Comparison Meizu M5 Note 32 GB / 3 GB vs Meizu M3e 32 GB / 3 GB

The term "operating system" refers to all types of firmware — both full-fledged OS like iOS and Android, used in smartphones, and software shells for regular phones (non-smartphones). The main difference between these two is that a full-fledged OS initially has more extensive features, and also allows you to install and remove various applications — from games and social network apps to specialized tools like photo and video editors.

Among modern smartphones, two operating systems are most widely used — Android and iOS. Here is a more detailed description of each of them:

— Android. Free open source OS from Google. Used by all modern manufacturers except Apple; presented in many versions — in particular, 10 Q, 10 Go Edition, 11 R, 11 Go Edition, Android 12, Android 12 Go Edition, Android 13, Android 13 Go Edition, Android 14 are relevant today. This OS is notable primarily for its full-fledged multitasking and an extensive range of available applications — Android surpasses iOS in both; on the other hand, in general, the quality of Android applications is somewhat lower due to the low re...quirements for them. Initially, Android has tight integration with Google services — the Google Play app and content store, Gmail mail, Google Drive cloud storage, etc.; however, exceptions to this rule are possible. Note that the latest versions of this OS can be found on the market both in its original form and in one of two specific editions:

• - Go edition. Modification of Android, designed for low-cost smartphones with "weak" hardware. Both the OS itself and standard applications (Assistant, Gmail, etc.) have been redesigned in this edition in such a way as to ensure reliable operation even with low performance. At the same time, the developers tried to preserve the features of full-fledged Android as much as possible — however, some specific fwatures in the Go Edition were still not available (for example, standard maps do not support step-by-step navigation).
• - HMS. Edition of Android, used in smartphones from Huawei. Due to US sanctions against China, this company cannot fully cooperate with Google — in particular, use Google services (Google Mobile Services — GMS) in its Android smartphones. As a replacement, HMS — Huawei Mobile Services were introduced. These services include Huawei ID, AppGallery, equivalents of Google's core services (assistant, browser, cloud storage, music/video, etc.), and app developer tools.

As for individual versions of Android, here are the main features of the options that are relevant nowadays:

• - Android 10. Version released in September 2019. This version introduced an expanded set of full-screen gestures (with the possibility of optimization in individual applications — in particular, disabling gestures on certain areas of the screen to avoid conflicts), a "dark" screen mode at the system level, a number of important security updates (including a separate encryption standard for weak devices that do not support the AES format at the hardware level), full support for 5G communications and improved capabilities for working with augmented reality. In addition, a number of solutions have been implemented to optimize the experience on foldable smartphones with a flexible screen.
• - Android 11. Another major update, released in the fall of 2020. The main updates touched messages and notifications. So, a separate section "Conversations" for messages was created in notifications, it also became possible to display various correspondence in the form of a "bubble" on top of any running application (Bubbles feature). Do Not Disturb mode has been expanded — now you can add exceptions to it for individual correspondence. Other important innovations include a system tool for recording screen video, a single control centre for smart home components, quick switching between playback devices (phone speaker, wireless headphones, Smart TV, etc.), native support for Android Auto, as well as expanded the ability to control the access of individual applications to certain data.
• - Android 12. A popular operating system released in 2021. The new concept of Material You is based on discreet colour palettes and minimalistic two-dimensional objects with advanced animation. The system theme now adapts to the colour scheme of user's desktop wallpaper (Monet feature), and instead of round settings icons in the notification bar, rectangular dice with rounded edges are now used. The designers also reworked the animation of flipping through desktops, plugging in a charger, and so on. In smartphones running Android 12, instead of precise geolocation, you can select approximate location information, and icons have appeared in the notification bar that signal the inclusion of a camera or microphone when using certain applications. The Privacy Dashboard option reveals information about which programs have accessed the camera and microphone. The NFC on mobile devices can henceforth be used as a virtual key for a car (Car Key). Another innovation in the system is the call to Google Assistant by long pressing the power button of the smartphone.
• -Android 13. A popular operating system for mobile devices, the 13th version of which was released in 2022. There were no major innovations in Android 13, but the OS brought a number of useful features and changes. In particular, the Material You workspace design concept can now pick primary colors from installed wallpapers or themes and apply them to the display of icons throughout the system. Privacy of user data has been taken to a new level of quality - in Android 13, you can configure individual permissions and select specific images from the Gallery that the application is granted access to. For each program, the user is free to choose a standard interface language. The system has also become more energy efficient, with improvements to the clipboard and barcode scanner.
• -Android 13 Go. A light version of the Android 13 operating system, designed for installation on low-powered smartphones. A distinctive feature of the OS is the presence of a special algorithm that optimizes the computing power of the smartphone. Also, the system lacks some hardware-demanding functions. Android 13 Go introduced the design concept of the Material You interface, which allows you to adapt the color scheme of the menu to match the installed wallpaper. From the full-fledged Android 13 system, the Go version borrowed the function of issuing permissions to applications to send notifications and the ability to change the language for specific programs.
• - Android 14. Operating system for mobile devices, released in 2023. There are, frankly, few system changes in the 14th version of the Android OS, and its main emphasis is on flexible customization of the interface. Among the innovations, it is important to mention the function of displaying notifications using the flash or display: for each application, you can now set a flashlight blinking pattern, and in the case of the screen, select the color palette of notifications. Also in the operating system, we implemented a useful ability to adjust the capture of screenshots, added a widget to display the battery charge and a list of active connections, and introduced an option for cloning applications in a systemic way. System fonts in the OS can be enlarged up to 200% of the standard size, while the scaling is implemented non-linearly - first of all, it is used for small text. Among other things, there are improved energy efficiency of the system and cosmetic changes in the interface in the manner of more rounded elements.

— iOS. Apple's own operating system, used only in the gadgets of this manufacturer. The main advantages of iOS over Android are, first of all, careful optimization for specific devices (which allows you to achieve good performance with relatively modest amounts of RAM), general usability and safety, as well as high quality applications. In addition, iOS updates are released regularly and are available for all devices (with the exception of frankly outdated ones that no longer can handle new versions of the system). On the other hand, this OS does not support multitasking and is as closed to the user as possible: in particular, applications can only be installed from the original store, there is no access to the file system, memory cards are not supported.

— HarmonyOS. Huawei's Universal Operating System, also known as Hongmeng. It is used in a wide range of devices: appliances from the smart home ecosystem, smartwatches, smartphones and tablets. Harmony OS is a kind of add-on on top of Android without Google services. The app store for Harmony OS devices is called AppGallery.

— FlymeOS. A modified version of the Android operating system used as a software shell for Meizu smartphones. The OneMind engine is responsible for the stability of the OS. There is no application menu in Flyme OS, and all program icons are scattered across desktops. Distinctive features of the shell include advanced tools for working with files, the Aicy voice assistant, flexible adjustment of the mEngine vibration signal, Family Guardian parental control options, a structured gallery with a convenient visual editor.

— Proprietary. This term most often means the basic firmware installed in a regular phone (not a smartphone), usually, a push-button one. Such firmware has a more modest set of pre-installed programs than full-fledged OS; expanding this set is at best possible with Java-based universal mobile applications, and often additional applications are not supported at all. However, this cannot be called a disadvantage due to the specifics of the use of traditional phones.

Note that you can find devices with other operating systems, in addition to those described above. However, for the most part, these are either outdated models or devices with rare and uncommon types of firmware.

The most popular nowadays are chips from Qualcomm and MediaTek, CPUs from Unisoc are slightly less common. Qualcomm has several processors of each series, namely Snapdragon 765G, Snapdragon 778G, Snapdragon 7 Gen 1, Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2, Snapdragon 7 Gen 3, Snapdragon 865, Snapdragon 870, Snapdragon 888, Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. And Mediatek has a low cost series MediaTek Helio P and a line of advanced chipsets MediaTek Dimensity (Dimensity 1000, Dimensity 8000, Dimensity 9000).

Knowing the name of the CPU model installed in the smartphone, you can find detailed data on a particular CPU and evaluate its level and general capabilities. This is especially true in light of the fact that these capabilities depend not only on the number of cores a...nd clock speed, but also on the specific nuances of the design.

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 the device when passing the AnTuTu Benchmark performance test.

AnTuTu Benchmark is a comprehensive test designed specifically for mobile devices, primarily smartphones and tablets. It checks the efficiency of the processor, memory, graphics and I/O systems, thus providing a fairly visual impression of the capabilities of the system. The better the result, the more points are given at the end. And high-performance by AnTuTu rating are smartphones that score over 750K points

Like any benchmark, this test does not give absolute accuracy: the same device can show different results, usually with deviations within 5 – 7%. These deviations depend on many factors that are not directly related to the system — from the load of the device with third-party programs to the air temperature during testing. So, it is possible to speak about a significant difference between the two models only if the difference in their indicators goes beyond those 5 – 7%.

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), DLNA multimedia technology 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 ac...cess 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.

- DLNA support. DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) is a technology that allows you to combine various home devices (from computers to household appliances) into a single network for content exchange and control. When a device supporting this technology is connected to a common network, the customer can, for example, broadcast video from it to the TV screen, control the functions of an audio or video player (in other words, use it as a remote control) and even receive notifications from household appliances on the phone ( such as a microwave oven). In mobile phones, DLNA communication is usually implemented using Wi-Fi technology.

- 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, a simple flashlight 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, augmented reality support and even such exotics as a barometer.... Here is a more detailed description of each of these options:

— Face scanner (FaceID). 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.

— Google AR Core. Smartphone support for Google AR Core augmented reality (AR) technology. This technology is used to work with AR in Android smartphones. Read more about augmented reality and special technologies below.

— Apple AR Kit. Smartphone support for augmented reality (AR) technology Apple AR Kit. This technology is used to work with AR in Apple smartphones running on iOS. Read more about augmented reality and special technologies below.

— Support for special augmented reality technologies. The general idea of augmented reality (AR) is to add certain additional elements to the image of the real world that is visible on the screen of the device, "embedded" in the real world and looking like a part of it. One of the most famous examples of AR is the game Pokemon Go, where the player had to use the camera to look for virtual Pokemon in a real area. Other applications are navigation (displaying a "guide line" directly on the smartphone screen over the image from the camera), interior design (the ability to virtually fit one or another object into an existing environment), car repair (highlighting key details, "X-ray vision") etc. However, in this case, we are talking not just about the ability to work with AR applications, but about support for special augmented reality technologies — usually Google AR Core or Apple AR Kit. The peculiarity of these technologies is that they expand the possibilities available to both users and software developers. So, users get a more extensive set of AR applications, with more advanced abilities; and the developers of such applications can be not only large companies, but almost everyone, including individual specialists.

— 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. This provides advanced control options — in particular, gyroscopes are indispensable when working with augmented reality (see above) or when using VR glasses into which a smartphone is installed.

— Flashlight. The ability to use the phone as a flashlight. We emphasize that in this case we are usually talking about the simplest version of a flashlight — when this feature is performed by the flash of the main camera, which is turned on through the software settings. More advanced lamps are indicated in the specs as a "full-fledged flashlight" (see below).

— Full-fledged flashlight. The presence of an advanced flashlight in the phone — more powerful than the usual one (see above). 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).

The materials of which the bezel (side edging) and the back cover of the device are made.

In our catalog, this data are indicated in two words — frame material and cover material. For example, a device with a glass back and metal edging would be labeled as "metal/glass" (bezel first, then lid). Two words are specified even if the same material is used for both elements — for example, "metal/metal" for an all-metal case.

The main bezel materials include plastic, metal, glass, rubber, and ceramics. Back covers are also made mainly of plastic, metal, ceramics or rubber, and among glass there is a special variety — Gorilla glass parts. Occasionally, more specific materials are used, such as leather. Here is a more detailed description of each of these options:

— Plastic. A fairly simple, inexpensive and at the same time versatile and practical material. Actually, nowadays there are many varieties of plastic on the market, which differ in price and practical properties; so that the general property of this material depends primarily on the price category of the device. The easiest...way to give cover an unusual design is using plastic, although this design is also found in other materials. In general, all types of plastic in modern phones can be divided into glossy, matte, fluted and soft-touch. The gloss looks the shiniest, but dirt is very noticeable on it (first of all, fingerprints), moreover, such cases tend to slip in the hands. Matte surfaces are not as good-looking, but they are less sensitive to dirt. Soft touch is a special kind of matte plastic: due to the specific surface texture, this material is perceived as soft to the touch, similar to rubber. Also, it is perfectly held in the hands and almost does not slip. Fluted plastic is considered the most reliable in this regard — with signature notches on the surface; however, not everyone likes the look and feel of such surfaces when held.
As for combinations with other materials, plastic frames can be provided in metal and glass cases — for a secure hold; and plastic covers can be supplemented with metal or rubber frames for increased reliability.

— Metal. Usually metal most often means aluminium alloy. This material combines high strength, low weight and good thermal conductivity (the latter is especially important for removing heat from the hardware of performant smartphones). Metal cases are relatively rarely made in bright colours, but such a design is also possible; in addition, even without additional coloring, this material looks good. In general, it costs more than plastic, but nowadays even low cost phone models can be made of metal. At the same time, the metal frame can be combined with almost any cover material, however, such frames are especially popular in models with a glass back panel — the metal gives the case additional strength. Metal covers are found mainly among all-metal cases, less often in combination with a plastic frame (it allows you to reduce the cost and improve the permeability of the case for communication signals).

— Glass. Phone cases usually use special tempered glass of increased strength (a special kind of such glass — Gorilla Glass — is indicated separately, see below). Theoretically, glass is more sensitive to shock than most other materials, but in fact it is still quite difficult to break such a surface. At the same time, these cases look quite stylish and unusual. Their disadvantages include a rather high cost, as well as the signature features of glossy surfaces — the tendency to slip out of hands and "collect" dirt, especially fingerprints. In terms of specific body parts, glass is most often used for back covers; they are often complemented by frames made of more durable material (usually metal). But glass frames are usually part of all-glass cases — other design options do not make sense for a number of reasons.

— Gorilla Glass. A special type of high-strength glass from which back covers can be made. For glass in general, see above; and Gorilla Glass features are detailed in the Main Display section. We only note that, as in displays, different versions of such glass can be used in the rear panels of the case, differing in resistance to shock and scratches.

— Rubber. Usually, in this case we are talking about a body or a frame made of a hard material (plastic or metal) with an additional rubber coating. The use of such a coating is an unmistakable sign of a phone with a high degree of protection — waterproof, and often also shockproof. Rubber is the optimal material for such devices: it perfectly resists both moisture and shock, well insulates the hardware from cold and heat, while such a surface is pleasant to the touch and does not slip in the hand. The main drawback of this material is its bulkiness: the rubber coating must be quite thick, so that it noticeably affects the dimensions of the device. Thus, it makes sense to pay attention to this option in occasions where security is more important for you than compactness. At the same time, we note that the rubber case can be combined with a metal frame, and the rubber frame can be installed on a plastic device; these options also turn out to be quite reliable.

— Ceramics. Ceramics is material made by sintering raw materials at high temperatures. Mobile phones use special high-strength types of such materials. The advantages of ceramics include a stylish appearance and good reliability in most situations. On the other hand, such compositions are still quite sensitive to impacts (especially point impacts), they tend to slip in the hands, and they are not cheap. Therefore, ceramics is rarely used in modern mobile phones — mainly as a fashion material in fairly advanced models. Most of these models combine a ceramic lid with a metal frame; all-ceramic cases are noticeably less common.

— Leather. A rather rare and specific material, used mainly as a design solution. Leather covering in such cases is provided for the back cover, while the frame is made of metal or plastic. This material gives the device a solid appearance, emphasizing the status of the owner; in addition, it is pleasant to the touch and does not allow the device to slip out of the hand. However, leather is expensive and not reliable: it is easily scratched and torn even with light contact with sharp objects, and is also prone to abrasion. Therefore, such cases are not popular even among high-end phones.