Meizu Zero - Thoughts

[JAy3001]

Just been reading an artical on the Meizu Zero and oh my does it sounds lovely...

https://www.androidheadlines.com/2019/01/meizu-zero-smartphone.html

A phone that features no ports (usb or 3.5m), speakers, cutouts or notches.. The screen itself acts as a speaker for goodness sake!

There are practically no spec details of the internals, but even so as a proof of concept it's pretty cool.

Shame no matter how damn gorgeous a phone you buy we still have to stick it in a case and hide it tho.. !!

 

[MoodyBlues]

Just been reading an artical on the Meizu Zero and oh my does it sounds lovely...

https://www.androidheadlines.com/2019/01/meizu-zero-smartphone.html

A phone that features no ports (usb or 3.5m), speakers, cutouts or notches.. The screen itself acts as a speaker for goodness sake!

There are practically no spec details of the internals, but even so as a proof of concept it's pretty cool.

Sounds interesting--a little weird, but interesting.

Shame no matter how damn gorgeous a phone you buy we still have to stick it in a case and hide it tho.. !!

For the first time, I have NOT put my newest device in a case.

I've put all my previous smartphones and tablet in Otterbox Defender Cases. But my new Moto Z² Force Edition phone has a guaranteed shatterproof screen--so I'm using it naked. I mean it's naked...not me.

(But I'm still debating whether to get a case, so it could happen.)

 

[mikedt]

Just been reading an artical on the Meizu Zero and oh my does it sounds lovely...

https://www.androidheadlines.com/2019/01/meizu-zero-smartphone.html

A phone that features no ports (usb or 3.5m), speakers, cutouts or notches.. The screen itself acts as a speaker for goodness sake!

There are practically no spec details of the internals, but even so as a proof of concept it's pretty cool.

Shame no matter how damn gorgeous a phone you buy we still have to stick it in a case and hide it tho.. !!

So it's proprietary Meizu wireless charger only, and NOT a standard like Qi. Also e-SIM only, I think that nixes it for most carriers in many countries, and removes any advantages of SIM usage.

Meh!

 

[JAy3001]

Interesting, but cool.

Charging could well be an issue with people, especially if you are using the phone as a satnav in a cradle. I'm also not familiar with the wireless USB standard..

Why would the phone having a e-sim kill it for most carriers @mikedt ? I thought that is where phone tech is heading? Or it is too soon?

Lol I think a lot of people may well think "meh" purely due to the fact that it is a Chinese branded phone.

 

[Hadron]

Most carriers don't support e-SIM. But of course that's the only way you can have a completely sealed phone.

Speaker quality remains to be seen. But how about the microphone? If it's genuinely without holes then they'll have to use something similar for the mic, and I can see many ways that could fail. If a phone looks cool but is bad at calls then I'll go elsewhere.

Truth be told, I will anyway. Wires are still better than wireless for audio, for charging, and for data transfer (if the manufacturer doesn't skimp and use legacy tech, as some popular brands do). And at the end of the day I care more about functionality than being the coolest kid on the block.

I do notice that the rival Vivo Apex concept phone has no selfie camera. That's a solution to the "full display, but what do we do about the front camera?" problem that I can get behind .

 

[mikedt]

Interesting, but cool.

Charging could well be an issue with people, especially if you are using the phone as a satnav in a cradle. I'm also not familiar with the wireless USB standard..

Why would the phone having a e-sim kill it for most carriers @mikedt ? I thought that is where phone tech is heading? Or it is too soon?

I think having e-SIM only, is like returning to the pre-GSM days of when a mobile phone was locked to a single carrier and registered/activated by their ESNs. The whole premise of having a removable SIM, is that you can use your phone with any carrier. You insert the carrier's SIM, and that's it you're in business. And in fact that's exactly what I'm doing now, as I'm currently visiting the UK, I've got an EE UK SIM, as well as my China Unicom SIM in my phone.

My current phone does support e-SIM as well as a physical SIMs, but I've never used that feature.

Lol I think a lot of people may well think "meh" purely due to the fact that it is a Chinese branded phone.

Well I live in China, and there's a heck of a lot of Chinese branded phones available here of course, and quite frankly many of them don't really interest me...and so..."meh!".

 

[mikedt]

I do notice that the rival Vivo Apex concept phone has no selfie camera. That's a solution to the "full display, but what do we do about the front camera?" problem that I can get behind .

Apparently it does....but I think the idea of motorized pop-up is a bad idea, and is a real potential point of failure.

Oppo has a bezelless phone like this as well.

 

[Hadron]

You sure that isn't a different Vivo? Last year's concept phone, also called Apex, had one of those (later used for real in the Next handset).

For me the only downside would be no IP rating. There would be zero chance of my wearing it out

 

[JAy3001]

I think having e-SIM only, is like returning to the pre-GSM days of when a mobile phone was locked to a single carrier and registered/activated by their ESNs. The whole premise of having a removable SIM, is that you can use your phone with any carrier. You insert the carrier's SIM, and that's it you're in business. And in fact that's exactly what I'm doing now, as I'm currently visiting the UK, I've got an EE UK SIM, as well as my China Unicom SIM in my phone.

My current phone does support e-SIM as well as a physical SIMs, but I've never used that feature.




Well I live in China, and there's a heck of a lot of Chinese branded phones available here of course, and quite frankly many of them don't really interest me...and so..."meh!".

Ah, that makes sense. So how come we are going back to the old way then?

Lol Yeah I know @mikedt , but given the paranoid press of late it could put western markets off. Add in the issues with Blu and other cheap Chinese brands "phoning home" and for some it's a non-starter.

However on the other hand Huawei make some lovely high spec, affordable phones. Lol

 

[Hadron]

Ah, that makes sense. So how come we are going back to the old way then?

Well there are advantages to manufacturers: removing the slot and tray will simplify design and reduce costs, with the greatest benefit being to manufacturers who don't provide SD slots (don't be surprised if there is a renewal of the move against them). And replacing the physical distribution of SIM cards will be a saving for the carriers.

Being smaller, and not requiring a mechanical slot, you can also put them in watches, smart glasses or whatever.

For the user? Well you should be able to have multiple eSIMs (even if only one active at a time) and switch between them trivially. And in principle getting a new one activated is quicker and simpler (use an app or scan a QR code rather than wait for it to come in the post.

Drawbacks? You can't just swap it to a new device. I don't know whether you can have the same eSIM provisioned on two devices and swap which one is active. And greater carrier involvement potentially allows greater carrier control (though generally GSM carriers haven't used the controls they could have), though not as extreme as the US CDMA system since there's no need to de-activate the current service to use a different one. I assume that it includes an equivalent to a network lock though, though funnily enough none of the blog articles or manufacturer PR mentions this.

In short, the benefits are mainly to manufacturers and carriers, though if you have a need for a small connected device they will be useful.

 

[JAy3001]

Great explination @Hadron , I did read something about the next Android version beyond Pie will feature extended options regarding SIM slots for carriers. (Although I skim read it and have now forgotten what they said lol )

 

[Hadron]

Ah, I fear that is something else, nothing to do with eSIM. That beta did appear to have features that would give carriers more control over dual SIM phones - another reason, frankly, not to buy phones from a carrier.

 

[JAy3001]

Ah, I fear that is something else, nothing to do with eSIM. That beta did appear to have features that would give carriers more control over dual SIM phones - another reason, frankly, not to buy phones from a carrier.

It was indeed @Hadron , no mention of e-sim and like you said it was to do with duel SIM options..