I have been using the ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 for over a month now as my daily driver. And here is what I think about the #BatteryKing.
ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 Unboxing
First let’s take a look at what’s included in the box with the Max Pro M1. I’ve made an unboxing video which you can watch below.
ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 Review
The ZenFone Max Pro M1 is one of ASUS’ newer models, not to be confused with the ZenFone Max Plus M1 and the ZenFone Max M1. I’ve been using it as my daily driver for the past month. I even brought it with me during my trip to Malaysia and Singapore. So here is my review on the device based on my day to day use with it.
Design and Build Quality
First let’s talk about its design. At first glance, it looks really sleek and premium despite its budget-friendly price tag. The aluminum body really gives a sturdy feel to it.
The Max Pro M1 has 5.99-inch display without making the device too big to hold on the hand thanks to its less bezel design. The phone is comfortable to hold, and buttons feel tactile. It is available in Deepsea Black, and Meteor Silver (which is what we have here).
Performance
The device seems to run on pure Android UI, instead of the usual ZenUI. Which makes it easier to customize and navigate the settings. The UI was snappy and I only experienced minimal lag, only during heavy loads. Although I’ve never used it to play games, but I did edit photos using Lightroom Mobile and Snapseed with it, as well as edit videos. It didn’t seem to be lacking in processing performance. Below are benchmark results of the device.
| Antutu | 114664 |
| GeekBench | 1329 (Single-Core) 4853 (Multi-Core) |
| PC Mark | 6016 (Work 2.0) |
Camera
The main rear cameras are pretty decent. It has a 13+5MP dual camera configuration designed to take beautiful bokeh shots (the 4/64 variant has a 16+5MP rear camera). The depth of field doesn’t look tacky as what most phones do. Despite being called the Max Pro, it didn’t have a Pro or Manual Mode, which is a bit of a deal breaker for me. But I didn’t really mind since I was using it as a secondary shoot (my DSLR being the primary).
The front camera is good, but not really that great. It is probably one of the device’s weak points. Both front and rear cameras also don’t do well in low light conditions and produce a bit of noise (more so in the front cam). I also get some camera error from time to time, but can be fixed just by relaunching the camera app. Though I wish they would fix that on future updates. Below are some sample photos I took with the device.
Audio and Call Quality
Audio quality are pretty good. The speakers are pretty loud with the music still clear. Call quality are quite good too.
Battery Life
The Max series of ZenFones are known for their battery life. Besides having a big battery, the Max Pro M1’s processor actually helps prolong the battery life of the device. During my trip, I had mobile data on and mobile tethering as well. It was able to last for almost two days. And in normal daily use, I find myself charging the device after 2 to 3 days.
Features
Aside from its long battery life, the device also features a Fingerprint Scanner and Face Unlock. The Face Unlock is honestly unreliable. It can detect your face on great lighting conditions, but mostly it just doesn’t recognize your face at all. Which I find myself relying on the Fingerprint Scanner more. The problem though is the back finish of the device tends to get smudgy, that goes for the Fingerprint Scanner as well. And it can’t scan my fingerprint if it’s smudgy, so I keep on cleaning it every now and then.
ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 Specifications
| Dimensions | 159 x 76 x 8.45 mm |
| Weight | 180 g |
| CPU | Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 636 |
| GPU | Adreno™ 509 |
| RAM | 3 GB/ 4 GB |
| Storage | 32 GB/ 64 GB (microSD up to 2 TB) |
| Display | 5.99-inch Full HD+, 2160 by 1080, 18:9 |
| Rear Camera | 3/32 variant: 13MP, f/2.2 5 MP, f/2.4, depth sensor4/64 variant: 16MP, f/2.2 5MP, f/2.4, depth sensor |
| Front Camera | 8MP, f/2.2 |
| Battery | 5000 mAh |
| OS | Android™ 8.1 Oreo™ |
| Price | Php 9,995/ Php 13,995 |
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