The Meizu 22 series launch event has been postponed twice, increasing anticipation among netizens regarding its specifications. The latest leak reveals that the Meizu 22 will be equipped with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor, the same chip used in Redmi’s budget phone, which offers moderate performance but is positioned as a flagship with a compact flat screen and imaging capabilities.
According to Digital Chat Station, the Meizu 22 is confirmed to feature the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor, with an imaging system that includes a 3x periscope lens and a front display with a 1.2mm ultra-narrow bezel, targeting a lightweight imaging flagship.
Initially announced for May, the release was pushed to July, then to August, and finally to September, resulting in a four-month pre-launch period for the Meizu 22. While it was expected to feature the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, which would have lagged behind competitors’ latest flagship models, it was surprising to find that this phone is equipped with a mid-range processor.
The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is positioned as a mid-range processor, used in devices like the REDMI Turbo 4 Pro and iQOO Z10 Turbo, which are budget-friendly phones. Its theoretical performance is comparable to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, but it falls short in terms of experience and power consumption. It can be viewed as an enhanced version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which competitors have not adopted even in mid-range devices, using it only in budget-friendly products. It is unexpected that Meizu would use it in a flagship phone.
With the Meizu 22 featuring this processor, it will be challenging to compete with rivals at the flagship price point. Even at a price of 2500 yuan, it lacks the capability to compete with competitors’ Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and Dimensity 9400 processors. Many netizens predict that for the Meizu 22 to gain traction in the market, it must be priced below 2500 yuan, ideally around 2000 yuan, as its specifications do not stand out compared to competitors.
The Meizu 22 emphasizes three main selling points: compact size flat screen, ultra-narrow bezels, and telephoto lens.
First, regarding the compact screen positioning, while most small flat screen phones initially launch at high prices, over time, models like the Xiaomi 15 and OnePlus 13T have dropped below 2000 yuan. If the Meizu 22 had launched in the first half of the year, it could have capitalized on competitors’ prices not dropping, but now it has missed that opportunity, as competitors also offer small screen phones under 3000 yuan.
Next, regarding the ultra-narrow bezels, the Meizu 22 features a 1.22mm ultra-narrow bezel flat screen, complemented by a white panel that provides a good visual experience. Last month, it was announced as the world’s narrowest bezel phone. However, with the new wave of domestic flagship phones being released, models like the Xiaomi 16 series and OPPO Find X9 also have very narrow bezels, even pushing below 1.2mm, leaving Meizu with little to highlight other than the white bezel.
Finally, regarding the telephoto lens, the Meizu 22 is equipped with a 3x periscope telephoto lens, marking Meizu’s first use of such a lens. The official comparisons with competitors’ flagships have been ongoing. However, many competitors also feature phones with periscope telephoto lenses, such as the vivo S30, which has a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto lens, and vivo’s imaging tuning is likely superior to Meizu’s, making it difficult for the Meizu 22 to promote its telephoto lens as a standout feature.
Lastly, regarding the overall specifications, the Meizu 22 is equipped with a 5500mAh battery, which is still a decent parameter among last year’s small screen flagships. However, this year, competitors have significantly increased battery capacities, with most starting above 6000mAh. With no standout features in the screen, bezels, or imaging, and a battery that lags behind competitors, combined with the use of Qualcomm’s mid-range processor, it will be challenging for the Meizu 22 to become a bestseller at the 2500 yuan price point.
What do you think is a suitable price for the Meizu 22?