Meizu MX Review

Introduction:

Can a Chinese smartphone manufacturer deliver a product that is not your run-of-the-mill slab of plastic, but a decent Android handset really worth getting? That is quite possible, it seems. The Meizu MX Android 4.0 smartphone is equipped with a high resolution display and inside it runs the powerful Exynos 4412 processor with four cores of awesome. Care to learn more about the device? Then let's check it out in detail.

The box contains:

• Wall charger
• microUSB cable
• Micro SIM adapter and cutout template
• Doohickey for removing the back cover
• User manual and other papers

Design:

So, we open up the fancy box that the Meizu MX comes in and we find an okay-looking smartphone that, strangely, yet not all that surprisingly, resembles a somewhat bigger iPhone. That is only when looking at its front, however, as the back is made out of glossy plastic – probably one of the glossiest kinds you will ever see on a cell phone.



You can compare the Meizu MX with many other phones using our Size Visualization Tool.
Overall, the Meizu MX looks acceptable and fits well in the palm, but more than a few things could have been executed better. For example, the volume rocker is uncomfortable to use and the awkwardly protruding home button spoils the device's feng shui. Besides, the device has a predominant plasticky feel and a back cover that squeaks as it bends even under light pressure. On the other hand, we think the dynamic capacitive buttons that change their orientation depending on how you are holding the device are a nice little design touch.


Display:

One of the nicer things about the Meizu MX is its 4-inch display, which is made using ASV LCD technology. It has a resolution of 640 by 960 pixels (288 ppi) so it is really hard to spot an individual pixel. The only imperfections that we can spot is that whites look slightly yellowish, but other than that, there is nothing we can complain about. The screen has a neutral color reproduction and can be used outdoors without too much of an effort.

Interface:

Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich is what runs on the Meizu MX, although one can hardly tell at first since its interface has to be one of the most heavily modified we've come across. And that, in this case, is not a bad thing, rather a design solution that makes the smartphone stand out. The Flyme OS, as its maker calls it, appears to have been inspired by iOS and lacks an app drawer. Instead, app shortcuts appear right on your home screen after installation, and removing the shortcut uninstalls the application. We also have customized phonebook and gallery apps, as well as a different multitasking tray. The end result is a simplistic, user-friendly interface that we are quite satisfied with.



It is not all perfect, however. The on-screen keyboard does get the job done, but we have definitely used more comfortable ones. The amount of widgets and software that come pre-loaded on the device is set down to a minimum, so you will most likely spend quite some time at the Google Play store during the first days of ownership. Last but not least, we find it convenient that the lock screen has shortcuts to your address book and messaging app, but it would have been nicer if these shortcuts were customizable.



Processor and memory:

The Meizu MX comes with a quad-core Exynos 4412 processor, which is the same beast we have ticking inside the international version of the Samsung Galaxy S III. Interestingly, the MX allows the user to limit the CPU's maximum clock frequency to 800, 1000, or 1400MHz, depending on whether they prioritize battery life or performance. Speaking of performance, the smartphone is really responsive no matter the circumstances. Even with the CPU clock set to Medium (1GHz), we did not experience any lags whatsoever while testing it.

	Quadrant Standard	AnTuTu	NenaMark 2
Meizu MX	5326	11718	54,7
HTC One X	4848	11024	47,4
HTC One S	4867	7012	60,7
Samsung Galaxy S III	5335	12016	58,6

There is no microSD card slot for storage expansion on the Meizu MX, but the 32GB (29.79 user-available) of space should be plentiful for most users. Those who demand additional storage should consider getting the 64GB model instead.

Web browser:

The stock web browser is fast, responsive, and loads pages quite quickly. However, it refuses to play back embedded Adobe Flash videos, although the plug-in should be supported. HTML5 video is played back in fullscreen mode after tapping on it.

Camera:

There is an 8-megapixel camera with f/2.2 aperture on the smartphone's back, and the photos that it takes look quite presentable. We see a good amount of detail in macro shots, the shutter lag almost non-present, and the color balance is accurate, as long as you are not shooting with the sun near the photo's background. The 1080p video that the Meizu MX takes is also of decent quality. Photos taken indoors are nothing special, but are comparable to what other 8-megapixel smartphone cameras of this class can capture.




Meizu MX Sample Video:



Meizu MX Indoor Sample Video:



Multimedia:

We are satisfied with the Meizu MX's stock music player, as it has a nice interface, supports a wide variety of file formats, and allows you to browse your collection folder by folder, so you don't need to be all that organized. It may have no home screen widget, but playback controls are always available when you hold down the menu button. The video player also works great. It can handle any popular video format with resolution up to 1080p.

In-call audio quality:

Voices sound pretty good on both sides of the line. The earpiece is loud enough and produces clear, natural voice tones, while the secondary microphone eliminates the majority of background noise that the other party would hear. We are also happy with the built-in loudspeaker as it is pretty loud and does not distort sounds even with the volume set to the maximum.


Battery life:

There is a 1,700mAh non-removable battery under the Meizu MX's back cover. The maker does not specify how long the smartphone can last on a single charge, but during our testing, it managed to last through a day of moderate usage.


Conclusion:

The Meizu MX is a pretty good Android smartphone. Seriously! It comes with a well-made custom interface, a decent 4-inch display, and the hardware inside it classifies as future-proof. Perhaps the overly plasticky feel is the only thing that truly bothers us, so consider that if build quality and premium design are of importance to you.

Some of the alternatives you can check out include the Sony Xperia S, which may come with a somewhat weaker processor, but has a bigger screen with better resolution and a more capable camera. If you are looking for a smartphone with a bit more of a premium feel, the HTC One S might suit your preferences.