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Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 review, is this the Redmi Note 5 killer?

Asus launched the Zenfone Max Pro M1 handset that comes with impressive specifications and with a really impressive price tag. Finally some competition to Xiaomi. The Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 competes with the Redmi Note 5 and to some extent with the Redmi Note 5 Pro.

Inside the hood the Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 is powered by Snapdragon 636 octa core processor.  What makes the Max Pro special is the 5000 mAh battery packed in a slim form factor restricting the weight to just about 180 grams.

This handset is powerful, gives an excellent battery life and comes with triple slots, i.e. you can use 2 SIM and a micro SD card all together. The Zenfone Max Pro with a massive battery can also be used to charge other devices.

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 features, specifications

Inside the box (Unboxing the Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1) : Handset, user guide, warranty card, data cable (USB to micro USB), travel charger 5V/2A and Max Box passive amplifier
SAR Value : 0.547 (Head) and 1.340 (Body)
Body :
Metal body, curvy deign, easy to hold and use, even with massive 5000 mAh battery. Very good build quality, specially the curvy design line on the back that moves around the dual camera setup. The camera module is also pretty in-line with the back (not bumping out)
SIM Type : Nano SIM + Nano SIM +  Micro SD (2TB max), total 3 slots, separate slot for micro SD
Screen  :  5.99 inches, 2.5D curved glass, 2160 x 1080 pixels (FHD+), viewing angles, touch response and color reproduction are really good
Connectivity :  4G, VoLTE (work on both SIM – also this handset supports dual VoLTE which means you can use 2 reliance JIO SIM’s together on this handset), WiFi, GPS and Bluetooth 4.2 with aptX
Sensors : Accelerometer, Proximity, light, magnetic, Gyro, hall and step counter
Security and Extra : Finger Print sensor, Face Unlock (this face unlock will be added soon via OTA update)
LED Notification : Yes
OTG : Yes supported, can also charge other devices using special cable
RAM : 3GB (about 1.4GB free on first boot)
ROM : 32GB (about 22GB free on first boot)
OS : Android Oreo 8.1.0 Stock Android

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 Performance

CPU :  Qualcomm Snapdragon 636, 14nm 64-bit octa-core CPU (8 x Kryo 260 cores), 14nm FinFET (Low Power Plus) power-saving technology
GPU :  Adreno 509 GPU
Heating : Medium
Max Battery Temperature : 38 degrees

Overall performance was very good, smooth and lag free.

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 Benchmark

Antutu : 114224 / 20737
NenaMark3 :  59.4 fps (3-5)
Multi Touch : 10 points
Disk Speed :  243 MB/s read  and 139 MB/s write

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 Gaming Review

Both Modern Combat 5 and Asphalt 8 games played really well, no issues, no lags. This hardware SD 636 is perfect for gaming use and the 5000 mAh battery will make sure to keep you entertained for a longer period of time.

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 Camera  Review

Rear Camera : 13MP + 5MP (dual cameras), f/2.2, Omnivision 16880 sensor with Phase Detection AF, LED flash
Front Camera : 8MP, Portrait mode, f/2.0
Video Recording : 4K resolution

There are dual cameras on the back and you can shoot in bokeh mode. On the front there is single camera and there too you have bokeh option. Camera performance is above average, this camera does well in good lighting conditions but not that great in low light.

Also the edge detection is not that sharp and often the subject edge mixes with the background. However in general if you look at the whole picture the output is pretty good. Furthermore Asus is constantly updating the camera performance, I did get an update a day before that was meant to improve the camera performance but did not notice much of a difference / noticeable difference.

There is scope of camera improvement but I doubt to what level it can go as its Omnivision sensor. The handset can shoot 4K videos, there is no video stabilization.

Camera Rating : 4.1 out of 5

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 camera samples

Download Original Image files (right click and save) (do not use it for commercial purpose, without permission of gogi.in).

Other features

Sound is loud and clear (using NXP smart amplifier), sound quality is great even with headphones, did not find any issues with networks. Also if you use the Max Box you will get 1.7x more sound, perfect for small parties.  Finger print sensor on the back is decently fast and this handset also supports face unlock. The face unlock feature will be added soon via OTA update.

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1  Battery Review

Battery capacity : 5000 mAh (Non-removable)
Charging Time : 2 hours 30 minutes (0% to 100%) using the charger provided
Battery Life : 6 to 10 hours non-stop (moderate to heavy)
Daily usage battery life : One to One and a Half days or more depending on your usage

Battery Test Results

Battery Temp at idle : 33 degrees
Running Benchmark app :
 13 minutes / 2% / 36 degrees
Asphalt 8  game play : 21 minutes / 4% / 38 degrees
4K video playback with full brightness (WiFi /4G on) :  42 minutes / 14% / 38 degrees

Verdict

The Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 is an impressive handset that actually competes with the Redmi Note 5, in fact it is much better in almost every area and the price is just Rs. 1000 extra, makes sense to go with the Max Pro M1.

Having Said that the Max Pro M1 also competes with the Redmi Note 5 Pro, however it fails in the camera department. The company will be launching a better version of Max Pro with high RAM/ROM and better cameras, that probably will compete with Note 5 Pro.

Rating : 4.3  out of 5

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 price in India starts from Rs. 10,999 with 3GB RAM and 32GB ROM, the 4GB RAM and 64GB ROM variant is priced at Rs. 12,999. This handset will go on sale on 3rd May 2018, on Flipkart, along with offers.

Go with the 3GB RAM version as there is a dedicated micro SD card slot you can always expand storage.