The Meizu X8 is a slate‑form Android smartphone that was announced by the Chinese consumer electronics company Meizu on 3 December 2013 and released in early 2014. Positioned as a high‑end device, the X8 was marketed as the successor to the Meizu MX4 and was notable for Meizu’s introduction of a rear‑mounted sliding “Super-Foldable” peripheral controller that combined a touchpad, fingerprint scanner, and camera shutter button.
Design and Build
The X8 features a 5.0‑inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1280 × 720 pixels (299 ppi). The device’s front panel is predominantly glass, while the back is constructed of metal. A distinctive element of the design is the slide‑out Super-Foldable module located on the rear of the phone; when extended, it reveals a circular touchpad that also houses the fingerprint sensor and a dedicated camera shutter button.
Hardware
- Processor: MediaTek MT6592, an octa‑core Cortex‑A7 chipset clocked at up to 1.7 GHz.
- Memory: 2 GB of LPDDR2 RAM.
- Storage: 16 GB of internal flash memory, without a microSD expansion slot.
- Camera: 13‑megapixel rear camera with PDAF autofocus, dual‑tone LED flash, and 1080p video recording; 5‑megapixel front‑facing camera.
- Battery: Non‑removable 2100 mAh lithium‑polymer battery.
- Connectivity: Wi‑Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, and micro‑USB 2.0.
- Sensors: Accelerometer, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, and the aforementioned fingerprint sensor integrated into the rear controller.
Software
The X8 shipped with Android 4.4.2 “KitKat” overlaid with Meizu’s Flyme UI 2.0, a custom skin that introduced a modified notification shade, alternative home screen layouts, and additional system apps. Flyme UI emphasized a “flat” visual design and included a proprietary app store.
Market Position and Reception
Targeted primarily at the Chinese domestic market, the Meizu X8 was priced competitively relative to other flagship smartphones available at the time, such as the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One (M8). Reviews highlighted the device’s robust performance, the novel rear‑mounted controller, and the quality of the camera system, while criticism centered on the lack of microSD support and the absence of a high‑resolution (1080p) display. Sales figures were not publicly disclosed, but the X8 contributed to Meizu’s expanding market share in China during 2014.
Legacy
The Meizu X8 represents the final major iteration of Meizu’s “X” series before the company shifted focus to its subsequent “PRO” and “M” lines. Elements of the Super‑Foldable controller concept were later explored in Meizu’s later devices, though none replicated the exact form factor.
References
- Meizu official press release, 3 December 2013.
- GSMArena specifications database, “Meizu X8”.
- Android Authority review, “Meizu X8 review”, January 2014.
- Engadget coverage of the Meizu X8 launch, December 2013.