Rumors circulate regarding a potential shutdown of Meizu's smartphone division as the company stays tight-lipped.

      Credit: Meizu

      Speculation is rising regarding reports that Meizu might be on the verge of discontinuing its smartphone division, although the company has not yet provided an official comment. This speculation intensified after the Chinese tech outlet Sanyan Tech revealed that development of Meizu’s next flagship model, the Meizu 23, has been put on hold.

      Sanyan Tech indicated that Meizu began the process of reducing its outsourced teams in mid-January 2026. After the exit of these external teams, internal research and development resources reportedly fell short, hindering further progress on the Meizu 23.

      Additional indicators have added to the speculation: in early February, the company was rumored to have changed its annual leave policy, mandating that employees take vacation or personal leave on non-statutory holidays, while allegedly introducing six additional leave days—actions some observers viewed as an attempt to address accumulated leave balances.

      On February 10, a former Meizu employee, known online as Mao Ge, shared a video alluding to internal issues, stating he “didn’t want to shatter the illusion,” a comment many took as an indication that the smartphone division is encountering significant difficulties.

      This speculation stands in stark contrast to previous statements from Meizu's leadership. In September 2025, CEO Huang Zhipan mentioned that the Meizu 23 had received official approval and was aiming for a mid-2026 release.

      During an event in January 2026, China CMO Wan Zhiqiang stated that the device would feature the slimmest bezels in the company's history but would not include Meizu’s characteristic white front panel. However, rising memory prices have reportedly posed a serious challenge to the company's product strategies, leading to the cancellation of the Meizu 22 Air.

      Since its acquisition by Geely-backed Xingji Shidai in 2022 and the establishment of the Xingji Meizu Group in 2023, the company has seen multiple leadership shifts, including four CEOs in recent years, a trend that analysts attribute to changing strategies.

      In 2024, Meizu announced it would cease new "traditional smartphone" initiatives and shift its focus towards AI-oriented devices, a change perceived as a reaction to increasing competition in the smartphone industry.

      If the Meizu 23 has indeed been scrapped, it could signify a definitive withdrawal from the smartphone market as the company redirects its efforts towards developing an AI-centric ecosystem. Currently, Meizu has not made any official announcement regarding the future of its smartphone operations.

      Jessie Wu is a technology reporter located in Shanghai, focusing on consumer electronics, semiconductors, and the gaming industry for TechNode. You can reach her via email at jessie.wu@technode.com.