Meizu mx4 pro change screen resolution. Review of Meizu MX4 Pro – Android flagship from the Middle Kingdom

If not everyone, then very many were waiting for the release of Meizu MX4. But it’s not for nothing that we called the material dedicated to the first non-Pro device announced “Review of Meizu MX4: android-non-flagship from the Middle Kingdom.” And now the manufacturer has presented a full-fledged flagship model. What has he prepared for us?

It was expected that the improved version would not only not be inferior to its younger brother, but would also surpass it in a number of parameters. Well, our review of Meizu MX4 Pro, which was made possible thanks to the help of the DragonMart online store, will tell you what happened in practice.

Naturally, testing will begin with a review of the technical characteristics of the new smartphone.

Technical characteristics of Meizu MX4 Pro

For clarity, we will present the specifications of its younger brother – Meizu MX4.

The parameters are truly flagship. Compared to the younger model, the “Pro” version has grown not only in the display diagonal, but also in the level of performance.

As for prices, the indicated cost was stated by the official representative of Meizu in Russia with the clarification that it can fluctuate in both directions, since everything will depend on the ruble exchange rate on the foreign exchange market. And for the version with a memory capacity of 32 GB, according to the latest data, you will have to pay about 2 thousand rubles. Of course, the prices given are relevant for official deliveries; what the “gray” market will offer us is unknown.

Packaging and equipment Meizu MX4 Pro

In terms of the packaging concept, the manufacturer remains true to itself - still the same a la “book”. However, if in the younger version it was located inside the box, here the book is actually the entire box.

On the cover (also known as the front side) the model name is displayed in the center, and in the upper left corner there is a branded sticker-seal.

Only on one of the ends you can find the manufacturer's logo; all other edges are completely white.

There are several stickers on the back side. Despite the fact that the Chinese language predominates on them, you can find out the color and modification of the device depending on the amount of built-in memory, as well as the main characteristics.

The box itself is very compact. The cardboard from which it is made will easily protect the smartphone from any troubles during transportation, but it still cannot be called premium. It is easily soiled and rubbed off. But who cares? Much more important is what awaits inside.

We open the “book” box and an empty spread appears before us; only six Chinese characters in the center catch our eye. Since we are not burdened with knowledge of the Chinese language, we had to ask a special program for translation. And the result was the following phrase: “It’s better to use a mobile phone.” If you turn a peculiar page, you can see two pictures, one of which talks about the quality of the display and the sound capabilities of the product, and the other about the advantages of the fingerprint scanner and high processor performance.

Let's turn the page again. On the left is a brief description of the proprietary Flyme 4 shell, and on the right is the gadget itself. It is placed in a special recess, and you can get it out of there only by turning the box over. There is a protective shipping film stuck on the display (you will have to remove it immediately, it has various explanatory inscriptions on it), and on the back cover there is a small film with instructions for installing the SIM card and the serial number.

To the right we find a lidded compartment for the delivery kit. Only the power adapter is hidden here (PCT devices will have a Euro plug) and a USB cable.

I will give the Meizu MX4 Pro package in the form of a list:

• Power adapter;
• USB-microUSB cable;
• Warranty card.

It should be noted here that “gray” devices are supplied in such packaging. For international versions, the box is almost the same as that for the regular Meizu MX4. At our request, the official representative kindly provided a photo of the delivery kit of the certified device.

As you can see, its configuration has not changed, except that the power adapter received a European plug. And similarly to the younger version, there is a place for the headset, covered with a plug.

Appearance and design of Meizu MX4 Pro

The first thing I would like to note about the design of the device is its compliance with the general style. Even if you remove the logo from the back cover, a knowledgeable person will unmistakably identify it as a Meizu product.

We received a dark gray version for testing. In total, there will be three color variations on sale: dark gray, gold and white.

The design of the device is traditional and will not surprise anyone - it is a candy bar with a touch screen.

A stylish new product at the end of 2014, which in design and user interface is very similar to the latest generation of iPhone, is the Meizu MX4 Pro. Reviews of this flagship device, its software and hardware specifications will be described in detail and discussed further in the text.

Device components

The equipment of this device is very modest, as for a premium device. Of course, the box itself is well thought out. It is made in the form of a kind of book, which outlines the main advantages of the phone, as well as recommendations for its use. In addition to the built-in battery in the device and itself, the package includes a charger, cord, user manual and warranty card. What's missing from this list is a protective film for the front panel, a case, and a stereo headset. Although the front part of a smart smartphone is protected by 3rd generation glass, it is still safer to stick a protective film on top of it. The situation is similar with the side edges of the device and the back cover. A case for Meizu MX4 Pro in this case will also not be superfluous. Regarding the stereo headset, we can partially agree with the manufacturer. A high-quality amplifier is installed at the audio output of the gadget. To fully realize its potential, you need really excellent headphones. And in this case, an individual selection of a stereo headset is necessary.

Gadget design and ergonomics

The 6th generation iPhone and Meizu MX4 Pro are very similar in appearance. A review of their controls once again convinces us of this. Only one physical button is displayed on the front panel. It also has a fingerprint scanner (just like in the Apple flagship - iPhone6 ​​Plus), which is protected. There is a 5.36-inch display on the front panel. At the edges it is separated from the side edges by thin strips 2.8 mm thick. Above it, as expected, there is a camera for making video calls, an earpiece and a whole group of sensors. Physical device control buttons are located on the right side (volume control) and the top side (lock button). Also on the top edge there is a microphone for noise reduction during calls and an audio port. On the bottom side of the smartphone there is a loud speaker (and its holes are designed exactly the same as the latest version of the iPhone), a conversational microphone and a MicroUSB port. There are no controls or communication ports on the left side. Separately, it is worth noting that all sides are made of aluminum, and the back cover is made of polycarbonate. It has a dual LED backlight hole for shooting in the dark and a main camera. Just like the main key on the front side, it is protected by sapphire crystal.

CPU, graphics accelerator and memory subsystem

A very powerful processor solution is used in Meizu MX4 Pro. Reviews highlight its high level of computing performance. But at the same time, the energy efficiency of the gadget is at an acceptable level. This smartphone uses Exynos 5430 from Samsung as the central processing unit. Physically it has 8 cores, but only 4 of them can be in operation at a time. That is, this chip is built on the basis of big.LITTLE technology. Its essence lies in the fact that the CPU consists of 2 groups of cores. 4 computing modules based on the “A7” architecture (at peak loads they can accelerate to 1.7 GHz) have a low level of performance (but it is enough to solve most everyday tasks) and have low power consumption. Most of the time it is this computing cluster that is in operation. If demanding software is launched, then a high-performance cluster based on the “A15” architecture is activated. There are also 4 cores here, but they operate at a frequency of 2 GHz. The result is an ideal balance between performance and energy consumption. This smartphone can easily handle any software. Another powerful element in this device is the graphics adapter - Mali-T628 MP6. He will also have no problems running any, even the most demanding software. The amount of RAM in this device is always 3 GB. But the capacity of the built-in storage may vary. In the most modest case, its volume is 16 GB. This is, so to speak, an economy version of the flagship. The average modification of the smartphone is called Meizu MX4 Pro 32Gb. As it is not difficult to understand from the name, its storage size is 32 GB. Well, the most advanced version of the smartphone is equipped with 64 GB. It should also be noted that there is no expansion slot for installing a flash card, and you will have to be content with what is available.

Device display

MX4 Pro, as already noted, is equipped with a 5.36-inch diagonal OTJ display, which is based on an IPS matrix. The prefix “OTZh” means that there is no air gap between the surface of the screen and the touch panel. Well, IPS technology means that the viewing angles of the screen in this smart phone are close to 180 degrees. The display resolution is 1536x2560, that is, the image is displayed in 2K format. It is difficult to say in what cases you may need 10 simultaneous touches to the touch screen surface, but this possibility is implemented in this device. Also worth noting are the sides of the display, the thickness of which is only 2.8 mm.

Autonomy

The complete capacity is 3350 mAh. Taking into account the diagonal of 5.36 inches and a fairly energy-intensive processor, this value will be enough for 2 days under average load. If you use the device to a minimum, you can last 3 days on one charge. But if you launch some serious toy (“Asphalt 8”, for example), the battery in the Meizu MX4 Pro will be discharged in a matter of hours. Reviews say that in this mode the smartphone can last a maximum of 4-5 hours.

Communication set

An excellent set of wired and wireless transmission methods in Meizu MX4 Pro. A review of the technical documentation indicates the presence of the following:

• Supports GSM, 3G and LTE mobile networks.
• An expanded set of Wi-Fi networks (the device works successfully with a, b, g, n and ac at frequencies of 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz).
• There is also a bluetooth transmitter, the latest, 4th generation.
• One GPS transmitter at the software level can interact with all navigation systems: GPS, BDS and, of course, GLONASS.
• The microUSB port allows you to quickly exchange information with a PC or charge the battery.
• For audio output there is a 3.5 mm port located on the top edge of the device.

The cost of the phone today

From a technical and software standpoint, Meizu MX4 Pro is perfectly balanced. The price for it seems to be a little too high. But if you compare it with direct competitors, it becomes obvious that not everything is so obvious. For example, the same Galaxy S6 from Samsung, even in its most modest modification, is priced at 47,000 rubles. At the same time, in terms of parameters, the most advanced modification of the flagship of this Chinese manufacturer is no worse than it, and in some places is even significantly ahead. At the same time, the version with 64 GB is priced at 30,000 rubles. Meizu MX4 Pro 32Gb costs even less (today you will have to pay about 25,000 rubles for the right to become its lucky owner). In terms of the organization of the memory subsystem, it is a direct competitor to the Galaxy S6.

The cost of Meizu MX4 Pro varies greatly. The price depends on the capacity of the integrated flash drive. Its most modest modification with 16 GB on board is currently valued at $410. Of course, the price of the device is quite high, but compared to other flagship devices, it no longer seems so. Moreover, in terms of characteristics, this smartphone is not so much inferior to them.

Results

One of the most affordable flagships today is Meizu MX4 Pro. Reviews indicate its low cost. At the same time, its technical and software specifications, according to users, are in no way inferior to its direct competitors. This results in excellent value for money, and if this is exactly what you need, then you can safely pay attention to this device.

Meizu MX4 Pro smartphone - review

The back cover is dark gray plastic.

The cover is removable, and only so that you can insert a SIM card. In older models, the cover was not removed, and the SIM card was inserted into a special slot, which was pulled out with a pin. The top end has a power button, an auxiliary microphone, and a headset output.

Bottom end: speaker, microUSB output, microphone.

The left side is a volume rocker.
Well, a portrait in the interior: our hero next to mine.
The materials and build quality of the smartphone leave a pretty decent impression: it is assembled well, there are no backlashes or creaks during use. The upper part, thanks to the beveled metal ends, looks very good. The back cover looks worse, and it doesn’t feel very grippy in the hand - it’s just ordinary matte plastic. For example, the Galaxy Note 4 fits noticeably better in the hand - thanks to plastic stylized as leather. Display The developers call the screen "NEGA LCD". It uses an IPS matrix with a resolution of 2560x1536 pixels, which gives a very high PPI value - 546. However, this is not the first display with a similar resolution: the LG G3 with a resolution of 2560x1440 appeared almost a year ago (however, I would not call this experiment 100% successful ), the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 has a resolution of 2560x1440 (although it has a completely different type of matrix). The display is made using OGS technology, has an anti-glare filter and an oleophobic coating. The image quality here is expectedly excellent, but with the brightness reserve the situation is the same as with the LG G3 : I want to turn the brightness up to full and not turn it down, because even in the most ordinary, not too intense daylight, when you set the level to somewhere around 80%, it already seems a little dark. However, in direct sunlight the display behaves well: image It’s quite visible, you can work with a smartphone. Automatic brightness adjustment (it can be turned on at any set level - this will affect the base brightness) works well, but it adapts painfully slowly to lighting conditions. Viewing angles are very good. Control It uses one control button, which, thank God, is not touch sensitive - due to the fact that it is also a finger scanner. The remaining control buttons are on-screen, appear at the bottom of the display, their number depends on the specific application. For example, the control buttons of the Contacts application ".

And here are the control buttons for listening to audio.

The "Return" button always appears only on the left; it is impossible to reconfigure this. It's a pity. Device operation Flyme's proprietary shell is minimalistic, somewhat reminiscent of MIUI. There is no separate window with applications; all applications are located on three desktops.

Notification area.

Quick switches.

In the settings, you can disable the Flyme icons - then the familiar icons of standard applications will appear.

Lock screen. Notifications are not displayed on it, only the player widget is displayed when audio is played.

When you slide the lock window to the right, you can select an application to launch when you slide the lock window to the left. (There is an error in the inscription on the screen; the application starts when you shift to the left.)

The quality of the conversation is normal, I did not notice any problems. Messages It supports blocking spammers and the ability to attach various types of media data to messages (this is, of course, for MMS).

Careful selection of materials: temperature deviation of 25 ppm, accuracy of 1/1000... The resistor supplier was SUSUMU (the most prestigious brand in the world of Hi-Fi audio).

In addition, our device uses Panasonic's exclusive 0805 film capacitor and headphone amplifier, which removes any restrictions on the frequencies used.

All these features show only the tip of the iceberg. Listening to music on the MX4 Pro gives you a first-hand experience of what the term “Hi-Fi Sound” really means. Now about practice. In the dynamics, the sound is surprisingly decent, although at full volume it rattles a little. I listened to it in various headphones - earplugs and large “ears” with ear pads.

Flyme style settings. There are quite interesting possibilities. Well, I should note that the Russian localization in terms of settings is done to a maximum of three. For some reason, the MX4 was noticeably better at this matter.

Energy saving modes.

There are no additional settings - just three types.

Setting up fingerprint scanning.

I checked the operation of unlocking the smartphone using a fingerprint, everything functioned well: it was enough to just put your finger on it.

Some additional features.

The power button is located very inconveniently (for this display size).

But with these settings, this problem is solved: you can unlock the phone by tapping on the display (the lock screen appears), or you can even enable unlocking with an up or down gesture - then either the main desktop (without the lock screen) or the notification area will open. This is a very cool idea.

Camera

How do you like this video? Moreover, I turned the smartphone this way and that, both lengthwise and crosswise - in its normal form it never shot a video for me. This is very strange. Now about the camera's operation. The camera takes pictures, in my opinion, more than decently - the photos come out very good. I also really liked the camera on the MX4, I don’t know if this one is exactly the same or different - the results are impressive. And up to ISO 1000, the smartphone takes pictures well; the noise at ISO 1000 is not too noticeable. But this way of flipping pictures is, of course, annoying. Let's hope that I came across such a strange specimen. Performance

System applications - audio, video, gallery - for some reason did not see media files located not in their folders. Moreover, even if you specify the desired folder for the audio application, it writes that there is nothing there. During work, it happened that system applications suddenly crashed. Well, I really didn’t like the strong heating when running “heavy” applications: for example, in “Tanks” It was simply impossible to play on this smartphone - the phone practically burned your hand. To be honest, the smartphone was somewhat disappointing. I liked the MX4, and I thought that the MX4 Pro would be a completely flagship-pre-flagship, capable of competing, for example, with the Galaxy Note 4. And it is a flagship, a flagship, but it seems that it is still very raw. In any case, the firmware requires serious fine-tuning both in terms of getting rid of glitches (these flips of photos and videos in the camera are just some kind of disgrace), and in terms of normal software localization. Yes, a powerful platform, an excellent display, a normal button (not I love touchscreen), fingerprint sensor, NFC support, a very good camera (if not for glitches), universal LTE - but the crude firmware is ruining everything for now. I liked the Meizu MX4 model much more. It is competitive in its category. But MX4 Pro 32 Gb for 27 thousand rubles and Galaxy Note 4 for 27-28 thousand rubles - here, sorry, there is no reason for thought at all.

Fans of the Chinese company Meizu face a difficult choice - buy an expensive MX4 Pro with a fingerprint scanner, 2K resolution and Hi-Fi audio, or save money and take the more productive MX4 with similar features and a good set of specifications. The purpose of this review is to reveal the key advantages and disadvantages of the MX4 (review) and MX4 Pro (review) over each other. I hope it helps you decide. If you have any questions, you are welcome to the comments section.

Our dear reader, remember that officially Meizu smartphones in Russia are sold only by MyMeizu.ru and PixelPhone.ru. There's a guarantee, after-sales service, cool accessories and cookies :)

• Technical characteristics of Meizu MX4:
• Network: GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), WCDMA/HSPA (850/900/2100 MHz), LTE (1800/2100/2600)
• Platform (at the time of announcement): Flyme 4.0 based on Android 4.4 KitKat
• Camera: 20.7 MP, autofocus, dual LED flash of different colors, 5-lens optics with f/2.2, 1/2.3 aperture, Sony Exmor IMX220 sensor, video recording 4K@30fps, 720p@120fps, Gorilla Glass 3
• Front camera: 2 MP
• Processor: 8 cores, MediaTek MT6595 (4 A17 cores at 2.2 GHz + 4 A7 cores at 1.7 GHz; cores can work simultaneously), chipset customized by Meizu
• Graphics chip: PowerVR G6200MP4 @ 600 MHz
• RAM: 2 GB
• Memory card: no
• Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n/ac)
• Bluetooth 4.0 HID
• microUSB
• 3.5mm jack
• Battery: non-removable, 3100 mAh
• Dimensions: 144 x 75.2 x 8.9 mm
• Weight: 147 g

Technical characteristics of Meizu MX4 Pro:

• Network: GSM/GPRS/EDGE, WCDMA/HSPA, LTE
• Platform (at the time of announcement): Flyme 4.1 based on Android 4.4.4 KitKat
• Display: 5.5”, 2560 x 1536 pixels, IPS from JDI, NEGA negative LCD, 546 ppi, contrast 1500:1, brightness 450 cd/m2, Gorilla Glass 3
• Camera: 20.7 MP, autofocus, dual LED flash of different colors, 5-lens optics with f/2.2, 1/2.3 aperture, Sony Exmor IMX220 sensor, video recording 4K@30fps, 720p@120fps, sapphire crystal
• Front camera: 5 MP, OmniVision 5693, f/2.2, 1.4 microns, video recording at 1080p
• Processor: 8 cores (4 A15 cores at 2 GHz and 4 A7 cores at 1.5 GHz), 20 nm, Exynos 5430
• Graphics chip: Mali-T628MP6 600MHz
• RAM: 3GB LPDDR3
• Internal memory: 16/32/64 GB
• Memory card: no
• Navigation: GPS, GLONASS, QZSS, BDS
• Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n/ac)
• Bluetooth 4.0 HID
• microUSB
• 3.5mm jack
• Audio: ESS ES9018K2M DAC, TI OPA1612 amplifier
• Light, distance and position sensors, compass, gyroscope, SensorHub, mTouch fingerprint scanner with sapphire crystal
• Battery: non-removable, 3350 mAh
• Dimensions: 150.1 x 77 x 9 mm
• Weight: 158 g

Design

Smartphones are made in the same design concept and use the same materials. The frame/frame is made of aircraft aluminum, the front part is covered with Gorilla Glass 3, and the material for the removable cover is plastic. The MX4 has a multifunctional touch ring under the display that also plays the role of a light indicator, while the MX4 Pro takes its place with a physical button with an integrated fingerprint scanner and a touch layer (the LED indicator on the MX4 Pro is placed in the upper part of the front side - it is traditional). Other control elements, connectors, microphones, and speakers are located in the same places. By and large, the models differ only in size.

The devices use screens with an aspect ratio of 15:9, while most often manufacturers prefer the more traditional 16:9. Therefore, despite the narrow frames, the devices cannot be called compact in their classes due to their width. In my opinion, if the manufacturer preferred 16:9, then the MX4 and MX4 Pro would only benefit from this. I hope the MX5 will do so (M1 Note is the first sign).

The MX4 is better in ergonomics: because of the dimensions, because of smaller frames and indentations, because of the more rounded lid, because of the thinner metal frame. You can safely use it with one hand, but with the MX4 Pro it is much more difficult to do this, despite all the features that contribute to this (unlock by swiping on the glass or through a button under the display, locking through a button). Due to the large thickness of the metal frame, the MX4 Pro is unpleasant to grip in your hand, pointing the screen towards your palm - it hurts your hand and the grip turns out to be uncertain. The MX4 is doing better with this.

Currently, phones are available in several colors, some shades are different, and the covers are matte and glossy.

Screen

MX4 and MX4 Pro continue the proud tradition of high-quality screens in Meizu smartphones. The MX4 uses a 5.36" panel with a resolution of 1920 x 1152 pixels, while the MX4 Pro has a 5.5" screen with a resolution of 2560 x 1536 pixels. Taking the characteristics in numbers out of the equation, I will say that both panels provide a pleasant picture. The MX4 has a slightly brighter display, but the MX4 Pro has slightly better contrast and deeper blacks. The viewing angles did not disappoint here and there.

The MX4 has a pixel density of 418 ppi, while the MX4 Pro has a pixel density of 546 ppi. In fact, even the MX4's density value is quite high and the pixels are difficult to see. It's even harder to see the difference in ppi between the two models. In my opinion, if Meizu had used a screen with a resolution like the MX4 in the MX4 Pro (at 5.5”, a resolution of 1920 x 1152 would give 407 ppi), then this would only benefit the device. The user experience would not suffer from this (still a decent pixel density per inch), but the user would 100% feel the advantages (higher operating speed, lower power consumption).

Software

The smartphones are based on Flyme OS version 4 and offer a similar software set. The differences lie only in the chips tied to different buttons under the screen. Read more about the software in device reviews.

Sound

In the MX4, the sound is provided by the Wolfson WM8281 audio solution integrated into the MediaTek chipset. And the MX4 Pro sports an ESS ES9018K2M central audio processor and a TI OPA1612 amplifier. In the MX4, the sound quality in headphones with the first firmware could be described as “average” and “regular”, but the updates have greatly improved the sound - detail and volume have increased. The MX4 Pro immediately offered some of the best sound on a phone in general. The flagship plays cleaner, deeper and louder. But you will notice all the advantages of the Pro version only if you have good headphones that cost half the price of a smartphone or more. And even so, it will be difficult for inexperienced listeners to notice the nuances in the sound. In general, if you are content with inexpensive headphones and prefer to listen to music mainly on the street or in the subway, you do not have a mania for collecting lossless tracks, and you cannot hear the difference between MP3 320 and FLAC, then you will probably be happy with MX4.

Camera

A detailed comparison of the main 20.7-megapixel cameras of smartphones based on photos and videos is available in a separate material. In order not to repeat myself, I recommend that you familiarize yourself with it at this address. In short, at the time of comparison with firmware Flyme OS 4.0.4.2I (MX4) and Flyme OS 4.1.1.1I (MX4 Pro), both devices have problems with automatically determining white balance, MX4 Pro is noisier in low light conditions and noticeably The sound is worse. The video sequence can be said to be identical, as is the detailing in the photographs. Surely, cameras will still rule in future updates, but it is unlikely that the result will be any noticeably different. I note that with the old software the MX4 shot much worse (last year’s comparison of cameras), that is, Meizu engineers did not sit idly by and all this time were actively working on the camera of the MX4 model to please its users. This deserves praise.

MX4 Pro – MX4:

MX4 Pro – MX4

Iron

If for the MX4 the hardware was the strongest point, then for the MX4 Pro it turned out to be the weakest point. The MX4 uses a customized Meizu 8-core MediaTek MT6595 chip (4 A17 cores at 2.2 GHz + 4 A7 cores at 1.7 GHz) with a PowerVR G6200MP4 graphics chip and 2 GB of RAM. At the same time, the MX4 Pro was equipped with an 8-core Exynos 5430 chipset (4 A15 cores at 2 GHz + 4 A7 cores at 1.5 GHz) with Mali-T628MP6 graphics and 3 GB of RAM.

The MT6595 copes with the Full HD resolution of the MX4 with a bang - even modern games run flawlessly at high fps. But the Exynos 5430 is clearly not designed for 2K, which Samsung understood when it used it in the Galaxy Alpha model with an HD display. Simple toys run quite well on the MX4 Pro, even if they are in 2K, but if you run a racing game or 3D action game from Gameloft, you will encounter lags and uncomfortable fps. In other words, MX4 is better for avid gamers, but if simple puzzles and runners are enough for you, then MX4 Pro will not disappoint either.

MX4 Pro – MX4:

MX4 Pro – MX4

Benchmark results: AnTuTu 5.6 – 50,236 and 47,736 (MX4 and MX4 Pro), 3DMark Unlimited – 16,311 and 18,467, Geekbench 3 – 1192/3944 and 990/3397, GFXBench Full HD – 8/23 fps and 14/ 28 fps (7.8/19 fps for 2K), Epic Citadel Ultra – 39 and 37.5 fps, Basemark OS 2 – 880 and 991. The MX4 Pro has decent performance in graphics tests, but in practice everything is different.

The younger MX4 model received a 3100 mAh battery, MX4 Pro has a 3350 mAh battery. In the gaming test (Modern Combat 5 game, graphics at maximum, brightness at maximum, performance high), both phones were discharged by 16% in half an hour. But in video player mode, the MX4 Pro discharges more slowly - after 3 hours of the movie, it had exactly 50% of the charge remaining, while the MX4 had 43% (that is, it was discharged by 50% and 57%, respectively). The MX4 Pro gets hotter. Half an hour of gaming warmed up its battery to 50 degrees versus 45 degrees for the MX4. And if after that you could hold on to the metal frame of the MX4 without any unpleasant sensations, then the frame of the MX4 Pro burned your hands so much that you wanted to pull them back.

conclusions

Usually flagships are undeniably superior to junior models, but in the case of the MX4 and MX4 Pro this cannot be said. Both smartphones coexist in the company’s lineup, having much in common and having advantages over each other. They have comparable cameras, comparable operating time, and the same software. At the same time, the MX4 (review) is more convenient and faster, while the MX4 Pro (review) has better sound, a finger scanner and a larger display. I dare to suggest that the MX4 is and will remain the most popular Meizu model until the release of the new family. The device turned out to be more balanced and affordable (from 23,990 rubles for MX4 and from 29,990 rubles for MX4 Pro). However, if you are not going to play heavy games, the diagonal is important to you, you consider yourself an audiophile and want to take advantage of the benefits of fingerprint unlocking, then the MX4 Pro is your choice. And don’t discount the affordable model in the bright Meizu M1 Note case.

The Meizu MX4 Pro smartphone seems to have absorbed all the best, including a powerful 8-core processor, a large 2K screen, a high-quality 20 MP camera, a fast fingerprint scanner and excellent Hi-Fi sound. Vesti.Hi-tech decided to test the capabilities and find the shortcomings of the flagship model.

After testing the smartphone, it became clear that in difficult times of economic turmoil, this device could well compete with other premium models, differing favorably from them in price. For this reason, the functionally expanded version of this device - Meizu MX4 Pro, the flagship “filling” of which is also wrapped in the proprietary Flyme OS shell, also aroused unconditional interest. The company itself calls the new product a “music business flagship” (remember that the MX4 is positioned as a powerful gaming smartphone), emphasizing not only its premium appearance, but also its “professionalism” - the most modern technical characteristics, among which musical abilities clearly stand out. By the way, to emphasize these qualities of the device, a gramophone record was depicted on the invitation to its announcement, and the presentation itself was preceded by “live” music.

Specifications

• Model: MX4 Pro
• OS: Android 4.4.4 with Flyme OS 4.1 shell
• Processor: 8-core Samsung Exynos 5430, ARM big.LITTLE GTS architecture (4 cores ARM Cortex-A15 2.0 GHz + 4 cores ARM Cortex-A7 1.5 GHz)
• Graphics coprocessor: ARM Mali-T628 MP6 (600 MHz)
• RAM: 3 GB
• Storage: 16/32/64 GB (12.3 GB available in 16 GB test model)
• Interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz), Bluetooth 4.0 (LE), microUSB (USB 2.0) for charging/synchronization, NFC, USB-OTG, 3.5 mm for headphones
• Screen: capacitive touchscreen, manufactured by Sharp/JDI, NEGA LCD matrix, OGS, diagonal 5.46 inches, resolution 2560x1536 pixels, pixel density per inch 546 ppi, brightness 450 cd/sq. m, contrast ratio 1500:1, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
• Cameras: main - 20.7 MP, Sony IMX220 Exmor RS, 5 lenses, f/2.2 aperture, autofocus, dual flash, 4K@30fps video, sapphire crystal, blue IR filter; front - 5 MP, OmniVision OV5693, 4 lenses, blue IR filter, f/2.2 aperture, Full HD video @ 30 fps
• Network: GSM/GPRS/EDGE, WCDMA/HSPA+, FDD-LTE (Cat. 4)
• SIM card: one microSIM
• Navigation: GPS/GLONASS/Beidou (BDS), A-GPS
• Sensors: gyroscope, compass, Hall sensor, accelerometer, light and proximity sensors (infrared), biometric sensor (mTouch fingerprint scanner)
• Battery: non-removable, lithium polymer, 3,350 mAh (12.73 Wh; 3.8 V)
• Colors: silver, gold, light gray
• Dimensions: 150.1x77.0x9.0 mm
• Weight: 158 grams

Design, ergonomics

The design of the new MX4 Pro model has remained virtually unchanged compared to the MX4 - it retains the smooth contours of the body with rounded corners and sloping edges. The frames to the left and right of the display, which has a non-standard aspect ratio traditional for Meizu devices - 15:9, remain almost as narrow (2.8 mm versus 2.6 mm). The increase in screen diagonal to 5.46 inches affected the dimensions of the body in plan - 150.1x77 mm versus 144x75.2 mm.

At the same time, the smartphone has thickened by only 0.1 mm - 9 mm versus 8.9 mm. As before, the removable back cover is made of practical matte plastic,

and for the body frame, a new aluminum alloy is allegedly used, the aviation purpose of which can only be guessed by looking at the shiny peripheral chamfer. The weight of the device, taking into account the changed filling, increased from 147 g to 158 g.

The entire front surface of the case, including the screen, is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, on which an oleophobic coating is applied. Above the screen there is a narrow speaker grille, light and proximity sensors, as well as a front camera lens and an indicator of missed events.

The place of the round sensor under the screen is taken by a rectangular-shaped mechanical button with a silver stainless steel edging, very reminiscent of a similar structural element in Samsung smartphones. This is perhaps the most noticeable change to the MX4 Pro's exterior compared to the outgoing model. To be fair, it should be noted that the company’s first Android smartphone, Meizu M9 (January 2011), already used a similar design, which, however, was later abandoned. Now this button, allegedly with PVD coating (vacuum deposition) and sapphire protective glass, has a fingerprint scanner built into it. Let us remind you that the event indicator has moved to the upper part of the front panel.

The layout of controls and connectors on the MX4 Pro remains exactly the same as on the younger model.

The right edge of the apparatus is free,

and on the left there is a rather long volume rocker.

A small power/lock button was placed on the top end along with a hole for a second microphone (for noise reduction) and a 3.5 mm jack for an audio headset,

and on the bottom there is a special cutout (for easy removal of the back cover), a hole for a “conversational” microphone, a microUSB connector for charging and communication with a computer, as well as a “multimedia” speaker grille made in the form of four round holes.

Under the back cover with the Meizu logo, as in the MX4, there is a non-removable battery, and above it is a slot for a microSIM card with a spring lock. An NFC antenna with two gold contacts is now glued to the inside of the cover.

They didn’t forget about the hole for the main camera lens, which is protected by sapphire glass with a metal frame, as well as a slot for a dual two-color LED flash. The lid is secured with small latches, but it fits well and can be removed quite easily.

As it became clear after testing the MX4, the unusual (and at first inconvenient) placement of the mechanical button on the top end is not so critical for Meizu devices. The fact is that gestures are successfully used to lock/unlock these smartphones, which reduces interaction with the button to a minimum. The rounded shape of the back cover, made of plastic that is pleasant to the touch, allows you to hold the MX4 Pro quite securely in your hand. However, the large size of the case does not allow you to comfortably operate this “musical professional” with only one hand, so as not to constantly fiddle with your fingers.

Fingerprint's scanner

The mTouch fingerprint scanner is built into the hardware button with a capacitive touch layer. Note that such devices have become standard, for example, for some flagships, including .

The use of a fingerprint scanner is preceded by a fairly simple procedure for registering the papillary patterns of one or more fingers, after which to activate the recognition process it is enough to simply place the selected finger on the sensor pad measuring 13x8.2 mm. The scanner's high resolution of 508 ppi (pixels per inch) promises correct fingerprint recognition. At the same time, the full processing time (scanner activation plus data processing) is stated at 0.5 seconds. The "360 degrees" option means that the finger can be placed from any direction, and the scanner should recognize it in any case.

Screen unlocking with a fingerprint is only used in combination with a (4-6 digit) PIN code. In addition, with the help of mTouch it is proposed to protect any of the applications installed on the smartphone (mail, Gallery, player, etc.), which can only be launched after checking the owner’s fingerprint, even if the device is unlocked at that time. mTouch also helps you easily organize a guest mode, for example, for your child, leaving only the most harmless program shortcuts visible on the “Desktop”. But payment in a Flyme account using a fingerprint scanner is available exclusively in China.

The developers paid great attention to security issues, including multi-level encryption. It should also be noted that not detailed information is recorded in the smartphone’s memory, but only certain points of the papillary patterns. At the same time, the decryption algorithm code itself is stored in the protected zone ARM TrustZone, which should protect it from hacking.

Screen, camera, sound

The screen diagonal of the MX4 Pro has increased by one inch (to 5.46 inches from 5.36 inches in the MX4). With a constant non-standard aspect ratio (15:9), the resolution reached 2560x1536 pixels, and the pixel density was 546 ppi. This resolution is also called 2K+, since by 2K they usually mean 2560x1440 pixels (16:9). The latter resolution is also known as QHD (Quad HD) as the total number of pixels is 4 times that of HD (1280x720). Due to the thin frames at the edges, the ratio of the screen area to the entire front surface of the smartphone, according to the manufacturer, is 76.5%.

The IPS display matrix, which Sharp and JDI worked on, again uses the new NEGA LCD technology. In turn, OGS eliminated the air gap between Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and the matrix, so the merit of full lamination is that even at a large angle, colors are practically not distorted, and glare in bright light is not so strong, which is also facilitated by a polarizing filter. According to the manufacturer, the contrast has increased to 1500:1, and the maximum brightness is 450 nits. Another technology, Panel Self Refresh (PSR), has reduced power consumption by 20% compared to the MX4 display. Let us recall that the essence of PSR, proposed back in 2011 by Intel and now part of the Embedded DisplayPort eDP standard, is to organize a screen frame buffer. This not only reduces the load on the GPU, but also provides higher energy efficiency. The picture on the MX4 Pro screen is very high quality - bright, clear and contrasty.

The results of the AntTuTu Tester and MultiTouch Test programs confirm the presence of the multi-touch function, which in this case allows you to process up to ten simultaneous clicks on the capacitive touch layer. But the brightness of the backlight can be set manually. In addition, the “Auto Adjust” option is available in the screen settings, which makes it possible to automatically adjust the brightness to a comfortable level.

The main photo module of the MX4 Pro remains the same as the 20.7-megapixel Sony Exmor RS sensor of the IMX220 modification (type 1/2.3; diagonal 7.87 mm) with autofocus and dual two-color LED flash. The square pixel dimensions of the matrix are 1.2x1.2 microns, which allows for good shooting even in low light. The camera lens with 5-element optics and f/2.2 aperture is covered with Corilla Glass 3, and the matrix uses an infrared filter of the Blue Glass type. The maximum image resolution is 5248x3936 pixels (20.7 MP) with an aspect ratio of 4:3. Examples of photos can be viewed (Dropbox).

But the front camera in the MX4 Pro, to the delight of selfie lovers, already uses a 5-megapixel OmniVision OV5693 sensor, the characteristics of which, by the way, are for some reason not available on the official website of this company. But according to Meizu, this photo module has a wide-angle lens (angle of view 84.4 degrees) with 4-lens optics, an f/2.2 aperture, and a blue IR filter. It does not have a flash or autofocus. The maximum image resolution is 2592x1944 pixels (5 MP, 4:3).

If the main camera can shoot video in 4K mode (3840x2160 pixels, 16:9) at 30 fps, then for the front camera the best quality is now Full HD (1920x1080 pixels, 16:9) with the same frame rate. Content is saved in MP4 container files (AVC - video, AAC - audio).

The interface of the Camera application has remained virtually unchanged. In addition to automatic and manual, panoramic, portrait and night modes are still available here. And, in addition, there is a manual focus change, macro photography and even a special barcode recognition mode. See our review for more details.

For obvious reasons, the audio capabilities of the music business flagship were treated with increased attention, trying to take into account the basic needs of mobile music lovers. As you know, one Hi-Fi channel includes: a multi-bit digital-to-analog converter (DAC) with a quartz oscillator, a low-pass filter (LPF) and a precision amplifier. Meizu notes that they focused on components only from leading manufacturers, including the 32-bit dual-channel high-speed (up to 384 kHz) Saber ES9018K2M DAC (signal-to-noise ratio up to 114 dB, dynamic range up to 123 dB) from ESS Technology, operational TI OPA1612 amplifier (120 dB common mode rejection ratio up to 80 kHz) from Texas Instruments. At the same time, in order to achieve identical amplitude-frequency characteristics of both stereo channels, the passive filter was implemented using Panasonic thin-film capacitors and high-precision resistors from the Japanese company Susumu. Particularly emphasizing the high-fidelity capabilities of the MX4 Pro, marketers, without false modesty, even reinterpreted the well-known term Retina Display into Retina Sound. Although it certainly sounds a little strange.

Standard smartphone tools allow you to listen to sound files created by codecs for compressing audio data without loss of quality (lossless codecs), for example, with the APE and FLAC extensions. It is also proposed to use a 5-band equalizer with presets and manual adjustment. In the sound settings there is a "Hi-Fi Sound" item, where you can easily select the appropriate sound amplification level. By the way, the pre-installed player can find the lyrics of popular tracks.

The smartphone's "multimedia" speaker, located, as in the MX4, at the bottom end of the case, has clear and loud sound, however, the range of reproduced frequencies, for obvious reasons, is far from the same as in headphones. But the MX4 Pro traditionally lacks an FM tuner. Note that the new model retains the MX4 feature - recording telephone conversations directly from the line during a call.

Filling, performance

The MX4 Pro again returned to proven Samsung chips, choosing a modern (August 2014) 8-core Exynos 5430 processor with big.LITTLE GTS (Global Task Scheduling) architecture, where, thanks to heterogeneous multiprocessing, all available cores can be used simultaneously. The same chip is installed, for example, in a smartphone, only the maximum clock speeds in the chip modification for the MX4 Pro are slightly higher. By the way, this is the first Samsung crystal that is made in compliance with 20 nm design standards, and at the same time optimized for high-resolution screens, including WQXGA (2560x1600 pixels).

Of the eight processor cores, four (ARM Cortex-A15) operate at 2.0 GHz, and the other four (ARM Cortex-A7) operate at 1.5 GHz. All graphics loads in the Exynos 5430 are handled by the ARM Mali-T628 MP6 (600 MHz) accelerator with six execution units, which supports key APIs, including OpenGL ES 3.0, OpenCL 1.1 and Direct3D 11. A 2-channel memory controller is also integrated on the chip, but there is no modem for cellular networks (an additional chip is required). In terms of performance, the Exynos 5430, along with MediaTek MT6592, Nvidia Tegra 4 and Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, is considered one of the most powerful processors of last year. As for the ARM Mali-T628 MP6, its graphics processing capabilities are usually compared with the Adreno 330. The basic configuration of the MX4 Pro smartphone also includes the “flagship” 3 GB of RAM.

Even theoretically, the processor in the MX4 - MediaTek MT6592, which has 4 ARM Cortex-A17 cores (2.2 GHz) and 4 ARM Cortex-A7 cores (1.7 GHz) - is more powerful than the chip in the MX4 Pro (Samsung Exynos 5430) . This can be seen, for example, in the synthetic tests AnTuTu Benchmark 5.6.1. However, it is not surprising that a powerful gaming smartphone outstrips the music business flagship in terms of the number of “virtual parrots”.

Although the situation in the Vellamo benchmarks is not so clear. For example, in the Metal processor tests, the tested smartphone was inferior to the “flagship killer” OnePlus One, and in the Multicore multi-core tests it ended up in the middle of the list of results.

However, the potential of the processor is clearly visible in the Epic Citadel visual test. Thus, with variable settings of High Performance and High Quality (performance at the expense of quality and vice versa), the average frame rate at a resolution of 2560x1536 pixels remained virtually unchanged and amounted to 55.6 and 55.4 fps, respectively. Only when changing the setting to Ultra High Quality did these numbers drop by almost half, to 26.8 fps.

Models of the MX4 Pro smartphone can be equipped with 16, 32 and 64 GB of internal memory. The tested sample carries only 16 GB on board, of which approximately 14.7 GB is available, and even less is free. Since the device still does not have a slot for microSD memory cards, when choosing a specific model you should pay attention to the amount of its built-in storage. Support for USB-OTG technology can somehow improve the situation by connecting external flash drives.

The flagship set of wireless communications is quite standard: dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth 4.0 BLE. But unlike the MX4, the MX4 Pro now has an NFC interface. When installing a subscriber identification module in microSIM format, support for cellular networks (2G/3G) is provided, including also the fourth generation in the Russian frequency cluster FDD-LTE (Cat. 4, 150 Mbit/s).

According to the results of the AndroiTS GPS Test program, the multi-system receiver uses satellites of various constellations, including GPS, GLONASS and Beidou, for positioning and navigation.

The MX4 Pro smartphone received a non-removable lithium-polymer battery of 3,350 mAh (12.73 Wh; 3.8 V), which is 250 mAh more than the MX4 (3,100 mAh).

At the same time, in AnTuTu Tester 2.5 battery tests, the smartphone earned 6,812 points (versus 6,182 points for MX4). A test set of videos in MP4 and Full HD quality was played continuously at full brightness for about 5 hours. In other words, autonomy is not the MX4 Pro's strong point, although one should, of course, take into account the 2K resolution of the large screen. As for additional energy saving, depending on the load on the smartphone, in the “Battery” settings section you are offered to select one of three modes “Balanced”, “Energy Saving” or “Productive”. During “heavy” games and during prolonged video playback, the device body becomes noticeably hot.

Software

The MX4 Pro smartphone runs on the operating system (OS) Android 4.4.4 (KitKat) with the proprietary Flyme OS shell, which at the time of testing was version 4.1.1.3l. In the near future, they promise to upgrade the OS to Android 5.0 (Lollipop).

The Flyme OS shell itself is made in a pleasant, laconic style. Like all Chinese launchers, it does not provide a separate program menu. At the same time, the main emphasis in controlling a smartphone is on gestures. More details about Flyme OS can be found in our review.

In the new version of the shell, the number of programmable gestures has increased. As before, you can swipe right to open a predefined program. Now, eight more different gestures are offered to unlock the screen and launch a specific application. When you press the hardware “Home” button, which acts as a fingerprint scanner, when the screen is locked, its backlight turns on, and when unlocked, it activates the transition to the “Desktop”. When you lightly touch the touch layer of this button, it can perform the “Back” function (programmable), but when pressed and held for a second, it locks the smartphone.

Apparently, we did not get the final release of the smartphone for testing, since there are obvious flaws in the localization of the shell, including, for example, not only the omission of letters, but also the lack of translation of inscriptions in the interface.

Purchase, conclusions

According to the official Meizu website in Russia, the cost of an MX4 Pro in a light gray case with 16 GB of memory on board is 30,990 rubles, and in a gold (or silver) case with 32 GB - 33,990 rubles. Deliveries of smartphones are expected in mid-March, but pre-orders are already possible. The music pro costs a little more than its gaming predecessor, as it received features that the MX4 does not have (23,990 rubles/16 GB), including an NFC interface and a fingerprint scanner, although, of course, the matter is not limited to them. Among the obvious advantages of the MX4 Pro are a powerful 8-core processor, a large 2K screen, 3 GB of RAM, high-quality cameras, and, of course, impressive Hi-Fi sound quality.

Of course, there are some drawbacks, among which it is worth noting the lack of a slot for expanding the built-in memory, as well as the average battery life of the MX4 Pro. However, we can summarize that Meizu has created an excellent flagship, which, standing out among its competitors, can easily compete with already recognized market leaders with 2K screens, including the LG G3, Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro and Samsung Galaxy Note 4.

Results of the review of the Meizu MX4 Pro smartphone

Pros:

• Powerful 8-core processor and 3 GB RAM
• Great 2K screen
• High-quality shooting even in low light
• Hi-Fi sound in headphones
• Fast fingerprint scanner
• Advanced gesture controls

Minuses:

• No microSD card slot
• Lack of FM tuner
• Average battery life
• Non-replaceable battery