products for the most extraordinary people in this incredible era.
Today we officially announce: Meizu will suspend new hardware development projects for smartphones on the domestic market (China). We are actively collaborating with third-party partners, while existing activities will not suffer any interruption.
It is well known that competition in the Chinese smartphone market has become extremely fierce. Despite our efforts to maintain product iteration, the continual increase in component costs (such as memory) has made the commercial viability of new models difficult.
It is a difficult decision. We know that every Meizu phone carries the trust and the youth of our users. However, this is not a farewell, but a carefully considered strategic choice. Meizu will undertake a complete transformation toward the AI era. We will move from a hardware-driven model to one guided by AI software products, building a company based on the open Flyme ecosystem.
This “pause button” on hardware development serves to concentrate resources to empower the Flyme ecosystem, taking it into more scenarios, industries and devices across different brands.
Concurrently, the smartphone business abroad, the AI glasses and the technology lifestyle brand PANDAER will continue to operate normally, bringing new products to market.
User rights will be guaranteed: after-sales support, maintenance and security updates for current Meizu phones will continue without changes.
Without the fans, there is no Meizu. As long as there are fans, Meizu will be here!
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