Meizu m5 laptop black. Review of Meizu M5 Note - an old friend in a new body. Price and main characteristics

Meizu M5 Note is a smartphone with a large display and a metal body at an affordable price. The device features an attractive design, as well as balanced hardware. Its official announcement took place in December 2016.

Appearance and ergonomics

Meizu M5 Note uses high-quality aluminum, which became the basis for a reliable and beautiful metal body. It has undergone multi-step sandblasting to ensure an excellent tactile feel. The metal body is complemented by shiny chamfers, which are located at the ends. The assembly was carried out perfectly, there are absolutely no creaks or clicks even with strong pressure. The surface of the device has a pleasant velvet texture, so it does not try to slip out of the palm. The front side is completely “occupied” by 2.5D glass with spectacular sloping edges.

The screen has rather narrow side frames. Below it is the usual mTouch navigation button with a built-in touch fingerprint scanner, which responds very clearly to touch. On the bottom edge there is an external speaker, which has received a new shape in the form of three rectangular slits. The microUSB port, audio jack and main microphone are also located here. And the top end is equipped exclusively with a second microphone. There is a 4000 mAh battery with fast charging capability. Available colors: grey, gold, blue and silver. Dimensions: height - 153.6 mm, thickness - 8.1 mm, width - 75.8 mm, weight - 175 g.

Display

M5 Note received a 5.5-inch screen with high resolution FHD (1920 by 1080 pixels). The IPS matrix stands out for its correct and realistic color reproduction. At the same time, bright shades dominate here, which makes it possible to enjoy a colorful image. There is a special vision protection technology that significantly reduces eye strain. As for brightness, it can be set manually or automatically. The display has excellent anti-glare properties, as well as an effective oleophobic coating.

Hardware and performance

Inside the M5 Note smartphone there is an eight-core Helio P10 processor. Its maximum frequency is 1800 MHz. The graphics accelerator is GPU Mali-T860. The basic version of the phone has 3 GB of LPDDR3 RAM, as well as 16 GB or 32 GB of built-in file storage with the ability to expand with MicroSD cards up to 128 GB. There is also an advanced modification with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of RAM. The device operates under the Android 6.0 operating system and the Flyme shell. The performance of the gadget is quite good - about 50,000 points in the AnTuTu test. The smartphone confidently copes with a wide variety of tasks, and even many games run without visible problems. But, of course, the maximum graphics level is not set in every game.

Communication and sound

The high-quality speaker of the Meizu M5 Note makes the interlocutor's voice sound clear even on the street. The external speaker has an average volume level with a predominance of high frequencies. In headphones, things are the same without outright miracles.

Camera

Meizu M5 Note is equipped with a 13-megapixel main camera with dual flash, phase detection autofocus and aperture ratio 2.2. Photos are of high quality only during the daytime, and when weather conditions worsen, clearly noticeable noise and blurring appear. The front 5-megapixel camera has a proprietary ArcSoft editor, as well as Face AE technology.

conclusions

It's its stunning looks that make the M5 Note stand out from many of its competitors. It is also worth highlighting the modern technical components, a large screen and a fast fingerprint sensor. Contents: phone, SIM card ejector, network adapter, connecting cable.

Pros:

• Large and high quality display.
• Expressive metal body.
• Excellent build and excellent ergonomics.
• Very high autonomy.
• Convenient fingerprint scanner.

Minuses:

• Not the best sound.
• Demanding games lack performance.

Technical characteristics of Meizu M5 Note

Prices

Video reviews

2016 was an uncharacteristically productive year for Meizu. The manufacturer has significantly expanded its range of manufactured devices, covering literally all conceivable and inconceivable price niches:

• from cheap to premium;
• from plastic ones to phones encased in glass.

However, one of the most popular and popular was Meizu M 3 Note. And literally six months later, the company released an improved version, which was called M5 Note. You don't have to wait for the fourth version, since the number 4 is unlucky in China. The company's management appears to be very superstitious.

As you already understood, today we have a review of the Meizu M5 Note smartphone, which has a pleasant appearance thanks to its metal body and good autonomy for its class.

The phone comes in a white, minimalist cardboard box with the model name printed on the front and sides. The technical characteristics of the device are indicated on the back side.

Opening the box we find:

• a small cardboard insert with a branded clip for the SIM tray hole;
• two booklets, one of which is a small user manual, the second is a warranty card;
• a white charger block, quite solid and weighty with a stated current of 2A;
• USB cable is white. Unfortunately, it's not Type C again.

The equipment is not rich, but all the basics are there.

Design

Meizu M5 Note has undergone minimal changes in comparison with its predecessor, except that it has become a little thinner and more convenient, but nothing more.

On the right side there is a volume rocker and a power button. On the left there is a slot for SIM cards. A standard scheme is used, thanks to which you can install either 2 Nano-SIM or 1 Nano-SIM and a memory card. On the top side you can find an additional microphone for noise reduction.

On the bottom end:

• A loudspeaker whose cut is made in a slightly different style compared to its predecessor.
• USB connector.
• A microphone that produces good speech quality.
• 3.5 mm jack for connecting a stereo headset. In M 3 Note this connector was on top.

If we talk about the sound in general, then it is quite good for its price tag. The maximum volume is average, however, in a noisy crowd you will still hear your gadget. The sound in the headphones is good - there is volume and a hint of bass.

On the front side there are:

• sensors;
• speakers;
• front camera peephole;
• multifunctional Home button with a built-in mTouch 2.1 fingerprint scanner, which in fact is not very fast. But let's look at this in more detail.

As for the fingerprint scanner, it is very suitable for a budget smartphone. We do not deny that on flagships the scanner recognizes the owner’s fingerprints more quickly, however, the speed, convenience and responsiveness of mTouch 2.1 is one of the best in its price range.

If you turn the device over, then on the back there are:

• 13 MP main camera peephole;
• dual flash;
• Company `s logo.

We would also like to note that there are no more plastic inserts, as is the case with the M 3 Note. And this is a big step forward.

Screen

The Meizu Note 5 display has the same Full HD IPS matrix with a diagonal of 5.5 inches, maximum viewing angles and a pixel density of 401 ppi. This is exactly the matrix installed in the previous M3 Note.

There are no special complaints about it, except that in the sun sometimes the maximum brightness is not enough, but the minimum brightness will please you, especially if you like to read before bed. In addition, a vision protection mode is provided, which, of course, is a huge plus.

Processor and OS

The technical characteristics of the Meizu m5 Note phone are the main problem. It actually uses a slightly outdated processor from MediaTek, namely Helio P10. 8 cores operate at a maximum frequency of 1.8 GHz (ARM Cortex-A53). The Mali-T860 is responsible for the graphics.

The RAM has been increased and now even the cheapest version has at least 3 GB, but there is also a version with 4 GB. The volume of the built-in storage will vary depending on the version - from 16 to 64 GB. But it’s worth remembering that, for example, if you take a model with 32 GB, then about 29 GB of it will actually be available. the rest will be taken up by system files.

Out of the box, the phone runs Android operating system version 6.0. It may not be the latest operating system, however, thanks to the proprietary Flyme shell, the owner still doesn’t feel the difference between Android versions. The shell is very balanced, quite nimble. It’s definitely impossible to find fault with it for lags and freezes, because they simply don’t exist.

In everyday use, in the browser, when working with M5 applications, the Note performs well thanks to a well-optimized shell that works flawlessly. However, we strongly advise against setting graphics settings above average in demanding games. The tanks will run at minimum settings, but there is slight heating in the chamber area.

Special applications provide the following indicators:

• In Geekbench 678 in the Single Core test and in the Multi Core test 2327.
• Bonsai Benchmark gave 2921. Average fps 41.7.

The optimization is simply amazing. Even on an average processor everything flies.

In everyday work, this phone will not disappoint, but if you want to take it for games, then difficulties will arise.

Autonomy

According to the manufacturers, the budget device is equipped with a non-removable battery with a capacity of 4000 mAh. The volume is similar to its predecessor, however, it now has the ability to quickly charge using MediaTek Pump Express technology. The maximum power of the adapter out of the box is 18B.

Use only a standard USB cable, because anything else can lead to trouble. The cable may swell and the only thing you can do after this is throw it away. During fast charging with a standard cable, the phone gets warm (which is normal), but the cable is cold.

Charging time indicators: from 0 to 30% in 15 minutes, up to 50% charges in about 30 minutes, up to 80% in exactly an hour. It will take about 20 minutes to finish off the remaining 20%, which is quite bearable for such a volume.

At maximum brightness and watching videos on YouTube, the smartphone asks to be recharged after about 6 hours. Full HD video can be watched for up to 8 hours. A good and worthy result.

This gadget is enough for one day of extreme work with:

• video;
• YouTube;
• movies;
• games;
• calls, etc.

But if you use it in medium format, then the budget device will last about 1.5-2 days.

Camera

Two camera modules are installed inside:

1. The main one is 13 MP. There are no fundamental changes, about 10-15% of quality has been added. There is autofocus. The video is also recorded in Full HD. There is a manual mode that allows you to configure everything at your discretion.
2. Front 5 MP. The video is Full HD, but there is no autofocus.

The cameras on the smartphone are frankly average. This applies to both front and main.

The saddest thing is that, as in the case of the screen, processor and much more in this device, no changes have occurred in comparison with its predecessor. The camera modules installed are absolutely identical. Of course, the manufacturer assured that slightly more advanced processing algorithms are used when creating photographs, however, in general, the quality of the final images remains at approximately the same level. And it is far from being at the highest level.

Results

Meizu M5 Note is not a full-fledged successor to the Meizu M 3 Note, but rather its restyling with some cosmetic changes, both visually and internally. The gadget definitely feels better in the hand, and it looks the same. The huge plastic inserts clearly did not paint the Troika; they are not here and the rear panel begins to look much more harmonious.

Let's look at the pros and cons that we were able to highlight.

The advantages include:

• all metal body;
• perfect assembly (plastic seams cannot be felt with your fingers);
• fast charging support;
• excellent autonomy;
• Not a bad display, but absolutely the same as in its predecessor.

• The performance of the new product is average. If you are not an avid gamer, you definitely won’t feel any discomfort.
• Price.

Video

You can watch the video review of 5m below

Having skipped over the “four” in the serial number of the model, first of all, some changes were made to the design of the metal body of the 5.5-inch Meizu M5 Note smartphone. How to correct a “three” to a “five”, Vesti figured it out.Hi-tech

The expansion of Meizu's smartphone lineup looked quite rapid last year. So, if the world premiere took place in April, then the release of the M5 Note was announced in December. In the best Eastern traditions, the company in this case decided to omit the number “4”, which is associated with certain superstitions in Asia. Note that the model similar in name differs from the M5 Note quite significantly. In particular, the new product is available in three versions of RAM and internal memory - 3 GB/16 GB, 3 GB/32 GB and 4 GB/64 GB. All other technical details about the new smartphone are given below.

Specifications

• Model: M5 Note (M621H)
• OS: Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) with Flyme OS 5.2.11.0G shell
• Processor: 64-bit MediaTek Helio P10 (MT6755), ARMv8 architecture, 8 cores ARM Cortex-A53 (4x1.8 GHz + 4x1.0 GHz)
• Graphics coprocessor: ARM Mali-T860 MP2 (550 MHz)
• RAM: 3GB/3GB/4GB LPDDR3 (933MHz, single channel)
• Storage: 16 GB/32 GB/64 GB, eMMC 5.1, microSD/HC/XC memory card support (up to 128 GB)
• Interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz), Bluetooth 4.0 (LE), microUSB (USB 2.0) for charging/syncing, USB-OTG, 3.5 mm headphone jack
• Screen: capacitive touch, GFF (full lamination), 5.5-inch diagonal, resolution 1920x1080 pixels, pixel density per inch 403 ppi, brightness 450 cd/sq. m, contrast ratio 1000:1, protective glass 2.5D
• Main camera: 13 MP, 5-element lens, f/2.2 aperture, phase detection autofocus (0.2 s), dual dual-color flash, 1080p@30fps video
• Front camera: 5 MP, 4-element lens, f/2.0 aperture
• Network: UMTS 900, 2100; GSM 850, 900, 1800, 1900; CDMA 800; LTE (1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40); LTE Cat. 6 (300/50 Mbit/s)
• SIM card format: nanoSIM (4FF)
• Slot tray configuration: nanoSIM + nanoSIM, or nanoSIM + microSD/HD/XC
• Navigation: GPS/GLONASS, A-GPS
• Sensors: accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, Hall sensor, light and proximity sensors, fingerprint scanner
• Battery: non-removable, lithium polymer, 4,000 mAh, fast charging support
• Colors: dark grey, silver, gold, blue
• Dimensions: 153.6x75.8x8.1 mm
• Weight: 175 grams

Design, ergonomics

The new M5 Note smartphone has an all-metal body, similar to older, more advanced models, for example. Let us remind you that the rear panel has two inserts made of radio-transparent material.

In turn, for the antennas on the M5 Note body, like , only thin strips of radiotransparent material are now used. Due to this, the new smartphone looks more “metallic”. By the way, such a candy bar with rounded corners and edges is offered in the following colors: dark gray, silver, gold and blue (only the first three are available at the start of sales).

The overall dimensions of the M5 Note, compared to its predecessor, have remained virtually unchanged (153.6 x 75.8 x 8.1 mm versus 153.6 x 75.5 x 8.2 mm), which cannot be said about the weight (175 g versus 163 grams). However, this is easily explained, because light plastic inserts have now been replaced by heavier metal. As for the 5.5-inch “classmates”, as an example we can give similar parameters for (150.9x76.2x8.2 mm; 162 grams) and Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (151.0x76.0x8.45 mm; 165 gram).

The entire front surface of the M5 Note, including the screen, is covered with protective glass with a 2.5D effect (manufacturer unknown).

Above the display is traditionally a speaker grille, surrounded by light and proximity sensors (on the left), as well as a front camera lens and an LED indicator (on the right), which is not visible when not in use.

Below the display there is a mechanical key with a built-in mTouch 2.1 fingerprint scanner. Its basic functionality has not changed: tapping on this button activates the “Back” function, a short press with a hardware “click” returns to the main screen (“Home”), and a long press (and hold) turns off the screen backlight. The "Recent Apps" button is replaced by swiping up from the bottom edge of the display.

On the right edge, in a small recess, there are volume rockers of different sizes and a power/lock button.

The left edge occupies a closed slot with a dual tray,

where either two nanoSIM format subscriber identification modules can be placed, or the place of the second one will be taken by a microSD memory expansion card.

The hole for the second auxiliary microphone remains at the top end.

But the 3.5 mm audio headset connector moved to the bottom end, where they assembled a hole for a “conversational” microphone, a microUSB connector between two mounting screws, as well as a decorative grille (three oblong holes) for a “multimedia” speaker.

The back panel is decorated with a stylized Meizu logo, above which there are holes for a dual LED flash and the main camera lens.

At the bottom of the rear panel there is a place for an inscription from which you can find out about LTE support, as well as the name of the manufacturing company and the country of production.

The M5 Note feels pleasantly heavy in your hand. In principle, there are no problems with one-handed control; however, special options in the settings are designed to make it easier.

Screen, camera, sound

The M5 Note screen, like its predecessor, uses a 5.5-inch IPS matrix, on which, with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels (Full HD) and a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9, the pixel density per inch according to the passport is 403 ppi. GFF (Glass-to-Film-to-Film) full lamination technology eliminates the air gap between the display layers, which is the basis for good anti-glare properties and reduces the reflection effect.

The stated contrast is 1000:1, and the maximum brightness is 450 cd/sq.m. At the same time, it is proposed to regulate the backlight level in a fairly wide range, either at your own discretion, manually, or automatically (the "Auto-tuning" option), based on information from the light sensor. Multi-touch technology allows you to process up to ten simultaneous clicks on a capacitive screen, which is confirmed by the results of the AntTuTu Tester and MultiTouch Tester programs.

In the settings, in addition to changing the font size, the ability to adjust the color temperature has been added. So it’s easy to make the colors warmer or, conversely, colder to suit your taste. To protect your eyes, it is proposed to enable the mode of the same name, reducing the amount of “harmful” light in the blue part of the spectrum (the image on the screen will begin to “yellow”). This option can be activated using a timer. The oleophobic coating allows your finger to slide across the screen quite easily, and it is also equally easy to remove small stains from the glass.

The photo capabilities of the M5 Note seem to have remained unchanged compared to . The main camera also boasts a 13-megapixel sensor and a 2-tone LED flash with different color temperatures. The lens with 5-element optics has an f/2.2 aperture and fast (0.2 s) phase detection autofocus. The maximum image resolution is achieved with an aspect ratio of 4:3 and is 4208x3120 pixels (13 MP). Examples of photos can be viewed.

The front camera has a 5-megapixel sensor equipped with a wide-angle 4-lens lens with f/2.0 aperture. There is no autofocus or flash. The maximum image size in the classic aspect ratio (4:3) is 2576x1936 pixels (5 MP).

Both cameras can record video in Full HD quality (1920x1080 pixels) with a frame rate of 30 fps, while the content is saved in MP4 container files (AVC - video, AAC - audio).

The interface of the Camera application in the M5 Note, compared to its predecessor, has also not changed at all. True, to the “Auto”, “Manual”, “Portrait”, “Panorama”, “Focus Change”, “Slow Motion”, “Macro” and “GIF” modes, they also added “Scanner” (reading bar codes) . In the settings it is easy to activate the HDR mode, as well as determine the photo size and video quality. Focus and exposure metering can be performed separately. Shooting in manual mode (M) involves independently setting the parameters of shutter speed, ISO, exposure compensation, saturation, white balance, etc. There are 11 filters available to create effects, including Black and White, Film, Oxidized, and more. It’s convenient to switch from the main camera to the front camera and back using vertical swipes. The volume rocker (both up and down) can also be used to release the shutter.

There have also been no fundamental changes in the sound capabilities of the M5 Note. Standard smartphone tools allow you to listen to files with the FLAC extension, created by codecs for compressing audio data without loss of quality. After connecting an audio headset, you are offered to use a 5-band equalizer with presets and manual settings. The Voice Recorder application writes monaural recordings (44.1 kHz) to MP3 files.

Filling, performance

The M5 Note relied on the same 64-bit MediaTek Helio P10 (MT6755) platform as for .

Let us recall that the 8-core True8Core processor has four ARM Cortex-A53 cores clocked at up to 1.8 GHz, and four more at up to 1.0 GHz. At the same time, the 2-core ARM Mali-T860 MP2 (550 MHz) architecture with support for OpenGL ES 3.2 and OpenCL 1.2 is used as a graphics accelerator. At the same time, increasing energy efficiency while maintaining sufficient computing power is achieved by automatically adjusting the frequencies of the processor and video accelerator. Helio P10 can work in LTE-TDD, LTE-FDD Cat networks. 6 (300/50 Mbit/s), HSPA+, TD-SCDMA, EDGE, etc., and is also equipped with Bluetooth 4.0 LE and 2-band Wi-Fi interfaces.

The basic configuration of the M5 Note is complemented by LPDDR3 (933 MHz) RAM, which is controlled by a single-channel controller. Note that the smartphone variants with 16 GB, 32 GB or 64 GB of internal storage (eMMC 5.1) come with 3 GB, 3 GB or 4 GB of RAM, respectively. We received a device with a 3 GB/16 GB combination for testing.

On the synthetic benchmark AnTuTu Benchmark, we managed to “knock out” more than 47 thousand “virtual parrots”, which was obviously predetermined by the chosen hardware platform.

The efficiency of using the processor cores of the new smartphone looks, perhaps, more optimistic than the estimate of the amount of “horsepower” (Geekbench 4).

On the Epic Citadel visual test with the High Performance and High Quality settings, the average frame rate remained virtually unchanged - 57.3 fps, 56.9 fps, respectively. But on the Ultra High Quality setting it decreased by almost 1.7 times (33.3 fps).

Not surprisingly, the universal gaming benchmark 3DMark, where the M5 Note was tested on the recommended Sling Shot Extreme set, recorded a rather modest result (318 points).

The total number of points earned by the smartphone on the cross-platform benchmark Base Mark OS II was 279.

Of the 16 GB of declared internal memory, about 14.56 GB were available in the tested model, and about 10 GB were free. At the same time, like the one, to expand the existing storage, it is possible to install a microSD/HC/XC memory card with a maximum capacity of up to 128 GB. The dual tray into which the memory card is inserted is universal, and if you take up one place in it, you will have to sacrifice the installation of a second SIM card (nanoSIM format). You can also expand the built-in storage thanks to support for USB-OTG technology by connecting a USB drive.

When two nanoSIM cards (4FF format) are installed, one radio channel of the device operates with them in Dual SIM Dual Standby mode, in other words, both SIM cards are active, but when one is busy, the other is unavailable. Both trays in the slot support 4G, while the SIM card for data transfer, as well as the priority network mode, is selected in the corresponding menu. The new smartphone has three main Russian FDD-LTE bands available - b3 (1,800 MHz), b7 (2,600 MHz) and b20 (800 MHz) with VoLTE support. Similar to its predecessor, the M5 Note's set of wireless communications also includes a dual-band Wi-Fi module 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 and 5 GHz) and Bluetooth 4.0 (LE). But, alas, they do not have an NFC interface.

To determine location and navigation, the built-in multi-system receiver uses GPS and GLONASS satellites. This is confirmed by the results of the AndroiTS GPS Test and GPS Test programs. There is also support for A-GPS technology (coordination over Wi-Fi and cellular networks).

The volume of the lithium-polymer battery equipped with the M5 Note (4,000 mAh) has decreased slightly compared to its predecessor (4,100 mAh). However, the smartphone now comes with a 24-watt power adapter UP1220E (5 V/9 V/12 V, 2 A), which supports mCharge fast charging technology.

The new product managed to earn 7,809 points in AnTuTu Tester battery tests. When the battery is 100% full, the manufacturer promises up to 30 hours of talk time, or 660 hours of standby, or up to 17 hours of watching videos, or up to 36 hours of listening to music.

In the "Power Management" settings section, depending on the expected load, you can switch the smartphone from the "Balanced" mode to the "Energy Saving" or "Productive" mode. In addition, in the "Optimize power consumption" section, it is proposed not only to manage the sleep mode of applications, but also to take advantage of flexible settings to save battery power - "Smart", "Super" or "Custom Mode".

Software Features

The M5 Note smartphone, compared to , received more recent firmware, represented by the Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) operating system and the proprietary Flyme OS 5.2.11.0G launcher (it seems they promise to update to version 6.x), where all program shortcuts, folders and widgets traditionally placed directly on desktops.

Using fingerprints obtained from any angle (360 degrees) on the fast (0.2 seconds) mTouch 2.1 fingerprint scanner, you can lock not only the smartphone screen, but also access to files and applications.

The “Special Features” section still contains possible smartphone control gestures, including the SmartTouch control “ring” (not shown in the screenshot) with adjustable transparency.

The M5 Note retains the ability to split the screen to simultaneously display the work of two applications (so far only three - “Settings”, “Video” and “Google Maps”).

Purchase, conclusions

Thus, the “five” (Meizu M5 Note) compares favorably with the “three” () not only with the design features of the metal case, but also with the appearance of fast charging, as well as support for the LTE b20 frequency range (800 MHz). In addition, do not discount the presence of a fast fingerprint scanner and the expected model variant in the 4 GB/64 GB configuration (RAM/built-in memory). Note that even with 16 GB of storage, the amount of RAM is now 3 GB (and not 2 GB, as it was).

The shortcomings of the Meizu M5 Note, along with the inherited low performance, include the alternative installation of a second SIM card and memory card, and the lack of an NFC interface.

Official prices for Meizu M5 Note models in 3 GB/16 GB and 3 GB/32 GB configurations are 16,990 and 18,990 rubles, respectively. As for the 5.5-inch “classmates” in metal cases (memory capacities 3 GB/32 GB), then, at the time of testing, in large retail chains they asked for 16,990 rubles, and for Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 - 15,990 rubles . At the same time, let us remind you that we received a dual main camera (12 MP + 2 MP) and also an NFC interface (with support for Mifare Classic technology), but, however, a less capacious battery (3,340 mAh versus 4,000 mAh) . In turn, Xiaomi Redmi Note 4, along with a faster processor, boasts a slightly more capacious battery (4,100 mAh versus 4,000 mAh), as well as the presence of an IR port.

Results of the review of the Meizu M5 Note smartphone

Pros:

• Updated metal body
• Capacious battery, complemented by fast charging
• LTE b20 band support (800 MHz)
• 4 GB/64 GB RAM/internal memory option
• Fast fingerprint scanner

Minuses:

• Low performance
• Alternative installation of a second SIM card or memory card
• No NFC interface

Meizu recently, 10 months ago, presented to the public its budget flagship smartphone M3 Note. Just six months later, the company is releasing an update to the line, jumping over index 4 and immediately releasing the M5 Note. At first glance, they are trying to hand us the same smartphone, but with a different number. Well, let's take a closer look at whether this is really so.

To begin with, here is a table where we compare the two brothers in the line:

As we can see from the table, there are practically no differences. Meizu M5 Note has received an increased size of RAM and permanent memory, a fast charging function, and the weight of the device has also increased slightly. Also, out of the box, the smartphone runs Android 6.0.

Let's look at it up close.

Box and accessories

The smartphone is delivered in a standard white box, in which the device itself, a USB cable, a charger, an extractor for the SIM card tray and instructions are tightly packed. Standard equipment, neither add nor subtract.

Frame

The smartphone body is made of aluminum. There are almost no changes compared to the previous model. Fits well in the hand. No backlash, gaps or creaks were noticed. The design of the M5 Note is practically no different from the M3 Note.

Screen

The Meizu M5 Note screen is made using IPS technology. Nothing new, most smartphones are now produced using this technology. The colors are bright and contrasting. There are no complaints about him.

Operating system and software

As noted above, the smartphone comes with Android 6.0 Marshmallow on board and the proprietary Flyme shell from Meizu. The shell is pleasant, there is little unnecessary software and it does not interfere. There are no lags when navigating to the menu.

Separately, it is necessary to say about the Home button. Control in Meizu M5 Note is carried out, in fact, using this single button. It is both sensory and mechanical. In addition, it has a built-in fingerprint scanner. Pressing the touch button is similar to the “Back” action, pressing the mechanical button is the same as the “Home Screen” action. Long press brings up Google Now. To get a list of running applications, you need to swipe up from the under-screen space on the right or left.

Processor and memory

Meizu M5 Note comes in three configurations:

• 3 GB RAM and 16 GB ROM;
• 3 GB RAM and 32 GB ROM;
• 4 GB RAM and 64 GB ROM.

If the RAM is enough for most needs, then the permanent memory in the younger model is still not enough. We recommend that you refrain from purchasing the weakest version. Of course, there is a slot for a microSD card, but when installing it you will have to give up the second SIM card.

The processor in the smartphone is not the newest, Mediatek Helio P10. The frequency of the main processor cores does not exceed 1.8 GHz. In demanding games, its power will not be enough - they will only run on low settings. Picky users will not be happy. However, the performance is quite sufficient for everyday use in the “surfing - social networks - navigator - music” mode.

Fingerprint's scanner

The scanner in Meizu M5 Note is combined with the Home button. When you press the mechanical button and correctly read your finger, the smartphone is unlocked. By the way, if configured correctly, the scanner almost always works.

Interfaces

The smartphone is equipped with a standard set of interfaces: dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP and LE profiles (sorry, not 4.2); equipped with a microUSB 2.0 port supporting OTG and a 3.5 mm headphone jack; There is GPS with support for A-GPS and GLONASS. There is no infrared port and FM radio, NFC, traditionally, too.

Battery

Meizu M5 Note is equipped with a very capacious 4100 mAh battery. The declared capacity should be enough for 1.5-2 days of work. In order to charge such a battery, the mCharge fast charging function is provided. You can charge your smartphone to 90% in just over one hour; the smartphone “catch up” with the remaining 10% in half an hour. The total charging time is therefore about one and a half hours. The charger is designed for a current of 3A at a voltage of 5-8 V and 2A at a voltage of 12 V.

Communication and sound

There are no complaints about the quality of communication - the interlocutor hears us well, as do we. The speaker sound is a little quiet, but clear. The vibration is not strong, you may not feel it in your jacket pocket. The sound quality in the headphones is average and the maximum volume is not enough.

Two nanoSIM cards are provided. By the way, Meizu M5 Note began to support the LTE 20 band, which is good news. Now, coupled with bands 7 and 38, the smartphone supports LTE almost throughout Russia.

Camera

The rear camera has a resolution of 13 MP and is equipped with a dual flash, the front one is 5 MP.

There are many shooting modes.

When shooting with the front camera, various enhancements are available, which we believe will be useful for girls:

The main camera takes average pictures. Autofocus occasionally blurs. In good lighting conditions there are no complaints about the camera; even in backlit conditions it takes acceptable pictures, especially if you turn on the HDR mode. When photographing with flash, colors appear almost natural. Examples can be seen below.

Results

To summarize, we can say with confidence that the Meizu M5 Note turned out to be a good update for the M3 Note - fast charging and increased memory are necessary for a modern smartphone. If you already have an M3 Note, then there is probably no point in buying this device, but as a first device it is quite good.

as well as the first fitness bracelet from MEIZU

In 2016, MEIZU released an unusually large number of smartphones. Yes, when compared with almost any other brand (not only Samsung, Sony or HTC, but also Chinese companies like UMI, Ulefone, etc.), the MEIZU lineup does not seem large, but for fans of the brand the situation is the opposite, they are used to to 2-3, maximum 6 smartphones per year. Apparently, towards the end of the year, the company itself also began to understand that the situation was strange, and the release of the M5 Note model was to some extent a planned event, and to some extent a desire to begin rectifying the situation, to make the model range simpler and more understandable for users.

Specifications MEIZU M5 Note

• Case materials: aluminum, 2.5D glass (front panel)
• Operating system: Android 6.0, Flyme 5 (6)
• Network: DualSIM; GSM/EDGE, UMTS/HSDPA, LTE (TD/FDD-LTE) (nanoSIM)
• Platform: MediaTek MT6755 (Helio P10)
• Processor: eight-core, 64-bit, four cores 1.8 GHz (Cortex-A53) and four cores 1 GHz (Cortex-A53)
• Graphics: Mali-T860
• RAM: 3/4 GB LPDDR3
• Storage memory: 16/32/64 GB
• Memory card slot: yes, microSD (combined with nanoSIM slot)
• Interfaces: Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n) Dual-Band, Bluetooth 4.0 (LE), microUSB connector (USB 2.0, MHL, USB-OTG, USB-Host) for charging/synchronization, 3.5 mm for headset
• Screen: IPS LCD, 5.5” diagonal, resolution 1920x1080, ppi 403, automatic backlight level adjustment, protective glass
• Main camera: 13 MP, f/2.2, 5 lenses, phase detection autofocus, dual LED flash, video recorded in FullHD
• Front camera: 5 MP without autofocus, f/2.0, 4 lenses, video recorded in 1080p (shooting algorithms from ArcSoft)
• Navigation: GPS (A-GPS support), Glonass
• Additionally: mTouch fingerprint scanner, accelerometer, light sensor, proximity sensor
• Battery: 4000 mAh, support fast charging
• Dimensions: 153.6 x 75.8 x 8.1 mm
• Weight: 175 grams

Case design and materials

In fact, in design, the new MEIZU M5 Note is a complete copy of the MEIZU M3e smartphone presented a few months ago. The only difference is in the thickness of the case; in the M5 Note it is slightly thicker due to a more capacious battery; otherwise the devices are identical. That is, the smartphone has become more expensive and premium than the MEIZU M3 Note, which had plastic inserts painted to match the color of the metal. There is also plastic here, but these are thin lines that are barely noticeable and do not make a difference. So in terms of design and materials, the new M5 Note is closer to the company’s more expensive devices. Volumetric (2.5D) glass is also in place. In terms of workmanship, this is also above average, which is not yet quite typical for budget devices. Due to all these factors, the smartphone feels expensive, definitely more expensive than it actually is.

The body colors are the usual white and gold with a white front panel, as well as blue and gray with a black front panel.

Dimensions

In terms of size, the MEIZU M5 Note is exactly the same as the MEIZU M3e, that is, comparable to the M3 Note and other smartphones with a 5.5" screen diagonal. I can’t call it compact among its classmates, but it doesn’t stand out on the big side either - it’s a typical average in this category in terms of size. The device is not too thick, but weighty.

Controls

All controls here are exactly the same as in any other MEIZU smartphone released in 2016. The power and volume buttons are on the right, a tray for two nanoSIM cards (or a SIM card and a memory card) is on the left, at the bottom there is a microUSB connector, a microphone, a speaker grille and a 3.5 mm mini-jack. On top is an additional microphone (noise reduction).

The fingerprint scanner is embedded in a mechanical key, which also acts as a back button thanks to the touch layer.

Screen

The device uses a 5.5" diagonal screen with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels based on an IPS matrix. A display with maximum viewing angles, a good reserve of brightness and close to natural color rendition. In terms of picture richness and brightness, the screen does not reach the displays in Meizu MX6 or Pro 6, but for an inexpensive smartphone it is quite good. If you compare it with the display in the MEIZU M3 Note, you will notice a difference for the better, but not too obvious, in my opinion. There is an “eye protection” mode in which the screen works in warm colors. The oleophobic coating is excellent, there are no complaints here.

Platform, memory

The smartphone is built on the Helio P10 platform from MediaTek. It was also used in the M3 Note and M3e. This is not a top-end chip and not the latest for the end of 2016, to be honest, but for FullHD resolution and a device in the budget segment it is still a good option. Mali-T860 graphics. The smartphone has 3 or 4 GB of RAM, depending on the version. The 16 and 32 GB versions have 3 GB of RAM, and the 64 GB version has 4 GB. The MEIZU M3 Note had 2 and 3 GB of RAM, also depending on the version. There is a slot for a microSD memory card, combined with a second slot for a nanoSIM card.

Camera

Both cameras, both the main one and the front one, change little in budget MEIZU in 2016, but in the case of the M5 Note there is good news. Firstly, the main camera with a resolution of 13 megapixels and phase focusing “by eye” began to take pictures a little better than in the M3 Note, this is especially noticeable in close-ups, where the smartphone is very good in its price category. Secondly, the algorithms for the front camera were developed by ArcSoft, known for its developments used by Vivo in the XShot smartphone with one of the best (to this day) cameras on the phone market. Yes, you can hardly squeeze much out of the front camera, but, in my opinion, the front camera in the MEIZU M5 Note actually takes noticeably better pictures than the M3 Note or M3e. Although, perhaps this is all a “placebo effect” and there really is nothing like that, I don’t know.

Like all other devices from Meizu, there is a completely manual shooting mode (this is good), and also the fact that the interface still cannot be rotated to landscape orientation (this is bad).

Interfaces

The device supports dual-band Wi-Fi. In 4G networks, the smartphone operates in all bands common in Russia. Bluetooth version 4.0 with support for LE (Low Energy) profile.

Battery

The smartphone has a 4000 mAh battery, almost like the M3 Note. Taking into account the fact that more than six months have passed since the release of the latter and technology has advanced a little, we can expect similar operating times from smartphones.