As has become the recent trend in Chinese budget phones, the m3s features a metal and glass exterior, with a fingerprint sensor sitting below the 5-inch, 1,280 x 720p resolution display featuring curved glass on the sides. The display is also accompanied by a 5-megapixel front-facing camera with f/2.0 aperture, with a 13MP shooter with f/2.2 aperture found around back.
The “I guess that’s alright” feeling continues with an octa-core MediaTek MT6750 processor with 2GB/3GB RAM powering the m3s. The dual-SIM slots support 4G VoLTE, while the 3,020mAh battery hopefully ensures an all-day relationship with the phone. Unfortunately, the m3s runs Meizu’s Flyme OS 5.1, a heavy software skin that covers up Android 5.1 Lollipop — a shame, since Android N is right around the corner and Lollipop is a bit long in the tooth at this point.
Finally, if the up to 32GB of native storage does not live up to your expectations, the MicroSD card slot gives you up to an additional 128GB to play with.
If all of this sounds familiar, then we do not blame you, since the m3s sounds eerily similar to the Xiaomi Redmi 3S, even down to the pricing — 16GB and 2GB RAM for $109, and 32GB and 3GB RAM for $140. Given these prices, it is no surprise why we called the Redmi 3S a bargain, a fitting noun that also applies to the m3s. Unfortunately, while the m3s will go on sale in China starting today, there is no mention of international availability.
The real question is whether there is enough here for the m3s to separate itself from the Redmi 3S. The answer seems to be — who cares? — since you can get four of each for the same price as one iPhone 6S in China.
