Previously, Meizu only had the MX series and new model came out about once a year. Each MX smartphone was eagerly awaited, because Meizu diligently showed the maximum of its capabilities in camera, sound and design. When the company had money (actually a lot of money) from investors, it began to follow a different strategy. New Approach allowed the manufacturer to produce, it seems, an unlimited number of models. And currently, Meizu distributes its devices in three directions: the budget Meilan, the mid-range MX, and the flagship Pro (as well as the experimental U). Let's see for whom the MX6 was released and what unique features it got.

Specifications Meizu MX6:

  • Network: GSM (900/1800/1900MHz), WCDMA (900/2100MHz), FDD-LTE (1800/2100/2600MHz), CDMA, EVDO, TD-SCDMA, TD-LTE
  • Platform: Flyme OS on Android based 6.0 Marshmallow
  • Display: 5.5", 1920x1080 pixels, 403 ppi, LCD, TDDI, contrast ratio 1500:1, brightness 500 cd/sq.m
  • Camera: 12MP phase detection autofocus, 6 lenses, f/2.0, dual tone LED flash, Sony IMX368 sensor, 1.25µm pixel size
  • Front-camera: 5 MP, f/2.0, 4 lenses, FotoNation 2.0
  • Processor: 10 cores (2 Cortex-A72 cores @ 2.3GHz + 4 Cortex-A53 cores @ 1.9GHz + 4 Cortex-A53 cores @ 1.4GHz) 64bit MediaTek Helio X20 MT6797
  • Graphics chip: Mali-T880MP4, 880 MHz
  • RAM: 4 GB
  • Internal memory: 32 GB
  • Memory card: no
  • A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou
  • Bluetooth 4.1 BLE
  • Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac), 2.4/5 GHz
  • 3.5mm headphone jack
  • USB type-C
  • Dual SIM slots
  • Battery: non-removable, 3060 mAh, fast charging mCharge
  • Dimensions: 153.6x75.2x7.25 mm
  • Weight: 155g

Unboxing

Design and equipment

The image of the phone is applied on the white box in silver - this is new for Meizu. But inside without surprises: phone, documentation, enhanced charging, USB cable Type-C and a needle for the SIM tray. The MX6 has four colors: gold, silver, black and pink. For Russians, everything is available except the last one.

With the design, Meizu did not really try. I took the back from the Pro 6 (curved stripes in an all-metal cover without plastic inserts), and borrowed the front from the Pro 5 and M3 Note (2.5D rounded glass). There is nothing wrong with the fact that the company transfers different elements of the case to different models, but it is becoming more and more difficult to distinguish Meizu smartphones from each other. This is a dangerous feature when it is difficult to distinguish an inexpensive budget from a strong middle peasant or even a flagship, not only in appearance, but also in materials. And if you step over it, then buyers will begin to wonder “why pay more if everyone looks the same, maybe I should look at the models of another company where there are differences?”. I would not want Meizu to follow in the footsteps of Sony and HTC, whose catalogs only the most hardened fans can sort through. Luckily, the announcements of the M3E/M3 Max and U10/U20 have shown that the design ideas are not yet exhausted and Meizu can still do it when it wants to. Regardless of the other models, the MX6 is good in performance and looks premium. Let secondary, but still very worthy. In addition, it is well-assembled and quite felt in the hands for its price (27,990 rubles in Russia).

The tray only fits two nano SIM cards. I cannot understand the logic of Xiaomi and Meizu, according to which they remove microSD support from expensive models, leaving hybrid trays in the representatives of the affordable Redmi and Meilan series. I remember that Samsung tried to awkwardly defend the lack of a memory card in the Galaxy S6 with phrases about fast memory and possible problems with microSD, but the tray returned in the Galaxy S7, so we know for sure that it's not the incompatibility of a fast internal drive and a flash drive (and this year, the head of Samsung's smartphone direction completely admitted that the company simply could not screw the microSD into the Galaxy S6, because the project was too large and had to sacrifice something - it was only a matter of time). The rejection of microSD in the MX6 could be understood if there were several modifications to choose from (32, 64, 128 GB, like Xiaomi Mi5 / Mi5s) and the company expected to make additional profit from the top versions, but there is only a 32 GB option. When positioning the phone as a photo flagship, this sounds somewhat mocking in the second half of 2016. On the other hand, I know a lot of users who do not know how to score even 16 GB of memory. If you are one of them, then 32 GB will last you a long time.

The multimedia speaker has five openings. I don't know if the extra hole affected the sound, but the MX6 sounds deeper, cleaner and louder than the Pro 6, which, in turn, makes sounds better Pro 5 and MX5. Music from the MX6 speaker sounds more decent than samsung galaxy S7 edge and OnePlus 3, not to mention the quiet Xiaomi Mi5, breaking into wheezing.

If you do not like AMOLED, then I hasten to please you: the MX6 has a high-quality IPS panel. To be more precise, Meizu has become friends with Sharp, which supplies 5.5 ”Full HD matrices made using TDDI technology. According to the Chinese company, such screens are rarely used (because they are expensive?), but it's worth it: the contrast ratio is 1500:1, the brightness is 500 nits, and the touch layer is located directly on the glass, which allows you to get a display with a thickness of no more than a millimeter. If you take the M3 Note in one hand and the MX6 in the other, you can see that the M3 Note has a screen inside, while the MX6 has a picture as if on a glass surface. Colors are comparable in contrast and saturation to the Pro 6 in default mode, but whites are noticeably whiter. Under diagonal tilts, the picture is slightly brightened, but with vertical and horizontal deviations, everything is fine. Did you miss the screens of MX2, MX3, MX4 Pro? You'll love the MX6 display.

Software

The Flyme OS 5.2.2.0G platform on Android 6.0 Marshmallow is the software basis of the MX6. We have repeatedly talked about the interface in other Meizu reviews, you can even watch a video comparing the fourth and fifth versions of Flyme:

However, I cannot fail to note the key features of the shell. The uniqueness of Flyme lies in the one-button control and gestures. Below the screen is the mTouch button. It is mechanical (pressed), has a touch layer and contains a fingerprint scanner. Pressing with a click produces the “home” action, just a touch - “back”, pressing with a hold - “lock”, double-clicking on the locker calls up the player control keys. It all sounds confusing, but in actual use it's pretty intuitive. call list open programs you can swipe from the bottom edge of the screen, and the notification curtain is lowered by scrolling across the desktop from any height.

In the settings there is a section " Special abilities". There you can activate gestures on the lock screen, with which you can switch tracks, turn on the screen by double tapping, unlock by swiping up, launch any application with finger-drawn letters. If the device is too big for you, then it makes sense to try to get used to the floating SmartTouch key, gestures on which lead to various actions. Of the unusual in the settings, we can mention several power modes (three performance modes), as well as useful opportunity make root in one click.

Attempts to make one-button control on Android were made by ZUK (in Z1 with the Chinese launcher ZUI) and Elephone (model P9000, optional), but they did not succeed in anything close in convenience. One-button can also be called iOS, but next to it, Flyme seems much more functional. In terms of gestures, Flyme does not have anything special, they are simply implemented with high quality.

The Meizu Pro 6 has a Cirrus Logic CS43L36 chip, and I expected the MX6, for which no advanced audio capabilities are announced at all, to sound noticeably worse. However, I listened to a dozen tracks and I can say that the MX6 and Pro 6 with Denon D600 and Meizu HD50 headphones play about the same. In addition to different maximum volume levels (which can be changed in engineering menu) you can see the slightly wider pitch of the Pro 6 with slightly more prominent tops. In general, both smartphones play tightly, with an emphasis on low frequencies, they cannot boast of a clear middle and clear highs. If you plan to listen to them with bass headphones, then I advise you to lower the bottoms in the equalizer, otherwise it will be a continuous boom-boom. In general, a slightly more “raw” presentation of the MX6 in places seems to be more advantageous than the Pro 6. I can say one thing - you should like the sound.

Camera

Company for a long time went on about Sony, buying sensors high resolution(over 20 MP). She well revealed the potential of such matrices (in my opinion, Meizu smartphones photograph better Sony Xperia), but at this stage the best mobile photos are obtained on 12-megapixel modules with enlarged pixels. So Meizu admitted at the presentation that resolution is not the main thing. And she considers it a prime example of this Apple iPhone. As a result of negotiations with Sony, the MX6 developed an IMX368 sensor with a pixel size of 1.25 microns, a resolution of 12 megapixels and support for phase focusing. The module also includes dual LED flash in different colors and 6-lens optics with f / 2.0 aperture. Camera characteristics are quite relevant for modern flagships, aren't they? As a guideline for setting up algorithms, the manufacturer took the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge. And, of course, I made a comparison with early software. All images shown were taken in automatic mode without HDR and screen taps, without exposure adjustment:

Meizu MX6 and Samsung Galaxy S7 edge:

Meizu MX6 and Samsung Galaxy S7 edge

You can read my detailed opinion on the comparison of the Meizu MX6 and Samsung Galaxy S7 edge cameras in a separate article. From the results obtained, I made the following conclusion for myself: in good lighting, the Meizu MX6 takes pictures no worse, rewarding frames with a more correct white balance without the sharpening inherent in the S7 family, and indoors and at dusk on the street, the Galaxy S7 edge breaks ahead with higher detail and less noise. The potential of the MX6 module is quite large and Meizu will have to reveal it with updates. But even now it is clear that the hero of the review is not a whipping boy in photo battles. If you are interested in knowing how the MX6 latest firmware shoots next to the Pro 6, then I prepared such a comparison (MX6 is almost always better):

Meizu MX6 and Meizu Pro 6:

Meizu MX6 and Meizu Pro 6

I summarize the general impressions of the main camera MX6: it focuses quickly and accurately (the fastest in the Meizu line!), it rarely misses white balance, it shoots very decently outdoors in daylight and indoors in good light, but with a fall lighting, a noticeable decrease in quality occurs (noises come out, a noticeable blurring of objects appears with a loss of detail).

The 5-megapixel front camera with f/2.0 aperture takes nice single and group selfies (angle allows). If desired, you can use the effects of "beautiful face".

The maximum video resolution from the main camera is 4K. It is written at 30 fps with a bit rate of 43 Mbps. There is tracking autofocus, and electronic stabilization. Usually, video shooting is not good for Chinese manufacturers, but this year Xiaomi, OnePlus, and Meizu have pulled up this direction. The MX6 has the best video footage I've ever seen Meizu smartphones. Of course, it does not reach the Apple iPhone 7 Plus or Google Pixel XL, but there is almost nothing to criticize objectively: focusing is fast (although it somehow nervously aims at infinity at night), sound recording is good (voice is captured clearly, ambient noise is cut off non-aggressively), stabilization acceptable (shaking is not extinguished completely, but there is no aquarium effect). Video from the front camera is captured at Full HD, everything is decent with it too. See:

Benchmarks and performance

Meizu Pro 6 uses the MediaTek Helio X25 processor, an overclocked modification of the MT6797 chip with the letter T - MT6797T. The MX6 model got the "regular" MediaTek Helio X20 - just MT6797. They have the same graphics cores, but the operating frequencies of the computing cores differ, of which there are 10 each. In X20, these clusters are: 2 Cortex-A72 cores at 2.3 GHz, 4 Cortex-A53 cores at 1.9 GHz, and 4 Cortex-A53 cores at 1.4 GHz. You can read more about the Pro 6 hardware in its review.

In principle, everything said earlier about the performance of the Pro 6 is also true for the MX6. It is nimble and responsive in the interface and applications, and thanks to 4 GB of RAM, it is able to store a lot of things in memory and quickly call the desired task. With games, it turns out the following: in Colin McRae Rally, the fps value is about 40, in Hungry Shark World - 30 fps, in NOVA 3 - 30-40 fps, in Reckless Racing 3 - 35-55 fps, in World of Tanks usually 30-50 fps , but with rare drawdowns up to 25 fps. With demanding toys, the situation is less joyful: in Titan Quest at the maximum distance of the camera, fps drops to 10-15 is a common thing, in Asphalt 8 the counter fixes about 20 fps on the Tokyo highway, and in Dead Trigger 2 the value jumps from 20 to 40 fps. The given figures are valid for the maximum graphics settings (if there is a choice) and the productive mode of the processor. In a balanced game, the speed in games is 10-30% worse, so I advise you not to be lazy to go into the settings and select the performance mode there. As you understand, in games the X20/X25 processors are somewhat uneven, although I consider the performance to be sufficient for the average user.

video discharge

rank in the game

Although the MediaTek Helio X20 processor does not set speed records in games, it cannot be taken away from its good power-saving abilities. The battery in the MX6 is 3060 mAh and it supports fast charging mCharge: up to 100% charged in 75 minutes (real measurements show a similar result). The company also says the battery won't have stability issues over its long lifespan of 500 cycles. For obvious reasons, I did not check this, but I measured the discharge in the video player mode and during the game. So the phone played video with maximum screen brightness for more than 8 hours, and the discharge in the game Asphalt 8 with comfortable brightness reached 21% in an hour (that is, you can play about 5 hours). During operation, the MX6 asked for charging like my Samsung Galaxy S7 edge - once every two days.

conclusions

The MX series has ceased to be the flagship, absorbing all the best from Meizu. With MX5 it wasn't so obvious, but after the release of MX6, I realized that MX for Meizu is a field for experiments and testing new ideas. The MX5 pioneered laser focus and an all-metal body, and it's still in active use today (check out the M3 Note). Of the new developments, the MX6 only has “good old-fashioned IPS” and a 12-megapixel camera with enlarged pixels, but this camera has a lot of potential and I was not surprised when it was flavored with an optical stabilizer in the Pro 6S. Segmentation of models on Meilan, MX and Pro does not allow endowing the MX with dedicated audio chips and better hardware, but the MX6 sounds good without them, and in terms of performance it is not inferior to the Pro 6.

The new MX6 is head and shoulders above the M3 Note in terms of camera and speed, and if you can afford to pay $10k extra, don't hesitate to make the right choice. But if 28 thousand is not the limit for you, then it makes sense to look at the Pro 6 in a more convenient case or wait for the top-end Pro 6 Plus to be announced soon. Some might say that Meizu has turned on the conveyor. Let it be. But fans of the brand have the widest choice among models for any budget.

  • Body materials: metal, glass, plastic inserts
  • Operating system: Android 6.0, Flyme 5.2
  • Network: GSM/EDGE, UMTS/HSDPA, LTE (TD/FDD-LTE 1/3/7), DualSIM (nanoSIM)
  • Screen: IPS LCD (Sharp), diagonal 5.5”, resolution 1920x1080, ppi 404, automatic adjustment backlight level, protective glass 2.5D
  • Platform: MediaTek Helio X20
  • Processor: 10-core, 64-bit, four Cortex-A53 cores at 1.4 GHz + four Cortex-A53 cores at 1.9 GHz + two Cortex-A72 cores at 2.3 GHz
  • Graphics: Mali T880 (four cores)
  • RAM: 4 GB
  • Storage Memory: 32 GB
  • Memory card slot: no
  • Main camera: 12 MP, 6 lenses, f/2.0, phase detection autofocus, pixel size 1.25 microns, dual LED flash, video is recorded in 4k
  • Front camera: 5 MP, f/2.0, video is recorded in 1080p
  • Interfaces: Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n/ac) Dual-Band, Bluetooth 4.0 (LE), USB Type C connector (USB 2.0, MHL) for charge/sync, 3.5 mm for headset
  • Navigation: GPS (support A-GPS), Glonass
  • Optional: mTouch 2.1 fingerprint scanner, accelerometer, light sensor, proximity sensor
  • Battery: 3060 mAh
  • Dimensions: 153.6 x 75.2 x 7.25 mm
  • Weight: 155 grams

Contents of delivery

Introduction

The presentation of the Meizu MX6 smartphone took place, as always, in Beijing, the event was scheduled for the end of July. The other day the device went on sale, so it makes sense to talk about the MX6 in a little more detail than in the "first glance".

Artem Lutfullin, who attended the Meizu presentation, correctly noted that the MX line is experimental: future devices will receive new features or original technical specifications, and in the future, the totality of all innovations will appear in other devices of the companies, especially in the Pro series of gadgets.

If we are talking about the MX6, then one of the key features was the camera - 12 MP, IMX386 sensor from Sony. Moreover, Meizu says that this is a custom sensor prepared specifically for the MX6. And I can confidently say that the camera in this gadget is the best among all Meizu smartphones that have come out so far.

The second, no less interesting thing is the screen matrix. It is also the best, in my opinion, among other devices of the Chinese company.

Let's take a closer look at these two sections.

The cost of Meizu MX6 is 28,000 rubles.

Design, dimensions, controls

Latest Smartphones Meizu companies are similar to each other, perhaps only the manufacturer himself can distinguish between them. The MX6 is almost a complete copy (in terms of appearance) of the Pro 6, only the first one is a little larger and there is no nice circular flash with laser focus. The dimensions of the novelty are 153.6 x 75.2 x 7.25 mm, that is, it is quite compact and thin, and weighs 155 grams, which is quite good for a 5.5-inch device in metal. I hope that the MX7 or Pro 7 will get a different design, the current one is a bit boring, isn't it?





The screen is covered with a protective glass with a 2.5D effect around the edges. During use, I did not “plant” a single scratch, chips and scuffs also did not appear. The oleophobic coating is present, of high quality, the prints are barely noticeable, the finger glides easily, like clockwork.




The case is all-metal with "veins" for antennas on the top and bottom on the reverse side. Looks stylish and neat. The corners are rounded, the edges are sloping and have smooth transitions to the back panel. In the hand lies perfectly due to the small thickness and rounding of the case.





On sale, the smartphone will be available in four colors: silver, gold and pink with a white front panel, as well as dark gray with a black front panel. In the meantime, only in silver and gold body colors with a white front panel. A dark gray body color with a black front panel will appear later.

On the front side, the camera and light / proximity sensors are symmetrically located, in the center - speaker. It is loud, sounds clear, the interlocutor is heard legibly and clearly.


Under the display is a mechanical-touch button-fingerprint scanner called mTouch 2.1. The shape is oblong, the edges are polished, the button is slightly recessed into the case, the pressing is firm, the stroke is minimal. The speed of operation of the fingerprint sensor does not raise questions.


Below is a speaker, USB Type-C (USB 2.0), a microphone and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. Only the second microphone is visible from above.




On the right are the power button and the volume rocker. Both are metal and easy to use. The SIM card tray (two nano-SIMs) is on the left.


The camera, which protrudes a millimeter above the body and has a polished conical rim, a two-tone flash, are located on the back of the device.



In general, nothing new, quite familiar, but still of high quality.


Meizu MX6 and M3 Note


Meizu MX6 and Honor 8


Display

The Meizu MX6 uses a 5.5-inch screen. The physical size of the display is 68x121 mm, the frame on the top is 15.5 mm, on the bottom is 16.5, on the right and left is a little less than 4 mm. There is an anti-reflective coating.

Meizu MX6 display resolution - FullHD, that is, 1080x1920 pixels, density - 400 pixels per inch. The matrix is ​​made according to IPS technology(Sharp TDDI) without air gap.

The maximum brightness of white is 450 cd/m2 (official data is 500), black is 0.59 cd/m2. Contrast - 760:1 (officially - 1500:1).

The white line is the goal we are trying to achieve. The yellow line is the actual screen data. You can see that we are directly on the target curve at values ​​from 0 to 100%, which means that at each value the image is sufficiently highlighted. The yellow line is actually the average amount of red, green and blue.


The average gamma value is 2.27.


Judging by the level chart, blue is in excess, and red is in short supply.


At the minimum brightness, the temperature is closer to 10,000 K, at the maximum, about - 8500 K, that is, the higher the brightness, the warmer the colors.


Judging by the diagram, the received data exceeds the sRGB triangle, that is, the color saturation is excellent.


All gray points are located outside the DeltaE=10 radius, which indicates that other shades will be present in gray colors.

Speaking in your own words, the screen has a low contrast ratio (relative to official data), it fades in the light. The colors are juicy, saturated, the viewing angles are maximum, there are no purple or yellow tints. Visually, the matrix conveys an excellent picture.



behavior in the world

Battery

This model uses a non-removable 3060 mAh battery.

When working with the device, the battery lasted for about 16-18 hours: about 20-30 minutes of calls per day, about 7 hours of using 3G / 4G (constant synchronization of mail, Twitter, WhatsApp, Skype, and so on), about 6 hours of Wi-Fi , several dozen photos, an hour of listening to music.

In a more gentle mode, the gadget works up to 24 hours. If you leave only data synchronization (Wi-Fi), then you can count on two days. Up to 7 hours of continuous talk.

In movie mode (HD), the battery runs out after about 9 hours, in game mode, the battery lasts for about 3.5 hours, in sound playback mode at maximum volume - up to 50 hours.

“The MX6 uses technology fast charging mCharge, which allows you to fully charge a 3060 mAh battery in 75 minutes. What's more, the battery has been engineered to provide stable performance over its entire 500-cycle life."

Communication options

The device is equipped with two nanoSIM slots. Both connectors support 3G/4G network (LTE CAT 6) in Russian frequencies.

Network types:

  • 2G GSM/GPRS/EDGE (900/1800/1900 MHz)
  • 3G WCDMA/HSPA+ (900/2100 MHz)
  • 4G FDD-LTE (1800/2100/2600 MHz)
  • 3G TD-SCDMA
  • 4G TD-LTE

The rest is standard: Wi-Fi (ac and b/g/n/ac) dual-band Wi-Fi(2.4 GHz / 5 GHz) - sensitivity at the level of Samsung Galaxy S6 / S7, Bluetooth 4.1, USB Type-C connector (alas, only USB 2.0) for charging / synchronization. GPS navigation works without problems.

Memory and memory card

The smartphone uses 4 GB dual-channel LPDDR3 RAM. Built-in memory can only be 32 GB. A somewhat sad story, because 26 GB is available, there is no other version, for example, 64 GB or 128 GB, and the device does not support memory cards. Information reading speed - 158 MB / s, information writing speed - 57 MB / s. To be honest, it's sparse, especially the recording speed.

cameras

Meizu's new product received, according to CEO Bai Yongxiang, a customized main module Sony cameras IMX386. In this case, a 12 MP sensor is used (pixel size 1.25 microns), optics (of 6 lenses) have an aperture of f = 2.0, and phase autofocus is present. Oddly enough, optical stabilization was “not delivered” again, and this is extremely sad: equipping the device with a cool camera and not building in a “stub” is a strange phenomenon. In addition, there is no laser "assistant" when focusing. Pleased with fast and accurate focus.

The front module is an OmniVision OV5695 sensor (¼ inch size, 1.4 micron pixel size) with OmniBSI + backlight technology. Optics consists of four lenses, f=2.0 aperture.

During the day, the main camera produces excellent quality pictures: perfect white balance, good detail, good dynamic range, rich colors, and so on. In general, with ideal lighting, almost all modern smartphones give a cool picture.

When the lighting level is lowered, the picture on the Meizu MX6 camera becomes soapy, noise reduction artifacts appear. However, the colors are always natural.

The gadget can record video in 4K resolution at 30 fps. MP4 H.265 codec, 43 Mbps. The quality is slightly above average. The front camera is capable of FullHD resolution at 30 fps. H.264 codec, 17 Mbps. The quality is excellent.

AT new version Firmware introduced the function of noise suppression. The device thinks about the photo a little longer than usual. However, I did not observe a big difference between the enabled and disabled option.

So on this moment the gadget shoots better than any other smartphone of its company and is already close to eminent camera phones, but not yet close enough to compete directly.

Photo examples

Performance and software platform

The Meizu MX6 smartphone is powered by MediaTek's Helio X20 chip. It is a 10-core chip with four Cortex-A53 1.4GHz, four Cortex-A53 1.8GHz and two Cortex-A72 2.3GHz, 20nm manufacturing process. The graphics system is ARM Mali-T880.

When the processor is loaded, the metal case practically does not heat up, remains warm, and it is comfortable not only to hold it, but also to bring it to your ear during a call. The device does not slow down, all applications run instantly, no lags were detected. Everything is fine with the games: all the "dins" are on the maximum settings.

Gadget Reviews

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Chinese manufacturer mobile technology never ceases to please its users with new products, and in different price ranges, whether it be the flagships of the Pro-series, affordable M-smartphones or their advanced MX versions.

One of these will be discussed. The Meizu MX6 model was presented to the audience in mid-2016.

The smartphone instantly attracted the attention of users with its representative appearance, cool camera, metal case, productive "stuffing" and high-quality screen.

The cost of new items at the start of sales was about 28,000 rubles, at the time of writing the review, the price tag has become an order of magnitude smaller and it is possible to purchase this amazing gadget for 19,990 rubles.

We will review this device below.

Packing, delivery set

The packaging of the smartphone looks quite presentable, it is a classic white color with an image of a sketch of the device in gold lines on the front.

On the sides there is a model designation "MX6". On the back of the box is short description characteristics.

Inside the box, all the elements are located strictly in compartments, nothing falls out, the smartphone lies tightly in the niche.

As for the layout, in addition to the device, the package includes a warranty card, quick guide user, SIM eject tool, power adapter, USB Type-C cable about 1 meter long.


Everything is quite modest, without a headset, films and other attributes.

Design, materials

The design of the novelty was created in accordance with the company's concept - smooth shapes, refined style, a thin metal case with plastic strips of antennas on top and bottom.



Outwardly, the MX6 is very much like Meizu flagship The Pro 6 is just slightly larger and lighter than its more expensive sibling.

The build quality, as always, is on top, there is a solidity, heftiness and knockdown of the smartphone. The materials also have high resistance to scratches and paint peeling during operation.

The gadget is produced in 4 basic colors: silver, gold, dark gray (graphite) and the popular rose gold.

On the front of the device at the top in the center is a conversational speaker, and on the sides of it are installed, illumination and a selfie camera.

A little away from them there is led indicator events. Below the display is a single touch-mechanical button with built-in mTouch 2.1.

By the way, its use does not raise questions, it works quite quickly and accurately, unlocking is done instantly.




On the back of the case there is a main camera with a built-in two-color LED flash, and the Meizu logo is also depicted.


On the left side is a slot for installing SIM-cards. On the opposite side are the volume keys and the power button.





Several elements fit on the bottom edge at once: a conversational microphone, a main speaker, USB port Type-C, headset jack 3.5 mm.

On the top of the smartphone, only an additional microphone is installed for active noise reduction and sound recording during shooting.


Screen

The Meizu MX6 has a 5.5-inch IPS screen from TDDI technology, i.e. without an air gap between the glass and the matrix.

Changing the screen type from AMOLED (for Meizu MX5) to IPS had a very beneficial effect on color reproduction and viewing angles, although its brightness decreased.

The resolution is 1920x1080 pixels at a density of 403 dpi. This is quite enough for high-quality detailing of objects and comfortable work with small text and high-quality photo / video.


The brightness and contrast ratios declared by the manufacturer are also quite high and amount to 500 cd/m and 1500:1, respectively, so you don't have to worry about comfortable work both at dusk and under the scorching sun.

It is worth noting the fast and correct operation of the automatic change in display brightness depending on the lighting.


The color gamut is close to the sRGB standard, so there will be no problems with correct color reproduction when working with an image.

In the settings, you can adjust the color temperature and activate the eye protection mode by reducing the degree of blue light.

The touch layer of the screen supports " " up to 10 simultaneous touches.

Protects the screen from scratches 2.5D rounded glass, looks very cool, stylish and at the same time provides the proper degree of protection.

Camera

We followed the example of flagship manufacturers from other companies and began to use low-resolution matrices, but with an increased size of the pixel itself (1.25 microns).

So the MX6 model has a main 12-megapixel modified Sony IMX386 matrix with a 6-element lens (f / 2.0 aperture), phase and dual-color LED flash.

The camera responds very quickly, focuses instantly and creates detailed pictures even in low light.


The front-facing 5-megapixel camera has an OmniVision OV5695 sensor with BSI back-illumination technology. Optics 4-element with aperture f/2.0.

Shooting can be done in resolutions up to 2560x1920 (at a ratio of 4:3), and video recording is available up to FullHD. Image quality is very decent, even indoors with artificial lighting and in low light.

Colors are distorted a little in warm tones, but not critical. Automatic settings in 95% of cases, the correct exposure and white balance settings are selected.

In the camera menu, you can select the shooting mode: auto, manual mode(setting ISO, shutter speed, exposure compensation, contrast, white balance, saturation), video, portrait with built-in beauty profile (eye area correction, skin tightening and whitening, face contour changes), panorama, focus change, slow motion, stroke scanner codes, macro photography, creating gif-animations.


Maximum size the photo taken from the main camera is 4000x3000 (at a ratio of 4:3), and the video can be recorded up to 4K format.

When shooting in low light conditions, HDR (brightness correction) and MFLL (noise reduction) modes will prove useful. Useful additions there will be grid and level overlay modes, shooting with a timer, the use of filters.

In general, in this smartphone budget, one of the best cameras, capable of delighting even picky users with high-quality images.

Photo examples :

Main camera, modes - auto, HDR, with flash.







Main camera, modes - auto, HDR.



Front camera, modes - auto, HDR.


Battery

This model has a non-removable Li-Pol battery with a capacity of 3060 mAh. This is a fairly high figure, given the thickness of the smartphone at 8 mm.

The energy reserve for everyday use is enough for up to 2 days.

Judging by the modes of use, the indicators will be as follows: up to 8-9 hours of Internet surfing, up to 7 hours of constant conversation, up to 10 hours of video playback, up to 50 hours of listening to music, up to 3.5 hours of toys.

Power saving modes (smart, super and custom) allow you to extend life.

The MX6 has support for fast charging mCharge 3.0, which allows you to charge the device by 20% in 10 minutes, and fully renew the energy supply in about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Software

The Meizu MX6 hardware platform also did not let us down. The manufacturer installed a chipset from MediaTek Helio X20 with 10 Cortex-A53 + Cortex-A72 cores and a Mali T880 graphics accelerator.

Already 4Gb is installed, so you don’t have to worry about the stable operation of several applications at the same time. Built-in memory is 32 Gb (available to the user about 25 Gb).

The main negative side is the lack of a slot for installing microSD cards, and the manufacturer simply did not release a version of the model with a large amount of memory. The reason for this decision is unknown.

Bluetooth 4.1 is used for data transfer. Navigation works with GPS, Glonass, BeiDou. The search for satellites and laying the route takes a matter of seconds, the error is no more than 5 meters.

Iron is controlled using the operating room Android systems 6.0 with Flyme 5.2.2.2G proprietary shell.

The menu is quite simple, all the necessary applications are placed on the desktop, the control of a single key is surprisingly quite comfortable and intuitive.

In addition to the button, there is the SmartTouch function, a flexible, floating on-screen button.


The speed of the system is at its best, the launch is instantaneous, communication in instant messengers and in social networks will only be a pleasure.

As for the games, they will undoubtedly go all at high settings. However, you won’t be able to play comfortably for a long time, because the processor heats up very quickly and goes into throttling (performance reset when overheating).

Yes, and holding a fiery piece of metal in your hands is not a pleasant thing. Therefore, gamers should be more careful when choosing a gadget for gaming.

Benchmark results :

Antutu:






Geekbench:

In headphones, everything is much better, there is volume and bass, the sound is clear and without distortion.


Standard player has a built-in equalizer and is omnivorous to audio formats.

There is no radio, but this problem can be solved using applications from the Play Market.

As for the audibility of the interlocutor and the quality of communication, no deviations were found during testing. An additional microphone does a great job of noise suppression.

Internet, communications

The smartphone has 2 slots for installing NanoSim SIM cards, supports the modern 4G mobile Internet standard, and also has a built-in module WiFi standard 802.11ac with support for operation in the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands and the ability to create an access point.



Do not forget in production and support for OTG devices. It is a pity that the NFC module could not be detected, otherwise everything is on top.

As a browser you can use Google Chrome, which is available in the company's app store.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would like to say that the Meizu MX6 model caused a rather controversial opinion.

On the one hand, we have powerful stuffing, high performance, cool design and high-quality assembly, a camera at the level of photo flagships, an IPS-matrix with excellent color reproduction and large viewing angles, fast internet.

But on the other hand, there are negative aspects that allow you to refuse to buy this gadget, namely, the lack of support for memory cards with a built-in storage capacity of only 32Gb, high heat dissipation of the processor, and with it discomfort in work, the absence of a favorite audio chip.

Based on the current price of the device, you can still consider it for purchase, it certainly costs its money, but it is not ideal.

Let's support him with two awards:

  1. "Ideal figure"- for a smartphone that has a comfortable size and shape.
  2. "dude"- for a device with a very beautiful design.


Well, for a snack, a couple of independent video reviews:


After the release of a complete compromise, fans of the brand still had hope that the company simply changed the naming logic and a little later will introduce the MX6, which will be endowed with truly flagship characteristics - you just have to wait. The miracle did not happen, Meizu MX6 turned out to be a slightly simplified version of the flagship and looks at least strange against the background of competitors. It looks like the MX line has finally moved to middle segment, But first things first. We thank the store LstoreMobile for the smartphone provided for review!

Packaging and equipment

The packaging of the smartphone is neat and pretty, it has a rather original design with a claim to premium, Meizu MX6 is equipped with a power adapter, sync cable, instructions and a paper clip.

Appearance and ergonomics

In terms of design, the MX6 almost completely copies the PRO 6, the design of the smartphone is calm, but not boring. This year, the company has heavily redesigned the look of all its smartphones, but they are still recognizable as Meizu's signature style. Unlike the previous generation model, the MX6 body is completely aluminum, there are no plastic inserts, which means there are no assembly flaws. The entire front surface is covered with high-quality 2.5D glass.






For a device with a 5.5-inch screen, the MX6 feels pretty good in the hand, not least thanks to its thinness and sloping body shapes. Absolutely all input / output elements are exactly where you need them. One of the advantages of Meizu smartphones in terms of ergonomics was and is a mechanical home button with a built-in fingerprint sensor, in most situations it is more convenient for her to wake up and unlock the device. There were no questions about the operation of the fingerprint scanner during testing. Unlike Meizu PRO 6, the MX6 lacks the 3D Press function, a technology that allows you to determine the force of pressing the screen.

Screen

The smartphone has a 5.5-inch IPS-panel with FullHD resolution. The panel is made according to new technology TDDI (Touch and Display Driver Integration), this involves the integration of LCD screen drivers and touch screen in one chip, which in turn increases the performance of the sensor, reduces power consumption and the cost of the screen as a whole. All this does not directly affect the image, because. the composition and design of the “sandwich” of the panel remained the same as in the screens with the In-Cell design.

Image quality has improved significantly compared to the MX5. Firstly, there is no pentile in IPS and the resolution here is “honest”; secondly, the color gamut of the screen is closer to the sRGB field, which is why almost all content will be displayed in natural colors. The maximum brightness is declared at the level of 500 cd/m2, on the street in sunny weather the picture is read well, but it is hard to see when the phone is slightly tilted.

Hardware platform and performance

The choice of hardware platform in the Meizu MX6 is certainly a step up from the MX5, but still not as interesting as if it were Samsung's system-on-a-chip. The ten-core Helio X20 includes a triple-cluster CPU and a Mali-T880 graphics adapter. RAM is not the newest type of DDR3 - 4 GB; internal memory eMMC 5.1 type is only 32 GB (25.4 GB available to the user) and cannot be expanded with a memory card.

In synthetic tests, the MX6 showed results in which it predictably lost to PRO 6: for AnTuTu it is 77158 points, for the Geekbench 3 single-core test it is 1525 points. In fact, these are the results of the top smartphones of the past generation. In practice, the user is unlikely to encounter a situation where he does not have enough performance. The system works quickly and smoothly, the vast majority of games at maximum graphics settings give a comfortable FPS value. With prolonged heavy load, the body of the device heats up moderately. After about 20 minutes of playing Real Racing 3, the smartphone began to drop frequencies, and the FPS in the game dropped a little. In fairness, it must be said that throttling for the Meizu MX6 is an infrequent phenomenon, but even if the user encounters it, there should not be a strong drop in performance.

Cellular and interfaces

Battery and autonomy

With a relatively small case thickness, the Meizu MX6 managed to squeeze in a 3060 mAh battery. Fast charging technology is supported, a smartphone can be charged from 0% to 100% in just 85 minutes with a bundled power adapter (from 0% to 75% in 40 minutes).

The test results in typical operating modes turned out to be quite confident, unlike Meizu PRO 6, although the difference in battery capacity is only 500 mAh.

Note. Testing is carried out in the appropriate modes according to the methodology: - listening to music in headphones at maximum volume with the screen turned off; – viewing 1080p video from the device’s memory at 50% backlight brightness and maximum sound volume in headphones; - active browsing (constant opening of new tabs, active page scrolling, etc.) via Wi-Fi at 50% backlight brightness; – 3D games (Real Racing 3) at 50% backlight brightness.

Cameras, photo and video quality

Meizu moved away from multi-megapixel cameras and installed a module with a 12 MP sensor in the MX6: SONY IMX386 covered with a 6-lens lens with an aperture of F2.0 and an equivalent focal length of about 27 mm. phase autofocus, optical stabilization, Unfortunately no. The system camera has a fully manual shooting mode.

In good lighting conditions, the Meizu MX6 camera can take photos with good sharpness and dynamic range, color reproduction is generally accurate. CLICKABLE! On the left are pictures of Meizu MX6, on the right -:

In HDR mode, the pictures are very bright, but there is no loss in shadows and light, the saturation remains natural. CLICKABLE! On the left are HDR shots from the Meizu MX6, on the right are HDR shots from the Apple iPhone 6s Plus:

In conditions of insufficient artificial lighting, the smartphone's camera showed good performance, but against the background of performance PRO cameras 6 the difference does not seem to be at least somewhat noticeable. This raises the question: was it worth reducing the resolution and, accordingly, the detail for the sake of the ephemeral benefits of the “big pixel”. CLICKABLE! On the left are pictures of Meizu MX6, on the right - Apple iPhone 6s Plus:

The panorama shooting mode in the MX6 is quite functional, the photopano resolution is about 33 megapixels, there are no gluing artifacts, the picture is most often exposed correctly. But the shooting process itself is difficult, no matter how slowly you move, the application will still complain about too fast movement, the picture is saved for a long time. CLICKABLE! Top panorama Meizu MX6, bottom - Apple iPhone 6s Plus:



The 5MP front camera is covered by a quad lens with F2.0 aperture and 27mm equivalent focal length, capable of capturing 1080p video. CLICKABLE!

The smartphone writes video with a maximum resolution of 3840 * 2160 pixels at 30 fps, with two-channel sound. 4K video shot on Meizu still refuses to be accepted by YouTube. There is a recording mode in 1080p resolution as well at 30 fps. The quality of the resulting videos is average. There is a mode of four times slow motion in HD resolution at 30 fps and without sound.

Sound quality

The only call speaker located on the bottom edge plays cleanly and has a good volume margin, the tone balance is good, but not perfect.

But the sound in the headphones is average, in terms of tone balance and resolution it does not differ much from the sound in the flagships of other companies, but there is practically no volume margin. In any case, the musical capabilities of Meizu MX6 should be enough for the average user, demanding music lovers will have to look towards PRO 6. The system player has an equalizer, but no FM radio.

Operating system features

At the time of writing the review, the smartphone out of the box works on operating system Flyme OS 5.2 which is based on Android 6.0. This operating system is dedicated to this operating system on our website, so as not to duplicate information, I will limit myself to a brief description.

Flyme OS 5 is an evolutionary development of the ideas embodied in previous versions shells. The developers have refreshed the interface of all system applications, redesigned system settings and a multitasking window, the latter now resembles the standard one for Android. It is worth noting the Security Center, which is a set of utilities for maintaining digital hygiene. Here you can clear disk space from garbage, scan the system for viruses, restrict the rights of applications and flexibly manage energy saving and Internet traffic.

A week-long test confirmed all my worst fears: after the release of the more than strange PRO6, the MX6 did not become a savior for Meizu, moreover, it’s hard to call it a flagship. The advantages of the novelty include fast and smooth operation of the OS, good cameras, nice design and excellent build quality, everything else is a set of compromises. Didn't like it: the lack of a headphone volume reserve, not the best best screen, frankly the average hardware platform and the lack of a slot for memory cards. In fairness, it should be noted that the smartphone has no obvious shortcomings for a representative of the average price category(by the standards of Chinese brands) Meizu MX6 is very good.

Meizu update fast the lineup, releasing a new smartphone almost every month. Meizu MX6, similar to the previously presented Meizu Pro 6, became the novelty of the summer season. Almost the same characteristics, recognizable design, even the prices are very close, so what's the difference then? A real fan of the brand will name the characteristics with his eyes closed, but when you go to the store and see two similar devices on the shelf, you can’t immediately understand what the difference is between them. So let's figure out why we need another Meizu.

Equipment

By tradition, the smartphone is packed in a cardboard box, glued on all sides with protective transport films and equipped with a USB-C cable, charger on 2A and a paper clip with Meizu cloud symbols.

Design

When I went with Meizu Pro 6, I liked the selected materials and the appearance of the smartphone. Let me remind you that it turned out to be small, which is rare by the standards of modern flagships. Meizu MX6 looks almost the same as the Pro 6, only slightly larger.

I’ll call it design continuity, Meizu has a whole family of smartphones in the same style, and you can get confused. However, if the Mercedes C-Class is similar to the E-Class, no one has died from this yet. They drew themselves, copied themselves, okay.

For my taste, the most interesting case color option is a combination of a black front panel and a dark gray case. In other versions, the front surface is white, and the phone itself is painted in silver, gold or rose gold.

In terms of materials and assembly, everything is at an excellent level: the aluminum case is assembled tightly and neatly, everything is beautiful. The plastic antenna strips on the back of the case are finely drawn, very precise work.
A smartphone with a white front panel will please a perfectionist, here the front camera and sensors are located symmetrically with respect to the earpiece.

All connectors are located on the bottom: there is a headphone output with a 3.5 mm hole, a port for a USB-C cable, a speaker and a microphone.

mTouch 2.1

The fingerprint scanner is located in a large touch-mechanical button under the screen. A key with an mTouch 2.1 sensor detects pressing with different strengths, so a light touch sends a step back, and a stronger one, when the key is clicked, displays main screen. The control technique is original and convenient in its own way, it is easy to get used to it and subsequently enjoy such a non-standard, but practical concept.

Screen

Meizu MX6 received a 5.5-inch screen, a record for the MX series. The surface with glass rounded at the edges and an oleophobic coating, the narrow bezels of the screen are pleasing to the eye, the Chinese used free areas effectively, they know how. They are also masters in choosing screens, the MX6 received an IPS panel.

By the standards of TFT-screens, there is a high-quality black color, a sufficient margin of brightness, especially if you turn off the automatic mode for adjusting the backlight level.

The Sharp display is set up neatly, there are no misses with colors, but if you wish, you can manually adjust the palette, changing the gamut from warm to cold. Also, Meizu MX6 has a function that changes the screen tones on a timer or in automatic mode. Then, with the onset of the evening, the image from the cold range will go to the warm one, so that your eyes are less tired when you look at the screen.

Camera

The silver rim of the camera protrudes slightly above the surface, just below the camera is a dual flash. The 12-megapixel Sony IMX 386 phase-focusing sensor is the last word in mobile cameras Meizu, its Chinese manufacturer received on exclusive terms.

The smartphone takes high-quality pictures during the day, produces a bright and juicy picture with good detail, comparable in quality to Meizu Pro 6. Which one shoots better? Find out in a separate comparison. In the meantime, I’ll say that the camera turned out to be good and pleases with clear color reproduction, but sometimes it misses the white balance. I wish I could add optical stabilization here, it would help during evening shootings.

Videos come out in 4K with stereo sound and 30 frames per second, you can lower the resolution to save space. The quality is average, there is not enough smoothness, it still needs to be worked on.

The 5-megapixel front wide-angle camera will take high-quality selfies, while shooting you can use a filter, it will hide skin imperfections and make the author of the picture handsome. Well, or a beauty, the main thing is not to overdo it with the settings, so as not to turn into a porcelain doll.

Performance

The smartphone is sold only in one modification, here 4 GB random access memory and 32 GB built-in, of which 26 GB remains for personal needs. Unfortunately, a separate slot for microSD card Meizu MX6 is not provided, therefore, to work with large volumes, you need cloud services, you can connect flash drives if you get a special adapter.

The power reserve covers all tasks, there are no brakes and in games with a high load on graphics system. In tests, the phone gives results that are not ashamed to compare with last year's flagships, and we have, for a minute, in our hands middle class. The smartphone noticeably heats up during long virtual battles, the palms are warm.

Interface

The smartphone runs on Android 6.0, adorned with a Meizu shell called Flyme OS. The menu flies and responds very quickly, thanks to the 10-core MediaTek Helio X20 processor and a large amount of memory. The 3D Press function was removed from here, you can’t click on shortcuts to call up additional functions, this is a feature of the older Pro 6 model.

To useful properties shells I will carry an abundance of supported types of videos, Meizu MX6 launches different files without installing an additional player, it is convenient to watch videos on the big screen. For more detailed impressions of the interface, you can go to the section dedicated to Flyme 5.

Media

The phone has one media speaker, it is located on the bottom end and produces a loud, clear sound. Listen to songs or voice a video on YouTube? Please leave enough room for room, but twisting to the maximum, you can hear wheezing.

The sound in the headphones is of high quality, but there are no additional bells and whistles, like the older brother Meizu Pro 6. However, if you do not play an audiophile, the phone will appeal to the musical part. Very large headroom, equalizer with manual settings in addition.

Connection

Conversational speaker with a good volume margin, it transmits voice with high quality, and an additional microphone muffles extraneous noise, especially true in the subway. Meizu MX6 does not have an NFC chip, otherwise full set wireless services: LTE support, Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, GPS and GLONASS. There are also two nanoSIM slots.

Battery

Meizu MX6 traditionally received a non-removable battery with a capacity of 3060 mAh. A full charge usually lasts for a full day of use. If you do not sit around the clock on the Internet, then it is realistic to get up to 2 days of work. The smartphone has an energy-saving mode, this function helps to set certain profiles: we press the button, and the phone automatically turns off set parameters to save battery.

If necessary, you can switch to the increased savings mode, using the phone for calls and messages, having lost all the charms of a smartphone for a while, turning it into a “simple dialer”. Fast charging function works full charge it takes 1.5 hours, and in 30 minutes at the outlet the battery indicator reaches 60%.

Conclusion

Meizu MX6 is no longer a simple middle-class smartphone; according to its characteristics, it stands on the border between middle- and top-level smartphones, slightly falling short of the latter. Quality and big screen, an advanced camera, materials and a comfortable shell, what else is missing for happiness? A slot for a memory card would be here and a separate sound chip, and I would also like more bells and whistles for the camera, like optical stabilization. When you look at the price of 27,990 rubles for Meizu MX6, you think, maybe add a little more and buy Meizu Pro 6 for 32,990? I would add a little more money for the advanced audio chip.

You can learn more about the model on the website: http://mymeizu.ru/mx6/