Comparison of smartphones Meizu 15 and Meizu 15 Plus

Meizu is one of the leading Chinese firms. Has been creating MP3 players and mobile devices for 15 years. In 2018, the company introduced a new line of smartphones in honor of the 15th anniversary: ​​Meizu 15, Meizu 15 Plus and Meizu 15 Lite... These gadgets, according to the developers, retained the corporate design and high-quality components, and also became the company's flagships. This article will focus on the Meizu 15 and Meizu 15 Plus.

So what makes these smartphones special?

Characteristic

First, a brief technical comparison of the models.

The table shows that these models have more differences than similarities. And these differences mainly relate to the nuances that are invisible without delving into the description of smartphones. Of the most obvious: screen size.

Screen

In Meizu 15 - 5.46 inches, and in the improved version - 5.95. The difference is only 0.49 inches, but the display expansion has improved in the latest version. FullHD to QHD. With a slight change in the diagonal of the screen, the picture quality has increased. The color of the picture, in the first model, in the second model, is colder. Although the color rendition remains at the level. But in the settings there is a function to change the color temperature.

There are several color rendering options:

• Standard - cold color temperature;
• Responsive - more red and green;
• Photo mode - more green;
• Full color - green and red also prevail.

The screen does not light up in bright daylight, and changing angles does not distort the picture. Yes, it becomes a little greenish, but the image is also clearly visible.

Digging into the settings, you can also: turn on the function of the clock image on the screen off, turn on the backlight "to wake up" and more.

SIM card

The number of SIM-cards in gadgets is the same - 2, but nano-sized.

Memory

The RAM in the first model is 4 GB, in the Plus model, as expected, 2 GB more. This is necessary to support all the features that the extended version supports. And although there is no possibility to insert a memory card into these gadgets, the creators have provided for the choice of built-in memory. For some, 64 GB is enough, and for those who need more space, 128 GB will do. Accordingly, the price depends on the choice of the amount of memory.

CPU

Interestingly, models from the same line have different processors that affect the entire operation of smartphones. Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 in Meizu 15 is an eight-core processor. Four cores - Kryo 260, operate at 1.8 GHz, and four more cores - Kryo 280 at 2.2 GHz. The "plus" version stands out due to Samsung Exynos 8895. This processor also has 8 cores, but their frequency and performance are better than that of the first model, which is impressive. Four of the eight cores are energy-saving Cortexy A53 (1.7 frequency), the other four are Samsung M2 proprietary cores (2.3 frequency). This processor is also used in the Samsung Galaxy S8. Accordingly, the 15 Plus works faster. But it’s a sin to complain about work.

These models even reproduce games. Obviously, they will not pull a high setting, but medium ones - without interruption.

Camera

What are buyers interested in in 2018? The camera, of course.The technical characteristics in both models are the same: a dual main camera 20 MP + 12 MP, and a 20 MP front camera. Again, the final result of the photo is influenced by the processor. But the cameras do their job well. This can be seen in the examples of the photo.

Plus there is an excellent working autofocus. The creators also praised the 3x zoom. According to them, the quality is not lost at maximum zoom. But, as the examples of the photo show, there is still noise. Especially the quality suffers when the light is not bright. The user can choose: portrait or manual mode.

The videos are detailed and high quality. A choice of normal, slow or fast shooting modes. But let's immediately add to the disadvantages the lack of stabilization.

The front camera with the AI-powered ArcSof editor helps you edit selfies right away. At what autofocus also works great and there is a bokeh effect. But, for example, in backlight - the camera does its job worse, because there is no HDR effect.

Night photo mode is not suitable for fans of mobile photography, but for a Chinese smartphone, the image quality is not bad. You can see the details of luminous objects, but you can't take a picture without a flash in pitch darkness. By the way, about the outbreak. The gadgets have a ring flash of 6 diodes. The examples show: photos with flash are bright and not overexposed.

Wireless technology

Of the wireless technologies, Meizu was pleased only by Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but NFC is not gaining popularity. You cannot pay with a phone in a store using these gadgets.

Battery

Meizu 15 has a 3000 mAh battery, while the improved version has 3500 mAh. These are standard metrics in today's mobile market. Nevertheless, you shouldn't wait for a super long battery life - with normal use (calls, camera, internet) the charge lasts a maximum of 1 day. So when buying these smartphones, consider purchasing a Powerbank. And although the Plus version has more battery capacity, the additional functions of this model require more energy. But at the same time, these smartphones are charged very quickly: in 30 minutes to 85%.

Navigation

Also supports navigation systems: GPS, Beidou, GLONASS.

Weight

The difference in weight is 25 g. But almost all mobile devices weigh from 140 to 200 g. So you shouldn't pay attention to weight when choosing a smartphone.

Design

Now let's move on to the design. In 2018, all kinds of design decisions were not made when creating gadgets. But Meizu stood out well this time: a large screen and a thin metal body. The devices look expensive and elegant. The frames are narrow. Above are: a speaker, a missed event sensor (blinks when a call or message is missed) and a front camera. Perhaps the location of the speaker is not convenient for all users, because during a call it will be better to hold the phone slightly lower than usual in order to hear the interlocutor well.

Below the front panel is the mBack key. It should be highlighted. The developers have tried to work on this key. It is the thinnest and fastest (according to the manufacturer) fingerprint scanner that reacts to pressure. The scanner works fine, there are no complaints about it. It is tiny, unlike other smartphones. So how does mBack work?

• Light press - "back";
• Strong - "home";
• Dual - "camera" or "music";
• Holding your finger on the key - "voice search" or "screen lock".

You can function the mBack key in the settings, in the "Navigation and taskbar" tab. This button doesn't even feel under your fingers, the only thing that shows its presence is the metal rim around it.

On the right side there is a volume swing, on the left there is a SIM card slot and a lock key.

Bottom - 3.5mm headphone jack, Type-C connector for charger and stereo speakers.

On the back there are 2 cameras, a round autofocus system with flash, and a manufacturer's inscription.

The Meizu 15's available colors are black, white and red - a classic set. The back cover is made of metal with a ceramic coating - a smooth, even surface.

Meizu 15 Plus: Gold, Gray and Dark Gray. The back cover is made of polished aluminum.

In general, the gadget looks stylish. But it is better to get a cover, as sometimes it can slip out of your hands.

Unlock the screen. As described above, using mBack by fingerprint, or you can configure face unlock. It works stably, not as fast as in other models, but it's a sin to complain about it. It works longer in the dark and the phone will not unlock if the user is wearing sunglasses. Otherwise, it works well.

Prices

In Russia, the price of Meizu 15 64 GB on the company's official website is 35,000 rubles. 15 Plus - 46,000 rubles. To overpay or not is up to you. But surely for an extra ten thousand rubles you will get the best performance and display quality. Prices are slightly higher than the market average, but much cheaper than the iPhones. The average price for a mobile device in the Russian market is 26 thousand rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Design - for sure, one of the most important criteria when choosing a smartphone is the appearance. He will delight you in these devices.
• Performance. Even if you do not let the phones of this line out of hand, performance will not suffer. He is not stupid, and does an excellent job with his tasks.
• Fast charging.
• Main camera.
• Display.

• Face unlock - slow compared to other smartphones; does not work when the user is wearing sunglasses.
• There is no NFC.
• There is no HDR on the front camera - not always good shots in low light.
• The price is high, as for Chinese smartphones. But considering that China is reaching the next level, that's the price for work, performance and camera.
• Battery.
• No protection against dust and moisture
• Conversational speaker - in an inconvenient place.

Equipment

• Device;
• USB cable;
• Network adapter;
• Needle for removing the SIM card slot;
• Instruction;
• Warranty card.

Reviews

In fact, it is not easy to find reviews on the Meizu 15 and Meizu 15 Plus on the websites. These gadgets are bought by daredevils who are not afraid to try new things. After all, Meizu does not chase competitors, but creates unique devices.

Some users claim that the Meizu 15 smartphone works well only the first time, and then it starts to "jerk". Also, these gadgets are not worth buying for those who want to get a camera phone for a penny. These models will definitely not pull pictures in difficult conditions. Daylight photos are excellent, but not an indicator. Many people perceive the price negatively. Perhaps it is true, before giving 35,000 or 46,000 for these smartphones, you need to think, weigh the pros and cons. Meizu is notorious for overpricing. But here everyone decides for himself what is more important to him in the phone and how much you can give for it.

Everyone praises the design of these devices. Tactile and visual sensations, as they write on the forums, are delightful. This is true, even the photo shows the perfect surface. The gadgets are stylish, especially in white. Fingerprints are visible on the black case, on white only at a certain angle.

Some argue that the zoom does not have the promised 3X magnification, but only 1.5X. While this is to be expected from a smartphone at this price point, users are unhappy with such an exaggeration.

Another advantage is sound. People are just delighted with the sound in these models, especially when combined with the Meizu Live headphones.

Conclusion

Meizu creates devices that are more expensive than it is customary in the Chinese market. But the creators are introducing all sorts of interesting chips, for example, in design (as with the previous line - Meizu Pro 7), or in line 15 - the mBack button and so on. These interesting things attract the attention of potential customers. Fans of non-standard solutions should definitely try the mobile devices of this company.

Which smartphone should you choose - Meizu 15 or Meizu 15 Plus?

It depends on your needs and financial capabilities. If you need a more productive gadget, then definitely Plus. But if you do not want to overpay, but want to become the owner of a stylish device, then choose Meizu 15.The performance of both models is sufficient for everyday intensive use.