Meizu U20 review: (not) typical meizu. Meizu U20 Android smartphone review: experimental offer
Over the past year or two, the Meizu smartphone line has been growing at such a speed as if it were not a small Chinese company, but Samsung a couple of years ago. But not everyone approves of the manufacturer’s actions, especially when six months after the announcement of one model a successor appears with almost the same characteristics and identical design. Apparently, the Chinese also realized that they needed to somehow separate their smartphones and created an alternative to their mass M-series - the U10 and U20 models. Today we meet the elder.
Contents of delivery
Meizu U20 comes standard cardboard box minimal size with modest contents: cable, charger, beautiful branded clip and documentation.
Design and usability
By the time of announcement It became obvious that it wouldn’t hurt to somehow diversify the design of Meizu smartphones, because even the company’s flagships have become “familiar.” The relatively fresh U20 represents just such diversity and we can immediately say that the attempt was a success.
Compared to the various combinations of plastic and metal that dominate the design of other Meizu, the U20's glass panels with a metal frame between them look quite fresh. The smartphone is available in all-white, black and gold colors, as well as in a version with a pink “back” and a white front panel.
Otherwise, the phone is made in the spirit of Meizu. The front panel strives for symmetry. Below the display is the only control key with a built-in fingerprint scanner, which also serves as the Home and Back keys. The sensors and front camera are located on the sides of the earpiece, and the white indicator of missed events is hidden under the glass and is invisible when turned off.
On the left there is a tray for two NanoSIM or one SIM and a memory card. On the right are the power and volume keys. On the top edge you can only find the hole for the second microphone, and all the connectors and the ringing speaker are assembled at the bottom.
In terms of build quality, the device does not reach the ideal specifications, but overall everything is done well. The metal frame is actually assembled from small sections of overlays, which is ubiquitous in relatively inexpensive smartphones, but here the panels are made and fitted quite well, with minimal joints.
In terms of ease of use, Meizu U20 can be called average. The smartphone is beautiful, but the body shape is closer to a rectangle, the corners are minimally rounded, and this design option can hardly be called the most ergonomic for a 5.5-inch smartphone.
On the other hand, a very convenient physical key under the display and gesture support for opening the notification panel compensate for these rough edges. By by and large, the only thing that confused the device was the side keys - in our smartphone they were somehow “sluggish”. The click felt bad; the click occurred at the moment when the buttons were hidden in the frame.
Screen
Most of the front panel of the smartphone is occupied by 5.5 inches IPS display with Full HD resolution. It is covered with protective glass with rounded edges and an oleophobic coating. The manufacturer did not try to achieve the effect of an edge-to-edge screen, so the matrix is surrounded by a barely noticeable thin black frame and a main white front panel. This design option looks quite neat.
According to our measurements, the display brightness varies from 2 to 344 cd/m², the contrast is 1 in 740. The numbers are not record-breaking, but quite good for their class. They mean that by basic characteristics The display is not bad, the user will be able to select a comfortable brightness level both for use in the dark and in the sun.
In terms of color accuracy, the matrix can be called good. The images don't look too oversaturated, and the colors are closer to natural compared to many modern smartphones. The automatic brightness control sensor works relatively correctly, but with slight delays. Overall, Meizu U20 has a good display.
Hardware platform, operating time
The characteristics of Meizu U20 are almost 100% the same . The smartphone is built on the MediaTek Helio P10 platform and is offered in two configurations with 2 and 16 GB of memory or 3 and 32 GB. Instead of a second SIM, you can install a memory card. The rest of the hardware is appropriate: dual-band Wi-Fi module, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS. The lack of FM radio and the choice of a MicroUSB connector instead of USB Type-C can be perceived as a means of saving money, which is excusable for such smartphones.
In general, the available equipment is enough for the smartphone to work fast enough and not fall flat on its face in games. It is comfortable for everyday use, communicating on social networks and so on.
The reduction in battery capacity from 4100 to 3260 mAh (compared to Meizu M3 Note) predictably affected the operating time of the smartphone. With an average load, the device operates during daylight hours, if you use mobile Internet, instant messengers and social networks, call a little and take a little photos. The operating time can be considered normal, but if Meizu had better optimized the operation of their smartphones, the device could have worked longer.
In terms of the quality of speakers and music playback in headphones, the smartphone is also not much different from the M3 Note. The ringing speaker is loud and of normal quality. The speaker also has a decent volume reserve, but its sound seemed a little harsh to me, so the voices of some interlocutors were perceived worse than usual. The quality of music playback in the headphones is normal and will suit most users. The manufacturer did not provide a separate sound chip or anything similar, so in this regard the model is noticeably inferior to the Meizu flagships.
Software platform
The smartphone works under Android control 6.0 and the proprietary Flyme 5.2.4.0G shell. We received a device intended for the Chinese market, but the seller carefully prepared it for use in Ukraine, installed firmware with the appropriate localization and Google services.
As is the case with MIUI on Xiaomi smartphones, Flyme on Meizu makes these devices as different as possible from most others in terms of software. The Android version has minimal impact on functionality and user experience because these factors are determined by Flyme OS.
The shell has a simple and laconic design, which can be attributed to its advantages. The system management is very conveniently organized. Tapping the mTouch key works as “Back”, pressing it as “Home”, and holding it locks the smartphone. To access the list running applications you need to swipe from the bottom edge of the display.
Advanced users may be annoyed by various little things. For example, it does not integrate well into the firmware Google Assistant Now, notifications may be delayed, and the icons of most third-party applications look much worse than those of the built-in programs.
Cameras
Similar to hardware in terms of characteristics Meizu cameras U20 is similar . It is equipped with a main 13-megapixel module with f/2.2 aperture, autofocus and a dual-section flash, a 5-megapixel front camera with a wide-angle lens with f/2.0 aperture.
In an absolute sense, cameras are nothing special - they are ordinary modules typical of affordable modern smartphones. They are comparable to what competitors offer for the same money. In good lighting, the camera will take good pictures and work relatively quickly and accurately. In all other, more complex, shooting conditions you will either have to put up with not too high-quality photos or refuse to use the camera. At the same time, in the context of the cost of a smartphone, the cameras can be considered normal. May be useful in certain situations manual mode shooting, which allows you to control shutter speed, ISO, focus, etc.
Site evaluation
Pros: case design and materials; competitive price; good display; normal performance; Fingerprint scanner and convenient system control using one physical key
Minuses: software roughness (may be critical for advanced users); slurred move physical keys in a test smartphone; harsh speaker sound
Conclusion: Meizu U20 can be called an adequate product offering from the manufacturer. In most characteristics, it is similar to the previously presented M3 Note and leaves a similar impression, with the only difference being that the smartphone has received more interesting design. In Ukraine, the price of both models differs minimally, U20 is several hundred hryvnia more expensive. So if design is one of the primary criteria when choosing a smartphone, you should pay attention to the device.
Meizu U20 was announced in August 2016, and the opportunity to purchase the device appeared in mid-September. The U20 phablet is considered to be an update to the popular Meizu M3 Note. Only this time the smartphone received an elegant design using premium body materials. For the first time, Meizu practices installing glass on both sides, in combination with a metal frame.
As a result, the back is significantly different from any other Meizu smartphone. You have to pay for beauty. IN in this case, minimum 167 USD for the younger version (2/16 GB), and from 190 USD for the older version (with 3/32 GB). The prices indicated are valid only at the time of creation of the review. It remains to find out what filling it has, how different it is from previous models, especially from the M3 Note.
The technical part of the smartphone corresponds to the average price category.
Appearance, connectors, buttons and sensors
As already mentioned, the body materials used are metal and glass on both sides. Actually, the panel colors (white, black, gold, shade of pink) now look much more impressive.
The front part is made in the same style as other smartphones of the company. Above the screen there are light sensors, proximity sensors, and an event light indicator.
IN physical button The mTouch 2.1 fingerprint sensor is built under the display. To unlock, you will need to press a button, not just touch. Capable of remembering up to 5 different fingerprints. The response speed is high, the recognition angle is 360 degrees, and the response accuracy is at a very acceptable level.
But the design of the back has a lot in common with the One Plus X and iPhone 4. The glossy glass surface is completely impractical, but it looks very impressive. Especially thanks to the 2.5D rounded edges.
On the side edges you can see neatly cut chamfers. On the right edge there are power/lock buttons, on the left there is a tray for SIM cards and a flash drive. The bottom edge accommodates 3.5 mm and MicroUSB connectors.
The latter supports connecting external USB devices thanks to OTG. The device doesn’t feel particularly comfortable in the hand, it’s slippery, and the black panel will be constantly stained with fingerprints. But the smartphone is beautiful.
The case thickness is 7.7 mm, height – 153 mm, width – 75.4 mm. Weight: 158 g
CPU
People who follow Meizu products with interest were very critical of the hardware platform. The fact is that throughout 2016, Meizu has been stuffing her devices with the same processor: Mediatek Helio P10 (MT6755). U20 was no exception. The 64-bit Helio P10 consists of 4 Cortex-A53 cores (1.8 GHz), another 4 cores operate at a frequency of 1 GHz. Integrated video chip – Mali-T860. In AnTuTu, hardware scores approximately 47 thousand points.
In fact, objective reasons there is simply no reason for indignation. The smartphone demonstrates stable and fast work, easily copes with the assigned tasks. There are no problems with overheating, the case does not “boil” under intense loads, it just becomes moderately warm. Yes, you won’t be able to play many 3D games at maximum settings, but you can play them at medium graphics settings.
Still, this is not a flagship, and instead of chasing “parrots” in Antutu, the developers focused on the option that is optimal in all respects. The performance level is acceptable, power consumption is moderate, and production of the device is not particularly expensive. What's bad about it?
Memory
The smartphone is equipped with dual-channel LPDDR3 RAM. Depending on the version, its volume can be 2 or 3 GB. The only difference is that with 3 GB the user will be able to run a little more applications at the same time. At the same time, it will be able to switch between them without crashes. Perhaps with 3 GB the smartphone will “feel” a little better in games, otherwise there will be no changes.
Memory for storing personal data and applications – 16 or 32 GB. In the younger version, 10.77 GB will be available, in the older version, naturally, more. If you need a lot of free space, you can install a memory card (microSD drives up to 128 GB are supported). Unfortunately, the flash drive is installed in a combined slot, instead of the second SIM.
Autonomous operation
The smartphone has a non-removable battery with a capacity of 3260 mAh (versus 4100 mAh in the M3 Note). Reducing the capacity made it possible to compact all the filling into an elegant thin body, but at the same time, autonomy suffered. If you actively use the device, without fanaticism, the charge lasts for a day, perhaps a little more. But you can forget about two days of intensive use. Fast charging is not provided, although its presence in M3E has not bothered anyone yet.
Camera
Lenses for the main camera module can be manufactured by different factories, depending on the batch. This is normal for Meizu. It shoots with a maximum resolution of 13 MP, consists of a 5-element lens, and has an f/2.2 aperture. It is complemented by fast PDAF autofocus and a two-tone flash (very bright, by the way). The shooting application interface is rich in various settings, incl. manual.
Compared to its predecessors, no changes in terms of quality improvement were noticed. As usual, in ideal lighting conditions the photos are clear, detailed, with good color rendition, acceptable dynamic range. There is an HDR mode.
Noise appears when shooting conditions deteriorate; their amount increases “exponentially” with decreasing lighting levels. At the same time, the detail of the images also decreases.
More experienced users will be able to partially correct the situation with the help of skillful use of manual settings. The situation with video quality is similar to photography. The maximum video resolution is FullHD (30 FPS). There is no automatic focusing, only by tap. The 5MP front camera can take decent selfies, but good lighting is a must.
Display
Meizu U20 is equipped with a magnificent 5.5-inch display with a high-quality IPS matrix. Picture resolution – FullHD (1920x1080), pixel density 400 PPI. Adopted GFF technology, so the image is different high contrast, excellent visibility when tilted and outdoors in sunny weather. Color rendering is pleasing to the eye, can be customized as desired color temperature.
The touchscreen is very sensitive and supports 5 touches simultaneously. The glass covering the display has rounded edges (2.5D). It has a really high-quality oleophobic layer applied to it.
Networking capabilities
The combined slot can accommodate 2 nanoSIMs. Supported network types: 2G, 3G, and 4G FDD-LTE/TD-LTE. Range of 4th generation networks: 3,7,20. Bluetooth 4.0 series BLE, low energy consumption, is installed. Wi-Fi is capable of operating in two bands (2.4/5 GHz). Job satellite navigation provide GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS and digital compass. In general, network communications work at the proper level, without any complaints.
Sound
The multimedia speaker hole is located on the right side of the lower edge. The sound volume is average, the quality is typical for Meizu without a dedicated audio chip: no low frequencies, with pronounced upper registers. In a word, an ordinary “shout” for ringing and alarm clocks. The speaker has a good volume reserve and decent sound quality. An additional microphone for noise reduction and stereo sound recording is located on the top edge. The sound in headphones is good (provided you connect a high-quality headset).
Software part
Meizu U20 is released separately for the Chinese market and for the international one. In terms of design and filling, the devices are absolutely identical, the only difference is operating system. The Chinese version comes with YunOS on board: only Chinese and English languages, no Google services, built-in applications are aimed at the Asian market. The international version comes with global firmware (multilingual, with Google Play, without “Chineseness”).
However, it will not be difficult for experienced users to manually flash the originally Asian version on Flyme 5.2.4. The firmware is based on regular Android 6, but the shell is heavily modified. This is its advantage, since it is flexible in configuration, well optimized, and looks good. At the same time, it “eats” quite a bit of RAM.
Individual characteristics
Together with the U10, these are the first smartphones from Meizu to have a flagship appearance.
Advantages and disadvantages
Pros:
- aesthetic design;
- good display;
- stable work.
Minuses:
- hybrid slot for nanoSIM and MicroSD;
- as usual, a side effect flagship design is a slippery, impractical body with an awkward grip.
Who is a smartphone suitable for?
The Meizu U20 could be a great option for those looking for a functional phablet with an eye-catching premium design that doesn't cost more than $200.
Our review of the Meizu U20 smartphone
Based on this review, only one conclusion emerges. Meizu U20 is nothing more than a restyling of the Meizu M3 Note, turning a popular smartphone into an image model. The filling is almost identical, only the battery capacity is reduced. However, this tactic works quite well: most buyers love a beautiful wrapper, such is human nature. In conclusion, the smartphone is not bad, but apart from the updated design, we did not see any improvements.
I have always liked smartphones from Meizu, primarily for their design. But for a long time appearance their models have remained virtually unchanged and, frankly speaking, have become boring to many. The company took into account the wishes of users and released two new models U10 and U20. The result exceeded all expectations; the design of the smartphone was very stylish, one might even say premium, and at the same time retained the main features inherent in Meizu.
But technically it turned out to be an almost complete copy of the already well-known Meizu M3 Note. I don’t know whether this is good or bad, but I’m only sure that manufacturers often “impose” excessive productivity on us, forcing us to buy more and more powerful smartphones. But in practice, many do not use even half of the potential. Even that category of users who really need powerful hardware (for example, gamers) encounter another problem - throttling and excessive heating of the device under load. In general, today we will analyze in detail all the features and functions of the Meizu U20, and let’s start traditionally...
Detailed technical specifications
- Processor: MediaTek MT6755 Helio P10, 8 cores (4 powerful Cortex-A53 1.8GHz cores + 4 economical Cortex-A53 1.0GHz cores)
- Graphics: Mali T860 MP2
- Memory: 2Gb RAM and 16Gb built-in - in standard version, 3Gb RAM and 32Gb built-in - in the top version. Supports micro SD memory cards up to 128Gb
- Screen: 5.5 inches with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 (Full HD), GFF (full lamination)
- Camera: Main - 13 MP, F/2.2 aperture, 5-element lens, phase detection autofocus. Front - 5 MP, 4-element lens, F/2.0 aperture. Video - maximum Full resolution HD 1920 x 1080, 30 frames per second.
- Communication: 2 sim cards(Nano+Nano) - GSM (850/900/1800/1900), 3G (900/1900/2100), LTE (Band1,3,7,38,39,40,41)
- Wireless interfaces: Dual-band Wi-Fi (5/2.4 GHz) - 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, Navigation (GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS)
- Sensors: Fingerprint scanner - mTouch 2.1, Hall sensor, gravity sensor, infrared sensor proximity, gyroscope, light sensor, digital compass.
- Battery: Built-in, 3260 mAh
- Operating system: Flyme 5.2.4 based on Android 6.0
- Dimensions: 153 mm x 75.4 mm x 7.7 mm
- Weight: 158 g
Prices:
Meizu U20 16Gb
Like Xiaomi, Meizu is trying to imitate in many ways Apple products. Snow-white box in a minimalist style. The cardboard is very thick and the contents are reliably protected.
Sticker with technical characteristics in the manufacturer's native language. The only thing that can be understood is that we have a junior version with 16Gb of built-in memory. In addition, there is information about IMEI and serial number. 
Equipment - the minimum required for work: an envelope with documentation, a key for removing the tray with SIM cards, usb cable- micro usb and charger. The seller put the adapter for the Euro plug separately; there is simply no room for it in the box.
Compact size charger.
It is capable of delivering a maximum current of 2A at 5V, load testing confirmed this. But the smartphone itself turned out to be more modest when charging; the maximum charge current does not exceed 1.3A at a voltage of 5.2V. Power - 6.78W. Just in case, I tried other charges - the same result. As a result, we get a leisurely charge: from 0 to 100% in 3 hours 19 minutes.
And of course the handsome man himself - Meizu U20. I liked the design so much that when, after testing (about 2 weeks) I returned to my main smartphone, my heart was filled with melancholy. In general, I like smartphones like this that are flat and have no curves. Meizu offers two classic colors - white and black. And each has its own advantages. The black one looks really cool, even the metal frame is painted black. And the already small frames around the screen are practically invisible in this design.
However, this is not my option, because I can’t stand a “tattled” smartphone, and on a black gloss this point is especially noticeable. Therefore, I generally prefer light colors when choosing a smartphone. But these are rather my “cockroaches”; in any color the U20 looks amazing.
Looking at the front part, we immediately understand that this is a Meizu representative. The designers barely touched on it and did the right thing - it’s hard to improve something here, but it’s easy to ruin it.
Meizu is of the opinion that the most convenient location for the fingerprint scanner is on the front. It is built into a button that is both touch and mechanical. For example, to unlock a smartphone you need to press it, and to go back you just need to touch it. This was done on purpose, because in general, a touch is enough to read a finger. This is clearly visible if you press the usual lock button, and when the screen is activated, simply touch the sensor to finally enter the smartphone. Visually, the button has not changed. mTouch 2.1 technology is used, which is based on a capacitive sensor. The reading speed is 0.2 seconds, and the recognition angle is 360 degrees. By scanning your finger once, you can unlock your smartphone from any angle. The recognition accuracy is high, the percentage of defects is extremely low, but for the sake of fairness, I note that the sensor in the latest Xiaomi devices, for example Redmi Note 4, is more accurate and fingerprint recognition is better there. Perhaps this is due to the shape of the sensor itself; out of habit, the finger does not always land exactly on the oval button.
At the top, everything is standard - front camera, proximity and light level sensors, earpiece. The quality of the speaker is good, the voice sounds natural.
Now let’s turn the smartphone over reverse side. I can’t even believe that we still have Meizu in front of us. I always really liked Iphone design 4. My first purchase in China, about 5 years ago, some kind of no-name clone fourth iPhone on android 2.1. IN next model Apple redesigned the design and all manufacturers began to diligently copy it, making smartphones more rounded. Samsung has been producing some identical “remnants” all its life. And now Meizu releases its U10 and U20, very similar to that same design. They used glass on the back, which resulted in a kind of sandwich made of a metal frame and glass on both sides, which looks stylish. One of the disadvantages of this design is that the smartphone is quite slippery.
The camera is located on the left top corner. It protrudes above the body by a fraction of a millimeter, but the lens glass is protected by a metal frame. Next to it is a dual LED flash.
The frame is made of metal, in white it is not painted. Along the perimeter you can see a decorative chamfer, which makes the device visually more attractive and thinner.
The top edge is clean, only an additional microphone for noise reduction.
All connectors on the bottom edge:
- micro usb for charging and connecting to a PC, the smartphone also supports the OTG function.
- 3.5 jack for connecting headphones.
The main microphone and audio speaker are also located here. The speaker is of medium volume, the ringtone sounds clear, without wheezing even at maximum volume.
The tray with SIM cards on the left side is opened with a proprietary “key”. The smartphone supports two SIM cards, both Nano format cards. If desired, you can replace one of them with a memory card, supported capacity up to 128 GB. I don’t consider the hybrid tray to be a disadvantage, because unfortunately, this solution has already become standard for many manufacturers.
Controls in the form of an adjacent volume button and a lock button on the right side. The device is assembled with very high quality; if the case is shaken or squeezed, it will not make a sound.
Screen
Made using full lamination technology, it transmits the image as clearly as possible and without color distortion. The contrast is 1000 to 1, and the detail is 400 pixels per inch. Black color looks very good on the screen - not gray, like on cheap screens, but deep black. Maximum brightness allows you to comfortably use your smartphone during the day outdoors in direct sunlight.
The screen glass is made using 2.5D technology - with rounded edges. To top it all off, a high-quality oleophobic coating is applied to the glass. The finger glides perfectly over the surface, leaving no traces of dirt. Multi-touch is supported for 5 simultaneous touches.
The absence of highlights is clearly visible on a black background. The viewing angles correspond to the IPS matrix; when the tilt angle changes, the brightness drops slightly, but there is no distortion or inversion even diagonally. In general, the appearance, quality of materials and excellent display are the strongest points of the model.
Operating system. Firmware. Interfaces.
The smartphone came fully Russified with international firmware. It works, as they say, out of the box. All Meizu fans are well aware of their branded shell Flyme, version 5.2.4.0 is installed here, which is based on the operating Android system 6.0. There are proprietary applications, such as useful tools, which include: ruler, level, compass, etc. But I especially liked the flashlight with an adjustable brightness level - by switching the slider, you choose how bright it will shine.
Own fonts, styles, icons - everything has been redesigned to the smallest detail. In some ways, Flyme is similar to MIUI, or vice versa.
In any case, everyone will find a design to their liking. In the personalization center, a huge number of free themes and wallpapers are available that can easily transform your interior design into either IOS, MIUI, or Windows. There are also a huge number of exclusive themes with completely redrawn icons, badges, fonts, etc.
Security Center has many useful utilities:
- junk cleaning - built-in cleaner that will help remove excess junk from your phone,
- memory accelerator - optimizes memory, kills unnecessary processes,
- traffic management - to control the consumed traffic in mobile internet with the possibility of limiting it,
- Spam blocking - from unwanted calls and messages, also known as a blacklist,
- Power management - control charge consumption, configure different modes of use,
- Antivirus. I wonder if anyone has encountered viruses on Android? I haven't yet)
There is a simplified mode that can be useful for children and the elderly - large icons and text, nothing superfluous.
In the screen settings you can select the color temperature; the default is neutral.
There are smart gestures that work when the screen is off. Double tap, swipe and graphic symbols- can be configured for a specific action or application launch. In addition, there is an additional Smart Touch panel, which, when activated, is always on the screen in the form of a small translucent ball; by performing various actions on it, we also give commands to the smartphone in this way.
Performance. Synthetic tests.
Meizu used in its new product the economical Helio P10 processor, which has been on the market for quite a long time mobile devices and managed to prove himself well. Moreover, technically the U20 is an almost complete clone of the Meizu M3 Note. This decision is completely justified, because there is no need to reinvent the wheel, but you can use ready-made and well-established developments. Yes, in terms of performance it is not super top, but the power is 8 nuclear processor enough for absolutely any task. Even powerful and modern games run without lags, only on some the settings need to be reduced from maximum to medium. I’m generally silent about the operation of the shell and interfaces - the smartphone is very fast, everything just flies. Let's look at the information from CPU-Z
Next, we’ll run an Antutu test and talk about throttling. Absolutely all modern smartphones are susceptible to it to one degree or another. If throttling is disabled, the device boils in a matter of minutes, often even displaying a message about overheating, after which it is naturally impossible to use it. If the throttling is very large, then when the frequencies are reduced, the performance drops significantly and the meaning of all 100,500 powerful cores is lost. Therefore, you need to look for a middle ground. Often throttling does not even depend on the processor, but on the drivers and firmware version, so each smartphone needs to be checked individually. If you are interested in this topic, then in all subsequent reviews I will make the throttling test mandatory. In the meantime, let's return to Meizu U20. Having carried out the test on a cold smartphone, I got the result - 48225 . For the second test, I turned on a guided tour in the Epic Citadel application, loading the processor and graphics. I left the smartphone in this form for 30 minutes, after which I immediately ran the Antutu test - 43982 . Performance loss by version antutu benchmark amounted to 4243 points or 8.8%, which is almost an ideal result. For comparison Vernee Apollo Lite on Helio X20 lost more than 30% in performance.
In Geekbench 4, the result is 737 points in single-core mode and 2521 when all cores are used.
Graphics capabilities are shown well by the Epic Citadel test: in High Quality- 58.4 frames per second, ultra high quality - 42.4. The smartphone runs any, even the most modern and demanding games. In some, for a comfortable game you need to change the graphics settings to medium. WOT is fully playable on medium settings.
To complete the picture, results from Real Benchmark
An important role in real performance, that is, how quickly a smartphone will work, open folders, launch applications, load Internet pages - plays the speed of RAM and built-in memory. Which configuration to choose 2/16 or 3/32 is up to you - on the one hand there is never too much RAM, on the other hand, for simple work - calls and the Internet - 2Gb is enough. In any case, high-quality and fast memory awaits you. Reading speed of the built-in memory is 180 MB/s, writing speed is 85 MB/s. Androbench generally gave a huge read speed - 250 MB/s, write speed - 75 MB/s. RAM boasts speeds of more than 6000 Mb/s.
One of the battery testing points for me is always video playback. When I connected my flash drive via OTG to start some movie and see how long it could continuously play it, I was very surprised. The smartphone opened and played almost all the video files on the flash drive without any problems, and there, in addition to the film, I had a small selection for testing TV boxes for omnivorousness. Putting aside battery testing, I installed Video tester. The result was pleasantly surprising - 877 points, 26 test videos with full support and 4 with partial. Even TV boxes specially designed for video do not always produce such results. The smartphone can handle everything possible videos formats. Moreover, I didn’t even install mx player and additional codecs, only the standard player.
It could not play only 2K and 4K video, but the smartphone doesn’t need that.
Connection. Internet. Navigation.
Everything here is predictable, no surprises. The signal level and reception quality are at the level of other smartphones. The Internet can work on both 3G and 4G - yes LTE support(Band 1,Band 3,Band 7,Band 38,Band 39,Band 40,Band 41). WiFi supports operation in two bands - 5/2.4 GHz, the reception level is good. The first screenshot is through the wall from the router, the next one is 3 walls. The smartphone continues to receive the signal, although the speed drops significantly.
Navigation is supported by GPS, AGPS and GLONASS. The time of the first fixation was 5 seconds, on average it finds 12 - 16 satellites, in active connection- 13, accuracy 3 meters. In normal weather it works flawlessly. In bad weather I noticed a couple of times that it sometimes loses satellites for a couple of seconds, it feels like the antenna is not sensitive enough. It is located in the upper right corner, under the plastic connection. Even if you close it with your finger, you can immediately see how the reception is deteriorating.
Camera.
I have already spoken about the omnivorousness of a smartphone in video playback. Now about the camera. Using third-party software, I was able to find out that the main camera sensor from Omnivision is ov13853. The same sensor is used in Meizu M3 Note and Alcatel Flash Plus 2. The camera is equipped with fast phase detection autofocus, has an f/2.2 aperture and takes good photos in sufficient lighting conditions. Overall the camera is quite mediocre, but suitable for everyday use as long as you don't demand too much from it. Below are examples of photographs that can be downloaded in their original size (click on the photo):
Daytime shots in sunny weather conditions
But the video is weak. Maximum resolution - Full HD 1920x1080, 30 frames per second. But the detailing is not the best and even in good lighting it is noticeable how sometimes the camera slows down.
Battery. Autonomy.
The capacity of the built-in battery is 3260 mAh (average value), when turned off, 3206 mAh is filled into a completely discharged smartphone through the tester.
In moderate use mode, the smartphone can easily withstand 2 days; under heavy loads, the smartphone can withstand a working day with a total screen operating time of at least 5 - 6 hours. Next are the tests. At high load on the processor and graphics core (guide mode in Epic Citadel) on maximum brightness screen and full volume dynamics the smartphone worked for 4 hours 28 minutes.
Video from the built-in memory was played for about 14 hours at an average brightness level, and 9 hours at maximum brightness. In the battery test - Geekbench 3, the smartphone scored 5555 points, the test lasted 9 hours 15 minutes.
I ran the battery test in Antutu Battery Tester twice. The first time in the automatic brightness adjustment mode at the average value - 9329 points, the second time at maximum brightness - 6441 points. The test at maximum brightness lasted almost 4 hours, more than a third of the charge was consumed by the screen.
So, let's summarize. Meizu U20 is not strong in synthetic tests; in terms of performance, it is rather a simple average. In my opinion, the device was created for pragmatic people who, when choosing, are guided by visual and tactile sensations, that is, what can be seen and touched. Extraordinarily beautiful design quality materials, excellent display. This is the strength of Meizu U20. Among the shortcomings, I can highlight the slippery body and the not very high-quality recording of the video camera.
Video version of the review.
You can buy Meizu U20 on Ali, you can find the current price.
) we are testing another glass Meizu - model U20. Unlike the younger model, this smartphone is equipped with a 5.5" Full HD screen and a Helio P10 chipset. In fact, if the U10 is a remake of the M3S mini, then the U20 is based on the M3 Note. And if the U10 is a little more expensive than the original (1000 rubles difference) , but the U20 is offered for exactly the same money as the “parent” - 14,990 rubles for the 16 GB version and 16,990 rubles for the 32 GB version. Let's take a closer look at this device.
Technical characteristics of Meizu U20:
- Network: GSM, CDMA, EVDO, WCDMA, TD-SCDMA, TD-LTE, FDD-LTE
- Platform: Flyme OS on Android based Marshmallow
- Display: 5.5", 1920x1080 pixels, 400 ppi, IPS, full lamination, 400 nits
- Camera: 13 MP, phase detection autofocus, 5 lenses, f/2.2, dual LED flash in different tones, video recording 1080p@30fps
- Front camera: 5 MP, f/2.0, video recording 1080p@30fps
- Processor: 8 cores 1.8 GHz + 4 cores 1 GHz, 64 bits, MediaTek Helio P10 MT6755M
- Graphics chip: ARM Mali-T860
- RAM: 3 GB
- Internal memory: 32 GB
- Memory card: microSD
- A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou
- Bluetooth 4.0LE
- Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n)
- microUSB
- mTouch fingerprint scanner
- Battery: non-removable, 3260 mAh
- Dimensions: 153x75.4x7.7 mm
- Weight: 158 g
Equipment and design
Meizu U20 comes in a thick white box with the company’s traditional set of equipment for inexpensive smartphones: a smartphone, documentation, a pin for ejecting trays (common slides for the nano-SIM slot and a combined nano-SIM / microSD slot), a USB cable and a 10 W charger (5 V, 2 A).
The set of colors for the U20 is the same as for the U10 - white, black, gold and pink with a white front panel (for other options, the front panel is painted the same color as the back). All colors are available in Russia. We have a black U20, and this is not the most the best option, if you are for practicality, but it is most effective if you scrub off the prints.
From an ergonomic point of view, the Meizu U20 is slightly worse than the U10, primarily due to its size. Another disadvantage is the straight, non-rounded ends. At 5" they don't do any harm yet, but at 5.5" you can already feel it. However, those with large palms can easily handle the Meizu U20 with one hand. The location of the end keys is good. There are no complaints about the assembly, the device is completely monolithic, and all its parts fit perfectly together.
The 5.5" Full HD screen of the smartphone has a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. The display is bright enough to use outdoors at maximum brightness, and clear enough to not pay attention to the pixels (still, 400 ppi). minimum brightness it can be used in the dark, I even wanted to increase it a little. The screen is made using In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology using full lamination. Viewing angles are good, but the display fades a little when tilted too hard. You can only notice this in dark scenes, so don't worry. Five-point multi-touch, oleophobic coating is present. Below the screen there is a proprietary mTouch button with a built-in fingerprint scanner, it works well, but you have to enter each finger twice.
Software
Meizu U20 is based on Flyme version 5 and there is no update to Flyme OS 6 yet, not even a beta version has been released (the final build is being prepared immediately). In this way, the U20 is similar to the M5 Note. And in general software they have the same thing, so I won’t tell you a second time, but I’ll suggest reading a review of a more recent, but glass-less phablet (keep the link).
Camera
Meizu U20 is equipped with the same camera as many other Meilans: five-element optics, 13-megapixel sensor, f/2.2 aperture, phase detection autofocus, dual two-color flash. Old software (Flyme 5) leaves a negative mark on the camera. Firstly, it does not allow you to shoot time-lapses; this feature appeared in the sixth version of the firmware. Secondly (and this is more important), focusing is quite slow; after aiming at an object, you have to wait 1.5-2 seconds. Smartphones equipped with the same camera, but updated to Flyme 6, focus faster, so the U20 after the update will probably lose this drawback. We just have to wait. And the camera takes quite good photographs, with good detail (when it focuses), adequate color rendition and low noise (we’re talking about good conditions, of course). A series of examples:
There is 1080p@30fps video recording. Focusing while shooting video is not available, and there is no stabilization. But the sound is captured well. The front camera (5 MP) also records 1080p@30fps video, but slow motion is not available to it (for rear camera– 768p, four times slower). As for the photos taken with the front camera, they are unremarkable, no better or worse than those taken with other cameras.
Performance and tests
The hardware basis of the Meizu U20 is the MediaTek Helio P10 chipset in its simplest version MT6755M (4 cores at 1.8 GHz + 4 cores at 1 GHz). The company uses the same single-chip platform in the M3 Note, M3E, M5 Note and M3 Max. As you understand, the smartphone cannot offer any surprises in terms of performance. There are three modes, all tests were carried out in productive mode. Asphalt Extreme with HDPI resolution lags at maximum settings, like Unkilled (and even at medium there are problems), the frame rate is low in Hungry Shark Evolution, but you can play it. Simple games like Ninja Spinki Challenges!! work well. And here's what the benchmarks say (“one of the most powerful devices", yeah):
The processor is not particularly strong anyway, and there is also throttling: in four runs, the result in AnTuTu dropped from 50.4 thousand to 43.2 thousand. There is also a significant drop in results in GFXBench, from 700 frames to 540. And this could somehow be forgiven if it saved from heating. But it doesn’t save! After just ten minutes under load, the upper part of the rear panel becomes hot and unpleasant to hold.
I’ll say right away that the Meizu U20 is like the Meizu M3 Note, but with a glass body. An old song in a new way, restyling, facelift - you can call it different things, but the essence of the phone does not change. I think that Meizu M3 Note can safely be called the most popular smartphone Meizu in Russia for the year. Meizu U20 will be an addition to the line, today it is the focus of our attention.
Design
Meizu decided to refresh the appearance of the phone and relied on a combination of metal and glass. Is it good or bad? As a user, I like the M3 Note better, it is more practical, the glass looks more beautiful, but requires extra attention. For example, marks appear very quickly on a black surface; gloss remembers every touch and stores fingerprints.
Another point is that the glamorous glass on the back panel is covered with small scratches, so you can either put up with it or put the Meizu U20 in a case just in case. But the Meizu U20 looks more expensive and more impressive than the M3 Note; this is an option for lovers of aesthetics. The glass, by the way, is slightly roughened at the edges, so there is a so-called 2.5D coating on both the front and back.
Glass phones also love to slowly slide off tables, so I recommend placing the Meizu U20 away from the edge of the surface so as not to witness a rapid flight. What color should I choose? So far, only black and white devices are supplied to us, and there are also versions in pink and gold, but these are options for amateurs.
Ergonomics
Unlike the Meizu M3 Note, there are no sloping sides; on the contrary, there are flat surfaces and the phone is “gripable”. Although, before buying, you should still hold it in your hands to evaluate the sensations and decide what is more convenient: it or the M3 Note.
In terms of size, Meizu U20 is relatively small, if we take models with 5.5-inch screens as a standard. Moderate thickness of the case, comfortable weight - the phone will not stick out of your jeans pocket.
mTouch 2.1
You can reach all the keys with the fingers of one hand without having to pick up the phone again. Above the screen next to conversational speaker there is a camera and a light indicator, at the bottom there is a mTouch 2.1 button with a built-in scanner.
The fingerprint sensor understands 2 actions: pressing and touching, so one key performs several functions at once. The scanner works great, the phone remembers the fingerprint after a series of touches, after which you can put your finger at different angles, there will be no errors.
Screen
5.5 inches and 1080x1920 pixels steel standard combination in mid-range devices from Meizu. There is an IPS matrix without an air gap with the ability to manually adjust the color balance if you suddenly don’t like the default color rendition. As usual, Flyme works with gesture controls - you can tap the screen twice to activate the backlight or switch tracks by moving your finger across the display.
The display has a good oleophobic coating and rounded edges. The screen is bright, contrasty, the picture is very rich and with a large margin for adjusting the backlight, so everything will be visible even under the summer sun.
Performance
MediaTek Helio P10 processor with 8 cores, Mali T860 graphics, 2/16 or 3/32 GB. In AnTuTu the phone scores 48 thousand points, good result for a mid-class smartphone. Here you can play games at medium settings, and the menu does not slow down, everything works quickly and smoothly, the hardware is well optimized, applications start without pauses or delays. It doesn’t overheat in games, and it doesn’t turn into a hand warmer either, which means the filling is well optimized.
Is it worth overpaying for the 3/32 GB version or sticking with the standard one? Depends on the mode of use, if games are in your plans, then it’s better to add money and get a more powerful model. If desired, the built-in memory can be expanded with a microSD card up to 128 GB, but you will have to sacrifice a second SIM card slot.
Camera
The module from Meizu M3 Note moved here without significant changes. This means that you can count on pictures taken during the day that are pleasant to contemplate: the phone does not miss the colors, and the white balance is well maintained.
HDR example
There is a 13-megapixel sensor with f/2.2 aperture and fast autofocus. From additional options I would like to note the spectacular HDR mode, manual camera settings, and powerful flash. The phone also shoots video in Full HD and 30 frames per second, and helps you take selfies with the front 5-megapixel camera.
Music
The Meizu U20 did not add any additional sound “improvements”; it plays music the same way as the M3 Note. Normal quality, but after you spend a few months with the MX6 and then switch to the U20, you immediately feel what they charge for in the older models.
Connection
A dual-SIM phone allows you to simultaneously carry a pair of nanoSIM cards. In addition, there is support for Wi-Fi with a frequency of 5 GHz, which is not found in all devices. Bluetooth 4.0, GPS and GLONASS are integral parts of a modern smartphone, everything works well.
You can connect a charger or cable via the microUSB port on bottom end phone.
Software
We have already talked about the Flyme shell more than once, in this case there are no significant changes. The smartphone runs Android 6.0 and Flyme 5.2.4. Please note that by default there are no Google services here. After you have turned on and configured your phone, go to the Hot Apps application, the program itself will offer the latest Google version Play. You install it, after which you can go to the store and download everything you need. I like Flyme for its minimalism and unobtrusiveness; it’s easier to install what you need yourself, rather than worry about how to remove the factory software.
Working hours
When I studied the characteristics of the phone, I was surprised to learn that the battery capacity here is less than that of the M3 Note: 3260 mAh versus 4100 mAh. What can you do, they decided to make the body thinner and the weight less, so in the struggle for beauty, the designers stuck to the top, this led to a decrease in battery capacity. Charging is enough for a day of work with a small reserve, the phone provides about 4-4.5 hours of active screen using Moscow LTE networks.
Set
The sealed box contains the phone, a 2.1A power supply, a microUSB cable, and a clip for removing the SIM card.
Conclusion
You can buy Meizu U20 at a price of 17,990 rubles, getting high quality assembled smartphone with a metal and glass body, a comfortable Flyme shell, good battery life and a decent camera. Meizu M3 Note has a beautiful twin brother, we will definitely prepare a direct comparison of the two smartphones with each other.
You can learn more about MEIZU U20 and buy a smartphone on the official MEIZU RUSSIA website:
