14 DAY TRIAL // Ubuntu fans can now freely purchase the Meizu MX4 Ubuntu Edition directly from the Meizu website. The Origami puzzle game is no longer dishing out invites.
Meizu and Canonical chose to bring the MX4 Ubuntu Edition in Europe in a different way. They weren't interested in record sales or sales numbers; they just wanted for dedicated Ubuntu fans to buy the phone. Users would enter on the official website, play a short Origami game with various trivia about the phone and OS, and maybe receive an invitation to buy the phone.
It might have looked good on paper, but the community was not very fond of this method. Meizu doubled and tripled the number of available invitations, and now the phone has been made available for free. We don't know how many phones have been sold, but we do know that "thousands" of invites have been sent. Now, that system is gone, and anyone can buy the phone.
MX4 Ubuntu Edition is freely available for purchase
This is now the first phone with Ubuntu to be made available in Europe. In fact, there are two more available, the BQ Aquaris e4.5 and BQ Aquaris E5 HD, but they are not in the same price range. BQ did a similar thing with Meizu and provided Ubuntu phones via flash sales, only to make the phones widely available at a later date.
"Good news for Ubuntu Phone fans this morning, those in the EU can now purchase the Meizu MX4 Ubuntu Edition directly from Meizu’s online store. After a successful launch period that saw thousands interact with the digital origami wall and earn invitations to purchase, consumers can now purchase a Meizu MX4 Ubuntu phone directly from Meizu’s online store!" wrote Canonical on the official website.
We already have a Meizu MX4 Ubuntu Edition, and a review will be made available this week. In the meantime, you can see what are our first impressions with the new device.