Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 with 6GB RAM: an Improved performance

Asus, a Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer, launched the Zenfone Max Pro M1 on April 23.In terms of changes, along with a higher capacity (6GB) RAM, the top-end variant of the Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 gets a new camera set-up on both the front and back. Other than these changes, the phone is similar to the 3GB and 4GB models in terms of design, technical specifications and features.

Quick Specs :

Dimensions – 159 x 76 x 8.5 mm

Weight – 180gm

Display – 5.99-inch FHD+ IPS LCD (1080 x 2160 pixels)

Processor – Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 SoC

GPU – Adreno 509

RAM – 6GB

Storage – 64GB

Primary Camera – 16MP f/2.0 + 5MP f/2.4

Secondary Camera – 16MP f/2.0

Battery – 5,000mAh

Operating System – Android 8.1 Oreo

Price – Rs. 14,999

 

Design and Build Quality

Asus has made no design change in the 6GB variant of the ZenFone Max Pro M1 and it has the same feel to it as the model we previously reviewed. The color and finish of the grey variant not only gives the device a more premium look, but it is also less susceptible to fingerprints, which earns it a few brownie points.

Other than that, all the design aspects of the device remain the same. It still has the same fingerprint scanner which has been placed quite appropriately on the back, the same tactile and clicky buttons, and the same micro USB port for charging and data syncing as before.

Display :

The ZenFone Max Pro M1 features the same 5.99-inch FHD+ IPS LCD display with a screen resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels. Much like the previous model, the display has great color reproduction, good contrast and it looks pretty decent in direct sunlight.

Performance :

Since the upgraded ZenFone Max Pro M1 comes with 6GB of RAM, it’s safe to assume that the device performs slightly better than the 3 or 4GB RAM variants.However, as concluded in the 3GB RAM variant review, the phone performs consistently with no signs of lags or stutter. It handles power-intensive apps without breaking sweat and keeps the thermals in control. The RAM management and optimisations are good and the phone shows no sign of weakness operating on multiple apps at the same time.

Gaming performance on the ZenFone Max Pro M1 has also improved slightly, with PUBG Mobile picking up medium graphics settings as the default option, as opposed to the low graphics settings selected by the 3GB RAM variant.

Camera :

The new 6GB RAM variant comes with a 16-megapixel primary camera paired with a 5MP depth-sensing lens on the back, and a 16MP camera on the front for selfies.

Images are sharper, brighter and even the colors look a bit more vibrant.  Here are a couple of images we captured with the new ZenFone Max Pro M1 in broad daylight:

Overall, the camera performance has improved. However, given the price tag of Rs 14,999, the Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 seems to be a balanced proposition in the 6GB RAM budget smartphone segment.

 

Connectivity :

The upgraded ZenFone Max Pro M1 also doesn’t have any differences from the 3GB or 4GB RAM variants when it comes to connectivity options. It still has an elongated SIM tray with two dedicated SIM slots and a dedicated microSD card slot for expansion. The phone has a 3.5mm headphone jack for audio output, a micro USB port for charging and data syncing, and it supports the latest 802.11b/g/n WiFi, LTE and HSPA networks.The device also features Bluetooth 5.0, which is a great addition for a device in this price range.

Pros:

• Near stock Android experience
• 5,000mAh battery
• Great performance
• Great display

Cons:

• No Gorilla Glass protection