Meizu MX Pro Reviews

The Meizu MX quad-core is an interesting phone from a design perspective, and we can see why it created so much noise when it was announced and available. Of course, the world has a bit changed since, but this handset clearly puts Meizu on the radar of a huge audience in Asia, and of enthusiasts in the West. Right now, the Meizu MX is not officially available in the USA (imports only), and I don’t imagine that customers would go out of their way to procure one while there are so many good options available through carriers. Instead, this is more a “taste” of things to come from Meizu, which sure has larger ambitions than the huge Chinese market. The integration of a high-end quad-core processor mixed with a nice organic design certainly reflects the fact that Meizu wants to aim high in a highly competitive world. My advice to Meizu: continue to aim high with the specifications, but don’t lock customers in a user interface that is too different from other Android devices. Don’t hesitate to use large screens.

At the close of this lengthy review, we're left with a somewhat bizarre dilemma on our hands. It's hard to say no to a quad-core Exynos device that offers a plethora of clever features experienced by Android fans on this side of the Pacific Ocean -- especially at such a tempting price. But packaged in with the good are a handful of tradeoffs that you'll need to accept before whipping out your wallet. Power users (and most moderate phone users, for that matter) will scoff at the battery life and the smaller qHD display, and fans of traditional Android skins may reject Flyme's heavily stylized (and iOS-like) look. Additionally, there are still quite a few wrinkles in performance that need to be ironed out before it's ready to hit the global stage. And it may be hard to justify searching lands near and far to find a 4-core when unlocked devices like the Samsung Galaxy Nexus offer a buttery-smooth performance, use stock Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) and can be yours for less hassle at a lower price. Despite some of its flaws, we can't help but have a hearty helping of admiration for a device like the MX 4-core. It's playing the role of the underdog in the mobile industry, and its creator has been hard at work, coming up with some clever new ideas that will only stand to benefit consumers in the long run. It's been fun trying to unlock the many little secrets this phone holds, and -- as the box itself promises -- we're sure there are plenty more surprises in store for those who crave cool new phones.

The Meizu MX 4-core is quite a bit of a shocker. Just like the original Meizu MX, this Chinese smartphone has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing, and interested. There we go, that's one. If anyone expected anything of that caliber to come out of China, their money was most likely on Huawei. The Meizu MX 4-core looks and feels exactly the same as its dual-core predecessor, which is to say, not particularly exciting. Essentially, a cheap plasticky iPhone replica is one of the most powerful smartphones in the market. How's that for a nice surprise? It gets better. Flagships as we know them have plenty of history and experience behind them, hundred-strong armies. And it took Meizu what, two Android generations and about as many devices to conjure up a quad-core smartphone.

I can understand if not many people will be drawn to the Meizu MX 4-core. Just finding the device, which is intended for mainland Chinese and Hong Kong markets only, will prove tricky. Also, the phone's unsubsidized $530 (4,099 HKD) price is pretty steep. Additionally the Meizu's whole iPhone aesthetic, which may have once been appealing, has lost its luster due to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. JB is faster, packs more features, and you can have it for about $450 on the unlocked Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Still, if you really love the idea of using a handset with modern Android power in a Apple-esque package, then by all means scoop up the MX 4-core on your next jaunt to Shanghai.

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.