Meizu 22 Officially Debuts: Compact Flagship with Snapdragon 8s Gen 4

Meizu has officially introduced its latest compact flagship, the Meizu 22, in China, and it’s already turning heads thanks to its balance of design, performance, and aggressive pricing.

While the global smartphone market continues to shift toward massive 6.7-inch slabs, Meizu is betting on a smaller footprint with a 6.3-inch display that could appeal to users craving a pocket-friendly device without compromising on high-end specifications.

The phone features an OLED LTPO panel capable of 120Hz refresh rate, 1.5K resolution, and an eye-searing 6,000 nits of peak brightness – one of the highest numbers on the market. With bezels just 1.2mm thin and a 96.4% screen-to-body ratio, it delivers one of the cleanest front designs in its class. An ultrasonic fingerprint sensor sits beneath the display, further enhancing usability.

Under the hood, the Meizu 22 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset. This chip positions itself as a cost-effective sibling to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, but still delivers flagship-level power. It’s paired with up to 16GB RAM and 1TB of storage, supported by a large 4,500mm² vapor cooling system designed to keep thermals in check during gaming or heavy multitasking.

Photography enthusiasts will find a lot to like here. The triple rear camera array is headlined by a 50MP OV50H sensor with OIS, joined by a 50MP ultrawide shooter and a 50MP periscope telephoto camera offering 3x optical zoom. On the front, selfies are handled by a sharp 50MP sensor – a rare move in this price segment. On paper, this hardware even rivals devices from Xiaomi, Vivo, and Honor, though real-world performance will hinge on Meizu’s software optimization, which has historically lagged behind bigger brands.

The 5,510mAh battery is slightly smaller than what we’ve seen from recent Chinese flagships, but the 80W wired and 66W wireless charging options keep it competitive. The device also boasts IP66/IP68 water and dust resistance, weighs just 190g, and measures 8.15mm in thickness – striking a fine balance between durability and portability. It runs Android 15-based Flyme AIOS 2 with integrated AI features, a direction that mirrors the industry’s shift toward AI-enhanced user experiences.

Color options include Borderless Black, White, and Love Pink. Pricing starts at CNY 2,999 (roughly $420) for the 12GB/256GB model, scaling up to CNY 4,199 (about $590) for the 16GB/1TB variant. At these prices, the Meizu 22 positions itself as one of the most affordable compact flagships in China, directly undercutting competitors like the Xiaomi 14 series while offering a fresh alternative for those tired of oversized phones.

Ultimately, the Meizu 22’s success may depend on global availability and long-term software support. If it launches outside of China at similar prices, it could easily become the best-value small flagship of the year. For now, Chinese consumers get first dibs on what is arguably the most interesting compact premium device of late 2025.