Meizu M3 Note. First Look.

Meizu M3 Note. First Look.

Following Xiaomi and Huawei, Meizu introduced a budget device with a typical set of characteristics for the middle segment. Moreover, the Chinese went further and equipped the new smartphone with the main parameters that were typical for their flagship a year ago. And this is at a very low (especially for China at the start of sales) price. Let's see what Meizu M3 Note is.

Content.

Meizu M3 Note specifications.

Case materials: metal, glass, plastic inserts Operating system: Android 5.1, Flyme 6.1 Network: GSM/EDGE, UMTS/HSDPA, LTE (TD/FDD-LTE) Screen: IPS (LTPS), diagonal 5.5", resolution 1920×1080, ppi 406, automatic backlight level control, protective glass Platform: MediaTek Helio P10 Processor: Octa-core, 64-bit, four Cortex-A53 cores @ 1.8GHz + four Cortex-A53 cores @ 1GHz Graphics: Mali T860 RAM: 2/3 GB Memory for data storage: 16/32 GB Memory card slot: yes, microSD Main camera: 13 MP, 5 lenses, f/2.2, phase detection autofocus, dual LED flash, 1080p video recording Front camera: 5 MP, f/2.0, 1080p video recording Interfaces: Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n) Dual-Band, Bluetooth 4.0 (LE), microUSB connector (USB 2.0, MHL) for charge/sync, 3.5mm headset Navigation: GPS (A-GPS support), Glonass Optional: mTouch 2.1 fingerprint scanner, accelerometer, light sensor, proximity sensor Battery: 4100 mAh Dimensions: 153.6 x 75.5 x 8.2 mm Weight: 163 grams.

Design and body materials.

Outwardly, the M3 Note resembles the Meizu MX5 and Pro 5, that is, the flagships of last year. Tactilely, the device also corresponds to these models: here the back is made of metal and volumetric (2.5D) glass, due to which the smartphone feels expensive. Yes, there are plastic inserts on top and bottom, but they are painted in the color of metal and do not make the weather. So in terms of design and feel, Meizu devices were able to play at the same level as Xiaomi and Huawei with Redmi Note 3 and Honor 5X, respectively, and maybe even better. It's a matter of preference which one you like. What I like about the Meizu M3 Note is the overall simplicity and uncluttered design, it is neat and without unnecessary details. And “borrowed” from Apple, which is a disadvantage for some, but a plus for others.

The colors are the same as the flagships – silver and gold with a white front panel and dark gray with a black front panel. No bright colors, only classic options.

Dimensions.

The Meizu M3 Note is comparable in size to the MX5 and other 5.5'' smartphones. I can’t call it compact among https://tonaton.ug/c_advertising-and-marketing-jobs classmates, but it doesn’t stand out in a big way either – a typical middle peasant in this category in terms of size. The device is not too thick, which is good considering the 4100 mAh battery.

Controls.

In terms of the main controls, the Meizu M3 Note is no different from its predecessors. Power and volume buttons on the right, a tray for two SIM cards (or a SIM card and a memory card) on the left, a microUSB connector, a microphone and speaker grills on the bottom (one of them is decorative), and a 3.5 mm mini-jack on the top.

Meizu has finally paid attention to the fact that many elements on the cases of their smartphones used to be asymmetrical, and this shortcoming has been corrected in the M3 Note. Symmetrical camera eye and light/proximity sensors, symmetrical speaker grilles and cogs. Including because of such trifles, the device looks more neat than the M2 Note.

But this is not the main difference between the M3 Note and last year's model. The device has a fingerprint scanner, it is inscribed in a mechanical key, which also plays the role of the "Back" button thanks to the touch layer. The button is convenient, it is available in Meizu MX4 Pro, MX5, Pro 5 and M1 Metal smartphones. And now in M3 Note.

Screen.

The device uses a screen with a diagonal of 5.5'' and a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels based on an IPS matrix. Display with maximum viewing angles, a good margin of brightness and close to natural color reproduction. Although, in terms of the last parameter, to be honest, the screen reminded me of that in Xiaomi Redmi Note 3: both smartphones give out a picture that is not juicy enough, a little pale. But in general, for an inexpensive device, the display is simply excellent.

By the way, the screen is better than that of the Meizu M2 Note, not only in terms of brightness and picture quality, but also in terms of the quality of the glass used and especially the oleophobic coating. In this regard, the M3 Note is very good, better than the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 and most other competitors. Probably, Meizu took criticism of the relatively poor oleophobic coating in the M2 Note too close to heart and in the next device in the line they simply used the panel from the Pro 5. It feels like this.

Platform, memory.

The smartphone is built on one of the new platforms from the Taiwanese company Mediatek – Helio P10. This is not a top-end chip, but for FullHD resolution and a budget segment device, it is a good option. Graphics Mali T860. The smartphone has 2/3 GB of RAM and 16/32 GB of internal memory. There is a slot for a microSD memory card, combined with a second slot for a SIM card. You can also install two SIM cards in the nanoSIM format.

Camera.

Both cameras, both the main and the front, have not changed in terms of characteristics compared to the cameras in the Meizu M2 Note. Accordingly, the photo quality in the new M3 Note is about the same. I will not describe any features, yet we have an inexpensive smartphone, just look at the photo examples and judge for yourself.

I will only note that, like in all other devices from Meizu, there is a completely manual shooting mode (this is good), and also that the interface still cannot rotate to landscape orientation (this is bad).

Shooting during the day.

Съемка ночью.

Фронтальная камера.

Ручной режим.

Интерфейсы.

От большинства бюджетных аппаратов (в том числе от M2 Note) новый Meizu M3 Note отличается двумя особенностями. Во-первых, здесь есть поддержка двухдиапазонного Wi-Fi, во-вторых, аппарат поддерживает VoLTE. В 4G сетях смартфон работает во всех распространенных для России диапазонах. Bluetooth версии 4.0 с поддержкой профиля LE (Low Energy).

Battery.

Perhaps the main feature of the Meizu M3 Note is the 4100 mAh battery. Here you can say thank you to Xiaomi, which Meizu is considered the main competitors, because it was they who, having equipped their Redmi Note 3 with a 4000 mAh battery, gave Meizu a sign – “we must do the same or better.” I don’t know how well the device will show itself in terms of operating time in reality, but such a battery capacity is encouraging. Together with non-top-end features (platform, screen resolution), you can expect two full days of device operation in active mode.

Flyme.

The smartphone runs on Android 5.1 with Flyme 5.1 proprietary interface. It is strange that the company did not upgrade the device to Android 6.0, probably Meizu decided to introduce a major update for its Flyme interface in the near future and make a big announcement out of it. I don't see any other explanations.

Shell – Flyme, with the interface logic familiar to many "as in iOS", beautiful, neat, not overloaded. Some like it, others hate it, it's a matter of preference.

Conclusion.

In China, the first batch of Meizu M3 Note will be priced at 800 and 1,000 yuan for 2/16 and 3/32 GB versions, respectively. If we go back a few years and look at the prices the company set for its new products compared to its main competitor, Xiaomi, we will see that similar smartphones from Meizu have always been more expensive at the start of sales. This time the situation is different, and this, it seems to me, is an indicator of the “action” of the prices announced at the presentation. Otherwise, the device turns out to be very attractive even against the background of Xiaomi Redmi Note 3, which, in turn, looks like an amazing offer at a Chinese price.

The price for Russia is not yet known, maybe it will be in the range of 16,000 to 18,000 rubles, maybe lower, maybe higher, I'm just trying to guess here. Official sales in Russia will start approximately in May.

After Xiaomi introduced their Redmi Note 3, I had very strong doubts about Meizu's ability to show something at least about this level. Too strong product came from Xiaomi. However, Meizu was able to perform at the same level and in some ways even get ahead of its main competitor. The main feature of the M3 Note is the design and materials of the case. This is the case when the company managed not only to take metal, glass and assemble a smartphone out of it, but they did it very high quality and thoughtfully: 2.5D glass, chic oleophobic coating, like on flagships, neat thin lines of antenna wiring, symmetry in small elements – all this makes the device impressive. The rest of the Meizu M3 Note is a strong “middle peasant” by Chinese standards with the price of a budget device.

Meizu M3 Note. First Look.

Following Xiaomi and Huawei, Meizu introduced a budget device with a typical set of characteristics for the middle segment. Moreover, the Chinese went further and equipped the new smartphone with the main parameters that were typical for their flagship a year ago. And this is at a very low (especially for China at the start of sales) price. Let's see what Meizu M3 Note is.

Content.

Meizu M3 Note specifications.

Case materials: metal, glass, plastic inserts Operating system: Android 5.1, Flyme 6.1 Network: GSM/EDGE, UMTS/HSDPA, LTE (TD/FDD-LTE) Screen: IPS (LTPS), diagonal 5.5", resolution 1920×1080, ppi 406, automatic backlight level control, protective glass Platform: MediaTek Helio P10 Processor: Octa-core, 64-bit, four Cortex-A53 cores @ 1.8GHz + four Cortex-A53 cores @ 1GHz Graphics: Mali T860 RAM: 2/3 GB Memory for data storage: 16/32 GB Memory card slot: yes, microSD Main camera: 13 MP, 5 lenses, f/2.2, phase detection autofocus, dual LED flash, 1080p video recording Front camera: 5 MP, f/2.0, 1080p video recording Interfaces: Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n) Dual-Band, Bluetooth 4.0 (LE), microUSB connector (USB 2.0, MHL) for charge/sync, 3.5mm headset Navigation: GPS (A-GPS support), Glonass Optional: mTouch 2.1 fingerprint scanner, accelerometer, light sensor, proximity sensor Battery: 4100 mAh Dimensions: 153.6 x 75.5 x 8.2 mm Weight: 163 grams.

Design and body materials.

Outwardly, the M3 Note resembles the Meizu MX5 and Pro 5, that is, the flagships of last year. Tactilely, the device also corresponds to these models: here the back is made of metal and volumetric (2.5D) glass, due to which the smartphone feels expensive. Yes, there are plastic inserts on top and bottom, but they are painted in the color of metal and do not make the weather. So in terms of design and feel, Meizu devices were able to play at the same level as Xiaomi and Huawei with Redmi Note 3 and Honor 5X, respectively, and maybe even better. It's a matter of preference which one you like. What I like about the Meizu M3 Note is the overall simplicity and uncluttered design, it is neat and without unnecessary details. And “borrowed” from Apple, which is a disadvantage for some, but a plus for others.

The colors are the same as the flagships – silver and gold with a white front panel and dark gray with a black front panel. No bright colors, only classic options.

Dimensions.

The Meizu M3 Note is comparable in size to the MX5 and other 5.5'' smartphones. I can’t call it compact among classmates, but it doesn’t stand out in a big way either – a typical middle peasant in this category in terms of size. The device is not too thick, which is good considering the 4100 mAh battery.

Controls.

In terms of the main controls, the Meizu M3 Note is no different from its predecessors. Power and volume buttons on the right, a tray for two SIM cards (or a SIM card and a memory card) on the left, a microUSB connector, a microphone and speaker grills on the bottom (one of them is decorative), and a 3.5 mm mini-jack on the top.

Meizu has finally paid attention to the fact that many elements on the cases of their smartphones used to be asymmetrical, and this shortcoming has been corrected in the M3 Note. Symmetrical camera eye and light/proximity sensors, symmetrical speaker grilles and cogs. Including because of such trifles, the device looks more neat than the M2 Note.

But this is not the main difference between the M3 Note and last year's model. The device has a fingerprint scanner, it is inscribed in a mechanical key, which also plays the role of the "Back" button thanks to the touch layer. The button is convenient, it is available in Meizu MX4 Pro, MX5, Pro 5 and M1 Metal smartphones. And now in M3 Note.

Screen.

The device uses a screen with a diagonal of 5.5'' and a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels based on an IPS matrix. Display with maximum viewing angles, a good margin of brightness and close to natural color reproduction. Although, in terms of the last parameter, to be honest, the screen reminded me of that in Xiaomi Redmi Note 3: both smartphones give out a picture that is not juicy enough, a little pale. But in general, for an inexpensive device, the display is simply excellent.

By the way, the screen is better than that of the Meizu M2 Note, not only in terms of brightness and picture quality, but also in terms of the quality of the glass used and especially the oleophobic coating. In this regard, the M3 Note is very good, better than the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 and most other competitors. Probably, Meizu took criticism of the relatively poor oleophobic coating in the M2 Note too close to heart and in the next device in the line they simply used the panel from the Pro 5. It feels like this.

Platform, memory.

The smartphone is built on one of the new platforms from the Taiwanese company Mediatek – Helio P10. This is not a top-end chip, but for FullHD resolution and a budget segment device, it is a good option. Graphics Mali T860. The smartphone has 2/3 GB of RAM and 16/32 GB of internal memory. There is a slot for a microSD memory card, combined with a second slot for a SIM card. You can also install two SIM cards in the nanoSIM format.

Camera.

Both cameras, both the main and the front, have not changed in terms of characteristics compared to the cameras in the Meizu M2 Note. Accordingly, the photo quality in the new M3 Note is about the same. I will not describe any features, yet we have an inexpensive smartphone, just look at the photo examples and judge for yourself.

I will only note that, like in all other devices from Meizu, there is a completely manual shooting mode (this is good), and also that the interface still cannot rotate to landscape orientation (this is bad).

Shooting during the day.

Съемка ночью.

Фронтальная камера.

Ручной режим.

Интерфейсы.

От большинства бюджетных аппаратов (в том числе от M2 Note) новый Meizu M3 Note отличается двумя особенностями. Во-первых, здесь есть поддержка двухдиапазонного Wi-Fi, во-вторых, аппарат поддерживает VoLTE. В 4G сетях смартфон работает во всех распространенных для России диапазонах. Bluetooth версии 4.0 с поддержкой профиля LE (Low Energy).

Battery.

Perhaps the main feature of the Meizu M3 Note is the 4100 mAh battery. Here you can say thank you to Xiaomi, which Meizu is considered the main competitors, because it was they who, having equipped their Redmi Note 3 with a 4000 mAh battery, gave Meizu a sign – “we must do the same or better.” I don’t know how well the device will show itself in terms of operating time in reality, but such a battery capacity is encouraging. Together with non-top-end features (platform, screen resolution), you can expect two full days of device operation in active mode.

Flyme.

The smartphone runs on Android 5.1 with Flyme 5.1 proprietary interface. It is strange that the company did not upgrade the device to Android 6.0, probably Meizu decided to introduce a major update for its Flyme interface in the near future and make a big announcement out of it. I don't see any other explanations.

Shell – Flyme, with the interface logic familiar to many "as in iOS", beautiful, neat, not overloaded. Some like it, others hate it, it's a matter of preference.

Conclusion.

In China, the first batch of Meizu M3 Note will be priced at 800 and 1,000 yuan for 2/16 and 3/32 GB versions, respectively. If we go back a few years and look at the prices the company set for its new products compared to its main competitor, Xiaomi, we will see that similar smartphones from Meizu have always been more expensive at the start of sales. This time the situation is different, and this, it seems to me, is an indicator of the “action” of the prices announced at the presentation. Otherwise, the device turns out to be very attractive even against the background of Xiaomi Redmi Note 3, which, in turn, looks like an amazing offer at a Chinese price.

The price for Russia is not yet known, maybe it will be in the range of 16,000 to 18,000 rubles, maybe lower, maybe higher, I'm just trying to guess here. Official sales in Russia will start approximately in May.

After Xiaomi introduced their Redmi Note 3, I had very strong doubts about Meizu's ability to show something at least about this level. Too strong product came from Xiaomi. However, Meizu was able to perform at the same level and in some ways even get ahead of its main competitor. The main feature of the M3 Note is the design and materials of the case. This is the case when the company managed not only to take metal, glass and assemble a smartphone out of it, but they did it very high quality and thoughtfully: 2.5D glass, chic oleophobic coating, like on flagships, neat thin lines of antenna wiring, symmetry in small elements – all this makes the device impressive. The rest of the Meizu M3 Note is a strong “middle peasant” by Chinese standards with the price of a budget device.

Meizu M3 Note. First Look.

Following Xiaomi and Huawei, Meizu introduced a budget device with a typical set of characteristics for the middle segment. Moreover, the Chinese went further and equipped the new smartphone with the main parameters that were typical for their flagship a year ago. And this is at a very low (especially for China at the start of sales) price. Let's see what Meizu M3 Note is.

Content.

Meizu M3 Note specifications.

Case materials: metal, glass, plastic inserts Operating system: Android 5.1, Flyme 6.1 Network: GSM/EDGE, UMTS/HSDPA, LTE (TD/FDD-LTE) Screen: IPS (LTPS), diagonal 5.5", resolution 1920×1080, ppi 406, automatic backlight level control, protective glass Platform: MediaTek Helio P10 Processor: Octa-core, 64-bit, four Cortex-A53 cores at 1.8 GHz + four Cortex-A53 cores at 1 GHz Graphics: Mali T860 RAM: 2/3 GB Memory for data storage: 16/32 GB Memory card slot: yes, microSD Main camera: 13 MP, 5 lenses, f/2.2, phase detection autofocus, dual LED flash, 1080p video recording Front camera: 5 MP, f/2.0, 1080p video recording Interfaces: Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n) Dual-Band, Bluetooth 4.0 (LE), microUSB connector (USB 2.0, MHL) for charge/sync, 3.5mm for headset Navigation: GPS (A-GPS support), Glonass Optional: mTouch 2.1 fingerprint scanner, accelerometer, light sensor, proximity sensor Battery: 4100 mAh Dimensions: 153.6 x 75.5 x 8.2 mm Weight: 163 grams.

Design and body materials.

Outwardly, the M3 Note resembles the Meizu MX5 and Pro 5, that is, the flagships of last year. Tactilely, the device also corresponds to these models: here the back is made of metal and volumetric (2.5D) glass, due to which the smartphone feels expensive. Yes, there are plastic inserts on top and bottom, but they are painted in the color of metal and do not make the weather. So in terms of design and feel, Meizu devices were able to play at the same level as Xiaomi and Huawei with Redmi Note 3 and Honor 5X, respectively, and maybe even better. It's a matter of preference which one you like. What I like about the Meizu M3 Note is the overall simplicity and uncluttered design, it is neat and without unnecessary details. And “borrowed” from Apple, which is a disadvantage for some, but a plus for others.

The colors are the same as the flagships – silver and gold with a white front panel and dark gray with a black front panel. No bright colors, only classic options.

Dimensions.

The Meizu M3 Note is comparable in size to the MX5 and other 5.5'' smartphones. I can’t call it compact among classmates, but it doesn’t stand out in a big way either – a typical middle peasant in this category in terms of size. The device is not too thick, which is good considering the 4100 mAh battery.

Controls.

In terms of the main controls, the Meizu M3 Note is no different from its predecessors. Power and volume buttons on the right, a tray for two SIM cards (or a SIM card and a memory card) on the left, a microUSB connector, a microphone and speaker grills on the bottom (one of them is decorative), and a 3.5 mm mini-jack on the top.

Meizu has finally paid attention to the fact that many elements on the cases of their smartphones used to be asymmetrical, and this shortcoming has been corrected in the M3 Note. Symmetrical camera eye and light/proximity sensors, symmetrical speaker grilles and cogs. Including because of such trifles, the device looks more neat than the M2 Note.

But this is not the main difference between the M3 Note and last year's model. The device has a fingerprint scanner, it is inscribed in a mechanical key, which also plays the role of the "Back" button thanks to the touch layer. The button is convenient, it is available in Meizu MX4 Pro, MX5, Pro 5 and M1 Metal smartphones. And now in M3 Note.

Screen.

The device uses a screen with a diagonal of 5.5'' and a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels based on an IPS matrix. Display with maximum viewing angles, a good margin of brightness and close to natural color reproduction. Although, in terms of the last parameter, to be honest, the screen reminded me of that in Xiaomi Redmi Note 3: both smartphones give out a picture that is not juicy enough, a little pale. But in general, for an inexpensive device, the display is simply excellent.

By the way, the screen is better than that of the Meizu M2 Note, not only in terms of brightness and picture quality, but also in terms of the quality of the glass used and especially the oleophobic coating. In this regard, the M3 Note is very good, better than the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 and most other competitors. Probably, Meizu took criticism of the relatively poor oleophobic coating in the M2 Note too close to heart and in the next device in the line they simply used the panel from the Pro 5. It feels like this.

Platform, memory.

The smartphone is built on one of the new platforms from the Taiwanese company Mediatek – Helio P10. This is not a top-end chip, but for FullHD resolution and a budget segment device, it is a good option. Graphics Mali T860. The smartphone has 2/3 GB of RAM and 16/32 GB of internal memory. There is a slot for a microSD memory card, combined with a second slot for a SIM card. You can also install two SIM cards in the nanoSIM format.

Camera.

Both cameras, both the main and the front, have not changed in terms of characteristics compared to the cameras in the Meizu M2 Note. Accordingly, the photo quality in the new M3 Note is about the same. I will not describe any features, yet we have an inexpensive smartphone, just look at the photo examples and judge for yourself.

I will only note that, like in all other devices from Meizu, there is a completely manual shooting mode (this is good), and also that the interface still cannot rotate to landscape orientation (this is bad).

Shooting during the day.

Съемка ночью.

Фронтальная камера.

Ручной режим.

Интерфейсы.

От большинства бюджетных аппаратов (в том числе от M2 Note) новый Meizu M3 Note отличается двумя особенностями. Во-первых, здесь есть поддержка двухдиапазонного Wi-Fi, во-вторых, аппарат поддерживает VoLTE. В 4G сетях смартфон работает во всех распространенных для России диапазонах. Bluetooth версии 4.0 с поддержкой профиля LE (Low Energy).

Battery.

Perhaps the main feature of the Meizu M3 Note is the 4100 mAh battery. Here you can say thank you to Xiaomi, which Meizu is considered the main competitors, because it was they who, having equipped their Redmi Note 3 with a 4000 mAh battery, gave Meizu a sign – “we must do the same or better.” I don’t know how well the device will show itself in terms of operating time in reality, but such a battery capacity is encouraging. Together with non-top-end features (platform, screen resolution), you can expect two full days of device operation in active mode.

Flyme.

The smartphone runs on Android 5.1 with Flyme 5.1 proprietary interface. It is strange that the company did not upgrade the device to Android 6.0, probably Meizu decided to introduce a major update for its Flyme interface in the near future and make a big announcement out of it. I don't see any other explanations.

Shell – Flyme, with the interface logic familiar to many "as in iOS", beautiful, neat, not overloaded. Some like it, others hate it, it's a matter of preference.

Conclusion.

In China, the first batch of Meizu M3 Note will be priced at 800 and 1,000 yuan for 2/16 and 3/32 GB versions, respectively. If we go back a few years and look at the prices the company set for its new products compared to its main competitor, Xiaomi, we will see that similar smartphones from Meizu have always been more expensive at the start of sales. This time the situation is different, and this, it seems to me, is an indicator of the “action” of the prices announced at the presentation. Otherwise, the device turns out to be very attractive even against the background of Xiaomi Redmi Note 3, which, in turn, looks like an amazing offer at a Chinese price.

The price for Russia is not yet known, maybe it will be in the range of 16,000 to 18,000 rubles, maybe lower, maybe higher, I'm just trying to guess here. Official sales in Russia will start approximately in May.

After Xiaomi presented their Redmi Note 3, I had very strong doubts about Meizu's ability to show something at least about this level. Too strong product came from Xiaomi. However, Meizu was able to perform at the same level and in some ways even get ahead of its main competitor. The main feature of the M3 Note is the design and materials of the case. This is the case when the company managed not only to take metal, glass and assemble a smartphone out of it, but they did it very high quality and thoughtfully: 2.5D glass, chic oleophobic coating, like on flagships, neat thin lines of antenna wiring, symmetry in small elements – all this makes the device impressive. The rest of the Meizu M3 Note is a strong “middle peasant” by Chinese standards with the price of a budget device.

Meizu M3 Note. First Look.

Following Xiaomi and Huawei, Meizu introduced a budget device with a typical set of characteristics for the middle segment. Moreover, the Chinese went further and equipped the new smartphone with the main parameters that were typical for their flagship a year ago. And this is at a very low (especially for China at the start of sales) price. Let's see what Meizu M3 Note is.

Content.

Meizu M3 Note specifications.

Case materials: metal, glass, plastic inserts Operating system: Android 5.1, Flyme 6.1 Network: GSM/EDGE, UMTS/HSDPA, LTE (TD/FDD-LTE) Screen: IPS (LTPS), diagonal 5.5", resolution 1920×1080, ppi 406, automatic backlight level control, protective glass Platform: MediaTek Helio P10 Processor: Octa-core, 64-bit, four Cortex-A53 cores at 1.8 GHz + four Cortex-A53 cores at 1 GHz Graphics: Mali T860 RAM: 2/3 GB Memory for data storage: 16/32 GB Memory card slot: yes, microSD Main camera: 13 MP, 5 lenses, f/2.2, phase detection autofocus, dual LED flash, 1080p video recording Front camera: 5 MP, f/2.0, 1080p video recording Interfaces: Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n) Dual-Band, Bluetooth 4.0 (LE), microUSB connector (USB 2.0, MHL) for charge/sync, 3.5mm for headset Navigation: GPS (A-GPS support), Glonass Optional: mTouch 2.1 fingerprint scanner, accelerometer, light sensor, proximity sensor Battery: 4100 mAh Dimensions: 153.6 x 75.5 x 8.2 mm Weight: 163 grams.

Design and body materials.

Outwardly, the M3 Note resembles the Meizu MX5 and Pro 5, that is, the flagships of last year. Tactilely, the device also corresponds to these models: here the back is made of metal and volumetric (2.5D) glass, due to which the smartphone feels expensive. Yes, there are plastic inserts on top and bottom, but they are painted in the color of metal and do not make the weather. So in terms of design and feel, Meizu devices were able to play at the same level as Xiaomi and Huawei with Redmi Note 3 and Honor 5X, respectively, and maybe even better. It's a matter of preference which one you like. What I like about the Meizu M3 Note is the overall simplicity and uncluttered design, it is neat and without unnecessary details. And “borrowed” from Apple, which is a disadvantage for some, but a plus for others.

The colors are the same as the flagships – silver and gold with a white front panel and dark gray with a black front panel. No bright colors, only classic options.

Dimensions.

The Meizu M3 Note is comparable in size to the MX5 and other 5.5'' smartphones. I can’t call it compact among classmates, but it doesn’t stand out in a big way either – a typical middle peasant in this category in terms of size. The device is not too thick, which is good considering the 4100 mAh battery.

Controls.

In terms of the main controls, the Meizu M3 Note is no different from its predecessors. Power and volume buttons on the right, a tray for two SIM cards (or a SIM card and a memory card) on the left, a microUSB connector, a microphone and speaker grills on the bottom (one of them is decorative), and a 3.5 mm mini-jack on the top.

Meizu has finally paid attention to the fact that many elements on the cases of their smartphones used to be asymmetrical, and this shortcoming has been corrected in the M3 Note. Symmetrical camera eye and light/proximity sensors, symmetrical speaker grilles and cogs. Including because of such trifles, the device looks more neat than the M2 Note.

But the important difference between the M3 Note and last year's model is still not in this. The device has a fingerprint scanner, it is inscribed in a mechanical key, which also plays the role of the "Back" button thanks to the touch layer. The button is convenient, it is available in Meizu MX4 Pro, MX5, Pro 5 and M1 Metal smartphones. And now in M3 Note.

Screen.

The device uses a screen with a diagonal of 5.5'' and a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels based on an IPS matrix. Display with maximum viewing angles, a good margin of brightness and close to natural color reproduction. Although, in terms of the last parameter, to be honest, the screen reminded me of that in Xiaomi Redmi Note 3: both smartphones give out a picture that is not juicy enough, a little pale. But in general, for an inexpensive device, the display is simply excellent.

By the way, the screen is better than that of the Meizu M2 Note, not only in terms of brightness and picture quality, but also in terms of the quality of the glass used and especially the oleophobic coating. In this regard, the M3 Note is very good, better than the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 and most other competitors. Probably, Meizu took criticism of the relatively poor oleophobic coating in the M2 Note too close to heart and in the next device in the line they simply used the panel from the Pro 5. It feels like this.

Platform, memory.

The smartphone is built on one of the new platforms from the Taiwanese company Mediatek – Helio P10. This is not a top-end chip, but for FullHD resolution and a budget segment device, it is a good option. Graphics Mali T860. The smartphone has 2/3 GB of RAM and 16/32 GB of internal memory. There is a slot for a microSD memory card, combined with a second slot for a SIM card. You can also install two SIM cards in the nanoSIM format.

Camera.

Both cameras, both the main and the front, have not changed in terms of characteristics compared to the cameras in the Meizu M2 Note. Accordingly, the photo quality in the new M3 Note is about the same. I will not describe any features, yet we have an inexpensive smartphone, just look at the photo examples and judge for yourself.

I will only note that, like in all other devices from Meizu, there is a completely manual shooting mode (this is good), and also that the interface still cannot rotate to landscape orientation (this is bad).

Shooting during the day.

Shooting at night.

Interfaces.

The new Meizu M3 Note differs from most budget devices (including the M2 Note) in two ways. Firstly, there is support for dual-band Wi-Fi, and secondly, the device supports VoLTE. In 4G networks, the smartphone works in all common bands for Russia. Bluetooth version 4.0 with LE (Low Energy) profile support.

Battery.

Perhaps the main feature of the Meizu M3 Note is the 4100 mAh battery. Here you can say thank you to Xiaomi, which Meizu is considered the main competitors, because it was they who, having equipped their Redmi Note 3 with a 4000 mAh battery, gave Meizu a sign – “we must do the same or better.” I don’t know how well the device will show itself in terms of operating time in reality, but such a battery capacity is encouraging. Together with non-top-end features (platform, screen resolution), you can expect two full days of device operation in active mode.

Flyme.

The smartphone runs on Android 5.1 with Flyme 5.1 proprietary interface. It is strange that the company did not upgrade the device to Android 6.0, probably Meizu decided to introduce a major update for its Flyme interface in the near future and make a big announcement out of it. I don't see any other explanation.

Shell – Flyme, with the interface logic familiar to many "as in iOS", beautiful, neat, not overloaded. Some like it, others hate it, it's a matter of preference.

Conclusion.

In China, the first batch of Meizu M3 Note will be priced at 800 and 1,000 yuan for 2/16 and 3/32 GB versions, respectively. If we go back a few years and look at the prices the company set for its new products compared to its main competitor, Xiaomi, we will see that similar smartphones from Meizu have always been more expensive at the start of sales. This time the situation is different, and this, it seems to me, is an indicator of the “action” of the prices announced at the presentation. Otherwise, the device turns out to be very attractive even against the background of Xiaomi Redmi Note 3, which, in turn, looks like an amazing offer at a Chinese price.

The price for Russia is not yet known, maybe it will be in the range of 16,000 to 18,000 rubles, maybe lower, maybe higher, I'm just trying to guess here. Official sales in Russia will start approximately in May.

After Xiaomi presented their Redmi Note 3, I had very strong doubts about Meizu's ability to show something at least about this level. Too strong product came from Xiaomi. However, Meizu was able to perform at the same level and in some ways even get ahead of its main competitor. The main feature of the M3 Note is the design and materials of the case. This is the case when the company managed not only to take metal, glass and assemble a smartphone out of it, but they did it very high quality and thoughtfully: 2.5D glass, chic oleophobic coating, like on flagships, neat thin lines of antenna wiring, symmetry in small elements – all this makes the device impressive. The rest of the Meizu M3 Note is a strong “middle peasant” by Chinese standards with the price of a budget device.