Meizu 21 vs Xiaomi 14T Pro: Which Flagship Reigns Supreme?

The Meizu 21 and Xiaomi 14T Pro represent compelling choices in the increasingly competitive flagship smartphone market. The Meizu 21 brings Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, while the Xiaomi 14T Pro counters with MediaTek’s Dimensity 9300+. This comparison dissects their key differences, focusing on performance, battery life, and charging speed to help you determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing raw performance and rapid charging, the Xiaomi 14T Pro emerges as the winner. Its Dimensity 9300+ chipset delivers comparable, and in some cases superior, CPU performance, coupled with a significantly faster 120W charging solution. However, the Meizu 21 remains a strong contender for those deeply embedded in the Meizu ecosystem.

PHONES
Phone Names Meizu 21 Xiaomi 14T Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2023, November 302024, September 26
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, November 30Available. Released 2024, September 26
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame, glass back (Panda X)
Dimensions156.7 x 75.3 x 7.9 mm (6.17 x 2.96 x 0.31 in)160.4 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm (6.31 x 2.96 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· eSIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight198 g (6.98 oz)209 g (7.37 oz)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~393 ppi density)1220 x 2712 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~446 ppi density)
Size6.55 inches, 105.3 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 600 nits (typ), 1100 nits (HBM), 1800 nits (peak)AMOLED, 68B colors, 144Hz, 3840Hz PWM, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 4000 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520)Octa-core (1x3.4 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A720)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)Mediatek Dimensity 9300+ (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 750Immortalis-G720 MC12
OSAndroid 13, Flyme 10.5Android 14, HyperOS
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesRing-LED flash, panorama, HDRLeica lens, Ultra HDR, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple200 MP, f/1.7, 22mm (wide), 1/1.4", PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.4, 15mm, 122˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.1" 5 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide), 1/5.0"50 MP, f/1.6, 23mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, 60mm (telephoto), 1/2.88", 0.61µm, PDAF, 2.6x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 15mm (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS8K@24/30fps, 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, gyro-EIS, 10-bit Rec. 2020, HDR10+
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.1"32 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/3.44", 0.64µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, HDR10+
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.4, A2DP, LE5.4, A2DP, LE, LHDC
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1C+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5), GLONASS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 а/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging80W wired, PD3 PPS, QC4+120W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 19 min 50W wireless, 100% in 45 min
Type4800 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Purple, Green, WhiteTitan Gray, Titan Blue, Titan Black
Models-2407FPN8EG
PriceAbout 440 EUR$ 550.00 / £ 498.00 / € 539.99
SAR EU-0.99 W/kg (head)     1.00 W/kg (body)

Meizu 21

  • Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 offers flagship-level performance.
  • Potentially more refined software experience with FlymeOS.
  • 80W charging is still relatively fast.

  • Charging speed is significantly slower than the Xiaomi 14T Pro.
  • Limited information available regarding display specifications.

Xiaomi 14T Pro

  • Dimensity 9300+ provides excellent CPU performance.
  • Industry-leading 120W wired and 50W wireless charging.
  • High peak brightness (1228 nits) for excellent outdoor visibility.

  • MediaTek chipsets sometimes face software optimization challenges.
  • Xiaomi’s MIUI can be feature-rich but also bloated.

Display Comparison

While both devices likely feature high-quality AMOLED panels, the Xiaomi 14T Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 1228 nits, suggesting a superior outdoor visibility experience compared to the Meizu 21 (brightness data unavailable). The absence of LTPO information for either device means we can't assess adaptive refresh rate efficiency. Bezels and color accuracy are unknown, but both brands typically deliver competitive displays in this price bracket.

Camera Comparison

Camera details are limited. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the focus should be on image processing algorithms. Meizu typically favors a more natural look, while Xiaomi often leans towards vibrant, saturated colors. The absence of details regarding OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on either device makes it impossible to assess low-light performance capabilities. Any 2MP macro lenses present on either phone should be considered a marketing gimmick rather than a significant photographic asset.

Performance

The core battle lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi 14T Pro’s MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ features a unique CPU configuration with 1x3.4 GHz Cortex-X4, 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-X4, and 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A720 cores. This contrasts with the Meizu 21’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which utilizes 1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4, 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720, 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720, and 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520 cores. The Dimensity 9300+'s heavier reliance on the high-performance X4 cores suggests a potential edge in sustained CPU workloads. Both are built on a 4nm process, but the Dimensity 9300+'s architecture may offer better multi-core performance. RAM speed (LPDDR5x) is not specified for either, but thermal management will be crucial to prevent throttling under load.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi 14T Pro shines in battery and charging. Its 120W wired charging can fully charge the device in a claimed 19 minutes, a significant advantage over the Meizu 21’s 80W charging. The addition of 50W wireless charging on the Xiaomi 14T Pro further expands charging options. While the Meizu 21’s battery capacity is unknown, the Xiaomi 14T Pro achieves an active use score of 12:32h, indicating solid battery life despite the power-hungry chipset and high refresh rate. The faster charging speed of the Xiaomi 14T Pro effectively mitigates any potential concerns about battery capacity.

Buying Guide

Buy the Meizu 21 if you prioritize a streamlined software experience and are already invested in the Meizu FlymeOS ecosystem. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 offers excellent performance, and 80W charging is still respectable. Buy the Xiaomi 14T Pro if you demand the fastest possible charging speeds (120W wired, 50W wireless) and a more aggressive CPU configuration, making it ideal for demanding multitasking and gaming.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Dimensity 9300+ in the Xiaomi 14T Pro suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
While the Dimensity 9300+ is a powerful chipset, sustained performance depends heavily on the Xiaomi 14T Pro’s thermal management system. Early reports suggest Xiaomi has implemented effective cooling solutions, but real-world testing is needed to confirm whether throttling occurs during prolonged, demanding gaming sessions. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the Meizu 21 is also susceptible to throttling, but the difference in architecture may lead to varying throttling profiles.
❓ How does the software experience differ between Meizu's FlymeOS and Xiaomi's MIUI?
Meizu’s FlymeOS is known for its minimalist design and focus on customization, appealing to users who prefer a cleaner Android experience. Xiaomi’s MIUI, on the other hand, is heavily feature-rich and often includes pre-installed apps. MIUI’s extensive customization options can be overwhelming for some, while FlymeOS may lack certain features found in MIUI. The choice depends on individual preferences regarding software bloat and customization levels.
❓ Is the 80W charging on the Meizu 21 sufficient for most users, or is the 120W charging on the Xiaomi 14T Pro a necessity?
80W charging is still considered fast and can typically charge a phone from 0% to 100% in around 40-50 minutes. However, the Xiaomi 14T Pro’s 120W charging significantly reduces this time to just 19 minutes. For users who frequently need to quickly top up their battery, the 120W charging is a substantial convenience. For those who charge overnight or don't mind a slightly longer charging time, 80W is perfectly adequate.