Meizu 22: Redefining Smartphone Bezels
Meizu is teasing its upcoming Meizu 22 smartphone, promising a display with the world’s thinnest bezels. This ambitious claim comes from a recent social media post by the company, highlighting the challenges and achievements of their research and development (R&D) team. While the teaser suggests a design similar to its predecessor, the Meizu 21, the focus is clearly on pushing the boundaries of display technology.
The Pursuit of Minimal Bezels
According to Meizu, achieving these ultra-thin bezels required a self-developed LIPO process. The journey wasn’t without its hurdles, with the team initially facing difficulties in creating such a slim border. However, through advancements in display technology, a more complex 6-layer processing method, and overcoming a higher defective rate, they were able to achieve what they call the “narrowest white panel process.” This culminated in the creation of the “world’s narrowest fourth-class” white border after numerous trial production failures.
Meizu 21: A Glimpse into the Future
To understand the significance of Meizu’s claim, it’s helpful to look at the Meizu 21, launched in November 2023. This phone already boasts a 6.55-inch full-HD+ (1,080×2,340 pixels) display with impressively thin 1.74mm bezels. The Meizu 21 features a 120Hz refresh rate, up to 1,100 nits of peak brightness, 1,920Hz high-frequency dimming, and a pixel density of 393ppi. Powering the device is an octa-core Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, coupled with 12GB of RAM and an Adreno 750 GPU. The Meizu 22 aims to surpass these specifications with even thinner bezels.
A Possible Farewell Device?
Adding a layer of intrigue to the Meizu 22 is the possibility that it could be the company’s last smartphone. In February 2024, Meizu announced its decision to exit the Android smartphone market, shifting its focus towards artificial intelligence (AI). This strategic move suggests that Meizu will concentrate on developing AI-powered software and hardware solutions, making the Meizu 22 a potentially significant final chapter in their smartphone journey.
Key Features Compared:
| Feature | Meizu 21 | Meizu 22 (Expected) |
|---|---|---|
| Display Size | 6.55-inch | Similar or potentially slightly larger |
| Resolution | 1,080×2,340 pixels | Same or improved |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | Same or improved |
| Bezels | 1.74mm | 1.2mm (Claimed) |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC | Likely Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or newer |
| RAM | 12GB | Likely 12GB or more |
The Technical Challenges of Ultra-Thin Bezels
Achieving bezels as thin as 1.2mm presents numerous engineering challenges. Here’s a breakdown of some of the key hurdles:
- Display Integration: Integrating the display panel seamlessly with the phone’s frame becomes significantly more complex.
- Component Placement: Minimizing the space occupied by internal components is crucial to accommodate the reduced bezel size.
- Durability: Ensuring the phone’s structural integrity and resistance to damage becomes more difficult with less surrounding material.
- Manufacturing Precision: The manufacturing process requires extremely high precision to avoid defects and ensure consistent quality.
Overcoming Manufacturing Challenges
Meizu’s claim of using a self-developed LIPO process and complex 6-layer processing suggests they have invested heavily in overcoming these manufacturing challenges. The higher defective rate mentioned in their statement indicates the difficulty of achieving the desired level of precision.
- LIPO Process: Likely refers to a specific manufacturing technique for display lamination and integration.
- 6-Layer Processing: Suggests a multi-stage process involving various layers of materials and components.
The Future of Smartphones: A Bezel-less World?
The Meizu 22’s pursuit of ultra-thin bezels represents a broader trend in the smartphone industry towards minimizing borders and maximizing screen real estate. While a completely bezel-less phone may still be some time away, Meizu’s efforts are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and paving the way for future innovations in display technology.
