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MagyarMaze Alpha X Smartphone Review
The Maze Alpha X offers a 6-inch IPS screen with a 2:1 aspect ratio and the same MediaTek Helio P25 mid-range SoC with its ARM Mali-T880 GPU that we have already seen in the Doogee Mix. There is one camera on the front and one on the back. The predecessor even featured a real dual camera setup on the back. We consider 6 GB of working memory and 64 GB of internal storage to be ample and inserting a microSD card will give you even more space for your files.
We will compare the phone with other devices in the same price range although not all of them feature a bezel-less screen: the Huawei Mate 10 Lite, the Doogee Mix, the Honor 9, and the Doogee BL5000. How does the Alpha X hold up against the competition?
Case
The case of the Alpha X hosts a prominent 6-inch screen with narrow bezels on three sides. The front facing-camera was moved to the bottom right next to the fingerprint reader. The back and front are protected by Gorilla Glass 4 and 5, respectively, which makes the back quite susceptible to fingerprints. According to the manufacturer, the frame is made up of a zinc alloy. We presume that they actually mean steel that has been made stainless by the addition of zinc (stainless steel). This would explain the high weight of the device. Although it feels good to hold in one hand, its 210 g (7.4 oz) cannot be considered light-weight. Torsion tests elicit slight cracking noises from the case, but it does not visibly yield and seems sturdy nevertheless. The battery of the Alpha X is non-removable. As for colors, the manufacturer advertises the phone in black, blue, and silver on their website. Apparently, not all colors are available as of today and a quick search only yielded offers for the black model.
Equipment
The Maze Alpha X charges via USB Type-C but during file transfers, it merely reaches USB-2.0 speeds. The hybrid dual-SIM slot hosts either two nano-SIM cards or one nano-SIM card and one microSD expansion card. According to the manufacturer, the maximum supported microSD capacity is 256 GB compliant with the SDXC standard. The expansion microSD can be formatted as internal storage which increases the phone's storage capacity to around 300 GB.
In its price range the Maze Alpha X is an impressive candidate with its ample 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of ROM. Usually, half of each or even less than that is the standard at this price.
The top of the device is home to an audio jack for connection with a headset, the bottom has an integrated fingerprint reader that is similar to the button in Samsung phones of two years ago, only it is not pressable. The reaction time and the haptics could not convince us. The sensor is simply too small and does not correspond to the shape of a finger.
Software
The Maze Alpha X is still running Android 7.0 Nougat. China imports with Oreo remain to be a rarity until today. Maze did provide several updates for the Alpha, so we are hopeful that users will not be left standing in the rain for too long. The UI looks largely unchanged and remains free of bloatware. The security patches are from November 2017.
Communication and GPS
802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi is commonplace in this class, whereas 802.11 b/g/n/ac is not. Our measured transfer speeds suggest the former, the datasheet states the latter. 82.2 Mbit/s fall within the 802.11 b/g/n standard, but for ac we expect to see at least 200 Mbit/s as it is the case with the Honor 9. The transfer rates measured with our Linksys EA8500 reference router are significantly lower than expected. The Alpha X transmits data in our standardized test with an average speed. It tends to end up in the middle of the ranking when compared to its competition. At some distance from the router and with one wall in between, the reception can at times get interrupted. The Maze Alpha X connects to mobile internet via LTE frequency bands that cover all of Europe and we did not encounter reception issues in the metropolitan area. Customers outside of Europe may want to look into the specifications list that we have provided at the beginning of this review.
| Networking | |
| iperf3 transmit AX12 | |
| Honor 9 | |
| Doogee Mix | |
| Maze Alpha X | |
| Doogee BL5000 | |
| Huawei Mate 10 Lite | |
| iperf3 receive AX12 | |
| Honor 9 | |
| Doogee BL5000 | |
| Maze Alpha X | |
| Doogee Mix | |
| Huawei Mate 10 Lite | |
The Maze Alpha X is supposed to have GPS, GLONASS, and BeiDou satellite positioning, but in our GPS test we could only find GPS and GLONASS satellites. It appears that Maze might be a little sloppy with their device's specifications, just as we saw in our Wi-Fi test.
When riding a bike, we let the Alpha X compete against a professional Garmin Edge 500 bicycle computer. The track length of the two devices differs by almost 90 meters (98 yards). Taking a look at the detailed course of the route, our observation is similar since the X's tracking differs only at a few places. The Alpha X has problems in the vicinity of larger buildings and updates its location less often, which can be seen in the rougher depiction of the course. Nevertheless, the navigation works very well.
Telephone Functions and Voice Quality
The Maze Alpha X has optional dual-SIM if a microSD card is not used. The dialler app does not differ visually from the stock Android app.
The call quality is decent and delivers a solid transmission quality, so that both conversation partners are easy to understand. The transmission works in both directions without static noise, but it sounds a bit dull.
Cameras
According to the specification sheet, all camera sensors are made by Sony. The front-facing camera is based on an 8-MP Sony IMX 219 sensor. The rear camera with its Sony IMX 258 sensor can take pictures with up to 13 MP. An exception to this is the 128-GB model, which Maze has equipped with the same 16-MP OV16880 sensor as that found in devices such as the Xiaomi Mi Mix.
The luminous intensity with f/2.0 is the same for all models. There is no optical image stabilization (OIS) on-board. Photos taken during the day look quite good, but lack details at close range. In darker environments, the sharpness decreases rapidly, and images will turn out slightly noisy.
Videos can be recorded in Full HD (1920x1080 pixels, 16:9) at 30 FPS. The front camera supports 1280x720 pixels.
The front camera does not take very sharp photos and they have a blue color cast.
We took a closer look at the imaging performance of the camera under controlled light conditions. While the sharpness is convincing despite some slight noise, the color accuracy is rather disappointing. Black is not only too bright, but also has a clear tinge of color. As can be seen in the chart, no color is displayed accurately. Nevertheless, the camera should be suitable for some useful snapshots due to its sharpness.
Accessories and Warranty
The Maze Alpha comes with a modular power supply (5 V, 2 A), a USB cable, a SIM tool, a screen protector, a warranty card, and a quick start guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Russian, Portuguese, Italian, Arabic, Vietnamese, and other languages. It looks as if an automatic translation tool has been used to translate the text.
Maze offers a 12-month warranty from the date of purchase. We encourage you to do some online searches about tips for buying smartphones in China with regard to CE marking and warranty prior to your purchase.
Please see our Guarantees, Return Policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.
Input Devices and Handling
The Maze Alpha X is operated via the capacitive 10-point touchscreen. The input works very reliably and precisely in the test. The glass on the front and back is a real fingerprint magnet, but can be easily cleaned. Gismart's Real Piano could be used excellently in our test and the relatively wide screen contributed positively to the experience.
Maze uses the stock Android keyboard. The fingerprint reader functions as back button (short touch) and as home button (long touch). There are also on-screen buttons.
The fingerprint reader on the front is rather unfavorable from an ergonomic point of view, but there are several devices with the same issue. The smartphone can be unlocked from standby, but the display is only activated after unlocking, which means that any error messages are not visible until then. The reaction time can be described as comfortable. In the test we often favored unlocking the device with the PIN input.
Display
The IPS-screen of the Maze Alpha X has a native resolution of 2160x1080 pixels at an aspect ratio of 2:1. The screen displays the content sharply and is able to bring some convincing values to the table. With an average of 487 cd/m², it shines very brightly. Unfortunately, the black value of 0.6 cd/m² is the opposite of convincing and results in a weak contrast of 828:1.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 87 %
Center on Battery: 497 cd/m²
Contrast: 828:1 (Black: 0.6 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 11.6 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 13.5 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 2.93
| Maze Alpha X IPS, 2160x1080, 6.00 | Honor 9 IPS/LTPS, 1920x1080, 5.15 | Doogee Mix AMOLED, 1280x720, 5.50 | Doogee BL5000 IPS, 1920x1080, 5.50 | Huawei Mate 10 Lite IPS, 2160x1080, 5.90 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | 43% | 21% | 11% | 38% | |
| Brightness middle | 497 | 550 11% | 358 -28% | 519 4% | 467 -6% |
| Brightness | 478 | 535 12% | 354 -26% | 506 6% | 457 -4% |
| Brightness Distribution | 87 | 92 6% | 90 3% | 89 2% | 89 2% |
| Black Level * | 0.6 | 0.42 30% | 0.52 13% | 0.3 50% | |
| Contrast | 828 | 1310 58% | 998 21% | 1557 88% | |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 11.6 | 3.3 72% | 4.9 58% | 9.1 22% | 5 57% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 22.1 | 4.5 80% | 11.8 47% | 19.6 11% | 8.2 63% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 13.5 | 3.6 73% | 3.9 71% | 12.7 6% | 6.1 55% |
| Gamma | 2.93 75% | 2.38 92% | 2.33 94% | 2.34 94% | 2.15 102% |
| CCT | 9955 65% | 7226 90% | 7260 90% | 9611 68% | 7961 82% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM not detected |  | ||
In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 17900 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. | |||
Against the competition, the panel does not present itself in the best light. While the brightness is fine, the other values are meager. Compared to the Huawei Mate 10 Lite and the Honor 9, the Maze X falls behind by about 35% on average in our ranking.
We examined the color reproduction of the panel with the CalMAN analysis software and the photo spectrometer. Our measurements reveal the display's further weaknesses. A very high Delta-E value of more than 11 indicates strong color falsification and our CalMAN ColorChecker confirms this observation. This unfortunate characteristic is surely also partly due to the low contrast. The grayscale chart shows a visible blue cast that is visible to the naked eye.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 18.4 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 6.8 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 11.6 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 35 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.5 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 45.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 23.2 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 22 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 74 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.7 ms). | ||
The Maze Alpha X performs reasonably well outdoors, not least because of its high maximum brightness. Contents are legible under normal lighting conditions. Surprisingly, the screen in not too reflective, but due to the below-average contrast reading in direct sunlight is impeded.
The viewing angle stability of the IPS screen in the Maze Alpha X gives little cause for criticism. Even at very low viewing angles, there are no additional color falsifications or ghosting. The low contrast makes blacks fall into a visible gray very quickly.
Performance
The Maze Alpha X is powered by a MediaTek Helio P25 (MT6757CD), the same one we have already seen in the Doogee Mix and the Blackview BV9000. The octa-core SoC consists of two clusters of Cortex-A53 cores. The stronger cluster clocks with up to 2.4 GHz, the weaker one with up to 1.7 GHz. The processor is backed by 6 GB of working memory and an ARM Mali T880-MP2 graphics unit.
The mid-range SoC is roughly on par with the similarly equipped Doogee Mix and the Huawei Mate 10 Lite. The Honor 9 clearly outperforms its rivals in several comparisons. The Doogee BL5000's weaker hardware places it behind the other smartphones. Overall, the Alpha X delivers the expected performance, yet surprisingly, we measured a significant drop in performance of about 50% in some GFXBench values compared to the equivalent Doogee Mix, which cannot be solely explained by the higher number of pixels the SoC has to address. With other values, however, both devices perform equally as expected. The benchmark test may not be able to cope with unusual resolutions.
| AnTuTu v6 - Total Score (sort by value) | |
| Maze Alpha X | |
| Honor 9 | |
| Doogee Mix | |
| Doogee BL5000 | |
| Huawei Mate 10 Lite | |
| PCMark for Android | |
| Work performance score (sort by value) | |
| Maze Alpha X | |
| Honor 9 | |
| Doogee Mix | |
| Doogee BL5000 | |
| Huawei Mate 10 Lite | |
| Work 2.0 performance score (sort by value) | |
| Maze Alpha X | |
| Honor 9 | |
| Doogee Mix | |
| Doogee BL5000 | |
| Huawei Mate 10 Lite | |
| Geekbench 4.4 | |
| 64 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value) | |
| Maze Alpha X | |
| Honor 9 | |
| Doogee Mix | |
| Doogee BL5000 | |
| Huawei Mate 10 Lite | |
| 64 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value) | |
| Maze Alpha X | |
| Honor 9 | |
| Doogee Mix | |
| Doogee BL5000 | |
| Huawei Mate 10 Lite | |
| Compute RenderScript Score (sort by value) | |
| Maze Alpha X | |
| Honor 9 | |
| Doogee Mix | |
| Doogee BL5000 | |
| Huawei Mate 10 Lite | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 | |
| T-Rex Onscreen (sort by value) | |
| Maze Alpha X | |
| Honor 9 | |
| Doogee Mix | |
| Doogee BL5000 | |
| Huawei Mate 10 Lite | |
| 1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen (sort by value) | |
| Maze Alpha X | |
| Honor 9 | |
| Doogee Mix | |
| Doogee BL5000 | |
| Huawei Mate 10 Lite | |
| GFXBench 3.0 | |
| on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL (sort by value) | |
| Maze Alpha X | |
| Honor 9 | |
| Doogee Mix | |
| Doogee BL5000 | |
| Huawei Mate 10 Lite | |
| 1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen (sort by value) | |
| Maze Alpha X | |
| Honor 9 | |
| Doogee Mix | |
| Doogee BL5000 | |
| Huawei Mate 10 Lite | |
| GFXBench 3.1 | |
| on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen (sort by value) | |
| Maze Alpha X | |
| Honor 9 | |
| Doogee Mix | |
| Doogee BL5000 | |
| Huawei Mate 10 Lite | |
| 1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen (sort by value) | |
| Maze Alpha X | |
| Honor 9 | |
| Doogee Mix | |
| Doogee BL5000 | |
| Huawei Mate 10 Lite | |
| GFXBench | |
| on screen Car Chase Onscreen (sort by value) | |
| Maze Alpha X | |
| Honor 9 | |
| Doogee Mix | |
| Doogee BL5000 | |
| Huawei Mate 10 Lite | |
| 1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen (sort by value) | |
| Maze Alpha X | |
| Honor 9 | |
| Doogee Mix | |
| Doogee BL5000 | |
| Huawei Mate 10 Lite | |
| Lightmark - 1920x1080 1080p (sort by value) | |
| Doogee Mix | |
| Basemark X 1.1 | |
| Medium Quality (sort by value) | |
| Doogee Mix | |
| High Quality (sort by value) | |
| Doogee Mix | |
| Basemark ES 3.1 / Metal - offscreen Overall Score (sort by value) | |
| Doogee Mix | |
| Epic Citadel - Ultra High Quality (sort by value) | |
| Doogee Mix | |
In the browser benchmarks, which we carried out with the preinstalled Googe Chrome 64, the Maze Alpha X is on a class-typical level. It comes in ahead of its equally equipped competitor, the Doogee Mix, and is also on par with the Huawei Mate 10 Lite.
| JetStream 1.1 - Total Score | |
| Honor 9 (Chrome 59) | |
| Huawei Mate 10 Lite (Chrome 62) | |
| Maze Alpha X (Chrome Version 64) | |
| Doogee Mix (Chrome 60) | |
| Doogee BL5000 (Chrome Version 61) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Honor 9 (Chrome 59) | |
| Huawei Mate 10 Lite (Chrome 62) | |
| Maze Alpha X (Chrome Version 64) | |
| Doogee Mix (Chrome 60) | |
| Doogee BL5000 (Chrome Version 61) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| Doogee BL5000 (Chrome Version 61) | |
| Doogee Mix (Chrome 60) | |
| Maze Alpha X (Chrome Version 64) | |
| Huawei Mate 10 Lite (Chrome 62) | |
| Honor 9 (Chrome 59) | |
| WebXPRT 2015 - Overall | |
| Honor 9 (Chrome 59) | |
| Huawei Mate 10 Lite (Chrome 62) | |
| Doogee Mix (Chrome 60) | |
* ... smaller is better
The Maze Alpha X offers 64 GB of eMMC flash storage with about 49.5 GB available for the user. In the benchmarks, the storage solution delivers a pleasingly good performance.
Our reference microSD card (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501) is handled fairly well by the Alpha X, but the maximum read and write speeds of the card are not even remotely approached. Since the values are similar to those of the internal memory, a storage expansion with a fast card is unlikely to slow down the device.
| Maze Alpha X | Honor 9 | Doogee Mix | Doogee BL5000 | Huawei Mate 10 Lite | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | 23% | -3% | -1% | -19% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 247.4 | 293 18% | 249 1% | 274.8 11% | 286.8 16% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 162.2 | 204 26% | 165 2% | 171.4 6% | 99.8 -38% |
| Random Read 4KB | 70.3 | 55.7 -21% | 66.5 -5% | 57.4 -18% | 31.5 -55% |
| Random Write 4KB | 11.61 | 32.7 182% | 11.2 -4% | 11.29 -3% | 15.26 31% |
| Sequential Read 256KB SDCard | 81 ? | 68 ? -16% | 78 ? -4% | 69.1 ? -15% | |
| Sequential Write 256KB SDCard | 74 ? | 34.64 ? -53% | 69.4 ? -6% | 35.35 ? -52% |
Games
The integrated ARM Mali-T880 graphics unit of the Maze Alpha X reaches its limits when processing graphically demanding games. Games such as “Beach Buggy Racing” cannot be displayed smoothly on highest details. When selecting the default graphics settings, the phone showed no stutters. The high resolution takes its toll on the mid-range GPU. Nevertheless, all titles in the Google Play Store remain playable, even if some games can cause the phone to stutter minimally. Less demanding games such as “Super Mario” Run did not show any issues.
The 2:1 aspect ratio of the screen is well-suited for widescreen games and offers a lot of visible screen space, especially with the on-screen controls. It reacts very accurately to input, and the sensors reliably detect the movements of the smartphone.
Emissions
Temperature
The surface temperatures of the Maze Alpha X are at an extremely comfortable level. When idling, the device hardly heats up and even under load, the smartphone is only slightly above body temperature in a few places.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 38.5 °C / 101 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 35.7 °C / 96 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 27.4 °C / 81 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.
Speakers
The mono speaker of the Maze Alpha X offers a less than average performance. The volume is quite decent, but not too loud, as it is the case with other mid-range devices out there such as the Blackview BV9000 Pro. This was actually the only positive thing that can be attributed to the speaker. If you require a good sound reproduction, you should look for another phone. If you can handle average, you might like the Alpha X.
Maze Alpha X audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (85.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 31.7% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (7.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.1% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (11% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 8.6% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (8.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (30% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 74% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 21% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 86% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 11% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Honor 9 audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (85.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 23.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.9% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 9.1% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (3% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (22.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 40% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 53% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 60% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 34% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Doogee Mix audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (81.8 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 38.6% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (8.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4% away from median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (8.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (27.4% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 66% of all tested devices in this class were better, 6% similar, 28% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 81% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 15% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Doogee BL5000 audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (86.1 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 40.8% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (7.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 5.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (8.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.8% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (5.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (28.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 69% of all tested devices in this class were better, 5% similar, 26% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 82% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 14% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Huawei Mate 10 Lite audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (86.5 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 28% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (7.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 5% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (5.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 10.5% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (4.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (25.5% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 58% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 35% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 75% of all tested devices were better, 5% similar, 20% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Frequency chart in comparison (Toggle checkboxes on/off!)
Battery Life
Energy Consumption
The Alpha X is quite potent and energy efficient considering its price range. Both the minimum idle consumption and consumption under load are exemplary. In terms of energy efficiency, the Alpha X is on par with its more mainstream rivals that are available in Europe. The Honor 9 falls back in this respect, although this is acceptable considering its higher performance. The included power supply recharges the phone in a little more than 2 hours.
| Off / Standby |   0.01 / 0.15 Watt |
| Idle |  0.9 / 2.14 / 2.18 Watt |
| Load |
3.96 / 5.81 Watt |
    
| |
| Maze Alpha X 3900 mAh | Honor 9 3200 mAh | Doogee Mix 3360 mAh | Doogee BL5000 5050 mAh | Huawei Mate 10 Lite 3340 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -20% | 12% | -28% | 3% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 0.9 | 1.13 -26% | 1.13 -26% | 1.44 -60% | 0.87 3% |
| Idle Average * | 2.14 | 2.25 -5% | 1.7 21% | 2.9 -36% | 2.14 -0% |
| Idle Maximum * | 2.18 | 2.3 -6% | 1.74 20% | 3 -38% | 2.16 1% |
| Load Average * | 3.96 | 4.89 -23% | 2.78 30% | 4.55 -15% | 3.7 7% |
| Load Maximum * | 5.81 | 7.99 -38% | 5.01 14% | 5.4 7% | 5.48 6% |
* ... smaller is better
Battery Life
Thanks to the Alpha X’s good energy efficiency, it is mostly able to convince us in terms of battery life, as well. The idle runtime of 27 hours is the best value among the competitors. It is even able to be on par with the Doogee BL5000 in some respects despite the X's considerably smaller battery (3900 mAh vs. 5050 mAh). The once big weakness of Chinese smartphones, their poor energy management, seems to be coming to an end.
| Maze Alpha X 3900 mAh | Honor 9 3200 mAh | Doogee Mix 3360 mAh | Doogee BL5000 5050 mAh | Huawei Mate 10 Lite 3340 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | -4% | -5% | 38% | -17% | |
| Reader / Idle | 1624 | 1399 -14% | 1486 -8% | 1150 -29% | |
| WiFi v1.3 | 603 | 516 -14% | 573 -5% | 1106 83% | 520 -14% |
| Load | 240 | 278 16% | 331 38% | 223 -7% | |
| H.264 | 564 | 502 |
Pros
Cons
Verdict
To break it down, the Alpha X is basically a solid device. Indeed, it has a lot of weaknesses, but it is nothing grave. Its design might be one of its only strengths, but let us be honest: for an RRP of around 200 Euros (~$250), one might even be tempted to say that it is in fact a well-balanced smartphone.
Cheap smartphone without serious weaknesses.
Let us quickly dive into the details once more: the screen is large, very large in fact, and it goes well with its comfortable design. The color reproduction is horrendous by modern standards, but would have been considered top-notch 3 – 4 years ago. The screen resolution and the elegantly rounded corners positively affect our impression of the phone. The cameras are doing a sufficient job, but as a customer, you should not have the highest of expectations. There is nothing to complain about in terms of performance, battery life, sturdiness, battery power, stock Android, or input devices. Did Maze find a good balance with their new device? You, the customer, need to decide.
But there is a tiny problem: we noticed that Maze has obviously made false statements concerning some specifications. The Wi-Fi is clearly not 802.11 ac and BeiDou satellite connections could not be established either. Where else did Maze make false statements? Does it even have Gorilla Glass 5? Could it even break immediately when dropped on the ground? We do not know and this leaves us with a stale aftertaste.
If you are looking for a solid, stylish smartphone with very narrow bezels and a huge display and have no issues with color inaccuracies, this may be an option for you.
For the colour-blind, the Maze Alpha X gets our unconditional recommendation.
Maze Alpha X
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02/15/2018 v6(old)
Florian Schaar
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