Meizu M6 Note review: now on Qualcomm. Review of the Meizu M6 Note smartphone: this is the company’s breakthrough
Into the fight of the powerful budget smartphones unexpectedly for many, the Meizu company, which is going through hard times, got involved. Sales of smartphones from this company are falling even in their native country Chinese market. It was necessary to release something interesting for little money so that the company could improve its position. And this was done when the budget employee was introduced Meizu Note 9, which has outstanding characteristics for its price.
The new device will compete with the acclaimed Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro, because these devices are very similar to each other in terms of equipment and cost. As for the Note 9, it offers high performance, excellent battery life, powerful camera and beautiful design. The new product from Meizu will be discussed in more detail in this review.
Smartphone Meizu Note 9 Specifications
Video review of Meizu Note 9:
Equipment
For several years, the type of packaging has not changed; it is still the same simple white box made of thick cardboard. On its surface there is only the name of the model and a description of some parameters. There are also no surprises inside. The user receives a slot access clip, USB-C cable, 18-watt network adapter and paper. The Chinese chose to save money on the cover; it will have to be purchased in addition.
Design and materials
By appearance There are rarely any complaints about devices from Meizu. The manufacturer takes this important part of the smartphone seriously. For the most part, the devices look attractive and solid. Despite its affordability, Note 9 also pleased with its nice design.
The metal side frame pairs well with the glass back, which is curved at the edges for better ergonomics. From the front, a miniature cutout of the screen, called a teardrop, immediately catches your eye. Even the guys from Meizu, known for their conservatism, could not resist the teardrop neckline trend; they need to increase the attractiveness of their products.
They also tried to make the back panel fashionable; it has a fascinating shimmer when exposed to light. But it is incredibly slippery, so using it without a cover can hardly be called comfortable.
The color range is limited to black, blue and white options. Cleanliness a smartphone will do specifically with a white backdrop, since fingerprints are least noticeable on it. The gadget weighs 170 grams, proportions – 153.1 × 74.4 × 8.7 mm.
85 percent of the front panel is occupied by the screen, since the frames here are really thin. The side margins are generally difficult to see; the space below and above has also been significantly reduced. All this allows the smartphone to look modern.
The dual camera module is now on the left, with a flash located underneath it. There is also an area for reading a fingerprint on the back; you don’t have to look for it for a long time, since your finger immediately falls on this round area. Integrated into the bottom end USB-C port, which is still surprising to see in a budget device. This is an excellent solution that has been asking for a long time. Next to the USB port are a 3.5mm input, a call speaker and a voice microphone. There is only a noise reduction hole on the top edge. The tray can only be “charged” with two nanoSIM cards; there is no way to install a memory card, which is a pity.
Screen
The display is equipped with a rich IPS matrix with high resolution 2240 × 1080 pixels, which gives a nice and clear picture. There are no complaints about this part of Meizu Note 9 at all.
The 6.2-inch diagonal and unusual aspect ratio of 18.7:9 allow you to comfortably use the device, while still allowing room to fit on it. a large number of content. By the way, the cutout for the front camera in this budget phone is made more accurately than in the competitor Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro, and it is also smaller. The brand of protected glass is kept secret, but it has a high-quality oleophobic layer, so dirt can be easily wiped off. The display does not disappoint in terms of viewing angles, contrast levels and brightness.
Technical content, performance and sound
The device received a very powerful hardware platform, which was introduced quite recently. The Snapdragon 675 processor, which has an 11 Nm process technology, is in charge here. The chipset includes 2 cores at 2 GHz and 6 cores at 1.7 GHz; an Adreno 612 module is provided for processing the graphics component. Thanks to this hardware, the device runs all games at high graphics settings, and the heating of the case will be very small. Gamers can only rejoice at such opportunities, especially for little money.
The manufacturer did not skimp on RAM either; the initial version already has 4 GB of LPDDR4x RAM built-in, which is quite enough. The more expensive version of Meizu Note 9 offers as much as 6 GB of RAM LPDDDR4x. In AnTuTu, the smartphone scores a simply huge number of points for its price – 183,000. The technical parameters are certainly worthy of the most flattering words, but the new product still has a lot of trump cards up its sleeve. The lack of a memory card slot is more than compensated for by a capacious 64 or 128 GB drive.
TO standard list wireless Bluetooth technologies 5.0, GPS and Wi-Fi with dual frequency support did not add NFC. But this would be completely sweet, because in front of us is just a state employee. A common feature for Meizu products is the lack of FM radio; some will miss it. In all other respects, the model has everything you need, including a compass, Hall sensor and gyroscope. The finger scanner recognizes the fingerprint instantly and almost always the first time. There is also an unlock feature based on facial features.
The review hero has only one multimedia speaker, but it sounds pretty good. It has high volume and good quality sound, there is even a hint of low frequencies. Thanks largely to the new processor, the sound in the headphones has become noticeably better than in its predecessor. By connecting high-quality headphones, you can please your ears with surround and loud sound with well-developed frequencies. Although the ninth laptop is still far from real music phones.
Autonomy
Note smartphones and excellent battery life are inextricably linked. The Chinese taught us this from the very first models. And the newcomer was no exception; it was equipped with a traditional 4000 mAh battery. Taking into account the energy-efficient hardware, the phone will confidently last 1.5-2 days in medium load mode. And the 18 W mCharge fast charging included in the kit will help you quickly replenish your battery life.
Software
The device received last year's Flyme 7 shell as an interface, but based on the latest Android 9. All that remains is to wait for the global firmware version. However, as in all Meizu, here users are unlikely to wait for an update to next version Android, this is the company's policy. In this regard, Xiaomi's competitor is certainly better.
The interface itself in Meizu is minimalistic and neat, and works very quickly. Nothing new has been added in terms of functionality. As before, there are 3 control methods - gestures, classic Android buttons and the mBack softkey.
Cameras
The developers tried to impress potential buyers with the cool characteristics of the cameras, and they succeeded. For its modest price tag, the Note 9 offers an excellent main camera with two lenses, one of which has a built-in 48 MP Samsung GM1 sensor with f/1.7 aperture and PDAF autofocus. It is accompanied by a 5 megapixel module, which performs the function of blurring the background in portrait mode.
Ever since the M6 Note model, Meizu's budget employees have learned to take great photos. And here we can clearly see progress in terms of image quality. There is a powerful flash with two LEDs different colors. The camera, as is fashionable today, is equipped with artificial intelligence algorithms to detect scenes automatically. Can help in the dark night mode With additional settings, do not forget about the wide aperture of the camera, which lets in more light. Maximum video resolution is Full HD at 30 fps.
Selfie lovers will not be offended either, since there is a decent 20-megapixel selfie camera with f/2.0 aperture. Here you can apply different effects and make your face more beautiful if its appearance does not suit you.
Conclusion
The smartphone is endowed with chic parameters that make it a worthy alternative the promoted Redmi Note 7 Pro. Meizu Note 9 loses to it only because it does not have an IR port. It is also not entirely clear whether the firmware will be transferred to new version Android. If you love Meizu phones, then you will definitely like this smartphone due to its excellent price-to-features ratio. And it now costs $240 in China for the 4/64 configuration.
pros
High performance
big battery
USB Type C
fast charging
case design
Great screen with thin bezels
48 MP camera sensor
a lot of memory
Minuses
no microSD slot
the back is very slippery
This is exactly how the brand positions its device. And although the smartphone is not a budget, but a mid-price category, in practice the Meizu M6 Note turned out to be quite consistent with this slogan. For the money it offers an excellent set of features. But when using it, small nuances became clear that you need to know if you have your eye on this model.
Case and design
The smartphone comes in a box, in which, along with the device, two separate packages with a wire and charger, as well as a paperclip and instructions.
We received the Meizu M6 Note for review in black, its cover is made of painted aluminum. In this color, the case easily collects stains from fingers and is difficult to wipe off, but is very pleasant to the touch.
A flash of four diodes was placed on the antenna line, the different blinking effects of which can be set for calls. In addition, when you turn on the flashlight when the smartphone is in a standard case, you get a nice backlight around the edge. Below the flash are two camera lenses.
Covers the screen protective glass with rounded edges. It was not possible to check how well it holds the fingers, since the store immediately glued Meizu branded glass on it.
The speaker and front camera are traditionally located above the display, and below there is a single button with a built-in fingerprint scanner.
At the top end of the smartphone there is only a microphone, and at the bottom there is a 3.5 mm jack, a microphone, Micro-USB and a music speaker. If you use the connectors carelessly, you can leave scratches near the headset and charging points, but in general the smartphone is not one that easily picks up scratches.
On the left edge there is a slot for SIM cards and a memory card, on the right there are volume buttons and a power button.
If you wish, you can find fault with the fact that the Meizu M6 Note is a bit heavy and looks a little pale from the back. But whether to find fault or not is up to you to decide.
Display
The screen here is 5.5-inch with Full HD resolution and pixel density of 403 ppi. It is completely laminated, that is, without an air gap, so if you break the screen, you will have to change both the glass and the matrix. But thanks to this technology, the screen has more contrast and conveys colors deeper.
The plus is that, compared to the 5 Note, the screen is less bright and has a calmer color rendering without turning yellow. The default colors are pleasant and balanced, but you can calibrate them differently if you want to enhance the effect.
Viewing angles are good, with only a slight drop in brightness at higher angles.
The overall brightness is sufficient for using the smartphone outdoors in bright light.
The display frames on the sides are thin, you don’t notice them when using it.
In general, the screen is beautiful without any “buts”.
Hardware
Meizu M6 Note is powered by an eight-core Snapdragon 625 processor, Adreno 506 graphics, 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage with expandable memory via micro-SD cards.
In benchmarks, the device shows itself as a good average: in the Geekbench 4 multi-core test, the device scores 4272 points, in AnTuTu its result is 76799 points.
All tasks are performed quickly, without lags or freezes. Asphalt 8 runs on high settings. Although the promised 71% increase in graphics performance compared to Note 5 is not particularly noticeable in practice, everything works fine. And in the Geekbench graphics test, the device scores 3163 points.
The only question about the speed and smoothness of operation arises if you leave many windows open: following links and scrolling pages begins to lag a little. Therefore, do not load your RAM, and you will be happy.
Wireless and mobile connection works without any complaints. I am especially pleased with the smooth Wi-Fi reception; in addition, the settings have a built-in speed test.
The speaker, although only one, in the words of the device’s owner, “sounds shameless.” Using the equalizer, you can adjust the sound to suit you.
Battery
The manufacturer promises 10 hours of gameplay on a single charge. It was not possible to check whether the battery is enough for this amount in game mode, but with mixed active use the device can withstand more than a day of operation.
It was noticed that with one active SIM card the time battery life increases significantly.
A full charge takes 90 minutes.
Cameras
The latest fashion smartphone is equipped with a dual camera with Sony IMX362/Samsung 2L7 sensors, both modules having a fairly wide aperture: 12 MP with ƒ/1.9 and 5 MP with ƒ/2.0.
A few more features are a flash of two warm and two cold LEDs, as well as truly instant focusing.
There is a manual mode, slow motion modes, panoramas and other standard settings.
The dual camera is here for bokeh, and, as is the case with other smartphones with a similar feature, the blur is not always obtained correctly. Sometimes the blur is too strong, and there are defects along the blur-focus boundary. But it must be said that bokeh errors can also occur in more expensive top-end devices.
Good outdoor lighting makes for great shots. In darkness and artificial light, the camera shoots with detail, although it is a little noisy.
As for video shooting, there is digital stabilization when recording Full HD video. But it’s not available for 4K, so videos at maximum resolution come out with a little rattling.
The front 16 MP camera takes good selfies, but is also a little noisy in artificial lighting. If you use make-up effects, keep in mind that they tend to narrow and blur the face too much.
A big plus is that you can record Full HD video on the front camera.
In general, I liked the quality of shooting on both cameras.
BY
The smartphone runs on Android 7.1 under the Flyme shell sauce, which uses the One Mind artificial intelligence system. It adapts to the user's lifestyle, sleep and wakefulness, as well as habits, and speeds up the opening of applications that are used most often.
I like that you can open two windows on the screen at once, and also that long pressing the icon on the top curtain takes you to the corresponding settings section. And the presence of a recycle bin from which you can restore accidentally deleted files.
A convenient option is customizable gestures in the “Quick Wake Up” section. You can set a symbol, drawing which on the switched off display will launch any application. But the most practical thing is the ability to switch tracks by swiping across the display without activating the screen.
Among the usefulness of the shell, it is worth noting password protection - entering passwords only from the Flyme keyboard to avoid data leakage. And also secure payments - protection against screen overlay, interception of messages confirming transactions and other malicious processes.
Full specifications
Alternatives
Based on the presence of a dual camera, alternative models - , Huawei Mate 10 Lite, or Xiaomi Mi5S Plus, which are sold for the same money in a 4 GB/64 GB configuration.
LeEco Cool1 without specifying the characteristics and functions of the second module, with video recording up to 2160p 30 fps, as well as a narrower aperture and lower resolution of the front camera. And with wide frames around the screen, but consider it half the price and with excellent shooting quality in the dark.
Huawei Mate 10 Lite 5.9-inch, with a resolution of 2160x1080 pixels, a dual main camera of 16 MP + 2 MP and a dual front camera of 13 MP + 2 MP, but a 3340 mAh battery.
Xiaomi Mi A1 has both main camera modules of 12 megapixels, however, the aperture is ƒ/2.2 and the battery is a thousand mAh smaller than that of our ward.
Xiaomi Mi5S Plus has a main camera of 13 MP + 13 MP, and is powered by Snapdragon 821 in combination with Adreno 530, but is also inferior in battery capacity.
Among models without dual cameras, in the same price range there is Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) with an AMOLED display and one, but even faster camera. However, it has a lower resolution and video recording frame rate, processor frequency and battery capacity.
Another option is the “shovel” Xiaomi Mi Max 2 with a 6.44-inch display, 4 GB of RAM, 5300 mAh, but a less interesting camera.
And finally, iPhone SE 16GB, which doesn’t require much introduction.
Advantages and disadvantages
- moderately bright and rich display;
- dual camera with very fast focus;
- quick response and coordinated work in most scenarios;
- good level of autonomy;
- convenient software with Flyme features.
Conclusion
Meizu M6 Note has assembled a balanced set of characteristics, among which the most pleasing are the display, the main camera, battery life and software. Appearance remains a subjective criterion - some will like the back of the device, others will not. This is not to say that this is the best of the best offers, but overall this model can be recommended as the golden mean of what is on the market up to 17k rubles.
Previous generations of the Note line were criticized mainly for budget chipsets from MediaTek, while in other respects - build, camera, screen, software - these were excellent mid-class smartphones. But, in comparison with its main competitor – Xiaomi, Meizu smartphones have always lost in performance.
Price and main characteristics
The brand new M6 Note can already be found in Russian online stores. The device is available in three modifications, the youngest will cost customers $165. For the 3/32 version you will have to pay $195, and the top version is priced at $255.
Specifications:
- display: 5.5”, IPS LCD 1920 × 1080 px (403 ppi);
- processor: Snapdragon 625 (2.0 GHz) + Adreno 506 video accelerator;
- RAM: 3/4 GB;
- internal memory: 16/32/64 GB + micro SDXC flash cards up to 256 GB;
- camera: main – dual module 12+5 MP, front – 16 MP;
- communication: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, 4.2, A2DP, LE, A-GPS, GLONASS;
- battery: 4000 mAh;
- dimensions: 154.6 x 75.2 x 8.4 mm;
- weight:173 g.
Meizu M6 Note became the first smartphone in the line with a Snapdragon processor and a dual camera. Such changes contributed to the excitement around the device; the first batch of 200 thousand devices sold out in a day during the start of sales in China.
Equipment and appearance
When unpacking the M6 Note, the user may get the impression that he mistakenly purchased a smartphone from the previous generation - the design of the cardboard box is so reminiscent of the M5 Note. Inside it you can find a minimum set of everything you need: a microUSB cable, a charging unit, the device itself and documentation.
If you don't take into account the recently released Meizu Pro 7, most of the manufacturer's smartphones are made according to the same model. The M6 Note looks like it just came off the copy machine's belt. It differs from its predecessor only in small details, which are quite difficult to notice at first glance. The dual camera at the rear brings more clarity - an attribute previously unseen among Meizu’s budget phones.
A closer look at the device reveals a lot of interesting things. Firstly, for some reason it did not receive a Type-C connector on the bottom edge, although new standard has become almost mandatory technical characteristics every new smartphone. Secondly, the corners of the device have become a little more rounded, making it fit even better in the hand. Metal body The M6 Note comes in four color options: black, blue, silver and gold.
Traditionally, under the 5.5-inch display of the gadget there is a multifunction button with an mTouch fingerprint scanner. The top insert is occupied by a speaker, a 16-megapixel front camera and a pair of sensors.
In a small recess on the right there are keys for activating the screen and adjusting the volume.
On the left is a hybrid slot for SIM cards.
The multimedia speaker and 3.5 mm headphone input are located on the bottom edge of the device. The space between them is occupied by a microUSB connector. The top end does not have anything interesting; there is only one small hole for a noise-canceling microphone.
Finally, back cover. The dual camera lenses have different sizes and are located vertically. Above them you can easily notice a plastic antenna insert with a built-in LED flash in the middle.
In general, the designers of the M6 Note were not looking for new ways; in the new model we saw a slightly adapted, but still the same Meizu. Lack of imagination can hardly be considered a disadvantage, since this format has already been liked by millions of users around the world. And after several days of use, the new product leaves only pleasant impressions.
Screen
M6 Note received a 5.5-inch IGZO display with FullHD resolution. Thanks to the high pixel density (403 units per inch), the image on the screen looks seamless, making it almost impossible to notice the pixel grid with the naked eye. The maximum display brightness threshold is limited to 450 nits, and the contrast ratio is 1000:1. Multi-touch supports up to 10 simultaneous clicks. During the test of the M6 Note, no errors were noticed in the operation of the touchscreen.
The standard IPS matrix, of course, loses to more advanced AMOLED solutions. Flagship users may notice in comparison that the M6 Note looks rather dull and ordinary. However, the viewing angles and screen brightness are quite enough to perform basic tasks. A smartphone for $155 does not pretend to be more.
Performance
Previous models in the line were often praised until it came to the processor. Mediatek for a long time remained a weak point of Meizu, for many buyers this became a serious reason to change their choice in favor of a similar solution from Xiaomi. Finally, changes have caught up with fans of the brand. The new M6 Note is equipped with a Snapdragon 625 chipset and Adreno 506 graphics.
Paired with 3 or 4 GB random access memory The smartphone earns well-deserved points in benchmarks. He also performed excellently in everyday use. Only slight slowdowns when switching the camera to 4K resolution make it clear that the firmware is imperfect. Gamers will be pleasantly surprised that the M6 Note can offer the proper level of gaming performance. At the same time, the device does not heat up and does not experience problems with throttling after many hours of load.
Camera
The second long-awaited gift from Meizu was a dual photo module on the rear panel. The main Sony IMX362 photo sensor has a resolution of 12 megapixels, the auxiliary OV is 5 megapixels. Both lenses have an f/1.9 aperture. The camera can also shoot colorful 4K videos. True, in the early version of the firmware there are small freezes when recording video at the highest resolution. We can only hope that the manufacturer will correct all the shortcomings in the future.
Compared to its predecessor, the M6 Note has taken several big steps forward. The main camera received new software for working with background blur, autofocus and portrait mode. Daylight photos come out quite high quality, with accurate colors and all the fine details captured. Photos at night also look acceptable. Finally, the significant distortion that plagued shooting with the M5 Note has gone away.
The front 16-megapixel camera has an f/2.0 aperture lens. Selfies come out of quite high quality; the device has a variety of facial enhancement algorithms and other useful options.
Speaker, sound quality
A smartphone should hardly be used to listen to music through a multimedia speaker. It has a decent volume reserve, but the audio track itself seems too “flat” due to the lack of noticeable bass. We recommend that audiophiles use a third-party high-quality headset.
The speaker of the device is surprisingly good, the interlocutor can be heard loudly and clearly.
Battery
You can’t really name the device thin smartphone, all because of the built-in 4000 mAh battery. This supply is quite enough for all everyday needs. The M6 Note can last up to two days on a single charge in normal use.
Battery supports fast charging. True, there is no Type-C here, which can be safely written down as a disadvantage of the device. On the other hand, you can always find a charger for an already obsolete connector.
Communication and Internet
List communication capabilities The M6 Note consists of dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS and LTE support. The device works great in Russian latitudes; no connection interruptions were noticed during the test.
Some will complain about the lack of NFC or infrared. You can do without the first for now, but the second is not very popular based on the similar experience of Xiaomi.
Video review of Meizu M6 Note
Competitors, conclusion
- Change of processor line;
- Dual camera;
- Autonomy;
- Convenient and high-quality assembled case.
- Mediocre display;
- No Type-C;
Meizu M6 Note is a sign of the beginning of positive changes. The long-awaited transition to Snapdragon and a dual camera make the device a worthy rival to its competitors. The same recognizable budget employee from Meizu has finally lost most of its negative aspects. The only drawback so far remains the manufacturer’s refusal to switch to Type-C connectors.
You are probably aware that the Meizu M6 Note was recently presented to the public for review. The new smartphone was immediately dubbed a breakthrough for the Chinese company, a bomb that should help the brand compete with its main competitor, Xiaomi. Main feature Meizu M6 Note has a processor from Qualcomm. This is not the company's debut smartphone based on the Snapdragon chip. At the beginning of 2015, Meizu introduced one of the versions of the M1 Note, which received a Snapdragon 615. After which the manufacturer used exclusively processors from MediaTek in its products, which many users did not really like.
In many ways, it was the chipset that became the key point because of which users chose, preferring faster hardware to a stylish design. Finally, the prayers were heard - the M6 Note was equipped with the rather popular Snapdragon 625 chip, which belongs to the middle class. But it’s not the processor alone that the smartphone is going to surprise us with. Meizu M6 Note became the company's second device (after the recent flagship) to receive a dual main camera.
- On AliExpress, the price of Meizu M6 Note starts at 11,500 rubles for the younger version ( link to the seller with the most orders / lowest price on AliExpress)
“On paper,” the new product looks really interesting and promising. But will the smartphone be able to meet all expectations, become a worthy competitor to the Xiaomi Redmi Note line, and will it help the company compete for Olympus in the middle segment? Today we bring to your attention a review of the characteristics of the Meizu M6 Note, in which we will analyze each feature of the smartphone, look at the price, and also tell you where it is more profitable to buy a new product.
Meizu M6 Note: characteristics
Contents of delivery
The manufacturer did not change the design of the box in which the smartphone is supplied. We get a classic white box with only the brand logo and model name. This kind of packaging is used for everyone Meizu smartphone budget/middle class. In general, nothing unusual. The equipment does not stand out either. In addition to the device itself, we see a small envelope containing various documentation. The manufacturer's classic tool for removing the SIM card slot is attached to the top. The power adapter, which supports fast charging technology, as well as the microUSB cable are neatly placed in their places.
Appearance
Meizu M6 Note is unlikely to surprise users who are already familiar with . Have you held Meizu M3 Note or M5 Note in your hands? The M6 Note turned out to be about the same style. From the front, the smartphones are completely indistinguishable. But the back side somewhat sets the M6 Note apart from its predecessors. Firstly, the dual camera catches your eye, and secondly, the LED flash, made in the form of a strip, like the Meizu E2. The design of the model does not shine with sophistication - it’s just one of the ones we see several times a year.
The body is made of metal. The recognizable plastic strips, which the manufacturer did not consider necessary to somehow hide, have not gone anywhere. No, he made them distinct, which sends the M6 Note back to about a year ago, when these stripes were not viewed so critically. Why not implement them, as in, for example. By the way, the M6 Note and Mi 5X are essentially competitors, so we recommend taking a look at our recent one.
Meizu M6 Note presented in four colors. There are classic options in gold and silver, and black and blue colors are also announced. The latter are not yet widespread, so the guest of our review is dressed in silver. Meizu M6 Note is not the most compact smartphone. It has fairly thick bezels around the screen, making it look quite wide and tall. It can hardly be called ultra-thin - after all, 8.35 mm looks weighty. The same one is thinner by about a millimeter. Although, to be fair, the latter also has a thinner battery.
The smartphone has a classic arrangement of elements. In front we have a large display, under which there is a proprietary “Home” button, which at the same time plays the role of a fingerprint scanner. Many people really like this key – it’s really convenient to use. At the top of the Meizu M6 Note we see the earpiece, front camera and a set of sensors. Let's go over the ends. At the bottom is the main speaker grille, microUSB connector, 3.5 mm headphone port and microphone hole. The hole for an additional microphone is located at the top end.
The volume control rocker and on/off button, as standard, find a home on the right edge of the device, slightly recessed into the body. On the left we see a combined tray for two SIM cards (instead of one SIM, you can install a microSD memory card). On the rear panel we see two sensors that are slightly different in size. At the top center (exactly along the plastic insert) there is a flash strip of four LEDs.
The design of the Meizu M6 Note, which came to us for review, is not surprising, but it also does not drive you into a stupor. The main points were adopted from its predecessors, the back side underwent some modernization, which received a replenishment in the form of another module and a flash with a changed shape. Considering the price for which you can buy a Meizu M6 Note today, you expect something more (for about the same amount you can buy one, which looks more interesting in terms of design).
Screen
There is nothing special to tell you. The hero of our review in the person of Meizu M6 Note, like the design, borrowed the screen from its predecessors. We have a standard 5.5-inch one, the resolution of which is 1920x1080 pixels (FullHD). As a result, we get 401PPI - you can distinguish individual points only if you look closely at the screen, bringing it close to your eyes. The screen of the Meizu M6 Note, as well as the entire front part, is covered with 2.5D glass. It is difficult to say how reliable it is; almost nothing is known about its origin. However, during the review, no noticeable scratches appeared on the Meizu M6 Note.
There is an oleophobic coating - it can be characterized as medium. We've seen better ones, but those smartphones also cost more money. The screen has good viewing angles, again, an average image saturation and sufficient brightness to comfortably use the smartphone outdoors. Supports up to 10 simultaneous touches, which will surprise few people. The frames around the display, as already mentioned, are quite wide - the working area occupies something like 70% of the total surface.
What ends up on the screen? He's not perfect, but he's not bad either. Something in between, which, in fact, is shown by many others. Considering the price of the Meizu M6 Note, the screen shows quite good results. Although in this segment, in order to find something worse, you have to try.
Performance
Left – Meizu M6 Note; right – Xiaomi Mi 5X Let's go to the sweetest part. As no resource has already noted, the Meizu M6 Note smartphone received a processor from Qualcomm. In my opinion, this event has become more significant for users than the release of the flagship, which is equipped with a second screen. Snapdragon 625 was introduced in the second half of 2016. The processor is positioned as a solution for mid-class smartphones. Built on 8 Cortex-A53 cores, showcasing clock frequency up to 2 GHz. What makes MediaTek different from its main competitors is its more modern technical process – 14 nm. Thanks to this, the smartphone is not only fast enough, but its autonomy is also in perfect order.
Snapdragon 625 is, in fact, extremely popular among smartphone manufacturers. It is installed in the famous Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X, and the huge and stylish Nubia Z11 Mini also received it. And it is not unreasonable that companies prefer him. Behind graphic capabilities Meizu M6 Note is responsible for the Adreno 506 chip. In short, the hero of our review copes with any user tasks without any problems. Yes, in some games maximum settings Graphics may notice stuttering, so hardcore gamers are advised to choose something more serious. Here, take a closer look at the options on.
For its characteristics in the AnTuTu synthetic test, the Meizu M6 Note shows a standard result - about 60,000 points for the version with 3 GB of RAM.
Now let's talk about memory. Meizu M6 Note can be purchased in a version with 3 or 4 GB of RAM. For most users, 3 gigs of RAM will be enough for all tasks, so don’t rush to overpay. You can also choose the storage capacity: here is the minimum 16 GB, and 32 GB, which looks the most optimal, and an impressive 64 GB. In addition, the hybrid tray allows you to install microSD up to 128 GB instead of one SIM card. In general, there should be no problems with memory.
As a result, based on the characteristics of the Meizu M6 Note, we have one of the company’s (if not the best) smartphones in recent years. Yes, the manufacturer has made some good devices on processors from MediaTek, but on Snapdragon, you must admit, everything looks much better. The smartphone has no problems with performance for its price, and the energy efficiency of the chipset is also encouraging.
Interfaces, sound and navigation
Meizu M6 Note, as already noted, is equipped with a hybrid tray for two SIM cards. Both SIMs must be nano format. The smartphone works on all known networks, including 4G LTE. It is worth noting that bands 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 are supported. Not everything is so dense with wireless interfaces - Wi-Fi and Bluetooth version 4.2. Unfortunately, the model did not receive NFC, without which a modern smartphone looks somewhat deprived.
Moreover, the solution remained with the old microUSB connector. It is clear that for the price of the Meizu M6 Note, most smartphones still have the same port, but you still expect more from this company. The device supports the OTG function, which allows you to connect various drives and peripherals to it. There are two most available for navigation popular systems– GPS and GLONASS. Thanks to a fairly fast processor, the smartphone quickly finds satellites even during a cold start.
Meizu M6 Note received a proprietary mTouch button, which is also a fingerprint scanner. It works quickly, one might say, flawlessly - in general, as usual. The sound of the smartphone is really good, despite the fact that it is equipped with only one main speaker. It is loud, quite clean and of high quality.
Meizu M6 Note has everything necessary for comfortable work, but at the same time it would be noticeably decorated smartphone NFC and a USB-C connector, which, by the way, is equipped with.
operating system
Meizu M6 Note “out of the box” has an operating system Android system 7.1.2 Nougat. Naturally, on top of the OS - branded shell Flyme version 6.1.4.1A. The firmware on the Meizu M6 Note, which we are reviewing, is global, but only the Alpha version, so there are some shortcomings. Fonts that are not perfect are striking; in addition, a number of functions refuse to work or function incorrectly. In the near future, Meizu should release stable firmware for the M6 Note, which will bring fixes.
Even on the Alpha version of Flyme, the smartphone works perfectly. The interface is smooth, and we never encountered any lags, despite our diligent attempts. As they say, there are no comrades according to taste and color, but the shell from Meizu looks, you see, much more interesting than that of many smartphones from its fellow countrymen. Flyme is simple and clear, quite beautiful and functional. We hope for the speedy release of normal firmware for the Meizu M6 Note in order to enjoy its work to the fullest.
You can monitor the release of firmware for the Meizu M6 Note on the w3bsit3-dns.com forum.
Cameras
Captivated by the Qualcomm processor, we almost forgot that the new product has another rather eye-catching feature - a dual main camera. At the presentation of the smartphone, by the way, company representatives paid special attention to the cameras, praising it as one of the best camera phones in the mid-budget segment. “On paper,” the Meizu M6 Note’s camera specs really look good. We also note that this is the manufacturer’s first smartphone in the mid-segment with a dual camera.
Now, actually, about the sensors. On the back we have a pair of 12 and 5 megapixel sensors. The first sensor was presented by the company – IMX362. A good module, seasoned with an f/1.9 aperture. The second sensor is from Samsung – 2L7 with f/2.0 aperture. It serves here to blur the background so that the user can get stylish photos with a bokeh effect. The main camera, forgetting about the additional sensor, generally takes good pictures for its price. Not exactly “Ah!”, but the photographs we get are quite good. It’s clear that better shots come out during the day or in normal lighting conditions. At night, our guest’s camera is frankly rather weak. Although there is a 4-LED flash located above the main camera eye.
Availability additional camera The Meizu M6 Note does not fully justify itself. It blurs the background, of course, better than a camera of the same or , but it still doesn’t do it very well. The background is blurred unevenly, and the edges of the object on which the camera is focused are often blurred. In general, things are not going well for Meizu with dual cameras. However, there is hope that the jambs will be fixed with subsequent firmware updates.
You can record video on a smartphone with a maximum resolution of 4K; no image stabilization is provided. Meanwhile, the videos on the Meizu M6 Note turn out very good. The picture is rich, the sound is good - quite for its price.
Front camera 16 megapixels with f/2.0 aperture. Not bad if you are not one of the overly demanding users. During the day you get good selfies, at night the situation is, of course, much worse. The front camera can record video with a maximum resolution of FullHD.
Generally speaking, the Meizu M6 Note has decent cameras for its price, which probably won’t surprise you, but will definitely please you. We can only rely on the manufacturer, who simply must release fixes for the additional sensor.
Autonomy
Meizu M6 Note is equipped with a serious 4000 mAh battery. Coupled with an efficient chip, the smartphone can go without recharging for 1.5-2 days. What we can say for sure is that it will last you all day, even with intensive use. The ability to quickly charge a smartphone is declared, which allows you to fill the battery from 0 to 100% in about 2 hours.
Another characteristic that can be recorded as an advantage of the Meizu M6 Note.
Meizu M6 Note: where to buy, price, analogues
Meizu M6 Note is about to appear in Russia, but the price is already known. The younger version (3+16 GB) will cost almost 17,000 rubles, for the middle version (3+32 GB) you will have to pay almost 19,000 rubles, for the older version (4+64 GB) the manufacturer asks for all of 25,000 rubles. You can buy a much more profitable Meizu M6 Note in Chinese online stores, where smartphones are available now.
The main competitor of the Meizu M6 Note will be Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X, despite the fact that there is also the fresh Mi 5X. The characteristics of the smartphones are comparable, including processor models and battery capacity. Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X has only one main camera, and the front camera is weaker. But the smartphone is noticeably cheaper - about 9,000 rubles for the 3+32 GB version.
Meizu M6 Note: verdict and review
Undoubtedly, new smartphone Meizu turned out to be decent. Of course, it’s too early to talk about a breakthrough, but the makings are there. Characteristics of Meizu The M6 Note is truly a mid-range smartphone, and its relatively low price, which will only go down over time, makes it an ideal solution for the average user. More than 200,000 smartphones sold are already saying something.
Is it worth pursuing a smartphone for the Snapdragon 625? To be honest, in everyday tasks (Internet surfing, instant messengers, calls, casual games, etc.) you are unlikely to find a difference between the Meizu M5 Note (MediaTek Helio P10) and M6 Note. But the latter feels more confident in demanding games thanks to a faster processor. In addition, the Snapdragon 625 is built on a more modern technical process, which gives us additional minutes of battery life. In general, if you do not depend on the latest resource-intensive games, but more frequent charging If it doesn’t bother you, then there’s not much point in buying an M6 Note. Moreover, now you can buy Meizu M5 Note significantly cheaper.
To summarize the Meizu M6 Note review, it’s worth leaving a personal review. Overall, I was pleased with the smartphone. Not exactly “wow”, but one of the few Meizu devices recently that is really hard to criticize. Meizu M6 Note is a good working device, which now has everything for this title. Another thing is that the smartphone is still a bit expensive and there is no normal firmware on the M6 Note yet. In a month or two, when the manufacturer releases an update and the price drops slightly, the device may well break into the top sales.
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