Meizu’s been launching phones at the rate of knots, or so it appears.
After launching the m1, m1 note, m2, m2 note, PRO 5 and the MX5 last year, Meizu also announced the Meizu Metal towards the end.
The Metal is marketed as a mid-range phone with… you guessed it, a metal build which also happens to be its USP. In essence, the Meizu Metal is a direct rival to the Xiaomi Redmi 3 — another phone that happens to have a metal build as its selling point.
I got my unit Meizu Metal a couple of days back, but only managed to spend some time with it earlier today. The phone feels superb in the hands, and it’s safe to say it feels a lot more premium than the Redmi Note 3.
This has to do with the fact that (i) the Metal is heavier (a tad too much for some, apparently) and (ii) is a lot thinner than the Redmi Note 3.
The Meizu Metal is essentially a variant of the Meizu m1 from last year. This time round, the Metal has a MediaTek Helio X10 SoC at its disposal, which is a much more potent platform than the MT6732 of the m1.
While I’m yet to face any stuttering or any issues related to RAM management, the Meizu Metal does lack a GB of RAM for the kind of phone it is. Meizu probably decided against having 3GB RAM to protect the MX5, which as you might already know, happens to be one among the favourite 2015 phones of GizChina readers.
Besides the differences in body and style, the Metal feels very much like the MX5… which is a great thing because it’s way (well… not so much maybe, but still significant-ly) cheaper than the MX5.
That said, the primary competitor to the Metal is going to be the Redmi Note 3. We’re testing the 3GB RAM version thereof as we speak, but a review of the 2GB RAM Redmi Note 3 has already been posted.
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What is clear already is that the Redmi Note 3 is going to be hard to beat on the battery and software departments. On the other hand, the Metal already takes the crown for having a better build and design… and I have a feeling that it’s also going to have a better camera.
Stay tuned for a full review of the Meizu Metal in the coming few days. Check other reviews posted on GizChina meanwhile, or get yourself a Meizu Metal by following this link.
Meizu Metal: Specifications
| Model | Meizu Metal |
| SIM Card | Hybrid dual SIM |
| Color | White, Gray |
| Capacity | RAM: 2GB
ROM: 16/32GB |
| Language | Multi Language |
| Chipset | CPU: MediaTek MT6795 Helio X10 2GHz octa-core |
| System | Flyme 5 (based on Android 5) |
| Screen | Display size: 5.5-inches
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| Cameras | Rear: 13 mega-pixel
Front: 5 mega-pixel |
| Network and Wireless Connectivity | 4G: FDD-LTE 1800/2100MHz
3G: WCDMA 900/1900/2100MHz 2G: GSM 900/1800/1900MHz WIFI : 802.11b/g/n (2.4GHz) |
| Battery capacity | Non-removable 3140mAh |
| Dimensions | 15.07 x 7.53 x 0.82 cm |
Meizu Metal: Photo Gallery
You confused the m1 and m1 note, the Note (m1 and m2 ) are 8 cores so no MT6732.
Also worth noting that it has a microSD slot unlike the Redmi Note 3 and LeTV 1s.
Likely the screen is better than what Xiaomi is using but it does cost a bit more at 999CNY (the price got a recent cut).
The m1 had an MT6732: https://www.gizchina.com/2015/01/28/meizu-m1-launched-5-inch-display-lte-128gb-sd-support/
Yes but you said it’s a version of the m1 and it’s not. The m1 is 5 inch 720p addressing a lower price point.
It’s a version of the m1 Note and m2 Note.
To make it even clearer, the first device under the Meilan brand was the m1 Note in dec 2014, the m1 arrived in January.
You are just splitting hairs. All Meizu’s have had the same design since the original MX. The M1 Note was just a budget version of the MX4. The Note and M1 were launched within a few weeks of each other, meaning both were designed at the same exact time.
could you tell me if there is the 4g band b7 cause many sellers says yes but many review s doesn’t. thanks
I am really curious about the camera. I have seen some review some time ago, and all of them were full of cons regarding the camera (and I must admit, that the pictures were really bead, very grainy, with very low level of details).
honestly I’ve only tested it in the dark so far. i’ll reserve my final word for later when I’m properly able to test it.
Hi Yash, can you give us any idea on the camera and audio of the Meizu? Only reason I’m asking as I recently bought a phone that had a few problems and I’ve been offered a 40% discount on another handset and I want to know whether to go for this, the Letv x600 or Xiaomi redmi note 3. I know Andi said the audio on the Xiaomi was ‘average’ and since the camera and audio are my main concerns I need to decide which one asap!
Thanks in advance.
The only review i have seen for it so far is GSMArena and they said the camera was subpar. But I take their camera reviews with a grain of salt, with them if it’s not a Samsung or Sony and it comes from China, it isn’t a good camera.
lol , are they like Gpuboss sucking up to Nvidia and bashing AMD every now and then ?
I dont think so… they will do but still everybody has their preferences.
btw we still dont know whats the camera sensor used on it. if aperture is 2.2 then it would be using Samsung’s ISOCELL same used on OPX. it has a better shutter speed than IMX 214.
but i bet shutter speed isn’t everything ?
if cam is fast but the photos it takes are ugly af , whats the use ?
camera is going to be average, i think OPX uses the same sensor images under good amount light are nice, but it is not equal to images with low light. OPX vs OPO and OPO has better low light images.
yeah … last i heard OPX wasn’t the best shooter for the price.
To me if they did not put the “check quality” link next to the camera description on the full spec’s sheet then they didn’t make a proper camera review and that happens a lot with them.
most of the time they test the camera with just the basic mode.. they
dont use it with a manual mode or pro mode. they dont try to see how
sensor delivers the quality when taken for a ride.
same thing.
If the build is anything like the MX5 it will be excellent. I had a scare this weekend, I was out shoveling snow and my MX5 slipped out of my pocket and fell into a puddle of ice and water about 2 inches deep. It was completely submersed for a good 25 seconds before I was able to get it out.
Picked it up and watched as water dripped off of it. I lost three other phones this way because I am stubborn and refuse to use a case. I took it in the house patted it dry with a towel and the beast fired right up with no issues. It also survived a 2 year old treating it like a frisbee and throwing it against a wall on New Years.
not sure how waterproof it is on the inside but take my word on the build. it’s as good (at least). also you must be more careful with your phones 😉
Haha I was afraid I fried the insides, I have done that before! But after 2 days it shows no signs of wear.
I’ve never been able to use cases, they ruin the beauty of the phone to me. And as you know the MX5 is very slippery without a case. It’s almost the point where I buy a new phone anyways.
“I’ve never been able to use cases, they ruin the beauty of the phone”
oh brother , YOU SPEAK THE TRUTH or at least core value of my book !
lol
Yash, did you guys forget the review of the Elife E8 cause you are really missing an impressive camera, unless you are avoiding it on purpose…. :-/
certainly didn’t, a little rushed right now thanks to a sudden lot of review phones (Coolpad Note 3 (review posted), Redmi Note 3, Meizu Metal). I’m hoping to post a review of the E8 right after the Redmi Note 3 which comes later this week. Sorry to keep you waiting though.
I already have mine on hands but nonetheless, spoiler alert : don’t hope to much for an FM radio…
Although the home button feels quite cheap.
Not on the MX5. I love the home button, 5 months in it still works flawlessly.
My friend has one. It feels worse than my ZUK Z1, but it’s one’s personal preference.
Yea I haven’t had any issues with it at all. It’s one of the better home buttons I have used,.
HOLY SHIT !
thats some badass MX5 right there!
gsm arena bashed the cam tho … looking forward to that !
Perhaps the software wasn’t optimized enough to get better than average pics? If the hardware is good enough, an update might fix it.
its possible. its also available for a v.good price on AE , but the cam reviews put me off. the fact that it has an SD card slot is also a big plus , but fingers crossed on the ‘subpar’ camera.
p.s : im a fan of front facing finger-print scanners , but most makers don’t realise this :p
Yep, fingers crossed. Yash should clear all doubts soon enough.
They also said the Vivo Xshot’s cam wasn’t “falgship quality” it was just “good”. Take their camera reviews very lightly.
lesson learned.
thats really low of GSMArena tho… not giving credit where due
To be fair they could have been using a different software build or the person doing the review might not have been the best at taking photos. Even though smartphone cameras have come a long way it still takes talent to get really good photos. The MX5 is a great example of that, it’s a sensor that requires a lot of work from the user, but it can take exceptional photos. Leaving it on auto mode results in good not great pics.
i see
their camera review are one of the most thorough and objective, you can even compare the results between devices on 1:1 scale with your own eyes.
unless they edit the results and purposely made the result worse, which I really doubt.
i originally thought that. but they do that to EVERY phone. hell even the vibe-shot was not spared. imaging the finesse lenovo engineers put in that baby and STILL a thumbs down from Gsmarena :/ !
If you really believe that Finesse engineers would guarantee an exceptional result, then you must have eaten Lenovo’s marketing words.
Looking at the camera hardware on their product page, they only said the main camera is just 16MP 16:9 BSI Sensor.
No mention of sensor brand, lens apperture, sensor size, or anything spectacular regarding camera technology, hell they don’t even put a marketing name like Ultrapixel or ClearPixel or anything, just generic information.
Also the phone itself is mid range at best, I doubt they would put a flagship class camera into it.
beats iphone 6 camera v.easily !
that and the fact that some companies don’t like to brag like jerks , maybe ?
Guys, if you want to see another “camera” review, check these samples http://fonyzciny.sk/recenzia-meizu-m1-metal/
The camera is extremely bad. I would rather say that if you want to buy a ghood phone, M2 or M2 Note is much better for even much lower price. I have a Meizu M2 note in my family (together with the Xiaomi Redmi Note and LETV X600), and I must admit that the M2 Note is taking some really nice pictures. Of course LETV is probably the best, but then there is the m2 Note with IGZO display. Meizu M2 Note is also taking nicer pictures than the Xiaomi Redmi Note 2. Thix Xiaomi Metal has worse display (it is just normal panel) and worse camera than the M2 Note, only the chipset is better, but I have to be hones, M2 Note has no problem with loading apps etc. If you are not really into gaming, the M2 note is the best choice if you want to buy a 5.5 inch phone with great display and nice camera.
I have the 32GB version at hand. Never checked the photos on PC but it is fine on my phone. Compared with my previous LG G3, it is more or less.
Any news o Meizu pro 5 MINI? I cannot wait for flagship <5.0" phone with PROPER AUDIO HARDWARE.