Seeing the popularity of the budget phones and the lack of performance in the first Zenfone Max, Asus has updated its Max line for Maximum profits. In fact, the word Max is so commonly used that movie buffs and gamers (like me) conjure up images of Mad Max from Mad Max movies, Max Damage from Carmageddon car games and “(for) maximum pleasure” from Erotica Con…err I digress.
Anyhow, we look at Asus Zenfone Max, is this the Max upgrade we were waiting for? We analyse the upside and downside of this.
Faster processor
The older Zenfone Max had a slower Snapdragon 410 SoC processor and it showed. The new updated model has the Snapdragon 615 Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53. This is typical of phones of this class; what you get is a proven performer in apps and games with reliable functionality, though don’t expect it to blow the socks off. This perhaps is the single most important upgrade of the Zenfone Max line-up with repercussions (more on that later). Click to see detailed comparison of specifications.
More memory
Zenfone Max gets a good upgrade from 16GB to 32GB for internal storage which is awesome. Over time, you’ll need the extra memory and it’s always better to have it internal than external through MicroSD which the phone provides anyway. 2GB is plenty of RAM, though there is new additional 3GB model for Rs. 3000 more which clearly isn’t worth the price.
Battery
The battery is the biggest selling point of the phone. 5000 mAh is crazy, due to the faster processor (perhaps lesser optimization in it?) the battery will not last as long as the original version. In real life terms, if the original lasted with regular usage for 2-n-half to 3 days without charge, now expect 2 days or a little lesser with the same kind of usage.
The same awesome reverse charging option of charging other devices is retained with an additional accessory. This frankly is quite a useful option to have considering the device’s battery by itself is equivalent to two mobile batteries.
Charger still sucks
For a phone with such a large capacity battery, Asus has included only a 1A charger which regular phones with half the battery size come with. This means Max will take 5 hours for a full charge! Perfect to keep it for charging at night really speaking but horrible when using during the day. Consider getting a 2A charger which will reduce the time to half.
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
The new Max comes with the latest version of Android 6.0 which is always good to have. Marshmallow’s new app permissions, Do Not Disturb mode, etc makes its debut. Expect the old Max to get an update soon.
Other changes
The camera interface has been streamlined a bit, though the camera is still the same, snappy as ever. The phone’s look remains unchanged, however, this time around Asus has added blue and the much nicer orange colour (which we tested).
So is the Zenfone Max worth it?
Most certainly yes. The most important upgrade was its “not-so-perky” performance and the phone got it. However, it did come at the cost of battery life which no one is going to complain about. Rs. 3,000 for 1GB more is too much to ask for and would have been a nice surprise to have it at same price.
Of course, it can be argued it that it doesn't have Full HD 1080 screen where as other phones in the same price bracket do, but remember with “Great screen resolution comes greatly less battery life” (what Uncle Ben would have said if Peter Parker wanted a new phone). The battery life would have reduced and therefore “Max” moniker would have been rendered useless to Zenfone “Min”- keeping up with the Joneses.
We are glad Asus stuck to its guns, for bigger screen whiners and fingerprint fondlers, you always have Asus Zenfone Selfie.
By- Nikhil Rastogi
Anyhow, we look at Asus Zenfone Max, is this the Max upgrade we were waiting for? We analyse the upside and downside of this.
Faster processor
The older Zenfone Max had a slower Snapdragon 410 SoC processor and it showed. The new updated model has the Snapdragon 615 Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53. This is typical of phones of this class; what you get is a proven performer in apps and games with reliable functionality, though don’t expect it to blow the socks off. This perhaps is the single most important upgrade of the Zenfone Max line-up with repercussions (more on that later). Click to see detailed comparison of specifications.
More memory
Zenfone Max gets a good upgrade from 16GB to 32GB for internal storage which is awesome. Over time, you’ll need the extra memory and it’s always better to have it internal than external through MicroSD which the phone provides anyway. 2GB is plenty of RAM, though there is new additional 3GB model for Rs. 3000 more which clearly isn’t worth the price.
Battery
The battery is the biggest selling point of the phone. 5000 mAh is crazy, due to the faster processor (perhaps lesser optimization in it?) the battery will not last as long as the original version. In real life terms, if the original lasted with regular usage for 2-n-half to 3 days without charge, now expect 2 days or a little lesser with the same kind of usage.
The same awesome reverse charging option of charging other devices is retained with an additional accessory. This frankly is quite a useful option to have considering the device’s battery by itself is equivalent to two mobile batteries.
Charger still sucks
For a phone with such a large capacity battery, Asus has included only a 1A charger which regular phones with half the battery size come with. This means Max will take 5 hours for a full charge! Perfect to keep it for charging at night really speaking but horrible when using during the day. Consider getting a 2A charger which will reduce the time to half.
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
The new Max comes with the latest version of Android 6.0 which is always good to have. Marshmallow’s new app permissions, Do Not Disturb mode, etc makes its debut. Expect the old Max to get an update soon.
Other changes
The camera interface has been streamlined a bit, though the camera is still the same, snappy as ever. The phone’s look remains unchanged, however, this time around Asus has added blue and the much nicer orange colour (which we tested).
So is the Zenfone Max worth it?
Most certainly yes. The most important upgrade was its “not-so-perky” performance and the phone got it. However, it did come at the cost of battery life which no one is going to complain about. Rs. 3,000 for 1GB more is too much to ask for and would have been a nice surprise to have it at same price.
Of course, it can be argued it that it doesn't have Full HD 1080 screen where as other phones in the same price bracket do, but remember with “Great screen resolution comes greatly less battery life” (what Uncle Ben would have said if Peter Parker wanted a new phone). The battery life would have reduced and therefore “Max” moniker would have been rendered useless to Zenfone “Min”- keeping up with the Joneses.
We are glad Asus stuck to its guns, for bigger screen whiners and fingerprint fondlers, you always have Asus Zenfone Selfie.
By- Nikhil Rastogi
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