Fingerprint on meizu 5c. Meizu m5c review: affordable first smartphone. What's hiding in the box

The external speaker of the device is very loud, even in a noisy McDonald's the words in the video are understood perfectly, there are no significant overloads at maximum, but the sound is flat, there is no bass, and the high frequencies are drowned out in places. Despite its shortcomings, it is good by class standards. The sound in the headphones is of normal quality, but very quiet - in public transport you can hardly understand the words of familiar compositions.

The Meizu m5c multimedia tablet will not replace, and will cope with the role of a player mediocrely, but taking into account the price and other advantages, this oversight can be forgiven.

Communications, additional features

The manufacturer's cheapest smartphone received an mBack key, which is responsible for navigating the system: “Back” by touch, “Home” by pressing, press and hold to lock, double-click to call the camera. The functionality is the same as any mTouch device, only there is no fingerprint scanner. But, unlike some more expensive Meizu devices, for example, there is a slot for memory cards (with a capacity of up to 128 GB).

The most attractive point was the use new version proprietary Flyme 6 shell. However, in this case it does not stand out with a set of additional features; it is also based on Android 6.0 (although in a budget device we can say thanks for Marshmallow).

As a result, we have a standard set that competes equally in its segment with pleasant features like a compass and mBack. This is already enough to consider Meizu m5c a feature-rich budget phone.

The set of radio modules is as expected, the stability of their operation pleased me, but the range of the same Wi-Fi is less than that of a comparable price. The GPS works quickly, the compass also does not fail, but it shows the direction correctly only if you freeze and wait 3-5 seconds. The performance of the cellular module is satisfactory (the reception strength is mediocre, but the contact is stable), the voice is transmitted clearly.

Competitors

Meizu m5c is available in black, red, blue, pink and gold cases, there is only one modification: with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of permanent memory. The cost of the device is .

The device works at a comfortable speed, connects to the Internet, launches simple games, looks good, plays music, is capable of photographing advertisements and documents, and popular software does not fail either.

Meizu m5c is the second best offer in the segment up to 3000 UAH; only Redmi 4A remains more interesting in all respects, which managed to fall in price to a comparable level by the time its competitor was released. But if Xiaomi is not to your liking, Meizu m5c should be considered for purchase first.

3 reasons to buy Meizu m5c:

• nice appearance
• stable operating speed
• price

1 reason not to buy Meizu m5c:

• Xiaomi Redmi 4A gives more for comparable money

Thanks to the online store for providing it for review.

Few will be surprised to learn that inexpensive smartphones are currently the most popular on the domestic mobile device market. Although they have shortcomings, their low cost fully covers them. Of course, the weakest side of these gadgets is the technical characteristics: not a very powerful platform, not a high resolution display and cameras. But this does not mean that such devices are completely devoid of attractiveness. Almost all device manufacturers budget segment They are trying to create models that look like flagship gadgets. This is exactly what Meizu GB/16 GB is, which will be reviewed in this article. The phone went on sale in 2017. Its cost does not exceed 10 thousand rubles, which makes it quite attractive for a certain target audience. Let's figure out whether the gadget justifies the stated price tag.

What's hiding in the box?

It is supplied in a simple cardboard box to Meizu GB/16 GB stores. The packaging dimensions correspond to the dimensions of the phone. The designers chose a laconic design, completely abandoning variegation and images. All panels of the box are made in white. The brand logo is displayed on the sides, and the model name is on the front. If you look inside the packaging box, you will notice several compartments in which all the accessories are neatly stored. Each of them is separated by a partition.

The set of components will not surprise the buyer with anything special. It fully corresponds to the budget segment. Of course, modestly, but the manufacturer provides the most necessary things to the user. This is a 1.5A/5V power supply and a USB cable. There is also a paper clip in the box, secured in the documentation folder. As for the latter, the manual, certificate and warranty card are printed in Russian.

Features of external design

M5c 2GB/16GB looks quite attractive. The device stands out significantly among other gadgets in this price segment with its stylish design. The manufacturer did not abandon the solutions that are used in more expensive models. The only thing that had to be sacrificed was materials. In this device, instead of metal, plastic was chosen for the body. There is no point in dwelling on the form in detail, since it is used in other smartphones of this brand.

Although at the start of sales only black and silver versions appeared in stores, there are four more in the line. If desired, owners can choose between gold, red, pink and blue. But if you believe the reviews of Meizu M5c 2 GB/16 GB Black, then the black case looks the most stylish.

Considering that the device is equipped with a 5-inch screen, its dimensions are quite expected. Case height - 144 mm, width - 70.5 mm. As for the thickness, everything is fine here. The manufacturer did not break modern trends, settling on 8.3 mm. The weight of the phone also affects the usability. In this case, it is limited to only 135 g.

If you study the comments of the owners, you can draw certain conclusions. The smartphone fits well in the hand and practically does not slip. Thanks to the rounded edges, you can operate the gadget with one hand. As for getting dirty, even though the plastic is matte, it still collects fingerprints.

All standard connectors and keys are included in this model. Of course, there would not be a navigation button, which is located directly below the screen. The only thing that greatly disappointed the owners was the lack of a fingerprint scanner. The device works with two SIM cards, which are installed in a tray located on the side. If you need to use a flash card, you will have to give up the second SIM. In order for the phone to recognize the external drive, you will need to restart the device after installing it.

Let's talk about the display

The Meizu M5c 2 GB/16 GB screen has a diagonal of 5 inches. The matrix is ​​standard - IPS. Resolution - HD. Density - 293 ppi. Unfortunately, the display can hardly be called ideal, but the picture is displayed clearly and of quite high quality. The brightness is enough for comfortable work both in the sun and in complete darkness. The surface of the screen is glossy, but the glass has a special anti-reflective layer, so even outdoors the information remains readable.

Users consider the advantages to be that it copes well with the assigned tasks. Fingerprints, however, remain, but they are easily erased. There is also an automatic brightness adjustment mode. There are no special comments about his work. There is no air gap, which has a positive effect on the quality of the picture display. It’s impossible not to notice that the developers have provided multi-touch for 10 touches. But as usual, there were some drawbacks. All users included a rather thick frame, which reaches about 4 mm on the sides, and increases to 15 mm in the upper and lower parts.

A few words about cameras

After users found out the resolution of the cameras, they immediately understood why the phone costs about six thousand rubles. Reviews about Meizu M5c 2 GB/16 GB are mixed. Let's figure out what exactly we didn't like. Of course, this is permission. The maximum you can count on is 8 MP main and 5 MP front. Detailing is poor. In poor lighting, getting a high-quality photo is akin to science fiction. You can see blurry areas in photographs. Only the main camera is equipped with a flash. Although it is two-position, it shines dimly, so by and large it is useless. The only thing that is reassuring is the low price of the gadget, which makes this drawback not so critical.

Meizu M5c 2GB/16GB: performance characteristics

What do the comments say about the operation of a Chinese smartphone? Every buyer understands that a state-owned manufacturer will not sell top-end “stuffing”. And this is quite understandable. If you install a powerful processor, then the price will have to be raised by at least a third. But one should not think that this device does not meet modern requirements at all. The developers have implemented two gigabytes random access memory, which is already good. True, half is already occupied, but the remaining volume is enough for work. But what kind of processor did you install in the Meizu M5c 2 GB/16 GB?

The gadget operates on the basis of a 28 nm chip, which indicates an insufficient level of energy efficiency. The system's 64-bit capacity opens up great possibilities, but one must understand that a 4-core processor will not be able to handle all modern applications. The clock frequency limit is 1250 MHz. The device also has a weak Mali-T720 video card. The native storage of 16 GB is not fully available. You will only be able to manage approximately 10 GB. Of course, you can expand the storage with a memory card, but you won’t be able to use it to install applications.

Platform

Users were not surprised by the chosen operating system. As usual, the phone has Android version 6 installed. Not without the proprietary Flyme shell. The interface design is nice. The developers offered several updates that the owners liked. These include animated pictures, new icon designs, and themes. It is by this criterion that the Meizu M5c 2 GB/16 GB received positive reviews, although a new version (seventh) of the OS has already been released.

However, there were also several disadvantages in the proprietary interface. It's about about a large number unnecessary applications. They are installed by default. For example, you won’t be able to refuse Sberbank applications. But here, too, users find a small plus. All unused programs can then be deleted manually.

Autonomy

M5c 2 GB/16 GB is equipped with a good battery. The battery has a capacity of 3 thousand mAh. The results, although modest, are considered satisfactory for devices in this price segment. For example, you can play games for five and a half hours. In reading mode, the device will work for about 14 hours. Those who like to watch videos or movies can count on no more than 9 hours. If you use the smartphone in mixed mode, then its maximum is limited to only 20-24 hours, after which you will need to connect the gadget to the network. It will take about 3 hours to restore the battery life.

Meizu M5c 2 GB/16 GB: owner reviews

Like any budget segment gadget, the M5c has both disadvantages and advantages. The latter undoubtedly include low price, good screen performance, stylish design, decent service life battery life. But users discuss the phone’s shortcomings more actively. Of course, many criticisms are made about the hardware platform. By modern standards, the processor power is completely insufficient. For example, all “heavy” applications will be inaccessible to the user. There are also angry comments about cameras. Today I would like to have a gadget with the best optical modules.

Conclusion

Summing up, we can confidently say that the company managed to release a simple and inexpensive smartphone. Note that previously Meizu brand devices did not occupy the category up to 10 thousand rubles, so the M5c is a kind of debut. You should not expect high performance from him, but your 6,000 rubles. The device is completely justified.

The most affordable model in the family

Historically, the situation has developed that in the Russian market, maximum sales are made by smartphones in the lower price range (costing less than 10 thousand rubles), in which Meizu products were not represented until recently. The company decided to correct the situation and released a truly budget device, the M5c. At the very beginning of summer, the manufacturer announced the start of sales in Russia of this most affordable of its products - a smartphone priced at 8,990 rubles, detailed review whom we present today.

Main characteristics of Meizu M5c (Model M710H)

• SoC MediaTek MT6737, 4 cores ARM Cortex-A53 @1.25 GHz
• GPU Mali-T720
• Operating system Android 6.0
• Touch display IPS 5″, 1280×720, 293 ppi
• Random access memory (RAM) 2 GB, internal memory 16 GB
• Nano-SIM support (2 pcs.)
• microSD support up to 128 GB
• GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks (900/1800/1900 MHz)
• WCDMA/HSPA+ networks (900/1900/2100 MHz)
• Networks LTE Cat.4 FDD (B1/3/5/7/8/20), TD (B38/40)
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n (2.4 GHz)
• Bluetooth 4.1 BLE
• GPS, A-GPS
• Micro-USB, USB OTG
• Main camera 8 MP, f/2.0, autofocus, 1080p video
• Front camera 5 MP, f/2.2, fixed. focus
• Proximity, lighting, magnetic field, gyroscope sensor
• Battery 3000 mAh
• Dimensions 144×71×8.3 mm
• Weight 135 g

Contents of delivery

Meizu M5c comes in a very small cardboard box, stylishly and succinctly designed, without being multicolored or clumsy. Inside there are several compartments separated by a partition.

The kit consists of a fairly thick USB cable, as well as a network adapter with an output current of 1.5 A and a maximum voltage of 5 V. The key for removing cards is attached to a cardboard folder with paper documentation in Russian.

Appearance and ease of use

Meizu M5c looks better than most of its counterparts in the lower price range. This is the case when the manufacturer does not simplify the design by changing only the materials. The device is very similar to its older brothers in the line, only its body is made not of metal, but of plastic. Some Meizu smartphones have received a similar housing option before: for example, Meizu M2.

The design is simple and laconic, the one-piece plastic body with a flat back surface and rounded sides looks nice and at the same time strict. In addition, it clearly looks more expensive than it is, especially in matte black.

The five-inch device can be called medium-sized by modern standards; it fits well in the hand, fits comfortably in any pocket, and due to its matte surfaces and small weight, it practically does not slip out of your hands. However, this is not to say that the matte plastic does not show fingerprints at all; this is not the case. Stains from contact with palms also remain on the plastic, and the same can be said about the front glass. The smartphone will have to be wiped from time to time to make it look presentable.

M5c differs from its older relatives in the absence of some elements. Here, for example, there is no fingerprint scanner, there is no second microphone for the noise reduction system. There are two rows of holes cut in the bottom end, although there is, of course, only one speaker. The universal Micro-USB connector located in the middle of this end supports connecting external devices in USB OTG mode, but for some reason this does not work with all flash drives.

The top end contains only a 3.5 mm audio output for headphones; there is no additional microphone for the noise reduction system.

SIM cards are inserted into the side hybrid slot. It can accommodate either two Nano-SIM cards, or one Nano-SIM and one microSD memory card. It is curious that the device does not immediately detect the memory card, there is no hot replacement, you need to restart the smartphone.

Hardware mechanical buttons are installed on the other side. The keys are large, somewhat harsh, the response is clear, and they are easy to find to the touch.

The front panel is covered with a flat protective glass, there is no 2.5D effect here. Sensors and a front camera peephole without its own flash are installed above the screen as usual. There is also an LED event indicator, it shines with a soft milky light.

Under the screen, as standard for Meizu, there is one oval-shaped hardware key. True, it does not include a fingerprint scanner, like many modern models, including Meizu devices. But the button still contains a touch pad, with which you can use gestures to perform functions that are usually assigned to two adjacent buttons, which Meizu smartphones traditionally do not have: touching the button performs the “Back” action, pressing - “Home”, and with a long hold you can turn it off screen.

A camera module with a dual flash is installed on the back side; the Meizu M5c has nothing else on the rear surface.

At the time of the start of sales, only the version of the smartphone in a black matte case was available. A little later, red, blue, pink and gold variants should also appear on sale.

Screen

Meizu M5c is equipped with an IPS display with physical dimensions of 62x110 mm with a diagonal of 5 inches. The resolution is 1280x720, the pixel density is about 293 ppi. The frame around the screen is approximately 4 mm wide on the sides, and 15 mm wide at the bottom and top.

The display brightness can be adjusted manually or set automatic settings, based on the operation of the ambient light sensor. The AnTuTu test diagnoses support for 10 simultaneous multi-touch touches.

A detailed examination using measuring instruments was carried out by the editor of the “Monitors” and “Projectors and TV” sections Alexey Kudryavtsev. Here is his expert opinion on the screen of the sample under study.

The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface that is scratch-resistant. Judging by the reflection of objects, the anti-glare properties of the screen are approximately the same as those of the Google Nexus 7 (2013) screen (hereinafter simply Nexus 7). For clarity, here is a photo in which a white surface is reflected in the switched off screens (on the left - Nexus 7, on the right - Meizu M5c, then they can be distinguished by size):

The screen of the Meizu M5c is slightly lighter (brightness according to photographs is 119 versus 113 for the Nexus 7). The ghosting of reflected objects in the Meizu M5c screen is very weak, this indicates that there is no air gap between the layers of the screen (more specifically, between the outer glass and the surface of the LCD matrix) (OGS - One Glass Solution type screen). Due to the smaller number of boundaries (glass/air type) with very different refractive indices, such screens look better in conditions of intense external illumination, but their repair in the case of cracked external glass is much more expensive, since the entire screen has to be replaced. The outer surface of the screen has a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (better in efficiency than that of the Nexus 7), so fingerprints are removed much more easily and appear at a lower speed than with regular glass.

When manually controlling brightness and when outputting a white field full screen the maximum brightness value was about 390 cd/m², the minimum - 4 cd/m². The maximum brightness is low, but given the good anti-glare properties, even on a sunny day outdoors you can see something on the screen. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable value. There is automatic brightness adjustment based on the light sensor (it is located to the right of the front speaker slot). In automatic mode, as external lighting conditions change, the screen brightness both increases and decreases. The operation of this function depends on the position of the brightness adjustment slider. If it is 100%, then in complete darkness the auto-brightness function reduces the brightness to 13 cd/m² (normal), in an artificially lit office (about 550 lux) it sets it to 190 cd/m² (suitable), in a very bright environment (corresponding to lighting on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or a little more), the brightness increases to 390 cd/m² (to the maximum - this is how it should be); if the adjustment is approximately 50%, then the values ​​are as follows: 4, 130 and 390 cd/m² (the first value is underestimated), the regulator at 0% is 4, 25 and 390 cd/m² (the first two values ​​are already underestimated, which is logical). It turns out that the auto-brightness function works adequately and to some extent allows the user to customize their work to individual requirements. At any brightness level, there is no significant backlight modulation, so there is no screen flicker.

This smartphone uses an IPS matrix. The microphotographs show a typical IPS subpixel structure:

For comparison, you can see the gallery of microphotographs of screens used in mobile technology.

The screen has good viewing angles without a significant color shift even with large deviations of the view from perpendicular to the screen and without inverting (except for the very darkest when deviating along one diagonal) shades. For comparison, here are photographs in which the same images are displayed on the screens of Meizu M5c and Nexus 7, while the brightness of the screens is initially set to approximately 200 cd/m², and the color balance on the camera is forcibly switched to 6500 K.

There is a white field perpendicular to the screens:

Note the good uniformity of brightness and color tone of the white field.

And a test picture:

The colors on the Meizu M5c screen have a natural saturation, the color balance of the Nexus 7 and the tested screen is noticeably different.

Now at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen:

It can be seen that the colors have not changed much on both screens, the contrast has decreased, but also not very much.

And a white field:

The brightness at an angle of the screens has decreased (at least 5 times, based on the difference in shutter speed), but the Meizu M5c screen is still a little brighter. When deviated diagonally, the black field does not lighten very much and acquires a purple or reddish tint. The photographs below demonstrate this (the brightness of the white areas in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the screens is the same!):

And from another angle:

When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the black field is poor:

The contrast (approximately in the center of the screen) is normal - about 800:1. The response time for the black-white-black transition is 29 ms (16 ms on + 13 ms off). The transition between halftones of gray 25% and 75% (based on the numerical value of the color) and back takes a total of 43 ms. The gamma curve, constructed using 32 points with equal intervals based on the numerical value of the shade of gray, did not reveal a blockage either in the highlights or in the shadows. The exponent of the approximating power function is 2.49, which is higher than the standard value of 2.2. In this case, the real gamma curve strongly deviates from the power-law dependence:

This device has an aggressive dynamic adjustment of the backlight brightness in accordance with the nature of the displayed image - on dark images, the backlight brightness decreases. As a result, the resulting dependence of brightness on hue (gamma curve) does not correspond to the gamma curve of a static image, since the measurements were carried out with sequential display of shades of gray on almost the entire screen. For this reason, we carried out a number of tests - determining contrast and response time, comparing black illumination at angles - (however, as always) when displaying special templates with a constant average brightness, and not monochromatic fields in the entire screen. In general, such a non-switchable brightness correction does nothing but harm, since constantly changing the screen brightness can at least cause some discomfort, reduce the visibility of gradations in shadows in the case of dark images and the readability of the screen in bright light, since in average images the backlight brightness is not the brightest is underestimated, but there is not an excess of it anyway.

Color gamut is close to sRGB:

The spectra show that the matrix filters moderately mix the components with each other:

As a result, the colors have a natural saturation and hue. The balance of shades on the gray scale is average, since the color temperature is much higher than the standard 6500 K, but the deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) is below 10, which is considered an acceptable indicator for a consumer device. At the same time, color temperature and ΔE change little from hue to hue - this has a positive effect on the visual assessment of color balance. (The darkest areas of the gray scale can be ignored, since color balance there is not very important, and the error in measuring color characteristics at low brightness is large.)

This device has the ability to adjust the color balance using the hue adjustment.

However, after correction, the white point does not change much, but the color temperature and ΔE change very much. It looks disgusting, so there is no point in making corrections.

Let's summarize: the screen has a low maximum brightness, but has good anti-glare properties, so the device can somehow be used outdoors even on a sunny summer day. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable level. It is also possible to use a mode with automatic brightness adjustment, which works adequately. The advantages of the screen include an effective oleophobic coating, the absence of air gaps in the layers of the screen and flicker, as well as the sRGB color gamut. Significant disadvantages include the poor uniformity of the black field, as well as the non-disabled dynamic adjustment of the backlight brightness. Considering the importance of characteristics for this particular class of devices, the quality of the screen can be considered relatively high.

Camera

The front module of the Meizu M5c has a 5-megapixel sensor and a four-component lens with an f/2.2 aperture, with a fixed focus and without its own flash. Naturally, there is a portrait beautification mode with several degrees of adjustment, and there is also a manual mode with adjustments to photosensitivity, white balance, contrast, saturation, and exposure compensation. Despite all this, the selfie camera takes pictures rather poorly: there are areas of blur even in the central part of the frame, detail is generally low, which is why the image is loose. Dynamic range is narrow, so there are both overexposures and underexposed areas in one photo.

The main camera uses a module with an 8-megapixel matrix, a four-component lens with an f/2.0 aperture, quite agile phase detection autofocus and a dual, but not very bright flash. There is no stabilization system.

As usual, in the settings there is a manual mode for controlling camera settings. If you turn it on, a settings slider will appear, the same as on the selfie camera, with changeable values ​​for light sensitivity (up to ISO 1600), exposure compensation, saturation and contrast, and white balance. There are few additional modes: QR code scanner, panorama, animated GIF, and HDR.

The camera can shoot video in a maximum resolution of only 720p; not only does it not support 4K video shooting, but also Full HD. There is no stabilization function; slight hand tremors are noticeable even during static shooting, let alone movement. The picture itself is juicy and bright, but you can’t expect high detail at this resolution. There are no complaints about the sound recording, the sound is of high quality, without noticeable distortion, but, apparently, there is no noise reduction system here.

• Video No. 1
• Video No. 2 (18 MB, 1280×720@30 fps, H.264, AAC)

The camera can be called good. Despite the fact that unprocessed noise is visible in places, details are not lost even in distant plans, although there they are “tightened up” in software. Sharpness is well maintained across the frame. As a result, the camera can be safely recommended for documentary shooting.

Telephone and communications

The communication capabilities of the Meizu M5c include support for LTE Cat.4 (up to 150 Mbps), a number of LTE FDD and TDD frequency bands are supported, including all 3 FDD LTE bands of interest to us (band 3, 7, 20). In the city limits of the Moscow region, the device behaves confidently, the quality of signal reception does not cause any complaints.

At the same time, only one Wi-Fi band is supported (2.4 GHz), there is no NFC. You can standardly organize a wireless access point via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth 4.1 channels. The USB Type-C connector supports connecting external devices in USB OTG mode. The navigation module only works with GPS (with A-GPS). During a cold start, the first satellites are detected within the first tens of seconds, and the positioning accuracy is quite good. There is a built-in magnetic field sensor.

The phone application supports Smart Dial. In the contacts section there are many settings for importing and grouping, but there are no contact display settings (last name, first name, other data) for an incoming call at all.

Software and multimedia

The software platform is Google Android version 6.0 with the proprietary Flyme OS shell. The interface is nice, in the new version it looks even better, all the interface and application icons have been redrawn, new animation options have appeared, and design themes have been added.

But, unfortunately, the time of maximum conciseness of Flyme OS has passed forever. Now it’s no longer possible to say that the new Meizu smartphone doesn’t have a ton of junk preinstalled programs. With the advent of the Hot Apps section, they are installed by default, there are many of them, there is even a separate folder with demo games that need to be purchased for full use. Sberbank and Yandex applications have appeared, and you won’t be able to refuse their initial download - you can only manually remove them one by one. At the same time, Google applications (gapps), including the Play Store, will have to be installed manually - initially they are no longer available in Meizu smartphones. An alternative TouchPal keyboard is preinstalled, which has a lot of additional features.

To listen to music, you use your own proprietary audio player with the usual set of settings in the form of preset equalizer values, which can only be used with connected headphones. Both in headphones and through the speaker, the device sounds average: the sound is clear, without impurities, the volume reserve is not excessive, high frequencies predominate. There is no FM radio in the smartphone. The microphone demonstrates satisfactory sensitivity, the voice recorder is quite suitable for recording lectures.

Performance

The Meizu M5c hardware platform is based on the MediaTek MT6737 SoC, made using a 28 nm process technology. The 64-bit platform configuration includes 4 Cortex-A53 processor cores operating at frequencies up to 1.25 GHz. The Mali-T720 video accelerator is responsible for graphics processing. The RAM capacity is 2 GB and the user storage is 16 GB. Of these, in reality, less than 1 GB of RAM and only about 10.7 ROM are free. It is possible to expand the memory by installing a microSD card, but you cannot install applications on it. It is also possible to connect external flash drives in USB OTG mode.

MediaTek MT6737 is one of the simplest modern platforms for entry-level mobile devices in terms of capabilities; it is aimed at the ultra-budget class of devices. You shouldn’t expect high performance indicators from such a platform; the hero of the review demonstrates only about 29K points in AnTuTu. The hardware capabilities of the review hero are minimal; the smartphone shows low levels in all tests. Here, not only are demanding games and graphics tests noticeably slower, such as Mortal Kombat X and Epic Citadel, but sometimes there are noticeable delays even when flipping through desktops and opening applications. Such a device definitely has no reserve for the future.

Testing in comprehensive tests AnTuTu and GeekBench:

For convenience, we have compiled all the results we obtained when testing the smartphone in the latest versions of popular benchmarks into tables. The table usually adds several other devices from different segments, also tested on similar latest versions benchmarks (this is done only for a visual assessment of the obtained dry figures). Unfortunately, within the framework of one comparison it is impossible to present the results from different versions of benchmarks, so many worthy and relevant models remain “behind the scenes” - due to the fact that they once passed the “obstacle course” on previous versions test programs.

Testing the graphics subsystem in gaming tests 3DMark, GFXBenchmark and Bonsai Benchmark:

When testing in 3DMark, the most powerful smartphones now have the ability to run the application in Unlimited mode, where the rendering resolution is fixed at 720p and VSync is disabled (which can cause the speed to rise above 60 fps).

	Meizu M5c (MediaTek (MT6737)	Micromax Canvas Juice A1 (Qualcomm Snapdragon 210)	Honor 6C (Qualcomm Snapdragon 435)	HTC One X10 (MediaTek Helio P10 (MT6755))	Honor 8 lite (HiSilicon Kirin 655)
3DMark Ice Storm Sling Shot ES 3.1 (more is better)	101	—	254	421	398
GFXBenchmark Manhattan ES 3.1 (Onscreen, fps)	3	—	11	5	5
GFXBenchmark Manhattan ES 3.1 (1080p Offscreen, fps)	1	—	5	5	5
GFXBenchmark T-Rex (Onscreen, fps)	10	9	28	17	19
GFXBenchmark T-Rex (1080p Offscreen, fps)	6	5	16	17	18

Browser cross-platform tests:

As for benchmarks for assessing the speed of the javascript engine, you should always make allowance for the fact that their results significantly depend on the browser in which they are launched, so the comparison can only be truly correct on the same OS and browsers, and this is possible during testing not always. For Android OS, we always try to use Google Chrome.

AndroBench memory speed test results:

Thermal photographs

Below is a thermal image rear surface obtained after 10 minutes of battery testing in the GFXBenchmark program:

Heating is more localized in the upper part of the device, which apparently corresponds to the location of the SoC chip. According to the heat chamber, the maximum heating was 38 degrees (at an ambient temperature of 24 degrees), which is not very much.

Playing video

To test the omnivorous nature of video playback (including support for various codecs, containers and special features, such as subtitles), we used the most common formats, which make up the bulk of the content available on the Internet. Note that for mobile devices it is important to have support for hardware video decoding at the chip level, since it is most often impossible to process modern options using processor cores alone. Also, you shouldn’t expect a mobile device to decode everything, since the leadership in flexibility belongs to the PC, and no one is going to challenge it. All results are summarized in a table.

Format	Container, video, sound	MX Video Player	Standard video player
1080p H.264	MKV, H.264 1920×1080, 24 fps, AAC	plays normally	plays normally
1080p H.264	MKV, H.264 1920×1080, 24 fps, AC3	plays normally	The video plays fine, there is no sound
1080p H.265	MKV, H.265 1920×1080, 24 fps, AAC		The video does not play, there is sound
1080p H.265	MKV, H.265 1920×1080, 24 fps, AC3	plays with significant delays	video does not play, no sound

Further testing of video playback was performed Alexey Kudryavtsev.

We did not find the MHL interface, like Mobility DisplayPort, in this smartphone, so we had to limit ourselves to testing the output of video files on the screen of the device itself. For this we used the set test files with an arrow and a rectangle moving one division per frame (see “Methods for testing video playback and display devices. Version 1 (for mobile devices)”). Screenshots with a shutter speed of 1 s helped determine the nature of the output of frames of video files with various parameters: the resolution varied (1280 by 720 (720p), 1920 by 1080 (1080p) and 3840 by 2160 (4K) pixels) and frame rate (24, 25, 30, 50 and 60 fps). In the tests we used the MX Player video player in the “Hardware” mode. The test results are summarized in the table:

Fine No Fine No Fine No Fine No

Note: If in both columns Uniformity And Passes Green ratings are given, this means that, most likely, when watching films, artifacts caused by uneven alternation and frame skipping will either not be visible at all, or their number and visibility will not affect the viewing comfort. Red marks indicate possible problems with playback of the corresponding files.

According to the frame output criterion, the quality of playback of video files on the screen of the smartphone itself is good, since in most cases frames (or groups of frames) can (but are not required) be output with more or less uniform alternation of intervals and without skipping frames. The screen refresh rate is 58 Hz, so in the case of files with 60 fps, at least two frames per second are skipped, but sometimes more, and several in a row. When playing video files with a resolution of 1280 by 720 pixels (720p) on a smartphone screen, the image of the video file itself is displayed exactly along the border of the screen, one to one in pixels, that is, in the original resolution. The brightness range displayed on the screen corresponds to the standard range of 16-235: in the shadows and highlights, only about a couple of shades merge with black and white, respectively.

Battery life

The non-removable battery installed in Meizu M5c has a capacity of 3000 mAh. With such a battery, the hero of the review demonstrates modest but satisfactory results of autonomy. In real operating scenarios, the charge lasts for half a day or a day, depending on the load, but you shouldn’t count on more.

Testing has traditionally been carried out at the usual level of power consumption without using energy saving functions, although, of course, the device has them.

Continuous reading in the Moon+ Reader program (with a standard, light theme) at a minimum comfortable brightness level (brightness was set to 100 cd/m²) with auto-scrolling lasted until the battery was completely discharged for about 14 hours, and when continuously watching videos in high quality (720p) with the same brightness level after Wi-Fi network The device operates for approximately 9 hours. In 3D gaming mode, the smartphone can work up to 5.5 hours.

From a standard AC adapter with a maximum output current of 1.5 A, the smartphone is charged within 3 hours with a current of 1.28 A at a voltage of 5 V. Wireless charging smartphone does not support.

Bottom line

The Meizu M5c smartphone turned out to be quite simple in all respects. Low screen resolution, very weak hardware platform, lack of a fingerprint scanner, NFC, support for the H.265 codec and Glonass and BeiDou satellite systems, as well as a modest level of autonomy and the presence of a large number of garbage pre-installed useless applications, including demo games, - all this is not very pleasing. On the other hand, Meizu products can traditionally boast of high quality workmanship and the absence of obvious defects or defects. Everything stated is in place, there are no defects. For a certified smartphone priced at 8,990 rubles in Russian retail, this product is quite suitable, but you need to understand that this is a typical workhorse, and not a versatile device for multimedia entertainment. For them, the Meizu M5c does not have enough strength and capabilities.

Information about the make, model, and alternative names of the specific device, if available.

Design

Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Materials used, colors offered, certificates.

Width Width information - refers to the horizontal side of the device in its standard orientation during use.	70.5 mm (millimeters) 7.05 cm (centimeters) 0.23 ft (feet) 2.78 in (inches)
Height Height information - refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use.	144 mm (millimeters) 14.4 cm (centimeters) 0.47 ft (feet) 5.67 in (inches)
Thickness Information about the thickness of the device in different units of measurement.	8.3 mm (millimeters) 0.83 cm (centimeters) 0.03 ft (feet) 0.33 in (inches)
Weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement.	135 g (grams) 0.3 lbs (pounds) 4.76 oz (ounces)
Volume The approximate volume of the device, calculated based on the dimensions provided by the manufacturer. Refers to devices with the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped.	84.26 cm³ (cubic centimeters) 5.12in³ (cubic inches)
Colors Information about the colors in which this device is offered for sale.	Pink gold Blue Red Black Golden
Materials for making the case Materials used to make the device body.	Polycarbonate

SIM card

The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.

Mobile networks

A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.

GSM GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) is designed to replace the analogue mobile network (1G). For this reason, GSM is often called a 2G mobile network. It is improved by the addition of GPRS (General Packet Radio Services), and later EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) technologies.	GSM 850 MHz GSM 900 MHz GSM 1800 MHz GSM 1900 MHz
TD-SCDMA TD-SCDMA (Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access) is a 3G mobile network standard. It is also called UTRA/UMTS-TDD LCR. It was developed as an alternative to the W-CDMA standard in China by the Chinese Academy of Telecommunications Technology, Datang Telecom and Siemens. TD-SCDMA combines TDMA and CDMA.	TD-SCDMA 1880-1920 MHz TD-SCDMA 2010-2025 MHz
UMTS UMTS is an abbreviation for Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. It is based on the GSM standard and belongs to 3G mobile networks. Developed by 3GPP and its biggest advantage is providing greater speed and spectral efficiency thanks to W-CDMA technology.	UMTS 850 MHz UMTS 900 MHz UMTS 1900 MHz UMTS 2100 MHz
LTE LTE (Long Term Evolution) is defined as a fourth generation (4G) technology. It is developed by 3GPP based on GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA to increase the capacity and speed of wireless mobile networks. The subsequent technology development is called LTE Advanced.	LTE 800 MHz LTE 850 MHz LTE 900 MHz LTE 1800 MHz LTE 2100 MHz LTE 2600 MHz LTE-TDD 2300 MHz (B40) LTE-TDD 2600 MHz (B38)

Mobile communication technologies and data transfer speeds

Communication between devices on mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data transfer rates.

Operating system

An operating system is a system software that manages and coordinates the operation of hardware components in a device.

SoC (System on Chip)

A system on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device on one chip.

SoC (System on Chip) A system on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components such as a processor, GPU, memory, peripherals, interfaces, etc., as well as the software necessary for their operation.	MediaTek MT6737
Technological process Information about technological process, on which the chip is made. Nanometers measure half the distance between elements in the processor.	28 nm (nanometers)
Processor (CPU) The primary function of a mobile device's processor (CPU) is to interpret and execute instructions contained in software applications.	ARM Cortex-A53
Processor size The size (in bits) of a processor is determined by the size (in bits) of the registers, address buses, and data buses. 64-bit processors have higher performance compared to 32-bit processors, which in turn are more powerful than 16-bit processors.	64 bit
Instruction Set Architecture Instructions are commands with which the software sets/controls the operation of the processor. Information about the instruction set (ISA) that the processor can execute.	ARMv8-A
Level 1 cache (L1) Cache memory is used by the processor to reduce access time to more frequently used data and instructions. L1 (level 1) cache is small in size and works much faster as system memory, and other levels of cache memory. If the processor does not find the requested data in L1, it continues to look for it in the L2 cache. On some processors, this search is performed simultaneously in L1 and L2.	32 kB + 32 kB (kilobytes)
Level 2 cache (L2) L2 (level 2) cache is slower than L1 cache, but in return it has a higher capacity, allowing it to cache more data. It, like L1, is much faster than system memory (RAM). If the processor does not find the requested data in L2, it continues to look for it in the L3 cache (if available) or in RAM memory.	512 kB (kilobytes) 0.5 MB (megabytes)
Number of processor cores The processor core executes software instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Having more cores increases performance by allowing multiple instructions to be executed in parallel.	4
CPU clock speed The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in terms of cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).	1300 MHz (megahertz)
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) The Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) handles calculations for various 2D/3D graphics applications. In mobile devices, it is most often used by games, consumer interfaces, video applications, etc.	ARM Mali-T720 MP1
Number of GPU cores Like a CPU, a GPU is made up of several working parts called cores. They handle graphics calculations for various applications.	1
GPU clock speed Running speed is the clock speed of the GPU, measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).	600 MHz (megahertz)
Amount of random access memory (RAM) Random access memory (RAM) is used by the operating system and all installed applications. Data stored in RAM is lost after the device is turned off or restarted.	2 GB (gigabytes)
Type of random access memory (RAM) Information about the type of random access memory (RAM) used by the device.	LPDDR3
Number of RAM channels Information about the number of RAM channels that are integrated into the SoC. More channels mean higher data rates.	Single channel
RAM frequency The frequency of RAM determines its operating speed, more specifically, the speed of reading/writing data.	640 MHz (megahertz)

Built-in memory

Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed capacity.

Memory cards

Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage capacity for storing data.

Screen

The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.

Type/technology One of the main characteristics of the screen is the technology by which it is made and on which the quality of the information image directly depends.	IPS
Diagonal For mobile devices, screen size is expressed by the length of its diagonal, measured in inches.	5 in (inches) 127 mm (millimeters) 12.7 cm (centimeters)
Width Approximate screen width	2.45 in (inches) 62.26 mm (millimeters) 6.23 cm (centimeters)
Height Approximate screen height	4.36 in (inches) 110.69 mm (millimeters) 11.07 cm (centimeters)
Aspect Ratio The ratio of the dimensions of the long side of the screen to its short side	1.778:1 16:9
Permission Screen resolution shows the number of pixels vertically and horizontally on the screen. Higher resolution means clearer image detail.	720 x 1280 pixels
Pixel Density Information about the number of pixels per centimeter or inch of the screen. Higher density allows information to be displayed on the screen with clearer detail.	294 ppi (pixels per inch) 115 ppcm (pixels per centimeter)
Color depth Screen color depth reflects the total number of bits used for color components in one pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors that the screen can display.	24 bit 16777216 flowers
Screen area Approximate percentage of screen area occupied by the screen on the front of the device.	68.11% (percentage)
Other characteristics Information about other screen features and characteristics.	Capacitive Multi-touch
	2.5D curved glass screen GFF full lamination 1000:1 contrast ratio 400 cd/m²

Sensors

Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that a mobile device can recognize.

Main camera

The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on the back of the body and is used for taking photos and videos.

Sensor model	Samsung S5K4H8
Sensor type
Sensor size	3.67 x 2.76 mm (millimeters) 0.18 in (inches)
Pixel size	1.124 µm (micrometers) 0.001124 mm (millimeters)
Crop factor	9.42
Diaphragm	f/2
Focal length	2.5 mm (millimeters) 23.56 mm (millimeters) *(35 mm / full frame)
Flash type The most common types of flashes in mobile device cameras are LED and xenon flashes. LED flashes produce softer light and, unlike brighter xenon flashes, are also used for video shooting.	Double LED
Image Resolution One of the main characteristics of mobile device cameras is their resolution, which shows the number of horizontal and vertical pixels in the image.	3264 x 2448 pixels 7.99 MP (megapixels)
Video resolution Information about the maximum supported resolution when shooting video with the device.	1280 x 720 pixels 0.92 MP (megapixels)
Information about the maximum number of frames per second (fps) supported by the device when shooting video at the maximum resolution. Some of the main standard video shooting and playback speeds are 24p, 25p, 30p, 60p.	30fps (frames per second)
Characteristics Information about other software and hardware features related to the main camera and improving its functionality.	Autofocus Continuous shooting Digital zoom Geographical tags Panoramic photography HDR shooting Touch Focus Face recognition White Balance Adjustment ISO Setting Exposure compensation Self-timer Scene Selection Mode
	5-element lens

Additional camera

Additional cameras are usually mounted above the device screen and are used mainly for video conversations, gesture recognition, etc.

Sensor model Information about the manufacturer and model of the photo sensor used in the device's camera.	Samsung S5K5E8
Sensor type Digital cameras use photo sensors to take photographs. The sensor, as well as optics, are one of the main factors in the quality of the camera in a mobile device.	CMOS BSI (backside illumination)
Sensor size Information about the dimensions of the photosensor used in the device. Typically cameras with larger sensors and lower pixel densities offer more high quality images despite the lower resolution.	2.9 x 2.15 mm (millimeters) 0.14 in (inches)
Pixel size The smaller pixel size of the photosensor allows more pixels per unit area, thereby increasing resolution. On the other hand, a smaller pixel size can have a negative impact on image quality at high ISO levels.	1.133 µm (micrometers) 0.001133 mm (millimeters)
Crop factor The crop factor is the ratio between the dimensions of the full-frame sensor (36 x 24 mm, equivalent to a frame of standard 35 mm film) and the dimensions of the device's photosensor. The indicated number represents the ratio of the diagonals of the full-frame sensor (43.3 mm) and the photosensor specific device.	11.99
Diaphragm Aperture (f-number) is the size of the aperture opening that controls the amount of light reaching the photosensor. A lower f-number means the aperture opening is larger.	f/2.2
Focal length Focal length is the distance in millimeters from the photosensor to the optical center of the lens. The equivalent focal length is also indicated, providing the same field of view with a full frame camera.	2.5 mm (millimeters) 29.96 mm (millimeters) *(35 mm / full frame)
Image Resolution Information about the maximum resolution of the additional camera when shooting. In most cases, the resolution of the secondary camera is lower than that of the main camera.	2560 x 1920 pixels 4.92 MP (megapixels)
Video resolution Information about the maximum supported video resolution additional camera.	640 x 480 pixels 0.31 MP (megapixels)
Video - frame rate/frames per second. Information about the maximum number of frames per second (fps) supported by the secondary camera when shooting video at the maximum resolution.	30fps (frames per second)
	4-element lens

Audio

Information about the type of speakers and audio technologies supported by the device.

Radio

The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.

Location determination

Information about the navigation and location technologies supported by your device.

WiFi

Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for transmitting data over close distances between various devices.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless data transfer between various devices of different types over short distances.

USB

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to exchange data.

Headphone jack

This is an audio connector, also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Connecting devices

Information about other important connection technologies supported by your device.

Browser

A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.

Video file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support different video file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital video data.

Battery

Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge necessary for their functioning.

Capacity A battery's capacity indicates the maximum charge it can hold, measured in milliamp-hours.	3000 mAh (milliamp-hours)
Type The type of battery is determined by its structure and, more precisely, the chemicals used. There are different types of batteries, with lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries being the most commonly used batteries in mobile devices.	Li-Ion (Lithium-ion)
2G talk time 2G talk time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged during a continuous conversation on a 2G network.	37 h (hours) 2220 min (minutes) 1.5 days
2G latency 2G standby time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 2G network.	360 h (hours) 21600 min (minutes) 15 days
3G talk time 3G talk time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged during a continuous conversation on a 3G network.	37 h (hours) 2220 min (minutes) 1.5 days
3G latency 3G standby time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 3G network.	360 h (hours) 21600 min (minutes) 15 days
Adapter output power Power Information electric current(measured in amperes) and electrical voltage (measured in volts) supplied by the charger ( output power). Higher power output ensures faster battery charging.	5 V (volts) / 1.5 A (amps)
Characteristics Information about some additional characteristics of the device's battery.	Fixed

Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)

The SAR level refers to the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the human body while using a mobile device.

SAR level for head (EU) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation that the human body is exposed to when holding a mobile device close to the ear in a conversation position. In Europe, the maximum permissible SAR value for mobile devices is limited to 2 W/kg per 10 grams of human tissue. This standard established by the CENELEC Committee in accordance with IEC standards, subject to the ICNIRP guidelines of 1998.

0.78 W/kg (Watt per kilogram)

Body SAR level (EU) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device at hip level. The maximum permissible SAR value for mobile devices in Europe is 2 W/kg per 10 grams of human tissue. This standard has been established by the CENELEC Committee in compliance with the ICNIRP 1998 guidelines and IEC standards.

1.79 W/kg (Watt per kilogram)

Recently, the tech giant from the Middle Kingdom has been trying to release more models. Only a few months have passed since the release of Meizu M3S, when on October 31, 2016, a representative of the same Meizu M5 line appeared on the scene.

The company's behavior is a little strange. Firstly, in such a short period of time it produces two very similar models. Secondly, the numbering sequence in the name is broken: Meizu immediately went to five. You might think that this is a trend of the current year: Samsung also decided not to release Galaxy Note 6, and immediately introduced the Galaxy Note 7. True, the fate of the latter turned out to be very sad. Although the version that seems more plausible is that in China the number 4 is considered unlucky, and therefore the model number 4 was skipped.

We will see later whether such machinations will help achieve high sales, and what lies inside the Meizu M5 or, as it is also called, Blue Charm 5, we will consider in our review. The new product starts from about $120. For that kind of money, it was equipped with a fingerprint scanner and good hardware.

Compared to its predecessor, the screen size has increased, the battery capacity has increased and the design has changed.

Design, case materials, dimensions and weight

The main and most noticeable difference in appearance– metal parts of the body are now made of polycarbonate. The design is quite strong; after a smartphone falls from a relatively small height, no traces remain on it, but it is unlikely that it will withstand strong external pressure. The design is made in Meizu style and is similar to most other smartphones from the manufacturer.

There are five color options: white, black, gold, blue and mint. All variants have a black front panel. She looks quite impressive. Below the screen there is an oval-shaped button. It also has a built-in fingerprint scanner. About her functionality We'll tell you below.

Above the display there is a speaker and a front camera without flash. There are no connectors on the top.

Sim cards are inserted on the left, on the right is the on/off button and the volume key. At the bottom there is a microphone, audio jack, USB port and speaker. Back cover non-removable. On the back panel at the top there is the main camera, which is recessed into the back panel and does not extend beyond it. Under the main camera there is a flash and the Meizu logo.

The top end is empty.

The smartphone has a good screen-to-body ratio of 69.5% for a budget phone. The physical dimensions are not too large: height 147.3 mm, width 72.8 mm, and thickness only 8.2 mm. The device weighs 138 grams.

CPU

Inside the Meizu M5, last year's Mediatek 6750 chipset is installed. It consists of eight Cortex-A53 cores, one half clocked at 1.5 GHz and the other at 1 GHz. The chipset was manufactured using a 28 nm process technology. Graphics processing is handled by the Mali-T860 MP2 GPU. It operates at 650 MHz. In the popular AnTuTu test, the smartphone in question scored just over 40 thousand points.

The device works quite quickly when the process is already running, but it will take some time to launch the application. When surfing the Internet, pages turn quickly, there are no serious slowdowns. Games launch and you can play them, but heavy toys slow down a bit. However, for a hundred-dollar smartphone, this is quite an excellent result.

Memory

The Chinese company has released two versions of the smartphone: with 2 or 3 GB of RAM and, respectively, with 16 or 32 GB of permanent memory. For those who find the memory not enough, there is a slot for a memory card with a capacity of up to 256 GB, but it is a hybrid one.

The operating system takes up about 4 GB of memory, the remaining space is provided for storing personal files and installing applications.

Autonomy

Compared to its predecessor, the battery capacity was slightly increased to 3070 mAh. The battery charge is enough for a full day of use. When watching videos from the Internet with the brightness level set to half, the battery loses an average of 11% charge per hour. With moderate use, the battery should last a couple of days.

Camera

The main camera has a maximum photo resolution of 13 MP. The photo quality is normal for a smartphone of this level; there is phase detection autofocus. Photos look great in clear, sunny weather and daylight, but the sky can be overexposed. The HDR mode helps to obtain better-exposed photos of objects in difficult lighting conditions, but only slightly.

Example photos taken from androidheadlines.com

In low light, the detail in the pictures deteriorates sharply. The present flash does not help.

With the front 5-megapixel camera, things are worse in this regard, since there is no flash at the front. However, it has a wider aperture of f/2.0 (the main camera has f/2.2).

Shot with the front camera

The maximum resolution when shooting video is 1080p. The frame rate is 30 fps. The quality of the resulting videos is quite suitable for non-picky fans who occasionally shoot for social networks.

Display

As noted above, the display size has been increased slightly to 5.2 inches, and the resolution, like the M3S, remains the same 720p, so the pixel density has dropped to 282 pixels per inch. The display is bright enough (380 cd/m2), so in sunny weather it will not be difficult to see what is shown on it. The smartphone has an IPS matrix.

It is worth noting that the screen shows natural colors and has large viewing angles. Color temperature is adjustable. The contrast level is average 1000:1. The display is covered with glass with an oleophobic coating. Fingers glide over its surface easily and it is pleasant to the touch.

Connection

Two SIM cards are Nano-sized, one of the slots is hybrid and you can insert a microSD card into it. Communication standards supported: LTE, 3G, 2G. Navigation is carried out using A-GPS and GLONASS. For wireless transmission data there are dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. The smartphone supports LTE Band 20 and VoLTE technology.

Sound

There are no special graces in the Meizu M5 audio system. However, the sound from the speakers is heard clearly without interference or hiss. The frequency range is represented almost completely, but most of all the mid frequencies. Of course, if we compare this device with modern flagships, it will be a little quieter. However, its volume is enough to hear the call.

operating system

Initially installed operating system Android 6.0, on top of which is the Flyme 5.5 user interface from Meizu. Considering the current trend, this model It is unlikely to upgrade to Nougat, although improvements to its own user interface and the addition of useful features are quite possible.

Managing the device is not like managing other Android smartphones. A single physical button performs multiple actions. When you touch it, the user goes back one step. If you press the key, the home page will appear on the screen.

IN user interface Meizu has the ability to configure opening an application and waking up the device using gestures drawn on a non-luminous display. For example, if you draw the letter M with your fingers, Google Maps will launch.

Individual features of Meizu M5

The device in question belongs to the budget class and it’s nice to see a fingerprint scanner in this price category. Moreover, in Meizu M5 it is not for show, and copes well with its direct responsibility. We are not talking about any record speeds of fingerprint recognition, but it works and correctly identifies the user.

Pros and cons of Meizu M5

• low price;
• HD screen;
• Fingerprint's scanner;
• 2 GB RAM;
• The battery lasts for a whole day.

Cons: Considering the cost of the device, there are no significant disadvantages, although some will not like the lack of a separate slot for memory cards and a non-removable battery.

Who is Meizu M5 suitable for?

The smartphone is well suited for those who want a stable and modern Android device. Or for those who need a confident budget employee to perform simple daily actions: check social networks, surf the Internet, listen to music on headphones and watch a short video.

Our review of Meizu M5

Gone are the days when Chinese goods were considered consumer goods. The reviewed Meizu M5 is capable of competing with more expensive devices from well-known brands. In addition, as our review showed, the smartphone has everything you need: normal cameras for daytime shooting, a large display, a fingerprint scanner and good battery life.

previous records