Meizu m2 laptop 16 gigabyte white. Appearance and ease of use

Quality for young people

There is no limit to perfection. We present Meizu M2 Note just 6 months after the launch of its predecessor, which new model superior in many aspects. Improved body ergonomics, an optimized camera and a completely new mBack button are just some of the improvements. All this and much more dramatically improves the quality of your experience of our new smartphone.

Solid casting and precision machining

The production process of Meizu M2 Note uses an advanced method solid casting. Combined with a polycarbonate body that encases a magnesium alloy metal frame, it creates a structure that is both soft and durable. For the first time in the m-series of phones, we use the mBack key: a specially machined aluminum alloy ring not only looks beautiful after this procedure, but also offers convenience and high reliability during operation.

5.5-inch FullHD display

Screen high resolution 5.5" (1080P) adopts IGZO technology, which ensures stable performance and low power consumption at every time. Pixel density - 403 PPI, high contrast - 1000:1, brightness - 450 cd/m2. All this ensures excellent viewing quality, even in strong ambient light conditions. GFF full lamination technology minimizes glare and improves display quality. The screen is protected from damage by tempered glass.

8-core 64-bit processor and triple-core graphics

The latest generation 64-bit MT6753 processor consists of eight Cortex A53 cores, which skillfully distribute computing power in accordance with the current task, be it a resource-demanding 3D game or, conversely, some simple operation. 64-bit tri-core GPU Mali-T720 provides smooth video playback.

5 network types, 13 frequencies, dual SIM standby and dual 4G

Meizu M2 Note supports both TD-LTE and FDD-LTE bands of 4G networks, including Russian networks LTE. This means you can switch between them without any restrictions. Two NanoSIM cards can be installed in one SIM tray of the phone, which also supports MicroSD memory cards with a capacity of up to 128 GB.

13 MP camera with dual-color flash

Battery SONY 3100 mAh

A high-tech battery with a capacity of 3100 mAh is supplied by SONY/ATL. Such batteries are rarely seen in phones in this price category, but we use this high-quality battery in the Meizu M2 Note so that you can be sure of long-term operation of the device.

New Flyme 4.5 based on Android 5.1

Only a 64-bit processor allows you to fully experience the benefits of Android 5.1 Lollipop. And it is with Flyme 4.5 that you can explore the features new version Android, such as memory and battery management.

Unexpected changes for the worse

Sometimes a situation occurs when one of the manufacturers suddenly realizes with horror the shocking fact that, through an oversight or oversight, he released an “ideal” product onto the market. That's how it happened in modern world that there is an unspoken rule among manufacturers: never sell to consumers at affordable price complete, universal products that meet all requirements. Which, in general, given a cynical approach to the issue, is probably justified. This happens extremely rarely, but this recently happened with the Meizu M1 Note smartphone. This mobile device overnight gained extraordinary popularity among both specialists and ordinary users, finding itself in the role of a kind of standard with which they began to compare literally any purchase of an average smartphone when it came to finding the best combination of price and quality. Real life cases demonstrated the same situation when users, having purchased a Meizu M1 Note, declared with full confidence that they now had no need for more expensive flagship products. “Because they are not much better than the Meizu M1 Note, but they are much more expensive.” All this, of course, frightened the company representatives, and they immediately rushed to replace their super-successful product with another. Which was seemingly not very noticeable, but in some ways significantly simplified, and this step obviously brought Meizu peace of mind.

This is indirectly confirmed by the fact that too soon after the Meizu M1 Note an update was released. At the same time, the M1 Note, which became an overnight legend, was quickly and quietly discontinued. Those who didn't make it in time were, as they say, late. Now buyers have no choice: the company’s budget line is closed with a really simple, absolutely not outstanding smartphone, which justifies its low price and does not excite the imagination of buyers - an ordinary average smartphone, of which there are many.

Main characteristics of Meizu M2 Note

• SoC MediaTek MT6753, 1.3 GHz, 8 cores, ARM Cortex-A53
• GPU Mali-T720 @450 MHz 3 cores
• operating room Android system 5.1, Flyme OS 4.5
• Sensory IPS display IGZO (Sharp) 5.5″, 1920×1080, 401 ppi
• Random access memory (RAM) 2 GB, internal memory 16/32 GB
• Nano-SIM support (2 pcs.)
• MicroSD support up to 128 GB
• Communication GSM 900/1800 MHz
• Communication 3G HSDPA 900/2100 MHz
• Data transmission LTE Cat.4 (150/50 Mbit/s) 1800/2100/2600 MHz
• Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n (2.4/5 GHz), point Wi-Fi access, Wi-Fi Direct
• Bluetooth 4.0 BLE
• GPS, A-GPS, Glonass
• USB 2.0, OTG
• Camera 13 MP, f/2.2, autofocus, 1080p video
• Front camera 5 MP, OmniVision OV5670, f/2.0, fixed. focus
• Gyroscope, proximity sensor, light sensor, gravity sensor, electronic compass
• Battery 3100 mAh, non-removable
• Dimensions 151×75×8.7 mm
• Weight 149 g

Scope of delivery

Meizu M2 Note goes on sale in exactly the same flat and square box made of hard snow-white cardboard as its predecessor, only the inside has acquired a different color. The box is designed in a minimalist style: only a couple of logos are printed on the outside on a snow-white background. The younger model did not receive the usual inner box, made in the form of a book.

The set of accessories is not rich: the box contains only a miniature charger with an output current of 2 A and a Micro-USB connecting cable, nothing more.

Just as in the case of the older models of the series, there were no headphones included, but the box contains an empty socket for them, filled with a plug with an unambiguous inscription.

Appearance and ease of use

In appearance, the Meizu M2 Note is practically no different from its predecessors. The company found its own specific design that it liked, and uses it in all its new products, from expensive to budget. This is still the same simple plastic boat lid without additional decorating elements, rounded on all sides with a streamlined shape.

There are no additional bezels, inserts or even chamfers - one solid plastic trough glued to the display glass. Inside this one-piece molded polycarbonate body is a magnesium alloy metal frame.

By size Meizu smartphone The M2 Note is quite large, but due to the significant curves on the sides on the back, the device can be held quite comfortably in the hand. The weight is small, the thickness is also not excessive, everything is within acceptable limits.

The material used, polycarbonate, depending on the color of the M2 Note case, can have either a matte or glossy surface. The quality of materials and assembly do not cause any complaints: no creaks, no deflections back cover or there is no trace of crunching when compressed, the body of the Meizu M2 Note creates the impression of a tightly built, reliably assembled, durable product.

Since there is no removable cover here, the device has an appropriate option for attaching cards: a metal tray is inserted into the side slot and removed using the supplied paperclip key. In this regard, there are many differences from the previous model: the format of supported SIM cards has changed to Nano-SIM, and it is now possible to replace the second SIM card with a memory card. It’s just not clear what the user should do if he suddenly wants to insert a second SIM card, because the information stored on the memory card is probably not there for the purpose, so that it can be easily lost in the event that support for a second SIM card is needed . In general, this compromise option with the need to choose between a second SIM card and a memory card looks ridiculous, and with such a large case size, it is also completely unjustified.

As for the hardware mechanical control buttons, the changes here also did not help. The ill-fated power and lock key from the top end has finally moved to its side, but it was placed right in the middle of the edge, so that it is inconvenient to reach it with your index finger. Maybe, of course, the Chinese themselves have smaller hands, or they hold the smartphone somehow differently, but for European palms this button is clearly located too low. However, for a left-handed person this option is even preferable.

The buttons themselves are large and easy to find blindly, but their movement is too hard and elastic, you have to press with considerable force.

As for the other mechanical button, the one located on the front side under the screen, its stroke, on the contrary, is excessively soft and too short, although when pressed a distinct and quite loud click is heard. The most annoying thing is that, unlike flagship models MX series, here no fingerprint scanner was built into the button that looks exactly the same, which is a pity.

On back side everything is familiar and familiar: a large camera window, covered protective glass Gorilla Glass 3 does not protrude beyond the surface at all. Next to it is a dual multi-colored flash consisting of two LEDs.

There is no speaker grille on the back side; it is located on the lower end of the case and is made of several large round holes. Here at the bottom there is also a Micro-USB connector that supports OTG connection, and next to it is a hole for a spoken microphone.

The audio jack for a mini-jack with a diameter of 3.5 mm for connecting headphones is located at the top end. The connectors of the device are not covered with plugs, and there are no fastenings for the strap on the case. The device did not receive protection from water and dust, support wireless charging- Same.

Regarding the variety of color options for Meizu M2 Note, we can say the following. There are three body colors (white, blue and pink), the surfaces of which are glossy and easily soiled, but the last, gray version, has a matte finish that is not at all easily soiled, but is slippery enough to hold in the hand. So, this is an infrequent case when ergonomics greatly depend on the color of the case, and here everyone must choose the most preferable option for themselves.

Screen

Meizu M2 Note is equipped with an IPS sensor matrix manufactured by Sharp/AUO, made using IGZO technology. The screen, by the way, unlike the M1 Note, is protected not by Gorilla Glass 3, but by AGC Dragontrail/NEG T2X-1. The physical dimensions of the screen are 68x121 mm, diagonal - 5.5 inches, resolution - 1920x1080 pixels, pixel density is 401 ppi.

The thickness of the frames from the edge of the screen to the edge of the body on the sides is about 3 mm, and on the top and bottom - 15 mm. With such a large display, such frames look quite thin, although not record-breaking.

The display brightness can be adjusted manually, or you can use automatic adjustment. Multi-touch technology here allows you to process 10 simultaneous touches. When you bring the smartphone to your ear, the screen is locked using a proximity sensor. The screen can be unlocked by double tapping the glass.

Detailed examination using measuring instruments conducted 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 may be slightly worse than those of the Google Nexus 7 (2013) screen (hereinafter simply Nexus 7). For clarity, here is a photograph in which a white surface is reflected in the switched off screens (on the left - Nexus 7, on the right - Meizu M2 Note, then they can be distinguished by size):

The screen of the Meizu M2 Note is slightly lighter (brightness according to photographs is 112 versus 108 for the Nexus 7). The ghosting of reflected objects in the Meizu M2 Note 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 strong 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 (effective, but slightly worse than that of the Nexus 7), so fingerprints are removed much more easily and appear at a slower rate than with regular glass.

At manual control brightness and when displaying a white field in full screen maximum value brightness was about 520 cd/m², the minimum was 1.7 cd/m². The maximum brightness is very high and, given the excellent anti-glare properties, readability even on a sunny day outdoors will be high level. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable value. In stock automatic adjustment brightness by the light sensor (it is located to the right of the front speaker slot). IN automatic mode When 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 automatic brightness adjustment function reduces the brightness to 200 cd/m² (too bright), in an office illuminated by artificial light (about 400 lux) it sets it to 290 cd/m² (too bright), in very in a bright environment (corresponding to lighting on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or a little more) increases to a maximum of 520 cd / m² (which is what is needed). Brightness slider at 50% - the values ​​are as follows: 70, 170 and 520 cd/m² (the first value is a bit bright, the rest are suitable), at 0% - 2.3, 30 and 520 cd/m² (the logic is clear). In general, the automatic brightness adjustment function works more or less adequately, and, apparently, the optimal option would be to position the slider between 0 and 50%. At any brightness level, there is virtually no backlight modulation, so there is no screen flicker.

IN this smartphone An IPS type matrix is ​​used. 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 significant color shift even with large viewing deviations from perpendicular to the screen and without inverting shades. For comparison, here are photographs in which the same images are displayed on the screens of Meizu M2 Note and Nexus 7, while the brightness of the screens was initially set to approximately 200 cd/m² (over a white field in the entire screen), and the color balance on the camera was forcibly switched to 6500 K . White field perpendicular to the screens:

Note the good uniformity of brightness and color tone of the white field. And a test picture:

Color rendition is good and the colors are saturated on both screens (in the photo of the Meizu M2 Note screen the saturation is higher due to a slight software increase in color contrast), the color balance differs slightly. 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, but on the Meizu M2 Note the contrast has decreased to a greater extent due to the strong brightening of black. And a white field:

The brightness at an angle of the screens decreased (by at least 5 times, based on the difference in shutter speed). However, the Meizu M2 Note screen is slightly darker at this angle. When deviated diagonally, the black field brightens greatly, but remains conditionally neutral gray in hue. The photographs below demonstrate this (the brightness of the white areas in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the screens is approximately the same!):

And from another angle:

When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the black field is very good:

The contrast (approximately in the center of the screen) is high - about 1050:1. The response time for the black-white-black transition is 23 ms (12 ms on + 11 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 38 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 2.26, which is slightly higher than the standard value of 2.2. In this case, the real gamma curve deviates little from the power-law dependence:

The color gamut is very close to sRGB:

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

As a result, visually the colors have a natural saturation. The balance of shades on the gray scale is good, since the color temperature is close to the standard 6500 K, and the deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) is less than 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 there is no color balance of great importance, and the error in measuring color characteristics at low brightness is large.)

This device has the ability to adjust the color balance by adjusting the tint warmer or cooler.

However, even with the default value, the color temperature is close to the standard value, so touch this setting doesn't make sense. Moreover, when using this setting, the white point practically does not change, and the gray shades turn pink or blue, such an imbalance looks simply terrible.

Let's summarize. The screen has a very high maximum brightness and has excellent anti-glare properties, so the device can be used outdoors without any problems, 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 more or less adequately. The advantages of the screen include an effective oleophobic coating, the absence of air gaps in the layers of the screen and flickering, high contrast, as well as a color gamut close to sRGB and good color balance. The disadvantages are the low stability of black to the deviation of the gaze from perpendicular to the screen plane. However, given the importance of the characteristics for this particular class of devices, the screen quality can be considered high and even very high.

Sound

Meizu M2 Note sounds quite good for its level. Both in the speakers and in the headphones, the sound is clear, bright, rich in the entire frequency spectrum, the maximum volume level is satisfactory, there are no distortions or wheezing. The speaker clearly conveys all the intonations and timbre, the voice of a familiar interlocutor remains recognizable.

To play music, a proprietary player with a large widget that fills the entire screen is used. In the player settings, you can use an equalizer with preset values, as well as use the function of improving sound quality by choosing from several different profiles of the Dirac HD Sound system, but all this becomes available only when you connect headphones.

The device can record telephone conversations from the line, to do this, just click on the corresponding button in the telephone application interface right during the call. As usual, there is no FM radio in the device.

Camera

The set of physical camera modules of the hero of the review, apparently, is exactly the same as that of the Meizu M1 Note, but in terms of software processing, not everything is so simple. However, the final verdict on the quality of shooting will be given below, but for now we will list the physical characteristics of the sensors used. The smartphone is equipped with two digital camera modules with a resolution of 13 and 5 megapixels. The front camera here is equipped with a 5-megapixel OmniVision OV5670 sensor with a wide-angle lens with a 4-element lens and an f/2.0 aperture and does not have autofocus or flash. Shoot on front camera you can use the hardware volume control key, which is convenient when creating self-portraits. The quality of the images is more than satisfactory for selfie level.

The main camera still has the same 13-megapixel Samsung sensor with a 5-element lens and f/2.2 aperture, fast autofocus and dual multi-color LED flash. The lens is protected by Gorilla Glass 3.

The shooting control menu is almost the same as in the previous model, but slightly more simplified in its capabilities. There are also several modes: in addition to automatic and manual, the user is given the opportunity to additionally use panoramic, portrait, and specific modes, such as manual focus change and barcode recognition mode. There is a slow motion mode for video. But the previously present macro modes for night time have disappeared.

The camera can shoot video in maximum resolution only up to 1080p, no 4K and 60 fps modes. Examples of test videos are presented below.

• Video No. 1 (26 MB, 1920×1080@30 fps)
• Video No. 2 (39 MB, 1920×1080@30 fps)
• Video No. 3 (30 MB, 1920×1080@30 fps)

	The camera copes well with noise in the shadows.
	Good sharpness across the frame.
	Details in the foreground are worked out well, and even in the distance the camera still tries.
	The camera is of little use for artistic photography.
	The text is well done.
	The camera copes with macro photography, although the sensor is weak.
	Even in good lighting you can see artifacts, but overall it's not that bad.
	The foliage merges quite quickly, but at least does not lose its shape.

Looks like a module Meizu cameras decided not to change. It's still not that bad and quite acceptable for budget segment. The camera does not always work out the details, but it tries, it suppresses noise not very carefully, but effectively, and does not abuse sharpening. Perhaps there is nothing more to add, since we already saw all this in the previous model.

In general, the camera is also good for not too demanding shooting in good lighting.

Telephone and communications

The communication part is the little thing that has improved here compared to the previous model. And even then, these changes are not relevant for everyone, but only for residents of those countries where LTE frequency FDD 2600 MHz, as in Russia, for example. For the rest, including the Chinese themselves, adding one frequency to the total number of supported frequencies does not really mean anything, because in Asia a completely different 4G technology (TD LTE) is in use. As a result, Meizu M2 Note, unlike its predecessor, not only works as standard in modern networks 2G GSM and 3G WCDMA, but also has full support for LTE networks in our country. With FDD LTE smartphone can now operate at frequencies of 1800/2100/2600 MHz.

The rest of the network capabilities of the smartphone are typical: NFC, as usual, no, both Wi-Fi bands are supported (2.4 and 5 GHz), Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Display, you can organize wireless point access via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth 4.0 channels. Micro-USB 2.0 connector supports connectivity external devices(USB Host, USB OTG), so you can connect flash drives and mice with keyboards to the Micro-USB port.

The navigation module works with both GPS (with A-GPS) and the domestic Glonass. There are no complaints about the operation of the navigation module; the first satellites during a cold start are detected within the first tens of seconds. Among the smartphone's sensors there is a magnetic field sensor, on the basis of which the digital compass of navigation programs operates.

The smartphone supports dual SIM cards. When making a call, you can select the desired card, but in advance you cannot designate any of the SIM cards as the main one for organizing voice calls or sending SMS messages. A SIM card in any slot can work with 3G/4G networks, but only one of the cards can function in this mode at a time. To change the assignment of slots, cards do not need to be swapped - this can be done directly from the phone menu. Work with two SIM cards is organized according to the familiar Dual standard SIM Dual Standby, when both cards can be in active standby mode, but cannot work at the same time - there is only one radio module.

OS and software

The device is used as a system software platform Google Android is the latest version 5.1, but the proprietary Material Design interface is not visible here - everything is hidden and replaced with elements of its own Flyme OS shell. The proprietary interface has the latest version number 4.5 with the possibility of further updates “over the air”. However, in general, there were no noticeable changes to the average user can’t be found here, and the change in the serial number of the shell is associated only with “tailoring” to the new fifth Android version OS.

The shell's capabilities are exactly the same as those of previous models. The interface is strict, concise, beautifully and clearly designed, all sections are correctly sorted, access to any settings is literally in a couple of clicks, the menu is intuitive, unnecessary programs practically none.

As usual, great attention is paid to working with gestures; nothing changes in this regard. To make it easier to work with the huge screen with the fingers of one hand, there is a virtual button SmartTouch. It can be installed anywhere on the screen, and can be used to move the image halfway down to make it easier to reach the top elements. Gestures are also used to interact with the latest menu. open source software, notification curtain, unlocking home screen etc. As usual, there are no side touch keys below the screen, so some of their responsibilities are assigned to the only central hardware button. For example, the function of going back one step. In general, despite some inconvenience associated with the constant need for “jewelry” work with gestures, user interface Flyme OS from Meizu is one of the most attractive, neat-looking, well-thought-out and systematized alternative shells for working with Android OS.

Performance

The saddest news about the changes that have occurred with the updated model is the noticeable setback in terms of hardware performance. Here, the entire system, including the CPU and GPU, has been significantly simplified and trimmed down, and therefore the new modification has become significantly less productive, and this has largely affected the gaming capabilities of the smartphone. Instead of powerful graphics accelerator Mali-T760 with a core frequency of up to 700 MHz, the triple-core Mali-T720 with a core frequency of up to 450 MHz is now used here, which could not but negatively affect gaming performance.

The Meizu M2 Note hardware platform itself has also undergone significant changes in the direction of reducing the overall system power: now the smartphone is based on a single-chip system (SoC) MediaTek MT6753, which has the same eight Cortex-A53 processor cores operating at a frequency of only up to 1300 MHz , and not 1700 MHz, as was the case with the MediaTek MT6752 platform used in the M1 Note. The amount of RAM is the same 2 GB, and the internal memory is allocated, depending on the modification, 16 or 32 GB. Supported microSD cards, but then the user is deprived of the ability to use the second SIM card.

According to the testing results, as one would expect, the platform, stripped down in all respects, demonstrated weaker results than the fast and productive SoC used in the previous model. There is not much to add here; Meizu M2 Note owners can expect lower results in all tests and worse gaming performance than Meizu M1 Note owners.

Testing in latest versions comprehensive tests AnTuTu and GeekBench 3:

All the results we obtained when testing the smartphone in the most latest versions popular benchmarks, we have summarized them in tables for convenience. The table usually adds several other devices from different segments, also tested on similar latest versions of 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 benchmarks, so many worthy and current models- due to the fact that at one time they went through an “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).

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.

Thermal photographs

Below is a thermal image back surface(the lighter the shade, the higher the temperature), obtained after 10 minutes of battery testing in the GFXBenchmark program:

It can be seen that the heating is noticeably higher in the upper left part of the device, which apparently corresponds to the location of the SoC chip. The localization of heating is well expressed, since the plastic case does not distribute heat well. According to the heat camera, the maximum heating was 40 degrees, which is the average heating in this test among modern smartphones.

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.

According to the testing results, the subject was equipped with all the necessary decoders that are necessary for full playback of most of the most common multimedia files on the network. That is, to successfully play them you don’t even have to resort to the help of a third-party player - for example, MX Player, although playback there will also support the AC3 audio format, which is good news.

Tested video output features 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. To do this, we used a set of test files with an arrow and a rectangle moving one division per frame (see “Method 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: Resolution varied (1280 by 720 (720p) and 1920 by 1080 (1080p) 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:

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 related to the 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 frames (or groups of frames) can (but are not required) be output with more or less uniform alternation of intervals and without skipping (except for options with 60 frames/s) frames. When playing video files with a resolution of 1920 by 1080 (1080p) 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 standard range 16-235 - in the shadows, only a couple of shades closest to black do not differ from it in brightness; in the highlights, all gradations of shades are displayed.

Battery life

Even in terms of the volume of the built-in battery, the Meizu M2 Note turned out to be weaker than its predecessor. The device received a less capacious battery (3100 mAh), although the difference is not so significant. And yet, the smartphone demonstrated a noticeably worse level of autonomy in all usage scenarios than the previous M1 Note model.

Continuous reading in the FBReader program (with a standard, light theme, with auto-scrolling) at a minimum comfortable brightness level (brightness was set to 100 cd/m²) lasted 13 hours until the battery was completely discharged, and when continuously watching videos in high quality(720p) with the same brightness level via home Wi-Fi network The device lasted no more than 8.5 hours. In 3D gaming mode, the smartphone worked for 4 hours. Full charging time is approximately 2 hours 10 minutes.

Bottom line

As for the cost of Meizu M2 Note, it, as one would expect, was slightly changed down compared to more powerful model M1 Note. However, the ups and downs of the foreign exchange market ultimately led to the fact that the weaker model had almost caught up with its predecessor in price. However, those M1 Note smartphones that are now being sold from leftovers have become even more expensive. If we take into account modern market realities, then at a price of 15 thousand rubles, a well-made smartphone with a large, high-quality, bright screen, good sound and camera, and a decent set of networking opportunities seems like a reasonable proposal. And at the same time, we have witnessed how the overall performance and level of autonomy of the device has deteriorated compared to the M1 Note.

Moreover, no matter how you look at it, it’s sad to realize that the manufacturer deliberately deteriorated the fundamental functions of its product, just so as not to undermine the marketing foundations of the market. At the same time, the opinion of fans of the brand, apparently, receded into the background for Meizu, giving way to cold calculation.

Meizu M2 Note is a bright and beautiful smartphone with a large screen. The gadget is aimed at young people who want to get a productive mobile device for little money. The official announcement of the device took place in June 2015.

Appearance and ergonomics

The elegant body of the Meizu M2 Note is made of high-quality polycarbonate. It uses the one-piece casting method, which creates a single strong and soft structure. Also inside there is a frame that strengthens the body, made of magnesium alloy. As for the polycarbonate itself, it passed additional processing. This enabled the device to look truly impressive, as the glossy body literally sparkles and shimmers in the sun. One of the interesting features of the model is the presence of the mBack navigation button, which is located under the display. On the bottom edge there is a microphone, a multimedia speaker and a microUSB connector. The top end has an additional microphone and audio jack. The device fits quite well in the hand, but its polished surface is quite slippery. Inside there is a 3100 mAh battery. Available colors: white, pink, blue and grey. Dimensions: height - 150.9 mm, thickness - 8.7 mm, width - 75.2 mm, weight - 149 g.

Display

The M2 Note is equipped with a 5.5-inch screen from Sharp/AUO, which is made using IGZO technology. Therefore, the display features low power consumption as well as stable quality. Excellent FHD resolution and increased pixel density make the image extremely detailed. Increased contrast makes the picture rich and juicy. This IPS matrix has good viewing angles. This screen is covered with AGC Dragontrail protective glass.

Hardware and performance

The M2 Note houses an eight-core MT6753 processor from MediaTek. All its cores operate at a frequency of 1300 MHz. There is a Mali-T720 MP3 3D accelerator, and the amount of built-in memory ranges from 16 GB to 32 GB (storage volume depends on the version). The device easily supports MicroSD cards up to 64 GB. Available 2 GB RAM LPDDR3, which operates in dual-channel mode. Installed here operating system Android 5, and also has Flyme 4.5 shell. In the AnTuTu test, the gadget scores just over 32,000 points. In real tasks there are no complaints about the performance of the smartphone. The exception is modern games, which go with noticeable slowdowns.

Communication and sound

The user will certainly be pleased with the high-quality sound of the external speaker in Meizu M2 Note. It is worth noting that its sound is not only clear, but also loud. The situation is similar with headphones. The device supports Bluetooth 4.0 and TD-LTE, FDD-LTE. Speaker good quality, the interlocutor can be heard clearly in many situations.

Camera

Meizu M2 Note received a 13-megapixel camera from Samsung. The advanced CMOS sensor is complemented by a two-color flash and protective glass Gorilla Glass 3. But the front 5-megapixel camera OmniVision OV5670 has at its disposal the FotoNation system, which significantly improves portrait photography.

Conclusions

The budget smartphone M2 Note is recommended for purchase by fans of mobile devices with a large, high-quality screen. At the same time, the model has decent technical characteristics, as well as an attractive appearance. Contents: phone, documentation, power adapter, paper clip and USB cable.

Pros:

• Colorful and large display.
• Excellent sound quality.
• Bright and stylish design.
• There is a slot for memory cards.
• There is support for LTE, as well as two SIM cards.

Cons:

• The glossy body is quite slippery.
• The graphics accelerator is not very suitable for games.

Specifications Meizu M2 Note

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