Meizu, the renowned Chinese technology company, has recently announced a major strategic shift by ceasing the development of new smartphone models.
Instead, Meizu has chosen to focus on developing and innovating “future devices” based on artificial intelligence (AI). By harnessing the potential of AI, the company is currently pursuing an “All for AI” strategy.
Meizu completely shifts to AI
This change seems to have been planned for a long time. Shen Ziyu, Chairman and CEO of Xingji Meizu Group, revealed that in 2023, Meizu successfully transitioned from being just a “mobile phone company” to an “ecosystem group”.
Notably, Meizu has developed immersive multi-device experiences, sharing core capabilities with partners through the Unbounded Zhixing open platform, and their MYVU brand has become a leader in the field of augmented reality (AR) glasses.
Mr. Shen also acknowledged the changes in the smartphone market. He stated that users are now taking longer to upgrade (an average of 51 months) because phones from different brands offer equivalent performance in areas such as smoothness, photography, and features.
In his view, innovation in today’s smartphones increasingly resembles an “integrated specifications” race – more RAM, larger sensors, faster charging – along with industry tactics such as “mud-slinging”, revealing each other’s shortcomings to attract attention.
Therefore, Meizu has decided to stop smartphone business, including canceling the development of upcoming models such as the Meizu 21 Pro, Meizu 22, and Meizu 23.
Meizu gives up developing new smartphone models
Mr. Shen said that the decision to withdraw from the smartphone field is consistent with Meizu’s history. In the past, the company famously abandoned its successful MP3 line in the face of strong sales figures to embrace the emerging smartphone market. Similarly, the development of the MYVU smart glasses demonstrates Meizu’s readiness to invest in future technologies.
After two years of preparation, including team building, resource allocation, and product planning, Mr. Shein stated that Meizu is ready to comprehensively enter the AI field.
The plan includes launching a new mobile operating system suited for the AI era in 2024 and introducing the first AI hardware product later this year.
Meizu 21 will be the final flagship smartphone from Meizu
Meizu assures users that despite this strategic change, support for existing Meizu products and services, including their stores throughout China, will not be affected.
Former CEO of Meizu, Li Nan, has praised the company’s new strategy, emphasizing the need for change to succeed in the future. He sees the AI features in smartphones from other brands as mere “gimmicks” and supports Meizu’s bold move towards AI.
