Eight months after introducing the Zenfone Max Pro (M1), ASUS decided to officially announce its successor, so in mid-December the ASUS Zenfone Max Pro (M2) and Zenfone Max (M2) were released.
The launch confirmed most of the features that had been leaked so far for the first of them, such as the FullHD + screen and the Snapdragon 660.
Among all these features, there was one that stood out above the others as it already did in its predecessor : a huge 5,000 mAh battery that promised two days of autonomy.
Now that the Zenfone Max Pro (M2) has passed through our hands, we have had the opportunity to verify both the virtues of that battery and the rest of its features, and the truth is that, in general terms, it has not disappointed us.
ASUS ZenFone Max Pro (M2), technical specifications ASUS ZENFONE MAX PRO (M2) SCREEN 6.26 inches IPS LCD 19: 9 FullHD + resolution (2,280x1,080) PROCESSOR Snapdragon 660 RAM 6GB INTERNAL MEMORY 64GB (plus microSD) CAMERAS Rear: 12MP + 5MP Front: 13 MP SOFTWARE Android Oreo 8.1 BATTERY 5,000 mAh DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT 157.8 x 75.5 x 8.5 mm 175 g OTHERS Dual SIM, WiFi n, Bluetooth 5.0, microUSB 2.0, 3.5mm jack, fingerprint reader, facial recognition PRICE 299 euros Design: high-end finishes The packaging of this terminal alone deserves a note, but when we open the box we are pleasantly surprised.
First of all, it is appreciated that ASUS has included a metal spike to remove the card tray, a headset with three pairs of earplugs and a practical transparent silicone sleeve.
But the most important thing is that inside we find a terminal with finishes that could well be high-end.
Our test unit was the color Midnight Blue (midnight blue) and the truth is that it has an elegant appearance, not only because of the tonality but also because it gives the impression that it is built in glass when the rear is actually made of polycarbonate.
Ahead, we have a FullHD + screen (which we will talk about later) that, thanks to the notch, very thin frames and the location of the fingerprint sensor at the rear, makes the most of the front surface.
This screen also boasts a 2.5D curved glass and Corning Gorilla Glass 6 protection, so that, according to ASUS, it withstands drops from 1 meter in height.
We cannot corroborate this data, but the mere presence of that protection is already something remarkable in the mid-range.
From behind, ASUS has opted for a finish that they call Wave and thanks to which, by turning the terminal to view it from different angles, a play of light and shadow can be appreciated.
It must be recognized that it is attractive, yes, but we cannot deny that, as always happens with these finishes, it is a magnet for fingerprints (neither more nor less than most models on the market).
In any case, this rear slightly curved at the edges is extended by rounded aluminum side frames that give the whole an appearance, as we have said, more typical of the high-end than the mid-range.
And we continue on the back of the phone because that is where we find the vertically arranged double camera in the upper left area, the fingerprint reader in the center and the ASUS logo just below.
That camera, by the way, hardly has any protrusion.
We now stop at the edges of the phone: on the right are the power button and the volume controls, while on the left is where we find the triple tray that houses the two nanoSIM cards (both 4G) and the memory card micro SD.
The lower speaker offers optimal quality, but we miss a USB-C port The lower frame is reserved for the headphone jack connector, the microUSB port and a speaker that delivers optimal audio for a terminal in this category.
Here, to put one downside, we miss the USB-C connector, which we have already seen in several mid-range and entry models.
ASUS ZENFONE MAX PRO (M2) XIAOMI MI 8 LITE HUAWEI MATE 20 LITE HUAWEI P SMART + OPPO RX17 NEO SAMSUNG GALAXY A9 (2018) DISPLAY 6.26 inches FullHD + 6.26 inches FullHD + 6.3 inches FullHD + 6.3 inches FullHD + 6, 41 inches FullHD + 6.3 inches FullHD + FRONT / SCREEN RATIO 82% 82.5% 81.7% 82.2% 84.4% 80.5% DIMENSIONS 157.8 x 75.5 x 8.5 mm 156.4 x 75.8 x 7.5 mm 158.3 x 75.3 x 7.6 mm 157.6 x 75.2 x 7.6 mm 158.3 x 75.5 x 7.4 mm 162.5 x 77 x 7.8 mm WEIGHT 175 g 169 g 172 g 169 g 156 g 183 g This table corroborates what we have said before: the ASUS ZenFone Max Pro (M2) makes good use of the front surface, specifically up to 82% according to GSMArena ( although ASUS claims it's 90%).
In addition, in the hand, it is not heavy or uncomfortable, despite having a panel of almost 6.3 inches and the greatest thickness of the comparison (8.5 mm).
In short, it is a very well built terminal, with good finishes and an aesthetic that pleases at first glance.
And those who find it a bit brittle or slippery, or just want to avoid the dreaded footprints, can always use the included clear sleeve.
Screen: correct behavior The ASUS Zenfone Max Pro (M2) incorporates a 6.26-inch IPS LCD panel with FullHD + resolution (2,280x1,080 pixels) and a 19: 9 format (the usual aspect ratio for notch mobiles).
Its data sheet also includes a brightness of 450 nits and a contrast ratio of 1,500: 1.
In practice, this translates into correct viewing quality, both indoors and outdoors.
The FullHD + resolution provides a sufficient level of detail without increasing consumption too much, while the IPS technology takes care of providing good viewing angles.
Even in direct sunlight and despite the reflections produced, the viewing and reading quality can be considered acceptable.
Despite the reflections in bright sunlight, the display quality is still acceptable When we activate the automatic level of brightness, it remains somewhat below what is desirable, but we can always adjust it manually, the same as the color temperature in case of we don't like the default value and prefer a colder or warmer hue.
Among the other available options, the possibility of establishing a 'Night light' mode to give an amber tone to the screen, of defining the sleep time due to inactivity (between 15 seconds and 30 minutes) or the 'Screen smart ', which detects when we look at the screen and hold the device vertically to extend the activation time.
As for the touch response, we also consider it to be correct, and thanks to the ASUS ZenMotion function, it is possible to activate the touch gesture to turn the screen on or off with two taps on it.
Therefore, we are facing a screen that neither protrudes nor suspends in any aspect.
Performance: Snapdragon 660 and 6GB of RAM to comply with ease ASUS has equipped its Zenfone Max Pro (M2) with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 660, a 14-nanometer processor that was introduced in 2017 and that we have seen throughout 2018 in other mid-range models like the Xiaomi Mi A2 and even high-mid-range models like the Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018).
In the case of the unit that we have been able to test, it also came with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal memory, to which must be added the possibility of using a microSD card of up to 2TB and 100GB of storage in Google Drive for free during one year.
The combination of the Snapdragon 660 with the 6GB of RAM provides a satisfactory performance, without unexpected closings of apps or lags and with a very fluid navigation And what does that translate into in practice? Very simple: the combination of the Snapdragon 660 with 6GB of RAM provides satisfactory performance on a day-to-day basis, without unexpected closings of applications or important lags and with very fluid navigation between the different apps.
We have also noticed that it dissipates heat very well and the terminal does not heat up after a while playing with it or using the camera intensively.
In multitasking, he also works with ease, as in games, both in the simplest and in the most demanding.
In the latter, it has experienced slowness at specific times, but nothing that hinders the user experience or that we can throw in the face of a mid-range terminal.
Here we leave, as always, the comparison table with the results of the most popular benchmarks: ASUS ZENFONE MAX PRO (M2) SAMSUNG GALAXY A9 (2018) XIAOMI MI A2 BLACKBERRY KEY2 BQ AQUARIS X2 PRO NOKIA 7 PLUS PROCESSOR Snapdragon 660 Snapdragon 660 Snapdragon 660 Snapdragon 660 Snapdragon 660 Snapdragon 660 RAM 6 GB 6 GB 4 GB 6 GB 4 GB 4 GB ANTUTU 128,558 141,346 127,610 126,375 141,550 141,522 GEEKBENCH (SINGLE / MULTI) 1,465 / 5,470 1,584 / 5,772 1,626 / 4,286 1,618 / 5,755 1,642 / 5,763 1,645 / 5,909 3D MARK (ICESTORM UNLIMITED) 24,271 25,820 22,461 18,342 26,415 26,348 There is also one aspect in which the Zenfone Max Pro (M2) stands out for its speed and precision: the unlocking of the terminal, either through facial recognition or with the fingerprint sensor .
Both options are as quick to configure as they are to get things done.
In the case of the sensor, it is capable of partially detecting the fingerprint even when the mobile is wearing the case; For its part, the facial recognition system quickly distinguishes the face even if the owner wears glasses, looks at the phone from the side or the lighting conditions are unfavorable.
Autonomy: forget about recharging it every day When ASUS introduced this model, it placed great emphasis on its huge battery, and no wonder, because it has a capacity of, attention, 5,000 mAh.
Is it enough for a terminal with a 6.26-inch FullHD + LCD screen? Absolutely yes.
In our tests, with each full charge, it has lasted more than a day and a half with automatic brightness and average use that included playing some videos, surfing the Internet, checking email, playing games from time to time, updating social networks , make the odd call and take a considerable number of photos.
To offer more specific data, we have verified that an hour of screen turned on with the maximum brightness only consumes 10% of energy, and that half an hour of ...
Eight months after introducing the Zenfone Max Pro (M1), ASUS decided to officially announce its successor, so in mid-December the ASUS Zenfone Max Pro (M2) and Zenfone Max (M2) were released.
The launch confirmed most of the features that had been leaked so far for the first of them, such as the FullHD + screen and the Snapdragon 660.
Among all these features, there was one that stood out above the others as it already did in its predecessor : a huge 5,000 mAh battery that promised two days of autonomy.
Now that the Zenfone Max Pro (M2) has passed through our hands, we have had the opportunity to verify both the virtues of that battery and the rest of its features, and the truth is that, in general terms, it has not disappointed us.
ASUS ZenFone Max Pro (M2), technical specifications ASUS ZENFONE MAX PRO (M2) SCREEN 6.26 inches IPS LCD 19: 9 FullHD + resolution (2,280x1,080) PROCESSOR Snapdragon 660 RAM 6GB INTERNAL MEMORY 64GB (plus microSD) CAMERAS Rear: 12MP + 5MP Front: 13 MP SOFTWARE Android Oreo 8.1 BATTERY 5,000 mAh DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT 157.8 x 75.5 x 8.5 mm 175 g OTHERS Dual SIM, WiFi n, Bluetooth 5.0, microUSB 2.0, 3.5mm jack, fingerprint reader, facial recognition PRICE 299 euros Design: high-end finishes The packaging of this terminal alone deserves a note, but when we open the box we are pleasantly surprised.
First of all, it is appreciated that ASUS has included a metal spike to remove the card tray, a headset with three pairs of earplugs and a practical transparent silicone sleeve.
But the most important thing is that inside we find a terminal with finishes that could well be high-end.
Our test unit was the color Midnight Blue (midnight blue) and the truth is that it has an elegant appearance, not only because of the tonality but also because it gives the impression that it is built in glass when the rear is actually made of polycarbonate.
Ahead, we have a FullHD + screen (which we will talk about later) that, thanks to the notch, very thin frames and the location of the fingerprint sensor at the rear, makes the most of the front surface.
This screen also boasts a 2.5D curved glass and Corning Gorilla Glass 6 protection, so that, according to ASUS, it withstands drops from 1 meter in height.
We cannot corroborate this data, but the mere presence of that protection is already something remarkable in the mid-range.
From behind, ASUS has opted for a finish that they call Wave and thanks to which, by turning the terminal to view it from different angles, a play of light and shadow can be appreciated.
It must be recognized that it is attractive, yes, but we cannot deny that, as always happens with these finishes, it is a magnet for fingerprints (neither more nor less than most models on the market).
In any case, this rear slightly curved at the edges is extended by rounded aluminum side frames that give the whole an appearance, as we have said, more typical of the high-end than the mid-range.
And we continue on the back of the phone because that is where we find the vertically arranged double camera in the upper left area, the fingerprint reader in the center and the ASUS logo just below.
That camera, by the way, hardly has any protrusion.
We now stop at the edges of the phone: on the right are the power button and the volume controls, while on the left is where we find the triple tray that houses the two nanoSIM cards (both 4G) and the memory card micro SD.
The lower speaker offers optimal quality, but we miss a USB-C port The lower frame is reserved for the headphone jack connector, the microUSB port and a speaker that delivers optimal audio for a terminal in this category.
Here, to put one downside, we miss the USB-C connector, which we have already seen in several mid-range and entry models.
ASUS ZENFONE MAX PRO (M2) XIAOMI MI 8 LITE HUAWEI MATE 20 LITE HUAWEI P SMART + OPPO RX17 NEO SAMSUNG GALAXY A9 (2018) DISPLAY 6.26 inches FullHD + 6.26 inches FullHD + 6.3 inches FullHD + 6.3 inches FullHD + 6, 41 inches FullHD + 6.3 inches FullHD + FRONT / SCREEN RATIO 82% 82.5% 81.7% 82.2% 84.4% 80.5% DIMENSIONS 157.8 x 75.5 x 8.5 mm 156.4 x 75.8 x 7.5 mm 158.3 x 75.3 x 7.6 mm 157.6 x 75.2 x 7.6 mm 158.3 x 75.5 x 7.4 mm 162.5 x 77 x 7.8 mm WEIGHT 175 g 169 g 172 g 169 g 156 g 183 g This table corroborates what we have said before: the ASUS ZenFone Max Pro (M2) makes good use of the front surface, specifically up to 82% according to GSMArena ( although ASUS claims it's 90%).
In addition, in the hand, it is not heavy or uncomfortable, despite having a panel of almost 6.3 inches and the greatest thickness of the comparison (8.5 mm).
In short, it is a very well built terminal, with good finishes and an aesthetic that pleases at first glance.
And those who find it a bit brittle or slippery, or just want to avoid the dreaded footprints, can always use the included clear sleeve.
Screen: correct behavior The ASUS Zenfone Max Pro (M2) incorporates a 6.26-inch IPS LCD panel with FullHD + resolution (2,280x1,080 pixels) and a 19: 9 format (the usual aspect ratio for notch mobiles).
Its data sheet also includes a brightness of 450 nits and a contrast ratio of 1,500: 1.
In practice, this translates into correct viewing quality, both indoors and outdoors.
The FullHD + resolution provides a sufficient level of detail without increasing consumption too much, while the IPS technology takes care of providing good viewing angles.
Even in direct sunlight and despite the reflections produced, the viewing and reading quality can be considered acceptable.
Despite the reflections in bright sunlight, the display quality is still acceptable When we activate the automatic level of brightness, it remains somewhat below what is desirable, but we can always adjust it manually, the same as the color temperature in case of we don't like the default value and prefer a colder or warmer hue.
Among the other available options, the possibility of establishing a 'Night light' mode to give an amber tone to the screen, of defining the sleep time due to inactivity (between 15 seconds and 30 minutes) or the 'Screen smart ', which detects when we look at the screen and hold the device vertically to extend the activation time.
As for the touch response, we also consider it to be correct, and thanks to the ASUS ZenMotion function, it is possible to activate the touch gesture to turn the screen on or off with two taps on it.
Therefore, we are facing a screen that neither protrudes nor suspends in any aspect.
Performance: Snapdragon 660 and 6GB of RAM to comply with ease ASUS has equipped its Zenfone Max Pro (M2) with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 660, a 14-nanometer processor that was introduced in 2017 and that we have seen throughout 2018 in other mid-range models like the Xiaomi Mi A2 and even high-mid-range models like the Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018).
In the case of the unit that we have been able to test, it also came with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal memory, to which must be added the possibility of using a microSD card of up to 2TB and 100GB of storage in Google Drive for free during one year.
The combination of the Snapdragon 660 with the 6GB of RAM provides a satisfactory performance, without unexpected closings of apps or lags and with a very fluid navigation And what does that translate into in practice? Very simple: the combination of the Snapdragon 660 with 6GB of RAM provides satisfactory performance on a day-to-day basis, without unexpected closings of applications or important lags and with very fluid navigation between the different apps.
We have also noticed that it dissipates heat very well and the terminal does not heat up after a while playing with it or using the camera intensively.
In multitasking, he also works with ease, as in games, both in the simplest and in the most demanding.
In the latter, it has experienced slowness at specific times, but nothing that hinders the user experience or that we can throw in the face of a mid-range terminal.
Here we leave, as always, the comparison table with the results of the most popular benchmarks: ASUS ZENFONE MAX PRO (M2) SAMSUNG GALAXY A9 (2018) XIAOMI MI A2 BLACKBERRY KEY2 BQ AQUARIS X2 PRO NOKIA 7 PLUS PROCESSOR Snapdragon 660 Snapdragon 660 Snapdragon 660 Snapdragon 660 Snapdragon 660 Snapdragon 660 RAM 6 GB 6 GB 4 GB 6 GB 4 GB 4 GB ANTUTU 128,558 141,346 127,610 126,375 141,550 141,522 GEEKBENCH (SINGLE / MULTI) 1,465 / 5,470 1,584 / 5,772 1,626 / 4,286 1,618 / 5,755 1,642 / 5,763 1,645 / 5,909 3D MARK (ICESTORM UNLIMITED) 24,271 25,820 22,461 18,342 26,415 26,348 There is also one aspect in which the Zenfone Max Pro (M2) stands out for its speed and precision: the unlocking of the terminal, either through facial recognition or with the fingerprint sensor .
Both options are as quick to configure as they are to get things done.
In the case of the sensor, it is capable of partially detecting the fingerprint even when the mobile is wearing the case; For its part, the facial recognition system quickly distinguishes the face even if the owner wears glasses, looks at the phone from the side or the lighting conditions are unfavorable.
Autonomy: forget about recharging it every day When ASUS introduced this model, it placed great emphasis on its huge battery, and no wonder, because it has a capacity of, attention, 5,000 mAh.
Is it enough for a terminal with a 6.26-inch FullHD + LCD screen? Absolutely yes.
In our tests, with each full charge, it has lasted more than a day and a half with automatic brightness and average use that included playing some videos, surfing the Internet, checking email, playing games from time to time, updating social networks , make the odd call and take a considerable number of photos.
To offer more specific data, we have verified that an hour of screen turned on with the maximum brightness only consumes 10% of energy, and that half an hour of ...
