Meizu’s New Pro 6 Is Nearly Identical to Apple’s iPhone 6s, Features “3D Press”
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There’s definitely something to be said for creating a game-changer, right? “Sooner or later, everyone else will begin to follow suit.” Monkey see, monkey do, you know?
But when we’re talking about a piece of technology, such as Apple’s world-changing iPhone handset, the sentiment becomes more of a “race to beat the clock,” or even “survival of the fittest.” That being established, we’ve seen a number of smartphone manufacturers — many of which seemingly popped up somewhere out of the woodwork, over the years, copy the design aesthetics and stylistic elegance of Apple’s pride-and-joy.
I mean, just look at all of the Samsung litigations that have been unfolding for years now, behind courtroom doors, and you’re bound to catch a glimpse of just how staunchly the Silicon Valley iPhone maker is willing to stand up for and defend its products. And we don’t blame them, whatsoever, because the iPhone truly is, always has been, and always will be in a class of devices that sets the rhythm.
However, the popular Chinese smartphone manufacturer, Meizu, might have just blurred the lines, altogether — insofar as to what extent a company can get away with mimicking another. Just yesterday, the company took the wraps off its 2016 flagship, the Pro 6, which features an aesthetic allure and software tweaks that are remarkably consistent with the design themes of Apple’s beloved iPhone.
Not only does the Meizu Pro 6 look almost exactly like the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, but, sure to be a blow to Apple, it also features one of iPhone’s most poignant new features — 3D Touch-style input capabilities.
Very similar to Apple’s 3D Touch, Meizu’s variant — also known as “3D Press,” as originally reported by Engadget, can also invoke shortcut menus, preview photos, emails, websites, and other content, whenever the screen is pressed just so. And 3D Press’s shortcut system, from both a visual and interactive standpoint, is nearly identical to the iPhone 6s’ “Quick Actions” too.
I mean, talk about being original, right?
On the other hand, however, the Meizu Pro 6 boasts a few distinguishing features that differentiate it from the iPhone — when we take a peak under the hood, at least. These include, among other things, a 2nd generation ’10-core’ MediaTek Helio X25 processor — which, as an exclusive to the Pro 6 at launch, is the 2nd generation of MediaTek’s Helio X20 10-core processor technology.
Additionally, Meizu’s Pro 6 boasts a 5.2-inch Super AMOLED display @ 1080p HD resolution, 4 GB of RAM, a USB-C port, as well as either 32 or 64 GB of built-in storage. The Pro 6 will also feature a quick-charge capability, enabling users to juice up a dead battery within just one hour’s time, a whopping 21.16 MP camera around back is also slated to be complimented by a 10-ring LED flash with laser autofocus technology.
Sounds pretty good, right? Well, if for any reason you’re pumped up by these specs, you can always pre-order your own Pro 6 right now (in China, of course), starting at just 2,499 yuan ($390) for the 32 GB variant, and 2,799 yuan ($430) for the 64 GB variant.
Even still, let’s consider the otherwise “beastly” Pro 6 in comparison to its mirror image — the iPhone 6s. First of all, without pointing any fingers or being a tattletale, Meizu is clearly copycatting Apple in so many more ways than one. Apple is notorious for bringing unique features — such as 3D Touch — to the table. However, generally speaking, other manufacturers usually follow suit within just months. So perhaps it’s not surprising to see Meizu, in addition to a slew of other Android manufacturers, churning out devices that also feature a variant of the same, “3D Touch” technology.
The again, could these copy-cat tactics be just another classic case of “the more the merrier”? Probably not, no. But let’s remember: we all live in the same world, and we all have access to the same utilities at our disposal. So even though Apple was the first to the table with 3D Touch, it’s not like only they have access to the LCD components that make it possible, you know, seeing as how the technology is a byproduct of China’s precise, machinated, and extensive manufacturing faculties.
All that aside, though, one thing is definitely clear from all of this: when someone copies you, regardless of the way, shape, or form in which they do, it more than likely means you’re doing something right. And, to that end, Apple will likely continue to set the stage for years to come, as new iPhones will continue to be unveiled, year after year, boasting the newest, most advanced, intuitive features, that will continue to fuel this proverbial cat and mouse game as we know it.
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What do you think about Meizu’s Pro 6 handset? Does it even stand a chance against the iPhone? Let us know what you think in the comments below!