Help/Advice Meizu MX4 model 641 Mtk 6595 Flyme 4.0.2U

[lj26ft]

Hi,
I bought this phone because Iam interested in learning technology. This looked to be an amazing deal for the hardware. However, I was unprepared for the lack of information on how to optimize it for a US user and the buggy nature of the phone. Is it possible to flash the ROM to a standard android OS/UI ? I have done hours of google searching figure I would find and ask the knowledgeable/ informed. Looking for advice on what I should do. Should I return this phone in favor of a US manufactured phone with less hardware for the money and less headaches? Or is it possible with help from some knowledgeable helpful people to install a custom Rom recovery and boot on this phone? I m great at following direction just dont have the knowledge base to do this on my own.

[Sniper47]

Hello and welcome.

Could you explain further? What do you mean by "buggy" and "optimize for a US user" and "headaches"? No offense, but usually these sorts of complaints/comments come from people who are quite new to modern Android.

As far as UI goes, install this [Only registered and activated users can see links Click here to register] to get to a more standard launcher and app drawer.

[edcoolio]

Sniper47 is right on the money.

Truthfully, the device is a nice piece of equipment.

If you want straightforward and no "headache", then that (to me) means you do not want to mess with it or put time into it. In other words, I think it sounds like you want a straight out of the box vanilla turn-key experience.

If that is the case, then yes, get yourself an iPhone, Android Nexus, or Samsung S5 and be done with it.

If not, be prepared to learn a lot!

Maybe a cheap starter phone (under $90) to learn the software and technology is the way to go first? That way if you REALLY want to learn and accidently brick the device, it will not be your full time phone.

It's up to you. Good luck!

[WuddaWaste]

The Meizu MX4 is an unbelievable beast of a phone! I'm sorry to hear you're not digging the experience. I was really looking forward to what this phone was capable of. What is it that isn't working correctly?

[lj26ft]

Well i was having a hell of a time updating for some reason but I finally got it to update. It is a beast of a phone I love the hardware cant say i am a fan of the software but thats probably because this is the first new android i have got in 3 years. I was having some serious issues with the stock package installer crashing for everything but the update seems to have fixed that. If I could get google services on here i dont think i would have anything to complain about anymore. I would welcom some help with that i tried the mx4 google installer and instructions from forums that i have been able to search but no play store yet. Anyone with a Mx4 mt6595 Flyme 4.0.3U find a way to get google play store installed ?

[Sniper47]

.

If that is the case, then yes, get yourself an iPhone, Android Nexus, or Samsung S5 and be done with it.

If not, be prepared to learn a lot!

It's up to you. Good luck!

I really can't agree with this. Android on China mobiles is functionally (normally) the same as any other brand out there. I never have to fiddle or mess with them. Turn it on and use it. In my experience anyways, and the key word "normally". I don't buy cheap clones. So perhaps this is one of the reasons I don't have any problems.

Also, it's an extremely rare issue these days to not have Play Store come stock on a China phone. Its very surprising Meizu took this route.

[edcoolio]

.

If that is the case, then yes, get yourself an iPhone, Android Nexus, or Samsung S5 and be done with it.

If not, be prepared to learn a lot!

It's up to you. Good luck!

I really can't agree with this. Android on China mobiles is functionally (normally) the same as any other brand out there. I never have to fiddle or mess with them. Turn it on and use it. In my experience anyways, and the key word "normally". I don't buy cheap clones. So perhaps this is one of the reasons I don't have any problems.

Also, it's an extremely rare issue these days to not have Play Store come stock on a China phone. Its very surprising Meizu took this route.

Well, this is clearly not a clone nor is it cheap. This particular Android on China mobile is clearly not functionally the same as any other brand out there. There are many like this. Doogee makes phones you need to fiddle and mess with, so does Meizu (obviously). The price ranges on these two products are night and day, yet you are left with "fiddle and mess". Play store, touch screens, etc. This is just the way it is... for now.

In fact, a $90 Doogee would even have PlayStore working and a more straightforward Android loading. Maybe you have gotten lucky (or have simply done your research beforehand), but these things do happen, and will continue to happen.

This would be a prime example.

Certain types of users simply do not want any hassle with their products and this translates (more than the hardware and software) to end-user support. There is simply no comparison walking into an Apple store with an iPhone 6 and getting the help you need ASAP with buying a "China Phone" over the internet. If this happens to be one of those types of individuals, then I stand firmly by my statement. If not, then I stand firmly by the statement to be prepared to learn a lot.

I suppose in the end, it is important for new users of China Phones to manage their expectations before they purchase of hardware, software, and end-user support.

[Sniper47]

.

If that is the case, then yes, get yourself an iPhone, Android Nexus, or Samsung S5 and be done with it.

If not, be prepared to learn a lot!

It's up to you. Good luck!

I really can't agree with this. Android on China mobiles is functionally (normally) the same as any other brand out there. I never have to fiddle or mess with them. Turn it on and use it. In my experience anyways, and the key word "normally". I don't buy cheap clones. So perhaps this is one of the reasons I don't have any problems.

Also, it's an extremely rare issue these days to not have Play Store come stock on a China phone. Its very surprising Meizu took this route.

Well, this is clearly not a clone nor is it cheap. This particular Android on China mobile is clearly not functionally the same as any other brand out there. There are many like this. Doogee makes phones you need to fiddle and mess with, so does Meizu (obviously). The price ranges on these two products are night and day, yet you are left with "fiddle and mess". Play store, touch screens, etc. This is just the way it is... for now.

In fact, a $90 Doogee would even have PlayStore working and a more straightforward Android loading. Maybe you have gotten lucky (or have simply done your research beforehand), but these things do happen, and will continue to happen.

This would be a prime example.

Certain types of users simply do not want any hassle with their products and this translates (more than the hardware and software) to end-user support. There is simply no comparison walking into an Apple store with an iPhone 6 and getting the help you need ASAP with buying a "China Phone" over the internet. If this happens to be one of those types of individuals, then I stand firmly by my statement. If not, then I stand firmly by the statement to be prepared to learn a lot.

I suppose in the end, it is important for new users of China Phones to manage their expectations before they purchase of hardware, software, and end-user support.

I've owned perhaps 15 China mobiles. None of them required any fiddling or messing with. And there was no learning to be done at all other than what you'd have to learn to use standard Android. All of them came with working Play store out of the box. Never had any problems with touch screens (using your example).

I've recently sent an $80 DG310 to one of the least technologically inclined persons on the Earth and they love it. No problems at all and certainly no fiddling required.

If you want to install custom ROMs and root etc... Yes there is some learning to be done, but this exactly where the vast majority of problems come from - that is, because users decide to fiddle and mess, not because they needed to.

And buying a mobile retail at a local shop will of course provide you with better customer support should there be any issues, though that generally goes with any product purchased mail order from over seas vs retail. Not just China mobiles.

[lj26ft]

Just thought I would add that I finally got it figured out.
Installed
com.google.android.gms-5.0.89-.apk
com.android.vending-4.9.13.apk
restarted phone
cleared google cache
Google Installer (MX4) 1.3.1.apk
Everything works now perfectly
side note i tried just the google installer 1.3.1 and it did not work without the extra steps. And this phone is not cheap side by side comparison with iphone 6 no difference to the lay person. BEast of a phone for less than half of iphone 6, buying apple is buying expensive marketing and phones that dont last. Had I owned a apple product for 4 1/2 years like my last android it wouldnt have been working anymore most likely, with all the updates that intentionally wreck their old products. I permanently dont like their products for killing the first tablet I ever owned. No more apple for me.

[NexusTrix]

Just thought I would add that I finally got it figured out.
Installed
com.google.android.gms-5.0.89-.apk
com.android.vending-4.9.13.apk
restarted phone
cleared google cache
Google Installer (MX4) 1.3.1.apk
Everything works now perfectly
side note i tried just the google installer 1.3.1 and it did not work without the extra steps. And this phone is not cheap side by side comparison with iphone 6 no difference to the lay person. BEast of a phone for less than half of iphone 6, buying apple is buying expensive marketing and phones that dont last. Had I owned a apple product for 4 1/2 years like my last android it wouldnt have been working anymore most likely, with all the updates that intentionally wreck their old products. I permanently dont like their products for killing the first tablet I ever owned. No more apple for me.

@lj26ft , really glad you got this worked out man. I think you're 100% correct. Just as a side note, much cheaper phones will likely "do the trick" for 99% of people out there. But if you want top build quality/QC/specs, flagship Meizu is a great choice. Hope you'll stick around the forum.