Asus zenfone max pro m1 dimensions. Review of the Asus ZenFone Max Pro M1 smartphone: capacious battery, large screen and low price. Hardware platform and software
Asus does not always manage to produce affordable and high-quality devices. However, Zenfone Max Pro (M1) is that rare and pleasant exception to the rule. A high-quality smartphone with an excellent screen, pure Android straight from Google and a very durable battery - this is all our device today. Of course, there were also narrow moments in it. About them and everything else in the review of Asus Zenfone Max Pro (M1).
Equipment
Inside the box we find a standard set of accessories:
- Micro USB cable
- wired headset
- charger 5 volts and 2 amps (not fast charging)
- and the smartphone itself
There was no case in the box, so protecting the device is entirely up to the user. Although the smartphone is well assembled, the materials are of high quality and do not scratch - you can carry it without a case.
Design and display
Here's the first thing you need to know for those looking at the Zenfone Max Pro (M1). We have a real shovel in front of us. It’s impossible to call a smartphone a miniature one.
But here is a thin body. The device is pleasant to use and still feels great in the hand.
In itself, the thickness of 8.45 mm is far from a record, but as soon as you find out that a huge battery for 5 thousand “mach” is hidden inside, your attitude changes, you will agree.
Another plus of such impressive dimensions is the huge, 6-inch display, elongated in height. In addition, its corners are neatly rounded exactly the same as in. By the way, given the clean and fast Android 8.1.0, the user experience is slightly reminiscent of Google's flagship. It's like holding a Pixel 2 XL Lite or something like that.
You can’t find fault with the quality of the IPS matrix itself. Color rendition, brightness, viewing angles - everything is at a very decent level. And the absence of an air gap makes the screen look like it was printed on glass. This makes operating your smartphone extremely pleasant.
Yes, there are fairly wide side frames, a chin and a forehead, but they are saved by the black color. The latter does not distract from what is happening on the display and soon you stop noticing the bezel around the screen altogether.
The appearance of the back side is quite controversial. The metal back was placed in a plastic edging. Yes, metal transmits the antenna signal under the body worse, but usually plastic inserts are placed on the top and bottom. And here they run along the entire perimeter.
However, what confused me more than anything else was the cameras. The vertical module, although it practically does not protrude above the body, is integrated into the design very strangely. I’m sure this moment could have been handled more elegantly, but the guys from Asus apparently didn’t bother. Well, or they thought it was beautiful (I hope they just didn’t bother).
Here, on the back side, there is a fingerprint scanner. In general, it is not difficult to reach it, but there are complaints about the speed of its work. The sensor is very average in speed and unlocks the device in 1-2 seconds. By modern standards this is quite slow.
All connectors (audio output, Micro USB and speaker) are located at the bottom. In my opinion, this is their most convenient location. A protruding charging or headphone cable will never get in the way. There is nothing on the top end other than the microphone hole. The infrared port was not delivered, but God bless him.
Specifications Asus Zenfone Max Pro (M1) ZB602KL
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor (8 Kryo 260 cores, 1.8 GHz, 14 nm)
- Adreno 509 graphics
- RAM 3 (after reboot free 1.6 GB), 4 or 6 GB GB LPDDR4X
- 32 data storage (18.64 GB available) or 64 GB eMMC 5.1
- Micro SD memory cards available (independent slot)
- 6-inch IPS display 18:9, 2160 x 1080 (402 ppi density), 85% NTSC, 450 nits brightness, 1500 to 1 contrast ratio
- main camera 13 MP (f/2.2, focal length 25 mm, phase detection autofocus, 4K+ video recording) and 5 MP
- front camera 8 MP (f/2.2, 26 mm, viewing angle 85 degrees, portrait mode)
- battery 5,000 mAh
- OS Android 8.1.0 (no shell)
- sensors: accelerometer, light and distance sensor, fingerprint scanner, compass, gyroscope
- Connectors: Micro USB (OTG works) and audio output
- Dimensions: 159 x 76 x 8.45 mm
- weight 180 g
- colors: silver and dark blue (we only sell the first)
Wireless capabilities:
- 4G, Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n 2.4 GHz), FM radio, Bluetooth 5.0 (!), NFC
- support for two SIM cards (separate slots)
- Navigation: GPS, Glonass, Beidou
In general, Asus Zenfone Max Pro (M1) has many modifications. You can choose a memory ratio from 32 to 64 GB, as well as RAM within 3 - 4 GB. In addition, in the wild (not in Russia) there is another model that received 8 gigs of RAM and a slightly upgraded main camera of 16 megapixels (f/2.0).
Asus, as always, has long names that are impossible to remember. And even if the smartphone is successful, it is simply impossible to associate it with this “Eysus-zenfon-max-pro-em-one-ze-be-six-hundred-two-ka-el.”
Maybe in Taiwan everything is ok with such names, but in Russia and throughout the world all companies try not to bother users with unnecessary information. But not Asus. Why? Don't know.
Scolded? It's time to praise, because there is something to be said for.
Firstly, here we have two slots for Nano SIM cards and a separate tray for Micro SD memory. As a result, the user does not feel deprived of either memory or communication. Definitely thank you for this!
But that's not all.
For example, the device is equipped with a Bluetooth 5.0 module. Unlike Xiaomi, which also installs modern processors in its devices, Asus did not programmatically downgrade the Bluetooth version. The fifth generation gives us better power consumption and a wide data transmission channel. Right now this is not needed, but in the future, with the advent of supported accessories, it will definitely come in handy.
In addition, the device was equipped with an NFC module.
Therefore, we download Google Pay, link the card and go to the store to pay for purchases using a contactless method. However, there is one caveat here - NFC worked for me every now and then. In one store everything can go without problems, but after 10 minutes in the next Google Pay may no longer work. This happened to me when I was waiting in line at the checkout for 3 minutes and as a result the stocked item had to be canceled, and I went to the car to get my card.
However, I tested an engineering sample; this should not be a problem in commercial devices.
Performance
In general, future owners of Zenfone Max Pro (M1) are lucky. Thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor, the device will be relevant for at least a couple of years. The predecessor, QS 625, is still installed on newly released devices and feels great. Although the “stone” was released already in 2016. In addition, the new 636th snap is one and a half times faster, which has a positive effect on performance.
The system works quickly and without brakes. It is very rare and far from always possible to notice random freezes when scrolling through, for example, the list of installed applications. Otherwise there are no complaints.
You can even play games with the Max Pro (M1). For example, you can play PUBG Mobile without any problems even on high graphics settings. There are practically no brakes or lags, it’s comfortable to play.
Cameras
But everything was going so well, huh? Unfortunately, in terms of photography, our hero is far from the best offer on the market.
The main camera of the Asus Zenfone Max Pro (M1) is below average here and shoots accordingly.
Personally, there were a few things that bothered me here. The first is distortion in the corners. Take a closer look at any photo and you will see how everything is floating in the left, upper or opposite corner.
The second unpleasant nuance is oversharing. Even without zooming in, it’s noticeable that most photos have a ton of extra noise. The algorithms that are supposed to clean up all this mess don’t work here.
And the third critical point is the strange work of the exposition. Below are a couple of the most critical examples.
In the left photo everything is dim, although it is clear that the photo was taken on a sunny day. The second frame is so bright that it burns out your eyes. But there is no necessary, golden mean.
At night everything is generally bad. It takes about the fifth or sixth time to take an unblurred frame. And even if you have iron hands, the final photo will turn out with poor detail and continuous soap throughout the frame.
I really hope that they will still have time to finish the camera. In the meantime, those interested can experiment with installing the Camera HDR+ application from Google (not always installed and not all versions).
By the way, here is a link to the archive with all the examples without resize for self-study on your computer.
Since we have two cameras here, the smartphone can blur the background. At least on paper this is so, because in reality everything looks very artificial and ugly.
I definitely wouldn’t use portrait mode on the Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1, although undemanding users will be satisfied with this quality.
Unfortunately, the front camera also cannot boast of anything outstanding. The abundant noise throughout the frame and inadequate white balance are frustrating. But the background blur, despite the fact that we have only one module here, was pleasing.
The front camera also has its own LED flash. However, it must be used with extreme caution.
Video recording
The device can record enhanced Ultra HD video. It's called 4K DCI and boasts a resolution of 4096 x 2160 pixels. Let me remind you that standard 4K has a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels, and the M1 can also shoot such video.
The picture quality is high, there is slight looseness with small artifacts, but overall it is not critical. On a smartphone, the videos look absolutely fiery.
I only disliked two points. The first is that there is no optical stabilization, even during Full HD recording. Without it, shaking of the hands is visible and you need to train so that there is no tremor that is critical for the quality of the video.
Secondly, there is no way to tap on the screen on the desired object during video shooting and refocus on it. Only the automation itself is responsible for the focus, so it will work as it pleases.
Software
The device runs on pure Android 8.1.0 with an upcoming update to the next OS revisions. And of course, the bare system, in the form in which Google intended it, is wonderful.
There is no third-party software except for Facebook and Instagram installed out of the box.
Of the nuances. Personally, I was somewhat upset by the hefty strip for on-screen buttons at the bottom. Yes, the display here is rather large, but the keys eat up a very decent amount of screen area. I would like to use navigation gestures (not yet available in Android), or provide the ability to somehow hide this panel.
However, after a week I got used to the navigation bar. Fortunately, a 6-inch screen is already enough for everything you need.
Sound
The speaker here takes the rap for the external sound alone. It is very loud, so you can only miss a call at a rock concert or Formula 1 race.
The quality of the speaker is average. As expected, there is no bass or even a hint of it, so for more or less high-quality sound, you should reduce the volume by 70% - it will still be enough.
The sound in the headphones is very decent - on par with all other modern devices. The main thing is to choose high-quality “ears” and under no circumstances use the included headset. If it seemed to you that she was normal, then know that it seemed to you.
Autonomy
Perhaps this is one of the most important advantages of a smartphone. It would not be amiss to repeat that a 5,000 mAh battery was placed inside a fairly thin 8.5 mm case. Considering that the chipset is not the most power-hungry on the market (QS 636 is created using a 14 nm process technology), the autonomy is really pleasing.
Two full days of normal use is the absolute norm for our device! The battery here is simply indestructible.
My smartphone easily worked for 2.5 days, so I even played it safe with the withdrawal. At the same time, the screen operating time was 7 hours!
I haven't seen such results for a long time. Maybe since the Xiaomi Mi Max 2 test last year. However, it was a hefty phablet, and our hero is still a smartphone, albeit with a large screen.
Full charging time from the included power supply (5V and 2A) is 3 hours. A bit much, of course, but this procedure does not need to be done often.
Bottom line
The Asus Zenfone Max Pro (M1) has a whole bunch of advantages.
The first is pure Android in the form in which it was conceived by Google with all the attendant goodies. For example, owners of this device are entitled to a bonus - 100 GB of space on Google Drive. The second is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor - the heir to the still relevant QS 625 and a worthy successor to its ideas, that is, the balance of performance and power consumption. Third, excellent autonomy, which results in two days of full-time work on one charge. And this is, perhaps, the minimum limit, because my device worked even longer. Fourth - NFC module for contactless payments. Affordable smartphones with Google Pay are now in very short supply, so our hero is a pleasant exception.
The smartphone disappoints with exactly one thing - its cameras. Both the front and rear sensors are really weak (this does not apply to video shooting). Competitors from the same price league shoot better. True, they cannot boast of NFC and comparable autonomy, but our hero can. Such is the agony of choice. Yes, I know - it's not easy.
You can buy Asus Zenfone Max Pro (M1) in the minimum configuration (3 + 32 GB) for 13,990 rubles. And this is the price tag for an official device, with a guarantee, support, and so on.
Can't believe it? Me too, so we conclude our review of Asus Zenfone Max Pro (M1) with a simple conclusion.
If the built-in camera is not important, but you need a high-quality, solid, fast device with an excellent battery and Google Pay support, then the Asus Zenfone Max Pro (M1) is the only option.
Like the Zenfone Max Plus released at the end of last year, the new product features a capacious battery, a large screen and a low price. However, in two of the three characteristics there is serious progress: the battery has become even more capacious, and the display has become even larger. The price remained at the same level: 14 thousand rubles for the version with 32 GB of internal memory and 3 GB RAM and 16 thousand rubles for the version with 64 GB of storage / 4 GB RAM.
Let's study the characteristics of the new product.
Main characteristics of the Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 (ZB602KL) model
- SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 636, 8 cores Kryo 260 @1.8 GHz
- GPU Adreno 509
- Android 8.1 Oreo operating system without additional shells and with a promised update to Android P 9.0
- Touch display IPS 6″, 2160×1080, 402 ppi
- Random access memory (RAM) 4 GB, internal memory 64 GB
- Nano-SIM support (2 pcs.)
- MicroSD support up to 2 TB
- GSM networks (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)
- WCDMA/HSPA+ networks (1, 5, 8)
- Networks LTE FDD Cat.4 (1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20), TD (40)
- Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n (2.4 GHz)
- Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, LE
- Micro-USB 2.0 OTG support
- GPS, A-GPS, Glonass, BDS
- Front camera: viewing angle 84.8°, 8 MP photo;
- Main rear camera: 13 MP photo, 4K video 30 fps
- Additional rear camera: 5 MP photo, used as an auxiliary camera for the main one
- Proximity and light sensors, accelerometer, compass, magnetometer, gyroscope
- Fingerprint scanner, face recognition sensor
- Battery 5000 mAh
- Dimensions 159×76×8.5 mm
- Weight 180 g
For clarity, let’s compare the characteristics of the new product with its predecessor, Asus Zenfone Max Plus, to understand what has been changed. And as competitors we will point out the recently tested Meizu M6s and Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus.
| Asus Zenfone Max Pro | Asus Zenfone Max Plus | Meizu M6s | Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | 6″, IPS, 2160×1080, 402 ppi | 5.65″, IPS, 2160×1080, 480 ppi | 5.7″, IPS, 1440×720, 282 ppi | 5.66″, IPS, 2160×1080, 403 ppi |
| SoC (processor) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 (8 cores Kryo 260 @1.8 GHz) | MediaTek MT6750T (4x Cortex-A53 @1.5 GHz + 4x Cortex-A53 @1.0 GHz) | Samsung Exynos 7872 (4x Cortex-A53 @1.6 GHz + 2x Cortex-A73 @2.0 GHz) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 (8 cores Cortex-A53 @2.0 GHz) |
| Flash memory | 32/64 GB | 32/64 GB | 32/64 GB | 32/64 GB |
| Connectors | Micro-USB connector | Micro-USB connector | Micro-USB connector | Micro-USB connector |
| Memory card support | up to 2 TB | microSD up to 128 GB | up to 256 GB | up to 128 GB |
| RAM | 3/4 GB | 3/4 GB | 3 GB | 3/4 GB |
| Cameras | main rear (photo 13 MP; video 4K 30 fps), additional rear (photo 5 MP), front (8 MP) | main rear (16 MP photo, Full HD video 30 fps), additional rear (8 MP photo), front (8 MP) | main (photo 16 MP, video 1080p 60 fps), front (8 MP) | main (photo 12 MP; video 4K 30 fps), front (5 MP) |
| User identification sensors | face recognition, fingerprint scanner | Fingerprint's scanner | Fingerprint's scanner | Fingerprint's scanner |
| Housing protection | No | No | No | No |
| Battery capacity (mAh) | 5000 | 3300 | 3000 | 4000 |
| operating system | Google Android 8.1 | Google Android 7.0 (with ZenUI 4.0 shell) | Android 7.0 (with Flyme 6.3 shell) | Android 7.1.2 (with MIUI 9.2 Global shell) |
| Dimensions (mm) | 159×76×8.5 | 153×73×8.8 | 152×73×8 | 159×76×8 |
| Weight (g) | 180 | 160 | 160 | 180 |
| Average price (for version with minimum flash memory) | ||||
| Retail offers Asus ZenFone Max Pro M1 (3/32 GB) | ||||
| Retail offers Asus ZenFone Max Pro M1 (4/64 GB) | ||||
The comparison table shows a very interesting picture: we see that in most parameters the new product is superior not only to its predecessor, but also to competing devices in the same price category. Let's pay attention to the screen size, battery capacity, version of the operating system (and without shells, which is a plus for many users), the presence of a facial recognition function (the only one of all the devices in the table!), the number and capabilities of cameras.
How is Zenfone Max Pro inferior to its competitors? Firstly, in thickness (the difference is about half a millimeter), and secondly, in the resolution of the main camera.
However, characteristics, as we know, are not everything. Let's move on to a personal acquaintance with the Asus device and study its strengths and weaknesses.
Packaging and accessories
The smartphone comes in a fairly large box, where in addition to the device itself you can find a 5 V 2 A charging block that supports the fast charging function, a Micro-USB cable, in-ear headphones similar to those included with the Asus Zenfone 5, a user manual leaflet and key clip for removing the SIM card/microSD slot.
In general, the equipment is standard, there is nothing beyond the usual “gentleman’s minimum” here, but again I would like to praise the decent headphones - unlike the garbage that is often included with inexpensive smartphones, you can safely use this headset and not run to the store the first time day for a more decent option.
Design
The appearance of the new Asus smartphone largely inherits from the Zenfone Max Plus - it also has a metal body with rounded edges - but the feel of the device is different. First, it's thinner, so despite the large battery and 6-inch screen, the Zenfone Max Pro doesn't feel bulky. And secondly, the frames around the screen are smaller and, therefore, the usable front surface area is larger.
The remaining changes are less significant, although they still cannot be ignored. So, the two cameras on the back surface are now located vertically, one above the other, and not horizontally. Don't ask why. So fashionable :) However, you can sneer at the imitation of some market leaders as much as you like, but human psychology works like this: a vertical unit with two cameras is now a sign of a new device. So, as they say, it’s a small thing, but it’s nice. In addition, the manufacturer claims that the placement of the cameras affects the ability to implement the background blur effect (bokeh).
A much less noticeable, but actually more important feature is the updated speaker. Despite the fact that it is located only on one side, the sound quality and volume are really very decent.
But the set and arrangement of connectors and slots have not changed. On the right side there is a volume rocker and a Power button (of course, all metal), on the left side there is a cradle with three slots that can be pulled out using a key clip: for two Micro-SIM cards and one microSD (maximum capacity up to 2 TB).
We've previously noted that Asus is one of the few manufacturers that doesn't require the user to choose between two SIM cards or one SIM card plus one microSD. For example, the competitor Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus has only two slots, and many other competitors do too. Zenfone Max Pro offers “honest” three slots. Even in the most budget model.
Alas, like its predecessor, the Max Pro uses a Micro-USB connector instead of the much more convenient USB Type-C. But even the more expensive Zenfone 5 Lite does not have USB Type-C, that is, it remains the exclusive prerogative of the upper segment. What did appear, and quite unexpectedly for a device costing 14-16 thousand, was a facial recognition function.
Previously, we saw it in Asus Zenfone 5. And we can only be glad that the manufacturer did not limit the use of the technology, “putting” it into the device for 14 thousand. We have tested the functionality of this option. It only takes a couple of minutes to set it up, and most of the time is spent pressing the “yes”, “yes”, “next” buttons... The face scanning itself takes only a couple of seconds, and when everything is set up, unlocking happens almost instantly.
We haven't had the opportunity to use this feature for a long time and evaluate its "learnability", but apparently there are no differences in the algorithm and hardware implementation from the Asus Zenfone 5. So, again, we warmly welcome the presence of the option. Of course, the smartphone also has a fingerprint scanner, which is usually located on the back surface under the index finger.
Note that the device fits well in a medium-sized hand, fits in a jeans pocket and looks quite elegant, not “shovel-shaped”. Despite the low price, it doesn’t feel cheap. So the overall impressions of the design are positive.
Screen
The smartphone screen has a diagonal of 6 inches and a resolution of 2160x1080. This gives a dots per inch density corresponding to 402 ppi. By the way, Zenfone 5 Lite, whose price is higher, has the same parameters. And compared to its predecessor, Zenfone Max Plus, the screen has become larger. However, size and resolution are not the only characteristics that affect user experience. So let's take a closer look at the screen. Conducted detailed testing Alexey Kudryavtsev .
The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface that is scratch-resistant. Judging by the reflection of objects, the anti-glare properties of the screen are slightly better than those of the Google Nexus 7 (2013) screen (hereinafter simply Nexus 7). For clarity, here is a photo in which a white surface is reflected in the switched off screens (on the left - Nexus 7, on the right - Asus ZenFone Max Pro, then they can be distinguished by size):
The screen of the Asus ZenFone Max Pro is slightly darker (brightness according to photographs is 112 versus 116 for the Nexus 7). The ghosting of reflected objects in the Asus ZenFone Max Pro screen is very weak, this indicates that there is no air gap between the layers of the screen (more specifically, between the outer glass and the surface of the LCD matrix) (OGS - One Glass Solution type screen). Due to the smaller number of boundaries (glass/air type) with very different refractive indices, such screens look better in conditions of intense external illumination, but their repair in the case of cracked external glass is much more expensive, since the entire screen has to be replaced (the manufacturer, however, promises when purchasing in a company online store).
On the outer surface of the screen there is a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating, which is approximately the same in effectiveness as the Nexus 7, so fingerprints are removed much more easily and appear at a lower speed than in the case of regular glass.
When manually controlling brightness and when outputting a white field full screen the maximum brightness value was about 450 cd/m², the minimum - 5.4 cd/m². The maximum brightness is high, therefore, given the excellent anti-glare properties, screen readability even on a sunny day outdoors should be at an acceptable level. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable value. There is automatic brightness adjustment based on the light sensor (it is located to the left of the front speaker slot). In automatic mode, as external lighting conditions change, the screen brightness both increases and decreases. The operation of this function depends on the position of the brightness adjustment slider. If it is 100%, then in complete darkness the auto-brightness function reduces the brightness to 135 cd/m² (too bright), in an office illuminated by artificial light (about 550 lux) it sets it to 340 cd/m² (normal), in a very bright environment ( corresponds to lighting on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or a little more) the brightness increases to 450 cd/m² (to the maximum, which is what is needed). If the slider is approximately 50%, then the values are as follows: 10, 200 and 450 cd/m² (normal), and if the slider is at 0% - 1.9, 35 and 450 cd/m² (the first and second values are too low). It turns out that the auto-brightness function works adequately and, to some extent, allows the user to customize their work to individual requirements. At any brightness level, there is no significant backlight modulation, so there is no screen flicker.
This smartphone uses an IPS matrix. The microphotographs show a typical IPS subpixel structure:
For comparison, you can see the gallery of microphotographs of screens used in mobile technology.
The screen has good viewing angles without significant color shift even with large viewing deviations from perpendicular to the screen and without inverting shades. For comparison, here are photographs in which identical images are displayed on the screens of Asus ZenFone Max Pro and Nexus 7, while the screen brightness is initially set to approximately 200 cd/m², and the color balance on the camera is forcibly switched to 6500 K.
There is a white field perpendicular to the screens:
Note the good uniformity of brightness and color tone of the white field.
And a test picture:
The colors on the screen of the Asus ZenFone Max Pro are clearly oversaturated, and the color balance of the screens is slightly different.
Recall that photography can not serve as a reliable source of information about color rendering quality and are provided for illustrative purposes only. The reason is that the spectral sensitivity of the camera sensor does not exactly match this characteristic of human vision.
Now at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen:
It can be seen that the colors have not changed much on both screens, but on the Asus ZenFone Max Pro the contrast has decreased to a greater extent due to the greater brightening of blacks.
And a white field:
The brightness of the screens at an angle has decreased (by at least 5 times, based on the difference in shutter speed), but the screen of the Asus ZenFone Max Pro is still a little darker. When deviated diagonally, the black field is brightened greatly, but remains conditionally neutral gray. The photographs below demonstrate this (the brightness of the white areas in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the screens is the same!):
And from another angle:
When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the black field is good:
The contrast (approximately in the center of the screen) is high - about 1050:1. The response time for the black-white-black transition is 21 ms (11 ms on + 10 ms off). The transition between halftones of gray 25% and 75% (based on the numerical value of the color) and back takes a total of 34 ms. The gamma curve, constructed using 32 points with equal intervals based on the numerical value of the shade of gray, did not reveal a blockage either in the highlights or in the shadows. The exponent of the approximating power function is 2.26, which is slightly larger than the standard value of 2.2. In this case, the real gamma curve deviates little from the power-law dependence:
This device has a not very aggressive dynamic adjustment of the backlight brightness in accordance with the nature of the displayed image - on dark images, the backlight brightness decreases. As a result, the resulting dependence of brightness on hue (gamma curve) does not correspond to the gamma curve of a static image, since the measurements were carried out with sequential display of shades of gray on almost the entire screen. For this reason, we carried out a number of tests - determining contrast and response time, comparing black illumination at angles - (however, as always) when displaying special templates with a constant average brightness, and not monochromatic fields in the entire screen. In general, such a non-switchable brightness correction does nothing but harm, since constantly changing the screen brightness can at least cause some discomfort, reduce the visibility of gradations in shadows in the case of dark images and the readability of the screen in bright light, since in average images the brightness is not the lightest backlight is reduced.
Color gamut is slightly wider than sRGB:
Let's look at the spectra:
The spectra of the components are well separated, which results in a wide color gamut. We have already seen this in the case, for example, of the Sony Xperia Z2 and other mobile devices. Sony indicates that these screens use LEDs with a blue emitter and green and red phosphor (usually a blue emitter and a yellow phosphor), which, in combination with special matrix filters, allows for a wide color gamut. Yes, and the red phosphor apparently uses so-called quantum dots. For a consumer device, a wide color gamut is not an advantage, but a significant disadvantage, since as a result, the colors of images - drawings, photographs and films - oriented to the sRGB space (and the vast majority of them) have an unnatural saturation. This is especially noticeable on recognizable shades, such as skin tones. The result is shown in the photo above.
The balance of shades on the scale is not bad, since the color temperature is slightly higher than the standard 6500 K - about 7200 K - and the deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) is about 10, which is considered an acceptable indicator for a consumer device. At the same time, color temperature and ΔE change little from hue to hue - this has a positive effect on the visual assessment of color balance. There is an option in the screen settings Screen color:
By adjusting this adjustment, you can slightly improve the color balance by lowering the color temperature, while ΔE practically does not change and remains about 10. (The darkest areas of the gray scale can be ignored, since the color balance there is not of great importance, and the error in measuring color characteristics on low brightness is large.)
There is a fancy setting that allows you to reduce the intensity of the blue component.
About eye strain marketers came up with it, but the statement about fall asleep faster partly true. In principle, bright light can lead to disruption of the daily (circadian) rhythm (see article about ), but everything can be solved by adjusting the brightness to a comfortable level, and there is absolutely no point in distorting the color balance, reducing the contribution of blue.
To summarize: the screen has a high maximum brightness and has excellent anti-glare properties, so the device can be used outdoors even on a sunny summer day without any problems. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable level. It is also possible to use a mode with automatic brightness adjustment, which works quite adequately. Also, the advantages of the screen include an effective oleophobic coating, the absence of an air gap in the layers of the screen and flicker, and high contrast. The disadvantages are low black stability to deviation of the gaze from perpendicular to the screen plane, non-switchable brightness correction depending on the displayed image, and excessive color saturation. Nevertheless, taking into account the importance of characteristics for this particular class of devices, the quality of the screen can be considered high.
Productivity and Communications
The smartphone runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 SoC. This SoC, already familiar to us from, includes eight Kryo 260 cores operating at 1.8 GHz. The SoC also includes the Adreno 509 GPU. The amount of RAM in the model we tested is 3 GB, although there are options with 4 GB RAM, as well as a large amount of built-in flash memory. Considering that the price difference is only 2,000 rubles, the second option seems preferable to us. But let's see what the younger modification is capable of!
For comparison, we present the results of the same smartphones that appeared in the table at the beginning of the article. Note that, along with the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus, the Asus model can also be considered a competitor, equipped with the same SoC as the Zenfone Max Pro. However, Redmi Note 5 costs several thousand more in official retail, and in this segment every thousand rubles counts. Therefore, we decided to compare Zenfone Max Pro with Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus.
Let's start with browser tests. For all smartphones, testing was carried out in the Chrome browser.
The results are clear: Zenfone Max Pro is the undisputed leader. The Meizu M6s comes closest to it, but in all three tests the Asus smartphone still outperforms its competitor, and the difference is greater than the possible error.
Let's look at the results in comprehensive tests AnTuTu 6 and GeekBench 4.
Here the results are even more revealing. The superiority of the new product over its predecessor is especially obvious, but the products of competing manufacturers are also left far behind.
The last set of tests are game scenes demonstrating work with 3D graphics: 3DMark and GFXBenchmark.
| Asus Zenfone Max Pro (Qualcomm Snapdragon 636) |
Asus Zenfone Max Plus (MediaTek MT6750T) |
Meizu M6s (Samsung Exynos 7872) |
Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus (Qualcomm Snapdragon 625) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3DMark Sling Shot Extreme ES 3.1 (more is better) |
934 | 388 | 420 | 466 |
(Onscreen, fps) |
9,8 | 4,4 | 12 | 6 |
| GFXBenchmark Manhattan ES 3.1 (1080p Offscreen, fps) |
10 | 4,6 | 5 | 7 |
| GFXBenchmark T-Rex (Onscreen, fps) |
35 | 16 | 24 | 21 |
| GFXBenchmark T-Rex (1080p Offscreen, fps) |
36 | 17 | 17 | 23 |
So, now there is no longer any doubt: in its segment (about 15 thousand rubles) Asus Zenfone Max Pro occupies a leading position in terms of performance. All the numbers speak volumes about this. An attentive reader may ask: why in the test GFXBenchmark Manhattan ES 3.1 (Onscreen, fps) did the test subject demonstrate fewer frames per second than the Meizu M6s? But the answer is quite simple: since in this test the image is displayed on the screen in the same resolution as the smartphone screen, the Meizu M6s with its 1440x720 pixels gets a natural advantage, which does not at all indicate higher performance.
Thermal photographs
Below is a thermal image rear surface obtained after 10 minutes of battery testing in the GFXBenchmark program:
Heating is more localized in the upper right part of the device, which apparently corresponds to the location of the SoC chip. According to the heat chamber, the maximum heating was 37 degrees (at an ambient temperature of 24 degrees), which is not very much.
Playing video
Video playback testing completed Alexey Kudryavtsev.
We did not find the MHL interface, like Mobility DisplayPort, in this smartphone, so we had to limit ourselves to testing the output of video files on the screen of the device itself. To do this, we used a set of test files with an arrow and a rectangle moving one division per frame (see “Method for testing video playback and display devices. Version 1 (for mobile devices)”). Screenshots with a shutter speed of 1 s helped determine the nature of the output of frames of video files with various parameters: the resolution varied (1280 by 720 (720p), 1920 by 1080 (1080p) and 3840 by 2160 (4K) pixels) and frame rate (24, 25, 30, 50 and 60 fps). In tests we used the standard video player. The test results are summarized in the table:
| File | Uniformity | Passes |
|---|---|---|
| not playable | ||
| not playable | ||
| Great | No | |
| Great | No | |
| Great | No | |
| Great | No | |
| Great | No | |
| Great | No | |
| Great | No | |
| Great | No | |
| Great | No | |
| Great | No | |
Note: If in both columns Uniformity And Passes Green ratings are given, this means that, most likely, when watching films, artifacts caused by uneven alternation and frame skipping will either not be visible at all, or their number and visibility will not affect the viewing comfort. Red marks indicate possible problems with playback of the corresponding files.
According to the criterion of frame output, the quality of playback of video files on the screen of the smartphone itself is very good, since frames or groups of frames can (but are not required) be output with uniform alternation of intervals and without gaps. When playing video files with a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels (1080p) on a smartphone screen, the image of the video file itself is displayed exactly at the height of the screen (in landscape orientation), one to one in pixels, that is, in the original resolution. The brightness range displayed on the screen corresponds to the standard range of 16-235: all gradations of shades are displayed in shadows and highlights. Note: this smartphone has support for hardware decoding of H.265 files with a color depth of 10 bits per color, but display output is apparently still carried out in 8-bit mode.
Camera
The smartphone is equipped with three cameras, two of which are rear and give a resolution of 13 megapixels and 5 megapixels. And the front camera allows you to take 8-megapixel selfies.
However, as you know, camera resolution is not the only important indicator. We tested using our method. Comments on the results Anton Soloviev.
The camera turned out to be good. It could well be called a flagship if it weren’t for the annoying blur zone on the left side of the frame (possibly a defect) and the rough work of the noise reduction in the shadows. Otherwise, the camera is very nice: good detail in the field of the frame and in the plans, not so bad work in the shadows, despite the noise, excellent macro photography. As a result, the camera copes well with sufficient lighting, and somewhat worse with insufficient light, but still remains functional. It is quite suitable for documentary and artistic photography.
It is difficult for the camera: ripples are visible in the image when posting, the picture twitches. However, this is also explained by the low frame rate - on average about 24 fps. Things are getting better, but the camera copes quite well at 30 fps.
Battery life
The non-removable battery installed in the Asus Zenfone Max Pro has a capacity of 5000 mAh. For a standard-sized device, this is a very large capacity, even exceeding that of the Zenfone Max Plus (although it was slightly thicker). Therefore, of course, we were especially interested in how the smartphone would perform.
Testing was traditionally carried out at normal power consumption levels without using the energy saving features, and the screen brightness was set at 100 cd/m², which is optimal for use in moderately lit rooms. The results of Zenfone Max Pro and competitors are shown in the table below.
| Battery capacity | Reading mode | Online video mode | 3D Game Mode | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asus Zenfone Max Pro | 5000 mAh | 28 hours 55 minutes | 21:30 | 12:14 pm |
| Asus Zenfone Max Plus | 4130 mAh | 17:00 | 10:00 am | 5 hours 55 minutes |
| Meizu M6s | 3000 mAh | 13:00 | 10:00 am | 4 hours 20 minutes |
| Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus | 4000 mAh | 16:20 | 12:25 pm | 9:00 a.m. |
| Asus Zenfone 5 Lite | 3300 mAh | 18:30 | 14:30 | 6:30 a.m. |
| Asus Zenfone 5 | 3300 mAh | 18:30 | 14:30 | 6:30 a.m. |
| iPhone X | 2716 mAh | — | 10:00 am | 3:00 am |
Continuous reading in the FBReader program (with a white theme) lasted about 28 hours 55 minutes until the battery was completely discharged. Yes, yes, this is not a typo or measurement error! The smartphone actually sat with the e-reader open for more than a day without turning off.
When continuously watching YouTube videos in high quality (720p) via a home Wi-Fi network, it lasted about 21.5 hours - also an excellent result.
Finally, the GFX Benchmark Manhattan battery test, which simulates 3D games, gave a result of 12 hours 14 minutes - among the smartphones we have tested recently, this is an absolute record.
But the advantages of Zenfone Max Pro are not limited to this. The device supports fast charging: using the included power supply, it charges from zero to 100% in just 2 hours 45 minutes (we tested). At the same time, the screen shows how much time is left and what kind of charging is in progress - fast or slow (if you are using some other power supply).
Interestingly, even with fast charging for more than two hours, the device does not heat up, and the power supply remains moderately warm.
And one more thing: in sleep mode, the smartphone loses only 1% of its charge overnight, this is a very good result. But in general, the battery discharges quite evenly, so there is no need to be afraid that from 50% to zero the device will last significantly less than from 100% to 50%.
Bottom line
It looks like Asus has made one of the best mid-budget smartphones of the year. There are at least several circumstances in favor of this bold statement: firstly, the combination of decent performance (higher than competitors in the same price category and even many more expensive devices) and excellent battery life (again, practically unrivaled); secondly, a large screen of good quality and a very nice, all-metal body design; and thirdly, one of the best technological equipment in its class - we are talking, first of all, about the facial recognition function, but also about support for microSD cards up to 2 TB, Bluetooth 5.0 and the latest version of Android, without additional shells, but with the promise of an update to Android 9.0.
Of course, it would be strange if the smartphone had no flaws at all. These include the lack of stabilization when shooting video (this is very noticeable), the inability to switch between two rear cameras, and some imperfections in the pictures themselves. However, compared to its predecessor, released just six months ago, everything has become much better in this regard - for example, 4K video recording has appeared.
Well, it’s unnecessary to expect from a smartphone for 14-16 thousand rubles those options that are currently only characteristic of higher-class devices - for example, USB Type-C and Wi-Fi 802.11ac 5 GHz. This is not here, but such a solution cannot even be called a disadvantage, because if the above-mentioned things were there, then Asus would have to save on something else. Whereas now Zenfone Max Pro gives the impression of a balanced product and clearly aimed at the expectations and needs of the vast majority of users.
For its excellent, very rare combination of a thin body and a capacious battery, the Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 deserves our editorial Original Design award.
Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 smartphone provided for testing by the manufacturer
Positioning
I don’t know what happened in the kingdom of ASUS in Taiwan, but in 2018 the manufacturer produces not smartphones, but hits for its price segments. Recently there was a review of “,” which is probably the best solution in terms of price/quality/design ratio in the segment up to 30 thousand rubles. Based on my recommendation, several friends purchased the device and were satisfied. One friend initially bought Zenfone 5 for his wife, but after the purchase he kept it for himself, and gave her his “flagship killer” iteration five plus. Although before that I was a fan of the brand.
Today I would like to talk about ASUS Zenfone MAX Pro (M1). The smartphone is notable, firstly, because it’s time for the company to take some courses on naming, because with each new device the number of words in the title is growing.
And secondly, and this is the main thing, Max Pro (M1), in my opinion, should be considered first of all if the goal is to purchase a smartphone worth up to 20 thousand rubles.
During almost two weeks of testing, from a consumer point of view, I was satisfied; using the smartphone is very comfortable.
By the way, I didn’t pay attention to the ASUS slogan before: IN SEARCH OF INCREDIBLE - “In search of the incredible.”
In my opinion, the MAX Pro (M1) is very consistent with the stated strategy, since the company is positioning the device for 13,990 rubles as a gaming device. They even made a chant: “Live while playing!” Oxymoron, right? This is truly in search of the incredible. However, while playing PUBG Mobile on high graphics settings, I constantly caught myself thinking: “Damn it, we didn’t lie!”
The device has an amazing 636 chipset from Qualcomm, which copes with any games with a bang, a dual photo module of excellent quality, a screen with a large brightness reserve (450 nits) and a 5,000 mAh battery (that is, you can forget about the outlet for at least 2 days). Not bad already, right? However, ASUS met Russian customers halfway and added NFC exclusively for our market. Finally, at least someone started listening to the consumer. I wish other manufacturers would soon follow the example.
And here is “pure” Android Oreo 8.1. This set makes Zenfone MAX Pro a very attractive solution. Currently, with a price of 13,990 rubles, ASUS Zenfone MAX Pro (M1) beats various iterations of the “best” smartphones, Finnish-Chinese devices, and “Chinese achievements.” Do you think otherwise? Come discuss in the comments.
Contents of delivery
Standard delivery set:
If you buy on the company’s official website, you will receive a headset with support for high-resolution audio formats as a gift.
Specifications
- Processor: Qualcomm SDM636 Snapdragon 636, Octa-core 1.8 GHz Kryo 260, Adreno 509 graphics
- Operating system: Android 8.1 (Oreo)
- Memory: 3/4 GB / 32/64 GB, microSD support up to 2 TB, separate slot
- Screen: 6.0 inches, IPS LCD, 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio, 404 ppi, 450 nits brightness, 85% NTSC coverage, 2.5D glass
- Battery: Li-Ion 5000 mAh, fast charging available
- Main camera: 2 photo modules: 13 MP (f/2.2, 25 mm, 1.12 µm, PDAF) + 5 MP (f/2.4, 1.12 µm), HDR, panorama, 4K video recording, FullHD@30fps, LED flash, shooting static photos when recording videos
- Front camera: 8 MP (f/2.2, 26 mm, 1.0 µm), 1080p video recording
- Sim card: 2 Nano-SIM, both SIM cards are active at the same time, VoLTE
- Network and data transmission: GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G, 4G LTE, CAT12 3CA 4X4 MIMO LTE (up to 600 Mb/s), VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4/5GHz), Bluetooth v 5.0 (LE, AD2P, AptX), Bluetooth HID GPS, A-GPS, Glonass, BDS, NFC
- Sensors: Fingerprint (rear), accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, compass
- Other: Android Pay (NFC), FM radio, 3.5 mm jack, 2 microphones for noise reduction, face unlock, 5-magnetic speaker and built-in power-managed audio codec
- Color: silver and black
- Materials: 2.5D glass and aluminum
- Dimensions: 76 x 159 x 8.45 mm, 180 grams
- Price: 13,990 / 15,990 rubles
Appearance and screen
ASUS - well done: they found an almost ideal form factor for their phones. Despite the screen size of 6.0 inches, the body is similar to devices with a 5.5 screen. The smartphone is comfortable to hold with one hand, and your finger naturally falls on the fingerprint scanner.
The device is made in an all-metal case. It’s surprising, by the way, that despite the aluminum and 5000 mAh battery, the smartphone weighs 180 grams. The case is matte, there are no fingerprints on it.
On the left side there is a slot for two Nano-SIM cards and one microSD up to 2 TB. Manufacturers love to boast about big numbers. For reference to the curious: the largest microSD available for purchase today has a size of 512 GB and a price tag of 22 thousand rubles.
On the right are the volume rocker and power button. The power button has a pattern of concentric circles. It’s interesting how such decisions are made? Probably one of the designers gave a presentation and defended the importance of their vision of how the perception of the phone would change thanks to such a button. But I noticed the pattern only a week later, when I started writing the review.
At the top there is only a microphone.
The lower end is more interesting; there is a microUSB port, another microphone, a 3.5 mm headset jack, and a 5-magnetic speaker, which ASUS is very proud of. In the “Multimedia” section we will try to find out why.
On the back there is a fingerprint scanner, which, as I already said, is very well located. There is also a flash and a double photo module, on which, probably, so as not to raise any doubts, they even wrote “DUAL CAMERA”
The front of the smartphone is covered with 2.5D protective glass. Previously, 2.5D glass was the prerogative of flagships. It’s great that manufacturers are now using this solution in lower price segments. The main advantage of 2.5D glass is that, due to the rounded edges, the phone is much more pleasant to hold in your hand. And this adds zest to the appearance of the device. On the front panel there is a speaker, a camera eye and a flash, which is almost invisible.
We should talk about the screen in more detail. Deserves it. The device has a 6.0-inch IPS LCD with a resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels. With Zenfone 5, ASUS has already shown that it can make unreal screens; with Max Pro (M1) the company continues to surprise. Firstly, the screen is very bright - 450 nits. Working with the device in the sun is just as comfortable as indoors.
Secondly, there is 85% NTSC color gamut. This is much more than standard sRGB.
And thirdly, the contrast is 1500:1. Perhaps the best value among devices up to 20,000 thousand rubles.
Actually, such a rich display was made possible thanks to Qualcomm’s proprietary technologies – TruPallete (for accurate color reproduction) and EcoPix (for better contrast in the sun). In addition to improving the picture, the same EcoPix is more careful with the battery, since the function works in real time with each pixel separately. These are very useful features, so general advice: pay attention and try to choose devices that support them. As I understand it, the technologies go together, that is, if TruPallette is announced, then EcoPix is also announced, and vice versa.
The screen has excellent viewing angles.
I’m glad that Android has a “Smart Screen” function, thanks to which the screen does not go dark when you look at it. It's comfortable. You can set the backlight operating time to a minimum value so as not to waste battery power
Performance
The smartphone runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 platform. This is one of the best processors on the market today. There is Kryo 260 CPU technology: 8 cores – 4 are designed for maximum performance, and another 4 are for energy efficiency. Compared to the previous version of Snapdragon 630, the performance increase is 40%. Adreno 509 graphics have also significantly improved and become more than 60% faster compared to version 506. The smartphone also has a choice of 3 or 4 GB of RAM and 32 or 64 GB of main memory.
In the AnTuTu test, the smartphone achieves pleasant numbers. ASUS especially emphasizes that thanks to the latest version of pure Android and additional optimization, the device receives 3-4 thousand more points than competitors on a similar platform.
You can run synthetic tests for a long time, talk about fast RAM and various optimizations, but the motto of the smartphone is “Live while playing,” so let the smartphone speak for itself. Still, it’s better to see it once.
Let me introduce PUBG Mobile on high settings:
Not bad, right? Appetite comes with eating. Let's do some more. Modern Combat 5, known for eating graphic resources with a spoon and asking for more:
Good again. What if it's a fighting game? Mortal Combat is the champion of the genre:
Well, and finally, something with a catchy plot and cool graphics:
And, of course, tanks:
I won't even summarize. Everything is on video. A smartphone costing 13 thousand has the performance of a flagship. One can only applaud the duo of Qualcomm and ASUS.
Battery life
The word “Max” in the name of the smartphone initially refers specifically to battery performance. It has the maximum size here – 5000 mAh. By the way, I wonder how ASUS managed to squeeze such a large battery into a case only 8.45 mm thick?
Typically, manufacturers who supply such large batteries strive to compensate for internal defects and old, unoptimized hardware. However, the Snapdragon 636 chipset is made using the current 14 nm process technology, so the smartphone produces excellent results. Bringing the battery down to zero in one day is a very difficult task.
For example, for this you need to play 7.3 hours of PUBG. In races like Asphalt 8, continuous play time increases to 11 hours. But I trained in Modern Combat. In my opinion, the numbers are unrealistic. 10 hours of 3D gaming with powerful graphics and 100% brightness. This is impressive:
If you start autoplaying videos on YouTube, you get more than 19 hours. Impressive number, right?
But the Netflix application is not as optimized as Google’s YouTube on pure Android, so it’s “only” 15 hours.
If you use your smartphone to its fullest and don’t deny yourself anything, you can “land” it in a day:
The smartphone has a powerful charger, so the time from 0 to 100% is 2 hours 42 minutes. This is a good value for such a large battery.
ASUS managed to make a smartphone with excellent battery life. The phone is good both as a main device and as a second number, for example, for travel. A powerful battery will not let you get bored on the road on a train or plane; before and upon arrival you don’t have to look for an outlet.
Communication capabilities
It’s boring to talk about communication capabilities. Of course, the smartphone communicates well, and Wi-Fi is up to par, and even the latest version of Bluetooth is version 5.0. This means that you can connect two headsets to your smartphone at the same time. And in terms of energy efficiency, a big step forward. By the way, it’s great that there is support for AptX codecs. Slowly but surely, Bluetooth audio quality is getting closer to wired.
And since ASUS firmly adheres to the position that the Max Pro (M1) is a gaming smartphone, there is a Bluetooth Human Interface Device Profile, or HID. This means that the smartphone has improved compatibility with various joysticks, gamepads, keyboards and other gadgets designed to diversify the gaming experience. If you don’t play, you can just be glad that the smartphone works better by default, since now many devices are adding an HID profile by default.
However, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that ASUS has released a special version of the smartphone with an NFC module specifically for Russia. NFC is still a rarity in phones even for 20,000 rubles, so the Max PRO (M1) compares favorably with its peers. ASUS has installed a high-quality module that can be used both for Android Pay and, for example, to top up a Troika card.
System and multimedia
I suppose you remember that ASUS has a proprietary ZenUI user interface, but the company is not afraid to experiment and decided to offer users “pure” Android 8.1. Actually, the presence of Android without additional shells means that you will receive updates directly from Google, that is, your smartphone always has the latest version of the operating system and the most up-to-date security patches.
Another advantage of pure Android is the ability to completely customize the system for yourself, installing only those applications that you specifically need. By the way, in Android 8.1 you can see how far the system has stepped forward. Previously, in terms of software features, the OS was inferior to proprietary shells. Now Google has stepped up significantly and significantly modernized the system.
For example, there is a clever Screen On feature that keeps the screen active while the user is looking at it.
There is face unlocking. Unfortunately, I don’t know the specifics of the technology, but I couldn’t deceive you with the photo:
The fingerprint scanner is lightning fast. By the way, the system allows you to enter the same finger into the system twice, which significantly increases the accuracy of operation, even when your hands are wet.
What I miss most about “pure” Android is gesture control, which is so often found in proprietary shells. I was very pleasantly surprised when I found a “stash” in the settings in the form of proprietary gestures with ZenUI
In the case of ASUS Zenfone Max Pro (M1), you definitely need to talk about the sound. As I wrote, the phone is designed for mobile gaming, but how can you play without a high-quality soundtrack?
The smartphone has a 5-magnetic speaker with an NXP smart audio amplifier. All this means that the phone has powerful and rich sound. The maximum volume in decibels is 93 dB. And it seems that Max Pro (M1) is the loudest device on the market. The closest competitor, the three-letter brand's flagship phone, is 3 dB quieter. In general, smartphones typically have a volume level of 70–80 dB, but here it’s 93 dB. The smartphone truly turned out to be loud. You can safely take it as a portable speaker. And in terms of battery life, Max Pro (M1) will probably give any speaker a head start. Unfortunately, the review does not include a sound example, so go and turn the device in your hands and listen to it live.
I'm always happy when they don't forget to install a radio on smartphones. It will help out if you have poor internet connection or your battery is almost empty. There’s no need to say much about the radio, the main thing is that they didn’t forget to add.
Camera
Usually, smartphones in the lower price segment have one strong “selling” side, and everything else is very inferior. So far, ASUS Zenfone Max Pro (M1) is running smoothly. The device has a powerful battery, loud sound, a rich screen with a large margin of brightness, top-end performance and good body materials. Agree, it would be a pity if the camera turned out to be rubbish. ASUS probably thought so, so a dual photo module with a combination of 13 MP (f/2.2, 25 mm, 1.12 µm, PDAF) + 5 MP (f/2.4, 1.12 µm) and with support for recording in 4K was installed as the main camera . The second photo module is responsible for portrait photography with a background blur effect.
An 8 MP camera with a field of view of 85 degrees is responsible for selfies - you can take pictures with a group, everyone will fit in.
Google's camera app is powerful. Of course, you can download and install another one if the built-in one is not to your liking. It's pretty good though. Of course, there is an auto mode and many presets for various scenes. I think that's enough for the vast majority. However, the manual mode turned out to be wonderful: many settings and options. I haven’t seen the original application from Google for a long time and I can say that it has made significant progress and will easily outperform many branded solutions.
Armed with a smartphone, I went for a walk around the city. However, before we begin, there is a question. Have you paid attention to what mannequins are in one chain of sports stores? Looks menacing. By the way, the portrait mode performed well, didn’t it?
The company continues to do well in the markets of developing countries and over the past year has released many budget smartphones with a good price-quality ratio. One of them is the Pro, which for the first time runs on the Snapdragon 636 processor. It has a 4,000 mAh battery that can provide two days of battery life on a single charge.
The company is not averse to repeating the success of the Chinese manufacturer and recently announced the ZenFone Max Pro M1 smartphone, which offers similar characteristics and a pure version of Android. The latter is particularly interesting as it represents a change for Asus on the software front. The Taiwanese manufacturer mentioned that it decided to switch to stock Android after receiving feedback from customers, so the company is listening to its customers.
Zenfone is not bad in terms of hardware components. It also runs on Snapdragon 636 processor, 4/64 GB memory. The battery is even larger with a value of 5000 mAh, which is one of the best indicators in this price segment. In addition, the smartphone is cheaper compared to the Xiaomi device.
At first glance, the ZenFone Max Pro appears to be a good buy. The hardware components are not inferior to Redmi Note 5 Pro, the interface is significantly different from the oversaturated MIUI shell.
If I had to describe the ZenFone in one word, it would be "unremarkable." The device is made of metal, but its simple back surface and plastic antenna at the top and bottom make it look like a 2016 smartphone. From a design point of view, there's not much to be excited about.
The build quality is decent, but it doesn't have the same ruggedness as a Xiaomi smartphone. Due to the large 5000mAh battery, it weighs 180g, while the Redmi Note 5 Pro weighs 181g. It doesn't seem like the metal body is as durable as other budget smartphones.
Screen diagonal 5.99 inches, FHD+ resolution. It covers 85% of the NTSC color gamut and reaches a maximum brightness of 450 nits. There were no problems reading under the sun. Ambient brightness mode struggles in low light, requiring you to manually increase the brightness.
In addition, the screen is not protected by Gorilla Glass or other similar glass, so it is advisable to buy a protector to avoid scratches and cracks.
Zenfone Max Pro M1 excels in terms of internal components, as this smartphone is one of the fastest in its category. The Snapdragon 636 processor along with a pure version of Android allows the device to literally fly, while the software is not yet perfectly optimized, but the potential is there.
The amount of RAM is 3 GB, storage is 32 GB. There is also a variant of the device with a memory configuration of 4/64 GB. In the future, Asus is going to release a 6/64 GB version. The company did not abandon the 3.5 mm headphone jack, but it uses an outdated microUSB connector instead of a modern one. There is a separate compartment for a microSD memory card, as well as two compartments for SIM cards.
Asus has switched from its own ZenUI software shell to a pure Android version. Only three Asus applications are installed: a calculator, a sound recording program and FM radio. The simple interface is a real breath of fresh air after ZenUI. All buyers of this smartphone will receive 100 GB of storage space in Google Drive for two years.
Day-to-day operation is smooth for the most part, but optimization is lacking. For example, there are lags when switching between applications.
The sound from the single speaker at the bottom of the case is quite good, and the package includes a MaxBox accessory to enhance the maximum sound by 1.7 times. It is made of cardboard and secured with magnets; the smartphone is installed vertically in it, thereby creating a chamber to direct sound outward.
In terms of battery life, ZenFone Max Pro M1 does not disappoint. The developers promise 1080p video playback for more than 25 hours. During the short time I got to know the smartphone, there were no complaints about the operating time. The operating time with the screen on for two days exceeded 6 hours, including the initial setup. After this, the charge level was above 30%.
This smartphone also has its drawbacks. The fingerprint scanner is one of the slowest in smartphones of the last two years. Two times out of three it refuses to recognize the finger, and even if it recognizes it the first time, the login speed is still low. There is a face unlock, which is also not very reliable.
As for communications, the device is content with the Wi-Fi b/g/n standard, so it cannot connect to networks at the 5 GHz frequency. VoLTE is supported, but there is no symbol in the status bar; Asus promises to add it in the future.
The camera here is average; it uses an OmniVision 16880 sensor, the quality of which is inferior to that of the Redmi Note 5 Pro, which is noticeable in the photographs. The smartphone focuses slowly; even in good lighting, the photos are inferior to other devices at the same price.
Given Asus's transition to a pure version of Android, it would be possible to use . The developers say that this would lead to a delay in the release of the smartphone, and the company is in a hurry to make money before competitors do. There are still a lot of budget smartphones coming out this year, so time is of the essence.
Because of this, the device seems not fully developed. You need to work on the software, the camera also needs to be configured. Even though the hardware components are the same as on the Redmi Note 5 Pro, the Asus smartphone is inferior in terms of user interaction.
Price and availability may be in its favor. Xiaomi cannot yet compete on equal terms with or even, and when it comes to meeting demand, Asus can take advantage of this.
The 3/32 GB version will go on sale on May 3 at a price of $165, the 4/64 GB model will cost $195 in India. The manufacturer estimated the future 6/64 GB version at $225.
Asus was able to compete with Xiaomi in the entry-level price segment, which is not easy to do. The device requires improvement, but the stock version of Android along with high-quality components is the key to good demand for it.
Asus smartphones occupy a small but stable niche in the mobile device market. The Asus ZenFone Max Pro M1 ZB602KL is designed to raise the position of the Taiwanese brand to new heights, which managed to surprise the public with an optimal balance of characteristics.
Winning combination
The design of the model turned out to be, frankly speaking, inexpressive. However, if you look deeper, without taking into account the external “wrapper”, the main trump card of the device appears - the “iron” combination of the “octa-core” Snapdragon 636, 4 GB of RAM and the Adreno 509 graphics processor. With such “stuffing”, the smartphone is equally good as an everyday tasks, as well as most modern games without fps drops in long battles. In addition, the gadget runs on a “pure” Android 8.1 OS, supplemented with some useful proprietary functions.
Long-lived
The front side of the smartphone is occupied by a 6-inch screen based on an IPS matrix in FullHD+ format (2160x1080 pixels). Fortunately, it does not have the annoying “notch”, but at the same time, the frames above and below the display cannot be called small. The whole thing is “packed” into a case with dimensions of 159x76x8.5 mm. With such a modest thickness, the Asus ZenFone Max Pro M1 ZB602KL has a capacious 5000 mAh battery, on a full tank of which the device stays afloat for over 12 hours of display activity. A result worthy of respect.
Ardent competitor
In terms of photographic capabilities, the model uses the popular technique of a dual main camera. The lion's share of tasks falls on the shoulders of the 13 MP leading photo module, and to help it is provided a 5 MP auxiliary sensor for measuring the depth of field of the frame when shooting in portrait mode. True, the quality of background blur “out of the box” is so-so - this is due to the “damp” software. There is an 8 MP front camera installed in front for taking self-portraits. Also on board the smartphone there is a full range of communications, incl. NFC chip for making wireless payments. What is the bottom line? The answer is quite obvious - an ardent competitor to the hordes of mid-budget Xiaomi and Meizu with a decent hardware base, stock Android and another distinctive feature in the form of a triple tray for 2 SIM and a microSD memory card.
