Meizu and Xiaomi are among the most popular Chinese smartphone manufacturers, occupying a fairly large share in this segment of the Russian electronics market. It is noteworthy that none of these companies initially positioned themselves in this status, but in just a few years both Xiaomi and Meizu were able to win a fairly large audience in Russia and other countries of the world. Very often, people who want to purchase a high-quality and functional smartphone opt for these two brands, comparing them with each other. Today we will talk about how appropriate and justified such a comparison is, as well as what is better – Meizu or Xiaomi – and will analyze in detail the top models of both manufacturers.
Company history
The history of Xiaomi began with the MIUI shell, which was initially just custom firmware for several smartphones.
This was during the days of Android 2.1, when the standard system was terribly stupid and slow, and also caused a lot of ridicule among iOS owners. Compared to pure Android, the MIUI shell looked simply amazing: fast, sophisticated, functional.
Yes, MIUI copied a lot from iOS, but Apple’s operating system was the best ! I remember these times very well and I myself enjoyed using MIUI on the HTC Desire HD, and then on the Desire S and Samsung Galaxy S2.
Both me and many other users then had the idea that the MIUI team should make their own smartphone, because when porting the firmware, there are some bugs. I myself didn’t find the first Mi1, but Mi2 was actively discussed on the network and, despite the complexity of the purchase, users still bothered with ordering it.
Meizu initially generally focused on creating audiophile players; one of them, the Meizu MiniPlayer M6, was also popular in Russia. True, this model was sold under other names (Ritmix RF-9200 and Powerman XL850), but it was very well known among our users.
When players gradually began to be replaced by smartphones, Meizu also decided to try their hand at this niche and, oddly enough, also took Apple as a reference.
It even got to the point that Meizu M8 was not allowed to be shown at the exhibition, because it was considered that it was too similar to one of the iPhones.
operating system
Comparing the operating systems of competing brands, you will notice that Meizu smartphones are equipped with proprietary firmware. On the one hand, this is good - the platform has several features that are missing from standard Android OS. On the other hand, such systems practically do not offer the possibility of adaptation to the requirements of different users (“customization”).
Xiaomi smartphones have fewer problems with customized firmware – and you can find dozens of “custom” builds online. The advantages of this brand's platforms include advanced customization options and frequent updates. The disadvantages are that the translation into Russian is not always high-quality.
Rice. 7. MIUI firmware on Xiaomi models.
Positioning
“A good smartphone for little money,” perhaps this is the motto that Xiaomi was guided by when developing its devices. Also, the company’s main income came from services, so the markup on devices was minimal.
Xiaomi was also very fond of various flash sales, when a large volume of smartphones at a low price was released at a certain time. Of course, all this was swept away by resellers in a matter of seconds, and then we sadly saw less attractive prices on the same AliExpress.
Later, the company’s approach transformed into “a good thing for little money,” and then various company accessories appeared: from headphones to backpacks.
At first, Meizu copied Apple’s tactics: one cool smartphone per year . And it was really great, I remember very well the Meizu MX2, which was not inferior in characteristics to the Galaxy S3, and its display could perfectly compete with top-end flagships.
Top-end components, great sound and long-term support - that’s what Meizu focused on. The situation changed radically after Alibaba's investment in 2015. The company now has room to maneuver and, in addition to the flagship devices, a youth line called Meizu M has appeared with average performance, bright design and a good price.
Before moving on to the direct comparison, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that in general Meizu and Xiaomi are very different companies, both in approach and in size. Xiaomi is now one of the largest manufacturers in China, and Meizu is just one of the companies, albeit with its own large fan base.
And the fact that we are now putting an equal sign between them is the merit of the Russian office of Meizu, which began its work since the days of Meizu M8 and by the time Xiaomi officially entered the Russian market, Meizu had already established contacts with retail and had its own loyal audience in Russia.
Let's start with the flagships. At the moment, Meizu’s current flagship is 15 Plus, Xiaomi’s is Mi MIX 2s. These two models show almost all the differences between the companies.
Let's start with the design.
Mi MIX 2s repeats the iPhone X in a number of parameters (location of the double module, lack of a minijack), while for some reason Xiaomi copies the worst of the innovations, as a result, it is in terms of design that their product looks secondary.
Although Meizu started by copying the iPhone, in the 15 line they have their own design, this applies to the location of the camera, the fingerprint scanner and, importantly, the presence of a minijack.
In general, it is in this line that Meizu shows that they do not want to follow stupid trends, so all the “tags” have standard displays with a 16:9 ratio and very thin frames. Personally , I like this solution , although it is a matter of taste.
It is also worth commenting on the price difference between Mi MIX 2s and 15 Plus; it amounts to an impressive 10 thousand rubles . But here it is important to understand that Xiaomi makes virtually no money from this model, it is sold exclusively on Tmall, and all expenses (logistics, warehouses, advertising) are covered by AliExpress.
For Ali this is an excellent advertisement for their site, for Xiaomi it is an opportunity to set an attractive price.
Separately, I would like to note that the sale comes in waves, for example, on June 21 there was the first wave and after a couple of hours the model was out of stock. That is, buying it at this price is not so easy.
Meizu will sell their 15 Plus through their company's online store and retail chains, so they cannot afford to set such a price tag.
At the same time, the company understands that there is such a Mi MIX 2s, so as an alternative, it offers to pre-order with Meizu POP headphones (will be sold for 7,000 rubles, similar to AirPods from Meizu) as a gift.
Comparison of smartphone parameters in 2021
In order to compare the products of the two brands this year, it is worth deciding on the evaluation criteria. The main characteristics among them are:
- variety of models on the market;
- build quality and appearance;
- performance of devices with similar parameters;
- the quality of sound and photographs taken using these smartphones.
It also wouldn’t hurt to consider the features of the platforms that run gadgets from competing brands. It is worth remembering one of the main characteristics of modern smartphones – autonomy, which affects the time of use.
And as an additional evaluation criterion, you can analyze the availability of devices compatible with these phones and minor design differences in the form of special buttons and sensors.
Mid-range and budget segment (new products)
I won’t make specific comparisons here and here’s why. Xiaomi's key models in the middle segment are Redmi 5, Redmi 5 Plus and Redmi Note 5. Essentially, their main advantage is software optimization and the transition to a new aspect ratio.
As I wrote earlier, Meizu is a smaller company, so their development cycle is slower and direct competitors to these models will only be released by the end of summer. Actually, this is also one of the advantages towards Xiaomi.
If for current flagships Meizu cannot offer prices comparable to Xiaomi, then when it comes to reducing the cost of previous generations of devices, the price tag for both companies becomes, plus or minus, the same.
Although it is in the context of the M5 Note and Redmi Note 4, if my memory serves me correctly, the price of both models was not much different from each other before.
Results
Despite some differences in characteristics, not all users pay attention to this. And the criterion often becomes simply habit - the first Xiaomi or Meizu smartphone you bought and liked can force you to choose the same brand in the future.
Buyers also rely on the advice of loved ones or the price-quality ratio that matches their requirements. Therefore, there is no clear answer to the question of which brand to choose from these two.
Video:
First impressions of Chinese LeEco smartphones
A few days ago, I finally received two smartphones: LeEco Le 2 and LeEco Le 2 MAX.
To be honest, I did not expect that both models have the same body. The only difference is in the physical dimensions and camera module. The color arrived pink, which I personally don’t like and, according to rumors, will not be sold in Russia.
But if you forget about taste, the picture turns out to be amazing. LeEco Le 2 has a Snapdragon 652 processor - the proven “brain” of most mid-range smartphones. And in MAX they generally inserted the current “top” of the Android market, Snapdragon 820.
The performance of both smart phones is really excellent. Applications open instantly, the proprietary LeEco shell does not lag (oh yes!). I installed a couple of 3D toys from the Play Store and used several instant messengers via multitasking.
Hence the question: if these phones are one and a half times cheaper than flagships in Russia, how will Xiaomi and Meizu respond? The first ones are definitely nothing. It will be interesting to watch the fight of the latter.
We'll also do a full review. There is something to talk about.
And so LeEco smartphones are not so much iPhone killers as killers of its killers. Therefore, we are waiting for the start of super sales today at 20:00. Why are you even willing to take one?
iPhones.ru
But they warned us. Now they will either become stronger or be pushed aside. For two months we were prepared for the fact that LeEco - yes, that same one - would take the Russian market by storm. They allocated cosmic amounts of money, prepared a huge batch of smartphones and crazy plans. What's changed: The flash sale starts today at 8:00 p.m. LeEco 2 and LeEco 2 MAX smartphones will be given away at a discount of...
Xiaomi, Meizu brand features, strengths and weaknesses of mobile technology
Chinese smartphones appeared on the market not so long ago, but have already earned their recognition among users. Well-known brands offer a wide variety of gadgets for every taste and color.
If we are talking about Xiaomi, their popularity began with the Mi line of smartphones. These are flagship models that are created based on the company’s latest technologies. Smartphones in this series have high performance due to the powerful Qualcomm chipset. In addition to solid hardware, manufacturers took care of an adapted operating system. It is impossible not to note the battery capacity of 4000 mAh. The active use time of gadgets is impressive – up to 8 hours.
The budget Redmi series also has good technical characteristics. But to make gadgets accessible to the majority, the brand’s creators use a cheaper chipset. At the same time, the functionality of the devices is only pleasing - the models are quite powerful, some are even equipped with a fingerprint sensor.
However, there is also another side to the coin. Xiaomi does not focus on cameras in its devices. And if the photos turn out to be of sufficient quality, then with the video things are not the best. Only a few models can boast of the option of electronic video stabilization. In addition, the phone's firmware may not support Russian or Ukrainian languages, which deprives the user of the ability to use Google services.
Meizu have proven themselves to be a combination of functionality, performance and quality build. Smartphones have an impressive design due to the metal body. The main feature is the presence of one mTouch multifunction button, which makes use more convenient.
But the chipset is cheaper than that of its competitor – Taiwanese MediaTek. The processor can handle modern resource-intensive games and 3D graphics with great difficulty. A battery with a capacity of 3000-3500 mAh provides 6-7 hours of battery life.
Meizu installs proprietary firmware on his gadgets - Flyme. Intuitive Russian-language software. The downside is that updates are rare and customization options are limited. As a separate point, I would like to add a small warning for future and current Meizu owners. The glass in smartphones is far from shock-resistant, so you should protect your gadgets from falls and shocks.
Specifications
To help you figure out which smartphone is better, Meizu or Xiaomi, the technical characteristics of both devices will help. The first will be a device from .
So, the M5 smartphone has:
- Mediatek MT6750 processor with a frequency of 1.5 GHz.
- Graphics accelerator Mali-T860.
- 2 or 3 GB of RAM.
- 16 or 32 GB of internal memory.
- 13 MP camera and 5 MP front camera.
- Display with a diagonal of 5.2 inches and a resolution of 1280x720.
- Battery 3070 mAh.
Here are the characteristics of Xiaomi 4X:
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 1.4 GHz processor.
- Adreno 505 graphics accelerator.
- 2, 3 or 4GB of RAM.
- 16, 32 or 64 GB of internal memory.
- 13 MP camera and 5 MP front camera.
- Display with a resolution of 1280x720 and a diagonal of 5 inches.
- Battery 4100 mAh.
Based on the characteristics described above, we can safely answer the question: “Which is better, Xiaomi Redmi or Meizu M5?” Xiaomi. Still, Snapdragon and Adreno are much more productive than the Mediatek and Mali combination. In addition, Qualcomm processors have very good optimization, due to which battery power is not consumed as much.
Another point in Meizu’s garden is the amount of RAM and built-in flash memory. Xiaomi offers the buyer a choice of a model with 2, 3 or 4 GB of RAM and up to 64 GB of internal memory, while Meizu is limited to only 3 GB of RAM and 32 internal.
Otherwise, the characteristics of the two smartphones are identical, with the exception of the slightly larger screen diagonal of Meizu.
Thus, the hardware score is 4X.
Disadvantages of Xiaomi
The disadvantages of Xiaomi products include the following points:
- Limited edition and unjustified markups from third-party suppliers. Since the brand sells its products only through the official website and branded retail outlets, users are faced with the problem of purchasing a recently announced new product at the best price. Thus, flagship models can cost more than $1,000, while on the website the cost does not exceed $500.
- Use of components from third-party manufacturers. This strategy is associated with frequent updating of the line and the release of a large number of new models. Wanting to make their smartphones as accessible and advanced as possible, brand representatives agree to purchase third-party components. Therefore, if an important component or part is damaged, you have to spend a lot of time searching for suitable spare parts. Moreover, the repair and restoration process can cost as much as the phone itself.
- Camera. In terms of photo and video quality, Xiaomi smartphones are inferior to Meizu models. When there is not enough light, the pictures are unclear, blurry and noisy. Processing software does not cope with its functions and does not provide the opportunity to create informative content.
- Problems with the operating system and firmware. Many users complain about a number of errors and glitches in the MIUI interface. Often the shell does not display important notifications from programs and games, it slows down and does not respond to clicks. Some updates are developed by people without careful testing by brand engineers, which increases the likelihood of all sorts of bugs.
conclusions
Having considered all the advantages and disadvantages of these Chinese smartphones, we can draw one conclusion - whether to buy or not to buy a device depends on the personal preferences of the buyer. For example, Xiaomi smartphones are produced in limited editions, so you will have to buy them from resellers who, naturally, profit from customers. Therefore, a low price suddenly turns into a high one.
Naturally, distinguished by their desire to find the cheapest possible model, buyers take decisive steps - for example, they go to China to buy a phone. If you want to save money, but not go anywhere, then it is better to choose Meiza, because their circulation is much larger, which means there is no point in making a large markup for the domestic user. So, when specifying what to choose, each person relies on his own selection criteria. Both of these manufacturers are worthy, even if not everything is perfect.
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Camera
Meizu or Xiaomi - which phone takes better pictures? There's not much to say here. The modules of both devices are the same and are removed in approximately the same way. During the day, the pictures are of fairly good quality; in the evening, it’s better not to take out your phone.
The front cameras also don't stand out as anything special. Both there and there have 5 MP modules installed. This is more than enough for selfies, as well as for conversations on Skype.
The only thing that Meiza can be praised for is the traditional presence of a manual shooting mode, which allows you to achieve a little better results, so the point goes to the M5.
Autonomy
The entire Redmi line is famous for its “survivability”. In this case, a battery with a capacity of 4100 mAh is installed. On a single charge, a smartphone can last more than a day with very moderate use, i.e. a few phone conversations, a little more than an hour of surfing the Internet, watching videos and listening to music. If you add to this list games, communication in instant messengers, social networks, etc., then the phone will have to be charged every evening.
Things are even worse for Meizu. The battery capacity here is smaller - 3070 mAh. As you might guess, with more or less active use, the phone will barely survive until the evening. Xiaomi score.
What are the advantages of Meizu
Laconic design. Yes, yes, in our opinion, many Meizu smartphones look stylish, laconic and not pretentious. And that's really great. Moreover, the models differ from each other not only in design, but also in case materials.
Flyme firmware. It has a lot of fans, many users like it due to its unusual design, convenience, and high speed. However, there are many who don’t like Flyme at all.
A huge advantage of Meizu is its focus on sound in headphones. Of course, you won’t find a dedicated audio chip in budget models, but even in this case the sound will probably be better than that of competitors.
On some models of the company, the fingerprint scanner can be found in the Home key. According to many users, this is much more convenient than on the back of a smartphone.
Meizu uses relatively good cameras, both front and rear.
Advantages of Xiaomi
The particular popularity of Xiaomi products is due to the affordable cost of most models. Even advanced flagships are much cheaper than smartphones with similar technical characteristics from other brands. This situation is due to the fact that Xiaomi’s main income is the sale of various gadgets and electronics, and smartphones are just an additional niche. It often seems that the brand sells smartphones at cost.
Other devices from this company are characterized by the following advantages:
- IR port. The presence of this interface allows you to remotely control household appliances and electronics, turn on the air conditioner or TV, set up a home theater and control other devices.
- Branded ecosystem. Such a solution connects all the brand’s smartphones into one whole system, which consists of a resource with a large amount of memory and the ability to expand free space, flexible synchronization options, intuitive settings and other nuances that Meizu does not have.
- CPU. Even budget products have advanced Snapdragon chipsets, which deserves special respect. When working with advanced games and applications, Xiaomi smartphones show their best side, demonstrating high performance, multitasking and functionality. Models based on MediaTek are practically never produced.
