Meizu MX5: review, specifications, reviews and comparison with the iPhone. Meizu MX5 review: a laser knight in shining armor Design, dimensions, controls

Half a year ago my old smartphone started to work poorly: it will turn off spontaneously, then it will freeze. At that time, I decided to buy the Meizu MX4, but after reading the reviews, I decided to wait a bit. The internet was full of rumors about the new MX5. What they did not write there: about the 30 megapixel camera, and about the 4k screen. Rumors are rumors, only the date of presentation / sale was only reliably known - June 30. I had to wait patiently. June ended and I started to monitor the network for the first reviews / reviews. After reading several reviews and talking with my amphibian, I decided to take it. If anyone is interested in what came of this, I ask under the cut (a lot of pictures and text).

In the early days, the MX5 sellers were few. It was possible to take it on the gearbest by pre-order, but after reading the reviews about the store, I had to abandon this idea. On AliExpress, the choice of sellers was not very large, all with good rating... Having chosen a seller with a low price and a good rating, I ordered a phone.
I wanted to write a little about the delivery, but I'm afraid there will be a lot of text anyway, so if you are interested, open the spoiler.

delivery

I ordered the phone on July 6th. In the description of the goods it was said that for delivery to Russia, you must select the item "Seller" s Shipping Method. The essence of the delivery is that first one transport company (local) delivers across China to the border, then a "specially trained" smuggler goes border with a phone hidden in pants or under a hat.All questions about customs clearance fall on this mysterious subject.Then, through the Russian transport company (in my case CDEK) the phone is sent to the buyer.In practice, delivery to large cities should be in the region of 8-10 days. In the order, first one track number is given, then the seller writes the track number CDEK with a message.I had a trip abroad planned for July 23. I thought that the phone should arrive in 15 days.
At first everything went well. The phone reached the Chinese border in 5-7 days. Then the seller gave me the CDEK track number. I waited a day or two, on the order tracking page it said: the shipment is expected to be transferred from the sender. On the third day, I turned to the seller: "Dear Chinese man, the status of the track number does not change, what are we going to do next?" The very next day I received the answer:
“Dear customer. Have a nice day and happy shopping. May your life be counted in hundreds of years and so that you always buy from us in China. We have problems at the border, a trained Chinese man put on leaky pants, and the phones fell out on the way, so we need to wait a bit. All registrations at CDEK are carried out in secret, and we will soon solve this problem by hiring another Chinese.
If you receive this package within 21-25 days after shipment, we will refund $ 5;
If you receive this package within 26-30 days after shipment, we will refund $ 8;
If you receive this package more than 30 days after shipment, we will refund $ 12
I am autumn-autumn sorry for this bad situation. Let your patience be like the height of the Eiffel Tower.
Nothing to do, I waited. A week passed imperceptibly, there was no change in the status. On the eve of departure on July 22, I looked at the status and saw that the goods had been transferred to CDEK and started moving. The saddest thing is that the pre-delivery date was July 27, and at that time I will be outside my homeland. On the tracking page there was a button to change the address and delivery time, but nothing was active there, since the goods had not yet arrived in my city. The CDEK website also had an online assistant. Having contacted him via chat, I explained the situation and wrote that I would be in the city on August 1. The online assistant made a note on the order, and I calmed down.
Already on vacation, I learned that on July 24, the phone arrived in my city. One day was not enough :(. I spent my rest without a phone.
In total, instead of the prescribed 8-10 days, the phone got to me for 18 days. Most of the time, the phone must have crawled across the China-Russia border.
August 1 (Saturday) I phoned CDEK. I found out how they work, canceled home delivery, since the delivery was only on Monday (August 3), got into the car and went to pick up the package.
After receiving the parcel, I opened the parcel right in the car to look at the phone.

The first impression when I opened the package is how big it is.
Another spoiler for parcel lovers

In principle, there is nothing interesting under the spoiler.
CDEK packaging

Inside the package, which was transferred to the transport company CDEK. There is also a sticker on the reverse side, however, everything is in Chinese

Inside there is a good packaging made of foamed polyethylene, rewound with wide tape

Well, then the egg is in the duck, that duck is in the hare, that hare is in the chest, and the chest is standing ...

The box is made of thick cardboard, so it is not easy to wrinkle it. In addition to the phone, the seller put two protective films, an OTG cable, a silicone case and an adapter for our sockets in the package.

The box is slightly wrinkled around the edges, but we didn't buy the box :).
On the back of the box there is a sticker indicating the model and main frequencies. Unfortunately, FDD LTE only has two frequencies available on channels B1 and B3. B7 (2600MHz) is not there. This is the first inconsistency with the description, I will write about this a little later.

We open the box. The box is made like a book on which something is written in Chinese

To the right of the phone, under the cardboard, there is a charger and a paper clip for pulling out the slot under SIM card
Consider a charger.

The charger uses Quick Charge technology. That is, the device can be supplied with voltage up to 12 V.
Charger with adapter

The adapter looks foreign. At first I did not understand that the adapter itself must constantly sit in the outlet, and any other devices can be inserted into it.

Everything would be fine, I would leave the adapter in the outlet, only it does not hold up there confidently.
I started checking the dimensions and understood why this happened.
Here is a comparison with a normal plug

Here you can see that the footprint is about 3-4 mm less, so the adapter plug does not fully fit into the outlet.
And here is the comparison of the pins

Here, too, you can see that the pins are a couple of millimeters shorter. As a result, the adapter sits loosely in the outlet.

There is a warranty card and a USB cable under the phone

The USB cable is a bit stiff. The cable is almost 1 meter long.

Warranty card in Chinese

Warranty card

So we got to the phone. The phone has stickers with writing in Chinese on both sides that show the main elements of the phone

Consider the phone from different angles
Phone bottom:

From left to right - speaker holes, micro-USB, microphone holes.

Left-hand side:

On this side there is only a tray for a SIM card.

Top of the phone:

From left to right - headphone jack, microphone hole (for noise canceling)

Right side:

Volume rocker and power button.

At the back is the camera, LED flash and laser rangefinder.

We turn on the phone. We are greeted by the company logo, and then the Flyme shell is loaded

Since the old smartphone had a regular SIM manufactured in 2003, I had to go to the operator's office and change it to nano-SIM. Yes, I forgot to say, MX5 is a two-digit phone. Two nano-SIMs are used there. To pull out the SIM card tray, use a special paper clip

The first tray is closer to the edge. Digits are very finely embossed on the tray - SIM numbers

We slowly got to the insides / components of the phone.
Phone characteristics:

Appearance
After my 4 "phone, the MX5 with its 5.5" looks huge. In my opinion, this is the size limit that should not be increased. It is difficult to operate the phone with one hand. The thumb does not reach the top of the screen, and my hand is rather big.
Phone Dimensions: 149.9mm X 74.6mm x 7.6mm
Weight: 149 g.
Meizu is releasing the MX5 in several colors. The back cover is silver. Front black, white. In the future, they are preparing a color scheme in golden color, but so far there are no such phones on sale.
There is one button on the front panel, it is also a fingerprint scanner.
The scanner works well and quickly, I have never had false positives.
The back cover is made of aluminum, the top and bottom are plastic inserts. There is a small groove between these elements.

For some reason, many owners, and even more non-MX5 owners, write that this groove is in the way, that dirt will accumulate there, and stuff like that. For me, this is a normal decision, I don't see anything bad. I like it, and it does not deliver any comfort.

Screen
Here Meizu abandoned their traditions and did not install a non-standard screen. This phone has a standard Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080. Is it good or bad? Here is a controversial issue. If in MX4 the screen width was increased and due to this visually it did not look so long. But at the software level, sometimes problems arose, since not all programs / toys were optimized for this resolution, and even when watching films, there were black bars above and below.
Also, Meizu sacrificed tradition and did not install an IPS screen, but put an Amoled screen from Samsung. If many have resigned themselves to the screen resolution, then the last step of Meizu scared off many who wish to buy. In fact, the eternal debate is which is better than Amoled vs IPS, Intel vs AMD or nVidia GeForce vs AMD Radeon do not subside until now, and each technology / device has both serious pluses and minuses.
What is the difference between an Amoled screen and an IPS?
Let's dive into technology a bit to understand how screens differ. I will explain it in a simple way so that it is clear to everyone.
The IPS screen consists of a kind of sandwich: a lamp (LEDs) - an LCD matrix, a sensor, glass. If you turn on the IPS screen, the lamp under the matrix is always on. Depending on which pixel on the matrix transmits light and which does not, we see the image.
Amoled has a different sandwich: each pixel is a separate small LED, then a sensor and glass. Naturally, if we use black on the screen, then the LEDs will not light up. Thereby savings are achieved. But if we use white light, then LEDs collectively consume more power than IPS backlighting.
If you write the pluses of Amoled, then they will be as follows:
1) economical when using dark colors on the screen;
2) the darkest black color;
3) high maximum brightness;
4) the ability to use only certain pixels, and not the entire screen;
5) saturated colors;
6) maximum viewing angles.

Cons for Amoled will naturally be pros for IPS:
1) IPS screen for more natural colors;
2) white on IPS looks white. On Amoled, white fades into greens or yellows at high angles.
3) the IPS screen has a higher screen clarity at the same resolution. This is due to the fact that Amoled screens have pixels of different colors arranged in a certain way due to the different brightness of the LEDs of different colors.
If we digress from theory and move on to practice, then for the average user, by and large, it does not matter which screen is worth. For me, this was not an obstacle to buying a phone. And when I evaluated the screen live, after 2 weeks, I can say that the screen is no better and no worse than IPS (it's just a little different). Many people like the juicy picture. At Full resolution HD clarity of the screen is such that it is not possible to see a specific pixel without a magnifying glass (15 pixels per 1 mm in length is very difficult to see). White as white, I rarely look wildly at the phone. Usually in the morning I see the alarm clock with sleepy eyes, but then I don't care how white it is :).
The phone uses Gorilla Glass 3 with an oleophobic coating. There are no comments here. The screen is capacitive, supports 10 touches.

Communication and communication
On the w3bsit3-dns.com forum in the MX5 topic, every two pages a question arises, supports MX5 4G. As I wrote above, the ranges b1, b3, b38, b39, b40, b41 are supported. Everyone's favorite b7 range is not, although it is present in the specification on the website. Whether this range will be in the international version of the phone, which will be officially sold in Russia, no one knows. There is an opinion that these frequencies were turned off by software, but no one knows how to turn them on.
Also on the forum, the question often arises that 3G does not work. The easiest answer to this question is to update Flyme to version 4.5.2.4A (not lower).
In general, all communications are working fine.
Wi-fi 802.11 a / b / g / n, Support 2.4GHz / 5.0GHz. Screenshots wifi analyzer I didn't do it, and so the review is overloaded with information, and the signal level is a purely individual parameter that depends not only on the phone, but also on many other factors.
Speed test

My grid is 60 Mbps. On your computer and tablet via wifi speed download was 30-32 Mbps.

Navigation and GPS
Here, too, everything is fine. There is GPS, GLONASS and also a Chinese system. Catches satellites quickly. Navitel started up without problems.

Memory
The phone has 3 GB of memory. This volume is enough for any resource-intensive applications. I bought a 32 gig phone. Out of the box, the memory section was 29.12 GB, and free 24 GB. To be honest, I don't know where to put 8 gigs. In my opinion, even for a system, this is a bit too much. Other people with MX5 have a similar problem.

Camera
Rear camera 20.7 Mp, front 5 Mp.
Let's start with the front. In Skype, the camera picked up normally, the interlocutor sees me perfectly.
Good for selfies. My physiognomy flatly refused to be photographed, despite the persuasion :-). Then I noticed a cat that suspected nothing. She had to be photographed.

The originals can be viewed.

The rear camera has dual flash, laser rangefinder.
The pictures are average, but they cannot be called bad either. For example, I will give a few pictures under the spoiler.

Main camera

Photos in nature in sunny weather

The enlarged part from the boat (100%)

You can read the title here, although you can see that some processing is present (similar to noise reduction from hand shake).
Then I filmed in the children's room
No lighting, only with flash

The same room with lighting

My LED lamps turn a little yellow, so there is a slight shade. On a DSLR, similar photographs are obtained.
Now I will experiment with modes
Auto mode

Macro mode (did not get closer, does not focus)

Manual mode with manual focus

Macro mode with manual focus

Played with focus:
Close object

Distant object

Many on the forums write that the camera is bad ... I would say that it is an ordinary soap dish. If you shoot wisely and in manual mode, you get pretty decent photos. By the way, I only shoot in manual mode. I don’t understand how you can shoot with a machine. Those who have learned to shoot with Smena 8M with a manual exposure meter and a removable rangefinder will understand me.
Based on my experience with the MX4, which initially also had a not very good camera, and then in subsequent firmware updates the situation radically changed for the better, I think that the MX5 camera has potential.
The originals can be viewed.

Sound
Here I pass. No, I, of course, can write something like: “The cymbals remained restrained and not very musical. Maracas are somewhat sketchy, they lack clarity. In the male vocals, there is a certain exaltation on the top notes, which not only interferes with listening, but changes the soul of the vocal, ”only I have no ear for music. My sensations on sound might be like "this sounds cool ... but this is a complete sh * t." On the forums they write that the sound of the MX5 is between the MX4 and the MX4 pro. My feeling is that the sound in the speakers does not choke or wheeze. When talking on the phone, the interlocutor can be heard well and I am also well heard. That is, no manipulations to improve the sound need to be done, as in the MX4. There is sound in the headphones, I cannot assess its quality (sorry, not a music lover).

Iron and performance
The phone uses a processor MT6795T, 2.2 GHz, 64Bit, 8 cores.
Responsible for the graphics PowerVR G6200
Such a bundle provides good smartphone performance.

synthetic tests

Now let's find out who has the most virtual parrots
AnTuTu

CPU-Z

NenaMark2

Epic citadel

3D Mark

Quadrant

Battery and autonomy
The MX5 has a non-removable battery with a capacity of 3150mAh. This battery lasts quietly for a day with very intensive use. More precisely, even so, I have never been able to discharge the battery in one day.
Here are screenshots of phone use for examples. The phone calmly lasted 2 days in production mode

Tests of the Antutu Tester program

On average, during my use, the phone lasts 2-3 days (a few calls, a few games, wifi, a browser, programs).
I wrote that the charger supports Quick Charge technology, this technology allows you to charge a fully discharged phone in 1.5 hours.

System and interface
Meizu uses its own Flyme skin for its phones. On the one hand, this is good, on the other hand, it is bad. The good news is that the phone practically does not need to be configured, like bare Android. By customization, I mean that the user will not dig into the system files to improve something. For example, some people install their own bootloaders and use firmware mods. You can't do that here. The system can be said to be closed, like IOS. With this approach, it is almost impossible to get a brick from MX5.
On the other hand, the poverty of the settings is a little alarming. In general, the interface is well thought out, but some little things are missing.

conclusions
Did I get to this point. I've been writing a review for several days now.
Probably, I will not write pros and cons. I have posted too much information here. Let everyone decide for himself whether the phone is worth the money and whether it is worth buying. I can only write my subjective opinion after two weeks of using the phone.
In general, I like it, I did not regret that I bought it. The interface flies, there are no brakes even in heavy toys. In principle, everything is fine.

Enjoy your shopping!

I plan to buy +8 Add to favourites I liked the review +35 +61

This article will examine in detail the flagship device with impressive characteristics - Meizu MX5. A review will indicate his strengths and weak sides... There will also be a comparison of this gadget with another flagship solution of 2014 - iPhone 6. It is on the basis of comparison with the "Apple" smartphone that a verdict will be made regarding the advisability of buying this Chinese "smart" phone.

Market segment, which the device is focused on

All hardware characteristics, the operating system of the device, as well as its cost clearly indicate that this is a flagship device based on the Android OS of this manufacturer at the moment. Of course, more than productive smartphone- Meizu MX5 Plus. In comparison with today's flagship, it will have a larger display diagonal up to 6 inches, use a more productive hardware platform from Samsung - Exynos 7420, installed more RAM - 4GB. Well, the camera is built on a better sensor of 27 megapixels. But these are things of the future, but for now the MX5 is rightfully the best. Its parameters make it easy to compete with the "apple" flagship of 2014. At the same time, the cost of such a gadget is much lower, and the capabilities that it possesses are no worse than those of the iPhone 6.

Equipment

Typical configuration of the MX5, like the previous flagship solutions from Meizu. It includes:

The gadget itself with a built-in battery.
Typical charging adapter with 2A output.
High quality stereo headset with improved sound quality.
Interface cord.
Detailed user manual for the device from the manufacturer.
A special clip for removing the SIM card slot.

There is no slot for installation in this device, and there is no need to purchase an additional flash card for the owners of this gadget. And here protective film for the front panel will definitely not be superfluous. Although it is protected by the latest generation impact-resistant glass, this constructive solution does not guarantee 100% protection against possible accidental damage. But the protective film will do an excellent job with this task. For similar reasons, it is also recommended to purchase a case for the Meizu MX5. Only in this case will comprehensive protection of the device case be provided.

Design

In terms of design, the MX5 has a lot in common with the "apple" flagship gadget. Most of the front panel area is occupied by a 5.5-inch display. At the bottom, only one button is displayed, like in a smartphone from Apple, which provides control of the device. It is built into it. The only difference in this case is the shape of the button. If in the iPhone-6 it is round, then in the MX5 it is rectangular with rounded corners. Over, over touch screen, brought out a number of eyes of sensor elements, a round hole for the front camera and earpiece. In terms of ergonomics, the controls are much better located on the MX5 compared to the iPhone 6. If the American device is located on different sides of the device (the lock button is displayed on the right edge, and the volume control buttons are on the right edge of the gadget), then the MX5 has these controls grouped on the right side of the unit. Such a constructive solution greatly simplifies the process of operating the device with only the fingers of one hand.

The side edges and back cover of the Meizu flagship device are made of a single piece of metal. The case of this device cannot be disassembled. This ensures the perfect build quality of the device. But in the event of a battery breakdown without help service center it will be difficult to get by.

A standard audio port is located on the top edge of the smartphone. At the bottom, the micro-YUSB port is displayed, loud speaker(hidden behind stylish vents) and a spoken microphone. On the back cover, in addition to the manufacturer's logo, there is a peephole for the main camera. Here, next to it, there is a double LED backlight for it. In total, there are three color options for the body of this gadget. The most practical of these is the Meizu MX5 Gray. On it, dirt and possible damage to the case of the gadget are not so noticeable. The white version is more suitable for the weak half of humanity: mothers, wives, daughters, sisters. Well, the gold corps is focused on directors, their deputies and other managers. He will perfectly emphasize their status.

CPU

МТ6795Т - it is on the basis of this chip developed by MediaTek that Meizu MX5 is built. The review of its technical specs is really impressive. This is an overclocked version of a semiconductor crystal: this is indicated by the index "T" - "Turbo", that is, this is an accelerated modification of the CPU. It consists of eight computational modules, each of which can dynamically accelerate to 2.2 GHz, depending on the degree of complexity of the problem being solved. Moreover, it has two clusters. The first of them uses the more efficient A57 architecture and includes 4 computing modules. The second one consists of a similar number of computing cores, but is built on the basis of a more energy efficient architecture - "A53". Such a solution allows the smartphone to dynamically adapt to the task at hand. If you need the maximum level of performance, then the main load falls on the first module. But in the power saving mode, the second computing cluster is used more intensively. It should also be noted that this chip has an excessive level of performance, and it easily copes with any task today, including the most demanding 3D toys.

In contrast to the MX5, the iPhone 6 can count on only 2 processing cores, capable of overclocking under the most intense load up to 1.4 GHz. As a result, the computing capabilities of Meizu's flagship solution are an order of magnitude better. A definite compensation in this regard is a significant optimization of the software. But all the same, the excessive performance of the computing "heart" of the smartphone allows the owner not to think about the level of complexity of the problem being solved, and this certainly cannot boast of an "apple" gadget. We can say that Apple has shifted the problem of the lack of device performance onto the shoulders of programmers, and this modest Chinese manufacturer has laid down such a processor solution that allows you to run any program code on the gadget.

Device display

Of course, the quality of the screen does not cause any complaints in the Meizu Mx5. His performance is really impressive. Its diagonal is equal to a solid 5.5 inches today. In this case, the screen resolution is 1920 × 1080, and the pixel density in this case is equal to an impressive 401ppi. That is, the image on this smartphone is displayed in 1080p format. The display matrix is made using the AMOLED technology. The matrices of the latest generation Samsung flagship solutions - S6 and S6 EDGE - are made in the same way, and this is good news. Additionally, it should be noted that there is a sensor that automatically adjusts the brightness level of the screen. Also, the front panel along with the display is protected by the latest generation shock-resistant glass - "Gorilla Eye 3". A more advanced one can boast of similar screen parameters. iPhone version 6, which has a Plus prefix. She has a similar display diagonal - 5.5 inches, exactly the same resolution - 1920 × 1080. The only significant difference is that in this case a different technology is used in the manufacture of the display matrix - Retina HD. But from the point of view of the end user, this is no longer so serious. So the display quality in these devices is almost identical.

Graphics accelerator

One of the main weak points in comparison with the iPhone 6 is the graphics accelerator in the Meizu MX5. Comparison of their hardware specifications clearly indicates this. The iPhone 6 uses the PowerVR GX6650 video adapter. Its clock speed can reach as little as 550 MHz, but it also boasts 192 processing threads. This puts it on a par with such graphic accelerators as Adreno 420 or Tegra K1. The MX5, on the other hand, is equipped with the PowerVR G6200. Its peak clock frequency reaches 700 MHz, but there are only 64 computing threads. That is, they are almost three times less than those of the "apple" smartphone. But, on the other hand, the computational capabilities of this graphics solution are quite enough to display a picture on a 2K screen. In our case, a more modest resolution is used - 1080p. Accordingly, and problems with the withdrawal graphic image in this case it certainly shouldn't be. So for the end user, this difference is not so significant.

Cameras

But in terms of iPhone cameras 6 loses by an order of magnitude to Meizu MX5. Photos with the help of the latter are really much better. The camera in it is based on a 20.7 megapixel sensor made by Sony. In addition, it implements technologies such as laser autofocus, dual LED flash and panoramic lens. This camera can record videos in 4K quality with a refresh rate of 30 frames per second. Against this background, the 8 megapixels of the iPhone 6 look really modest, and no proprietary technologies allow you to achieve a similar level of quality. The situation is similar with front cameras. The front camera sensor in the MX5 is based on a 5 megapixel sensor. The "apple" gadget in this regard has a more modest sensor: only 1.2 megapixels. Therefore, the flagship from Meizu is better suited for video calls and selfies.

Memory

The minimum capacity of the built-in storage in Meizu MX5 is 16Gb. Some of the specified volume will be occupied by the preinstalled software (about 4 GB). The rest of the space is allocated for the needs of the user. For most tasks of the average user, this is quite enough. But it is preferable to buy a more advanced modification of this smartphone already with 32 GB on board. Unlike the iPhone 6 (which can be equipped with 64GB or even 128GB), these flagship solutions do not offer more integrated storage capacity. If for some reason there is a deficiency free space on the built-in storage, then you can upload some of the information to various cloud services (for example, "Mail.ru.Cloud" or "Yandex.Disk").

An alternative way to solve this problem is to purchase an additional OTZh cable with a regular YUSB port and connect it to a regular USB flash drive. But in this case, the convenience of working on a smartphone is lost: you need to make sure that the flash drive does not accidentally fall off. Excellent situation with RAM in this device. Its capacity is 3 GB. About 1.2 GB will be used after the system software has finished loading. The rest (and the user can use to launch their programs. Against this background, the iPhone 6 with 1 GB looks really bad. But the increased capacity of the built-in storage is not such a serious advantage.

Battery and autonomy

Almost the same batteries are installed in these two flagship devices. The iPhone 6 uses a 2915mAh battery. The battery capacity in the Meizu MX5 is slightly larger. A review of its technical specifications indicates that its capacity is 3150 mAh. Taking into account the fact that the flagship of the Cupertino company has more modest hardware, its autonomy will be slightly better. In reality, iPhone owners can expect 1.5-2 days of battery life. In turn, the MX5 can last 1-1.5 days on a single battery charge. These values are valid for an average load level. If you increase the load, then the autonomy time of the devices will be reduced to 8-12 hours. Well, in the mode of the greatest savings, the indicated values will increase by 1.5-2 days.

Transfer of information

A complete list of all currently existing interfaces is in the Meizu MX5. Reviews of the owners of the "smart" phone distinguish the following of them:

Mobile networks GPRS, EDGE, 3G and LTE. Moreover, both the first SIM card and the second one can work with them.
A complete set of all Wi-Fi interfaces, including the latest fastest "ac".
There is also "Bluetooth" version 4.1.
The navigation capabilities of the smartphone allow it to interact with two systems at once: GLONASS and GPS.
The list of wired interfaces consists of a micro-USB and a standard audio port.

System software

Quite an interesting situation with the system software in the Meizu MX5. Its firmware is based on "Android" version 5.0. At the same time, it has been significantly redesigned, and the operating system itself is called "Fly". Its version is 4.5. The need for modification user interface due to the presence of only one button under the display in the control panel instead of three. As a result, appearance the interface is more like iOS than "Android". There is also no separate menu for programs.

All shortcuts of the installed software are placed on the desktop. If necessary, you can group them into folders. Well, all system parameters are set to Meizu settings MX5: date, time, operating modes mobile networks etc. As for the rest, the set of software is typical for this software platform: Google applications, social networks and built-in mini-programs. It is important to note that there are several versions this device: I, C, A and U. All of them, except for I, are focused only on the Chinese market. It is problematic for an unprepared user to install Russian in such a Meizu MX5. They only have Chinese. But you can change the interface language by installing special software or a complex flashing of the device. Well, the version with the index I is adapted for international markets and is devoid of this drawback. So when buying, we pay attention to the marking of the gadget for exclusion possible problems with the software part of the smartphone.

Price

In most cases, the key criterion when choosing a new smartphone is its cost. And here the device from Apple Meizu MX5 leaves far behind. Reviews only confirm this. The base version of this 16GB gadget costs $ 310. A more advanced modification of this flagship, already with 32GB, costs about $ 340. For comparison: the most affordable version of last year's solution from Apple is now estimated at almost $ 700. At the same time, the total capacity of the built-in storage is 16 GB. So it turns out that for one of the most modest iPhone-6 you can buy 2 MX5 at once. This raises one question: why overpay for a brand? There can only be one answer: you are an avid Apple fan. In all other cases, it is most rational to buy a more affordable solution from Meizu, which is almost in no way inferior to the iPhone-6.

Meizu MX5 is a top-end smartphone at a low price. The device is equipped with productive hardware, and also has an advanced design. The presentation of the device took place in June 2015.

Appearance and ergonomics

Meizu MX5 got an all-metal case, which has undergone a really careful processing. A multilevel anodizing process was used here. A 12-nozzle sandblasting three-dimensional metal processing is also applied. The final stage in the production of the case is careful polishing and painting. Some internal parts of the phone are made of magnesium alloy, which significantly strengthens the gadget. The corners of the body are neatly rounded. As for the side faces, they are sloping. It should be noted the high quality assembly, as well as the very sturdy aluminum. In front, there is a protective glass covering the entire panel. The mTouch 2.0 navigation button together with the fingerprint scanner is located under the screen. At the top you can find only a headphone jack, and at the bottom - a microUSB port, a microphone and an external speaker. The device is powered by a 3150 mAh battery with mCharge fast charging support. Available colors: silver, gold, dark gray and light gray. Dimensions: height - 149.9 mm, thickness - 7.6 mm, width - 74.7 mm, weight - 149 g.

Display

The MX5 houses a 5.5-inch screen with an advanced AMOLED matrix. This allows the display to boast an excellent contrast ratio (10,000: 1) and high level maximum brightness. It uses MiraVision technology, which makes the image crystal clear. At the same time, the user's eyes practically do not get tired. The resolution of this display is 1920 x 1080 pixels, which allows you to enjoy smooth and realistic pictures without individual pixels. It is also worth highlighting the wide viewing angles, and the colors hardly change even at an angle.

Iron and performance

Inside the MX5 smartphone there is an eight-core Helio X10 Turbo processor with overclocked cores up to 2200 MHz. This chip not only has a consistently high power, but also economically consumes battery power. There is a 3D accelerator PowerVR G6200, and the volume random access memory LPDDR3 ( two-channel mode) is 3 GB. Available amount of internal memory: 32 GB or 16 GB. There is no separate slot for microSD cards. The device for its work uses the Flyme 4.5 shell, which modifies operating system Android 5. So, in the AnTuTu test, such a gadget is gaining more than 51,000 points. Many games run with the highest graphic settings... The system is very fast.

Communication and sound

In Meizu MX5, you can insert two SIM cards at once. FDD-LTE and TD-LTE networks are supported. The multimedia speaker has an extremely high volume reserve, and with clear sound. The sound quality in the headphones is very good. It is truly a "musical" smartphone. The high-quality earpiece is also worth mentioning.

Camera

The progressive 20.7-megapixel IMX220 camera from Sony has undergone some software enhancements in the Meise MX5. This results in improved sharpness and a more natural color gamut. Thanks to fast laser focusing and an abundance of modes, you can create great photos at any time of the day. It houses a 5-megapixel front-camera with 2.2 aperture and 2.2 FotoNation technology. Now images are enhanced in real time without post-processing.

conclusions

Through extensive refinements, the MX5 is a near-perfect smartphone with high performance. The advanced cameras and the luscious display stand out. Includes documentation, paper clip for the tray, USB cable, and power adapter.

Pros:

Sturdy and beautiful metal body.
Very decent performance in real tasks.
Two modified cameras.
Great sound from speakers and headphones.
Fast fingerprint scanner.

Minuses:

LTE frequencies do not function everywhere.
The radio and microSD slot may be missing.

Specifications Meizu MX5

General characteristics
Model	Meizu MX5
Date of announcement and start of sales	June 2015 / July 2015
Dimensions (LxWxH)	149.9 x 74.7 x 7.6 mm.
The weight	149 g
Available colors	gold, silver, dark gray, light gray
Operating system	Android 5.0.1 (Lollipop) + Flyme Flyme 4.5.2
Connection
Number and type of SIM-cards	two, Nano-SIM, dual stand-by
Communication standard in 2G networks	GSM 850/900/1800/1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2
Communication standard in 3G networks	HSDPA
Communication standard in 4G networks	LTE
Carrier Compatibility	MTS, Beeline, Megafon, Tele2, Yota
Data transfer
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac, dual-band, WiFi Direct, hotspot
Bluetooth	4.1, A2DP, LE
Gps	yes, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS
NFC	No
Infrared port	No
Platform
CPU	eight-core Mediatek MT6795 Helio X10 (Octa-core 2.2 GHz Cortex-A53)
GPU	PowerVR G6200
Inner memory	16 GB / 32 GB
RAM	3 GB
Ports and connectors
USB	microUSB 2.0, USB On-The-Go
3.5mm jack	there is
Memory card slot	No
Display
Display type	AMOLED capacitive, 16M colors
Screen size	5.5 inches (~ 74.5% of the face of the device)
Display protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Camera
Main camera	20.7 MP (f / 2.2, 1 / 2.3 ″, 1.2 µm), laser autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash
Main camera functionality	Geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, HDR, panorama
Video recording	[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Front-camera	5 MP, f / 2.2, [email protected]
Sensors and sensors
Illumination	there is
Approximations	there is
Gyroscope	there is
Compass	there is
Hall	No
Accelerometer	there is
Barometer	No
Fingerprint scanner	there is
Battery
Battery type and capacity	Li-Ion 3150 mAh
Battery holder	non-removable
Equipment
Standard kit	MX5: 1 USB cable: 1 SIM Tray Eject Clip: 1 User manual: 1 Warranty card: 1 Charger: 1

Prices

Video reviews

Today we are going to talk about the weaknesses of the Meizu MX5 smartphone, a phone that many of you have probably had an eye on.

Perhaps you know that before, Meizu always released only one device a year, but now, looking back at other strong market players such as Apple, Samsung, etc., Meizu began to release two smartphones a year, and now it should appear on the Russian market Meizu MX5 pro. The PRO version is the most powerful and charged version of a smartphone.

I would like to remind you that the strength of the phone is not only powerful specifications and a relatively low price, but also the case, which is made from a single piece of aluminum for about a month.

Why not buy a Meizu MX5 smartphone

The first weak point of the device is the inability to expand its memory and replace the battery on its own. First, for some it's not a problem, because some of us buy a device with 16 GB media. There is also a modification for 64, but the option of increasing the media does not start to seem useless from this.

If the battery runs out, you will have to carry the phone to the service, and how they will handle your phone is not clear.

Do you like models? This is great!

The second disadvantage of the Meizu MX5 smartphone concerns its camera. Yes, many of you will call this problem far-fetched, but for professionals it matters, since the Meizu MX5 is able to record videos in 4K.

As it turned out in practice, the videos created by this smartphone are very good, but unfortunately, they are written with the H.265 codec. No free player can open it. In order to play such a video, you will have to run it through a converter. Fans of mobile photography will not be happy with this arrangement.

The third reason not to buy a Meizu MX5 smartphone is overheating of the device. The experimenters already had many samples of this phone in their hands, but this jamb does not disappear. The device starts to boil. Not lightning fast, but it does happen. For 20-30 minutes of games, the system heats up and starts closing applications, which is somehow not very happy, and especially against the background of the fact that MediaTek promised that Helio X10 is a stunned cold processor.

Check out the prices and specifications of this and other Meizu smartphones in the Chinese online store ru.aliexpress.com - >> .

The fourth reason will not be adequately perceived by everyone, but many (especially those who understand) will not like the somewhat aggressive color rendering of the AMOLED screen of this smartphone. The colors are oversaturated, the contrast is off scale. There is a built-in color corrector, but it cannot transfer the color rendition of this screen to the calm range of classic IPS panels. All he can do is calibrate the screen temperature.

The final 5 reason not to buy a Meizu MX5 smartphone will not be felt by everyone, but those in the know will understand. As you know, Meizu MX5 comes in Flyme OS. The shell is not boring and simply oversaturated with cool buns, but this is good news, but the bad news is that if you suddenly don’t like this setting on android, you will not be able to escape from it. This already applies more to, and not to this smartphone, but still.

Traditionally for all smartphones from Meizu, MX5 does not have any third-party ROMs yet. Judging by the experience of past models, he will never see those. Yes, for many it is not critical at all, but there are those who often dabble with flashing, trying to find a middle ground. This will not work with Meizu - he was born with Flyme, and he will die with him.

You have learned 5 reasons why you should not buy the Meizu MX5. If you want to know about the strong qualities of this smartphone, and you will get to know them.

Recall that the best prices for Chinese and other smartphones in the Aliexpress online store.

During the presentation of the Meizu MX5, the company said that the model was developed with an emphasis not on characteristics, but on user needs. The approach is sound, since in the current environment manufacturers have access to the same components and it is no longer enough for them to be in the spotlight just by offering a fast processor or a high-resolution camera. We need interesting chips, and not for the sake of a tick, but useful ones. Let's find out what makes the MX5 so special.

Our dear reader, remember that officially Meizu smartphones in Russia are sold only by MyMeizu.ru and PixelPhone.ru. There is a guarantee, service and cool accessories :)

Technical Meizu specifications MX5:

Network: GSM / GPRS / EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), WCDMA (900/2100 MHz), FDD-LTE (Band 1, 3)
Platform (at the time of announcement): Flyme 4.5 based on Android 5.0 Lollipop
Display: 5.5 ", 1920 x 1080 pixels, Super AMOLED, 401 ppi, contrast ratio 10,000: 1, brightness 350 nits, Gorilla Glass 3
Camera: 20.7 MP, autofocus, dual LED flash of different tones, laser autofocus, 6-lens optics with f / 2.2 aperture, 1 / 2.3 "Sony Exmor IMX220 sensor, video recording [email protected], [email protected], Gorilla Glass 3
Front camera: 5 MP, f / 2.0
Processor: 8 cores Cortex-A53, 2.2 GHz, MediaTek Helio X10 MT6795T
Graphics chip: PowerVR G6200 @ 700 MHz
RAM: 3GB LPDDR3
Internal memory: 16/32/64 GB
Memory card: no
Navigation: GPS, GLONASS, QZSS, BDS
Wi-Fi (802.11b / g / n / ac)
Bluetooth 4.1 BLE
microUSB
3.5mm jack
Battery: non-removable, 3150 mAh
Dimensions: 149.9 x 74.7 x 7.6mm
Weight: 149g

Video review and unpacking

Design and equipment

The MX5 test unit came from a demo batch for journalists and differs from the commercial one in the kit. There is a smartphone in an impromptu book indicating the main advantages. Under it there is a "pocket" with documentation and a needle for a SIM tray. Even lower is the microUSB cable, charging (2A) and EP-21HD headphones. Unfortunately, the headset will not be available commercially. Also note that Chinese versions come without a box - in the form of a book with a cardboard cover.

For a long time, the company went to a completely metal case, timidly applying it now in the frame, then in the frame. “In pursuit of technological excellence,” it takes Meizu 30 days to obtain a 21-gram aluminum case (T6063 brand) from a 250-gram bar. The conversion process includes 68 steps, assuming an accuracy of 0.01 mm (10 μm). Four-axis CNC machines are used at all stages of metal processing, eliminating the influence of the human factor and guaranteeing the highest fit. It takes more than 40 hours to polish and paint.

At the presentation, the company paid quite a lot of attention to the production of a smartphone, and on the website it devoted a whole section to this. And for good reason, as the case has become one of the strongest points of the MX5. Now you won't surprise anyone with the material itself (well, metal and metal, what's wrong with that, even if the budgets from little-known Chinese firms have it), but the implementation deserves praise. The new MX5 is really well assembled, has no cracks, no creaks, no backlash, no squeezing. It is light (149 g for a 5.5 ”device is not much), thin (7.6 mm), has narrow bezels and small indents, fits comfortably in the hand. Tactilely, the MX5 feels like a flagship and looks expensive, but it tends to get dirty from wet hands (like iPhone case 6/6 Plus). At the same time, not the entire rear area is metal - there are plastic inserts for the antennas at the top and bottom. Between them and the body there are strips treated with a diamond cutter, painted with a special colored varnish. In the press photo, the entire back is the same shade, but the demo has a slightly darker polymer inserts, which does not feel uniform. Perhaps other color solutions do not have such a nuance, or maybe the technical process was debugged in commercial samples. By the way, there are a total of four colors: gold with a gold backdrop, white with a silver backdrop, black with a dark gray backdrop and black with a silver backdrop (our case).

Meizu has completely moved away from the touch mug, promoting the multifunctional mechanical key. An mBack button is built into the budget models, and the older models receive an mTouch. The functions of the keys are similar (action "back" by touching without pressing, "home" by pressing with a click and "locking" by pressing with a second hold), but the mTouch additionally has a finger scanner. The MX4 Pro has the first revision of mTouch, and the MX5 has an improved version - mTouch 2.0. The finger scanner is connected to the key through a stainless steel plate on the base plate behind the screen. A silicone gel lining is provided between the main button module and the display to prevent moisture from entering. According to Meizu, the control has not only become simpler and more convenient, but also faster (the reading speed is only 0.48 s), more precisely (the scanner resolution has increased by 81%), and also more durable (the resource assumes over 300 thousand clicks). Actually, everything that the manufacturer claims corresponds to the key in the MX5 - the fingerprint scanner is fast and accurate, the button is convenient to interact with the shell. Personally, I do not regret in the least about leaving the circle in the past.

Consider the arrangement of the elements in the case. Light and distance sensors are located above the screen, led indicator, front 5-megapixel camera. Below it is the mTouch 2.0 button. On the left is the dual nano-SIM tray (unfortunately, it is not as versatile as the M2 Note tray, which can optionally accept one SIM + microSD). On the right - the volume rocker and the power key brought out to a comfortable height. The lower part has a microphone, a microUSB port, four holes for a multimedia speaker (the volume is slightly above average) and two screws. The top one has an audio jack and an additional microphone. The back has an element that first appeared in Meizu smartphones. We are talking about laser focus, which is designed to help a 20.7-megapixel camera with a dual two-color flash.

careful, 10 MB

The MX5 screen is perhaps the most controversial point in the new product. For the first time, the company moved away from a high-quality IPS matrix, choosing Samsung's development - Super AMOLED with a Diamond subpixel layout. The company portrays the choice made as a step forward, making a substantial case. Among them: the contrast level that is almost the limit for the human eye (10,000: 1) with deep blacks and rich colors, reduced power consumption (each pixel is highlighted separately), full color gamut with wide viewing angles, small thickness (1.3 mm - on 32% thinner than MX4 screen). As you can imagine, there are no ideals, and Super AMOLED with "pentail" has its drawbacks. These include a low maximum brightness (at the MX5 presentation it was said about 500 nits, and later on the official website a line with 350 nits appeared - this is 1.5-2 times lower than that of high-quality IPS), a dirty white color due to an unequal number color subpixels (green - more, so that the matrix can be called RGBG), greenishness under slopes, looseness of fonts, excessively rich color reproduction. In a nutshell, the MX5's Super AMOLED outperforms the MX4 IPS panel in power consumption (almost twice when watching a video) and black depth, while the MX4 IPS screen displays more pleasant colors, whiter, brighter and clearer (Samsung considers the resolution AMOLED screen with PenTile for green subpixels, which are twice as many as red and blue - as a result, the pixel density perceived by the eyes is far from the declared 401 ppi). Subject's display boasts MiraVision technology that dynamically adjusts saturation, sharpness, contrast and brightness based on lighting conditions and the displayed image. In addition, the MX5 screen is easy to read outdoors in bright sun and is comfortable to work with in the dark, as the minimum brightness with ultra-dimming technology drops to just 1.4 nits.

Does all this mean the MX5's screen is bad? No, because if you do not compare displays, then you quickly adapt to color rendering, there is enough brightness (under the sun the MX5 is more readable than the LeTV One classmate with IPS, for example), and the reduced power consumption for many will be more valuable than the whiteness of the panel. Samsung has been using AMOLED in its top-end devices for many years in a row and nothing - people use and even consider screens with this technology to be the best because of the black color and rich colors. And displays, by and large, very rarely act as a determining factor in the purchase. I don’t know of such examples when a person would refuse a device if he was satisfied with everything, but only PenTile confused him. Even I, with all my dislike for the "pentacle", used Samsung Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S6 as the main ones, are positively attuned to Motorola Nexus 6, and MX5 also did not really bother me during testing.

Software

As of the moment of the review, the main software is the Flyme OS 4.5.2I firmware based on Android 5.0.1 Lollipop. We could not find any differences from Flyme OS 4.2 on Android 4.4 KitKat in MX4 and MX4 Pro - fresh code from Google and fixes are hidden from the eyes of the user, who is usually inclined to evaluate innovations by the shell. And the new interface with Flyme OS 5 will have to wait, apparently, until September, when the MX5 Pro debuts.

I will note the main features of the launcher if you have never encountered Flyme. All applications are placed on desktops, icons can be aligned up or down. Personalization is allowed by changing backgrounds and using themes that replace many design elements. The notification shade is lowered by swipe from any height, and the list of active programs pops up if you swipe up from the bottom edge. If you swipe the icon up in this list, then a specific application will close, and if you swipe down, the entire list will be cleared (holding it blocks the program from clearing). Gestures on the screen off are extremely useful: with a double tap, a locker is displayed, swiping from bottom to top unlock, swiping from top to bottom brings up the notification panel, side swipes switch tracks, and drawn letters start tasks attached to them (for example, display O with your finger to enable camera).

The key points of the settings are shown in the screenshots. These are personalization, Flyme account (for finding a phone, blocking it and getting root access), SIM settings section, balance adjustment white screen(it doesn't make much sense for AMOLED), the choice of the processor operating mode, fingerprint input, gesture settings.

The company pre-installs few programs. Almost everything you need: a drawing tool with the necessary set of tools for creativity, a security center with cleaning unnecessary and distributing permissions to programs, a calculator-converter, a convenient file manager, a gallery with a good editor, a video player that works in the window, and a good music player.

Why is it just good? Because before, the Meizu audio player could download covers and texts from the Web, but now it does not find anything (M1 Note, M2 Note with fresh firmware have a similar situation). Moreover, he even stopped seeing almost all the saved covers. Fortunately, there is nothing special in the player (online services for China were cut out from the international firmware for obvious reasons), so nothing prevents you from using an alternative - PowerAMP or Stellio. Meizu wouldn't be Meizu if it hadn't worked on sound. In terms of sound, the MX5 is several steps higher than the MX4 (the new product plays louder and cleaner, the bass is not bulging) and slightly lower than the MX4 Pro (last year's flagship produces a slightly more detailed sound and has a colossal volume headroom - thanks to the dedicated amplifier and DAC). I also compared the sound of the MX5 with the LG G4 and the sound from the new Meizu I liked more (more emotionally and louder). I listened to the tracks in FLAC format with Denon D600 headphones. MediaTek hides the marking of the audio chip built into the MT6795, but willingly shares its characteristics: support for 24-bit, 192 kHz, signal-to-noise ratio up to 110 dB. Overall the MX5 sounds great, looking forward to the MX5 Pro with Hi-Fi!

The quality of the wireless connections did not cause any complaints. But the fact of inadequate support of European LTE frequencies, of course, will be unpleasant for many potential buyers. MX5 has only lanes 1 and 3 at its disposal, the first of which is not used by any operator in Russia, and the second is used only in a few cities, and not by all operators. In general, the model should be considered not as 4G, but as 3G. According to a representative of the global office of Meizu, the European LTE frequencies at the stage of approving the characteristics of the flagship were overlooked (it must be understood that the international market accounts for a microscopic percentage of Meizu's sales in comparison with demand in China, so the Chinese thought of us last), and when they realized it, it was already too late. But we were assured that from now on all future models will be with full LTE (at least there will be Band 7, but a bunch of 7 and 20 is not excluded). Two SIM cards in MX5 work in standby mode, if one is busy, the other will be unavailable (one radio module).

Camera

The MX5 uses an improved camera module from the MX4. It includes a 20.7-megapixel Sony IMX220 (1 / 2.3 ”) sensor, 6-element optics with f / 2.2 aperture, dual LED flash in different shades, laser autofocus and Gorilla Glass 3. Compared to the MX4 software algorithms have also been changed: new shutter release logic, color settings, white balance, sharpness. The most important innovation is the laser rangefinder, capable of aiming at an object at a distance of half a meter in just 0.2 seconds. In real conditions, the camera almost instantly focuses on objects near, and regardless of the lighting, and focusing from the near-field to infinity takes about 1-1.5 seconds. If you pick up the MX4 and MX5, the difference in favor of the new item will be just huge - the laser helps to aim up to 5 times faster! Moreover, the MX4 can easily ignore the change of the plan and have to help it with a finger, or re-aim it to trigger the automation. If you pick up the MX5 and LG G4, which also has a laser, then Meizu phone picks up the close plan faster, but yields a little when aiming into the distance. Still fast focus Apple iPhone 6/6 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S6 / S6 Edge, which do not have a laser rangefinder, but have phase focus. These comrades in good light focus even faster than the MX5 and G4, but in semi-darkness they are slightly inferior.

The MX5 interface is the same as that of other current Meizu models. It is still sharpened for vertical use, offers several filters and modes. The manual mode still requires improvement, since it does not imply a white balance setting, and the exposure adjustment does not correspond to the range of + -3 in increments of 1. Exposure metering separate from the focus point is provided. A square and a circle appear in the place of tapa - the square indicates the place of focus, and the exposure is measured near the circle (geometric shapes can be moved). This is a useful feature, but not very convenient, since dragging is not entirely intuitive, and in some conditions, there may simply not be a bright area to darken the frame. I like the slider-based exposure change more, like the iPhone 6, Huawei P8, and Galaxy S6.

the left example was shot at "auto", and the right one was taken in manual mode with ISO400

without HDR and with HDR

In terms of photo quality, the MX5 is in the top of Chinese camera phones: the white balance is almost always selected correctly, the colors are pleasant. Noise reduction does not differ aggressively, that is, noise in difficult conditions pours out every now and then, but the picture tries to remain sharp. At night, it makes sense to manually change the ISO. Detail at close distances pleases, but when focusing to infinity, the advantages of the 20.7-megapixel sensor are not revealed, since the frame is less clear than the 8-megapixel iPhone 6 Plus and 13-megapixel ASUS Zenfone 2. I hope that with updates this moment will be corrected, since the used camera module is really good and has high potential.

The front camera has a resolution of 5 megapixels and an aperture of f / 2.0. Photos are noisy and do not differ in clarity, but front cameras in all modern smartphones do not yet deserve an "excellent" grade. For a selfie, it will do. Effects can be applied in real time.

There are several video shooting modes. There is 4K with high details and a minimum of compression artifacts (not all players and video editors can open the file on a PC, YouTube also did not recognize it, but the HandBrake converter helped), there is a popular Full HD with a not very successful algorithm, there is slow motion shooting, which is carried out with a non-standard resolution of 1280 x 736 pixels at 100 frames per second (the result is reproduced at 25 fps, and for some reason, not all video editors and video players are friends with it). In general, Helio X10 supports shooting at 1080p at 480 fps, but so far there is no smartphone with this function. MediaTek explained to us that Meizu chose the old camera module, which is not capable of delivering the maximum. Let's believe. As for the video quality in general, the color rendition is pleasant and the manufacturer can finally be praised for the sound recording - the stereo effect is felt, the voice is written clearly, the surrounding sounds are also well heard. At the same time, the old sores have not gone anywhere: electronic stabilization is either poorly implemented or absent altogether (there is not even a talk about optical), and it is suggested to focus by touch (sometimes it feels like the laser focus is not involved at all when shooting video).

Benchmarks and performance

The top-end MediaTek chipset was chosen for last year's MX4 and Meizu was probably pleased. So the MX5 also received a top SoC from this manufacturer - MediaTek Helio X10 in a turbo version of MT6795T. It includes 8 Cortex-A53 cores up to 2.2 GHz, a 700 MHz PowerVR G6200 graphics chip, and is complemented by 3 GB of LPDDR3 RAM. Internal memory the model can be 16, 32 or 64 GB (without microSD), but I wouldn't be surprised if the 64 GB modification never sees the light of day. At least Meizu has done so in the past. The filling is cool and it would be weird if it didn't handle the latest toys. Watch the demo video above.

According to the manufacturer, the MX5 is 17% faster than the MX4. Let's check this in a separate comparison, but for now take a look at the benchmarks of the current flagship: AnTuTu 5.7.1 - 50,752, Geekbench 3 - 934/5313, Basemark OS 2 - 1233, 3DMark Unlimited - 16,479, GFXBench 1080p - 4.9 / 10/27 fps, Epic Citadel Ultra - 43.4 fps. The numbers are pleasing to the eye, but much more joyful is that throttling is practically absent and fps during the game will not sag due to heating. The proof is six runs in a row in the heavy graphics test GFXBench:

As you can see, the results of the runs are practically the same. But the processor frequency is still not always at the maximum level of 2.2 GHz. We found out the operating frequencies in all three power saving modes using the Stability Test and CPU Spy half an hour run. Here they are:

efficient, balanced and energy-saving modes

Unlike the M2 Note budget, in MX5 it really makes sense to choose the operating mode of the chip, since there is an influence: if you are not playing, you can leave the processor in power saving mode (the interface will still be smooth, but simple applications speed will be enough), for the optimum, you can choose the balanced mode, and hardcore players make sense to switch to the productive mode before the gaming session.

The 3150 mAh battery in conjunction with the Super AMOLED screen and the latest Helio X10 chip shows very good results. If the MX4 lacked stars from the sky in terms of energy consumption, then the MX5 has become a real long-liver in the Meizu camp. It's no joke - the device played video with maximum brightness and all active wireless modules for more than 10 hours, which is almost twice as much as the MX4! And the discharge in the game Asphalt 8 for half an hour with a comfortable brightness was 12% (or 24% per hour). The MX5 not only discharges slowly, but also charges quickly. MCharge technology powers the smartphone up to 25% in 10 minutes and up to 60% in 40 minutes (real measurements gave similar results). In fact, this is the development of MediaTek Pump Express 2.0, which Meizu gave its own name.

We are used to the fact that if the body has powerful smartphone is made of metal, while playing games will hardly be pleasant because of the high temperatures and uncomfortable sensations. However, the MX5 was very pleasantly surprised by the fact that even in a long gaming session it warmed up tolerably and did not suggest buying a cover. The maximum internal sensor temperature I've seen was only 43 degrees! Compared to MX4 and MX4 Pro new The MX5 heats up significantly less even when idle. Just with the open desktops, MX4, MX4 Pro and MX5 heated up in the upper area of the back to 39, 37 and 34 degrees, and their screens warmed up to 38, 37 and 34 degrees, respectively (measured with a pyrometer in the warmest zones). At the same time, the MX5 also cooled down the fastest.

conclusions

On a cursory glance, it might seem like the Meizu MX5 is a small step forward from the MX4. In fact, almost everything in the smartphone has been redesigned and it feels truly new and innovative. In Russian retail, the novelty will cost 25 thousand for the version with 16 GB of memory and 27 thousand for the modification with 32 GB of memory. In my opinion, materials and workmanship, battery life, camera and performance fully justify the cost. And Meizu was not cunning when it said that the MX5 was created with an emphasis on user needs. All available innovations are useful and will be appreciated by the happy owners, who will join the rapidly growing army of Meizu fans.