The Meizu Mblu 21 is the latest budget-friendly smartphone to hit the market, offering a compelling package for under $100. As one of the devices marking Meizu’s comeback in the Market, expectations are not sky-high. However, could it surprise us with solid features for its price? With a 6.79-inch display, 90Hz refresh rate, stereo speakers, and a Unisoc T606 processor, it’s certainly intriguing for an entry-level phone. But how does it hold up in real-world usage?
We’ve put the Mblu 21 through its paces—testing everything from performance, battery life, camera quality, and gaming capabilities—to determine if it delivers beyond its budget-friendly price tag. Let’s dive into the details.
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Design and Build Quality
At first glance, the Meizu Mblu 21 doesn’t necessarily stand out, but it still has a clean and subtle aesthetic. The Prism Edge design on the back panel creates a faint shimmering effect when hit by light, giving it a sleek look despite its plastic build. The Titan Black variant we reviewed maintains a muted, minimal appeal that suits the budget segment.
However, the device does have thicker bezels, which might make it feel a bit outdated compared to newer smartphones with slimmer borders. The front camera sits in a hole-punch cutout, offering a more modern design element, but the screen-to-body ratio could have been better.
For buttons and ports, the layout is quite practical. On the right side, you’ll find the volume rocker and power button, with the latter doubling as a fingerprint sensor. The left side houses a dual nano-SIM tray that also includes a hybrid slot for a microSD card. Notably, the SIM ejector pinhole is outside the tray, which helps avoid breaking the fragile material used for the SIM slot.
At the bottom, you’ll find:
- A 3.5mm headphone jack
- A USB-C charging port
- A microphone
- One of the two stereo speakers
The other speaker is placed at the top—an interesting choice, considering the more expensive Meizu Note 21 does not have stereo speakers. Unfortunately, there is no official IP rating, meaning it lacks water or dust resistance.
Overall, the Mblu 21’s design is simple yet effective, offering a solid build that doesn’t feel flimsy despite its plastic frame. It may not be a head-turner, but for the price, it provides a decent balance of durability and aesthetics.
Display Specs and Features
The Mblu 21 sports a 6.79-inch LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate. While the resolution is capped at HD+ (720p), the panel still delivers decent color accuracy and smooth animations for general use.
Indoors, the screen is vibrant and enjoyable for scrolling, streaming, and light gaming. However, outdoor visibility under direct sunlight is a challenge, as the brightness levels struggle to keep up. Maxing out the brightness can help, but this comes at the cost of faster battery drain.
Key Display Features:
- 6.79-inch LCD panel
- HD+ resolution (720p)
- 90Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling
- Decent color accuracy
- Struggles with outdoor brightness
While not the sharpest display at this price point, it is usable for everyday tasks. The thicker bezels are the only major drawback, making it feel slightly outdated compared to competing devices with slimmer frames.
Software & Updates
Out of the box, the Meizu Mblu 21 runs on Android 14, offering a clean and minimalistic software experience. The biggest highlight is the lack of bloatware, which is rare for budget devices. Google apps such as YouTube, Drive, and Google Photos are pre-installed, but there are no unnecessary third-party apps cluttering the device.
One minor gripe is the lack of a dedicated photo gallery app—users need to access the Files app to check recent photos and screenshots. The interface itself is quite barebones, making it feel slightly clunky for those who prefer a more feature-rich UI.
It’s worth noting that this global variant does not come with Meizu’s Flyme OS, which could have offered a more refined experience. Software support is still unclear, so long-term updates may be limited.
Performance & Chipset
The Mblu 21 is powered by the Unisoc T606 processor, an entry-level octa-core chipset with a Mali-G57 MP1 GPU. Our review unit came with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, which is decent for a budget device.
General Performance
- Smooth for basic tasks like browsing, streaming, and social media
- Handles light gaming well
- Some stutters and frame drops with demanding apps
We tested Genshin Impact on the lowest settings—it ran, but with noticeable frame drops. This phone is not designed for heavy gaming, but can handle lighter games like Mobile Legends and Teamfight Tactics without major issues.
A key advantage is heat management—even after an hour of gameplay, the device remained cool, which is rare for budget smartphones.
Storage Options
The Mblu 21 comes with 128GB of internal storage, which should be enough for most users. However, it does support expandable storage via a hybrid SIM slot, meaning you’ll have to choose between a second SIM or a microSD card.
While 128GB is decent, having a dedicated microSD slot instead of a hybrid one would have been a better option for those needing extra storage.
Battery Life & Charging Speed
The Meizu Mblu 21 is equipped with a 4,900mAh battery, delivering solid endurance. Our battery benchmark tests showed:
- PCMark Battery Test: 14 hours 20 minutes
- Video Loop Test: 24 hours 4 minutes
This means the phone can easily last a full day of moderate usage, and even longer if used mainly for video streaming. However, multitasking and gaming drain the battery faster.
Charging is done via USB-C, but fast charging support is unclear. It takes around 2 hours for a full charge, which is fairly standard for a budget device.
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Camera Specs & Performance
The Meizu Mblu 21 features a 13MP main camera on the back and an 8MP front-facing camera. Although there are two sensors on the rear panel, only one is a functional camera, while the other serves as an auxiliary lens without adding much real-world utility. This means users will rely entirely on the single 13MP shooter for all photography needs.
Main Camera Performance
For a budget smartphone, the main camera delivers decent results in well-lit conditions. It produces vibrant colors and reasonable subject separation, making it possible to capture satisfying shots for social media or casual photography. However, zooming in beyond 1x quickly leads to a loss of detail, as there is no telephoto lens to maintain sharpness.
- Good color reproduction
- Decent subject separation
- Loss of detail when zooming in
- Poor low-light performance
The biggest drawback of this camera setup is its low-light performance. Without proper lighting, images tend to appear grainy and lack fine details, making nighttime photography a challenge. Users may need to rely on artificial lighting or adjust their settings manually to get usable shots. Despite these limitations, the camera does a fair job for daylight photography, and it performs adequately for quick snapshots.
Video Quality
Video recording on the Meizu Mblu 21 is limited to 1080p resolution, and while the footage is passable, it lacks advanced features such as stabilization. This means that videos taken while moving can appear shaky and uneven, especially when filming in dynamic environments. In terms of color accuracy, the camera maintains natural tones, but finer details often get lost, particularly in low-light scenarios.
For casual video recording, such as capturing everyday moments or short clips for social media, the camera does an acceptable job. However, for users looking to film high-quality content, the absence of stabilization and the struggle with dynamic range could be a dealbreaker.
- Shoots at 1080p, but lacks stabilization
- Colors are decent, but details are lacking
- Not ideal for vlogging or high-quality content
Selfie Camera
The 8MP front camera provides serviceable selfies, particularly in daylight. Skin tones appear natural, and subject separation works well for portrait shots, making it a good option for basic selfie needs. However, details tend to be soft, and in lower lighting conditions, the image quality drops significantly.
For video calls, the front camera performs as expected for an entry-level device. It captures faces clearly in good lighting, but users may notice some noise and lack of sharpness in dimly lit environments. While it won’t compete with high-end smartphone cameras, the selfie shooter is adequate for basic use, including casual photos and social media uploads.
- 8MP sensor captures decent shots in daylight
- Struggles with detail in low light
- Subject separation is solid for portrait shots
Overall, the camera system on the Meizu Mblu 21 is best suited for users with minimal photography demands. It works well enough for casual shots and social media updates, but it struggles in low-light conditions and lacks advanced video capabilities. If you need a budget phone primarily for browsing, media consumption, and light photography, this camera setup should be sufficient. However, if photography is a priority, you may need to look at slightly higher-priced alternatives.
Conclusion
The Meizu Mblu 21 is a budget-friendly smartphone that excels in affordability while delivering a decent overall experience. It’s not a performance powerhouse, but for general use, it does a respectable job.
Pros:
- Affordable price tag
- Decent display with 90Hz refresh rate
- Stereo speakers (uncommon in this segment)
- Clean stock Android experience with no bloatware
- Good battery life, especially for video streaming
- Expandable storage via microSD
Cons:
- Low-light camera performance is poor
- Multitasking and heavy gaming are not ideal
- No official IP rating for dust or water resistance
If you’re looking for an affordable phone for browsing, streaming, and casual gaming, the Meizu Mblu 21 is a good choice. While it has some limitations, it remains a solid budget option in 2024.
Common Questions About the Meizu Mblu 21
1. Is the Meizu Mblu 21 a good budget phone?
- Yes, the Meizu Mblu 21 is a solid budget-friendly smartphone with a large 6.79-inch display, a 90Hz refresh rate, and a clean Android 14 experience. It’s best suited for basic tasks like web browsing, social media, and video streaming. However, its performance is limited for gaming and heavy multitasking.
2. How is the battery life on the Meizu Mblu 21?
- The 4,900mAh battery provides all-day battery life, especially for users who primarily browse, watch videos, and use social media. In testing, it lasted over 14 hours on active use and more than 24 hours in video playback mode.
3. Does the Meizu Mblu 21 support fast charging?
- Yes, the phone charges via USB Type-C, but it does not support fast charging. Charging speeds are average, and it takes about two hours for a full charge.
4. Can you play games on the Meizu Mblu 21?
- The Unisoc T606 chipset can handle light gaming such as Mobile Legends and Team Fight Tactics, but it struggles with demanding titles like Genshin Impact. Expect frame drops and occasional lag when playing graphically intensive games.
5. How good is the camera on the Meizu Mblu 21?
- The phone has a 13MP main camera, which performs well in daylight conditions with good color reproduction. However, low-light performance is poor, and zooming in causes a noticeable loss in detail. The 8MP front camera takes decent selfies, but it lacks sharpness in low-light conditions.
6. Does the Meizu Mblu 21 have 5G support?
- No, the Meizu Mblu 21 is a 4G-only device. It supports dual SIM, Wi-Fi 5, and Bluetooth 5 for wireless connectivity.
7. What are the storage options for the Meizu Mblu 21?
- The phone comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, with the option to expand storage via a microSD card using the hybrid SIM slot.
8. Is the Meizu Mblu 21 waterproof?
- No, the device does not have an IP rating for water or dust resistance. Users should avoid exposure to water to prevent potential damage.
9. Does the Meizu Mblu 21 have stereo speakers?
- Yes, it has dual stereo speakers, which is a rarity in budget phones. However, sound quality is average with minimal bass, so using wired or Bluetooth headphones is recommended for a better audio experience.
10. What makes the Meizu Mblu 21 different from other budget phones?
- The Meizu Mblu 21 stands out for its affordable price, smooth 90Hz display, clean Android 14 software, and decent battery life. However, it has limited performance for gaming and a basic camera setup, making it best for users who prioritize affordability over raw power.
