The company recently introduced a budget, but very powerful device. Watching the actions of a competitor, the brand did not rush to answer. And finally, in early April, this manufacturer made its fans happy by showing the new M3 Note phablet. This budget smartphone has an excellent filling, which last year was in service with the flagships. Before us is a potential bestseller, as evidenced by the huge number of pre-orders. So, let's see what the new product from the Middle Kingdom offers us.
Packaging and delivery of Meizu M3 Note
The manufacturer put the smartphone in a nice white cardboard box. In the package, the buyer, in addition to a mobile device, will find a clip to open the nanoSIM / microSD tray, a power supply, a microUSB cable and documentation.
Appearance, ergonomics and screen Meizu M3 Note
Compared to its predecessor, the fresh smartphone has improved markedly in terms of appearance. The design concept of this state employee almost completely repeats that of last year's flagship, and this can be called one of the strengths of the novelty. Now, for little money, an inexpensive device is available to customers that looks like a top-end one. From using a smartphone, only pleasant sensations remain, largely due to the rounded edges. The case in the M3 Note is made of aluminum, the front part is hidden under the AGC Dragontrail protective glass with a 2.5D effect. Because of these details, the device looks more expensive than its real price. Although there are plastic inserts, they do not spoil the pleasant look, as they are painted like metal. The smartphone is made to last, all elements of the body are securely fitted to each other. Available in three color options - gold and silver with a white front and dark gray with a black front panel. The weight of the novelty does not exceed 163 grams, and the dimensions are at the level of 153.6 × 75.5 × 8.3 mm.
On the right side are controls such as the volume key and the power button. On the left side, a combined tray with a nanoSIM + nanoSIM or nanoSIM + microSD configuration has found its place. Meizu is stubbornly unwilling to abandon such a memory expansion option, putting the user in front of a difficult choice. The bottom end contains a microUSB port, speaker holes and a microphone, and a 3.5 mm audio output is placed on the top end. An mTouch 2.1 fingerprint scanner is installed on the front, embedded in a convenient physical home key.
The Chinese installed a display of 1920 × 1080 pixels with a size of 5.5 inches in the device. It uses an IPS-matrix of good quality. There are maximum viewing angles, a decent margin of brightness and reliable color reproduction. There is an automatic brightness control. In the sun, the image remains visible. The pixel density of the screen is 406 ppi. As for a budget segment device, the display here is simply wonderful. I was especially pleased with the oleophobic coating of the panel, it is definitely better in quality than the model of last year.
Specifications Meizu M3 Note and autonomy
The hardware platform of the smartphone is based on the latest Helio P10 processor from MediaTek, which has eight Cortex-A53 cores. Half of the cores of this 64-bit chipset are clocked at 1.8GHz, while the remaining four cores are clocked at 1GHz. This processor does not belong to the top, but for an inexpensive device its performance is quite enough. By the way, thanks to this filling, the M3 Note was able to score 44180 points in the AnTuTu test. The graphics load is assigned to the Mali-T860 accelerator. The younger version of the phablet is equipped with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage, while the older model is endowed with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage. microSD cards up to 128 GB can expand the amount of available memory. Importantly, there is support for all 4G LTE bands used in Russia. The wireless connection in the device is represented by Bluetooth 4.0 LE and Wi-Fi Dual-Band modules. GPS and GLONASS systems will help you find your way in unfamiliar terrain.
The battery, without a doubt, can be attributed to the advantages of the device. Its power is 4100 mAh. Given the good energy efficiency of the processor, users have every reason to expect a long battery life. This battery capacity should be enough for two full days of operation of the device in active mode.
Meizu M3 Note interface and cameras
The device received proprietary firmware Flyme 5.1.3, which is based on the Android 5.1 Lollipop platform. The company's decision to abandon the sixth version of the "green robot" looks strange. It is likely that soon we will see a major update of the software component of the smartphone. The shell has a neat appearance, it is similar to iOS in many aspects. Everything is beautiful and not overloaded with unnecessary junk. Many people like it very much, while others treat it negatively, this is a matter of taste.
The main photo module in the device is equipped with a 13 MP OmniVision sensor. The camera is equipped with a 5-element lens and f / 2.2 aperture, phase detection autofocus and dual LED illumination are given to help it. Photos in the M3 Note and in last year's smartphone are almost identical in quality. Both in the new and in the old device, it is difficult to get good pictures in poor lighting conditions. It is worth saying that the focus began to be guided faster and more accurately. Everything else remains the same. The front camera is endowed with a resolution of 5 megapixels and f / 2.0 aperture. Both the front camera and the rear camera are capable of recording 1080p video.
Conclusion, price, where to buy Meizu M3 Note
Meizu has managed to create an inexpensive and attractive smartphone in almost all respects. This product is not worse, and in some moments even surpasses it. Of the pluses, we note an excellent metal case with a 2.5D panel, a high-capacity battery and a fingerprint scanner. The disadvantages include the work of the device on Android 5.1, the average quality of the camera and a common slot for microSD and SIM-cards. But you turn a blind eye to all these shortcomings when you find out about the price. The junior modification in China costs $180, and the older one costs $200. It is expected that the smartphone will appear in Russian communication stores in May with a slightly higher price than in China.You can buy M3 Note. The price of Meizu M3 Note from this trusted seller is from $149.99 to $183.99 depending on the version and configuration (RAM 2Gb ROM 16Gb or RAM 3Gb ROM 32Gb).
The Chinese sometimes just amaze with quality smartphones at an affordable price, and the new Meizu is just that.
In the new Meizu M3 note, engineers stuffed some chips and functions that were the pride of only flagship models last year. Therefore, the smartphone turned out to be very good, fast and solid - a kind of iPhone with Chinese filling.
In general, in an attempt to release their “killer” iPhone, Chinese companies are getting closer to the right recipe with each new smartphone: thin metal devices are steadily getting better and cheaper.
Today I'm holding Meizu M3 note in my hands, an octa-core smart phone in an aluminum case, with a gorgeous display and a decent camera, which costs only 16 990 rubles, and I can not find obvious flaws in it. Hope only for you, dissuade me in the comments not to buy it!
Features of Meizu M3 note:
- metal and glass body
- Full HD screen with a diagonal of 5.5 "and a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels
- octa-core, 64-bit processor
- as much as 3 GB of RAM (there is also a version with 2 GB)
- 13 MP camera, video is recorded in 1080p resolution
- Fingerprint scanner built into the home button
Outwardly perfect
Meizu has brought the external design of its new smartphone to almost perfection: after the frankly sloppy MX5, the engineers took up their minds and gave us a high-quality Pro 5, whose proven body was received by the new budget model M3 note.
The device captivates with tactile sensations - the back of the aircraft aluminum-magnesium alloy of the 6000 series, combined with modern anodization technology, fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. It is pleasant to hold the smartphone, almost the same as the native iPhone.
The front panel is covered with bulk (2.5D) glass, with a good grease-repellent coating. Diagonal - 5.5 inches. The assembly is incredibly high quality, nothing anywhere plays or creaks. Device dimensions 153.6 x 75.5 x 8.2 mm, weight 163 g.
The battery is 4100 mAh, the smartphone keeps charging for two days with active use, and more than three days with moderate use, which is very unusual.
The only laconic physical Home button has a built-in fingerprint recognition sensor, which works better than analogues in some Korean flagships, and even other Meizu models.
Yes, to be honest, the top and bottom inserts on the back of the smartphone are not metal, but plastic, but this does not detract from a certain simplicity in design, similar to the gadgets of the "apple" company. Personally, I really like the trend of conciseness in the design of digital devices.
Screen and camera
Meizu M3 note boasts a Full HD screen with a real IPS-matrix and a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels. For the user, this guarantees decent brightness, wide viewing angles and good color reproduction.
The colors are not oversaturated, but thanks to this they are natural, with a slight bias towards cold tones. If you wish, you can change the color temperature in the smartphone settings, but the “default” option is more than fine with me.
The most interesting thing happened when I compared 1080p video playback on the M3 and the iPhone 6S Plus. It turned out that the picture is very comparable. Yes, the brightness was a little less, but otherwise the result was on par. And this despite the fact that the device costs only 1/4 of the iPhone.
The main camera in the M3 note has a resolution of 13 megapixels, and the front camera is 5.0 megapixels. The main camera uses a five-lens lens with phase detection autofocus that only takes 0.2 seconds to capture a picture. For shooting in low light conditions, there is a dual-color LED flash.
photo examples
The front camera boasts f2 / 2 aperture and the presence of a wide-angle lens of four lenses. The regular application has seven different shooting modes, including completely “manual”, where you can play with white balance and other settings.
Filling and characteristics
The “heart” of the M3 note is the not very common MediaTek Helio P10 processor, also known as the MT6755M. Such solutions will soon replace Snapdragon 615/616/617, which are now used in many smartphones from Asus, Huawei and even Wileyfox Storm.
The new processor, although not expensive, is definitely faster than the outdated MT6752/6753. Eminent manufacturers are also looking at the MediaTek Helio P10 - some of the new Sony Xperia will be based on it.
Specifications list:
- Operating system: Android 5.1, Flyme 6.1 shell
- Network: GSM/EDGE, UMTS/HSDPA, LTE (TD/FDD-LTE)
- Screen: IPS (LTPS), diagonal 5.5", resolution 1920 × 1080, ppi 406
- Processor: Octa-core, 64-bit, four Cortex-A53 cores at 1.8 GHz + four Cortex-A53 cores at 1 GHz
- Graphics: Mali T860
- RAM: 2 or 3 GB
- Storage Memory: 16 or 32 GB
- Memory card slot: yes, microSD
- Main camera: 13 MP, 5 lenses, f / 2.2, phase detection autofocus, dual LED flash, video is recorded at 1080p
- Front camera: 5 MP, f/2.0, video is recorded in 1080p
- Optional: mTouch 2.1 fingerprint scanner, accelerometer, light sensor, proximity sensor
Software and multimedia
The multimedia capabilities of Meizu M3 note are impressive: when outputting sound to headphones, the signal-to-noise ratio is 110 dB, and the coefficient of non-linear distortion is 95 dB. From myself I can say that the sound is really good.
The smartphone, in combination with the Meizu HD50 headphones, pleasantly surprises with a volume reserve and a wide sound panorama; closing your eyes, you can imagine that you are listening to some mid-level hi-fi player.
The Meizu M3 note, unlike other Chinese smartphones, has its own recognizable face in the form of the Flyme OS shell. This is when Android 5.1 is redesigned beyond recognition, looks nice and is not overloaded with unnecessary pre-installed applications.
I really liked that the M3 note does not have two touch keys, which are familiar to all Android smartphone owners. The functions of the touch key "back" are performed by the only physical button "Home" - you just need to touch it with your finger to return, or press to exit to the desktop.
This is a really cool smartphone.
With the release of the M3 note, Meizu outperformed its main rival Xiaomi by half a length with their Redmi Note 3 in terms of hardware and overall performance. At the same time, the Chinese are simply stepping on the heels of well-known brands like LG or Samsung with their relatively cheap devices with decent features.
Why Meizu M3 note should be taken:
- it's metal, feels great in the hand
- it has a great screen
- it has a loud speaker
- he doesn't stutter and freeze
- it works for a long time without recharging
- it is mega cheap for a smartphone with such characteristics
I recommend the M3 note to all Android lovers, but Apple fans have something to think about - for ridiculous money you will get impressive autonomy, high-quality assembly and a nice-looking screen. Against the background of these pluses, you can close your eyes to a rather weak speakerphone and not the best camera.
We present to your attention meizu m3 note review. What can this smartphone boast of in comparison with its not only Chinese competitors, but also devices from A-companies? Let's sort it out in order.
Smartphone Meizu m3 Note- a good solid device. Color solutions offered by the company: gold, silver and dark silver. In this device, the general concept of mobile devices from Meizu is immediately visible - the design is simple, but tasteful. The case is made of aluminum, which heats up in the middle part if you spend a lot of time with it. But, fortunately, the figure here is low, around 33 degrees.
On the side is a large tray into which you can insert two nano-sim or one nano-sim and a memory card. Still, it’s better when you choose, you can install 2 SIM cards and a memory card at the same time, and not choose like other manufacturers. Specifically, in the case of the Meizu m3 Note, everything depends on the size of the smartphone. A separate slot for a memory card requires space.
At the bottom is a microUSB connector, two screws to open the bottom and get to the innards of the phone, and 2 speakers. The company did not deceive users, and actually delivered two speakers. On the right side are the on and off buttons, volume control. On the top, you'll find a standard 3.5mm headphone jack.
On the front, under the display, there is a touch button that not only controls applications, but also functions as a fingerprint scanner. Here it is called M-Touch 2.1. You can record multiple fingers to unlock your smartphone with anyone. The fingerprint scanner works pretty fast.
If we talk in general about the assembly of a state employee, then nothing “hangs out”, there are no extraneous sounds. When you take the M 3 Note in your hands, you feel that it is made of high quality. There is no impression that the company saved on something, that this phone is cheap. The case is pleasant to the touch and you want to use it constantly.
In addition to the Meise m3 Note itself, the kit includes:
- branded pin for getting SIM cards;
- instruction;
- microUSB cable;
- charger for connecting to a network of 2 Amperes.
Screen
Specifications screen meizu m3 note as follows: diagonal - 5.5 inches, Full HD; resolution - 1920 by 1080 pixels.
The display is made on the basis of the IPS matrix. It's pretty good and good quality. You can watch and read the movie comfortably. It uses proprietary technologies that adapt the brightness and color of the screen in the dark. The screen has maximum viewing angles and a good supply of brightness.
The color reproduction is close to natural, unlike the same Samsung, which sins with acidic colors, especially in budget models. In m3 Note, everything is simpler in this regard, which is what most users like. Some of them even believe that this device generally has the best color reproduction that can be.
The Meizu m3 Note phone also has a new oleophobic coating on top of 2.5 D glass, because there were many complaints about previous versions. There is no such abrupt transition as, for example, on the Samsung Galaxy A5, and in everyday use this plays a role.
Processor, OS and Battery
The M 3 Note uses a "ten-layer motherboard" technology, and inside there is an eight-core Helio P10 processor from Mediatek. Mali T860 is responsible for the graphics. Here 2 GB or 3 GB of RAM and 16 GB or 32 GB - built-in to choose from. The processor does not heat up anywhere except for games. For example, after 10 minutes of intensive gaming, it heats up so much that it is already unpleasant to hold it in your hands.
The phone is very good at managing RAM. The operating system does not unload applications from RAM. When browsing the Internet, you can block the device for an hour or two, and then turn it on and continue reading from where you left off.
The device does not have a "Back" or "Home" key, everything happens with the help of gestures on the screen and a single "Home" key. It is both sensory and mechanical. If you need to go back a little, then “tap” on its sensory part. If you need to collapse everything, then press it until a mechanical click. The key is made unevenly, it is slightly shifted. To open running applications, drag your finger across the screen from the bottom up.
Now, by swiping up, the owner gets a new multitasking menu, which has become much more convenient. For example, there was a tab "Close all applications". You can also run two applications at the same time, but this function does not work with some heavy applications. For example, you can't watch YouTube videos and play Subway Surf at the same time.
Shell "Flyme" based on Android 5.1. Previously, flyme looked more like iOS, now de it looks more like a cross between Android and IOS, but a cross that really took all the best from both operating systems. There is no menu as such, but there are settings that perform its functions. The owner can create up to 6 desktops where the necessary application widgets will be located.
The phone instantly responds to the tasks that the owner puts before him. Switching between multitasking is pretty cool. Despite the heavy animation, there are no slowdowns or slowdowns.
There is a fairly large battery at 4100 milliamps / hour. M3 Note can last for two days, and with active use - for a day, but with a huge margin. There is no fast charging at all, which is very unfortunate. From the original charge, the smartphone is fully charged somewhere in 3 hours.
Camera
On the back is a 13 megapixel (fp 2.2) camera, which is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 generation. On the front side there is a 5 megapixel camera with f 2.0. The quality of the photo is about the same as that of Meizu m2 Note, but better with colors. The most important thing here is fast focusing.
The camera photographs very well for its price segment even without any additional settings in good light. The front camera “blunts” a little, and its quality is not very high.
Outcome
The phone costs from 17,000 rubles for a model with 32 GB of internal memory and up to 19,000 rubles for a model with 64 GB. If you wanted to find a device that looks like a flagship, but at the same time had a good battery and good stuffing, and most importantly, a relatively low price, then m3 Note is definitely your choice.
Video
Video review of the smartphone Meizu m3 note see below
Meizu M3 Note is a beautiful, modern and productive budget smartphone. This balanced device got a large display, as well as a fingerprint scanner. The device was officially introduced in April 2016.
Appearance and ergonomics
Meizu M3 Note case is made of high quality aluminum alloy. This material is actively used in the aviation industry, as it has excellent characteristics. Such metal is carefully processed so that the user notes excellent tactile sensations. The all-metal body received rounded corners for better ergonomics. Symmetry dominates here, so all the elements are arranged accordingly. At the bottom there is a microUSB connector, and there are also multimedia speaker grilles. But the audio jack is placed on the top edge. The entire front side is covered with a very stylish 2.5D glass. Directly below the screen is a mechanical button for navigation mTouch 2.1, which has a built-in fingerprint scanner. The gadget has a 4100 mAh battery. This battery guarantees a long battery life. Available colors: gold, gray and silver. Dimensions: height - 153.6 mm, thickness - 8.2 mm, width - 75.5 mm, weight - 163 g.
Display
The M3 Note has a 5.5-inch screen, which is implemented using MiraVision 2.0 technology. For this reason, the display stands out for its natural color reproduction, as well as minimal power consumption. The LTPS matrix has a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels, which provides high image detail. The display will please the user with a contrast image and wide viewing angles. Flyme Assistive Touch technology has made the screen extremely responsive and sensitive, and you can use it even with gloves.
Hardware and performance
M3 Note got an eight-core Helio P10 processor, which is capable of operating at a maximum frequency of 1800 MHz. This solution strikes an optimal balance between low power consumption and high performance. The device has at its disposal 2 GB or 3 GB of LPDDR3 RAM (dual-channel mode). The amount of internal memory is 16 GB or 32 GB. It also supports MicroSD cards up to 128 GB. The Mali-T860 chip is a graphics accelerator. It uses the Android 5.1 operating system along with the proprietary Flyme 5 shell. In the AnTuTu test, this model easily scores about 46000-48000 points. With many daily tasks, the smartphone copes confidently. Almost all games run smoothly, if you do not overestimate the level of graphics to the maximum.
Communication and sound
The Meizu M3 Note has a multimedia speaker that stands out, which is really loud here. Sound detail is quite good. The interlocutors are perfectly audible through the conversational speaker. The device supports 4G TD-LTE and FDD-LTE wireless networks, as well as Bluetooth 4.0.
Camera
Meizu M3 Note has a 13-megapixel camera with dual-color flash, f/2.2 aperture, panoramic lens and phase detection autofocus. TrueBright ISP technology makes it possible to take a bright picture even in poor lighting conditions. The 5-megapixel f/2.0 front camera allows you to capture very high-quality self-portraits.
conclusions
It is unlikely that the M3 Note has gone far ahead of its predecessor, but it certainly received very necessary and high-quality improvements. This is a truly balanced smartphone that is worth every dollar or ruble spent.
Pros:
- High quality aluminum body.
- Great modern design.
- Excellent indicators of autonomy.
- Fast fingerprint scanner.
- Massive display with a juicy picture.
Minuses:
- The smartphone does not take good pictures in the evening.
- There may be software problems with some firmware.
Specifications Meizu M3 Note
| General characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Model | Meizu M3 Note, Meizu Blue Charm Note3 |
| Date of announcement and start of sales | April 2016 / April 2016 |
| Dimensions (LxWxH) | 153.6 x 75.5 x 8.2 mm. |
| Weight | 163 |
| Available colors | gold, silver, gray |
| operating system | Android 5.1 (Lollipop) + Flyme UI |
| Connection | |
| Number and type of SIM cards | two hybrid, Nano-SIM, dual stand-by |
| Communication standard in 2G networks | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| Communication standard in 3G networks | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 TD-SCDMA |
| Communication standard in 4G networks | LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 7(2600), 38(2600), 39(1900), 40(2300), 41(2500) |
| Compatibility with telecom operators | MTS, Beeline, Megafon, Tele2, Yota |
| Data transfer | |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot |
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, LE |
| GPS | yes, A-GPS, GLONASS |
| NFC | No |
| infrared port | No |
| Platform | |
| CPU | octa-core Mediatek MT6755 Helio P10 Octa-core (4×1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4×1.0 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| GPU | Mali-T860MP2 |
| Inner memory | 16 GB / 32 GB |
| RAM | 2 GB / 3 GB |
| Ports and connectors | |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, USB Host |
| 3.5mm jack | There is |
| Memory card slot | microSD, up to 128 GB (shared with SIM 2 slot) |
| Display | |
| Display type | LTPS IPS LCD capacitive, 16M colors |
| Screen size | 5.5 inches (~71.2% of device face) |
| Display protection | Dinorex T2X-1 |
| Camera | |
| Main camera | 13 MP, f/2.2, phase detection autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash |
| Functionality of the main camera | Geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, HDR, panorama |
| Video recording | [email protected] |
| Front-camera | 5 MP, f/2.0, 1080p |
| Sensors and Sensors | |
| illumination | There is |
| Approximations | There is |
| Gyroscope | There is |
| Compass | There is |
| Hall | No |
| Accelerometer | There is |
| Barometer | No |
| Fingerprint scanner | There is |
| Battery | |
| Battery type and capacity | 4100 mAh |
| Battery mount | fixed |
| Equipment | |
| Standard kit | M3 Note: 1 USB cable: 1 SIM eject tool: 1 User manual: 1 Warranty card: 1 Charger: 1 |
Prices
Video reviews
Following Xiaomi and Huawei, Meizu introduced a budget device with a typical set of characteristics for the middle segment. Moreover, the Chinese went further and equipped the new smartphone with the main parameters that were typical for their flagship a year ago. And this is at a very low (especially for China at the start of sales) price. Let's see what Meizu M3 Note is.
Specifications Meizu M3 Note
- Body materials: metal, glass, plastic inserts
- Operating system: Android 5.1, Flyme 6.1
- Network: GSM/EDGE, UMTS/HSDPA, LTE (TD/FDD-LTE)
- Screen: IPS (LTPS), diagonal 5.5", resolution 1920x1080, ppi 406, automatic backlight level adjustment, protective glass
- Platform: MediaTek Helio P10
- Processor: Octa-core, 64-bit, four Cortex-A53 cores at 1.8 GHz + four Cortex-A53 cores at 1 GHz
- Graphics: Mali T860
- RAM: 2/3 GB
- Storage Memory: 16/32 GB
- Memory card slot: yes, microSD
- Main camera: 13 MP, 5 lenses, f / 2.2, phase detection autofocus, dual LED flash, video is recorded at 1080p
- Front camera: 5 MP, f/2.0, video is recorded in 1080p
- Interfaces: Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n) Dual-Band, Bluetooth 4.0 (LE), microUSB connector (USB 2.0, MHL) for charge/sync, 3.5 mm for headset
- Navigation: GPS (support A-GPS), Glonass
- Optional: mTouch 2.1 fingerprint scanner, accelerometer, light sensor, proximity sensor
- Battery: 4100 mAh
- Dimensions: 153.6 x 75.5 x 8.2mm
- Weight: 163 grams
Case design and materials
Externally, the M3 Note resembles the Meizu MX5 and Pro 5, that is, the flagships of last year. Tactilely, the device also corresponds to these models: here the back is made of metal and volumetric (2.5D) glass, due to which the smartphone feels expensive. Yes, there are plastic inserts on top and bottom, but they are painted in the color of metal and do not make the weather. So in terms of design and feel, Meizu devices were able to play at the same level as Xiaomi and Huawei with Redmi Note 3 and Honor 5X, respectively, and maybe even better. It's a matter of preference which one you like. What I like about the Meizu M3 Note is the overall simplicity and uncluttered design, it is neat and without unnecessary details. And “borrowed” from Apple, which is a disadvantage for some, but a plus for others.
The colors are the same as the flagships - silver and gold with a white front panel and dark gray with a black front panel. No bright colors, only classic options.
Dimensions
The Meizu M3 Note is comparable in size to the MX5 and other 5.5" smartphones. I can’t call it compact among classmates, but it doesn’t stand out in a big way either - a typical middle peasant in this category in terms of size. The device is not too thick, which is good considering the 4100 mAh battery.
Controls
In terms of basic controls, the Meizu M3 Note is no different from its predecessors. The power and volume buttons are on the right, the tray for two SIM cards (or a SIM card and a memory card) on the left, a microUSB connector, a microphone and speaker grilles at the bottom (one of them is decorative), and a 3.5 mm mini-jack on top.
Meizu finally paid attention to the fact that earlier many elements on the cases of their smartphones were located asymmetrically, and this shortcoming was corrected in the M3 Note. Symmetrical camera eye and light/proximity sensors, symmetrical speaker grilles and cogs. Including because of such trifles, the device looks more neat than the M2 Note.
But the important difference between the M3 Note and last year's model is still not in this. The device has a fingerprint scanner, it is inscribed in a mechanical key, which also plays the role of the "Back" button thanks to the touch layer. The button is convenient, it is available in Meizu MX4 Pro, MX5, Pro 5 and M1 Metal smartphones. And now in M3 Note.
Screen
The device uses a screen with a diagonal of 5.5 "" and a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels based on an IPS matrix. Display with maximum viewing angles, a good margin of brightness and close to natural color reproduction. Although, in terms of the last parameter, to be honest, the screen reminded me of that in Xiaomi Redmi Note 3: both smartphones give out a picture that is not juicy enough, a little pale. But in general, for an inexpensive device, the display is just excellent.
By the way, the screen is better than the Meizu M2 Note, not only in terms of brightness and picture quality, but also in terms of the quality of the glass used and especially the oleophobic coating. In this regard, the M3 Note is very good, better than the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 and most other competitors. Probably, Meizu took the criticism of the relatively poor oleophobic coating in the M2 Note too close to heart and simply used the panel from the Pro 5 in the next device in the line.
platform, memory
The smartphone is built on one of the new platforms from the Taiwanese company Mediatek - Helio P10. This is not a top-end chip, but for FullHD resolution and a budget segment device, it is a good option. Graphics Mali T860. The smartphone has 2/3 GB of RAM and 16/32 GB of internal memory. There is a slot for a microSD memory card, combined with a second slot for a SIM card. You can also install two SIM cards in the nanoSIM format.
Camera
Both cameras, both the main and the front, have not changed in terms of characteristics compared to the cameras in the Meizu M2 Note. Accordingly, the photo quality in the new M3 Note is about the same. I will not describe any features, yet we have an inexpensive smartphone in front of us, just look at the photo examples and evaluate for yourself.
I will only note that, like in all other devices from Meizu, there is a completely manual shooting mode (this is good), and also that the interface still cannot rotate to landscape orientation (this is bad).
Shooting during the day
Shooting at night
Front-camera
Manual mode
Interfaces
From most budget devices (including the M2 Note), the new Meizu M3 Note differs in two ways. Firstly, there is support for dual-band Wi-Fi, and secondly, the device supports VoLTE. In 4G networks, the smartphone works in all common bands for Russia. Bluetooth version 4.0 with LE (Low Energy) profile support.
Battery
Perhaps the main feature of the Meizu M3 Note is a 4100 mAh battery. Here you can say thank you to Xiaomi, which Meizu considers its main competitors, because it was they who, having equipped their Redmi Note 3 with a 4000 mAh battery, gave Meizu the sign - “we must do the same or better.” I don’t know how well the device will show itself in terms of operating time in reality, but such a battery capacity is encouraging. Coupled with non-top-end features (platform, screen resolution), you can expect two full days of device operation in active mode.
flyme
The smartphone runs on Android 5.1 with a proprietary Flyme 5.1 interface. It is strange that the company did not upgrade the device to Android 6.0, probably Meizu decided to introduce a major update for its Flyme interface in the near future and make a big announcement out of it. I don't see any other explanation.
The shell is Flyme, with the interface logic familiar to many “like in iOS”, beautiful, neat, not overloaded. Some like it, others hate it, it's a matter of preference.
Conclusion
In China, the first batch of Meizu M3 Note will be priced at 800 and 1,000 yuan for 2/16 and 3/32 GB versions, respectively. If we go back a few years and look at the prices the company set for its new products compared to its main competitor, Xiaomi, we will see that similar smartphones from Meizu have always been more expensive at the start of sales. This time the situation is different, and this, it seems to me, is an indicator of the “action” of the prices announced at the presentation. Otherwise, the device turns out to be very attractive even against the background of Xiaomi Redmi Note 3, which, in turn, looks like an amazing offer at a Chinese price.
The cost for Russia is not yet known, perhaps it will be in the range of 16,000 to 18,000 rubles, maybe lower, maybe higher, here I'm just trying to guess. Official sales in Russia will start approximately in May.
After Xiaomi introduced their Redmi Note 3, I very much doubted Meizu's ability to show something at least about this level. Too strong product came from Xiaomi. However, Meizu was able to perform at the same level and in some ways even get ahead of its main competitor. The main feature of the M3 Note is the design and materials of the case. This is the case when the company managed not only to take metal, glass and assemble a smartphone out of it, but they did it very high quality and thoughtfully: 2.5D glass, chic oleophobic coating, like on flagships, neat thin lines of antenna wiring, symmetry in small elements – all this makes the device impressive. The rest of the Meizu M3 Note is a strong “middle peasant” by Chinese standards with the price of a budget device.
P.S. In addition to the smartphone, Meizu introduced new headphones - Meizu EP51 with plastic temples for fixing in the ear and magnetic stripes on the cases for attaching to each other and easy carrying. The headphones look interesting, but when they appear in Russia is still unknown.
