Meizu M3 Max review: A different note

Software

The Meizu M3 Max runs on Flyme 5.2.4.0 OS, which was built on top of an Android 6.0 Marshmallow core. Flyme, just like Apple's iOS, revolves around a single-tier UI - every app or widget resides directly on the homescreen without an additional app drawer that is typical for Android. All other system features can be configured through either the Settings menu or within the powerful Security app.

The lockscreen* the homescreen • the notifications drawer • toggles • Security app

Flyme offers a variety of customization options, including themes. There are lots of useful system-wide gestures, which you can use even when the screen is turned off. DND mode, scheduled power on and off are available, too.

Themes • themes • themes • scheduled power on/off • DND mode

Flyme 5 supports multi-view, which is managed via the task switching interface. The supported apps have a 'Multi' button, and you can activate a split-screen app right away. Unfortunately, the apps to support multi-view are only two - Video and Settings. Hopefully, this list will grow bigger with the upcoming firmware updates.

Task switcher • multi-view in action

Meizu provides all the necessary apps to get you started - gallery, multimedia players, calendar, weather, among other necessities, but you can find everything else in the Play Store.

Performance

Meizu M3 Max is powered by the wide-spread, but rather mediocre MediaTek Helio P10. It packs an octa-core processor with 4x Cortex-A53 at 1.8GHz and 4x A53 at 1.0GHz. The GPU is quite uninspiring - the Mali-T860 MP2 (read dual-core), but on a positive note there is 3GB of RAM for heavy multi-tasking.

The benchmark tests show the M3 Max outs average scores across the board and will provide an OK for a mid-ranger experience, though we've seen better.

GeekBench 3 (single-core)

Higher is better

• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (S650)
  1543
• Xiaomi Mi Max
  1536
• Meizu m1 metal
  883
• Meizu m3 note
  807
• Meizu M3 Max
  781

GeekBench 3 (CPU multi-core)

Higher is better

• Meizu m1 metal
  4825
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (Helio X10)
  4537
• Xiaomi Mi Max
  3861
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (S650)
  3695
• Meizu m3 note
  3028
• Meizu M3 Max
  3021

Basemark X (graphics)

Higher is better

• Xiaomi Mi Max
  15487
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (S650)
  14717
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (Helio X10)
  8540
• Meizu m1 metal
  8526
• Sony Xperia XA Ultra
  6754
• Meizu M3 Max
  5219
• Meizu m3 note
  4567

GFX 3.1 Manhattan (1080p offscreen)

Higher is better

• Xiaomi Mi Max
  9.4
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (S650)
  9
• Sony Xperia XA Ultra
  4.7
• Meizu m1 metal
  4
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (Helio X10)
  4
• Meizu M3 Max
  3.6
• Meizu m3 note
  2.5

GFX 3.1 Manhattan (onscreen)

Higher is better

• Xiaomi Mi Max
  9.4
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (S650)
  9
• Sony Xperia XA Ultra
  5.1
• Meizu m1 metal
  3.9
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (Helio X10)
  3.9
• Meizu M3 Max
  3.6
• Meizu m3 note
  2.5

GFX 3.1 Car scene (offscreen)

Higher is better

• Xiaomi Mi Max
  5.5
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (S650)
  5.3
• Sony Xperia XA Ultra
  2.5
• Meizu M3 Max
  1.9

GFX 3.1 Car scene (onscreen)

Higher is better

• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (S650)
  5.5
• Xiaomi Mi Max
  5.4
• Sony Xperia XA Ultra
  2.7
• Meizu M3 Max
  1.9

Basemark OS II (overall)

Higher is better

• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (S650)
  1914
• Meizu M3 Max
  1009
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (Helio X10)
  956
• Meizu m1 metal
  943
• Meizu m3 note
  930

AnTuTu 6

Higher is better

• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (S650)
  76186
• Xiaomi Mi Max
  74488
• Sony Xperia XA Ultra
  50109
• Meizu M3 Max
  48334
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (Helio X10)
  45474
• Meizu m3 note
  44898