Meizu started out making MP3 players, but thanks to ambitious director Jack Wang, it quickly transformed from “just another Chinese electronics manufacturer” into a world-famous brand. And all because Jack Wong did not hesitate to copy the iPhone and try, to the best of his ability, to make it better even at the dawn of the triumphant march of the “Apple” device around the world.
Meizu's first smartphone was the M8 on Windows CE, which was very reminiscent of the iPhone 3GS, but then the Chinese abandoned the unpromising and frankly old Microsoft platform and switched to Android, releasing their own Flyme shell for this OS. At the same time, there was less blatant copying and the search for my own style began.
There are three Android smartphones in Meizu's portfolio: M9, released back in January 2011, MX, which appeared in January 2012, and MX2, released in December 2012. We are, of course, interested in the latter - it is with this that Meizu expects to begin serious expansion into Russia.
Meizu MX2 is an Android smartphone with a 4.4-inch IPS screen with a resolution of 1280x800 pixels. The “heart” of the device is the Samsung MX5S quad-core processor operating at a frequency of 1.6 GHz. Mali 400MP is responsible for graphics. The smartphone has 2 GB of LPDDR2 RAM, and the internal memory can be 16, 32 or 64 GB. There is no slot for memory cards.
The main camera has a resolution of 8 megapixels, the front one is 1.3 megapixels. Meizu MX2 does not work in LTE networks, but is “friendly” with GPRS/EDGE/WCDMA/HSPA+ in the 900/1800 and 2100 MHz bands. Of course, it would not be possible without support for GPS/GLONASS, as well as Bluetooth 4.0.
The battery in the smartphone is non-removable, 1800 mAh (6.66 Wh, 3.7 V). Flyme OS, on which Meizu MX2 runs, is a kernel from Android 4.1 with a completely redesigned graphical interface.
On the Russian market, the official price of Meizu MX2 starts at 17,997 rubles - for this price you can purchase a 16 GB model. For the 32 GB version you will have to pay 19,997, and the 64 GB version is, naturally, the most expensive - 21,997 rubles.
⇡#Wow, what a sweetheart!
Alexey Zarubin, webmaster of 3DNews. Uses Samsung Galaxy Nexus
It seems that the term “Chinese toys” in its usual meaning of something low-quality, poorly made from low-quality materials is becoming a thing of the past. When the Meizu MX2 was in my palm, the first thing I wanted to say was: “Wow, what a cutie!”
Indeed, when modern top-end smartphones, with the exception, perhaps, of Samsung devices, stubbornly try to imitate brick, the MX2 rather resembled a smooth sea pebble. The quality of the materials – even if it’s mostly plastic – and the fit of the parts was a pleasant surprise. Optimally selected proportions, moderate dimensions and a slightly convex shape of the back cover helped the device fit quite firmly in the palm of your hand, and the reasonable “heaviness” of the smartphone seemed to fill it with a certain inner nobility. In short, it feels just right in the hand.
At the software level, everything turned out to be no worse than on the outside. The Flyme OS 2.0.2 available “on board” is very pleasant to look at, and will seem almost native to i-users. The system “out of the box” already has the necessary minimum software for full operation (mail, calendar, browser, and the absence of stupid built-in Facebook and Twitter clients). Everything missing is easily delivered from the Market. I was especially pleased that Russian localization and IME were natively available, something that early versions of derivatives from MIUI could not please (although, I admit, I stopped looking in this direction a long time ago, around the release of ICS). There is a choice of CPU performance/energy saving mode, as well as an indication of the speed of downloading applications from Google Play in the notification panel, which is often very helpful, helping to determine the presence/absence of errors when downloading large programs or datapacks on a slow connection. Otherwise, they are quite ordinary, albeit modified MIUI and ICS.
However, upon closer acquaintance, there was something to complain about. For example, there is not enough contextual T9 search for contacts when dialing a number. Or, on the contrary, the undeletable Mstore interferes, in which all applications and descriptions for them are in the native Chinese language, and prices are in yuan, which makes it absolutely useless in the vastness of the Russian Federation. But what seemed even a little annoying was the absence of a permanent button for calling up the list of recent applications - it was replaced by a double “tap” on the circle under the screen.
There are also some subjective UI/UX shortcomings: for example, duplication of the “menu” button in the system navigation bar and in the application itself (for example, in Play Market, Gmail). Or the built-in keyboard, which is not the most convenient in the Russian layout, although pleasant to look at. The not very informative display of events in the blocking mode is also frustrating - monotonously dull “sighs” of the touch circle with monochrome cold diode light.
And finally, what was especially disappointing was the lack of default root rights stated in the company’s blog (clarification: they can only be obtained if you register with Flyme - editor’s note ), as well as the battery capacity indicated there - 1800 mAh. This is quite small considering the power consumption of the device and the impossibility of installing an extended battery. Oh yes! The Meizu MX2 has an extremely dirty display and even a body - this, as a “lucky” owner of sweaty palms, upset me a lot.
I will continue the theme of palms. This can probably be considered a design flaw, or perhaps a lack of practice in handling the device, but due to the proximity of the edges of the sensitive layer of the screen to the edges of the phone body, when working with the device with one hand, the musculus opponens pollicis constantly touches this very edge, then pressing to some link in the browser, then closing the keyboard while entering text, which significantly complicates the processes of surfing and communication.
Let's summarize: despite all my stupid quibbles and few shortcomings, in general I like the device, including the price-quality ratio. Well, system flaws may well be corrected in subsequent updates. So if the notorious “killer” iPhone ever comes to Earth in the flesh, it should most likely come from China. And, apparently, from the Meizu company.
Description of the advantages and disadvantages of the MX2 phone
Meizu MX2 dimensions are 64.9 mm wide, 124.9 mm long and 10.2 mm thick. With such dimensions it is convenient to operate the device with one hand. In addition, the weight of the device is about 142 g. Even if you operate the device with one hand, its weight is almost not felt.
If we evaluate the overall ease of use of the phone taking into account the size and weight, then there will be no problems with everyday use.
The smartphone is equipped with a 4-core Samsung Exynos 4 Quad 4412 processor, which is made at 32 nm. technical process.
The smartphone has 2 GB. RAM, which is quite enough. In very rare cases it will not be enough, but with this amount of RAM, you will rarely have problems.
The device's data storage capacity is 16 GB, and while this is enough for photos, it may not be enough for video shooting and a large number of games.
Since the phone does not support SD cards, you need to ensure that the device has enough memory for your needs.
The MX2 has a medium-sized screen, 4.4 inches. It's fine for general use, but if you want to view photos, videos, and play games, it may not satisfy you.
The smartphone has a high-end display and any graphic content you display on it, including videos and games, will be displayed clearly.
The main camera of the phone has 7.99 megapixels, which should be enough in most cases. However, you may be slightly unsatisfied with the quality of the photos.
The Meizu MX2 battery capacity is 1800 mAh, which is a common capacity indicator. Compared to other smartphones, the battery life of Meizu MX2 is average. You don't have to worry about anything during daily use. However, if you spend time surfing the internet or playing games, you might be a little underwhelmed by the battery life.
⇡#I feel sorry for the hypothetical buyer
Alexey Drozhzhin, editor of the “Laptops” section. Uses Nokia 3720 Classic and Samsung Galaxy Note
From a hardware point of view, this is a very good phone. The operating system does not slow down, thanks to the fast processor and the correct version of Android. The picture on the screen does not offend the eye at all. Meizu MX2 is noticeably heavier than most devices with comparable characteristics. This will appeal to those who are confused by the “plastic” lightness of most Asian smartphones.
At the same time, unlike some Lumia 920, the Meizu MX2 does not scare away either its dimensions or weight - with these parameters, the Chinese hit exactly the very point that the experienced Finns missed. I was particularly pleased with the packaging in which the smartphone is supplied: in terms of neatness it is quite on par with Apple, but somehow more generous, or something, without Apple’s 146% thoughtful and calculated stinginess. This is on the one hand.
On the other hand, the smartphone turned out to be “under-equipped.” There isn't even any NFC. Not to mention wireless charging, a “glove-compatible” touch display or LTE, which is temporarily useless in Russia, but still promising. Not that there is a serious need for these “chips” - but if they are not there, then why pay as much as the Meizu MX2 costs? Moreover, other models have them - and for the same money.
However, the software part of Meizu is much more confusing than the above. When back in 2008 the Chinese made their ersatz iOS from Windows CE, it was quite logical and a complete handshake. Then they made it from Android 2.x - and this was also understandable, at that stage the green monster “robot” in its natural form was really not very pleasant. But now, now, why? And it would be nice if they cut off what they cut off so that what was left would eventually work like a clock (this is usually used to justify limitations in IT technology). But even this is not the case: something was left unfinished here, something was not thought through there. And they cut it off for no reason - just to make it look different from Android.
Perhaps through the eyes of a loyal user of past Meizu smartphones, all this is seen differently. Perhaps for him it is continuity, identity, patriotism, and convenience, finally. But personally, I don’t care about this, since I evaluate the smartphone from the point of view of its Russian buyer. Who will switch to it, most likely, from Android and will be forced to get used to the oriental exoticism. There's no point in getting used to it. As a result, I feel sorry for this hypothetical buyer, because for a lot of money, in general, he will get a rather strange device.
Preparing for flashing
Before flashing Meizu MX2, you need to prepare your mobile device for the procedure.
To do this, you should perform a number of actions:
- charge your smartphone to 100% so that during flashing it does not run out of power and become a “brick”;
- download a file with verified firmware;
- study the instructions and clarify any unclear nuances;
- make sure that there are no Russian letters in the names of folders and files;
- ensure a stable connection of the gadget to the Internet;
- obtain Superuser rights;
- make a backup.
The last two points should be given attention as they are the most difficult.
⇡#And again we remember about the iPhone
Denis Nivnikov, editor-in-chief of 3DNews. Uses Samsung Galaxy S II and for some reason does not use Galaxy S III
Colleagues know that it is impossible to seriously captivate me with yet another “phone” - I follow the evolution of hardware platforms and mobile operating systems closely, but I don’t perceive smartphones at all as an object of desire (despite the fact that I once owned an HTC Desire). And this one interested me, so much so that I called the Russian representative office of Meizu and asked to send MX2 to the editorial office.
It’s a rare case that a “live” device produces an impression that is at least no worse than its advertising photographs! Not an ounce of “Chineseness”: the design, materials, and build quality are all at the highest level. The plastic body does not leave a feeling of excessive lightness; it pleases the hand with a pleasant heaviness and is perceived as completely monolithic. It is generally accepted that the MX2 is a Chinese iPhone, but in terms of design, Meizu has practically nothing in common with either the fourth or fifth generation of the Cupertino smartphone. White back panel (to access the SIM card slot it is completely removed), black front panel, laconic buttons, a modest camera window and a complete absence of “bows” and decorations typical of the Asian school of design - an absolutely strict and in some ways even European image . They can whenever they want!
Those who like to compare characteristics are unlikely to be satisfied with the Meizu MX2. On the one hand, the device is quite powerful - four cores operating at 1.6 GHz. But on the other hand, what kind of modern smartphone is this without NFC and LTE? Although, if we think soberly, then, it seems to me, the developers just pleased Russian users - at the moment, the presence of these technologies is practically of no use to us, so we don’t have to pay for something useless. However, more about the price later.
We turn on the device and... again we remember about the iPhone. How could it be otherwise if the Flyme 2.0 operating system is a direct successor to the custom MIUI shell, created precisely to turn Android into iOS? The developers tried to combine the best of both systems: the simplicity and intuitiveness of iOS, the flexibility and capabilities of Android. Like? The first time - very! Nice graphics on a high-quality screen, the shell is drawn really well. All programs are at your fingertips - as in iOS, there is no concept of a program menu; icons evenly fill the desktops as applications are installed. And I’m not even very upset about having to install Google branded applications myself. First time.
And then... In place of the icon of the remote application, a “hole” remains - the shell does not know how to automatically move icons to free space. The branded application store talks to you in pure (but who knows, really) Chinese. Chinese also bothers me in the language settings. After installing Google Calendar, a message regularly appears about the failure of this program, while it seems to be working fine. All these (and others on the heels) small roughnesses make us remember... no, no, not at all about the origin of the Meizu MX2. And about its price. From the hardware point of view, this device is well worth the money, but the software raises questions and noticeably spoils the impression.
In conclusion, we need to answer the question: would I buy a Meizu MX2 for myself? If it were 30 percent cheaper, it might well be.
Meizu MX2 Android smartphone review: is the old cavalry still in service? (page 
Video shooting Meizu MX2
As illustrative examples, here are a couple of videos.
Comparison with competitors Meizu MX2
There are already quite a few compact solutions on the market with decent characteristics. As always, we have combined the most characteristic ones from a variety of segments into a table, and then we will look at a more complete list of Meizu MX2 competitors.
| Model | Meizu MX2 | Xiaomi Mi2S | Jiayu G4S | Alcatel OneTouch Idol 2 mini S |
| CPU | Samsung Exynos 4412, 4 cores, up to 1.6 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 600, 4 cores, up to 1.7 GHz | MediaTek MT6592, 8 cores, up to 1.7 GHz | Qualcomm MSM 8226, 4 cores, up to 1.2 GHz |
| Video processor | Mali-400 MP4 | Adreno 320 | Mali-450 MP4 | Adreno 305 |
| operating system | Android 4.1 | Android 4.1 | Android 4.2 | Android 4.3 |
| Memory, GB | 2 RAM, 16 - 64 ROM | 2 RAM, 32 ROM | 2 RAM, 16 ROM | 1 RAM, 8 ROM |
| Screen | 4.4″, IPS, 1280 x 800, up to 10 touches | 4.3″, IPS, 1280 x 720, up to 10 touches | 4.7″, IPS, 1280 x 720, | 4.5″, IPS, 960 x 540 |
| Cameras, Mpix | 8.0 main, 1.3 front | 13.0 main, 2.0 front | 13.0 main, 3.0 front | 8.0 main, 2.0 front |
| SIM card slots, pcs. | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| MicroSD slot | No | No | Eat | Eat |
| Interfaces and data transfer | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| GPS/aGPS/EPO/GLONASS | Yes/is/isn’t/is | Yes/is/isn’t/is | Yes/is/is/is not | Yes/is/-/is |
| Battery, mAh | 1 800 | 2 000 | 3 000 | 2 000 |
| Weight, g | 142 | 145 | 150 | 116 |
| Dimensions, mm | 64.0 x 124.0 x 10.2 | 62.0 x 126.0 x 10.2 | 65.0 x 133.0 x 10.0 | 129.0 x 63.0 x 8.5 |
| price, rub. | ~10 000–16 000 | ~16 000 | ~10 000 | ~8 000 |
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The main rival for Meizu as a brand is, in principle, another leading Chinese manufacturer – Xiaomi. Specifically, the Mi2S model competed with the MX2 on the market.
This is a very compact smartphone – with an even smaller screen diagonal of 4.3″, but the same good resolution of 720p. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 chipset is perhaps even faster than the middle-aged Samsung Exynos 4412, but the built-in memory in the only version of Xiaomi Mi2S available to us is half as much. Other characteristics are approximately at the same level. As is the price. Where Xiaomi is traditionally inferior to Meizu is sound quality (however, this should change soon). In general, a worthy competitor - it is not surprising that the main one. But not for music lovers.
Much the same can be said about Jiayu. This brand is traditionally considered lower level than Meizu and Xiaomi. Although specifically the G4 modifications enjoy fair love, including from Russian buyers. And it’s not surprising: this compact smartphone (although it is one of the largest of those reviewed, but for a display diagonal of 4.7″, the local 65 mm width is still just excellent), in addition to other generally decent characteristics, can boast of a capacious battery. Large dimensions and weight are the price to pay.
Well, you need to not miss the modification. It’s better to avoid a simple G4 on the old MT6589. G4C on MT6582, although not bad in terms of power consumption, is hardly suitable for demanding gamers. But the G4S on MT6592 will also please you with its gaming performance (the screen resolution also helps here).
By the way, those who don’t like boring (albeit practical) plastic design can pay attention to the “iPhone-like” Jiayu G5. Otherwise, it is very similar in filling to its predecessor, and even discussions about versions in relation to it remain valid.
If little-known overtly Chinese-sounding names are not your choice, you can try to find remnants of the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 2 mini S on sale. This compact smartphone pleases with its neat (albeit completely plastic) appearance and LTE support, which is still rare in this segment. But the local 4.5″ display has a slightly lower resolution than the previous models under review - only qHD (540 x 960) versus 720p (720 x 1280). Otherwise, this is a very nice compact, light and nimble device.
And those who definitely need an even more famous brand will have to pay a fair amount for a decent smartphone in a compact body. No, we are not talking about the iPhone now. Although the fourth and fifth models in all modifications can be considered opponents of the Meizu MX2. Or rather, it was he who at one time tried to compete with them.
We are talking about smaller versions of the flagships of HTC, Samsung and Sony. The best of them, undoubtedly, is the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact, which rightly won in the category “best compact smartphone 2014” in the final material of Overclockers.ru.
But the Xperia Z1 Compact, and the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini, and the Samsung Galaxy S5 mini, and the HTC One mini, and the HTC One mini 2 are still quite capable of attracting attention.
And if you want something cheaper, then you can try to find the “oldies” Sony Xperia S, SL or V on sale.
As you can see, the Meizu MX2 has a lot of competitors, especially considering its not the lowest price. However, even the flagship of the famous Chinese manufacturer the year before still has something to attract buyers.
Conclusion
At one time, Meizu MX2 was simply an excellent smartphone. With characteristics similar to the flagships of that time, but at the same time noticeably more compact and with a more interesting design. It's no wonder he still has a lot of fans. Well, he still looks quite cheerful.
However, time passes, and now more advanced solutions can be found in the compact segment. The manufacturer, which has long recouped the costs of developing Meizu MX2, could have taken it at a low price. But, alas, whether officially in Russia or when ordering from the Middle Kingdom, its cost cannot be called low. For a certain category of users, it remains one of the main candidates for purchase - and we have already repeatedly noted its strengths in various comparisons.
But it would be great if the manufacturer were not lazy and renewed its honored veteran. Moreover, this is a common thing for Chinese vendors. A current platform, a lightweight chassis and a thinner body made of modern materials - and some Meizu MX2 Pro will literally sparkle with new colors. And if you don’t squeeze the MicroSD slots and the second SIM, the class leader, the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact, will be worried. We can only hope that someday the manufacturer will (pause) stop in the race of growing display diagonals and give its fans something similar.
For now, let’s simply summarize the identified advantages and disadvantages of the Meizu MX2 that are relevant in 2020.
Pros of Meizu MX2:
- Compact dimensions, narrow side frames;
- Interesting design, quality materials;
- Overall a high-quality screen with adequate resolution;
- Excellent sound quality in headphones.
Disadvantages of a smartphone:
- Poor delivery package;
- Outdated software and ambiguous situation with its update (problems are possible);
- Considering its age, the price of the smartphone could still be lower.
May not suit:
- One SIM slot, lack of MicroSD support (for the 16 GB version the latter is a real minus);
- Lack of LTE support;
- Non-standard “tablet” display aspect ratio of 16:10.
Mikhail Sedov
aka
Mikerwhite
,
Jabbadaboom
Behind the scenes
⇡#China has its own way
Alexander Perekalin, deputy editor-in-chief of 3DNews. Uses Samsung Galaxy S III
We Russians, as you know, are Scythians. Asians, with slanted and greedy eyes. Russia is indeed close to Asia in many ways - there is something in the mentality that is not at all European. But in Meizu MX2, the Asian origin can be recognized only by the excessively detailed elaboration of details: a two-layer plastic body, a circle glowing in different colors.
And I like him: the combination of Asian pretentiousness with European severity is just what the doctor ordered for a Russian. And how assembled! And the buttons are pressed somehow thoroughly, and holding it in your hands is a pleasure.
The interface is pretty - the creators of MIUI continue to lick their brainchild, and Flyme OS from MIUI is clearly not far behind. But MIUI was definitely not designed for a device with one button—Flyme didn’t finalize this either. Let’s say I’ve seen enough of the system information in Basemark Taiji and want to return to the main menu to run the benchmark. But Meizu disagrees - there is no "Back" button. You have to close the application and open it again - and this happens in a lot of places. On-screen buttons appear in the main programs - everything is as it should be. And third-party ones can fly out, and work through the stump-deck, and simply not be installed (It turns out that in any program, to go back, you need to swipe up from the circle under the display. - Ed. ).
And why am I - in 2013 - forced to install Google applications on my Android smartphone? Where is at least some localization of MStore? Thank you, Google Play is there - but you have to install Gmail yourself, and it’s generally better not to mess with MStore if you don’t know Chinese.
After all, China has its own path - skyscrapers on a bamboo base, six-meter sedans made of tin and rough plastic. So Meizu made an excellent wrapper (even the box from the smartphone is good), but the interface was not finished: install it here, put up with the instability there - you guys, polish Flyme OS and polish it. So I'll look at the MX2 a little more with undisguised pleasure - and put it aside. I'd like something more complete, please.
Equipment and appearance of Meizu MX2
Getting to know the device always starts with the box and unpacking it. At this stage I want to go into more detail, since there is something to tell you about here.
The white box made of thick, high-quality cardboard is noticeably larger in size than the iPhone box, since it also contains a book in which you can find the Meizu MX2 itself.
The pleasures begin with the lid, to which foam rubber is glued on top for better protection during transportation. It's a small thing, but nice.
We open the lid and immediately see a black charger (1A, 5W), which is somewhat strange, since the USB-microUSB cable itself is white. I can only explain this by the fact that the Meizu MX2 itself is completely black in front and white in the back. This is the color combination we received for charging.
Another box-book that was found inside.
A couple of spreads with colorful booklets and...
We got to the device itself, which is easily accessible by pulling the tab on the side. Here I want to note that in terms of delivering the device, Meizu has surpassed the “unpacking” of the iPhone.
If you open the last page of the book, in a small case you can find a microUSB cable, which is 1.5 meters long. Yes, I got confused and tried it on, since usually the included cables are short, which is not always convenient.
The white square spatula-key, or let's just call it a bun, is designed to open the back cover. This procedure is so complicated that the kit includes a separate leaflet with step-by-step instructions on how to open the lid.
The cover only needs to be removed in one case to insert a microSIM card; unfortunately, this device does not have a slot for microSD, but this is not as sad as in the case of the Galaxy Nexus or Nexus 4, since there is a Meizu MX2 with 64Gb.
From pieces of paper: brief instructions in Russian, a warranty card and two stickers (templates for cutting from a regular SIM card -> microSIM). I have already used one sticker and carefully cut it out from miniSIM -> microSIM along the dotted line.
For those people who want to put a microSIM into a smartphone with a regular SIM card, a corresponding adapter is provided.
Almost the entire front panel of the iPhone Meizu MX2 is occupied by a screen covered with Gorilla Glass 2. At the very bottom there is one single round touch button, which glows white when the screen is on, and flashes periodically when messages or other events are missed.
In standby mode, this touch button glows dark green, even when the smartphone is turned off, it continues to glow for some time, perhaps a thin layer of phosphorus is applied to it.
1.3MP front camera (writes video in [email protected] )
Loud speaker and excellent voice quality.
In the lower left corner there is a small hole for removing the cover. Meizu MX2 thickness – 10.2mm
Along the entire perimeter you can see an iron frame, which improves the rigidity of the entire structure and serves as a radiator for heat removal.
Volume rocker made of transparent plastic. It is comfortable to press and easy to feel.
The power button is also transparent. Second microphone for noise reduction and 3.5mm headphone jack.
Sound in headphones. In terms of sound quality, Meizu MX2 (Wolfson WM8958 audio chip) is in a leading position among Android devices and comes close to the reference sound of an iPhone. Without going into details, I’ll say that I liked the sound of Meizu MX2 with Sennheiser IE 60, especially with music in flac format.
8-megapixel back-illuminated (BSI) sensor f/2.4 aperture
The back cover is made of glossy double-layer white plastic. At the bottom there is a microUSB connector and the main microphone.
The back cover is two-layer: the outer layer is translucent, and the inner layer is milky.
The LED flash is located directly on the back cover, as is the protective glass of the camera (I recommend wiping it immediately so that it is clean on the inside and does not affect the quality of the photo/video)
Rear camera and flash pad
There is a microSIM slot on the side
The Meizu MX2 speaker sounds noticeably quieter than the iPhone 5, while the sound is rich with bass and does not choke at maximum volume. The speaker hole is on a bevel, so when Meizu is lying on the table, the sound is not muffled, but on the contrary, it becomes louder.
Soft fabric mesh protects the speaker from dust
iPhone 5 vs Meizu MX2
Dimensions:
- Meizu MX2 (4.4″) – 124.9 x 64.9 x 10.2 mm, 142 grams
- Samsung Galaxy S3 (4.8″) – 136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6 mm, 133 grams
- Google Nexus 4 (4.7″) – 133.9 x 68.7 x 9.1 mm, 139 grams
- Samsung Galaxy S2 (4.3″) – 125.3 x 66.1 x 8.49 mm, 116 grams
- Apple iPhone 5 (4″) – 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm, 112 grams
Fits very comfortably in the hand, and is the same weight as an iPhone 4/4S
The narrow 3.15mm bezel around the screen definitely adds a wow factor. I like the front of the Meizu MX2 even more than the front of the iPhone 5.
⇡#It was unpleasant to scold Meizu MX2
Valery Kosikhin, head of the 3DNews testing laboratory. Uses Apple iPhone 5
Readers are probably familiar with the bearded joke about a Russian spy at the court of the English queen, who is constantly exposed, but is condescendingly allowed to correct his mistakes and try again. The spy first makes a mistake because he forgot to take the spoon out of the tea. Then he took out the spoon, but put it in his pocket. Finally, when he drinks tea again, out of habit, he closes his right eye so that the spoon does not fall.
So Meizu MX2 is trying to pass as one of its own in the iPhone society, carefully hiding its Chinese origin, and is just as comically exposed. No, I have nothing against the nation of inventors of gunpowder and the compass. And the device itself, from a formal point of view, fully satisfies the requirements for a good, even top-end smartphone. The impression is spoiled only by the atavistic mimicry of Apple products.
Already in appearance, Meizu MX2 evokes uncontested associations with the iPhone, or, in terms of the proportions of the front panel, even with the iPad Mini. The result was a sort of “iPad Mini-Mini”. Noticeable features of the proprietary shell over Android, which the manufacturer calls Flyme OS, are also borrowed from Apple. First of all, the function of switching applications by double-clicking on a hardware key and a horizontal bar with icons, and some other little things.
In principle, I am not at all against borrowing with or without subsequent creative rethinking. And I’m not writing about this in order to assert the superiority of the Apple platform. Rather, I note with regret that Meizu, and other manufacturers of Android smartphones, have already learned to take a spoon out of a cup, and they don’t put it in their pocket, but they won’t even close their eyes.
To put it simply, Android has long become a sufficiently mature and original platform that there is no longer a need to copy Apple products in small things. The same goes for tweaks to the original Android interface as such, which only blur the unity of the OS and application design and exacerbate the fragmentation of the ecosystem.
Dear Android smartphone manufacturers! I understand you as family. It is necessary to differentiate from competitors at any cost, and I even admit that such far excursions from the design canons laid down by Google, coupled with citing Apple, are financially justified. But alas, in this case I am not your buyer, because I do not accept such wild eclecticism. Unpleasant associations immediately arise with the display of a stall in the underground passage at Komsomolskaya station, where Chinese iPhones on Android and HTC clones with two SIM cards and a TV are stored.
After re-reading my “gag”, I caught myself thinking that for some reason it was unpleasant to scold the Meizu MX2. It’s like stopping a pretty but stupid classmate who is scared of the teacher from cheating on an exam. After all, if you forget that Apple and Google exist somewhere, then the phone itself is very high quality, unusual, and attracts attention. I would say cute. And if any of the readers buy it for their own use, do not let my strict opinion prevent you from enjoying it.
Pros and cons of Meizu MX2
The undoubted advantages of the device include:
- high-quality case;
- good screen;
- productive hardware;
- reasonable cost.
But the main disadvantages of Meizu MX2 are the following:
- mediocre photo quality;
- one SIM card slot;
- not the best autonomy;
- lack of a slot for a flash drive.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, the review does not allow the reader to fully convey impressions of the device. In addition to the purely technical component, I would like to note the ease of use, the pleasant and ergonomic body... In a word, those sensations that you can only get by touching the device with your own hands. Now, looking from the perspective of time, we can note that the device has gained its popularity and won the love of fans, therefore, we are not the only ones who liked the MX2. The manufacturer managed to competently implement the functionality of the smartphone, presenting a high-quality product to the public.
