Meizu M8 vs. Apple iPhone
Since the iPhone’s announcement back at the Macworld Expo in January this year, there have been a number of following announcements from various manufacturers of their own iPhones, thereafter labeled as “iPhone Killers” by the media. It’s always flattering for Apple to have its own products listed as the standard for that area of the market, but is it necessarily true? In the case of the iPod it certainly is, as it’s currently the single most popular MP3 player in the world, dominating the music scene with its partner in crime, iTunes. But the iPod has been out for 6 years and the facts and figures are there to prove its dominance and title of “the one to beat,” so how can a phone not yet given an exact release date be given the same title?
A number of manufacturers that have submitted their own entries into the iPhone-killing-market include Samsung, with its F700 touch screen SmartPhone, LG and its KE850 Prada mobile phone (also touch-screen), and the Neonode’s N2.
However, one phone that has caught my attention out of all of the ones announced is the Meizu M8 MiniOne, which certainly gives the iPhone a run for its money.
Today I’m going to compare the two phones and show you how the iPhone is given a beating by the M8, but isn’t quite knocked out just yet—here’s to hoping Steve Jobs can convince enough people that Apple’s phone is more worthwhile than the Chinese company’s M8.
The Look
One thing many people will notice upon first glancing at the M8 is the similarity to the iPhone, both in terms of hardware and software aesthetics.
In terms of hardware, apart from the 0.3 megapixel camera on the front of the M8, both phones have a similar style with a neat little slot for the headphone at the top and a single “home” button at the bottom of the face of the phone. Although the M8 is slightly smaller in height than the iPhone, and thus has a smaller screen, the overall widths and depths are virtually identical, with the M8 coming in at 105 (h) x 57 (w) x 11.5 (d) mm to the iPhone’s 115 (h) x 61 (w) x 11.6 (d) mm.
As far as software is concerned it’s a little hard to compare right now, as neither phone has actually been released for testing, but with the screenshots below you’ll see that the layouts are rather similar, despite Windows CE 6.0 running on the M8 where the iPhone is running the almighty OS X.
The Specs Comparison
Dimensions:
iPhone = 115 (h) x 61 (w) x 11.6 (d) mm
M8 = 105 (h) x 57 (w) x 11.5 (d) mm
Screen Size:
iPhone = 3.5 inches
M8 = 3.3 inches
Screen Resolution:
iPhone = 320 x 480
M8 = 720 x 480
Input Method:
iPhone = Apple patented Multi-touch
M8 = Standard touchscreen
Storage:
iPhone = 2 models at 4GB and 8GB non-removable flash memory
M8 = 2 models at 4GB and 8GB non-removable flash memory
Camera:
iPhone = 2.0 megapixels
M8 = 3.0 megapixels plus one 0.3-mega pixels on front for video calling
GSM:
iPhone = Quad-band 2.5G
M8 = Unknown but 3G capable
Wireless Data:
iPhone = Wi-Fi (802.11b/g), EDGE, Bluetooth 2.0
M8 = Bluetooth 2.0 + TV-Out
Operating System:
iPhone = Mac OS X Mobile
M8 = Windows CE 6.0
At this point it’s unfair to compare battery life as we don’t know for sure what type of battery is being used on the M8 and how long it will last during normal use, but we do know that the iPhone has a pretty poor battery life of 5 hours talk time (compared to a basic 7 hours on most other phones) and up to 16 hours audio playback (or a combination of the two). The iPhone does, however, contain a few more features (listed below) that clearly beat the M8, but some of the features available (sensors) aren’t 100% necessary, unless the battery life on the iPhone really is that bad, in which case they are.
One thing that does bother me about the iPhone is its poor camera. Okay, as one user had commented on AM earlier this week, anyone serious about photography wouldn’t be using a mobile phone to take pictures, but by the time Apple gets around to releasing the iPhone the 2 megapixel camera will already be out of date.
As far as its 2.5G standard, I honestly don’t see this selling well in Europe, where any top of the range phone without 3G is not heard. Video calling, high speed internet, and fast MMS is what it’s all about over here and 2.5G standards just aren’t good enough. Apple should seriously consider giving the iPhone 3G standards before releasing it over in Europe.
The Price and Options
While you can take the above specs “war” with a pinch or two of salt, the pricing and options available for each phone are pretty eye-opening, considering what you’re being given. I think it’s also important to say at this point that the iPhone’s higher price tag can be somewhat justified given the iPod integration (better speakers), motion and proximity sensors, and the fact that we’re being given a tried, tested, and reliable operating system to use.
The iPhone comes in two versions, one with 4GB of memory and one with 8GB of memory, the price coming in at $499 and $599 respectively. However, the M8 has four options available.
As with the iPhone there are two memory models available at 4GB and 8GB, with those prices coming in considerably cheaper than the iPhone at $307 and $398 respectively, but there are also two other versions available without a built-in camera, knocking the price down even further. The 4GB model here comes in at $193 and $284 for the 8GB version. As you can see, price- and options-wise there is one clear winner here.
Summary
All in all in the phones are pretty similar, but while the iPhone raises an eyebrow or two with its fancy spec sheet, the same can be said for its rather high price tag. The M8 is almost a “Windows” clone of the iPhone that comes in at a much cheaper cost, also giving you more options (camera or not) allowing you to adjust the cost accordingly. If you’re after the iPhone but just can’t afford it, the M8 appears to be there to clean up.
If it’s music you’re after the iPhone is clearly the better option, but with a higher resolution screen and better camera, videos and photos will be more suited to the M8, so perhaps that is something to take into consideration before making a purchase of either. Once again, details are still unclear on the M8 so it’s probably not fair to compare the software side of things right now, but I have no doubt Apple Matters will bring them to you the moment they arrive.
So what do the readers of AM think? Is the M8 virtually a cheaper but equally competent version of the iPhone, or is it literally a cheap ripoff? For those that seriously considered buying the iPhone, could you now see yourself changing your mind and opting for the M8 instead?
Stay tuned to iPhone Matters and Apple Matters for further updates on the iPhone and its competitors, including the M8.
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Comments
I don’t think that this phone is necessarily a threat to the iPhone.
First, we don’t really know how either phone works, b/c neither has been released to the market.
Second, a phone with no buttons is only as good as its touch screen technology. Apple invented a new technology, Multi-Touch, which (if Jobs is to be believed) “works like magic.” I doubt that the M8 uses anything but existing, ineffective, “off the shelf” technology.
Third, and finally, the draw for many customers (like me) is that iPhone will sync easily and seamlessly w/ the Mac, including Address Book, Safari bookmarks, iTunes library, iPhoto library, notes/stickies, iCal, Mail. Imagine how much effort it will take to get anything like that kind of integration b/t a Mac and the M8, or even between a run-of-the-mill PC and the M8.
It’s not about the raw specs, its about the user experience the gadget provides. With Apple behind it, you can be sure that the iPhone will “just work,” both from a hardware standpoint (multitouch) and from a software/integration standpoint.
You can’t be so sure about the M8.
also, how can you compare phone cameras just by comparing megapixels, this is just absurd ... i have seen 5mpix TRUST cameras that make oversampled 640x480 images, and i have seen 4mpix DSRLs which make perfect images. Cameras should be compared by images, sensors etc. not output resolutions!
and about the 3G in Europe ... I don’t know one person who uses the 3G networks. Their coverage is simply too small and the devices are still very expensive for this to become popular in the coming years.
How can you say “the iPhone has a pretty poor battery life of 5 hours talk time” when most smart phones have around 3 hours. For instance the Blackberry Pearl has 3 hours of talk time and the LG Prada has 3.5 hours of talk time. You can’t compare “standard” phones to smart phones when discussing battery life. A phone without wifi is not going to be as power hungry as one that does.
Well - not that a smart phone Apple iPhone or otherwise is something I care one jot about but one thing says it all “Windows CE” - they would probably have to pay me or at the very very least give me the phone for free before I would even consider it…
Oh and by the way iMatt, Apple didn’t invent the multi touch technology - just had the balls to put it into a phone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp-y3ZNaCqs if you want to see some cool multitouch stuff
I agree, you can’t compare both phone simply because of the specs or the camera, but both phones seem to be a little too similar in aesthetics and in the OS layout.
I don’t blame Meizu for the case’s similarity but that Microsoft OS looks like a Knockoff of the iPhone’s Mac OS now, I don’t know much about Windows CE but it looks like a not-so-good copy.
Interesting article, Aaron, but is the M8 a real phone or is it a Chinese knock-off that will be sold on the streets? Is that a well-known brand?
To me the other phones you listed seem like more legit contenders. I especially like the N2 form-factor. It seems more like a phone. The iPhone is like holding an iPod to your face and talking into it. Beautiful but a little big.
that Microsoft OS looks like a Knockoff of the iPhone’s Mac OS now,
In fact, Windows Mobile is now on version 5 and about to release version 6. The current version looks a lot like the version in the M8 mockups.
So who ripped off who?
Wot Fan, I was going to mention this in the article but decided against it as it was too tangential, but the iPhone is NOT a smartphone, simply a mobile phone.
I haven’t come across a mobile phone in the past 3 years that has a battery life (talktime) of 5 hours or less, and those that do are the cheaper ones, generally. The iPhone, with all the money it costs, should really have a better battery than the one being offered.
You should also write an artivle comparing the Openmoko Neo1973/Iphone/Meizu m8/any other contender. Or just the Neo1973/Iphone or neo1973/Meizu m8. I think the neo1973 has a lot of real potential. It’s cheap and offers a full opensource linux kernel that is fully modifiableble. Which most people think that’s lame I am not a geek and don’t really know how to do that stuff. That’s the fun part is there are so many geeks out there that will mod it that you will be able to get pretty much what ever you want on it for free. They are also currently working on introducing the touchtscreen and wifi to the product if possible, no promises, and if not this model then definatly future models. It also has a higher screen resolution and has an interchangeable battery unlike the meizu m8 or the iphone. Which is way lame by the way. Especially with their short use time. With spare batteries 10 - 12 hour trips would be relativly pain free. They also use a similar battery that the nokia’s use so there are plenty of cheap aftermarket batteries. If your interested take a look at http://www.openmoko.org. I think this has a lot more promise than the meizu m8.
Sorry in my above post I ment trying to introduct the multitouch screen.
Camera resolution/quality in cellphones matters. It doesn’t matter for the shooter who won’t leave home without his camera bag but it does for everyone else.
Citizen journalism is critical to exposing problems/corruption in our society and it is growing rapidly. Media professionals are acknowleging its value and, in many cases, purposefully seeking it.
A primary tool of documentation is a photo. Cell phones are often with us when we see something - cameras are not. So, if we get 4 MP or better in cellphones, we’ll see even better citizen journalism...a very good thing for all.
I would have to somewhat agree on the megapixel is not everything. Although I don’t totally agree that a 3MP camera is not better than a 2MP camera is of course it is. But there are definatly different factors like lens and optics. But in this particular case I would have to think that both phone would have a similar lense and optics. One might be slightly better than the other but not significantly. There for the higher MP camera trumps.
From an ethical perspective, I found this article really insulting. What next, are you going to do a feature comparison between the iPod Nano and the Micromaxx MM42452 ( http://www.engadget.com/2004/11/26/the-micromaxx-mm42452-is-not-an-ipod-mini-ripoff-except-that/ ) or the countless other knockoffs of Apple products? I can’t foresee a more blatant rip-off of an iPhone than this Meizu M8. These are NOT competing products. And the fact that the author of this doesn’t see the iPhone as anything more than a regular phone (though you might want to check out something called the RAZR, ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR PHONES OUT THERE, since its talk time is only 3.33 hours) is just icing on the cake.
To be more specific, 3.33 is the number of talk time hours for the RAZR V3c and V3m sold by Sprint and Verizon. The RAZR V3xx sold by AT&T;/Cingular is even less at 3.17.