Comparison Meizu M5 Note 16 GB / 3 GB vs Meizu U20 16 GB / 2 GB

The ratio of the screen area to the total front panel area of the phone. Simply put, this spec describes how much of the front panel is occupied by the screen; the rest is the bezels.

This indicator is given exclusively for smartphones with touch screens — it is for them that it is most relevant. The larger the percentage of the body is occupied by the screen, the thinner are the bezels, the neater the smartphone looks and the more convenient it is to work with it with one hand. As for specific numbers, the average values are 80 – 85 %, the higher values allow us to talk about a thin bezel, and more than 90 % — about a “bezel less” design.

Separately, we note that this parameter has nothing to do with the aspect ratio of the screen. The aspect ratio describes only the display itself — its proportions, the ratio between the larger and smaller side of the rectangle.

The parameter determines the overall performance of the smartphone: the more RAM, the faster the device works and the better it copes with an abundance of tasks and / or resource-intensive applications (ceteris paribus). This is even more true in light of the fact that large amounts of "RAM" are usually combined with powerful advanced processors. However, only devices with identical operating systems can be directly compared with each other, and in the case of Android, with the same versions and editions of this OS (for more on all this, see "Operating system"). This is due to the fact that different operating systems and even different versions of the same OS can differ markedly in terms of RAM requirements. For example, iOS, thanks to good optimization for specific devices, is able to work efficiently with 3 GB of RAM. For modern versions of Android in the regular edition (not Go Edition), the mentioned 3 GB is actually the required minimum. Under such an OS, it is better to have at least 4 GB or 6 GB of RAM. In high-end devices with powerful electronic "stuffing" you can also find more impressive numbers - 8 GB or even 12 GB or more.

The largest volume of memory card with which the phone supports. For more information about the cards themselves, see "Memory Card Slot"; here we note that capacious cards often use advanced technologies that are not supported by all devices, and sometimes phones simply do not have enough power to process large amounts of data. Therefore, for the convenience of choosing in our catalog, the maximum supported volume is indicated.

In fact, there are cases when some devices may exceed the claimed characteristics. However, it is worth focusing on official data, because, if officially supported volume is exceeded, normal operation of the card is not guaranteed.

The test results are specified either by a younger model in a line or a particular model, made for a better understanding performance of phone models if you compare phones against these parameters. For example, the 128 GB model has test results, and the 256 GB model has no information on the network, and in both models you will see the same value that will give an understanding of the overall performance of the device. But if the editorial office has information for each model individually, then each model will have its test results filled out, and the model with bigger RAM will have bigger values.

The result shown by a device when undergoing a performance test (benchmark) in AnTuTu Benchmark.

AnTuTu Benchmark is a comprehensive test designed specifically for mobile devices, primarily smartphones and tablets. It evaluates the efficiency of the processor, memory, graphics, and input/output systems, providing a clear impression of the system's capabilities. The higher the performance, the more points are awarded. Smartphones that score over 900K points are considered high-performance according to the AnTuTu ranking.

Like any benchmark, this test does not provide absolute precision: the same device can show different results, usually with deviations within 5-7%. These deviations depend on various factors unrelated to the system itself, such as the device's load from third-party programs and the ambient temperature during testing. Therefore, significant differences between two models can only be noted when the gap in their scores exceeds this margin of error.

The resolution and maximum frame rate provided by the phone's main camera when recording Full HD (1080p) video at normal speed, without slow motion (if available).

The standard resolution for this format is 1920x1080; but there are other resolution options, though they are almost never found on mobile phones. Note that this can be either the maximum resolution or one of the relatively simple options in addition to more advanced standards (such as UltraHD 4K). At the same time, Full HD is considered a decent resolution by modern standards, and at the same time, it can be supported even by fairly simple and inexpensive smartphones.

As for the frame rate, there are actually two options: — Full HD 30 fps and Full HD 60 fps. A higher frame rate allows you to achieve very smooth dynamic scenes — even fast-moving objects are seen as clearly as possible, with almost no blurring. However, 30 fps also have its advantages — it allows you to reduce the size of videos shot. Therefore, in smartphones with 60fps support, it may be possible to reduce the frame rate to 30 fps. Speeds above 60 fps are used for shooting slow-motion video (slow-mo); see "Slow-mo" for more on this.

Types of communications supported by the device in addition to mobile networks.

This list includes two types of characteristics. The first is the communication technology itself: Wi-Fi (including advanced standards Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) , Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) , Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)), Bluetooth (including the new generation Bluetooth v 5 in the form of a version 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4), NFC, satellite communication. The second type is additional functions implemented through one or another communication standard: this is primarily aptX support (including aptX HD, aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless) and even a built-in walkie-talkie. Here is a more detailed description of each of these characteristics:

— Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n). Wi-Fi is a wireless communication technology that in modern phones can be used both to access the Internet through wireless access points, and for direct...communication with other devices (in particular, cameras and drones). Wi-Fi is a must for smartphones, but is extremely rare in traditional phones. Specifically, Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) provides data transfer speeds of up to 600 Mbit/s and uses two frequency ranges at once - 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, making it compatible with earlier 802.11 b/g standards and with more new Wi-Fi 5 (see below). Wi-Fi 4 is considered a relatively modest standard by modern standards, but it is still quite sufficient for most tasks.

- Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac). The Wi-Fi standard (see above), which is the successor to Wi-Fi 4. In theory, it supports speeds of up to 6.77 Gbps, and also uses the 5 GHz band - it is less loaded with extraneous signals and more noise-resistant than the traditional 2.4 GHz. For compatibility purposes, a smartphone with a Wi-Fi 5 module may provide support for earlier standards, but it would not hurt to clarify this point separately.

- WiGig (802.11ad). Further, after Wi-Fi 5, the development of Wi-Fi standards, characterized primarily by the use of the 60 GHz band. In terms of maximum speed, it is virtually no different from Wi-Fi 5, however, the higher frequency increases the channel capacity, so that when several gadgets simultaneously communicate with one common device (for example, a router), the communication speed does not drop as much as in earlier standards. On the other hand, the 802.11ad signal is almost incapable of passing through walls; Manufacturers use various tricks to compensate for this shortcoming, but the best communication quality is still achieved only with direct visibility. Relatively little equipment for the WiGig standard is currently being produced, and it is not compatible with earlier versions of Wi-Fi; Therefore, smartphones usually provide support for other standards.

- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax). A standard developed as a direct development and improvement of Wi-Fi 5. Uses the ranges from 1 to 7 GHz - that is, it is capable of operating at standard frequencies of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz (including equipment of earlier standards), and in others frequency bands. The maximum data transfer rate has increased to 10 Gbps, but the main advantage of Wi-Fi 6 was not even this, but the further optimization of the simultaneous operation of several devices on the same channel (improving the technical solutions used in Wi-Fi 5 and WiGig). Thanks to this, Wi-Fi 6 gives the lowest speed drop among modern standards when the channel is busy.

- Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax). The Wi-Fi 6E standard is technically called 802.11ax. But unlike basic Wi-Fi 6 (for more details, see the corresponding paragraph), which is named similarly, it provides for operation in the unused 6 GHz band. In total, the standard uses 14 different frequency bands, offering high throughput in the most crowded places with many active connections. And it is backwards compatible with previous versions.

— Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be). The technology, like the previous Wi-Fi 6E, is capable of operating in three frequency ranges: 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz. At the same time, the maximum bandwidth in Wi-Fi 7 was increased from 160 MHz to 320 MHz - the wider the channel, the more data it can transmit. The IEEE 802.11be standard uses 4096-QAM modulation, which also allows more symbols to be accommodated in a data transmission unit. From Wi-Fi 7 you can squeeze out a maximum theoretical information exchange speed of up to 46 Gbps. In the context of using wireless connections for streaming and video games, the implemented MLO (Multi-Link Operation) development seems very interesting. With its help, you can aggregate several channels in different ranges, which significantly reduces delays in data transmission and ensures low and stable ping. And Multi-RU (Multiple Resource Unit) technology is designed to minimize communication delays when there are many connected client devices.

— Bluetooth. Direct wireless communication technology between various devices. In mobile phones it is used primarily for connecting headphones, headsets and wrist gadgets such as fitness bracelets, but other methods of application are also possible - remote control mode, direct file transfer, etc. In modern mobile phones there can be different versions of Bluetooth, here are their features:

• Bluetooth v 4.0. A fundamental update (after version 3.0), introducing another data transmission format - Bluetooth Low Energy (LE). This protocol is designed primarily for miniature devices that transmit small amounts of information, such as fitness bracelets and medical sensors. Bluetooth LE allows you to significantly save energy during such communication.
• Bluetooth v4.1. Development and improvement of Bluetooth 4.0. One of the key improvements was the optimization of collaboration with 4G LTE communication modules - so that Bluetooth and LTE do not interfere with each other. In addition, this version makes it possible to simultaneously use a Bluetooth device in several roles - for example, to remotely control an external device while simultaneously streaming music to headphones.
• Bluetooth v4.2. Further, after 4.1, the development of the Bluetooth standard. It did not provide any fundamental updates, but received a number of improvements regarding reliability and noise immunity, as well as improved compatibility with the Internet of Things.
• Bluetooth v 5.0. Version introduced in 2016. The key innovations were the further expansion of capabilities associated with the Internet of Things. In particular, in the Bluetooth Low Energy protocol (see above), it became possible to double the data transfer rate (up to 2 Mbit/s) at the cost of reducing the range, and also quadruple the range at the cost of reducing the speed; In addition, a number of improvements have been introduced regarding simultaneous work with a large number of connected devices.
• Bluetooth v5.1. Update of the version described above v 5.0. In addition to general improvements in the quality and reliability of communication, this update introduced such an interesting feature as determining the direction from which the Bluetooth signal is coming. Thanks to this, it becomes possible to determine the location of connected devices with centimeter accuracy, which can be useful, for example, when searching for wireless headphones.
• Bluetooth v 5.2. The next update after 5.1 is Bluetooth 5 generation. The main innovations in this version are a number of security improvements, additional optimization of power consumption in LE mode and a new audio signal format for synchronizing parallel playback on multiple devices.
• Bluetooth v 5.3. The Bluetooth v 5.3 wireless protocol was introduced at the dawn of 2022. Among the innovations in it, they accelerated the process of negotiating a communication channel between the controller and the device, implemented the function of quickly switching between the operating state in a low duty cycle and a high-speed mode, and improved the throughput and stability of the communication by reducing susceptibility to interference. When unexpected interference occurs in Low Energy mode, the procedure for selecting a communication channel to switch from now on has been accelerated. There are no fundamental innovations in protocol 5.3, but a number of qualitative improvements are evident in it.
• Bluetooth v5.4. Protocol version 5.4, which was introduced at the beginning of 2023, increased the range and speed of data exchange, which is well suited for use in applications that require communication over long distances (for example, smart home systems). Also in Bluetooth v 5.4, the energy-saving BLE mode has been improved. This version of the protocol uses new security features to protect data from unauthorized access, has increased communication reliability by selecting the best channel for communication, and prevents communication losses due to interference.

- aptX support. aptX technology was developed to improve the quality of sound transmitted over Bluetooth. When transmitting sound in a regular format, without aptX, the signal is compressed quite heavily, which affects the sound quality; This is not critical when talking on the phone, but it can significantly spoil the impression of listening to music. In turn, aptX allows you to transmit an audio signal with virtually no compression and achieve sound quality comparable to a wired communication. Such features will be especially appreciated by music lovers who prefer Bluetooth headphones or wireless speakers. Of course, to use aptX, both your smartphone and external audio device must support it.

- aptX HD support. aptX HD is a further development and improvement of the original aptX technology, allowing you to transmit sound in even higher quality - Hi-Res (24-bits/48kHz). According to the creators, this standard allows you to achieve signal quality superior to AudioCD and sound purity comparable to wired communication. The latter is often questionable, but it can be argued that overall aptX HD provides very high sound quality. On the other hand, all the advantages of this technology become noticeable only on Hi-Res audio - with quality 24-bits/48kHz or higher; otherwise, the quality is limited not so much by the characteristics of the communication as by the properties of the source files.

- Support for aptX LL. A modification of aptX technology, designed to minimize signal transmission delays. Encoding and decoding a signal when transmitting audio via Blueooth with aptX inevitably takes some time; This is not critical when listening to music, but in videos or games there may be a noticeable desynchronization between the image and sound. The aptX LL technology does not have this shortcoming; it also gives a delay, but this delay is so small that a person does not notice it.

- Support for aptX Adaptive. Further development of aptX; actually combines the capabilities of aptX HD and aptX Low Latency, but is not limited to this. One of the main features of this standard is the so-called adaptive bitrate: the codec automatically adjusts the actual data transfer rate based on the characteristics of the broadcast content (music, game audio, voice communications, etc.) and the congestion of the frequencies used. This, in particular, helps reduce energy consumption and increase communication reliability; and special algorithms allow you to broadcast sound quality comparable to aptX HD (24 bits/48 kHz), using much less transmitted data. And the minimum data transfer latency (at the aptX LL level) makes this codec excellent for games and movies.

– Support for aptX Lossless. The next branch of development of aptX technology, which allows you to transmit CD-quality sound over a wireless Bluetooth network without loss or use of compression. At the same time, audio broadcasting with sampling parameters of 16 bits / 44.1 kHz is carried out with a bitrate of about 1.4 Mbit/s - this is about three times faster than in the aptX Adaptive edition. Support for aptX Lossless began to be introduced in late 2021 as part of Qualcomm's Snapdragon Sound initiative, which is available on smartphones, headphones and speakers with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor and later.

— NFC chip. NFC is a technology for wireless communication over ultra-low distances, up to 10 cm. One of the most popular applications of this technology in smartphones is contactless payments, when the device actually plays the role of a credit card: just bring the device to a terminal that supports contactless technology like PayPass or PayWave. Another common way to use NFC is to automatically connect to another NFC-compatible device via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth: gadgets brought close to each other automatically set up a communication, and the customer only needs to confirm it. Other options are technically possible: recognizing smart cards and RFID tags, using the device as a travel card, access card, etc. However, such use formats are much less common.

- Infrared port. The infrared port looks like a small “eye”, usually on the top end of the phone. This equipment allows you to turn your phone into a remote control for controlling various equipment - just install the appropriate application. At the same time, we note that among such applications you can find an option for almost any device - from TVs to air conditioners, hoods, etc. Accordingly, the “smartphone remote control” turns out to be very universal.

— Walkie-talkie. Built-in radio module that allows you to use the phone as a walkie-talkie - for communication over relatively low distances without using SIM cards. Of course, for such communication you will need another walkie-talkie (or a phone with this function). The specific frequencies supported by the built-in radio module should be clarified separately; however, all phones with this feature operate in one or more standard bands. In practice, this means that they are capable of communicating not only with similar phones, but also with classic civilian walkie-talkies - provided they match the supported bands. The communication range is usually quite low; however, the built-in walkie-talkie can be very useful for tech in situations where conventional mobile communications are ineffective or unavailable. Typical examples of such situations are staying “far from civilization”, in an area of poor treatment, or traveling abroad, where roaming is expensive.

– Satellite communication. The satellite communication function is intended to send emergency alerts to rescue services in emergency situations. Smartphones with the ability to connect to satellite frequencies can communicate with emergency services in areas where there is no mobile network treatment. For better signal reception from satellites, it is advisable for the customer to be in an open space. At the stage of function formation, only ready-made requests can be transferred. In the future, it is planned to support full messaging via satellite communications, but a separate fee will be charged for them.

Additional features and capabilities of the device.

In modern mobile phones (especially smartphones) a very extensive amount of additional features can be provided. These can be both already familiar features, many of which are directly related to the original purpose of the device, as well as fairly new and/or unusual ones. The first category includes an emergency call button(often found on phones for the elderly), noise cancellation, FM receiver, notification light and a light sensor. The second category includes a face and fingerprint scanner (the latter can be located on the back cover, side panel, front and even right under the screen), gyroscope, advanced full-fledged flashlight, stereo sound, 3D surround sound, Hi-Res Audio and even such exotics as a barometer. Here is a more detailed description of each of these options:

— 3D face scanner. A special...technology for recognizing the user's face — not just by photographing, but by building a three-dimensional model of the face based on data from a special module on the front panel. This technology is constantly being improved, nowadays it is able to take into account the change of hairstyles and facial hair, the presence of glasses, makeup, etc. At the same time, the recognition of twins and children's faces still remains weak points (they have fewer individual features than adults ). The main use of a face scanner is authentication when unlocking a smartphone, entering applications, making payments, etc. At the same time, other, more original use cases are possible. For example, in some applications, the face scanner reads the user's facial expressions, and then this facial expression is repeated by an emoji on the phone screen.

— Fingerprint scanner. Fingerprint reader. It is mainly used for user authorization - for example, when unlocking the device, entering certain applications or accounts, confirming payments, etc. As for placement options, fingerprint scanners are increasingly moving from the back cover of the device to the surface of the side power / unlock button - to You can touch the sensor on the side with your thumb without releasing the smartphone from your hands and practically without changing your grip. Some time ago, sensors on the front of the case were quite popular - in particular, thanks to Apple, which was the first to tightly implement fingerprint recognition in its gadgets. However, such placement inevitably increases the size of the bottom frame, so the front fingerprint scanner is rare in modern smartphones. A good alternative to it is scanners right on the screen (more precisely, under the display matrix), which do not take up extra space on the front panel.

— Stereo sound. The ability to play full stereo sound through your phone's own speakers, without external audio devices. There must be at least two speakers for this task. This complicates the design and increases its cost, but it has a positive effect on the sound quality: the sound is more expressive and detailed than when using a single speaker, it has a volume effect, as well as a higher volume.

– 3D surround sound. The mechanics of spatial surround sound with localization of sound sources in three-dimensional space allows you to deeply immerse yourself in the atmosphere of films, enjoy listening to audio tracks, or completely immerse yourself in mobile gameplay. Algorithms for implementing 3D sound in smartphones differ in terms of software and hardware support, but they are all aimed at achieving the effect of realistic sound stage. Note that support for 3D surround sound can mean both commonly used technologies such as Dolby Atmos or DTS:X Ultra, as well as proprietary solutions from individual audio brands that have a hand in the sound subsystem of a mobile device (AKG, JBL, Harman, Huawei / Honor Histen, etc.).

– Hi-Res Audio. Mobile device support for high-resolution audio Hi-Res Audio - a digital signal with parameters from 96 kHz / 24 bits. Audio tracks in this format sound as close as possible to the original ideas of the authors of the compositions. The result is a sound that is as close as possible to what was recorded in the studio.

— FM receiver. Built-in module for receiving radio stations broadcasting in the FM band. Some devices also support other bands, but FM is the most popular nowadays (due to the ability to transmit stereo sound), it is in it that music radio stations usually broadcast. Note that some devices for reliable reception may require the connection of wired headphones — their cable plays the role of an external antenna.

— Notification indicator. Physically separate light beacon, pulsating or being constantly lighted up in response to incoming notifications of missed calls and received messages (including the ones from instant messengers and social network clients). Also, the indicator light usually signals a low remaining battery level and lights up during the battery recharging. The implementation of the notification indicator can be different: for some phones it is single-colour, for others it has colour coding of signals, flexibly adjustable for certain events through the settings menu. The light beacon allows you to visually comprehend the presence of incoming notifications without having to turn on the smartphone screen.

— Emergency call button. A separate button designed for use in critical situations. The specific features of such a button may be different, depending on the model: sending “alarming” SMS to selected numbers, automatically receiving calls from these numbers or calling them in turn, turning on the siren, etc. Anyway, the “emergency” button is usually clearly visible, and its presence is especially useful if the phone is used by an elderly person (in fact, in specialized devices designed for elderly, this button is almost mandatory).

— Noise suppression. An electronic filter that cleans the user's voice from extraneous noise (sounds of the street, the rumble of the wind in the microphone grille, etc.). Thus, the person at the other end of the line hears only the voice, with virtually no extra sounds. Of course, no noise reduction system is perfect; however, in most cases, this feature significantly improves the quality of the speech transmitted by the phone to the other person.

— Gyroscope. A device that tracks the rotation of a mobile phone in space. Modern gyroscopes, usually, work on all three axes and are able to recognize both the angle and the rate of turn; in addition, this feature almost necessarily means the presence of an accelerometer, which allows (among other things) to detect tremors and sharp movements of the device.

— Full-fledged flashlight. The presence of an advanced flashlight in the phone — more powerful than the usual one. The specific design and capabilities of such a flashlight may be different. So, in some devices, a separate LED (or a set of LEDs) is provided on the upper end, and this light source is used only as a flashlight. In others (mainly smartphones), we are talking about a special design of the flash: it consists of several LEDs, and only a part of them is usually used to illuminate when shooting, and all at once to work in flashlight mode. And the additional features of such a light source may include a laser pointer, beam focus, brightness control, etc. Anyway, most models with this feature are rugged devices with increased resistance to dust, moisture and shock (however, there are exceptions).

— Light sensor. A sensor that monitors the level of ambient light. It is mainly used to automatically adjust the brightness of the screen: in bright ambient light, it increases so that the image remains visible, and in twilight and darkness it decreases, which saves battery power and reduces eye fatigue.

— Barometer. Sensor for measuring atmospheric pressure. By itself, the barometer only determines this pressure at the current time, but the methods of using such data may be different, depending on the software installed on the phone. For example, some navigation applications can determine the elevation difference between individual points on the ground by the difference in atmospheric pressure at these points; and in weather programs, barometer data can improve the accuracy of weather forecasts. Also, this feature will be useful for weather-sensitive people: it signals a change in the weather, allowing you to more accurately determine the cause of ailments and take measures to eliminate them.

The capacity of the battery that the mobile phone is equipped with.

Theoretically, the high capacity of the battery allows the device to work longer on one charge. However, actual battery life time will also depend on the power consumption of the gadget — and it is determined by the hardware specs, the operating system, special solutions provided in the design, etc. So in fact, phones with capacious batteries in general have "long battery life”, however, the actual battery life can differ markedly even for two models with similar specifisations. Therefore, for an accurate assessment, it is better to focus not on the battery capacity, but on the operating time in different modes directly claimed by the manufacturer (see below).