While we’ve already seen some flagships from the company hit the market in the last few months, ASUS has just unveiled the newest addition to the ZenFone line, the ASUS ZenFone Max Plus.
Inside the metal body, the ASUS ZenFone Max Plus will have a 5.7-inch display in an 18:9 ratio, and with a resolution of 2,160 x 1,080. ASUS doesn’t name the processor inside the phone in its US press release, but the company previously said the ZenFone Max Plus would have a MediaTek 6750T chipset. It will also have a large 4,130 mAh battery inside, which should offer up to 13 hours of video playback, or 21 hours of Wi-Fi web browsing.
This is undoubtedly a mid-ranged phone, but the biggest draw of this device is the massive battery and dual camera sensors.
That 4,130 mAh battery should last you a very, very long time. Add that to the fact that ASUS is using a FHD screen (vs a QuadHD one), and you should be able to expect much more than a full day out of the Max Plus. We’ll have to see how the battery stacks up once reviews start hitting the internet in February of this year.
The other big draw of this phone are the dual camera sensors, with a main 16 MP sensor that has a wide, f/2.0 aperture lens. The secondary 8 MP camera has a 120 degree wide-angle sensor for capturing more people or scenery in the frame. The phone also has a 16 MP front-facing selfie camera.
The wide angle means you can capture much more of your scene if that’s what you’re going for. There are quite a few fun features and filters in both the front and rear camera sensors, and it’s also got face unlock like many of the other popular phones these days. It uses its ZenUI and the front camera so that owners can unlock their phones with just their face. There’s also a fingerprint sensor in the rear of the phone.
The ZenFone Max Plus is a dual SIM phone, but its SIM tray also has room for a separate microSD card, for adding up to 256 GB of storage.
There will be two models available, one with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, and one with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, and they’ll start at $229 in February. You can get them in Deepsea Black and Azure Silver.
The bad news about this phone is that it will ship with Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box. It also uses the older micro-USB connector instead of the new USB-C port, but still retains a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
What do you think about the ZenFone Max Plus? It’s certainly an interesting option for those that are curious about mid-ranged devices, so let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Another member of Asus’ Zenfone 4 line-up has just arrived at our doorstep – the Zenfone 4 Max. As Asus seems to do every year, it is offering a series of phones, from mid-range to high-end, which all have a specific strength or two. The Zenfone 4 Max not only “maxes” out the battery, with a 5000mAh cell, but also focuses on providing a camera with solid capability and range. The dual-camera setup features a standard, 13MP main camera paired with a 120-degree-wide, 5MP secondary shooter. All of this comes with a competitive price tag – $199.99 to be exact. So, does Asus deliver on its promised dedication to photography and mid-range value?
In the box:
- Asus Zenfone 4 Max
- USB charging cable and wall adapter
- Micro USB to USB-A male to female adapter
- SIM tool
- User guides and warranty information
Design
The Asus Zenfone 4 Max won’t be the most beautiful phone you see in 2017, but considering its direct competition, it’s not a bad-looking phone either. The face of the phone is all black (or white, depending on the color you get) with little to remark on other than a fingerprint scanner, non-backlit, haptic navigation keys, and a front-facing camera with flash. Turning the device around, you’ll be pleased to find a full metal casing. Our unit was a deep navy blue, curiously (or perhaps, aptly) named Deepsea Black. The screen raises slightly from the rest of the frame, and is surrounded by a thin bevel of polished, slightly-lighter-blue plastic. Unfortunately, this is a fairly soft plastic, which will be the first thing to chip from even small drops, but we'd rather have this take damage than the screen itself. The same light-blue accent is also used to create two thin horizontal cuts in the aluminum body – one near the top, and one near the bottom – which break up the monotony of the phone's backing. The dual cameras protrude slightly, but we’re not especially worried about it. All the buttons are very clicky and firm, and the phone has an overall solid, comfortable feel in the hand. Thankfully, the 5000mAh battery doesn’t weigh it down much.
Display
When will manufacturers stop stretching 720p on phablet-sized screens?Equipped with a 5.5-inch IPS display, the Zenfone 4 Max has a 720p (720 x 1280) resolution, which spreads pixels pretty thin. The 267 ppi can be easily seen blurring smaller text and images, making reading on this phone one of our least favorite things to do. Looking at full-screen pictures or videos will be generally pleasing, though. Colors appear mostly accurate, albeit somewhat pale. You won’t notice this too much while engrossed in 720p video or checking the pictures you’ve snapped, though.
Why Asus ZenFone phones are out of stock?
The Delhi High Court has issued an interim order that restrains Asus from selling any of its products that carries the 'Zen' branding. This means that Asus is forced to halt sales of its ZenFone smartphones in India.
Does Asus make good phones?
Ans. Yes, Asus phones are good. They offer reliable performance and good features at an affordable price. The brand has a good reputation for both smartphones and tablets.
How long does ZenFone battery last?
The similar-sized competition typically lasts a full day with average use on a single charge, but the 4,300-mAh battery capacity on the Zenfone 10 got me through a full day and until 6 pm on the second day.
What is the battery capacity of Asus ZenFone 4 Max?
ASUS ZenFone 4 Max is a smartphone designed to go the distance and accompany you on all of life's adventures. Its high capacity 4100mAh battery with advanced power management and dual cameras keeps up with your active lifestyle and is always at the ready to capture extraordinary moments.