In October 2015, Meizu introduced a new smartphone - M1 Metal on the YunOS operating system with the proprietary Flyme shell. Metal is intended for sale exclusively in the domestic market of China, which is why it did not receive Russian localization and support for most European LTE frequencies. But the metal body, productive platform and the presence of a full-fledged fingerprint sensor in a smartphone for $170 (official price) willy-nilly force us to include this option for consideration when choosing a new smartphone. In this article I will try to describe my impressions in as much detail as possible after almost a month of using the smartphone as the main device.
The text may and most likely does contain grammatical, spelling, punctuation and other types of errors, including semantic ones. I strongly encourage readers to point out these errors and correct me through private messages.
▌Specifications
| Screen: | LTPS-TFT display, 5.5 inches, 1920x1080, Dragontrail/NEG T2X-1 (2.5D) protective glass with oleophobic coating |
| Case materials: | Painted aluminum, 5 colors (white, gold, grey, blue, pink) |
| CPU: | MediaTek Helio X10 (MT6795), 8 Cortex-A53 cores at 2 GHz |
| Graphic arts: | PowerVR G6200 |
| Operating system: | YunOS (full compatibility with Android applications) and Flyme 5.1 shell |
| RAM: | 2 GB (LPDDR3) |
| User memory: | 16/32 GB (microSD support up to 128 GB) |
| Camera: | 13 MP with f/2.2 aperture, Sony IMX230 sensor, autofocus, dual-tone LED flash; front camera 5 MP (f/2.0), OV5670 sensor, FullHD video recording |
| Network types: | GSM/EDGE (900/1800/1900MHz), WCDMA (900/1900/2100MHz), FDD-LTE (1920-1980/1710-1785 MHz), TD-LTE, TD-SCDMA, support for two SIM cards (nanoSIM) |
| Wireless technologies: | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac (dual band: 2.4 and 5 GHz), Bluetooth 4.1, GPS (A-GPS)/GLONASS/BeiDou |
| Additionally: | USB-OTG and MHL via standard microUSB connector (USB 2.0) |
| Battery: | 3140 mAh, non-removable |
| Dimensions: | 150.7 x 75.3 x 8.2 mm |
| Weight: | 162 grams |
| Cost (official): | ￥999 for 16 GB and ￥1199 for the older model |
| Cost (real): | and dollars, respectively (depending on color) |
▌About YunOS, Google Play installation and localization
YunOS is a fork of Android (applications are therefore compatible) from the Alibaba Group corporation. Initially, the concept of this OS included the execution of applications in the “cloud”, and the smartphone should serve as an intermediary for displaying information to the end consumer. I don’t know, maybe this works in China and on the example of some other devices, but in the case of Meizu and its proprietary Flyme shell, it’s almost impossible to notice the difference between YunOS and Android.There are 2 problems that you should be aware of before purchasing: the lack of Google Play out of the box and the lack of Russian or Ukrainian system languages. The first one can be solved quite easily: you just need to download a program from the standard “App Store” application, which will automatically install all Google services, including the company’s application store. You can find it by searching “installer” or “Google installer”. 
With localization, everything is a little more complicated. Due to the locked bootloader in Meizu smartphones, there is no need to wait for custom firmware, as well as the Russian language of the system. So you’ll have to figure out the settings in English, although this won’t be difficult for those who have already used Android smartphones. The problem with application localization can be solved either manually - by setting the desired language in the settings of each, or automatically - using specialized programs such as “morelocale2”. True, simply installing the application from Google Play and selecting the Russian language, as was the case with, will not work, because In Meizu smartphones on YunOS, the ability to gain root access has completely disappeared. To localize applications you will have to use the Windows command line, but the process will not take more than 15-20 minutes. I won’t repeat myself again, but will simply leave a link to and instructions from the forum. All third-party applications and most standard ones (Explorer, security, video player, etc.) as a result of the manipulations performed will be translated into Russian localization.
Similarly, I will not focus on Flyme OS. In my review, I talked in some detail about system version 4.5, and the update to Flyme 5 did not bring any significant changes. I still like the system: it is nicely designed, works quickly and is quite functional. The only thing that catches your eye is the redesigned multitasking menu, which now displays application thumbnails with the ability to pin them in the device’s memory by pressing them for a long time (a lock appears on the application). Some standard programs (Explorer, video player, settings, news) have the ability to work in two-window mode. The menu is called up by swiping up from the bottom of the screen. 
Among the shortcomings that users noted in the comments to my previous review, it is worth highlighting the absence of icons in the notification bar for most programs, instead of which an infinity sign is displayed. I don’t know if the problem is YunOS or Flyme, but sometimes flaws appear when working with third-party applications. For example, the official client of Twitter and Facebook Messenger does not start for me, the search for messages or friends does not work in the VK.com application, and with the latest software update Instagram began to freeze after a couple of actions. There is also no separate volume control, as is implemented in smartphones running “bare” Android or CyanogenOS.
Regarding this smartphone, it sometimes seemed that the software developers decided to protect the user from absolutely everything. You turn on your favorite song in Play Music, and after 3 minutes the playback stops. Similarly with the watch, which lost contact with the smartphone every 3 minutes (I already started blaming them at first). It turned out that by default, all energy-intensive (in fact, all) background processes are simply turned off after 3 minutes. You can allow the applications you need to run in standby mode through the Security application: Power Management -> Manage Applications. But the care does not end there, because... in the “Software Permissions” menu you can: manage the auto-start of programs in the background and when you turn on the phone, receive notifications and notifications, or even allow or deny applications access to various smartphone modules. 
Locking with a fingerprint scanner, the issue of necessity and security of which deserves a separate article, can be set both to unlock the screen and to any of the installed applications. You can add up to 5 fingerprints to the database. 
At the beginning, I mentioned two problems that you should be aware of before purchasing: the lack of Google Play and Russian localization. I cannot count any of them as disadvantages of the smartphone, since it is simply not designed for any market other than Chinese. Yes, and they are treated - these problems. But the work (or lack thereof) of some third-party applications is a minus, since it is not known which program will have to be abandoned in subsequent updates. On the other hand, maybe Chinese developers, on the contrary, will fix compatibility problems over time.
▌Why paint metal? (About design, display, mTouch)
The body of the smartphone is made of metal - this is the main difference from other models in the M line (aka Blue Charm). There are 5 colors available to choose from: white, gold, grey, blue, pink. Unfortunately, this is not the usual anodizing, which gives the metal the appropriate shade, but full-fledged painting.
The quality of painting in some places leaves much to be desired. At the bottom end you can see small particles trapped under the paint layer. In the place where the cover meets the plastic frame of the display and the protective glass, the metal is chamfered. “Bare” metal quickly becomes covered with scratches.
The Meizu Metal cover is NOT all metal! The plastic dividers for the antennas at the ends of the case blend into the paint, which is easy to notice under a bright light source. A similar unevenness is observed above the camera and below the “Designeg by Meizu” inscription at the bottom of the body. The body of the smartphone, if you remove a layer of paint, will look like a Huawei Ascend G7 (I know that there are more similar examples, but I couldn’t remember), i.e. is a symbiosis of metal and plastic. to disassemble the device (carefully, Chinese).
I repeat that all these shortcomings were noticed upon close examination of the smartphone’s body. Most users still put even strong metal smartphones into cases and other bumpers, so there is no need to worry about this. Although some sediment still remains.
Information about using the reader “as in Meizu PRO 5” is not completely reliable, since even the manufacturer itself on its official website indicates a recognition time of 0.48 seconds for the smartphone under review and 0.2 s for the flagship of the line. Based on operating experience, I can rate the quality of the M1 Metal sensor as average, because... There have been errors in recognition, and the operating speed is not up to the truly lightning-fast ZUK Z1 or iPhone 6S. 
Lately I stopped showing unboxing of smartphones, because... everything became terribly monotonous. But this time Meizu tried to protect the smartphone as much as possible from external influences by packing it in a cardboard package and sealing it with a matte film on top. 
The kit includes only a power supply (more on that later), a cable, pieces of paper and a paper clip for removing the card tray. There are complaints about both the appearance and the design of the smartphone itself. It is difficult to count the painted metal case as one of the advantages of the M1 Metal, which is difficult to distinguish from a plastic one to the touch, but when dropped, it turned out to be not very intact.
▌One of the best budget smartphones in terms of performance
It's funny to see how a flagship and a budget device on the same system-on-chip coexist in the company's lineup. The only difference from the Meizu MX5 is the frequency lowered by 0.2 GHz, and the same 3 GB of RAM and 8 Cortex-A53 cores. I won’t go into details, because in terms of performance everything is very good. Here, for comparison, is a table of synthetic test results for the smartphones I tested:| Benchmark/Phone | Meizu M1 Metal (Helio X10 MT6795) | Lenovo Vibe P1 (Snapdragon 615) | |||
| 1476 | 938 | 2158 | 3438 | 4330 | |
| 14801 | 6091 | 7262 | 19594 | 19564 | |
| 4 | 2,2 | 5,5 | 12 | 9,9 | |
| 890 / 4836 | 578 / 2661 | 642 / 2446 | 991 / 2990 | 1241 / 3222 | |
| 55209 (Antutu v6.0.1) | 30624 | 34131 | 47075 | 50610 |
Playing on medium graphics settingsThe results presented above are typical for the performance mode, which can be set in settings (Balanced and Economy are also available). The temperature under prolonged high load does not exceed 45 degrees, throttling of the process is not visually noticeable (if present at all).
With support for most modern audio and video formats (including 4K) there are absolutely no problems:
After the system boots, the user is allocated no more than 1 GB of RAM for his own needs. Minimizing resource-intensive applications (3D games, mainly) leads to their closing, and the subsequent launch “kills” other background applications. It’s not that 2 GB is really not enough, don’t think so, but looking at Xiaomi smartphones, you want more. About 12 GB of user memory is available in the younger version, but it can be expanded with memory cards up to 128 GB.
▌Autonomy and communication
Autonomy, frankly speaking, is far from ideal. In my operating mode (lots of Internet - few calls), the smartphone barely survived until the evening with 2-3 hours of active screen operation. The same Meizu M2 Note with a weaker processor has a battery life of 3 to 5 hours.
There are problems with the battery operating outdoors, at temperatures below 10-15° Celsius. The smartphone very quickly loses charge and turns off. This behavior in the cold is probably the scourge of all metal smartphones, including the notorious iPhone. A warm place and a charger bring the smartphone back to life with the same or slightly decreased charge level. In normal mode, charging a smartphone from 0 to 100% takes about 2.5 hours from the included 1.5 Amp power supply.
The metal case, even with plastic inserts, affects the level of Wi-Fi network reception. In my case, this is a 5 GHz / ac access point based on Xiaomi Mi mini router. For comparison, screenshots of signal reception from Metal, Redmi Note 2, Note 3 (from left to right) at a three-meter distance and with an obstacle in the form of an ordinary reinforced concrete wall (not load-bearing): 
There were no differences in the quality of reception of cellular networks. The microphone and speaker are also fine. The LTE network frequencies supported by the smartphone correspond to bands 1 and 3. With operators that provide communications on these bands, LTE will work, but I don’t know how well. There are no problems with 3G either in Ukraine or in Russia. I’ll say something about the sound. It so happened that all my Xiaomi headphones (Piston II and Youth Edition) “died”, and I purchased Meizu HD50 as a replacement and test (I haven’t had one for a long time). Metal, as a playback source, according to the comparison results, turned out to be much better than Redmi Note 2, both in terms of volume reserve and in terms of sound. The last statement is purely subjective, and I’ll tell you about these headphones separately.
▌Camera
The main drawback of the camera was the excessive shutter speed for taking pictures at night, which is why the photos turned out blurry. The company solved this problem in a “standard” way by increasing ISO (light sensitivity) at night and introducing more “strict” noise reduction algorithms to correct the resulting color noise. Otherwise, the camera remains at the level of other models from the Note line and does not stand out in anything special.The application interface was changed in the fifth version, but, it seems to me, they only made it worse. A number of function keys have been moved to the top, which is, say, not very convenient for a 5.5-inch smartphone, both in horizontal and vertical orientation. Instead of a video recording button, there is now a mode selection menu, which was previously implemented with convenient swipes left/right. Actually, the video mode itself has been moved to this menu and it is no longer possible to start recording by pressing one button. Otherwise, everything is as before: HDR is hidden in the settings, as if hinting that this function is here purely for show, and the Manual mode remains in its place and allows you to control most parameters manually. 
Since we had Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 and Note 3 smartphones at hand, it was decided to compare the quality of pictures from these devices in different conditions.
Making a thumbnail for each photo, inserting it and putting a link to the full-size image on it is very hemorrhoids. In 3 days I will have this article published with a proper web gallery for quick comparison of photos. In the meantime, you can download an archive with full-size photographs at the end of the chapter.
If you look closely, you will notice how much the corners of the images are blurred in the footage from Metal, which indicates that far from the best optics were used. In some night scenes, Metal produces a clearer picture than its direct competitors, but during the day, the victory is definitely for Redmi Note 2/3, since Meizu has clearly inflated ISO settings, which leads to a decrease in overall detail due to the noise reduction work. All of the above is my personal opinion based on a dozen test images, but the cameras, as for me, do not differ much and are unlikely to become a decisive factor when considering these devices for purchase. Other photos taken while using the smartphone: 
HDR version: 
At night: 
An archive of full-size photographs and (there are more of them) can be downloaded using the appropriate links.
▌Results
Despite the price being comparable to Xiaomi Redmi Note 3, Meizu Metal is still worth paying attention to when choosing a new smartphone under $200. The device has certain problems with the software (lack of localization and Google Play) out of the box, but they cannot be classified as shortcomings, since the smartphone is not positioned for sale on the international market. And these problems are solved in 15-20 minutes. The design flaws are cosmetic (if you don’t drop your smartphone), although I won’t make any guesses regarding the paint coating. The design is absolutely not for everybody: I didn’t like the paint solution, but I liked the rounded glass and the convenient mechanical touch button on the front panel with a fingerprint sensor.
On a popular Russian-language forum, the owners asked why they chose this particular device, and not a more attractive solution from Xiaomi in terms of technical characteristics. To which they responded with the design advantages of Meizu Metal (a mechanical scanner button on the front panel, microUSB in the center, a memory card slot and rounded glass) and a more pleasant OS. You need to understand that even this “sweet couple” already has competitors in the form of less famous brands (LeTV, for example) and in the future I will try to talk about them. If you need to buy now, then I can recommend Meizu Metal for purchase if its advantages are important to you, and you can put up with its disadvantages. The main thing is to analyze and do not stop at one source of information like me, for this I provide links to alternative reviews below.
What I liked
- Performance (speed)
- Fingerprint scanner
- Good display with oleophobic coating
- Support for memory cards (even if sacrificing one SIM)
What I didn't like
- Medium painted metal body
- Flimsy USB connector
- Wi-Fi signal reception quality
- Working with some third party applications
- Autonomy
What would you like
- NFC support
- 3 GB RAM
The idea of writing a review of something that is far from new: Meizu M1 Metal - came after reading the characteristics of Meizu M3 Note. Indeed, Meizu is pursuing a completely unclear policy, releasing the fairly powerful M1 Note, followed by the average performance M2 Note and, finally, the equally low-power M3 Note. For itself, Meizu released the M1 Metal, in which it installed hardware almost similar to the top model MX5, and all this at the price of a dead Note. Naturally, the Chinese resorted to tricks to discourage us from buying Metal and forcing us to buy the Note series. And their tricks are as simple as a stick - remove the Russian language and cut off 4G frequencies. How ascetic users survive Meizu M1 Metal I'll tell you in this review.
CHARACTERISTICS
- System: Flyme 5 on YunOS (based on Android 5.1 Lollipop)
- Processor: 64Bit MTK Hellio X10 2.0 GHz 8 cores ARM Cortex-A53
- Graphics: PowerVR G6200
- Memory: 2GB RAM + 16GB ROM
- SIM cards: Support two SIM cards
- Frequencies: 3G: 900/1900/2100 2G: 900/1800/1900 4G: FDD-LTE 1920-1980/1710-1785
- Support: 3G, EDGE, 4G, LTE, GPRS, EGSM ,WAP, Wi-Fi
- Screen: 5.5" IPS OGS with FullHD resolution (1080P), multi-touch 10 touches.
- Front camera: 5 MP. aperture f/2.0
- Main camera: 13 MP. aperture f/2.2
- Battery: 3140mAh
- Dimensions: 150 x 75 x 7 mm, weight with battery 160 g.
- Bluetooth: BT 4.1
- GPS: GPS + AGPS + GLONASS
- OTG: Supports
- Fingerprint scanner: mTouch 2.1
The smartphone is packaged in durable white cardboard, with specifications on the back. 
Everything is neat inside, USB-MicroUSB cable and 1.5 amp charging. 
They also didn’t forget to put a set of documentation, as well as a paper clip for the tray. 
DESIGN/ERGONOMICS
The device lies comfortably in the hand, the Chinese have thought about everything: the buttons on the human right side are right under the thumb, the body is metal, and the surface of the back cover is matte and does not slip - you can feel from everything that the device is high-quality and expensive. 
I forgot to mention, there is also a fingerprint scanner, not on the back (like some), but built into a mechanical button, the response rate tends to be 100%. 
But let's take a closer look at the device. On the front side there is a screen, a front camera, sensors, an earpiece and a single button. The button combines a touch component for going “back” and a mechanical component for going “home”. 
The event indicator is a different story. If you do not add an application to the white list in the security settings, then it will not work in the background (to save battery) and you will not receive notifications from it either. Therefore, we add everything that should shine a white eye on us to the white list and to the autorun list. 
On the left side of the M1 Metal there is a combined slot for two nano SIM cards or for a SIM and a memory card. 
On the right side there are metal buttons: power and volume rocker. The button travel is sharp and tight. 
At the top end there is an audio jack and a noise-canceling microphone. On the bottom there is the main speaker, microphone and MicroUSB connector. 
BATTERY
The battery is stated to be 3140mAh, and, of course, it is. 
The results of the Antutu tester are high, and with each firmware update, the autonomy indicators only grow. 
DISPLAY
The display of the Meizu M1 Metal is simply gorgeous (5.5" IPS OGS with FullHD resolution, multi-touch 10 touches), there are no distortions into cold and warm shades like the Note series. The image is very rich and contrasting, close to natural. But if you have your own preferences in the color palette, it can be easily adjusted. 
The viewing angles are wide. Whatever you say, Meizu puts amazing screens on its devices. 
SOUND
Not long ago I held the flagship Meizu MX5 in my hands and I will say that the sound quality in the headphones is no different. The speaker is rich in low frequencies, moderately loud and of very high quality.
CONNECTION
The communication quality of Meizu M1 Metal is 10 points out of 10! But here lies an underwater niche. Although Meizu M1 Metal supports 2G, 3G and 4G LTE networks, band 7 and band 20, which are common in our country, have been removed from the list. 
But everything is fine, if you use MTS communications (band 3), then you will have 4G! 
SpeedTest shows the available 40 megabits, the fingerprint scanner works clearly and very quickly. 
Wi-Fi is excellent through 1 and 2 concrete walls. 
GPS connects to all possible satellites, and an electronic compass is supported. In terms of navigation quality, I would like to highlight Meizu, I went on several hikes with it - everything was perfect! 
OTG supported. 
INTERFACE
Meizu M1 Metal runs on Flyme 5, which is based on YunOS 3.1 (developed by the creators of Aliexpress), which in turn is based on Android 5.1. The pyramid turned out to be not weak. You can’t see any special differences from the regular Flyme 5, but they are there. The main difference is the lack of Root rights, which Flyme users always had upon registration. In principle, Root rights are not really needed today, however, if they were there, it would be possible to do a full-fledged Russification, which is simply not the case today. Although the screenshot gives hope. 
Among the software features, there is a choice of performance mode and energy saving mode. 
Smart point and on-screen gestures. 
Possibility of locking with a button and other settings. 
In the Security Center, white lists, autorun settings, and rights to access the Internet from a mobile network or Wi-Fi are configured. 
I’m sure many are surprised that I’m talking about the fact that there is no Russian language in the smartphone, but here half of it is in Russian. That's right, it is not yet possible to get full Russification using Root, but the Morelocale 2 program does partial Russification. Almost everything becomes in Russian, except for settings. You can read about how to provide access to the Russification program.
IRON
Now we come to the part that will make Note series users clench their teeth - performance. Meizu M1 Metal runs on a powerful 64-bit 8-core MTK Hellio X10 processor with a frequency of 2.0 GHz, PowerVR G6200 is responsible for graphics. RAM 2 gigabytes, inside - 16 + MicroSD card. The performance here is of course very serious, you can play anything at the highest graphics settings. Antutu shows almost 52,000 parrots and, like Tuzik, tears up the new Meizu M3 Note with its dead P10. 
We enjoy the rest of the characteristics from the Antutu program. 
To maintain a good tradition, I will provide screenshots from CPU X: 
For the nostalgic, warm tube benchmarks: 
Epic Citadel on all possible graphics settings: 
CAMERAS
It wasn't just the dog that Meizu ate on camera. The main module is 13 MP. aperture f/2.2. It takes excellent photos, but, as they say, less words, more photos! 
Front camera 5 MP. aperture f/2.0. 
In original quality.
Video is shot in FullHD with stereo sound.
CONCLUSIONS
Meizu M1 Metal is simply a gorgeous device, updates are coming out for it with enviable regularity, excellent camera, screen, sound, navigation, powerful hardware. And all this honey is flavored with a fly in the ointment in the form of 4G only on band 3 and partial Russification. In my opinion, getting Root is a matter of time, and with the advent of a full-fledged Russian language, this device is capable of eclipsing the entire Note line, from the first to the last.
The product was provided for writing a review by the store. The review was published in accordance with clause 18 of the Site Rules.
I'm planning to buy +9 Add to favorites I liked the review 0Comparing Chinese phones with each other is a thankless task. There will always be a friend with the usual remark: “how dare you praise this model when xiaocai/iNew/Jeasung/some other name offers such characteristics even cheaper?” Still, there is something to praise Meizu Metal for.
A good display and good sound in headphones, decent quality cameras and a decent amount of power for the 13-14 thousand rubles that Chinese online stores are asking for our hero. Of course, there is not as much metal in Metal as the advertisement predicted, but even small touches (polished edges on all four edges) are enough to prevent the smartphone from looking cheap, made from recycled materials.
They say that during the Soviet era, guests from China remarkably adapted to our socialist realities and, with their inherent Asian ingenuity, lived no worse than original Soviet citizens. It’s a pity that the same cannot be said about Chinese mobile phones in modern Russia: in the regions, Meizu Metal buyers will be faced with non-working 4G, and globally, lovers of “exclusives from the Middle Kingdom” will have to carry out independent (partial) Russification of the phone and come to terms with crooked Google services.
We will try to check how things are going with the main competitor, Xiaomi, a little later, but in Russian retail the less powerful, all-metal Huawei-which-is-not-Huawei costs at least 4 thousand more, and behind it is a wasteland with space price tags of competitors. But according to the “performance/price” scale accepted by geeks, the M1 Metal is already good, so for now we will leave the question of buying an original Chinese model in difficult times of crisis open.
as well as Meizu external batteries
Characteristics
- Case materials: aluminum, 2.5D glass Dragontrail/NEG T2X-1 (front panel)
- Operating system: YunOS, Flyme 5.1
- Network: 2G, 3G, 4G (TD-LTE/FDD-LTE), nanoSIM, dual SIM support
- Platform: MediaTek Helio X10 (MT6795)
- Processor: eight-core, 64-bit, Cortex-A53 at 2 GHz
- Graphics: PowerVR G6200
- RAM: 2 GB
- Data storage memory: 16/32 GB
- Memory card slot: yes, microSD
- Interfaces: Wi-Fi (a/ac/b/g/n) Dual-Band, Bluetooth 4.1 (LE), microUSB connector (USB 2.0, MHL) for charging/synchronization, 3.5 mm for headset
- Screen: LCD, 5.5” diagonal, resolution 1920x1080, ppi 403, automatic backlight level adjustment, protective glass Dragontrail/NEG T2X-1
- Main camera: 13 megapixels, f/2.2, Sony IMX230 sensor, f/2.2, autofocus, dual LED flash, video recorded in 4k
- Front camera: 5 MP without autofocus, OV5670 sensor, f/2.0, video recorded in 1080p
- Navigation: GPS (A-GPS support), Glonass
- Additionally: mTouch 2.1 fingerprint scanner, accelerometer, light sensor, proximity sensor
- Battery: 3140 mAh
- Dimensions: 150.7 x 75.3 x 8.2 mm
- Weight: 162 grams
In mid-2014, China's Meizu transformed from a single smartphone maker into a major player in the local market thanks to nearly a billion dollars in investment from Internet giant Alibaba. The effect of the investment was immediate, if in 2012 and 2013 Meizu presented one smartphone each and then supported them, then in 2014 the company announced three devices at once and presented another one “to follow up”, at the very beginning of 2015. Later in the same year , Meizu receives another $600 million from Alibaba, and the company is already able to compete with larger players in terms of the number of new smartphones. Over the year, Meizu presented the following devices: Meizu M1 Mini (January), Meizu M2 note (June), Meizu MX5 (July), Meizu M2 mini (July), Meizu Pro 5 (September).
All this time, the company gradually integrated various Alibaba services into its products, and the most important stage of cooperation was the introduction into new Meizu smartphones with a fingerprint scanner of the ability to pay for purchases through the Alipay service in one touch.
However, it is logical that sooner or later Alibaba and Meizu had to implement a joint smartphone, where Alibaba is represented not just by a couple of services like Alipay. Meizu already had several smartphones based on Alibaba's operating system, YunOS, but the new Meizu M1 Metal is the first device only on YunOS, without an Android version.
The presentation of the new device followed the pattern already familiar to the company. A huge hall at the Beijing CNCC, where many companies hold their announcements, including Xiaomi, Lenovo, Huawei and others. A performance by a popular music artist with live sound (this time only the singer's voice was live) and, finally, the appearance of the CEO of Meizu, Bai Yongxiang, on stage.
The new Meizu device belongs to the line of inexpensive models, in China the company has a separate sub-brand for it - Blue Charm, in the rest of the world these devices are known as Meizu M. The new model, contrary to expectations and rumors, was called Meizu M1 Metal, although everyone was waiting that it will be the M3 Note.
Externally, the new smartphone is an almost complete copy of the Meizu M1 Note and M2 Note, with the difference that it uses aluminum rather than plastic. And it is the change of material for the case that plays an important role in the perception of the new device. I can’t say that the aluminum in the M1 Metal is exactly the same as in the Meizu MX5 or Pro 5, it’s not, but there is still a difference between the plastic case and the aluminum one.
Meizu M1 Metal in gray and white colors
Meizu notes that when creating the case for the M1 Metal, cheaper and simpler technologies were used than for the manufacture of the MX5 and Pro 5 cases. The production of the case for the M1 Metal is carried out by a Chinese company, followed by painting by a Japanese company.
The device will be available in five colors: gray, white, gold, pink and blue.
It’s not so easy to distinguish Meizu M1 Metal from Meizu M2 Note “live”. Yes, they have their own characteristics, but if you take a quick look at smartphones, the difference is almost invisible. When you take a new device in your hand and start studying it, the difference becomes noticeable. But, again, you should not expect from the M1 Metal the same tactile sensations as from the Meizu MX5, Pro 5 and, especially, devices such as the Apple iPhone, for example, also in metal cases. This is a more budget level.
By the way, speaking of metal, the Meizu M1 Metal cover is made entirely of aluminum, without any inserts or strips for antenna routing. The only thing that breaks the integrity of the cover is the camera peephole and the flash.
It is not yet clear how effective this solution will be in terms of the quality of network reception, as well as the operation of wireless interfaces, but since the Chinese have used it, it means they are confident in its functionality.
In terms of dimensions, the new smartphone is almost similar to models from the M Note line, that is, it is a large device that fits in the hand, but personally I cannot call it very comfortable, you need to get used to the size.
Compared to LG G4
The smartphone uses a 5.5-inch LCD display with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. In terms of characteristics, this is a typical IPS matrix: good viewing angles, a good amount of brightness, and calm color rendition. The difference from other smartphones in the Meizu M line is that it uses glass with a 2.5D effect, that is, slightly convex, which gives an interesting effect. Today, such a solution is found in expensive smartphones from various companies (including the Apple iPhone), but budget models, as far as I remember, were not previously equipped with such a protective glass.
In general, in terms of design and materials, the Meizu M1 Metal is a cross between the expensive MX5, Pro 5 and cheap M series devices. Due to the 2.5D glass, the smartphone is perceived and looks more interesting than the M1 and M2 Note, but the use of aluminum, to me, seems more of a promotional move. Don't get me wrong, I like metal in smartphone bodies, but here it's a little nondescript and feels like a cross between plastic and metal. If I close my eyes and hold the M2 Note in one hand and the M1 Metal in the other, I'm not sure what I’ll instantly tell you which smartphone is which, focusing only on the tactile sensations of the cases. This is not bad or good, there is just such a moment, in my opinion.
Meizu M1 Metal and Meizu M2 Note
But the main feature of the new Meizu M1 Metal is not the use of volumetric glass, metal or the top platform from Mediatek, Helio X10 (more on it below), as one might think. Meizu is the first of all manufacturers to equip a budget smartphone with a fingerprint scanner. And not a simple scanner with a touch button, like the HTC One M9 and A9, and OnePlus Two, but its own proprietary scanner built into a hardware key with a touch area - mTouch 2.1.
And by showing these slides, the Chinese are not embellishing reality at all. Today, scanners, especially those built into a hardware key, are used only in expensive smartphones, and the Meizu M1 Metal is an exception.
The M1 Metal uses an oval-shaped mechanical key (like the Pro 5), which has a scanner and touch button built into it, and the key itself is surrounded by a thin metal frame. The scanner recognizes touches from any angle and allows you to unlock not only the screen, but also access to applications; it can also be used for payment, but this functionality is currently only relevant for the Chinese market. It is difficult to overestimate the capabilities of this key; on paper it is good, in reality it is very good. You get used to using the button, and giving it up (changing a smartphone, for example) is very difficult.
The device is built on a new platform from Mediatek – MT6795 or Helio X10. This solution is based on an eight-core processor with support for 64-bit architecture and a frequency of 2 GHz for all cores (Cortex-A53). According to tests, Helio X10 is at the level of the top-end Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 and is often ahead of it. The flagship platform from Mediatek in a budget device - that's all you need to know about the performance of the new Meizu M1 Metal.
The graphics, PowerVR G6200, in Meizu M1 Metal are exactly the same as in MX5, and that's a plus. This solution worked well in last year's MX4, and given the fact that the screen resolution in the M1 Metal is the same, the selected graphics subsystem should do an excellent job. The smartphone has 2 GB of RAM and 16 or 32 GB of internal memory. Plus there is a slot for a microSD memory card.
A little about cameras. The main camera module has a resolution similar to the M2 Note - 13 megapixels. The rest of the characteristics are also similar: f/2.2, five lenses, dual LED flash. Of course, there is a full-fledged manual mode, already familiar to Meizu smartphones. Front camera – 5 MP, f/2.0, with the ability to apply various effects.
Below are examples of photos, of course, these are engineering samples and something may change, but you shouldn’t expect a miracle. For an inexpensive smartphone, the photo quality is quite acceptable, in my opinion.
The smartphone supports two SIM cards (both nanoSIM); instead of the second SIM card, you can also install a memory card with a capacity of up to 128 GB. Support for LTE frequencies for international markets is hardly important (although there are certain FDD-LTE frequencies here), more on that below.
The new Meizu M1 Metal runs YunOS with the proprietary Flyme 5.1 shell. There is some confusion here, and I won’t be able to figure it out completely due to the lack of some data (hardly anyone has it). The fact is that YunOS is the operating system of Alibaba Group. The system was developed for smartphones and smart appliances, is based on Linux and was released on the Chinese market in 2011. Like some variations of the Android OS, YunOS is built on AOSP (Android Open Source Project), and from Google's perspective, this system is one of many forks of the Android OS. That is, AliCloud, the developer of YunOS, took the basis for the new Android system and simply changed it. In turn, Alibaba Group denies this, emphasizing that their operating system uses its own virtual machine and its own development environment, which is compatible with tools and some software for Android. I don’t presume to judge who is right in this story. One way or another, the Meizu M1 Metal uses YunOS, and I am not sure that Google services can be made to work on the smartphone in a couple of clicks or in a couple of installations of apk files. Although most Android applications will run on YunOS, no one can guarantee 100% compatibility with all software.
As for the interface, the updated Flyme 5.1 is beautiful, neat, and easy to use.
Pre-orders for the Meizu M1 Metal in China open today (October 21), and the smartphone will arrive in retail stores on November 11 this year. The cost of the younger 16 GB version is 1099 yuan, the 32 GB version will cost 1,299 yuan (the exchange rate is now approximately 10 rubles per 1 yuan). The important point is that it was emphasized several times at the presentation that this is a smartphone exclusively for the domestic market. The presence of the only version with YunOS is further confirmation of this. Meizu also noted that their partners, Chinese online stores JD.com and others, will not sell Meizu M1 Metal outside of China.
Perhaps you can still buy a smartphone if you try, but whether it will ever be officially sold outside of China is unknown. If we leave aside the rarity of this device in terms of purchases outside the Middle Kingdom, we get a very interesting smartphone. In fact, at the price of a budget device, Meizu is bringing to market a middle-class device: with a powerful platform, support for LTE and two SIM cards, good cameras, in an aluminum case, with a feature in the form of 2.5D glass and, most importantly, with a comfortable mechanical key. where the fingerprint scanner is built-in. Obviously, this is just a taste of the pen and we should expect a continuation next year, perhaps for foreign markets.
P.S. At the presentation, the company also confirmed its intention to release its first external battery for smartphones and tablets. As a result, there will be two models – Meizu M8 and Meizu M10. Both are 10,000 mAh, in the same design. The difference is in the plastic, the M10 is more durable and non-staining, and there is support for fast charging of the accessory itself and smartphones from it; the M8 will not have this option. But the younger model is cheaper, costs 100 yuan, while the older one costs 150 yuan. More details on the batteries as soon as I can get them for review.
In the package you will find a smartphone under a protective film, a paper clip, a charger (Chinese 1.5 A) and a microUSB cable.
The device itself looks beautiful. On the front there is a button that houses a fingerprint scanner. At the top there are various sensors, a notification indicator and a front camera.
The body of the device is non-separable, in general it looks like a single whole, it’s not even immediately clear how it was assembled. The M1 Metal fits like a glove in the hand and does not cause discomfort; the buttons are at a comfortable height. There are no complaints about the assembly and the appearance either: the device combines beauty and quality, which was recently a novelty for the Chinese. This device breaks stereotypes.
Width
Height
Thickness
Weight
Shell
It’s not easy to Russify a gadget. On the existing firmware we tested, we had to be content with English (or Chinese). Most likely, soon the opportunity to teach a smartphone Russian will appear. For now, you won’t even get OTA updates, because the gadget is not even officially sold in Russia. The fingerprint scanner works with a slight half-second delay, but it works correctly the first time. The smartphone has its own modification of the shell based on Android 5.1. It is somewhat reminiscent of iOS, that is, all programs are located on desktops. You have the opportunity to control the device with gestures, in general the shell is understandable and even if you don’t speak the language, you can easily figure it out. Google services can be installed without much effort.
Specifications
CPU
Mediatek Helio X10 with a frequency of 2 GHz, 8 cores
Video processor
The smartphone is simply amazing with its impressive “filling”, and if you remember its price, you feel completely good about it. The processor in the device is very powerful. The video card also matches it. Some A-brand flagships may even envy such characteristics.
Memory
As many as 12 GB out of 16 are available to the user out of the box. Generously! You can refuse the memory card. If this turns out to be not enough, then microSD up to 128 GB will help out! But for her sake you will have to give up one SIM card. In general, it’s not clear why such a slot should be made if the M1 Metal has only 16 GB of memory, and with each passing month the lack of memory is felt more and more. "RAM" in Meizu 2 GB.
Connection
It's time to talk about the communication capabilities of this "Chinese". After all, he is in our country unofficially. It is stated that it supports 4G networks, but it could not cope with Russian ones, therefore, you will have to be happy only with 3G networks. But the navigation works great; the device quickly caught 10 out of 22 it saw. The welcome is wonderful. The device does not have an infrared port, NFC, and most importantly, FM radio, this fact may upset many. Other wireless networks are present and work great.
Look
updated as new information becomes available and published after careful review
