Published in Reviews

Mlais M52 Red Note review, hooray for commoditised Android

by on03 April 2015

Index

Design and Build Quality

This is a 5.5-inch phablet, so at 152 x 7.80 x 8.2mm (5.97 x 3.07 x 0.32 inches) it’s not what we’d call compact. The dimensions are comparable to similar devices, and so is the weight – 158g with a relatively powerful 3200mAh power pack.

mlais m52 review bok

As for the looks, the design is minimal and at 8.2mm the device does not look too chubby. The front is dominated by the 5.5-inch 720p panel with three capacitive buttons at the bottom. The volume rocker is on the left, while the power button is on the right side. The rear features the camera and flash LED, both of which are placed at the centre of the device, along with a Mlais logo and a big speaker grille at the bottom.

We can’t say we are impressed, but there’s not much to dislike, either. The good news is that the Mlais M52 is available in black, white and two colours – cyan and a vibrant, but light shade of red, a bit like terra cotta. All colour options look quite good, so what about the quality?

mlais m52 review tricolor

The back cover is removable, hence you obviously can’t expect polycarbonate-like rigidity. The finish is glossy, so you’ll have to wipe your fingerprints off on a regular basis. However, the cover feels rather sturdy, although every high gloss finish is susceptible to scuffs and scratches. The plastic is relatively thick, so you don’t get much in the way of flex when you handle the device. The same goes for the rest of the chassis – it feels right, there’s no creaks or cracking when you gently twist it, and it doesn’t feel like a cheap product (although it is one).

mlais m52 review open

When we took the cover off, we were greeted by a good looking interior, which is not something you always see on inexpensive devices. The battery looks ok, as do the memory card and SIM slots. You can see a lot of screws on either side of the device, which is reassuring to say the least. Nothing looks out of place and everything feels like it was assembled with care.

mlais m52 review battery

The power button and volume rocker have a metallic finish, which feels somewhat cheap. There is not much more to say, as these are the only buttons on the phone. They get the job done. The Power button is placed on the Samsung / Nexus default right hand side of the phone.

m52 cyan volume rocker

The micro USB connector and the 3.5 mm stereo headset plug are both on the top of the phone, which is not great, but you will learn to live with it.

mlais m52 review top

Our biggest concern is the glass. We are just not sure what sort of glass Mlais opted for, but in this price range it is obvious that Gorilla Glass 3 is out of the question. The phone ships with a pre-installed screen protector, which is not a bad idea, all things considered.

m52 cyan side 1

Since this is a small brand device, the choice of accessories is limited, but you should be able to get replacement back covers, flip covers and a few more accessories. We had a chance to check out the flip cover and it’s not bad. There is even a software option to control the Mlais Fashion case. The flip case reminds us of the LG Flip case for the LG G3, and for example it can show a nice looking analog clock when it’s closed.

mlais m52 review flap cover

Overall, the Mlais M52 does not feel like a premium device, but luckily it does not feel like a very cheap one, either. Actually, we’ve seen much more expensive phones with the same or similar foibles, so we’re inclined to say it’s very good for the money.


Last modified on 08 April 2015
Rate this item
(40 votes)

Read more about: