Mlais M52 Red Note Unboxing and First Impressions


mlais m52

Over the past few days we have heard a lot about the Mlais M52 Red Note, but nothing beats actually going hands on with a device. Keep reading for more details.

Mlais have started 2015 with a phone which they hope will take on the likes of the Meizu m1 note, JiaYu S3 and other mid-range flagships sporting a Mediatek MT6752. Just a glimpse at the specifications is impressive and reveals a 5.5-inch phablet with dual-sim, LTE, 2GB RAM, 13 mega-pixel main camera and removable 3200mAh battery.

Yesterday evening I received our review sample of the Mlais M52 phone and quickly got my hands on the device for the first time. First impressions are very good! The phone feels really well made and I am impressed that Mlais have shipped both the red and blue covers with the phone (which comes with white fitted as standard).

Update: Mlais have informed me that they have alread sent out an update for the Mlais M52 that improves camera performance. Hopefully this is a sign of future OTA updates to come.

Mlais M52 Red Note Hands on and first impressions

Warning: Only after uploading this video did I notice the sound was a little off. I have created another hands on and will upload this later (hopefully the audio was Youtube’s issue and not my camera)

Gizchina News of the week


I have to keep reminding myself that the M52 retails at only $159.99 ($149.99 for early pre-orders), the specification, build and my first impressions are that of a phone that costs much more! I need to spend more time with the phone, but so far I believe that the Mlais M52 is a game changer! It proves what Chinese phone makers can produce at a low price, and it proves that a low-cost doesn’t have to mean poor quality or a lack of accessories.

The question now is can Mlais keep the ball rolling and continue to reach the very high bar that they have set for themselves.

[ Mlais ]
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59 Comments

  1. frederik
    March 25, 2015

    How good i the 2gb compared to jiayu s3 3gb? I mean I prefer 1gb more, but what’s the difference? 🙂

    • frederik
      March 25, 2015

      is *

      • Armacryss
        March 25, 2015

        More apps running in the background… 1gb is a little light nowadays (with so many social apps running in the background), 2gb seems really fine by me… powerusers will need 3gb though. As far as I can see (and I’m wearing glasses for a reason 🙂 ), that’s the only main difference… but I can be wrong.

        • Muhammad Yasir
          March 25, 2015

          whats a POWERUSER ?
          (is that a new name for a power ranger :p )

          • Armacryss
            March 25, 2015

            Haven’t you seen this peachy red ? 😀 and this blue ? Of course that’s a new kind of Power Ranger !
            More seriously, I only meant : “people requiring a lot of performance from their phones” for… whatever reason in fact 🙂

            • Muhammad Yasir
              March 25, 2015

              i see 🙂
              thx

            • March 25, 2015

              If you do a lot of multi-tasking + play graphic & cpu intensive games + have a need for large capacity batteries in your phone to take you through the day – you already a power user.

          • Yeti hand
            March 27, 2015

            I’m the black one! You’re the chief so you’re either red or green

    • Yeti hand
      March 31, 2015

      The difference is not noticeable if this what you want to know

  2. Armacryss
    March 25, 2015

    I can’t wait to read your full review on this phone. The price is really interesting… I’m a little worried about the camera, but I’ll have to wait for your review 🙂

  3. ben
    March 25, 2015

    Andi,
    does the second video inclued MLais software update?

  4. Ruby
    March 25, 2015

    Looks like a great alternative to the Meizu M1 Note if FHD is not imperative.

    Now just $148 on Geekbuying. Almost an impulse buy!

  5. Adam Irvine
    March 25, 2015

    I haven’t watched the above vids yet because I’m in work… But quick question to anyone who knows, does this phone have a Notification LED???

    I see all sorts of info over the web, some say it does, some say it doesn’t…

    • P00ky
      March 25, 2015

      i also want to know if it has Notification LED

      • Josef Izchaki
        March 31, 2015

        Yes it has a notification light.

    • Xalis
      March 25, 2015

      I used to worry about Notification LED’s a lot, but now days there are apps that let you use the camera flash as Notification LED, or your screen as notification led, at the cost of 1-2% of your battery life.

      • Adam Irvine
        March 26, 2015

        Ye it’s just not the same, and most of that cr@p requires you to have root…

  6. einszwo
    March 25, 2015

    “I believe that the Mlais M52 is a game changer!”
    But now we know about the Lenovo K3 Note! 😉

  7. Radier
    March 25, 2015

    When Gearbest starts shipping?

    • Xalis
      March 26, 2015

      As far as I know, at the end of the month.

    • Yeti hand
      March 27, 2015

      today

  8. Adam
    March 25, 2015

    I have my on Pre-order. Didn’t see the color options when I purchased.

    Can’t wait to get it.

  9. ksafan0
    March 26, 2015

    What keeps me off this phone is the all-too-common form factor.

  10. Nick
    March 27, 2015

    Hi! Could you please, Andi, if you still have the phone in hand, if this little wonder can be ROOTED ???? This may just be one of the most important aspects of the phone, in my opinion… Thanks 🙂

  11. P00ky
    March 27, 2015

    Hello, I have send Mlais a email about mlais m52, next questions is: 1-does it have notification Led, answer Mlais: YES.
    2-is the 8 mega mixel and 13 mega mixel for real or is it interpolated, answer Mlais: for Real no interpolated.

    • ?
      March 30, 2015

      And sony, they told me. Didn’t say which one though

    • Yeti hand
      March 31, 2015

      Thanks p00ky 🙂

  12. Lutkunf
    March 27, 2015

    What about “world modem”? Did you cut SoC’s specs?!

  13. Andrei
    March 28, 2015

    great phone

  14. john
    March 29, 2015

    hello 🙂

    why do you love this phone ?

    it’s just a copy of the redmi note 2

    (5.5″ hd, cpu 64bit …

    • zurich
      April 1, 2015

      In some spec, Mlais M52 Red Note is better than Mi Red and cheaper than Mi.

    • Joe brant
      April 1, 2015

      Cheaper, faster processor.

  15. Billator
    March 29, 2015

    Mlais M52 Red Note only for 136$!!!!
    http://www.gearbest.com/cell-phones/pp_152602.html?vip=20210
    Coupon code: GBM52

    • ?
      March 29, 2015

      How much are they paying you? ; )

    • elbs
      April 7, 2015

      it shows 141.98$ for me with code?

      • Billator
        April 16, 2015

        That was presale price sorry…

  16. mslr
    March 30, 2015

    Somebody are trying the GPS ? how time before a first fix and afrer ?

    Regards marc

    • Yeti hand
      April 2, 2015

      it works perfectly, the glonass too, there are two reviews of the phone I read the translated italian one 😉

  17. mapo
    March 30, 2015

    nice phone, I am interest in camera, how good is?

  18. Shad8x .
    March 30, 2015

    WHEN FULL REVIEW ?!

  19. jm
    April 1, 2015

    Is this phone sold in China? I’m a bit interested but I can’t seem to find it on Taobao. Amazon.cn doesn’t have it either.

  20. Sbz
    April 1, 2015

    Looks a cool phone to buy. For the specs (on paper and I see no reason why it shouldnt be as good as it should be) and price. Its near unbeatable.

  21. P00ky
    April 1, 2015

    10 april lollipop

  22. Adam
    April 1, 2015

    So I received my Mlais M52 yesterday. The phone is really fast and smooth. I like it a lot. I live in the USA. Using AT&T cell network. I was really hoping the 4G was going to work here on their network. However I have the same APN settings as my Samsung Note 3 and I switched the sim card and I only get 3G speeds on the MLAIS M52. I really don’t understand why these companies do not open up all 4G bands. What could possibly be the reason to not open all?

    1)
    Any chance they will open up all the bands in the future? Does the processor have the capability to run on the AT&T bands? I see it shows 2100 which the M52 has but apparently not in my area.

    850 MHZ, 1700 MHZ, 1900 MHZ, 2100 MHZ or 2, 4, 5, and 25
    Is what is listed at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellular_frequencies

    2) Where can I purchase other color back covers. I ordered the white by accident and would prefer a black or blue.

    3) Where can I purchase extra battery?

    • Yeti hand
      April 2, 2015

      hi at&t lte bands are 850mhz and 1900mhz so no lte for you!

    • HoangN
      April 3, 2015

      May I know where and when did you buy it from because I’m in US too and just made my order the 1st time on Gearbest on the 31st Mar? The phone was shipped out on the 1st April but up until today, the provied tracking number does not show anything at all 🙁

  23. Holger
    April 2, 2015

    If the unit is equipped with Gorilla Glass?

    • elbs
      April 7, 2015

      most likely not. which is why i hope it comes with a screen protector fitted. and possibly case too (or at least case is available to buy)

  24. manonfire
    April 4, 2015

    Is there any way to root this phone?!

  25. elbs
    April 7, 2015

    FULL REVIEW PLEASE (esp. on how good battery life is! and if it really is 3200mAh capacity!)

    Thanks!

  26. Aaa
    June 22, 2015

    Don’t be stupid.mlais is a liar.they cheat us in chinese first.now.they try tocheat you. Their product is a shit. My english is very bad.but trust me.if you pay for this .you will regret. Please.tell other people.don’t be cheat.

  27. Aaa
    June 22, 2015

    Don’t be stupid.mlais is a liar.they cheat us in chinese first.now.they try tocheat you. Their product is a shit. My english is very bad.but trust me.if you pay for this .you will regret. Please.tell other people.don’t be cheat.

  28. Aaa
    June 22, 2015

    look at the picture.look the chinese chacter.you will know .the people use mlais’s phone.all say the phone is very bad. The product is not theirself’s.is other factor’s thing.they buy them.then sell you.so no phone care.i just don’t want more people be cheat.

  29. Aaa
    June 22, 2015

    look at the picture.look the chinese chacter.you will know .the people use mlais’s phone.all say the phone is very bad. The product is not theirself’s.is other factor’s thing.they buy them.then sell you.so no phone care.i just don’t want more people be cheat.

  30. Aaa
    June 22, 2015

    They said the thing about their phone.all liar.the camre .cpu.battay.isnot ture.when .i use the phone .watch a film1.5hours.the battay just have 20%.use halfyears.the usb is break.the sign often zero.play a little game running very bad.the screen is bad.too.

  31. Aaa
    June 22, 2015

    They said the thing about their phone.all liar.the camre .cpu.battay.isnot ture.when .i use the phone .watch a film1.5hours.the battay just have 20%.use halfyears.the usb is break.the sign often zero.play a little game running very bad.the screen is bad.too.