Market speculation is mounting over reports that Meizu may be preparing to wind down its smartphone business, though the company has yet to issue an official response. The speculation gained traction after Chinese tech outlet Sanyan Tech reported that development of Meizu’s upcoming flagship, the Meizu 23, has been halted.
According to Sanyan Tech, Meizu began phasing out outsourced teams in mid-January 2026. Following the departure of external personnel, internal R&D resources were reportedly insufficient to sustain progress on the Meizu 23 project.
Additional signals have further fueled speculation: in early February, the company was said to have adjusted its annual leave policy, requiring employees to use vacation or personal leave on non-statutory holidays while allegedly adding six extra leave days — a move some observers interpreted as an effort to clear accumulated leave balances.
On Feb. 10, a former Meizu employee known online as Mao Ge posted a video hinting at internal difficulties, saying he “didn’t want to be the one to break the illusion,” which many interpreted as a sign that the smartphone division is facing serious challenges.
The speculation contrasts sharply with earlier public statements from Meizu leadership. In September 2025, Xingji Meizu CEO Huang Zhipan said the Meizu 23 had been officially approved and was targeting a mid-2026 launch.
At a January 2026 event, China CMO Wan Zhiqiang said that the device would feature the narrowest bezels in the brand’s history, though it would no longer use Meizu’s signature white front panel. However, surging memory prices were reportedly a major blow to the company’s product plans, contributing to the cancellation of the Meizu 22 Air.
Since being acquired by Geely-backed Xingji Shidai in 2022 and forming the Xingji Meizu Group in 2023, the company has undergone a string of leadership changes, including four CEOs in recent years — a pattern analysts say has led to shifting strategies.
In 2024, Meizu said it would halt new “traditional smartphone” projects and pivot toward AI-focused devices, a move widely seen as a response to intensifying competition in the smartphone market.
If the Meizu 23 has indeed been canceled, it could mark a formal exit from the smartphone sector as the company shifts its focus toward building an AI-centered ecosystem. As of now, Meizu has not issued an official statement on the future of its smartphone business.
