Meizu 21 PRO Review: Beyond Your Imagination AI Phone

The new Meizu 21 PRO is here.

This phone’s main feature is being an open AI terminal, open to all large AI models while also unlocking SOC edge AI and API computing capabilities. From this perspective, Meizu going all-in on AI is truly impressive.

The Meizu 21 PRO continues the family-style design in its overall appearance, with Meizu’s signature touches evident in both the screen and camera layout. The Meizu 21 PRO comes in four colors: Laurel Green (vegan leather), Starry Night Black, Meizu White, and Glacier Blue. The unit I have is white, Meizu’s flagship color. I quite like the white—it’s clean and simple, and the feel in hand is different from before because it’s now more slender.

As usual, let’s start with the dimensions. The phone measures 154.98mm * 74.42mm * 7.98mm, with the vegan leather version weighing 208g and the glass version at 214g. The 74mm width makes it appear much slimmer compared to most phones on the market, which range from 76mm to 78mm wide.

Moving on to the screen, although it’s 6.79 inches, the one-handed grip is excellent. The screen retains a 21:9 aspect ratio and features BOE’s latest screen material, offering 2K+ ultra-clear resolution with a PPI of 512—plenty sharp for even the most discerning eyes. It also supports 120Hz LTPO, 2160Hz high-frequency PWM dimming, SRBG/DCI-P3 wide color gamut, and HDR10+. For improved drop resistance, the screen uses Meizu Titan Glass 2.0.

Additionally, the screen features a wide-area ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, a superior solution to traditional fingerprint tech. It not only solves wet-hand unlocking issues but also boasts higher accuracy, unlocking in just 0.08 seconds.

Now, let’s look at the frame and back. The frame uses a sandblasted finish, with the top housing an IR blaster and microphone, and the bottom featuring the SIM slot, USB-C port, and speaker grille. The right side holds the volume and power buttons. The camera module continues the family design with a vertical layout, including the popular Aicy Smart Ring from the Meizu 21. The back glass panel uses a "Starry Sky" finish—smooth, warm, and fingerprint-resistant. The phone also has IP68 water resistance.

Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Performance Trio

As a flagship, the Meizu 21 PRO’s performance is naturally top-tier, with benchmark scores exceeding 2 million. Flash read speeds even reach 4GB/s.

In gaming, Peacekeeper Elite (default smooth + 60fps) ran for 28 minutes with an average frame rate of 59.5fps and max power consumption of 3.06W. CPU scheduling is aggressive, though frequencies are somewhat conservative.

For Honor of Kings, which now supports HD + 120fps, a 22-minute session averaged 108.3fps with 4.7W power consumption. Frame rates fluctuated significantly, and CPU frequencies seemed capped, similar to the 60fps Peacekeeper Elite. Currently, Meizu 21 PRO’s high-refresh-rate gaming optimization has room for improvement.

More Compatible Charging + Stronger Battery Life

The Meizu 21 PRO upgrades to a 5050mAh high-energy-density battery (vs. the Meizu 21) and supports 80W wired fast charging, QC4+, PD3.0, PPS charging, and 50W wireless charging. In tests (with charging optimization off), charging from 38% to 100% took just 27 minutes—quite fast.

Faster Unlocking

The Meizu 21 PRO uses a premium wide-area ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, offering a clear advantage over phones with short-throw or ultra-thin sensors. The recognition area is larger, so precise alignment isn’t necessary, and the scan range can be adjusted for greater flexibility. Enrollment is also faster—just one tap vs. over a dozen for traditional sensors. It also supports wet-hand unlocking and heart rate detection.

mEngine Ultra Flagship Linear Motor

Meizu has deep expertise in haptic feedback among Android phones. The Meizu 21 PRO features a full-link vibration solution, with feedback for various operations and mBlack functions. Press and tap vibrations offer rich customization, with six intensity levels.

6th-Gen Master Dual Super-Linear Speakers

The Meizu 21 PRO debuts 6th-gen master dual super-linear speakers with a new powder-filling process and Meizu’s acoustic tuning. Landscape mode adapts stereo output, and headphone audio supports bass/treble adjustments.

Flyme 10.5

Meizu Goes In-Car: Seamless Connectivity Expands

Beyond standard NFC, PC sync, and file sharing, Meizu’s Boundless Desktop for car systems now supports Flyme Link for Flyme Auto integration. The brand has also added in-car connectivity, giving it two vehicle systems.

Currently, Meizu supports ICCOA Carlink, though with few apps (only Amap and NetEase Music). While QQ Music isn’t natively adapted, Meizu’s Boundless Desktop offers a clever workaround via floating windows—a step above competitors’ simple screen mirroring.

More Convenient Operation

The elongated screen brings new gestures: pull-down suspension and edge-swipe app search for easier one-handed use. The classic mBack also allows side-swiping to switch apps, double-tap/press to return home, single-tap to go back, and long-press to lock.

Camera: Constantly Pushing Limits

The Meizu 21 PRO packs a 50MP OV50H ultra-light-sensitive main camera (f/1.9, 24mm equivalent, 1/1.3” sensor, 1.2μm pixels, OIS+EIS), a 13MP ultra-wide, and a 10MP 3x optical telephoto. On paper, it’s flagship-grade—let’s see the samples!

Meizu’s Open AI Platform

Meizu previously announced halting "traditional smartphone" operations to focus on AI. The Meizu 21 PRO is its first fully open AI platform phone, offering system-wide access, Flyme API documentation, and unlocked SOC edge AI/API computing. Features include AI Smart Key, AI-assisted input, AI Gallery, and Aicy Voice. Current AI voice functions are limited, but more features are in beta testing, pending the next update.

As Meizu’s AI debut, the Meizu 21 PRO matches mainstream hardware while excelling in refinement. Standout details—like the wide-area ultrasonic fingerprint, dual super-linear speakers, and mEngine Ultra motor—give it unique appeal, making it a favorite for Meizu fans.