The Asus Zenfone Max (Z010DA version) is pretty much the younger brother of the Zenfone 2, it isn’t that powerful but it does offer a much longer battery. The phone is equipped with only a Snapdragon 410 Quad Core Processor with 2 GB RAM, which isn’t really a powerhouse, in fact, it is slower than other similar phones in the market, such as the Ulefone Power or the Umi Touch. But it is cheaper compared to those phones.
Uninspired Design and nothing unique
It is true that all Zenfone phones look alike, and basing on my first hand experience, the Zenfone Max is not particularly unique. Designwise, it looks pretty much like any Zenfone series handset available. It also doesn’t look that good, it is also big, a Phablet size which might not be suited for all users.
12 hours battery life
On typical usage, the Asus Zenfone Max can breach 13 hours on mixed usage on a single charge. It is equipped with a 5000mAh Battery built-in and also supports Powerbank Mode. However, there is no mention of Quick Charging support.
Low End Android and Bloatware
The Asus Zenfone Max with only a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 at it’s innards, isn’t powerful, in fact, it lags especially in multitasking, the 2 GB RAM isn’t enough to handle. Gaming, also is a mixed bag, it can handle low end games fine but games like Modern Combat 5 and Asphalt 8 struggles badly. Also worth mentioning is Asus’s patented Bloatware issue, although the ZenUI gives you more preferences and customizability than the native Android, it is loaded with unnecessary apps which can ultimately bog down the system.
Surprisingly Good Camera
Another bright spot of the Asus Zenfone Max is it’s camera, it is equipped with a 13 MP sensor with PixelMaster 2.0, low light performance is actually very good and focus time is quick. I can attest that it can quickly focus on a subject with one touch. The Interface is also the same with the Zenfone 2, all the shooting modes are available including beautification, HDR, Miniature mode, Panorama etc… It also has a Manual mode, that grants you access to multiple settings such as Exposure levels, shooting modes, lighting mode etc…
In addition, low light mode is also great, it houses a Dual LED Real Tone Flash that is bright enough to take shots even at night.
Good Connectivity
Connectivity wise, the handset supports Dual Micro SIM and 4G LTE Support. In my region, i did not have any issue in terms of signal reception, and the frequency is supported by my carrier. But before you buy this, you should also check the frequency supported of the phone. Web surfing is also great, i did get close to the expected battery life while using WiFi. Call Quality is also satisfactory.
Good Display and Corning Gorilla Glass 4
The Zenfone Max features a 5.5 inch Phablet size IPS display with only a 720p HD resolution but is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 4. Color reproduction is good, no tinting but is clearly not as sharp compared to other phones in the market.
Basically a Low End Android but offers Ultra Long Battery Life
Asus advertises the Zenfone Max to offer 38 days of Standby power, and about 12 hours and 45 minutes of real time usage (Typical Usage). I know not everyone will be eager to get this phone. One of the reasons is the mediocre performance, even lower than other Mid-tier Phones with Mediatek MT6753 chipsets in the market. But for those who isn’t particularly into performance but wants more battery life, then the Zenfone Max is a good fit. The handset also supports Powerbank mode and is capable multiple devices.
Also worthy to mention, there are also other phones you might consider if you are after Performance and Big Battery life. On top of this lists is the Oukitel K6000 Pro and theUlefone Power.
Highlights of the Asus Zenfone Max:
- Good 13 MP Camera, Fast Focus Sensor and Manual Mode
- Powered by Snapdragon 410 and 2 GB RAM
- ZenUI (Android 5.0 Lollipop)
- 12 hours and 45 minutes typical usage time
- Dual SIM Support
- 5.5 inch, IPS, 720p, Corning Gorilla Glass 4
- Great Connectivity
- Powerbank Mode (Supports charging of multiple devices)
CONS:
- Mediocre Performance (Struggles on 3D games)
- Bloatware
1 commentaires:
commentairesPlease, I need help. I bought a ZC550KL (Z010DA) and I downloaded the upgrade file from the Asus website. When my phone started updating, everything seemed right, but after that it got into bootloop. Now I am trying to find the stock firmware and recovery image, but I can't find them. Any firmware I try to flash, Asus Flash tool either says it is unsigned or "can't find file 13c4204b_frp_request_server_log.txt".
ReplyNow, in recovery mode, it even shows messages that it can't mount cashe, system, data, etc.
Please, can you at least tell me where I could find it? I have gone to XDA, forums in russian, mandarin, but can't find them.