The Two Asus Zenfone 3 Max Variants And Choice Between Them

Main Image
  • Like
  • Comment
  • Share

Asus’s Max range of handsets are usually affordable Androids that house a herculean 5000mAh battery and are consequently big and bulky.

The new Zenfone 3 Max models are arguably missing all of the above defining traits, and will also be venturing in to offline spcae (Hence the not-so-aggressive pricing).

img_6005

Asus Zenfone Max Specs and Features

Model Asus Zenfone Max ZC553KL (5.5-Inch) Asus Zenfone Max ZC520TL (5.2-Inch)
Display 5.5-inch, Full HD, IPS LCD display 5.2-inch, HD, IPS LCD display
Processor 1.4GHz octa-core Snapdragon 430 Quad Core MediaTek MT6737
RAM 4GB 3GB
Internal Storage 32GB, Expandable 32GB, Expandable
Software Android 6.0 Marshmallow Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Primary Camera 16MP sensor, dual-tone LED Flash, Laser AF, PDAF, contrast AF, 3-axis EIS 13MP sensor, LED flash
Secondary Camera 8MP 5MP
Battery 4100mAh 4100mAh
Others 4G LTE, Fingerprint reader, Hybrid Dual SIM 4G LTE, Fingerprint reader, Hybrid Dual SIM
Price 17,999 INR 12,999 INR

The Zenfone 3 Max (ZC553KL) that costs 17,999 INR makes a sound case for itself. The metal back and 2.5D glass on the front add up nicely. It is quite similar to Zenfone 3 laser in terms of design, save for the differece in the shape of rear mounted fingerprint reader. In spite of the beefy battery, Zenfone 3 Max is quite comfortable to wield and reasonably light.

The white point of the full HD display being used leans towards blue, as is the case with most other recently launched Asus Zenfone devices. There is a blue-light filter that you can activate from quick settings if you prefer color tones that are relatively softer on eyes.

The Snapdragon 430 octa-core chip humming within is a power efficient ARM big.LITTLE architecture based SoC that should be able to shoulder performance demands of day-to-day users with ease. Heavy users, however, will be naturally drawn towards more powerful online options like the Lenovo Z2 Plus.

img_6012

The 16MP rear camera sensor gets the same robust manual mode that we admired in Zenfone 3 and also the tri-tech AF (which basically implies the use of Laser AF and PDAF along with conventional contrast AF based on lighting condition). These attributes, however, don’t guarantee majestic camera performance. We will only know for sure after we get to play with it in our own space.

The software is the familiar Zen UI 3.0 (based on Android Marshmallow). It’s as cluttered as ever, but also includes a ton of customization options and a few handy power-saver profiles for critical times.

img_6021

Zenfone also introduced a more compact Zenfone 3 Max (ZC520TL) priced at 12,999 INR. Display size isn’t the only thing that sets the two Zenfone variants apart. In fact, there are quite a view differences here that you need to be aware of, particularly if you are interested in the lower end Zenfone Max model.

img_6047

It’s display doesn’t seem to have oleophobic coation as the screen was accumulating a lot more finger grease compared to its elder sibling. There are no off-screen buttons here either. The chin below the display has a big shiny Asus logo and the buttons are shifted on-screen. Laser AF and other swanky camera tech didn’t make the cut.

Also Read: Best Dual Camera Smartphones You Can Buy Today

img_6051

And these are the merely a few differences which you might not grasp from the spec-sheet. The lower RAM, entry grade MediaTek MT6737 chipset and lower resolution camera sensors are other more obvious downgrades.

The point being, the lower-end Zenfone 3 Max variant isn’t poised to deliver the same premium feel and experience as the high-end model.

img_6031

The new Zenfone 3 Max aren’t ‘disruptive’ products as you would have expected from Asus an year back or so. With the new Zenfone 3, the company has grown ambitious and doesn’t want to be associated with the cheaper brands fighting at razor thing margins in the limited online space.

Also Read: More and More Online Exclusive Brands Are Heading Offline

You would be buying them for the Zen experience that the company is still honing and polishing. The unknowns in the equations along with our final verdict shall follow soon after our full review.

Deepak SinghDeepak Singh
Deepak has more than 8 years of experience in covering technology for several eminent publications in India. He currently leads an enthusiastic team of young writers at Smartprix and tries to uphold the highest quality standards.

Related Articles

ImageVivo V30 Pro 5G Review: A Stylish Camera Phone

Vivo has recently introduced two new smartphones, the Vivo V30 and Vivo V30 Pro, in India as part of their V-Series lineup. Over the past few years, the brand has consistently aimed to provide slim and stylish designs, along with impressive camera performance, in their mid-range devices. This time around, Vivo has continued this trend …

ImageAsus Zenfone 8 Mini could make its way to India wielding an SD888 SoC

Asus has scheduled the global launch event of its Zenfone 8 series for May 12. The company is expected to introduce three models in the lineup including Zenfone 8, Zenfone 8 Mini, and Zenfone 8 Pro. Out of the three, the Asus Zenfone 8 Mini has reportedly received BIS certification in India suggesting its arrival …

ImageAsus unveils a 5.9″ Zenfone 8 and a 6.67″ Zenfone 8 Flip with upstate specs

Asus Zenfone 8 series debuts with a 5.9″ model and a bigger 6.67″ Flip variant. The differences between the two phones don’t stop there. They both sport different max screen refresh rates, memory configurations, battery volume, IP certification, and camera setup. But, a strong similarity between the two has to be the Snapdragon 888 processor …

ImageAsus Zenfone 3 Max With 4100mAh Battery Launched In India Starting 12,999 INR

Asus’s ‘Max’ series Zenfones have been quite popular among budget phone buyers in India owing to the big battery convenience that they offer. Today, the Taiwanese manufacturer presented the third generation Zenfone 3 Max that shall retail in two different variants priced at 12,999 INR and 17,999 INR. Asus has tried to make the new …

ImageAsus Zenfone 3s Max Review: Throw Away Your PowerBank Folks

It hasn’t been long since Asus first introduced us to the Zenfone 3 Max (review) with its stylish metallic body housing a 4100mAh battery. But in its pursuit to meet market demand it has launched the new Zenfone 3s Max which fills the vacant spot between the two variants of the Zenfone 3 Max. When its comes to …

Discuss

Be the first to leave a comment.