Meizu group of phones

Meizu is a Chinese smartphone brand that has been in the market since 2008, when it launched its first device, the Meizu M8. Since then, Meizu has released several models of smartphones, ranging from budget-friendly to flagship-level, with various features and designs. Meizu is known for its Flyme OS, a customized version of Android that offers a simple and intuitive user interface. Meizu also has a loyal fan base in China and some international markets, such as Russia, India, and Brazil. In this article, we will take a look at the history of Meizu, as well as some of the pros and cons of its phones.

Meizu group of phones: A review of the past and present

Meizu was founded in 2003 by Jack Wong, who initially started the company as a manufacturer of MP3 and MP4 players. The company's most notable product in this category was the M6 Mini Player, which was also sold by Dane-Elec outside China. In 2007, Meizu announced its first smartphone, the Meizu M8, which was heavily inspired by Apple's iPhone. The device ran on Mymobile OS, a modified version of Windows CE 6.0. However, Meizu faced legal issues with Apple over patent infringement and had to stop selling the M8 in China.

In 2011, Meizu switched to Android as its operating system and released the Meizu M9, which was well-received by consumers and critics. The device featured a 3.5-inch screen, a 1 GHz processor, and a 5 MP camera. It also introduced Flyme OS, Meizu's own skin for Android that offered a minimalist and elegant design. The same year, Meizu expanded its presence outside China by opening branch offices in Hong Kong and Russia.

In 2012, Meizu launched the Meizu MX series, which consisted of high-end smartphones with powerful specifications and premium design. The first model in this series was the Meizu MX, which had a 4-inch screen, a dual-core processor, and an 8 MP camera. It was followed by the Meizu MX2, which had a 4.4-inch screen, a quad-core processor, and an improved camera. The Meizu MX3 was released in 2013 and was the first smartphone to offer 128 GB of internal storage. It also had a 5.1-inch screen, an octa-core processor, and an improved Flyme OS.

In 2014, Meizu entered the budget smartphone segment with the launch of the Meizu M1 Note, which had a 5.5-inch screen, an octa-core processor, and a 13 MP camera. It was priced at $160 and competed with other Chinese brands like Xiaomi and Huawei ⁶. The same year, Meizu also released the Meizu MX4 and MX4 Pro, which were flagship devices with metal bodies and fingerprint scanners. The MX4 Pro also had a 2K display and a Hi-Fi audio chip.

In 2015, Meizu received a $590 million investment from Alibaba Group, one of China's largest e-commerce companies. This gave Meizu access to Alibaba's online platforms and cloud services. The same year, Meizu launched the Meizu M2 Note and M2, which were affordable smartphones with decent performance and design. The company also released the Meizu Pro 5, which was its most powerful device at that time. It had a 5.7-inch AMOLED screen, an octa-core processor, and a USB Type-C port.

In 2016, Meizu introduced the Meizu Pro 6 Series, which consisted of three models: the Pro 6, Pro 6 Plus, and Pro 6s. These devices featured curved metal bodies and pressure-sensitive screens. The Pro 6 Plus also had a QHD display and an Exynos processor. The same year, Meizu also launched the Meizu M3 Note and M3s, which were budget-friendly devices with metal bodies and fingerprint scanners.

In 2017, Meizu released the Meizu Pro 7 series, which consisted of two models: the Pro 7 and Pro 7 Plus. These devices had dual screens: one on the front and one on the back. The rear screen was used for notifications, selfies, and other functions . The same year, Meizu also launched the Meizu M6 Note and M6s, which were mid-range devices with dual cameras and fast charging .

In 2018, Meizu unveiled the Meizu 15 series, which consisted of three models: the 15 Lite (or M15), the 15 (or S6), and the 15 Plus. These devices had a classic design with thin bezels and circular home buttons. They also had AMOLED screens, dual cameras, and fast charging . The same year, Meizu also released the Meizu 16 series, which consisted of two models: the 16 and 16 Plus. These devices had a modern design with no notch and no home button. They also had in-display fingerprint scanners, Snapdragon processors, and improved cameras .

In 2019, Meizu launched the Meizu 16s series, which consisted of two models: the 16s and 16s Pro. These devices had a similar design to the Meizu 16 series, but with improved performance and features. They also had a pop-up selfie camera, a triple rear camera, and a 90 Hz refresh rate screen . The same year, Meizu also released the Meizu Note 9 and Note 8, which were mid-range devices with large screens, waterdrop notches, and dual cameras .

In 2020, Meizu introduced the Meizu 17 series, which consisted of two models: the 17 and 17 Pro. These devices were the first from Meizu to support 5G connectivity. They also had a punch-hole display, a quad rear camera, and wireless charging . The same year, Meizu also launched the Meizu M10, which was a budget device with a 6.5-inch screen, a dual camera, and a 4000 mAh battery .

In 2021, Meizu released the Meizu 18 series, which consisted of two models: the 18 and 18 Pro. These devices had a curved AMOLED display, a Snapdragon 888 processor, and an improved Flyme OS. They also had a quad rear camera, an in-display fingerprint scanner, and a ceramic back . The same year, Meizu also launched the Meizu Watch, which was its first smartwatch. It had a 1.78-inch AMOLED screen, an eSIM card slot, and a blood oxygen sensor .

In 2022, Meizu announced that it had sold a majority stake to Geely Holding Group, one of China's largest automakers. This deal gave Meizu access to Geely's resources and expertise in electric vehicles and smart mobility . The same year, Meizu launched the Meizu 18s series, which consisted of three models: the 18s Lite (or M18), the 18s (or S8), and the 18s Pro (or P8). These devices had similar designs to the Meizu 18 series, but with upgraded performance and features. They also had a periscope zoom camera, an under-screen camera (for the Pro model), and a graphene battery.

Subsequent (latest) Meizu smartphones: 

• Meizu 20 and 20 Pro. (2023)

• Meizu 19 and 19 Pro. (2022)

• Meizu Note 10 and Note 10 Pro. (2022)

• Meizu C10 and C10 Pro. (2022)

The Meizu group of phones has many pros and cons that can be evaluated based on seven different criteria we've set as the standard for evaluating a phone's overall performance. These criteria include design, performance, camera, battery, price, software, and customer service.

Some of the pros of Meizu phones are:

• Meizu phones have a simple and elegant design that is comfortable to hold and use.

• Meizu phones have Flyme OS, which is a customized version of Android that offers a smooth and intuitive user interface.

• Meizu phones have good sound quality via the 3.5 mm jack or the built-in speakers.

• Meizu phones have decent cameras that can capture clear and detailed photos and videos.

• Meizu phones have fast charging technology that can replenish the battery quickly.

• Meizu phones have dual SIM support that allows users to use two different networks at the same time.

• Meizu phones have various security features such as fingerprint scanners, face unlock, private spaces, etc.

Some of the cons of Meizu phones are:

• Meizu phones do not support external SD cards that can expand the storage capacity.

• Meizu phones do not have Google services pre-installed in China, which may limit some apps and functions.

• Meizu phones do not have NFC support that can enable contactless payments or data transfer.

• Meizu phones do not have wireless charging technology that can charge the battery without cables.

• Meizu phones do not have water resistance or dust protection that can prevent damage from liquids or particles.

• Meizu phones do not have wide availability or after-sales service in some international markets.

Meizu is a Chinese smartphone brand that has been producing various models of devices since 2008. It has a history of innovation and quality in its products. It also has some pros and cons that may suit different preferences and needs of users. If you are looking for a smartphone that has a simple design, a smooth interface, a good sound quality, a decent camera, a fast charging technology, and a dual SIM support, you may want to consider buying a Meizu phone. However,

if you are looking for a smartphone that has an external SD card support and 

a Google service pre-installed Meizu may  not be the right choice for you.

Therefore, customers who are interested in buying a Meizu phone should weigh the pros and cons carefully before making their decision.