Meizu u20 black review. Review of Meizu U20 – stylish smart
The Meizu U20 smartphone is a new product from China, the manufacturer of which is one of the leaders in the Chinese smartphone market in terms of quality and price. The phone is primarily interesting for its appearance, since this is the first model from Meizu, the body of which consists almost entirely of glass. Due to this, the device looks much more expensive than it actually costs, and can attract lovers of fashionable devices due to the ratio of its external data combined with a low price.
A full review of this device will tell you the main features and help you decide whether to buy it or not. You can also watch the video review.
The smartphone comes in two variations: Meizu U20 16 Gb costs about 18,000 rubles, and Meizu U20 32 Gb costs an average of 20,000 rubles. And if you are a daredevil and hardly ever want to take advantage of the warranty service option, you can try to purchase this product in China, ordering it through the Aliexpress website for $167 and $190, respectively. Today we received the Meizu U20 16 Gb Black for review. The model has the following main characteristics:
- Dimensions: 153 x 75.4 x 7.7 mm;
- Weight: 159 g;
- Display: 5.5 inches, IPS, Full HD, 403 ppi;
- RAM: 2 or 3 GB;
- Built-in memory: 16 or 32 GB;
- Chipset: 4-core Helio P10 (4 x 1.8 GHz, 4 x 1.1 GHz);
- Graphics accelerator: Mali-T860;
- Main camera: 13 MP, f/2.2;
- Front camera: 5 MP, f/2.0;
- Battery: 3260 mAh.
Appearance and equipment
This smartphone is one of the few budget devices who are so attractive and stylish design. Its ends are made of metal, and on the front and back there are two glass panels with 2.5D glass rounded at the edges, which makes the U20 look like a more expensive device than it actually is. A minus immediately appears - the black case will collect a lot of fingerprints, so it’s better to take the white version. Also, the smartphone is quite wide - 75.4 mm, and therefore it will not be very convenient for users with small palms to use; it can also slip in the hand due to the fact that it is glass, so we recommend that you turn the gadget in your hands before purchasing and make sure it is comfortable it is specifically for you.
As for the location of the functional elements, everything is as usual: on the left is a hybrid tray for SIM and memory card, on the right are the power and volume control buttons, at the bottom is a micro-USB connector and a headset jack. Below the display is a mechanical touch key with a built-in fingerprint recognizer (by the way, there are no complaints about its operation - it works quickly). There is also a good oleophobic coating that protects against fingerprints and Gorilla Glass protection.
Display
For its price category, the device’s screen is excellent – 5.5” diagonal. An IPS matrix with Full HD resolution and 440 ppi is installed here. As expected, the display produces excellent colors and has good levels of brightness and contrast. There were no strong transitions to warm or cold colors, and it was comfortable to work with the device even on the sunniest day - there was enough brightness to match.
CPU
The phone is equipped with an 8-core MediaTek Helio P10 chip with maximum clock frequency 1.8 GHz, and the Mali T810 processor is responsible for the graphics. Meizu U20 16 GB is not much weaker than its older version, because there you can also keep several applications running in the background at once. In the popular AnTuTu benchmark, the smartphone scores 50 thousand points – a very good result.
If you are not a very experienced user, then you will definitely appreciate this device - it works well and quickly, and does not heat up under load. However, don't expect the games to be maximum settings the graphics will “fly” - after all, for modern toys, even 50 thousand points in AnTuTu is an average figure.
Camera
The U20 gadget has a 13-megapixel camera with f/2.2 aperture with LED flash and phase detection autofocus. In good lighting conditions, the camera copes with its tasks with a bang, but in the evening you shouldn’t expect great results - the level of detail is significantly reduced, and color rendition is distorted. The phone also takes photos in HDR mode and allows you to set manual settings exposition.
The front camera, as usual, is 5 megapixels without autofocus, allowing you to take selfies of satisfactory quality.
Video shooting can be done in Full HD resolution at a frame rate of 30 fps without optical stabilization. To sum it up, the camera is not a huge advantage of this Meizu model.
Battery
There is a non-removable battery with a capacity of 3260 mAh, which is much less than in the Meizu M3 Note model. We think battery capacity has been sacrificed to make the phone thinner.
At normal use phone (Internet, music, SMS, calls) the charge will last you for 20-22 hours. Another downside is that the functions fast charging The device is not here - it can be charged from 0 to 100% in about 2 hours.
Sound
There is a very ordinary speaker installed here, the sound volume of which is enough to hear incoming call or an alarm clock. It's not very suitable for listening to music on it - low frequencies practically not, but high frequencies a bit much. Therefore, it is better to use a headset - the sound situation is a little better in it. And if you want to fine-tune the sounds, we recommend that you install another player after the first start of the phone.
The speaker is made of high quality - the voice is not distorted, audibility is excellent, no noise was observed, the volume is good.
Conclusion
The Meizu U20 smartphone turned out to be quite controversial. After reading this review or by watching the video review in Russian, you will be convinced that the quality of pictures, battery life and performance are not the best, but it is also the only smartphone with a glass body in the budget category. Therefore, if image is more important to you, this model would be an excellent option, because it looks very expensive and elegant, and in addition, it has an excellent display. Its characteristics will be quite sufficient for regular user, after all, with two or three gigabytes random access memory The phone can handle all everyday tasks.
Its main competitors are Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 at a price of $140 on Aliexpress and Meizu M5 Note at a price of $140 on the same site. We really hope that this review was useful to you. Good luck!
Meizu U20 - glass smartphone by affordable price. The device has a high-quality screen and an elegant design. Its announcement took place in August 2016.
Appearance and ergonomics
Maze U20 should appeal to fans of everything glossy and shiny. The body of the device is made of glass panels located on both sides. Between them is an aluminum frame with a chrome bevel. The smooth ends stand out, as well as the mTouch button under the screen, which is responsible for navigation. Directly inside it is a touch fingerprint scanner that instantly responds to the touch of a finger.
The device is quite slippery due to the abundance of glass, but otherwise there are no problems with it in terms of ergonomics. The gadget is assembled with high quality, no creaks are heard. On the bottom edge there is not only an external speaker, but also a headphone jack, as well as a main microphone and a USB port. An additional microphone is installed on the top end. The model is equipped with a 3260 mAh battery. Available colors: black, white, pink and gold. Dimensions: height - 153 mm, thickness - 7.7 mm, width - 75.4 mm, weight - 158 g.
Display
The U20 houses a 5.5-inch screen with the already classic IPS matrix and a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels. On top, the display is protected by Gorilla Glass 3. There is full lamination technology, which means the absence of any air gap. The image looks realistic and detailed. It is worth noting a significant reserve of brightness, as well as wide viewing angles. There is also an anti-glare filter that effectively “removes” solar reflections.
Hardware and performance
The U20 smartphone has an eight-core Helio P10 processor with 3 or 2 GB of LPDDR3 RAM. This chip operates at a frequency of 1000 MHz normal mode, and during heavy loads it increases the power to 1800 MHz. The Mali-T860 graphics accelerator is used here. The amount of internal memory is 32 GB or 16 GB, which depends on the specific version. There is support for memory cards with a capacity of up to 128 GB.
Got the gadget operating system Android 6.0 with Flyme 5.2 shell. In the AnTuTu test, this device scores around 48,000 points. There are no difficulties with multitasking. Regular tasks are also processed well and reliably. Only demanding games this processor too tough, so at high graphics settings the user will experience frame drops.
Communication and sound
Meizu U20 has at its disposal a medium-volume multimedia speaker. Things are much better with sound if you listen to music through decent headphones. You can always hear your interlocutors very well. The smartphone works in 4G networks, but it does not always pick up these frequencies quickly.
Camera
The high-quality 13-megapixel camera in Meizu U20 is equipped with phase detection autofocus, a dual-tone flash and an aperture ratio of 2.2. The camera quickly takes photos with good detail. There is a burst mode. It is worth noting that the pictures are of decent quality even in automatic mode, which works quite correctly. There is also a 5-megapixel front-camera with aperture ratio 2.0 and Beauty features function.
conclusions
It is thanks to its stylish appearance that the U20 attracts quite a lot of attention. In addition to the great design, there is good camera and a wonderful display. Equipment: phone, charger, documentation, branded paperclip.
Pros:
- Very nice design.
- Magnificent display with a large diagonal.
- Quite high quality materials and solid assembly.
- Sophisticated fingerprint scanner.
- Detailed photos in different conditions.
Minuses:
- Not the most advanced sound.
- Quite slippery body.
Specifications Meizu U20
| General characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Model | Meizu U20 |
| Date of announcement and start of sales | August 2016 / August 2016 |
| Dimensions (LxWxH) | 153 x 75.4 x 7.7 mm. |
| Weight | 158 g. |
| Available colors | black, white, pink and rose gold |
| operating system | Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) + Flyme 5.2 |
| Connection | |
| Number and type of SIM cards | two hybrid, Nano-SIM, dual stand-by |
| Communication standard in 2G networks | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| Communication standard in 3G networks | HSDPA 900 / 2100 |
| Communication standard in 4G networks | LTE 1800 / 2100 / 2600 |
| Carrier Compatibility | MTS, Beeline, Megafon, Tele2, Yota |
| Data transfer | |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, hotspot |
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, LE |
| GPS | yes, A-GPS, GLONASS |
| NFC | No |
| Infrared port | No |
| Platform | |
| CPU | eight-core Mediatek MT6755 Helio P10 Octa-core (4×1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4×1.0 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| GPU | Mali-T860MP2 |
| Inner memory | 16 GB / 32 GB |
| RAM | 2 GB / 3 GB |
| Ports and connectors | |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, USB Host |
| 3.5mm jack | There is |
| Memory card slot | microSD, up to 128 GB (combined with SIM slot 2) |
| Display | |
| Display type | LTPS IPS LCD capacitive, 16M colors |
| Screen size | 5.5 inches (~72.3% of the front surface of the device) |
| Display protection | Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Camera | |
| Main camera | 13 MP, f/2.2, phase detection autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash |
| Functionality of the main camera | Geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, HDR, panorama |
| Video recording | 1080p@30fps |
| Front-camera | 5 MP, f/2.0 |
| Sensors | |
| Illuminance | There is |
| Approximations | There is |
| Gyroscope | There is |
| Compass | There is |
| Hall | No |
| Accelerometer | There is |
| Barometer | No |
| Fingerprint scanner | There is |
| Battery | |
| Battery type and capacity | Li-Ion 3260 mAh |
| Battery mount | non-removable |
| Equipment | |
| Standard kit | U20: 1 USB cable: 1 SIM tray eject clip: 1 User manual: 1 Warranty card: 1 Charger: 1 |
Prices
Video reviews
| Characteristics | Meizu M3 Note | Meizu U20 |
| Chipset | MediaTek Helio P10 | MediaTek Helio P10 |
| Memory | 2/3 GB RAM, 16/32 GB internal memory | |
| Screen | 5.5 inches FullHD IPS | 5.5 inches FullHD IPS |
| Cameras | 13/5 MP | 13/5 MP |
| Battery | 4100 mAh | 3260 mAh |
| Net | Wi-Fi b/g/n/ DB, Bluetooth 4.0, LTE (1800/2100/2600 MHz) | |
| OS version | Google Android 5.1, Flyme 5.1.11.0G | Google Android 6.0, Flyme 5.2.4.0G |
| Weight and dimensions | 163 g, 153x75x8.2 mm | 158 g, 153x75x7.7 mm |
| Price | 18,000 / 20,000 rubles | 17,000 / 19,000 rubles |
Contents of delivery
- Smartphone
- USB cable
- Network adapter
- Guarantee
- SIM card tray ejector
Introduction
On our website, only the first acquaintance with the Meizu M3 Note was published (at one time we accidentally missed it, we repent), so the new (at least in terms of release date and system version) Meizu U20 came out very opportunely: both the first and second devices are very similar in characteristics, Note is successfully selling in Russia, and U20 has just hit store shelves and is also aiming to become a sales leader among Meizu gadgets. Smartphones have balanced parameters and cost quite adequate money, taking into account certification.
Design, dimensions, control elements
The Meizu M3 Note has a classic design, which, by the way, is starting to become not only boring, but even slightly annoying. On the other hand, Note came out a long time ago, so there is no point in making complaints about it. Another question is U20. The design of the sides and back panel has changed here. The edges have become flat, the shape of the case is less rounded, the back surface is neither plastic nor metal, but glass. It doesn’t look very original, but it’s fresher than the M3.
The glass on the devices is of unknown origin, but they are tempered: during testing (I’ve had the M3 for about three months, the U20 for several weeks), nothing bad happened, minor scratches appeared, and that’s all. On the reverse side of the U20, the glass also remained intact and unharmed :)
If we talk about design ergonomics, I’m closer in spirit to the M3 Note: it’s smoother and fits well in the hand. On the other hand, it is slightly thicker and heavier (despite the millimeters and grams, the difference is still noticeable). The U20 device is angular, one gets the feeling that the frame is not flat, but slightly concave.
As for materials, I prefer glass: in the cold season it does not freeze as much as metal, and in the summer it remains neutral in terms of temperature. The Note has a metal back, with plastic inserts on the top and bottom.
The new U20 is clearly richer in color: it has white, pink, gold and gray options, but the M3 Note only has gold, black and gray.
The arrangement of the elements is the same, plus or minus: sensors and speakers on top. The U20 doesn't have a notification light, which is a bit of a shame since I'm used to it on many devices, for example. In the M3 Note, the indicator is at the top right.
The speakers sound almost the same, but I liked the speaker in the U20 better - it is a little bassier and sounds better. The volume is high, the interlocutor can be heard well, and you can also be heard perfectly.
Below is the traditional mechanical button with built-in fingerprint sensor. The shape and tactile sensations are the same: minimal travel, firm pressure.
At the bottom there is a micro-USB (and the new model too, which is strange), a microphone (in the M3 Note it is made to fit the speaker grille) and a speakerphone.
The 3.5mm headphone jack is on the bottom in the U20, while it's on the top in the M3 Note, and both models also have additional noise-canceling microphones there.
On the left is a metal slide for two Nano SIM cards or one SIM card and a memory card.
On the right is the power button and volume rocker key. In the M3 Note they are slightly sloping, while in the U20 the buttons are flat and metal.
On the reverse side there are cameras and flashes: in the new product the module is located closer to the left edge, and in the laptop it is closer to the center.
In general, the M3 Note is more practical, but the Meizu U20 definitely looks prettier.
Comparative dimensions:
Displays
The Meizu M3 Note smartphone is equipped with a 5.5-inch diagonal screen, the same diagonal as the U20. Physical dimensions of the displays: 68x121 mm, M3 Note frames – 16 mm x 16 mm x 3.5 mm, U20 – 14.5 mm x 16.5 mm x 3.5 mm.
The screen resolution is the same - FullHD, that is, 1920x1080 pixels, pixel density - about 400 DPI. There is no air gap. The matrices are made using IPS technology.
The brightness of the backlight of the M3 Note matrix is slightly lower than the backlight of the U20 matrix. This is not particularly noticeable to the eye.
The viewing angles are the same; when tilted, the picture on the M3 Note takes on a reddish tint; the larger the angle, the greater the distortion. U20 has fewer problems: the image is practically not distorted. The black color is definitely better on the U20 smartphone, and the white is also more natural on it.
Below are photos from which you can clearly understand that the matrix in the M3 Note is clearly inferior in all respects to the matrix of the U20 (it’s on the right).
Batteries
The new product from Meizu uses a 3260 mAh battery, and the laptop has a 4100 mAh battery. I think it's already clear that the U20 will last longer than the M3 Note, given that specifications they have one to one.
When working with devices, the batteries lasted about 16-18 hours in the case of the M3 Note and 12-14 hours in the case of the U20. In a more gentle mode, the gadgets worked: up to 24 hours with the M3 Note and about 20 hours with the U20.
In movie mode (HD), the battery runs out after about 9 hours (M3 Note) and 7 hours (U20), in gaming mode the battery lasts for about 4 hours (M3 Note) and 3 hours (U20), in audio playback mode on maximum volume – more than 50 hours for both gadgets.
Communication capabilities
The devices are equipped with two nano-SIM slots. Both connectors support 3G/4G networks in Russian frequencies.
Network types:
- 2G GSM/GPRS/EDGE (900/1800/1900 MHz)
- 3G WCDMA/HSPA+ (900/2100 MHz)
- 4G FDD-LTE (1800/2100/2600 MHz)
- 3G TD-SCDMA
- 4G TD-LTE
The rest is standard: Wi-Fi (b/g/n without ac) dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz/5 GHz), Bluetooth 4.0, micro-USB connector for charging/synchronization. GPS navigation(including GLONASS) works without problems.
Memory
Smartphones are equipped with two or three gigabytes of RAM. The internal memory can be 16 GB or 32 GB, again depending on the RAM. There is support for microSD cards up to 128 GB.
Cameras
The Meizu M3 Note has a 13 MP main camera (Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protective glass, f=2.2 aperture), a 5 MP front camera (f=2.0 aperture). The modules in U20 have similar parameters.
Despite the fact that from the point of view of performance characteristics the cameras are identical, they shoot differently: the frames on the M3 Note are not always sharp, the white balance “dances”, there is a lot of noise even in daytime frames. On the U20, the photos turn out a little better: the picture is brighter and sharper, there is less noise, and the white balance is usually relatively correct.
The front cameras are very similar, the only difference is the BB.
The videos are shot almost identically, the quality is average, the sound is clear and loud.
To put it very briefly and to the point, the Meizu U20 camera takes better pictures, the difference is not so obvious, but for lovers of “photos” it will be noticeable.
| M3 Note | U20 |
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With toys, the situation is standard for the Helio P10: most of them run on medium settings; games run with high settings, but frame drops are possible.
For everything else, performance is enough. Advice: don’t skimp and take gadgets with three gigabytes of RAM.
Smartphones run different versions Google Android: new on the “six”, and the M3 Note is still on 5.1. However, there is no difference, because Flyme’s own shell is used, however, it is also in U20 version 5.2.4.0G, and in the laptop - 5.1.11.0G.
Multimedia
The volume of the speakers is slightly above average, the quality is not bad, but you shouldn’t count on Pro 5/MX6 type sound.
The sound in the headphones is more or less good, but, of course, it’s far from reaching the Pro 6 level. On the other hand, nothing bothered me, which means that the majority will be satisfied.
Conclusion
It seems to me that from the text it became clear to you: Meizu U20 has taken the lead over the M3 Note in all respects: the new product has a better design, better matrix screen, better camera, newer version of the operating system.
The difference in price is minimal, so you should take a closer look at the U20 and choose the 3/32 GB version - you can never have enough memory.
Let me remind you once again that the Meizu M3 Note costs 17,000 and 19,000 rubles, and the U20 costs 18,000 and 20,000 rubles.
Last year or two line Meizu smartphones grows at such a speed as if it were not small Chinese company, and Samsung a couple of years ago. But not everyone approves of the manufacturer’s actions, especially when six months after the announcement of one model a successor appears with almost the same characteristics and identical design. Apparently, the Chinese also realized that they needed to at least somehow separate their smartphones and created an alternative to their mass M-series— models U10 and U20. Today we meet the elder.
Contents of delivery
Meizu U20 comes standard cardboard box minimal size with modest contents: cable, charger, beautiful branded clip and documentation.
Design and usability
By the time of announcement It became obvious that it wouldn’t hurt to somehow diversify the design of Meizu smartphones, because even the company’s flagships have become “familiar.” The relatively fresh U20 represents just such diversity and we can immediately say that the attempt was a success.
On the background different combinations While the plastic and metal that dominate the rest of the Meizu's designs, the U20's glass panels with a metal frame in between look quite fresh. The smartphone is available in all-white, black and gold colors, as well as in a version with a pink “back” and a white front panel.
Otherwise, the phone is made in the spirit of Meizu. The front panel strives for symmetry. Below the display there is a single control key with a built-in fingerprint scanner, which also serves as the Home and Back keys. The sensors and front camera are located on the sides of the earpiece, and the white indicator of missed events is hidden under the glass and is invisible when turned off.
On the left there is a tray for two NanoSIM or one SIM and a memory card. On the right are the power and volume keys. On the top edge you can only find the hole for the second microphone, and all the connectors and the ringing speaker are assembled at the bottom.
In terms of build quality, the device does not reach the ideal specifications, but overall everything is done well. The metal frame is actually assembled from small sections of overlays, which is ubiquitous in relatively inexpensive smartphones, but here the panels are made and fitted quite well, with minimal joints.
In terms of ease of use, Meizu U20 can be called average. The smartphone is beautiful, but the body shape is closer to a rectangle, the corners are minimally rounded, and this design option can hardly be called the most ergonomic for a 5.5-inch smartphone.
On the other hand, a very convenient physical key under the display and gesture support for opening the notification panel compensate for these rough edges. By and large, the only thing that confused the device was the side keys - in our smartphone they were somehow “sluggish”. The click felt bad; the click occurred at the moment when the buttons were hidden in the frame.
Screen
Most of the front panel of the smartphone is occupied by 5.5 inches IPS display with Full HD resolution. It is covered with protective glass with rounded edges and an oleophobic coating. The manufacturer did not try to achieve the effect of an edge-to-edge screen, so the matrix is surrounded by a barely noticeable thin black frame and a main white front panel. This design option looks quite neat.
According to our measurements, the display brightness varies from 2 to 344 cd/m², the contrast is 1 in 740. The numbers are not record-breaking, but quite good for their class. They mean that the basic characteristics of the display are not bad; the user will be able to select a comfortable brightness level for use both in the dark and in the sun.
In terms of color accuracy, the matrix can be called good. The images don't look too oversaturated, and the colors are closer to natural compared to many modern smartphones. The automatic brightness control sensor works relatively correctly, but with slight delays. Overall, Meizu U20 good display.
Hardware platform, operating time
The characteristics of Meizu U20 are almost 100% the same . The smartphone is built on the MediaTek Helio P10 platform and is offered in two configurations with 2 and 16 GB of memory or 3 and 32 GB. Instead of a second SIM, you can install a memory card. The rest of the hardware is appropriate: dual-band Wi-Fi module, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS. Lack of FM radio and choice of MicroUSB connector instead USB Type-C can be perceived as a means of saving money, which is excusable for such smartphones.
In general, the available equipment is enough for the smartphone to work fast enough and not fall flat on its face in games. It is comfortable for everyday use, communicating on social networks and so on.
The reduction in battery capacity from 4100 to 3260 mAh (compared to Meizu M3 Note) predictably affected the operating time of the smartphone. With an average load, the device operates during daylight hours, if you use mobile internet, instant messengers and social networks, call a little and take a little photos. The operating time can be considered normal, but if Meizu is better optimized the operation of their smartphones, the device could work longer.
In terms of the quality of speakers and music playback in headphones, the smartphone is also not much different from the M3 Note. The calling speaker is loud, normal quality. The speaker also has a decent volume reserve, but its sound seemed a little harsh to me, so the voices of some interlocutors were perceived worse than usual. The quality of music playback in the headphones is normal and will suit most users. The manufacturer did not provide a separate sound chip or something similar, so in this regard the model is noticeably inferior to the Meizu flagships.
Software platform
The smartphone runs Android 6.0 and the proprietary Flyme 5.2.4.0G shell. We received a device intended for the Chinese market, but the seller carefully prepared it for use in Ukraine, installed firmware with the appropriate localization and Google services.
As is the case with MIUI on Xiaomi smartphones, Flyme on Meizu makes these devices as different as possible from most others in terms of software. Android version has minimal impact on functionality and user experience because these factors are determined by Flyme OS.
The shell has a simple and laconic design, which can be attributed to its advantages. The system management is very conveniently organized. Touching the mTouch key works as “Back”, pressing it as “Home”, and holding it locks the smartphone. To access the list running applications you need to swipe from the bottom edge of the display.
Advanced users may be annoyed by various little things. For example, the assistant is poorly integrated into the firmware Google Now, notifications may be delayed, and the icons of most third-party applications look much worse than those of the built-in programs.
Cameras
Similar to hardware in terms of camera characteristics, Meizu U20 is similar . It is equipped with a main 13-megapixel module with f/2.2 aperture, autofocus and a dual-section flash, a 5-megapixel front camera with a wide-angle lens with f/2.0 aperture.
In an absolute sense, cameras are nothing special - they are ordinary modules typical of affordable modern smartphones. They are comparable to what competitors offer for the same money. In good lighting, the camera will take good pictures and work relatively quickly and accurately. In all other, more complex, shooting conditions you will either have to put up with not too high-quality photos or refuse to use the camera. At the same time, in the context of the cost of a smartphone, the cameras can be considered normal. May be useful in certain situations manual mode shooting, which allows you to control shutter speed, ISO, focus, etc.
Site evaluation
Pros: case design and materials; competitive price; good display; normal performance; fingerprint scanner and convenient control system using one physical key
Minuses: software roughness (may be critical for advanced users); slurred move physical keys in a test smartphone; harsh speaker sound
Conclusion: Meizu U20 can be called an adequate product offering from the manufacturer. In most characteristics, it is similar to the previously presented M3 Note and leaves a similar impression, with the only difference being that the smartphone has received more interesting design. In Ukraine, the price of both models differs minimally, U20 is several hundred hryvnia more expensive. So if design is one of the primary criteria when choosing a smartphone, you should pay attention to the device.
The site's review shows a glass Meizu U20 with a black body.
The release of Meizu U10 and U20 can be called a design experiment of the company, because previously appearance smartphones, in particular the back panel, was significantly different. As for the hardware component, we are dealing with the top of the budget segment. Other details and details are in our review.
Technical characteristics and equipment
- Chipset: MediaTek Helio P10 octa-core chipset.
- Memory: 2 GB RAM (3 GB version available), 16 GB physical memory (32 GB version available).
- Graphics accelerator: Mali-T860.
- Display: 5.5 inches, 1920×1080 pixels, 400 ppi, brightness 400 cd/m2.
- Main camera: 13 MP, 5-element lens, PDAF autofocus, f/2.2 aperture, dual-tone flash, burst mode, panoramic lens.
- Front camera: 5 MP, 4-element lens, f/2.0 aperture, Beauty features technology.
- Battery: 3260 mAh, non-removable, charging via microUSB.
- Fingerprint scanner mTouch 2.1, response time - 0.2 seconds.
- Operating system: Android 6.0 Marshmallow and Flyme OS.
- 3.5 mm for headphones.
- Combination slot (2 nanoSIM or 1 nanoSIM and 1 microSD).
- 2G/3G/4G, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11, GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS.
- Sensors: light, distance, gravity, gyroscope, compass, capacitive sensor display, Hall sensor.
- Weight: 158 grams, dimensions: 153×75.4×7.7 mm.
- Official price in Russia: 17,990 or 19,990 rubles.
The smartphone comes in a traditional cardboard box and includes Charger with Euro plug, SIM card tray ejector and documentation.
Design and ergonomics
Meizu U20 is a smartphone whose back and front panels are covered with 2.5D glass rounded at the edges. Previously, the manufacturer had not used this material to cover the rear part, but here he decided to experiment. The device in a black case looks expensive and stylish, but at the same time it is quite strict - the design is minimalistic, there is nothing superfluous.
It is impossible not to say that visually the device resembles the iPhone 4S, although it is much larger in size. At the same time, the front panel is very similar to the OnePlus 3 with a similar Home button and screen size.
Below the screen is the proprietary mTouch 2.1 button, which has a built-in fingerprint scanner. Clicking on it takes the user to the desktop (“Home”), touching it performs the “Back” function.
Above the display there is a front camera, a proximity sensor and speaker. The side frames of the device are quite thin, considering that we're talking about about a budget device.
The rear panel has undergone certain changes - now the camera and flash are located not in the middle, but on the left top corner. The manufacturer's logo is placed in the center, and trade marks are located below. All back panel It is covered with curved 2.5D glass, which gives the smartphone a premium and stylish appearance.
The power and volume buttons find a place on the right side of the device - the location is more than familiar and convenient when operating the gadget with one hand.
On the bottom edge there are four holes for the main speaker, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, microUSB for charging, a microphone and an antenna strip.
The top edge includes two antenna strips and a microphone hole.
On the left side of the device there is a hybrid slot for nanoSIM cards and microSD memory, which is removed with a special paper clip.
As for ergonomics, it’s unlikely that it will be convenient to operate this device with one hand: it’s not difficult to reach the buttons on the right side and mTouch 2.1, but top part display is practically inaccessible. When you take the Meizu U20 in your hand, you immediately get the feeling that the side edges are not smooth enough - they are not rounded, but smooth, which is why the smartphone can cause discomfort. This becomes especially noticeable when using the gadget for a long time.
In general, the assembly of the device is done at a decent level; the smartphone feels solid in the hand. However there is significant drawback- the volume and power buttons located on the right side are loose and make noise extraneous sounds. If you take the device and shake it a little, you will hear the characteristic sound of wobbly keys. In addition, this can be detected during daily use of the device.
Another drawback is that the device is soiled - it tends to collect fingerprints and greasy stains, especially on the back panel. Of course, the oleophobic coating allows you to quickly remove stains, but you don’t want to do this regularly.
Display
The smartphone is equipped with a 5.5-inch Full HD display with a high density of 400 ppi and protective glass Gorilla Glass 3 with oleophobic coating. In one word, I would like to call the screen balanced - color rendition is excellent, viewing angles are large, minimum brightness allows you to work comfortably dark time days, maximum - in sunny weather.
It is noteworthy that the display does not turn green, does not turn blue, and generally does not abound with unnecessary colors. The screen is one of the main advantages of the device; it is rare to find something like this in this price category.
For user convenience, there are color temperature settings (warm, standard, cool) and an eye protection mode that reduces blue light.
Performance
The performance of the device is ensured by the 8-core MediaTek Helio P10 chipset, Mali-T860 video accelerator, 2 GB of RAM (there is a version with 3 GB of RAM) and 16 GB of storage (there is a modification with 32 GB). This set is enough for comfortable work with a smartphone: using social networks and instant messengers, making calls, reading news and other tasks. In the browser when large quantities In open tabs, scrolling may not be smooth enough, but this has not been noticed in other applications.
As for toys, the device can handle everything without 3D graphics. If you run “heavy” games, fps drops and stuttering will be noticeable. It was unpleasantly surprising that even in Angry Birds 2 you can periodically notice slowdowns, although the game is not the most demanding. Afterwards the NFS: No Limit race was launched, and there were practically no slowdowns.
During long gaming sessions, the back of the device gets very hot. This is likely due to the fact that glass does not conduct heat as well as metal.
The results of testing Meizu U20 in benchmarks are at an average level by modern standards; the device just fell short of 50 thousand parrots in AnTuTu.
Camera and photography
The smartphone received a 13 megapixel main camera with an f/2.2 aperture, a 5-element lens, PDAF autofocus and a dual-tone flash. It takes excellent pictures for its category - in good lighting, high-quality and clear images are obtained, the matrix captures a fairly wide color range, and the colors look saturated. We note the high speed of focusing and taking a picture (if you do not use the HDR mode).
With a lack of light, graininess and noise are observed, especially at the edges of the picture, but it’s illogical to blame a gadget that costs up to $150 for this.
The front camera has a 5 MP matrix, f/2.0 aperture, 4-element lens and Beauty features technology for creating beautiful selfies and hiding skin imperfections. She takes pictures like an amateur; you can evaluate the photographs using the examples of pictures in the gallery (link above).
Interface and Flyme
Meizu U20 runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow and proprietary Flyme OS firmware, which can be found in any smartphone from this manufacturer. She doesn’t offer anything radically new, but about the most interesting features We'll tell you separately.
The ability to configure switches in the notification menu (swipe down from the status bar) is very convenient. It contains 12 icons, you can arrange them as you wish.
In the "Accessibility" section there are settings for gestures and movements. For example, you can activate the screen backlight by double tapping on it (in standby mode), open the notification panel, and set other actions for certain gestures.
There is also an on-screen SmartTouch button, which can replace mTouch 2.1. You can customize it at your discretion and, upon certain actions, return to the desktop, bring up the notification panel, quickly switch between applications, and so on.
Otherwise, the interface is familiar to those who have used Flyme at least once. If you are not one of this number, then it will be easy to get used to the manufacturer’s proprietary shell - it is simple, understandable and convenient. For clarity, see the screenshots.
The fingerprint scanner works quickly and accurately, provided that your fingers are clean and dry. Unfortunately, the fingerprint sensor does not respond when the smartphone is in standby mode - you first need to press the power button or mTouch, and then place your finger. Many gadgets now operate faster and are unlocked from standby mode, which is much more convenient.
Sound
Meizu U20 is equipped with one main speaker; of course, there is no stereo sound. It plays mediocrely, the bass is practically inaudible, and at full volume a slight wheezing is sometimes noticeable. In this component, the smartphone is unlikely to please those who still listen to music through the main speakers.
As for the sound in the headphones, everything is standard here. If you have a decent headset and the ability to use an equalizer, then the sound quality is unlikely to disappoint you, although there is nothing special to talk about.
IN telephone conversations The interlocutor can be heard a little muffled, the sound is a little unusual after the previous smartphone (Honor 8). Despite this, my interlocutors were satisfied with the quality of voice transmission.
Autonomy
The gadget is equipped non-removable battery capacity 3260 mAh. The battery life indicators are encouraging; in many scenarios the device survives until the evening, and with an average load it can even last for 2 days, especially if you don’t play and turn it off mobile transmission data. This is exactly what happened during the testing period - the smartphone was charged once every two days, but we did not offer it any particular intensity of work.