OVERVIEW: Meizu M3 Note - smartphone, which does not want to let go

Among the Chinese smartphone with a diagonal of 5.5 inches sales records shared by two models: Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 and Meizu M3 Note. Meizu phones have traditionally positioned as more expensive and functional at the expense of branded chips like the hardware buttons and its own operating system based on Android.

Popular M3 Note was no exception. Its price - $ 150, which corresponds to the average price segment for Chinese vehicles. But on closer examination it becomes clear that it could cost more.

Characteristics

Appearance

Opening the box, you expect to see another iPhone clone or incarnation of questionable design intent. But the front side of the smartphone suggests otherwise: Meizu M3 Note truly stylish device.

The main decoration of the smartphone has become a multifunctional proprietary mTouch 2.1 button with an integrated fingerprint reader. Triggered scanner for only 0.2 seconds. This is the used in the MX 5 of the mid-price category and the flagship of the last-generation Pro 5. The button acts as a key "Home", is used to unlock the gadget, and the settings you can define additional functions: for example, to restrict access to certain files.

Near the central button are no other controls. To access the list of open applications, you must use the vertical slide from a place where there should be a corresponding button.

The smart hand sits like a glove - not without reason has used (one of the first, especially in this price segment) one-piece metal housing. The angles rounded, the back cover - too. Strict form, nothing more. Safety glass 2,5D simulation creates rounded screen in the general style of streamlined contours.

Symmetry - another Meizu designers disease. The lower bound with two grids (one speaker anyway), microUSB port exactly in the middle. Even camera and the proximity sensor, combined with LED, are spaced from the earpiece as symmetrically.

Through optimal flow M3 Note is perfect in either hand: women's, children or men. The center button is under the thumb, as well as the power button with a volume rocker on the left side.

Despite the 5.5-inch display, the smartphone perfectly fits in pockets and bags - the difference in size with a 5-inch device is practically invisible.

Screen

General impression supports LTPS-bright display with a Full HD (1920 × 1080 pixels). Such matrices are commonly used in more expensive smartphones, though are relatives IPS-matrices.

The screen can display information and the bright sun, and in total darkness. Auto-tuning works on both high-end branded smartphones - instantly. viewing angle close to 180 degrees: contrast drops slightly, the colors are distorted by the minimum. The sensor is responsive and reacts quickly and accurately. Supports up to 10 simultaneous key presses. The device can be used in fabric gloves.

The screen is protected against scratches, glare and fingerprint dirty hands. Used for the first protective Dinotrail brand glass. For the rest - special polarizing filter (as in the lens reflex cameras) and oleophobic coating.

Performance

The Meizu M3 Note used platform Mediatek Helio P10. It comprises 8 processor cores, four of them are working at a frequency of 1 GHz, four more - overclocked to 1.8 GHz. The graphics subsystem is based on a rather weak solution of Mali.

Performance records can not be expected from such a system. Synthetic benchmarks and did show 3-5 fold lower numbers than in 2016 flagships. But whether such indicators are important in real use? Of course not.

The interface works smoothly. You can play World of Tanks, Asphalt 8, or analogs thereof. You can open the "heavy" in the PPT presentation or a large PDF.

Poor performance - fee economy and mild heat. And it is more important "parrot" in Antutu (incidentally, there M3 Note gaining 46,978 points, GeekBench - 809 for a single core and multicore 3002 in assay). By using the "cut-off" for the frequencies and the number of processor cores, the temperature load does not rise above 37-40 degrees.

The battery life depends on the processor less. Device batteries 4100 mAh sufficient to:

• 10:00 View video in airplane mode;
• 18 hours of reading with minimal brightness;
• 5:00 3D-games;
• work up to 2 days in the mixed mode of use;
• 14 hours with included LTE, Bluetooth and screen using periodic.

In any case it is enough to work or school day. Built-in energy-saving funds will increase the battery life. For the rest it needs an external battery. Fast charging no battery recharge is required 3.5 hours.

operating system

The Meizu M3 Note uses a proprietary shell Flyme 5.1.3, based on Android 5.1. The system is quite well developed compared with the usual-assemblies AOSP Android.

All applications are located on desktops, the general menu is not available. Instead of the menu bar of Flyme 4, the system shows the usual "Carousel" with the possibility of a quick cleaning of all programs in one motion. Blind notification looks quite familiar.

As with the main competitor of the company, Xiaomi, the operating system has received much more settings than the usual Android 5.1. They mainly relate to customization, but there is color correction display.

In addition, it is possible to clear the memory, to issue permits applications that include spam blocker and antivirus. There are visual power management and energy efficiency. thought-out shell, detailed, with concise and beautiful. Perhaps, Flyme OS today one of the best add-ons on the market.

A photo

The main chamber 13 is used megapixel matrix and a five-element wide-angle lens with an aperture f / 2.2. There is a phase detection autofocus (PDAF). Two-tone flash bright enough. The app allows you to set all the necessary parameters.

The resulting images are not perfect, but it is quite competitive. In the darkness, it turns worse, but not really bad, like, for example, Lenovo K5 or Xiaomi Redmi 3s.

Make selfie - no problem. Front camera gives the small hotspots, and does not work well in difficult light situations. But thanks to the software capabilities of the firm can choose the right application for the shooting conditions or use preset image improvement function.

Sound

Unfortunately, in the audio path Meizu M3 Note considerably simpler than MX6 6 or Pro. Yes, sufficient volume, clarity is not bad. The headphones can listen to MP3 and ignore the shortcomings. For something more need another machine.

link

Since the one-piece body, in M3 Note uses a dual slot for SIM cards. You can install two cards: microSIM and nanoSIM. Instead of a second, you can insert the memory card. You can use coincident microSIM + microSD if desired. Space for its accommodation enough.

The smartphone supports almost all necessary for Russian networks. But! Phones for the Chinese market does not work in the LTE 20th-range networks (Band 20). Therefore, in areas with 4G may be some problems.

The quality of communication in all modern smart phones at the same level. Meizu M3 Note does not beat the record, but does not allow outsiders to write himself. Interlocutor hear is excellent, too, no one complains about the other side.

GPS works well: it is enough to use as a navigator or a compass for navigation.

conclusions

The main advantage of M3 Note - usability. It manifests itself in everything: comfortable shape, comfortable controls, comfortable OS. The design of everything is left to chance, and where you can not use the hardware capabilities, saving software.

the modification cost Meizu M3 Note 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of non-volatile memory in the Chinese market is 168 dollars. Junior modification (2/16 GB) worth $ 149.

Only Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro (Note 4 yet quite expensive) can distinguish among real competitors considered Meizu for equipping and convenience. Its cost is $ 140 for 2/16 GB version and $ 180 for 3/32 GB version. In addition, it does not have a hardware button, the scanner is back, slightly worse camera, other OS. Thus, a little incorrectly compare smartphones.

How, then, to make a choice? You need to decide what to prefer, some of the devices seems to be more beautiful. After a week with M3 Note you do not want to let it go. Even stylish Xiaomi Note 4 in comparison with it seems rude. Therefore, I choose Meizu M3 Note - for mTouch button and rounded shapes.