Reviews of Asus Max Pro M 1. ASUS Zenfone Max ZC550KL review of a reliable old man with a powerful battery. Design and usability
Announced back in August 2015, the smartphone has only now reached store shelves. It’s worth noting right away that this device is unlikely to interest geeks and all those who demand maximum performance in everything from a device. This is a gadget for users who primarily need good autonomy. At MWC 2016, we already had a quick look at this device, and now we have the opportunity to test it in the field.
Equipment and first impressions
The smartphone is delivered in a small box, which compactly contains the Zenfone Max itself, a charger, a removable USB-microUSB cable, a headset with interchangeable tips of different sizes and an OTG cable. There is no need to expect anything more from the package; everything you need is there. Only I would also like white accessories for a white device, but this is not at all critical.
At the first meeting, all attention is drawn to the weight of the smartphone, which slightly exceeds the 200 gram mark. This makes devices with large batteries stand out. The case itself is also quite thick, add to this the weight and you get a large device that will not fit into all pockets. At the same time, he looks very nice and you don’t want to find fault with his appearance, and there’s no need.
Design and usability
Today it’s hard to surprise anyone with a phablet. The large display is good for all tasks assigned to a smartphone, but makes it inconvenient to use. That is, watching a video, for example, is cool, but holding a smartphone with one hand, and even trying to write something there, is inconvenient. The same applies to Zenfone Max. The case dimensions are 156 x 77.5 x 10.55 mm, the exact weight is 202 g. Of course, such a gadget will be suitable for users with large palms, but imagine such a device in small women’s hands – it will be difficult for girls to use it.
There are two color options on sale – black and white. Both cases are made of plastic, the black cover is designed to look like leather, and the white one is smooth and matte. The plastic is pleasant to the touch and not at all slippery. The frame around the smartphone in both versions is golden. Subjectively, the black version looks better. Due to the stylization, any small scratches and other signs of use will be less noticeable on the dark version, whereas on a smooth white cover such marks will stand out more. Fortunately, the backrest is removable and can be replaced in case of such damage. Below it are both microSIM slots and one for a memory card.
Externally, Zenfone Max looks like other smartphones in this line, except for the placement of buttons on the right side of the body, and not on the back panel. You need to get used to their location; at the beginning of use, I often tried to turn on the smartphone with the volume down button. The keys were not placed very well. But this is not a problem, but just a matter of habit. During the first day with the device, the placement of the buttons is remembered.
Since the controls were placed on the right, the left side was left empty. There is a headphone jack on the top of the case. At the bottom there is a microUSB connector and a microphone hole. On the back there is a camera window, dual flash, laser rangefinder, additional microphone and main speaker. The latter is located where it is often covered by the hand while playing games and watching videos, which consequently affects the sound. The front panel is almost completely covered with glass. Above the display is a speaker, front camera, proximity and lighting sensors, and an LED notification notifier. Under the display there are touch buttons (without backlighting) “Back”, “Home” and a button to go to the multitasking menu, and under the buttons there is a small rough panel with a proprietary pattern characteristic of ASUS devices.
There are no complaints about the assembly. The case is very good, despite the removable back cover, which could make unnecessary squeaks. Of course, sometimes there are small crunches, but very rarely and do not particularly attract attention. For an inexpensive device, the design of the Zenfone Max leaves a very pleasant feeling. But before buying, I strongly recommend that you twirl the smartphone in your hands, because due to its large dimensions, not every user will be comfortable with it.
Display
Displaying a picture consumes most of the battery. Zenfone Max focuses on autonomy. Although the screen is large, it does not have the same picture quality that older models can boast of. The 5.5-inch IPS display has a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels, which gives a density of 267 ppi. This resolution is quite justified in a device that must operate for a long time without being connected to a power source.
It’s still difficult to call the display bad. If the user does not intentionally look for individual pixels, then there will be no comments about this. Of course, those who are accustomed to high resolution will find it difficult to please with a simple HD display. But this is hardly the target audience of inexpensive smartphones. The picture on the display is warm and quite pleasant. In the settings you can adjust the color temperature and adjust the colors to your taste. There is also a “Bluelight filter” mode, which makes the picture yellowish (like f.lux-style applications). The maximum backlight level should be sufficient for a sunny day. The light sensor keeps the display dim (this is how energy saving settings work), so it will be more comfortable to control the backlight yourself. The brightness varies from 28 to 411 cd/m², the measured contrast is 1 in 1563. I would like the minimum backlight value to be lower. When you rotate the screen, it noticeably dims, but in everyday use this does not cause discomfort.
The sensor works great and easily recognizes up to 10 simultaneous touches. Additionally, there is a high sensitivity mode for working with gloves. The screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 4. There is an oleophobic coating and it serves its purpose quite well.
Sound
The music capabilities of Zenfone Max will not please fans of good sound. The main speaker is rather weak. It is not suitable for playing music. When watching a video, the sound is quite sufficient, but depending on the content, there may be nuances. The included headset looks nice, but for me, for example, it turned out to be inconvenient, and the volume reserve of the signal output to the headphones is small. The situation with power is similar with other headphones.
Despite all this, the earpiece sounds good and loud enough, and the voice transmission suited my interlocutors.
Cameras
The smartphone is equipped with two cameras. The main sensor has a resolution of 13 megapixels, the front one – 5, both with an f/2.0 aperture. The main camera is supported by dual flash and laser autofocus. The manufacturer talks about a focusing speed of 0.03 seconds (in practice this is not so fast). Don't expect mind-blowing images from both cameras. In good light they take good shots, but in any other conditions noise and other artifacts will appear, autofocus often misses, and colors lose their natural appearance.
If you quickly take your smartphone out of your pocket, you won’t always be able to take a good photo right away; it may take three or four attempts to get a normal shot. Sudden movements will be blurred. But the camera has a fairly rich set of settings, filters and additional improvements. I was pleased with the opportunity to take an acceptable macro photograph (although when setting up the frame, the picture in the “viewfinder” will look better than the finished photograph). Initially, the camera takes photos in a resolution of 10 megapixels (16:10).
Video is recorded in Full HD maximum. Software image stabilization is only available in HD resolution. The sound on the recording is gurgling. Autofocus in video periodically misses a lot (clearly seen in the example of the test video). Again, you need enough light for an acceptable picture.
Full HD video example:
The front camera also leaves a lot of artifacts in the picture. The selfie settings have effects for smoothing skin tone and more.
For a budget smartphone model, the cameras are quite acceptable. As expected, they require good lighting for normal shots. Sometimes you will have to spend a little extra time on a successful shot, and it is better to check the photographs taken on the spot and, if necessary, redo them. But let me remind you that we are testing an inexpensive device and personally, I didn’t even expect more. For such a smartphone, the camera capabilities are quite sufficient.
Hardware platform and software
The heart of Zenfone Max is a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor with an Adreno 306 video chip, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of permanent memory (which can be expanded with a memory card up to 64 GB). As you yourself understand, this is not a top-end processor and, unfortunately, not all modern games at high graphics settings are capable of it, but with everything else there are no global problems. This phone will be able to perform any task, although sometimes it will take a little extra time before launching an application or when switching from one program to another.
The hardware runs Android 5.0.2 with the proprietary ASUS ZenUI 2.0 shell. Subjectively, this is not the best appearance and functional solution for Google’s mobile OS, despite the extensive range of various settings. Fortunately, nothing prevents the user from installing a launcher that suits him and getting rid of unnecessary pre-installed programs.
In general, the device works quite normally, if you do not pay attention to rare delays. For those who are not into gaming, this device is just right. It is productive enough for undemanding tasks, does not heat up at all and works for a very long time (due to its relatively weak processor). In addition, it has two SIM slots and 4G support. Of the set of popular wireless modules, only NFC is missing.
Autonomy
Everything we saved on was not just for the sake of the “light” price tag. The low resolution of the display and the relatively weak processor do not consume much energy. And it worked. With a built-in (non-removable) 5000 mAh battery, with my very active use, the smartphone lasted two and a half days without an outlet (more than 12 hours of screen on). Mail, web browsing, watching videos on YouTube, reading the news feed, navigation, correspondence in instant messengers, social networks, some calls, performance tests, several camera shots, etc. – I put all this on my smartphone and did not deny myself anything at all. To be honest, I was even a little tired of unloading it. For those who do not use their smartphone so intensively, you can safely count on at least 3 full days of work. With a slight margin. This is very cool!
Zenfone Max does not support Quick Charge technology, so it will take almost 5 hours to fully charge the battery (control measurement showed 4 hours 48 minutes from 0 to 100%). But you can charge other devices from the built-in battery using the included (or any other) OTG cable.
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. The ambient brightness mode doesn't work well 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.
The Asus Zenfone Max Plus (M1) looks like the Zenfone 4 Max, but with thin bezels and a fingerprint scanner on the back. Thanks to these bezels and the 18:9 format, a 5.7-inch screen fits into a body comparable in size to 5.5-inch models.
From the front, the phone looks rather featureless - a large display looks at you (75.3% of the surface area), and there are no identifying marks on the thin frames. The rear panel is no longer as similar as before, primarily due to the scanner being moved to the back. The dimensions of the new product are 152.6x73x8.8 mm, weight - 160 grams. It is more compact, but slightly thicker and heavier.
The Asus Zenfone Max Plus will be available in three colors: wave black, azure silver and solar gold.
Screen
Zenfone Max Plus has a clear screen with a trendy 18:9 aspect ratio. True, apart from a diagonal of 5.7 inches, brightness up to 400 nits and a resolution of 2160x1080 pixels, nothing else is known about it. It is quite unusual that the screen is clear (pixel density is 424 per inch), because, as a rule, long-lived smartphones save battery due to low resolution.
Cameras
For shooting, the Asus Zenfone Max Plus has a dual camera of 16 and 8 MP and a front camera of 8 MP. It is unlikely that they will surprise you with excellent shooting quality; as a rule, smartphones in this series take mediocre photos.
The main camera has a wide aperture (f/2.0) and phase detection autofocus. It sounds promotional, but the company promises that with its help the phone can focus on a fast-moving object in just 0.03 seconds. The additional rear camera is wide-angle with a 120-degree field of view. The area of the frame shot with it is approximately twice that of a standard smartphone. This can be important for landscape photography or indoor group portraits.
About the front camera, only resolution (8 MP), aperture (f/2.0) and field of view (85 degrees) are known.
Communications
The communications set of a smartphone is typical and hardly stands out in any way:
- simple Wi-Fi b/g/n with Wi-Fi Direct
- LTE cat 4 support (up to 150 Mbit/s)
- Bluetooth 4.0
- FM radio
- A-GPS.
The NFC chip is apparently not up to standard, as is advanced Wi-Fi. But the phone has a connector for, microUSB 2.0 and three separate slots for two SIM and. Another feature is OTG support and even the presence of a corresponding cable in the kit.
Battery
High autonomy is one of the main features of a smartphone. Its key is the low performance of the model and a high-capacity battery (4130 mAh). For comparison, it has about the same amount, and for most “frameless” phones it is noticeably lower. The manufacturer promises up to 26 hours of talk time, up to 21 hours of web surfing via Wi-Fi and up to 13 hours of video viewing. Another feature of the Max is that it can be used to recharge other mobile devices.
Performance
The smartphone is unlikely to shine with high performance. It has the no longer new eight-core MediaTek MT6750T chipset, operating at a frequency of up to 1.5 GHz. The same one was used in and did not show its best side. Of course, it was enough for the interface to work, but when solving heavy tasks it quickly warmed up, let's see how it behaves here. Another open question is that it is not clear how the hardware will cope with a high-resolution display, since we usually only saw this processor in phones with HD screens.
Peculiarities
The Asus Zenfone Max Plus comes pre-installed with a proprietary interface and OS. It's a pity that it's not the eighth version, but it'll do too. The phone doesn't have many features, the main one is a combination of an 18:9 format screen, a high-capacity battery and an OTG cable included. Let's add here the Face Unlock facial recognition function for easy unlocking of the smartphone - a clear reference to the new.
Memory
Asus Zenfone Max Plus offers 16 or 32 GB of permanent memory. Not to say that there is so much, but there is a separate slot for a microSD card. It will help you add up to 256 GB.
Price
The smartphone will go on sale in mid-December. The recommended retail price of Zenfone Max Plus is 17,000 rubles for the 32 GB version. This is not cheap, especially considering the no longer new, budget chipset.
Until recently, the niche of smartphones with large batteries was occupied exclusively by inexpensive Chinese brands such as THL or Oukitel. But as you know, demand creates supply and Asus decided to release its long-lived device, which was named Zenfone Max.
Moreover, they did it so quietly - without unnecessary pathos and intrusive advertising - that the release of the model was simply not noticed by many. And it was completely in vain, because in fact it turned out to be one of the best representatives of smartphones, the main feature of which is the operating time on a single charge. The model cannot be called high-performance; those who like to play can block their view at this point and not waste time. On a smartphone everything is exclusively tailored for maximum operating time on a single charge: economical processor, low-resolution screen and 5000 mAh battery. 
But the smartphone is interesting not only for this, as usual, Asus relied on design and materials - a recognizable Zenfone-style design, a practical back cover, heavy-duty glass Gorilla Glass 4. The smartphone also boasts a good 13 megapixel camera with a Toshiba sensor and optics from Largan with laser autofocus, and the front camera is not entirely simple - a wide-angle lens (Wide-angle 85 ˚) will allow you to take a panoramic selfie covering an angle of up to 140 degrees.
The disadvantages include overpaying for the brand - the price is higher than that of similar smartphones from less famous competitors. But holding a smartphone in my hands, I understand why this is so. Asus is simply a pleasure to use - the manufacturer's attention to detail, sleek design, quality of materials from which the smart device is made, its own software, etc. I have been using the smartphone for quite a long time and, of course, small flaws and features have been revealed that are not noticeable during a cursory examination, and I will definitely tell you about them. In the meantime, I suggest you familiarize yourself with detailed technical specifications:
CPU: Quad-core Snapdragon 410 clocked at 1.2 GHz
GPU: Adreno 306
Memory: RAM - 2Gb LPDDR3, ROM - 16GB eMMC Flash (there is an expansion slot up to 64Gb)
Screen: 5.5inches, HD 1280x720, IPS. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4. The screen has an oleophobic coating. Supports operation with gloves.
Battery: Li-Polymer 5000 mAh
Camera: Main - 13 Mp (F2.0 Aperture, laser focusing, dual LED flash with LEDs of different shades), Front - 5 Mp (F2.0 Aperture, Wide-angle lens 85 ˚, ability to take panoramic selfies up to 140 ˚)
Sensors: Accelerator, E-Compass, Proximity, Ambient Light Sensor, Hall Sensor
Net: 2G: GSM - 850MHz/900MHz/1800MHz/1900MHz, 3G: WCDMA - 850MHz(5)/900MHz(8)/1900MHz(2) /2100MHz(1), 4G: FDD-LTE - (CN/IN version Only)
2100MHz(1)/1800MHz(3)2600MHz(38)/1900MHz(39)/2300MHz(40)/2500MHz(41)
Navigation: GPS, GLONASS, AGPS & BDS
Connection interfaces: WLAN 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth V4.0+EDR +A2DP, Micro USB (with OTG support)
Dimensions: 77.5mm x 156mm x 10.55mm
Weight: 202 g
The smartphone comes in a branded box with minimal equipment, only a USB cable and a 1A charger. No films, glasses or headphones.
Separately, you can find various accessories on sale; they are already on sale for free: tempered glass of different qualities, a smart case in the form of a book, silicone and plastic bumpers, replaceable back covers of different colors. There are also some basic spare parts already on sale, such as a display or touch screen. Over time, batteries will also appear, since they can be easily found on Ali and other sites for other Zenfone models. 
When we first met, I was immediately impressed by the large screen; the images on it look very colorful and rich. With a 5.5-inch diagonal and HD resolution, I expected fairly large pixels, but nothing like that is observed - the picture looks excellent, only slightly inferior to Full HD in detail, and even then only in direct comparison. The image tones are shifted to warm tones; there are settings in the settings for finer adjustments. Viewing angles are high, as is maximum brightness. Thanks to ASUS TrueVivid Full Screen Lamination technology, screen content is clearly readable even under bright sun. The screen is protected by durable glass CORNING® GORILLA® GLASS 4, you can verify this by going to the official website. By clicking on the See Devices with Gorilla Glass 4 menu item and selecting the model range of Asus smartphones, we will see Zenfone Max in the list. This glass is the latest version of the protective display coating from Corning developers. It's twice as strong as the previous version in the drop test, has 2.5 times the residual strength, and is 85% more durable in daily use. But no Gorilla can save you from scratches during active use, so I would recommend purchasing and using an additional protective glass. Another nice feature is the high-quality oleophobic coating: fingerprints reluctantly linger on the surface of the screen and are very easily erased. The tactile sensations from operating the screen are the most positive; the finger glides easily across the surface. The touch screen responds to the slightest touch and supports operation with gloves, which will be important in the cold season. It recognizes up to 10 simultaneous touches.
The touch keys under the non-backlit screen are located in a slightly unusual sequence, but this does not cause any inconvenience - I got used to it almost immediately. There is a three-color event indicator near the front camera, but it is not possible to customize it to your preferences using standard methods. The system has firmly established that a missed event is green, a dead battery is red, and the charging process is orange. 
The design of the smartphone is both simple and recognizable. Asus adheres to one style - streamlined shapes, rounded edges, a metal insert under the buttons with a typical Zenfone texture, a large audio speaker grille and other recognizable elements.
Nevertheless, the model also contains innovations that are unusual for the company. The back cover is made of plastic with a leather-like texture. This is a practical solution, because thanks to such a surface, the device lies confidently in the hand and does not slip, and it looks aesthetically pleasing. In addition, keeping such a surface clean is very simple. 
The smartphone is well assembled and feels complete. The back cover fits very tightly on the latches and does not squeak or squeak when squeezed. The frame of the smartphone is plastic and painted in golden beige color, which only emphasizes the overall design. The volume and lock control keys have a proprietary notch in the form of circles and are placed on the right side. The headphone jack is located on the top edge, the micro usb connector is on the bottom. 
Despite its rather large dimensions, it fits well in the hand and is very comfortable to use. I am more impressed by smartphones with a screen diagonal of up to 5 inches, but I liked the Zenfone Max - it doesn’t feel like a shovel and is quite comfortable to use. The only drawback is the weight, which is 202 grams and it will be uncomfortable to wear in shorts in the summer. But here everyone chooses for themselves: either thin and light but with a charge for a maximum of a day, or larger, but with a good battery. 
I decided to hide additional photos conveying the subtleties of the design under the spoiler so as not to overload the review.
Additional Information
The back cover sits tightly on 17 latches and is quite difficult to remove: by hooking it in a special recess with your fingernail, you need to walk around the perimeter of the entire case. It will not be possible to remove the cover by unscrewing only a couple of latches. By looking at the cover you can see the battery, which can be replaced if necessary by slightly disassembling the smartphone. At the top there are two full slots for micro SIM cards. There is a separate memory expansion slot, the declared supported volume is up to 64Gb. In the upper part, in the center, is the main camera lens; it protrudes a fraction of a millimeter above the body, but the glass itself is slightly recessed in the decorative ring, so it does not suffer when in contact with the surface. On the left is a dual LED flash. LEDs of different shades provide a more natural spectrum of illumination when shooting at night. The power is sufficient for shooting in the dark at short distances. To the right of the lens there is a “laser illumination” for accurate and fast focusing. 
Let's move on to the most interesting part - the battery. The first thing I didn't like about the smartphone was the long charging time. With a battery capacity of 5000 mAh, it lasts about 6 hours, which makes it impossible to “recharge on the go.” And the point here is not at all in the included charging, which is limited to a current of 1A - when connecting any other charger with a higher current, the picture does not change, the smartphone is not able to accept a current greater than 0.96A. Therefore, it is best to charge it overnight.
The battery capacity was checked using a tester and it fully corresponds to the declared one. I didn’t expect anything else from Asus, it’s not the level to cheat with the characteristics. The battery is truly impressive - the smartphone can easily withstand 3 days of high load, and with more economical use it provides 5 - 7 days of operation on a single charge. Of course, the operating time depends significantly on how you use the smartphone, but during daylight hours it is almost impossible to discharge it, no matter how hard you try. Let me give you a few examples: in playback mode of an HD video on YouTube at maximum screen brightness, he was able to last 15 hours and 17 minutes! In addition, at night my Internet went down and YouTube stopped playing and I only resumed it in the morning. And this is with a load on WiFi, and if you play video from the smartphone’s memory, the continuous playback time is more than 20 hours at maximum brightness. When the brightness is reduced from maximum to a comfortable level, the time increases significantly. 
When reading web pages, the operating time is up to 32.5 hours of continuous operation, and the talking time (on the 3g network) is up to 37.6 hours. These indicators were not verified by me personally, but were taken from the official website, but I am convinced that the real indicators will not differ too much. In reality, it looks like this: I use a smartphone all day, when the total screen time for the day is more than 4 hours, and the battery indicator shows another 70% charge. Good survivability :) Synthetic tests also show this, for example Antutu tester scored 25398 points with maximum screen brightness. For comparison, the Oukitel K6000, which has an even larger battery capacity, was able to score only 13850. A more economical processor? Hardly. Better firmware optimization? More likely. The fact is that Zenfone Max lasts much longer than K6000. 
The battery test in Geekbench 3 was no less revealing. 6572 points and a total test time of 16 hours 25 minutes. According to this indicator, the smartphone was in the top 3, only slightly behind the Lenovo A5000 (has a smaller diagonal - 5 inches) and Leagoo Shark 1 (battery capacity 6300 mAh). But at the same time, the smartphone scored more points. 
And the smartphone itself can charge other devices, that is, it actually acts as a power bank!
Well, for the full picture, here’s a screenshot of my use case. On the evening of April 18, I took it off the charger and used it quite actively, mostly calls and a lot of Web pages. I also listened to music on it and used the camera. He sat down with me only on April 24 in the morning, eventually working for more than 5 days. 
What is the secret of such high autonomy? Everything is very simple, the smartphone uses an energy-efficient Snapgragon 410 processor in conjunction with an HD display resolution. This allows you to use battery power as economically as possible. But this is of course a double-edged sword; you shouldn’t count on high performance in this model, especially in gaming terms. Of course, a smartphone will allow you to play casual games, helping to pass the time on the minibus - but nothing more. You can, of course, play more modern and powerful games, but you can’t count on high quality textures. The same tanks sometimes lag a little in battles, so It's definitely not worth taking for gaming.
But any other applications work well. Separately, I would like to note the work of the ZenUi shell, which, despite its apparent sophistication with various effects, works very smoothly. Interfaces switch without delay, flipping through desktops is smooth, opening the phone book without noticeable delays. The amount of RAM allows you to quickly switch between open applications, video plays smoothly, both online and offline. In pages that are especially overloaded with flash, it is clear that it is a bit heavy for the processor, because they do not “toss and turn” as smoothly as we would like. In synthetic tests, the result is comparable to the budget processor MT6735, the result is at the same level. 25314 points in Antutu. Comparing the performance with the 6735, you can see that the Snapdragon 410 has a significant advantage in computing power, but is completely inferior in graphics. In Geekbench 3: 1485 in Multi-core mode and 485 in single-core mode.
Synthetic tests
Zenfone Max runs on the Android 5.0.2 operating system, but with its own ZenUi shell. In terms of aesthetics and versatility of settings to suit your needs, it is significantly superior to the stock shell. Although at first glance it may seem somewhat complex and confusing.
And this is partly true - a large number of pre-installed applications for cleaning and optimizing the system duplicate each other, Asus has installed too much of its software, which not everyone needs: startup manager, antivirus, memory cleaners, battery economizer, password manager and other programs that are needed not everyone. Personally, I unloaded the system by deleting and disabling those applications that I considered unnecessary. But there are undoubtedly interesting applications that will be useful to absolutely everyone. For example, a sound setup wizard. Let me note by the way excellent sound smartphone with headphones. Even with inexpensive headphones KZ EDR1 and Xiaomi Pistons 2, the device pleasantly surprised with its powerful and high-quality sound. Fans of sharp bass will be pleasantly surprised, and in general the sound is head and shoulders above most modern smartphones. So, the Sound Tuning Wizard allows you to customize the sound as much as possible for a specific task by turning on the music mode - the sound becomes deeper and more powerful. There are frequency boosts and an equalizer, which has both preset modes and completely manual settings.
I also really liked: an energy saving program, a file manager, a program for creating videos and slideshows, as well as a weather widget. 
In addition to well-thought-out interfaces and an advanced shell, the smartphone performs its most basic functions well. It often happens that a smartphone with good characteristics is spoiled by an obscene speaker, which at once negates all its advantages. And often even fine adjustments in the engineering menu do not bring the desired result. Asus did not fall flat on its face by equipping the smartphone with a high-quality and loud speaker. They even overdid it a little. By setting the volume to maximum, you can not put your smartphone to your ear, but talk as if through a speakerphone. True, at maximum volume the speaker rattles slightly, but if you turn down the volume by at least one notch, the sound becomes clear. The microphone is sensitive and “on the other end of the line” you can be heard very well. There is a second microphone for noise reduction, its performance is satisfactory. Further, the Internet - Chinese version is limited to certain frequencies in 4G networks, so if this is an important point for you, carefully study the frequencies on which the operators operate. But 3G uses the widest possible range of frequencies, which are relevant both in Russia and Ukraine. Wifi works fine, the apartment has reliable reception and download speed: 20-30 megabits through 2 walls and up to 50 megabits in a room with a router. GPS navigation didn’t disappoint either; until recently it was Qualcomm’s specialty, but now MTK has caught up with them. I’ll just note that the navigation worked properly, the cold start took 1 minute and 8 seconds, which can be seen in the screenshot below. A minute later, 15 satellites were found, 11 of them had an active connection. The positioning accuracy is 4m, the connection is stable on the road. A magnetic compass helps with navigation quite well, especially on foot. 
Another positive feature of the model, in my opinion, is a good camera. In most of the “long-livers” that I held in my hands, the camera was a frankly weak point. While most Chinese smartphones had no problems with subject photography and macro photography, only a few cope with landscapes. Zenfone Max takes pretty good pictures in almost any conditions (with the exception of low light, where noticeable noise appears." The proprietary camera application has a huge number of settings and modes, but even if you are too lazy to understand all this, you can count on good photos in "auto" mode. In addition, the camera boasts an instant laser focusing system that operates in just 0.03 seconds, which helps to obtain clear images even in adverse conditions. 
There are a few examples of pictures taken by the device in “auto” mode, i.e. point and shoot. Originals . 
I was also amazed by the panoramic shots - no matter how you move the camera, no matter how much your hands shake - the stitching always happens perfectly. Even if objects move and trees sway, the photo comes out clear, without blur! (The panorama is reduced in size because I didn’t want to upload it to the site, but if you click on it, you can see it in a larger version). The original panorama is also in the archive link that I gave just above.
Even the selfie camera takes passable pictures, and is not installed “for show.”
The camera is certainly not ideal, but it is quite capable of coming to your rescue when you don’t have a digital camera. You can easily send pictures from Zenfone Max for printing and the result will not disappoint you.
The video is also pretty good. The camera can shoot in Full HD resolution, but without stabilization. Or in HD resolution with stabilization. Personally, I like the first option better, because the detail varies significantly. A short video to evaluate the quality of the video (for the first couple of seconds I covered the microphone with my finger, so the sound was mumbling. Then I realized my mistake and removed my finger):
After using the device I had the most positive impressions. In short, a smartphone is suitable primarily for those who need from a device: reliability, quality, long operating time on a single charge, and a good camera. My hit parade of advantages and disadvantages:
Flaws:
- Long charging
- Budget processor, weak graphics accelerator.
Advantages:
- An honest 5000 mAh battery with the ability to recharge other devices.
- Long operating time on a single charge.
- Excellent screen.
- High-quality assembly and materials, protective glass corning gorilla glass 4
- ZenUi proprietary shell and software (PixelMaster, camera, sound improvement, etc.)
- Good camera with laser autofocus
- Good sound in headphones
Video version of the review:
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I'm planning to buy +20 Add to favorites I liked the review +21 +55ZenFone Max Pro (M1) is a next-generation smartphone powered by the Snapdragon 636 processor. Featuring superb performance and incredible battery life, it's a great choice for the most active users. Featuring a luxurious 6-inch edge-to-edge 18:9 display (2160 x 1080 pixels), a 5000 mAh battery and high-quality cameras, ZenFone Max Pro will not only support the energetic pace of your life, but will also make it even more vibrant!
Eight-core processor manufactured using 14 nm technology
The “heart” of the ZenFone Max Pro smartphone is the modern Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor, which combines high performance with low power consumption. Being 1.54 times faster than Snapdragon 625, it ensures that ZenFone Max Pro can handle any task with ease.
Unprecedented autonomy
The elegant body of the ZenFone Max Pro smartphone hides a powerful source of energy - a lithium-polymer battery of compact size but high capacity - 5000 mAh. Watch online videos, run mobile games, communicate, use all the functions of this mobile device throughout the whole day and even longer - without fear that you will suddenly need to recharge at the most important moment.
High quality edge-to-edge screen
Any photos, movies and games will look incredibly colorful on the ZenFone Max Pro smartphone, because it is endowed with a magnificent frameless high-resolution screen and excellent technical characteristics.
More screen real estate
With a vanishingly thin bezel, the 6-inch ZenFone Max Pro is as compact as most standard smartphones with 5.5-inch displays. The ergonomic design of the case not only ensures user comfort, but also provides more screen space in a smaller size!
Metal body weighing only 180 g
Designed for all-day use, ZenFone Max Pro features an all-metal design that combines sleekness with durability. The ergonomics of this model is manifested in many details, for example, in the fingerprint scanner, located in an easy-to-press location on the rear panel. The smartphone body is available in two stunning color options: black and silver.
High quality photography
ZenFone Max Pro is equipped with two rear cameras. Instant focusing, a high-resolution image sensor and a high-quality lens - all this guarantees excellent images in any conditions. This smartphone also supports 4K/Ultra-HD video recording, so you can capture precious memories in incredible quality.
Professional result
A special shooting mode called “Portrait” allows you to highlight your subject by subtly blurring the background. ZenFone Max Pro uses an additional rear camera to achieve this effect. The result is stunning portraits and close-ups that look like they were created by a professional.
Perfect selfies
Portrait Enhance mode automatically retouches selfies to make you look even more beautiful, such as hiding blemishes, highlighting eyes, and achieving more natural color reproduction, which means you can always show off your best side with ZenFone Max Pro!
Smartphone for entertainment
Using a five-magnet driver, metal-framed voice coil and NXP smart amplifier, ZenFone Max Pro delivers clear, rich sound in any application.
Dual SIM + microSD card
ZenFone Max Pro allows you to use two SIM cards simultaneously (with data transfer speeds of up to 400 Mbps7 over 4G/LTE mobile networks) and a microSD memory card (with a capacity of up to 2 TB). They all install using a convenient single tray.
Convenient unlocking system
The fingerprint scanner, located in an easy-to-touch position on the rear panel, allows you to instantly unlock your smartphone (in just 0.3 seconds), even if your fingers are wet. If for some reason this unlocking method is inconvenient, use the face recognition function - ZenFone Max Pro will quickly and easily recognize its owner!
Android 8.1 Oreo in its purest form!
The latest version of the Android operating system, presented in this smartphone in its original form without any modifications, offers a concise and responsive user interface that is easy to learn and allows you to conveniently use all the functions of the device.
