Meizu M5 Note received a metal case with a fingerprint scanner. The novelty looks nice, but in design it almost completely copies.
The build quality is quite good for a phone of this price. Unlike its predecessor, Meizu M5 Note added 20 grams and got a noticeable notch between the frame and the back panel.
The front panel of the device is quite similar to and almost completely repeats. It differs from "apple" phones only by an oval physical button under the screen. The back turned out to be more memorable, although similar to - on it you can see the eye of the camera with a flash, the inscription MEIZU and stripes of antennas above and below. I am glad that the lens does not stick out of the body, although even top-end smartphones, for example, or . The power and volume buttons are on the right, the tray for two nanoSIM cards (or a SIM card and a memory card) is on the left, at the bottom there is a microUSB connector, a microphone and a 3.5 mm mini-jack. The speaker grill is also located at the bottom. In terms of volume, it can be rated as a five: high-quality and clear sound reproduction with fairly deep bass. Among the unusual details are the use of 2.5D-curved glass and a functional fingerprint scanner hidden in a button under the screen.
Dimensions Meizu M5 Note - 153.6 × 75.8 × 8.1 mm, weight - 175 grams. The smartphone is larger and significantly heavier than many competitors.
Buy Meizu M5 Note will be available in four colors: silver, gold, blue and dark gray.
Screen
The smartphone is equipped with a 5.5-inch IPS display with Full HD resolution (1920 × 1080) and a pixel density of 403 per inch, which is comparable to, for example, . One of the features of the display is the 2.5D glass curved at the edges, although this is not surprising today. The manufacturer claims a high screen brightness (450 cd/m2) and a contrast ratio of 1000:1. The display isn't oversaturated or overly bright, but color accuracy is far from perfect. However, you will be pleasantly surprised - the display gamma is good. This means that the screen renders grayscale correctly, and the image on it will not look too dark or overexposed.
cameras
Meizu M5 Note is equipped with average photomodules for its categories. The 13 MP main camera uses an f/2.2 sensor. The manufacturer claims fast phase detection autofocus (focusing in 0.2 seconds), two-tone flash and protective glass of the Gorilla Glass 3 lens. The front camera with a resolution of 5 MP is equipped with an f / 2.0 sensor and has a wide shooting angle. Nominally, the parameters of the cameras look quite typical. Judging by its predecessor, the smartphone is unlikely to be able to produce high-quality photos. However, only direct ones will show the quality of the pictures. The menu with camera settings is concise and understandable. Here you can add effects, play with focus, setting the emphasis on the foreground or background. They do a great job at macro photography, and the M5 Note is no exception.
Communications
The Meizu M5 Note communications set is standard for today:
- dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n
- LTE with VoLTE support
- Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy
- A-GPS with GLONASS support.
The smartphone cannot boast of supporting the infrared port or the NFC chip. No novelty and FM-radio, although today it has become a kind of tradition among devices in a metal case. Meizu M5 Note works with two nanoSIM cards, but the slot for the second is combined, a microSD card also claims to be on it. For charging, the usual microUSB with OTG support is used, although some expected to see a new USB Type-C in this place. 3.5 mini jack connector is intended for connection.
Battery
Meizu M5 Note is equipped with a capacious 4000 mAh battery. This is comparable to the predecessor Meizu M3 Note and slightly less than the centenarian. The company promises more than 30 hours of talk time, 36 hours of music playback or 17 hours of video.
Meizu M5 Note has excellent results in terms of battery life. The smartphone lives for two days at an average load, with a very active use of charging, it lasts for 9 hours and 45 minutes, and in game mode - for 5-5.5 hours. The device, unlike the Meizu M3 Note, supports fast charging technology (MediaTek PumpExpress). In half an hour, the battery is charged by 50%, and it takes 90 minutes to fully charge, which is a pleasant surprise.
Performance
The Meizu M5 Note is powered by a 64-bit 8-core MediaTek Helio P10 processor (four ARM Cortex A53 cores up to 1.8 GHz + four cores at 1.0 GHz), working in tandem with a Mali-T860 graphics chip - the same was used in Meizu M3 Note and . The chipset has proven itself to be quite productive, it is enough for fast interface operation and solving most smartphone tasks. The choice of users is offered 3 or 4 GB of RAM.
Peculiarities
Meizu M5 Note runs on Flyme 5.2.4.0 OS based on . Flyme, like Apple's iOS, revolves around a single-level UI - each application or widget is located directly on the desktop. With such a system, there is no need to create an additional application drawer, which is typical for Android. All other system functions are configured either through the settings menu or through the security application.
Memory
The memory capacity of Meizu M5 Note can be 16, 32 or 64 GB, depending on the modification. If there is not enough free space, you can always install a microSD memory card, although more top-end smartphones of the company, for example, or. Just keep in mind that in this case you will be left without a second SIM card.
Price
The price of Meizu M5 Note in China will be from 899 yuan for the junior version (about 8,500 rubles) and 1,499 yuan for the top version (about 14,000 rubles). In Russia, a smartphone can be bought for 10,000 rubles.
The confrontation between Meizu M5 Note and Meizu M5 has been going on for quite some time. Despite the fact that smartphones came out a year ago, they still remain relevant. Meizu is a proven company, so their products are discussed and sold for a long time. And the question of whether the Note version is better, or whether it is better to take the regular M5, remains open. Everything is known in comparison, so let's compare these two devices.
Meizu M5 Note is ahead of its counterpart in almost all characteristics. The first advantage of the Note version is the newer firmware. On board the Meizu M5 Note is the 6th version of Android, while the Meizu M5 is flashed with version 5.1, which is considered obsolete by 2018.
Meizu M5 Note is powered by Mediatek MT6755 Helio P10 chipset clocked at 2.0MHz while Meizu M5 is powered by Mediatek MT6755 clocked at 1.5MHz. The CPU in the Note version has a frequency of 1.8 GHz versus 1.5 GHz in the Meizu M5.
The RAM in the Meizu M5 Note is more than in the “clean” M5, at least in the younger version. Meizu M5 is available in two versions - with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of ROM, as well as 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of ROM. Meizu M5 Note with 16GB and 32GB storage has the same 3GB RAM. The advantage of the model is that a version with 64 GB of ROM is available for the user, it has as much as 4 GB of RAM.
This is where the main technical differences end. As can be seen from the comparison of characteristics, Meizu M5 is very inferior to the Note version.
What should you pay attention to when choosing?
There are a lot of aspects to consider when choosing one of these smartphones, as the difference between Meizu M5 Note and Meizu M5 is very big. From the very beginning, you should pay attention to the technical characteristics. If you need a fast smartphone that will run "heavy" games, support several applications in the background and not even heat up, then you should buy the Meizu M5 Note. If you just need to surf social networks, call friends and take a couple of photos, then it’s better not to overpay and just take the Meizu M5.
Also, when choosing, you should pay attention to the size of smartphones. If you are not a fan of TVs in your pocket, then you should not take the Meizu M5 Note, as it is larger than the “clean” M5. If you like big smartphones, then the opposite is true. It is worth looking at the weight of the devices. The Note version is heavier than the regular M5 by as much as 37 grams. This is a significant difference.
Meizu M5 Note But the most important aspect when choosing is the price. Your choice primarily depends on your financial capabilities. Note-version is more expensive by a few tens of bucks.
Design
In our confrontation - metal against plastic. It is not difficult to answer the question which is better. Of course, metal. It is stronger and more resilient. But this material is not always better than plastic, because it increases the weight of the smartphone, and this can be a disadvantage for some users. Meizu M5 Note is completely made of metal, even the top and bottom inserts are metal. M5 is made of impact-resistant plastic - polycarbonate.
Meizu M5 boasts a large selection of colors, while Note only has classic colors. In general, the design of smartphones is almost the same, so comparing M5 Note with Meizu M5 in this category becomes very difficult. But still Meizu M5 Note looks more solid.
Meizu M5 Display
Smartphone displays are very different. The Note version has a 5.5-inch display, while the "clean" M5 only has a 5.2-inch display. The differences in size are not significant, but still noticeable. A much more significant difference is their resolution. The display on the Note version has Full HD resolution, which is a significant improvement over the HD display found on the M5.
But everything is not so clear. A high resolution can affect smartphone performance, and a large display can be inconvenient for many users. Therefore, comparing the Meizu M5 Note and its opponent is very difficult.
cameras
The cameras on both smartphones are almost the same. The main cameras are 13 megapixels. There is no difference at all in good lighting, but with a lack of light, the cameras still show themselves differently. The Meizu M5 has a noticeable departure to red tones, which not all users like. Also, the Note version has a higher sharpness. But these differences are so insignificant that it is simply unrealistic to say who wins in the confrontation between M5 and M5 Note.
Meizu M5 Note Memory and memory card
The amount of permanent and RAM in smartphones is different, we have already talked about this. It is important to note that the top version of Note (4/64 GB) is very difficult to get, as there are very few of them in the CIS countries. Nevertheless, the M5 Note is still in the lead, as the younger version with 16 GB of ROM offers 1 GB more RAM.
Each model allows you to use a memory card up to 256 GB, and this is a significant plus.
Is fast charging important?
Meizu M5 Note has the ability to fast charge. The question arises about the importance of this function. This question is difficult to answer unambiguously. It all depends on your needs. If you need to charge your smartphone often and quickly, then this option will be indispensable for you. If you have the opportunity to charge your smartphone for a long time (for example, in the evening after a working day), then this function will not be important for you. But in any case, this is a plus for the Meise M5 Note.
Meizu M5 Battery life and performance
The operating time of a smartphone is very important for all users without exception. The M5 has a built-in non-removable battery with a capacity of 3070 mAh. The M5 Note also uses a non-removable battery, but with a capacity of 4000 mAh. At first glance, the difference is almost a thousand milliamp-hours, but this will not increase the device's operating time by much. It's about the needs of the smartphone. The Meizu M5 Note display has a resolution of 1080×920 pixels, which consumes significantly more power, and its size is 0.3 inches larger. Accordingly, the energy consumption of smartphones is different. But still, the M5 Note lasts a little longer than the M5.
Price
Price is the main parameter when choosing a smartphone. After all, it is the price-quality ratio that influences the final choice of the buyer. By comparison, it is clear that the M5 Note has more features and is much better from a technical point of view. But the price is right for the quality. The price for Meizu M5 Note is 10-11 thousand rubles, while the M5 costs only 6-7 thousand. But, despite such a difference in price, it is worth considering for what purpose you are purchasing the device and whether you need all the functions that a more expensive device offers.
Meizu M5 Note Output
Meizu M5 Note wins in most respects, but which smartphone you buy is up to you. It all depends on your needs. If you want a big smartphone with a good display and excellent performance, then you should pay attention to the Meizu M5 Note. If a smartphone is just a way for you to access the Internet, call somewhere or play undemanding toys, then you should not overpay almost twice for power that you simply will not use. In addition, the Note version will not be convenient for everyone, because it is impossible to use a smartphone with such a diagonal with one hand.
"Photosklad.ru"
Meizu just recently, 10 months ago, presented to the public its flagship budget smartphone M3 Note. Just six months later, the company releases an update to the lineup, jumping over index 4 and immediately releasing the M5 Note. At first glance, they are trying to hand us the same smartphone, but with a different number. Well, let's take a closer look at whether this is actually the case.
To begin with, we give a table where we compare two brothers in the line:
| Meizu M3 | Meizu M5 Note | |
| Display | IPS, 16 million colors | IPS, 16 million colors |
| Display Diagonal | 5.5 inches | 5.5 inches |
| Display resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
| Operating system | Android 5.1 (Flyme) | Android 6.0 (Flyme) |
| CPU | Mediatek MT6755 Helio P10 | Mediatek MT6755 Helio P10 |
| video accelerator | Mali-T860MP2 | Mali-T860MP2 |
| RAM | 2 / 3 GB | 3 / 3 / 4 GB |
| ROM size | 16 / 32 GB | 16 / 32 / 64 GB |
| Memory card slot | Yes, microSD, up to 128 GB, combined with a slot for a second SIM card | |
| Main camera | 13 MP, dual flash | 13 MP, dual flash |
| Front-camera | 5 MP | 5 MP |
| Video filming | 1080p at 30 fps | 1080p at 30 fps |
| Number of SIM cards | 2, nano-SIM | 2, nano-SIM |
| Interfaces | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz); Bluetooth 4.0 (A2DP, LE); micro USB 2.0; GPS (A-GPS, GLONASS) | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz); Bluetooth 4.0 (A2DP, LE); micro USB 2.0; GPS (A-GPS, GLONASS); 3.5mm headphone jack |
| The fingerprint scanner | Yes, frontal | Yes, frontal |
| fast charging | Not | There is |
| Battery | 4100 mAh, non-removable | 4100 mAh, non-removable |
| Weight | 163 g | 175 g |
| Dimensions | 154 x 76 x 8.2 mm | 154 x 76 x 8.2 mm |
| Colors | Grey, white, golden | Grey, Silver, Gold, Blue |
As you can see from the table, there are practically no differences. Meizu M5 Note received an increased size of RAM and permanent memory, a quick charge function, and also slightly increased the weight of the device. Also “out of the box” in the smartphone is Android 6.0.
Let's look at it up close.
Box and accessories
The smartphone is delivered in a standard white box, in which the device itself, a USB cable, a charger, an extractor for the SIM card tray and instructions are tightly packed. Standard equipment, neither add nor subtract.
Frame
The body of the smartphone is made of aluminum. There are almost no changes compared to the previous model. It sits well in the hand. Backlash, gaps and squeaks are not noticed. The design of the M5 Note is practically the same as the M3 Note.
Screen
Screen Meizu M5 Note is made using IPS technology. Nothing new, most smartphones are now produced using this technology. Colors are bright and contrasting. There are no complaints about him.
Operating system and software
As noted above, the smartphone comes with Android 6.0 Marshmallow on board and Meizu's proprietary Flyme shell. The shell is pleasant, there is a little extra software and it does not interfere. There are no lags when going to the menu.
Separately, it must be said about the Home button. Management in Meizu M5 Note is carried out, in fact, using this single button. It is both sensory and mechanical. In addition, it has a built-in fingerprint scanner. Pressing the touch button is similar to the “Back” action, pressing the mechanical button is similar to the “Go to home screen” action. Long press brings up Google Now. To get a list of running applications, swipe up from the bottom of the screen space on the right or left.
Processor and Memory
Meizu M5 Note comes in three configurations:
- 3 GB RAM and 16 GB ROM;
- 3 GB RAM and 32 GB ROM;
- 4 GB RAM and 64 GB ROM.
If the RAM is enough for most needs, then the permanent memory in the younger model is still not enough. We recommend to refrain from buying the weakest version. Of course, there is a slot for a microSD card, but if you install it, you will have to give up the second SIM card.
The processor in the smartphone is not the newest, Mediatek Helio P10. The frequency of the main processor cores does not exceed 1.8 GHz. In demanding games, its power will not be enough - they will go only at low settings. Picky users will not be happy. Nevertheless, the performance is quite enough for everyday use in the “surfing - social networks - navigator - music” mode.
The fingerprint scanner
The scanner in Meizu M5 Note is combined with the Home button. When you press the mechanical button and correctly read the finger, the smartphone is unlocked. With the right settings, by the way, the scanner works almost always.
Interfaces
The smartphone is equipped with a standard set of interfaces: dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP and LE profiles (sorry, not 4.2); equipped with a microUSB 2.0 port that supports OTG and a 3.5mm headphone jack; there is a GPS with support for A-GPS and GLONASS. There is no infrared port and FM radio, NFC, traditionally, too.
Battery
Meizu M5 Note is equipped with a very capacious 4100 mAh battery. The declared capacity should be enough for 1.5-2 days of work. In order to charge such a battery, the mCharge fast charging function is provided. You can charge your smartphone to 90% in a little over one hour, the remaining 10% the smartphone “catches up” in half an hour. The total time for a full charge is thus about one and a half hours. The charger is designed for a current of 3A at a voltage of 5-8V and 2A at a voltage of 12V.
Communication and sound
There are no complaints about the quality of communication - the interlocutor hears us well, as we do. The speaker sound is a bit quiet, but clear. The vibration is not strong, you can not feel it in a jacket pocket. In headphones, the sound quality is average and there is not enough maximum volume.
Two nanoSIM cards are provided. By the way, Meizu M5 Note began to support the LTE 20 band, which is good news. Now, coupled with bands 7 and 38, the smartphone supports LTE almost throughout Russia.
Camera
The rear camera has a resolution of 13 MP and is equipped with a dual flash, the front - 5 MP.
There are many shooting modes.
When shooting on the front camera, various enhancements are available, which we believe will be useful for girls:
The main camera shoots mediocre. Autofocus blurs intermittently. In good lighting conditions, there are no nitpicks to the camera, even in backlight it shoots acceptable, especially if you turn on the HDR mode. When shooting with flash, the colors are almost natural. Examples can be seen below.
Results
Summing up, we can say with confidence that the Meizu M5 Note turned out to be a good update for the M3 Note - fast charging and increased memory are necessary for a modern smartphone. If you already have an M3 Note, then it probably makes no sense to buy this device, but as a first device it is quite good.
Among which was the M5 Note - the continuation of one of the most popular Meizu smartphones, the M3 Note. The absence of the fourth version is explained by the fact that among the Chinese the number 4 is considered unlucky, so the novelty immediately received the 5th number.
Looking ahead, let's say that in terms of characteristics the device is an almost complete copy of the M3e, and differs by and large only in an enlarged screen diagonal. Is it bad or good? Read our Meizu M5 Note review.
Price and main characteristics
M5 Note is available in 4 body colors: gray with a black front panel, silver, blue and gold. The official cost of the gadget in China for the 16/3 GB version is 9 thousand rubles, the older version 64/4 costs 14 thousand rubles. In Russia, the junior modification of the smartphone will have to pay about 16 thousand.
Specifications:
- display: 5.5”, IPS LCD FHD 1920*1080 px, 401 ppi;
- processor: Helio P10 (8 * 1-1.8 GHz) + video accelerator Mali T860;
- RAM: 3/4 GB;
- internal memory: 13/32/64 GB + micro SD flash cards up to 128 GB;
- camera: main - 13 MP (f / 2.2), front - 8 MP;
- communication: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS, LTE;
- battery: 4000 mAh.
The M5 Note measures 154*76*8.1 mm and weighs 175 grams.
Equipment and appearance
Traditionally for all devices from Meizu, the smartphone comes in a simple white cardboard box, the package also includes a USB cable, a charging adapter, a clip for the SIM tray and documentation.
In terms of design, the M5 Note is identical to the recently presented M3e, the novelty differs only in greater thickness and dimensions. The monolithic body of the gadget is made of aluminum, there are plastic seams for the antenna on the back cover, which harmoniously fit into the design of the smartphone.
The front side is covered with tempered glass Gorilla Glass 3, rounded using 2.5D technology. Below the screen is the branded mTouch key, which combines a mechanical navigation button, a touch pad and a fingerprint scanner.
On the back side there is a 13 MP camera module, a flash and a Meizu logo. The aluminum surface of the case has a good finish and feels very nice in the hand.
The side ends of the M5 Note are decorated with a neat chamfer that looks extremely impressive. The upper end is devoid of functional elements, it houses only the second microphone for noise reduction. At the bottom is a Micro USB port, a main speaker grille, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. All holes are made neatly, there are no complaints about the build quality.
On the right side are the volume rocker and the power button.
On the left is a hybrid card tray. In general, like all Meizu budget smartphones, due to the excellent build quality, the M5 Note looks an order of magnitude more expensive than its cost.
Screen
The M5 Note is equipped with a 5.5 inch FULL HD resolution IPS panel with a pixel density of 401 ppi. For the money, the screen is good, it has a high level of contrast and natural color reproduction, it also provides software adjustment of color temperature and the inclusion of eye protection mode.
The brightness range allows you to comfortably use the smartphone both in a dark room and in the open air, even in bright sunlight the screen remains well readable. The multi-touch display confidently recognizes 10 touches, the olephobic coating does not disappoint.
Compared to its predecessor in the face of the M3 Note, the screen quality in the new product has increased significantly. The only negative comes when compared to flagship displays, which makes it clear that the M5 Note displays white with a slight pink tint. However, in everyday use it does not cause any discomfort.
Performance
Performance can be called the main Achilles' heel of the M5 Note, there is no progress in relation to its predecessor. The device runs on a Helio P10 processor, which is good in terms of power consumption, but in the Benchmark it gains a modest 47 thousand parrots.
In practice, the P10 is enough for the smooth operation of the interface, the main set of applications and casual toys. Speed is also ensured by a sufficient amount of RAM - 3 or 4 GB, depending on the version. You will not experience any shortcomings in everyday work, but you will not be able to play demanding 3D toys at maximum graphics settings.
For example, in the same tanks, comfortable gaming at 40-50 FPS is possible only at minimum settings with disabled HD textures. At maximum load, the processor heats up to 40-43 degrees, there is no throttling.
Camera
But the camera in the M5 Note has been significantly improved. The 13 MP phase detection autofocus sensor shoots much better than its predecessor and outperforms most smartphones in this price range. The native camera has a fully manual settings mode, which even in difficult shooting conditions allows you to get decent quality photos.
Separately, we will cancel the 5 MP front camera, it is good. The post-processing algorithms in the M5 Note were handled by ArcSoft, a company known for developing camera software for Vivo smartphones.
M5 Note shoots video in FHD resolution at 60 fps. The recording quality is average, there is shaking due to the lack of an optical stabilizer. The sound is written well, an order of magnitude better than most state employees.
speaker, sound quality
The sound in the headphones, like all Meizu, is of decent quality, but the M5 Note loses to solutions with a dedicated DAC. The smartphone can easily play with any vacuum headphones. The main speaker is also good, it is loud and practically does not suffer from distortion at maximum volume.
Battery
The battery capacity of the M5 Note is 4000 mAh, which is 100 mAh less than its predecessor. However, the novelty supports MediaTek PumpExpress fast charging technology, and can be charged from 0 to 100% in 65-70 minutes, which is its undeniable plus.
With continuous video playback at maximum screen brightness, the M5 Note is fully discharged in 9 hours. When gaming in Asphalt 8, 11% of the battery is consumed per hour. The autonomy reserve is enough for comfortable work during daylight hours. Even with active use of the smartphone in the evening, about 15-20% of the battery remains. If you do not play with toys and at least save a little charge, then the M5 Note will surely live two days on a single charge.
Communication and Internet
The reception quality of the operator's network in M5 Note is good, as well as the voice transmission of you and your interlocutor during the conversation. The device supports 2-band Wi-Fi and all LTE bands common in the Russian Federation.
Navigation satellites M5 Note finds quickly and maintains a stable connection with them. Also, the smartphone is equipped with Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy, which is necessary for connecting smart watches and fitness trackers to the gadget. Instead of USB Type-C, the gadget uses a regular Micro-USB.
Video review Meizu M5 Note
Competitors, conclusion
The M5 Note is a great value for the money for those who don't demand gaming performance from a smartphone. As for a budget device, its strengths are a cool screen, a good camera, high build quality and decent autonomy. Meizu has already stated that the M5 Note will be one of the first to receive the update to Flyme 6. However, there are no cardinal improvements in comparison with the M3 Note, which was released at the beginning of 2016, and there is no point in changing one device to another.
For those who want to get acquainted with the products of the Meizu company, we safely recommend that you buy. If you want to get a generally similar but more powerful gadget, then Xiaomi's Redmi Note 3 Pro is still the best choice.
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as well as the first fitness bracelet from MEIZU
In 2016, MEIZU released an unusually large number of smartphones for itself. Yes, when compared with almost any other brand (not only with Samsung, Sony or HTC, but also with Chinese companies like UMI, Ulefone, etc.), the MEIZU lineup does not seem large, but for fans of the brand, the situation is the opposite, they are used to to 2-3, maximum 6 smartphones per year. Apparently, in the company itself, towards the end of the year, they also began to understand that the situation was strange, and the release of the M5 Note model was to some extent a planned event, and to some extent, a desire to start rectifying the situation, to make the lineup simpler and more understandable for users.
Specifications for MEIZU M5 Note
- Body materials: aluminum, 2.5D glass (front panel)
- Operating system: Android 6.0, Flyme 5 (6)
- Network: DualSIM; GSM/EDGE, UMTS/HSDPA, LTE (TD/FDD-LTE) (nanoSIM)
- Platform: MediaTek MT6755 (Helio P10)
- Processor: octa-core, 64-bit, four cores 1.8 GHz (Cortex-A53) and four cores 1 GHz (Cortex-A53)
- Graphics: Mali-T860
- RAM: 3/4 GB LPDDR3
- Storage Memory: 16/32/64 GB
- Memory card slot: yes, microSD (combined with nanoSIM slot)
- Interfaces: Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n) Dual-Band, Bluetooth 4.0 (LE), microUSB connector (USB 2.0, MHL, USB-OTG, USB-Host) for charge/sync, 3.5 mm for headset
- Screen: IPS LCD, diagonal 5.5", resolution 1920x1080, ppi 403, automatic backlight level adjustment, protective glass
- Main camera: 13 MP, f / 2.2, 5 lenses, phase detection autofocus, dual LED flash, video is recorded in FullHD
- Front camera: 5 MP without autofocus, f / 2.0, 4 lenses, video is recorded in 1080p (shooting algorithms from ArcSoft)
- Navigation: GPS (support A-GPS), Glonass
- Optional: mTouch fingerprint scanner, accelerometer, light sensor, proximity sensor
- Battery: 4000 mAh, fast charging support
- Dimensions: 153.6 x 75.8 x 8.1mm
- Weight: 175 grams
Case design and materials
In fact, the design of the new MEIZU M5 Note is a complete copy of the MEIZU M3e smartphone presented a few months ago. The only difference is in the thickness of the case, in the M5 Note it is slightly thicker due to a more capacious battery, otherwise the devices are identical. That is, the smartphone has become more expensive and more premium than the MEIZU M3 Note, which had plastic inserts painted to match the color of the metal. There is also plastic here, but these are thin lines that are barely noticeable and do not make the weather. So in terms of design and materials, the new M5 Note is closer to the company's more expensive devices. In place and bulk (2.5D) glass. In terms of workmanship, this is also a level above average, which is not yet quite typical for budget devices. Due to all these factors, the smartphone feels expensive, definitely more expensive than it really is.
Case colors are the usual white and gold with a white front panel, as well as blue and gray with a black front panel.
Dimensions
The size of MEIZU M5 Note is exactly the same as MEIZU M3e, that is, comparable to M3 Note and other smartphones with a screen diagonal of 5.5 "". 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, but weighty.
Controls
All controls here are exactly the same as in any other smartphone from MEIZU released in 2016. The power and volume buttons are on the right, the tray for two nanoSIM cards (or a SIM card and a memory card) is on the left, at the bottom there is a microUSB connector, a microphone, a speaker grill and a 3.5 mm mini-jack. Above - an additional microphone (noise canceling).
The fingerprint scanner is inscribed in a mechanical key, which also acts as a back button thanks to the touch layer.
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. In terms of juiciness and brightness of the picture, the screen does not reach the displays in the Meizu MX6 or Pro 6, but for an inexpensive smartphone it is quite good. If you compare it with the display in MEIZU M3 Note, you can see the difference for the better, but not too obvious, in my opinion. There is an "eye protection" mode in which the screen works in warm colors. The oleophobic coating is excellent, there are no complaints here.
platform, memory
The smartphone is built on the Helio P10 platform from MediaTek. It was also used in the M3 Note and M3e. This is not a top-end chip and not the latest for the end of 2016, to be honest, but for FullHD resolution and a budget segment device, it is still a good option. Graphics Mali-T860. The smartphone has 3 or 4 GB of RAM, depending on the modification. For 16 and 32 GB versions, 3 GB of RAM is provided, for the 64 GB version - 4 GB. The MEIZU M3 Note had 2 and 3 GB of RAM, also depending on the version. There is a slot for a microSD memory card, combined with a second slot for a nanoSIM card.
Camera
Both cameras, both main and front, in budget MEIZU change little in 2016, but there is good news in the case of the M5 Note. Firstly, the main camera with a resolution of 13 megapixels and phase focusing “by eye” began to shoot a little better than in the M3 Note, this is especially noticeable in close-ups, where the smartphone is very good in its price category. Secondly, the algorithms for the front camera were handled by ArcSoft, known for its developments used by Vivo in the XShot smartphone with one of the best (to this day) cameras on the phone market. Yes, you can hardly squeeze a lot out of the front camera, but, in my opinion, in the MEIZU M5 Note, the front camera really shoots noticeably better than in the M3 Note or M3e. Although, perhaps this is all the “placebo effect” and there really is nothing like that, I don’t know.
As with all other Meizu devices, there is a fully manual shooting mode (which is good), and the fact that the interface still cannot rotate to landscape orientation (which is bad).
Interfaces
The device has support for dual-band Wi-Fi. In 4G networks, the smartphone works in all common bands for Russia. Bluetooth version 4.0 with LE (Low Energy) profile support.
Battery
The smartphone has a 4000 mAh battery, almost like the M3 Note. Taking into account the fact that more than six months have passed since the release of the latter and the technology has advanced a little, we can expect a similar operating time from smartphones.
