This release is a slap in the face of those who bought the expensive Elite Edition earlier, and those who claimed that the Tencent Edition was only possible because of Tencent’s sponsorship in China.
ASUS have basically admitted that they can release a much cheaper ROG Phone 2, without sponsorship of any kind… and yes, that the Elite Edition was really just a way for them to make extra money off the foolish and the gullible.
ROG Phone 2 Ultimate = Elite Edition With 1TB Storage
The ROG Phone 2 Ultimate is yet another marketing ploy to pick the pockets of gullible gamers. It is nothing more than the already expensive ROG Phone 2 Elite Edition with 1TB of storage and a higher price tag.
Let’s be honest – how many of you will actually use up 128 GB of storage, much less 512 GB or 1 TB? In fact, many of us are still using laptops with just 256 GB or 512 GB of storage!
So yes, it is colossally STUPID for anyone to buy for gaming. We will show you why…
ROG Phone 2 Specification + Price Comparison
First, let’s take a quick look at what’s different between the ROG Phone 2 STRIX vs Elite vs Ultimate in this table :
Specifications
ROG Phone 2
STRIX Edition
ROG Phone 2
Elite Edition
ROG Phone 2
Ultimate Edition
Display
6.59-inch AMOLED display (1080 x 2340 pixels)
– 108% DCI-P3 colour gamut, 10,000:1 contrast ratio
– up to 120 Hz refresh rate, 1 ms response time
System Platform
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus
Processor
1 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold core (2.96 GHz)
3 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold cores (2.42 GHz)
4 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU
Qualcomm Adreno 640 (672 MHz)
RAM
8 GB LPDDR4X
12 GB LPDDR4X
Storage
128 GB UFS 3.0
512 GB UFS 3.0
1 TB UFS 3.0
Front Camera
24 MP front camera
Rear Cameras
48 MP main camera, with Sony IMX586 sensor, and f/1.79 lens
13 MP ultra-wide camera, with 125-degree field of view
Why ROG Phone 2 STRIX Is BETTER Than Elite / Ultimate!
Now, let’s show you why the the ROG Phone 2 STRIX is the best option of the three, and why you should NOT pay extra for the Elite or Ultimate Editions!
Performance : They Are ALL EQUALLY FAST
The STRIX, Elite and Ultimate Editions are powered by the SAME Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus mobile platform, as well as the same LPDDR4x RAM.
The Elite and Ultimate Editions come with 12 GB of RAM, while the STRIX Edition only comes with 8 GB of RAM. However, which mobile game do you know needs more than 2 GB of RAM?
In fact, high-end mobile games like PUBG Mobile and Asphalt 9 use less than 1.2 GB of RAM!
So all you are getting when you purchase the Elite or Ultimate Edition is the right to brag about how your ROG Phone 2 has 4 GB of additional RAM just sitting there doing nothing.
All three ROG Phone 2 models use fast UFS 3.0 storage. The only difference is how much storage they come with :
ROG Phone 2 STRIX : 128 GB
ROG Phone 2 Elite : 512 GB
ROG Phone 2 Ultimate : 1 TB
Storage may be important for some users, but frankly speaking, 128 GB is plenty of storage for most users.
For gamers, it’s actually A LOT more than they will ever use. Even PUBG Mobile only takes up 1.54 GB of space.
128 GB of storage in the STRIX Edition should be more than enough to let you install 50-80 large games. Oh, you don’t have that many games? See what we mean?
Paying extra for 512 GB of storage in the Elite Edition is really pointless… at least for mobile gamers.
Paying extra for 1 TB of storage in the Ultimate Edition? That’s just plain stupid for mobile gamers.
Connectivity : Practically The Same
The Snapdragon X24 LTE modem supports LTE Cat 20 and WiFi-AD connectivity, but ASUS artificially limited their capabilities slightly to differentiate the three models :
But for all practical purposes, you won’t be able to tell the difference because mobile games are designed to use very little data!
PUBG Mobile, for example, only uses between 15 MB and 50 MB of data for an entire 20-30 minute game. That works out to a MAXIMUM of 1.7 MB per minute, or 28 KB per second.
And how many of you actually have a WiFi-AD router? Most gamers still rely on a WiFi-AC router, which is plenty fast enough.
Charging : ROG Phone 2 Elite / Ultimate
The only clear-cut performance advantage the ROG Phone 2 Elite and Ultimate Editions offer is the 30-watt fast charger.
The ROG Phone 2 STRIX Edition only comes with a 18-watt fast charger, but in case you are wondering – it’s still fast enough to recharge the phone while you game on it.
Bundled “Freebies” : ROG Phone 2 Elite / Ultimate
The Elite and Ultimate Editions come bundled with the AeroActive Cooler II and the Aero Case, while the STRIX Edition comes with just a bumper case.
But guess what – you can purchase the AeroActive Cooler II and Aero Case for the STRIX Edition as separate upgrades! And you can get them both for less than $100.
Price : ROG Phone 2 STRIX Edition
Now, this is the real kicker.
The Elite Edition costs 38~41% more than the STRIX Edition, for no difference in gaming performance!
The Ultimate Edition costs 50% more than the STRIX Edition, for no difference in gaming performance!
Of the three models, the ROG Phone 2 STRIX Edition is the true gamer-centric model.
It focuses on delivering top-notch gaming capabilities with the same 120 Hz display, at a much lower price point than the Elite and Ultimate Editions!
All you are getting with the Elite or Ultimate Edition is a 38% to 50% higher price tag for more storage, a more powerful charger, and the AeroActive Cooler II and Aero Case.
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If you want to buy one for mobile gaming, get the STRIX Edition. Your wallet will thank you!
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After the special ROG Phone II Tencent Edition was launched, ASUS immediately sent out a press release that the Elite Edition would be quite different.
However, after comparing them both (as well as the similar Indian model and the global STRIX model), we can definitely tell you that the ROG Phone II Tencent Edition is A MUCH BETTER DEAL than the ROG Phone II Elite Edition for gamers!
ROG Phone II For India
In India, ASUS prepared a special low-cost ROG Phone II, which is almost exactly like the Tencent Edition.
For all intents and purposes, we consider it to be the ROG Phone II Tencent Edition for India.
The new ROG Phone II STRIX Edition is basically the Tencent Edition, without the Tencent logo.
This release is a slap in the face of those who bought the expensive Elite Edition earlier, and those who claimed that the Tencent Edition was only possible because of Tencent’s sponsorship in China.
ASUS have basically admitted that they can release a much cheaper ROG Phone 2, without sponsorship of any kind… and yes, that the Elite Edition was really just a way for them to make extra money off the foolish and the gullible.
ROG Phone II Specifications : Tencent Edition vs. Elite Edition
First, let’s take a quick look at what’s different between the ROG Phone II Tencent Edition, and the ROG Phone II Elite Edition. For your convenience, we compare their specifications in this table :
Specifications
ROG Phone 2
(Elite)
ROG Phone 2
(Tencent / STRIX)
Display
6.59-inch AMOLED display (1080 x 2340 pixels)
– 108% DCI-P3 colour gamut, 10,000:1 contrast ratio
– up to 120 Hz refresh rate, 1 ms response time
Chassis
Glass Back Cover
Glass + Metal Back Cover
System Platform
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus
Processor
1 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold core (2.96 GHz)
3 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Gold cores (2.42 GHz)
4 x Qualcomm Kryo 485 Silver cores (1.8 GHz)
GPU
Qualcomm Adreno 640 (672 MHz)
RAM
12 GB LPDDR4X
8 GB LPDDR4X
Storage
512 GB UFS 3.0
128 GB UFS 3.0
Front Camera
24 MP front camera
Rear Cameras
48 MP main camera, with Sony IMX586 sensor, and f/1.79 lens
13 MP ultra-wide camera, with 125-degree field of view
ROG Phone II Compared : Tencent Edition vs. Elite Edition
Let’s compare both versions in the eyes of ASUS’ target market – mobile gamers.
Performance : They Are Both EQUALLY FAST
Both the Tencent Edition and the Elite Edition of the ROG Phone II are powered by the SAME Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus mobile platform, as well as the same LPDDR4x RAM.
The Elite Edition comes with 12 GB of RAM, while the Tencent Edition only comes with 8 GB of RAM. However, which game do you know needs more than 2 GB of RAM?
In fact, high-end mobile games like PUBG Mobile and Asphalt 9 use less than 1.2 GB of RAM!
So all you are getting when you purchase the Elite Edition is the right to brag how your ROG Phone II has 4 GB of additional RAM just sitting there doing nothing.
Both the Tencent Edition and the Elite Edition of the ROG Phone II use fast UFS 3.0 storage.
However, the Elite Edition comes with 512 GB of storage, while the Tencent Edition only comes with 128 GB.
Storage may be important for some users, but frankly speaking, 128 GB is plenty of storage for most users.
For gamers, it’s actually A LOT more than they will ever use. Even PUBG Mobile only takes up 1.54 GB of space.
128 GB of storage in the Tencent Edition should be more than enough to let you install 50-80 large games. Oh, you don’t have that many games? See what we mean?
Paying extra for 512 GB of storage in the Elite Edition is just pointless… at least for mobile gamers.
Connectivity : Practically The Same
To differentiate the two versions, ASUS slightly crippled the connectivity capabilities of the ROG Phone II Tencent Edition, limiting it to LTE Cat16 (1 Gbps DL, 150 Mbps UL) and WiFi-AC.
The ROG Phone II Elite Edition, on the other hand, boasts LTE Cat18 (1.2 Gbps DL, 211 Mbps UL) and WiFi-AD capabilities.
But for all practical purposes, you won’t be able to tell the difference because mobile games are designed to use very little data!
PUBG Mobile, for example, only uses between 15 MB and 50 MB of data for an entire 20-30 minute game. That works out to a MAXIMUM of 1.7 MB per minute, or 28 KB per second.
And how many of you actually have a WiFi-AD router? Most gamers still rely on a WiFi-AC router, which is plenty fast enough.
Charging : ROG Phone II Elite Edition
The only clear-cut performance advantage the ROG Phone II Elite Edition offers is the 30-watt fast charger. The Tencent Edition only comes with a 18-watt fast charger.
Bundled “Freebies” : ROG Phone II Elite Edition
The Elite Edition comes bundled with the AeroActive Cooler II and the Aero Case, while the Tencent Edition comes with just a bumper case.
But guess what – you can purchase the AeroActive Cooler II and Aero Case for the Tencent Edition as separate upgrades! And you can get them both for less than $100.
ASUS also took pains to share with us that the Elite Edition comes with a premium six prism box, while the Tencent Edition comes with only a square box.
Uh, okay… how is that important? Does ASUS expect us to play with the box, or with the ROG Phone II?
Price : ROG Phone II Tencent Edition
Now, this is the real kicker. The Elite Edition costs 38~41% more than the Tencent Edition for no difference in gaming performance!
Frankly speaking, the ROG Phone II Tencent Edition is the true gamer-centric model.
It focuses on delivering top-notch gaming capabilities with the same 120 Hz display, at a much lower price point than the Global Edition!
All you are getting with the Elite Edition is a 38% to 41% higher price tag for a larger storage capacity, a more powerful charger, and the AeroActive Cooler II and Aero Case bundled… and yes, it comes in a fancy six prism box.
If you want to buy one for mobile gaming, get the Tencent Edition. Your wallet will thank you.
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Worried that gamers are swarming for the highly-affordable ROG Phone 2 Tencent Edition, ASUS urgently touted the advantages of the delayed ROG Phone 2 Global Edition.
Let’s compare the specifications of the ROG Phone 2 Tencent Edition against the ROG Phone 2 Global Edition model!
ROG Phone 2 – Super Fast Phone, Super Slow Rollout
ASUS launched the ROG Phone last year, calling it the world’s first smartphone designed for mobile gaming. Unfortunately, they squandered that advantage with an ultra-slow rollout in a fast-moving industry.
More nimble, new competitors like Black Shark not only introduced their own gaming smartphones, they literally surged past them.
Of course, the ROG Phone 2 boasts a 120 Hz display, with a 1 ms response time that totally crushes the likes of Black Shark 2 and Black Shark 2 PRO, and should guarantee silky-smooth gameplay, albeit at the expense of battery life.
That’s why ASUS gave it a massive 6,000 mAh battery – so it will last for quite a few rounds. The downside? It weighs almost a quarter of a kilo and is almost a full cm thick.
Of course, Black Shark has publicly pooh-poohed the usefulness of a 120 Hz display in this recent Q&A session :
Instead of a higher refresh rate, they opted to use DC dimming to reduce eyestrain, and an integrated DSP with MEMC (Motion Estimation, Motion Compensation) capabilities to eliminate unwanted judder and blur.
There is also the issue of ASUS quietly setting the ROG Phone 2 to use a 60Hz refresh rate instead, to improve battery life.
However, ASUS did NOT want anyone to think or talk about the Tencent Edition because it is MUCH CHEAPER, and is a darn better deal than the Global Edition that they only introduced in October 2019.
They urged their media friends to talk up the ROG Phone 2 Global Edition instead. But in our honest opinion, the Tencent version is a better deal for gamers. Here’s why!
In case you are wondering, the Snapdragon 855 Plus is just a speed-binned version of the regular Snapdragon 855. They are virtually identical.
The only differences are the clock speeds of two parts in the Snapdragon 855 Plus :
its single high-performance Kryo 485 Gold core is clocked at 2.96 GHz, instead of 2.84 GHz.
its Adreno 640 GPU is clocked at 672 MHz, instead of 585 MHz.
In other words, its advantage in mobile gaming is a 4% increase in the short boost performance of the CPU, and a 14.9% increase in peak GPU performance.
ROG Phone 2 Global vs Tencent : Price + Availability
ASUS finally released the Global Edition (now renamed Elite Edition) in the US and India in September 2019, with other countries like Malaysia receiving a limited number in mid-October 2019.
Based on the US, European and Chinese launch prices of $899, €899 and RMB 5,999, it is a whopping 23% more expensive than the Black Shark 2 PRO – an extra RM 700 / ~US$240 / ~£136 / ~A$249!
The ROG Phone 2 Tencent Edition is much cheaper, of course. Its RMB 3,499 retail price in China translates into approximately RM 2,059 / ~US$499 / ~£399 / ~A$724!
That is 80% off the cost of the Global Edition, and 31% cheaper than the Black Shark 2 PRO!
In the beginning, it was only available officially in China and India… and while you can purchase one off the grey market, you would not receive any warranty or even OTA updates for them.
But the good news is ASUS has finally released the STRIX Edition, which is basically the global version of the Tencent Edition.
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Here is EVERYTHING you need to know about the ROG Phone 2 for Malaysia – its specifications, price, availability and more!
We will also share with you cheaper alternatives, for those who cannot afford the ROG Phone 2!
When Will The ASUS ROG Phone 2 Come To Malaysia?
ASUS officially launched the ROG Phone 2 on 16 October 2019, with limited quantities as expected. ASUS has a long history of slow rollouts, to be honest.
The ASUS ROG Phone 2 Price For Malaysia
ASUS Malaysia is introducing the ROG Phone 2 Elite Edition with 12 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage, and a recommended retail price of RM 3,499 / ~US$834 / ~£655 / ~A$1,241.
The ROG Phone 2 Malaysia model will therefore be 16.7% more expensive than the Black Shark 2 PRO – an extra RM 500 / ~US$119 / ~£94 / ~A$177!
To sweeten the deal, ASUS Malaysia is throwing in the AeroActive Cooler II and the AeroCase, which they say are worth RM 398 / ~US$95 / ~£75 / ~A$141.
If you are looking for the Ultimate Edition, which basically just comes with 1 TB of storage, that will probably retail for an insane RM 5,499 sometime in December 2019!
ASUS ROG Phone 2 SuperPack for Malaysia!
ASUS Malaysia is also bringing in the ROG Phone 2 SuperPack on 11 November 2019. It’s the same model, but it comes with all their accessories at the nose-bleeding price of RM 6,999 / ~US$1,669 / ~£1,317 / ~A$2,476.
Here is the list of accessories the ROG Phone 2 SuperPack for Malaysia comes with :
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ROG AeroActive Cooler II
ROG Lighting Armour Case
ROG TwinView Dock II
Kunai Gamepad
ROG Mobile Desktop Dock
30W ROG Charger
ROG Type C USB cable
ROG Aero Case
ROG Limited Edition Luggage
Are all those accessories worth RM 3,500? Or should you just buy TWO ROG Phone 2 instead? Whatever you decide, here are the direct online purchase options :
The ROG Phone 2 Tencent Edition is much cheaper, of course. Its RMB 3,499 retail price in China works out to approximately RM 2,059 / ~US$499 / ~£399 / ~A$724!
That is almost half the price of the ROG Phone 2 Elite Edition for Malaysia, and 31% cheaper than the Black Shark 2 PRO!
Unfortunately, it is only available officially in China and India… although you can get them on the grey market * :
* Please note that if you purchase a grey market unit, you will not be entitled to warranty outside of China or India.
Another affordable alternative is to pick up the original ROG Phone, which is almost as fast but now costs less than RM 2.5K! Don’t believe us? Here are some direct purchase options :
However, ASUS Malaysia has been trying their best to bury the story, even urging their media friends to talk up the ROG Phone 2 Global Edition.
We don’t blame them because the Tencent Edition is MUCH CHEAPER, and really is a darn better deal than the Elite Edition that they are introducing to Malaysia.
What we don’t understand is why they are not introducing a similar version, like they did for India.
In case you are wondering, the Snapdragon 855+ is just a speed-binned version of the regular Snapdragon 855. They are otherwise identical.
The only differences are the clock speeds of two parts in the Snapdragon 855 Plus :
its single high-performance Kryo 485 Gold core is clocked at 2.96 GHz, instead of 2.84 GHz.
its Adreno 640 GPU is clocked at 672 MHz, instead of 585 MHz.
In other words, its advantage in mobile gaming is a 4% increase in the short boost performance of the CPU, and a 14.9% increase in peak GPU performance.
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In addition, ASUS will also introduce the far more expensive Global Edition to cater to the richer segment of the Indian population.
It comes with 12 GB of memory (which is pointless), instead of “just” 8 GB
It comes with 512 GB of storage, instead of 128 GB
It comes with faster LTE and Wi-Fi speeds (also pretty pointless)
It comes with a 30 W fast charger, instead of an 18 W fast charger
It comes with an AeroActive Cooler II, which is basically a bolt-on fan
Now, here’s the kicker – this model costs 58% more than the 8 GB + 128 GB model.
The ROG Phone 2 (12 GB + 512 GB) is priced at ₹59,999 / ~US$849 / ~£689 / ~A$1,259 / ~RM 3,559
Again, we would like to point out that, for gamers, the Tencent Edition and similar variants are definitely A MUCH BETTER DEAL than the high-end / Global Edition ROG Phone 2.
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ASUS just announced the release of Android Q Beta for ZenFone 5Z smartphones! You lucky few will be the first in the world to try the new features of Android Q!
In this guide, we will teach you how to install Android Q Beta into your ASUS ZenFone 5Z smartphone, and share with you the benefits of upgrading to Android Q!
What Is Android Q?
Android Q is the next-generation Android operating system that will supersede Android P (Android Pie) that is currently running in the latest Android smartphones.
When it launches, Android Q will bring with it a bevy of new features, which include :
A Dark Theme : Android Q now has a system-wide Dark Theme. Activate Dark Theme in Settings, or by turning on Battery Saver.
Suggested actions in notifications : You can now take action on messages with suggested actions in notification.
Prioritised notifications : You can decide whether an app’s notifications are interruptive or gentle. Interruptive notifications will make noise, vibrate, and appear on your lock screen, whereas gentle ones will not. Android Q also introduces algorithms to automatically determine whether notifications should be interruptive.
The Android Q Beta Programme
The Android Q Beta programme gives you access to an early build of Android Q, letting you experience Android Q ahead of its launch.
Needless to say, this is NOT the final build, so there are some bugs or known issues in the current version :
SD cards with exFAT format are not supported.
There is no beep when the volume up or volume down buttons are pressed. The beep still works with other functions.
Android Q Beta For ASUS ZenFone 5Z (ZS620KL)
ASUS is providing an Android Q Beta firmware for their ASUS ZenFone 5Z (ZS620KL) smartphone. Please note that :
The firmware is for ZenFone 5Z (ZS620KL) only. Do NOT attempt to install it on other ZenFone models.
Android Q Beta updates are sometimes not as stable as official ASUS firmware updates. By installing this update, you accept the potential risks.
Please be aware that installing the system image on a device removes all personal data from the device, so you should back up your data first.
Please follow the instructions below to opt-in via Fastboot. Should you require any onsite help, please visit your nearest ASUS customer service center.
How To Install Android Q Beta On The ASUS ZenFone 5Z
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ASUS just revealed the long-awaited ROG Phone – arguably the world’s first smartphone designed specifically for mobile gaming.
Here is everything you need to know about the ROG Phone – the official tech briefing, its key features and specifications… and its price list and pre-order deals!
The ASUS ROG Phone Revealed!
Powered by specially speed-binned 2.96 GHz QualcommSnapdragon845 SoCs, the new ROG Phone boasts a unique GameCool vapor-chamber cooling system, with a detachable AeroActive Cooler for an extra cooling boost. This ensures that the ROG Phone can sustain hours of non-stop mobile gaming without burning your fingers!
It also boasts a top-of-the-line AMOLED display with a blazing 90 Hz refresh rate and a 1 ms response time to ensure a blur-free gaming experience. On top of that, it is capable of delivering HDR visuals with a very wide colour gamut which is in excess of DCI-P3!
The ROG Phone includes gaming-centric features like unique side-mounted ports, and the enhanced, ultra-responsive game controls — including two programmable ultrasonic AirTriggers and advanced force-feedback haptics.
For greater gaming enjoyment, ASUS also create a range of expansion accessories :
the TwinView Dock for dual-screen handheld mode;
the Mobile Desktop Dock for desktop-style gaming; and
the Gamevice controller with WiGig Dock using 60 GHz Wi-Fi for big-screen gaming.
ASUS ROG Phone Specifications
Specifications
ASUS ROG Phone
Display
6.0-inch AMOLED display
- 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 aspect ratio
- 550 nits brightness, 108.6% DCI-P2 colour gamut
- 90 Hz refresh rate, 1 ms response time
Protection
Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Operating System
Android Oreo 8.1
Platform
Specially-binned Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
Processor
8 x Qualcomm Kyro 385 cores (2.96 GHz)
Graphics Processor
Qualcomm Adreno 630
Memory
8 GB LPDDR4X memory
Storage
128 GB or 512 GB internal flash storage (UFS 2.1)
NO microSD card slot
Front Camera
8 MP sensor with f/2.0 lens
Main Rear Camera
12 MP Sony IMX363 sensor with f/1.7 lens
- 4-axis, 4-stops optical image stabilisation (OIS)
- Dual Pixel with PDAF capability
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ASUS ROG Phone Key Features
Here is a summary of the ROG Phone’s key features, as explained by ASUS (with most of the marketing hyperbole edited out) :
Gaming Performance
ROG Phone runs on a specially-selected octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chip that is speed-binned for maximum performance — delivering sustained clock speeds of up to 2.96 GHz. It is paired with 8 GB of RAM and either 128 GB or 512 GB of fast UFS 2.1 flash storage.
To prevent thermal throttling, the ROG Phone features an exclusive GameCool cooling system that uses a highly-efficient 3D vapor-chamber with a 16X-larger surface area for heat dissipation. It is paired with a copper heat spreader and carbon cooling pads on the circuit board for maximum cooling performance.
It also comes with a detachable external AeroActive Cooler for an extra cooling boost when the going gets really tough.
The ROG Phone also comes with a special X Mode. A single tap frees up all background RAM and dedicates it to your game, optimizes game-data processing performance, and maximizes the efficiency of the AeroActive Cooler. X Mode also prevents RAM-eating and battery-sapping app activity, based on a customizable list of apps.
90 Hz AMOLED Display
The ROG Phone features a large 6-inch AMOLED display with a 90 Hz refresh rate and a 1 ms pixel response time for blur-free gaming. It also boasts a wide 108.6% DCI-P3 color gamut, with high-dynamic-range (HDR) capability and a 10,000:1 contrast ratio. To protect your investment, this AMOLED display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 6.
Gaming Controls
The ROG Phone is designed to give gamers total control and a more console-like experience, with three unique ultrasonic AirTrigger touch sensors.
Two of these AirTrigger sensors are optimized as left / right triggers at the top of the display for landscape-mode gaming (the third is designed for use in portrait mode), and they’re fully programmable to activate any available on-screen action: aiming, firing, inventory selection.
Gamers can now free up two extra fingers to control gameplay, giving them the edge over their thumb-bound rivals. AirTriggers use ultrasonic technology, so they only need a feather-light touch — just 20 grams compared to rival touch-sensitive controls that need up to 4X the force. An advanced haptic actuator provides a powerful force-feedback system for a more immersive gameplay.
Charging Convenience
Charging a smartphone while playing can make gaming impossibly awkward. It has an optimised layout for landscape-mode gaming. There’s an additional side-mounted custom USB-C connector that supports direct charging, HDMI output, gigabit LAN and headphones.
And when the AeroActive Cooler is deployed, it provides a side-mounted USB-C port and 3.5mm headphone jack for unhindered gameplay. The side connector’s also used for the exclusive expansion modules, including the Mobile Desktop Dock and TwinView Dock.
ASUS Aura RGB Lighting
This is ASUS’ first smartphone to feature their proprietary ASUS Aura RGB lighting. Its illuminated rear ROG logo can display a whole rainbow of lighting schemes: static, breathing, strobing or color cycling. Lighting effects can be triggered with phone events such as incoming calls, notifications and more.
Gaming Audio
It has two front-facing speakers that are driven by individual smart amplifiers to maximize volume and minimize distortion. It is powered by an audio engine that supports 24-bit/192Khz Hi-Res Audio playback. DTS Headphone:Xprovides theater-quality virtual surround-sound over headphones, and there’s support for high-definition audio via Bluetooth.
Long-Lasting Battery
Powering all that is a high-capacity 4,000 mAh battery. The bundled power adapter supports ASUS HyperCharge, a direct-charge technology that delivers more power (up to 20 W) for shorter, safer charge times. It also lets the ROG Phone stay cooler when it’s charging.
ASUS ROG Phone Accessories
TwinView Dock
The TwinView Dock turns it into a dual-screen console for the ultimate gaming and live-streaming experience. It has a 6-inch AMOLED (2160 x 1080) auxiliary screen that’s great for split-screen live-streaming, extended game display or group communication.
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It also packs a front-facing quad-speaker system, two extra physical trigger buttons, dual-haptic force-feedback engine, an enhanced cooling system and a high-capacity 6000 mAh extended battery pack.
Mobile Desktop Dock
The Mobile Desktop Dock allows gamers to connect ROG Phone to an external 4K UHD monitor, mouse and keyboard. ROG Phone can be used as an auxiliary display, hooked up to a wired gigabit LAN and drive a 5.1-channel surround-sound system via the SP/DIF output.
Gamevice + WiGig Dock
With the Gamevice controller and the WiGig Dock — using 60GHz 802.11ad Wi-Fi — it morphs into a portable console with a full inventory of physical gaming controls and ultra-low-latency wireless display connectivity.
It packs dual analog joysticks, left and right fire triggers and bumpers, a D-pad, along with A,B,X,Y and L3, R3 buttons.
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The ASUS ZenFone 5Z smartphone is almost here! We had earlier shared the leaked price of the 6GB ZenFone 5Z. We can now confirm the ASUS ZenFone 5Z price and availability of both the 6GB and 8GB models! Check out the full details below!
ASUS ZenFone 5Z
The ASUS ZenFone 5Z is a extreme-performance dual-camera smartphone, with a 6.2-inch all-screen display with a 90% screen-to-body ratio.
It is powered by the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 mobile platform, with the Qualcomm Artificial Intelligence Engine (AIE). Launch with a base price of €479 / $499, it will come with up to 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of flash storage.
Its dual-camera system is built around the latest flagship Sony IMX363 sensor with large 1.4µm pixels, an f/1.8 wide-aperture lens, 120° wide-angle secondary camera, four-axis optical image stabilization (OIS) and AI-enhanced camera features.
In our exclusive interview with top ASUS officials, we were told that the ASUS ZenFone 5Z was in short supply due to high global demand, and would only launch in Malaysia in early Q3 2018. Well, it’s about time!
Thank Lazada For The ASUS ZenFone 5Z Price Leaks!
Even though we have no word when ASUS will officially launch the ASUS ZenFone 5Z, Lazada Malaysia “accidentally” leaked the 6 GB and 8 GB ASUS ZenFone 5Z price list :
8 GB with 256 GB of storage :RM 2,299
6 GB with 128 GB of storage :RM 1,899
As you can see, this page was created by the official ASUS store on Lazada, so the leaked price is completely legit!
The leaked 6GB ZenFone 5Z price of RM 1,899 is RM 50 cheaper than the price in India, while the 8GB ZenFone 5Z price of RM 2,299 is RM 75 cheaper.
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ASUS ZenFone 5Z Availability
We learned from a reputable source that ASUS will officially launch the ZenFone 5Z on 30 July 2018.
Instead of a physical launch event, it will be live streamed. Sale of both models will kick off on the same day. ASUS Malaysia just confirmed this today!
ASUS ZenFone 5Z Specifications
Here is a comparison of the ASUS ZenFone 5Z against the ASUS ZenFone 5 (Price Check) and two ZenFone 5 Lite models.
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Here is everything you need to know about the new ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 smartphone – price, availability and specifications! Also find out how it stacks against the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5, and why we think ASUS has a real blockbuster in the Max Pro M1!
Updated @ 2018-07-23 :Updated the article, including the newly-released 4GB RAM model with 64 GB of storage.
Updated @ 2018-05-28 :Added a new ZB601KL vs. ZB602KL section, a new LTE + WiFi Capabilities section, updated specifications, and its incredible price!
Updated @ 2018-05-18 :Added the tech briefing and colour option videos.
The ASUS ZenFone Max is the popular series of smartphones ASUS has even produced, and for very good reasons. They offer mid-range smartphones with good performance and an incredible battery life.
They practically hold within their slim frames a power bank. In fact, they are all capable of acting as a power bank to recharge other smartphones and portable devices! Hence, the Max moniker.
The ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1
The ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (Price Check) is the latest ZenFone Max model to be released by ASUS. It follows up on the success of the ZenFone Max Plus M1 (ZB570TL) we saw just a few months ago, and directly challenges the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5.
Despite its very similar name, the ZenFone Max Pro is a very different beast from the ZenFone Max Plus M1 (ZB570TL). It is, in fact, a leap ahead in features and performance, powered by the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 SoC, with up to 6 GB of RAM and a dual-lens camera
It also comes with a larger 6″ IPS display, with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels. The ultra-wide 18:9 aspect ratio allows ASUS to fit a bigger display in the form factor of a traditional 5.5″ smartphone.
The ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (Price Check) also comes with a dual-lens rear camera, with a main camera with a 13 MP sensor, and a depth camera with an 5 MP sensor. This set-up allows for better depth perception, allowing the Max Pro M1 to deliver better bokeh effects.
The eponymous feature is, of course, its large 5,000 mAh battery. That is the battery capacity of most power banks, giving you up to 35 days of 4G standby and 42 hours of 3G talk time! It also allows you to play games for up to 12 hours, or watch up to 20 hours of YouTube videos.
Isn’t the ZenFone Max Pro M1 impressive? Especially when you realise ASUS fit all that into a smartphone that is only 180 g in weight!
ZB601KL vs. ZB602KL
There is some confusion about the model numbers. When the ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 first launched in India, it had the model number ZB601KL. Subsequently, ASUS started shipping the ZenFone Max Pro M1 as the ZB602KL in other countries. So what’s the difference?
We checked with ASUS, and they confirmed that ZB601KL is an India-specific model, while ZB602KL is the model that ship worldwide. Here are the differences, as far as we can ascertain.
The main camera on the global model has f/2.0 lens, while the main camera on the Indian model has f/2.2 lens.
The global model supports faster 4G LTE speeds – up to LTE Cat13 DL (400 Mbps) and LTE Cat5 UL (75 Mbps). The Indian model only supports LTE Cat4 – 150 Mbps DL, 50 Mbps UL.
The global model may ship with earphones and/or a soft TPU bumper case, but the Indian model comes with a free ASUS Max-Box passive audio amplifier.
The other specifications of the ZB601KL and the ZB602KL are the same.
LTE + WiFi Capabilities
The ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (Price Check) is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 whose X12 LTE modem is capable of :
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LTE Cat12 downlink speeds of up to 600 Mbps
LTE Cat13 uplink speeds of up to 150 Mbps
802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz) capability
However, ASUS has chosen to implement a limited set of those capabilities :
Indian ZB601KL model : LTE Cat4 150 Mbps DL, 50 Mbps UL
Global ZB602KL Version A model : LTE Cat4 150 Mbps DL, LTE Cat5 75 Mbps UL
Global ZB602KL Version B model : LTE Cat13 400 Mbps DL, LTE Cat5 75 Mbps UL
All Max Pro M1 models : 802.11b/g/n (2.4 GHz) only
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ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 Colour Options
The ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 comes in two colour options – Deepsea Black and Titanium Grey. Let’s take a quick look at both colour options.
ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 vs. Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
Here is a specification comparison of the two ZenFone Max Pro M1 models against the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5.
Specifications
ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (ZB602KL)
ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (ZB601KL)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
Display
6" Full HD+ display
- 1080 x 2160 pixels
- 18:9 aspect ratio, 85% NTSC
- 450 nits, 1500:1 contrast ratio
6" Full HD+ display
- 1080 x 2160 pixels
- 18:9 aspect ratio, 85% NTSC
- 450 nits, 1500:1 contrast ratio
5.99" Full HD+ display
- 1080 x 2160 pixels
- 18:9 aspect ratio, 83% NTSC
- 450 nits, 1500:1 contrast ratio
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The new ASUS ZenFone 5 (ZE620KL) takes on the recently-launched Honor 10 and Huawei nova 3e (P20 Lite) smartphones. How well will it do against them? Let’s find out!
The ASUS ZenFone 5 Family
ASUS launched the ZenFone 5 family of smartphones at CES 2018, consisting of the ZenFone 5Z, the ZenFone 5, the ZenFone 5 Lite and the ZenFone Max Pro M1.
Here is a comparison of their key specifications :
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Unboxing The ASUS ZenFone 5 (ZE620KL)
The ASUS ZenFone 5 (Price Check) comes in a premium dark blue box. ASUS made some variants Be sure to check the label on the bottom for the actual model (ZE620KL), and specifications, including the colour of the device inside (Meteor Silver).
The complete ASUS ZenFone 5 (Price Check) kit will consist of the following items :
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One ASUS ZenFone 5 (ZE620KL) smartphone
One ASUS ZenFone 5 soft TPU bumper case
One set of ASUS ZenFone 5 User Guide + Warranty Information
One set of ASUS ZenEar Pro Hi-Res Audio earphones + spare earbuds
One 10 W ASUS USB charger + USB Type C cable
One SIM tray ejector pin
The inclusion of the ASUS ZenEar Pro earphones are a really nice touch. They support Hi-Res Audio and have a gold-plated jack. Note that the TPU bumper case is an optional freebie that may not be available in other countries / regions.
ASUS ZenFone 5 (ZE620KL) Up Close!
The ASUS ZenFone 5 (Price Check) is powered by the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 SoC, just like the ZenFone Max Pro M1 (Price Check). It has 4 GB of the latest LPDDR4X memory, and 64 GB of internal flash storage.
The ASUS ZenFone 5 (Price Check) comes with a large 6.2″ IPS display, with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2246 pixels. The ultra-wide 18:9 aspect ratio and bezel-less design allow ASUS to fit this 6.2 display in the form factor of a traditional 5.5″ smartphone. Believe it or not – it is actually smaller in size than the ZenFone Max Pro M1 (Price Check), which has a smaller 6″ display!
ASUS ZenFone 5 (ZE620KL) Tech Briefing
Li Huai Pin, ASUS Malaysia Business Development Manager, explains the key features of the ASUS ZenFone 5 (Price Check), while Andrew Chan, Senior Manager of the ASUS Global Product Team, showcases the photographic capabilities of the ZenFone 5.
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The ZenFone 5 Cameras
The ASUS ZenFone 5 (Price Check) has an 8 MP front camera with f/2.0 lens. This should offer better low-light performance, which would be useful since it does not come with an LED flash.
The ASUS ZenFone 5 (Price Check) has dual cameras at the back. The main camera has a 12 MP Sony IMX363 sensor with Dual Pixel autofocus capability, and 4-axis, 4-stops optical image stabilisation. This camera has a fast and bright f/1.8 lens, which means great performance in low-light conditions.
The secondary camera is a 120° wide-angle camera designed for group shots. It has an 8 MP sensor, which is very likely from Omnivision, and is paired with f/2.2 lens. Both cameras are supported by a single LED flash.
Fingerprint Sensor + Face Unlock
The ASUS ZenFone 5 (Price Check) has a Goodie FP fingerprint sensor built into the back. It is a fast and accurate sensor that takes 13 finger presses to register a fingerprint, and less than a second to identify it. It is rated with a 0.3 second unlock speed, and supports up to 5 fingerprints.
Its rear location allows you to quickly unlock the smartphone with your fingerprint, but prevents it from being unlocked while it is in a car mount. This is where its Face Unlock feature comes in handy.
Face Unlock uses the front camera and facial recognition algorithms to authenticate your identity, so it will work even with the ASUS ZenFone 5 (Price Check) mounted on your car’s dashboard.
Hybrid SIM Tray
To keep the ZenFone 5 compact, ASUS opted for a hybrid SIM tray. This allows you to use a second nano SIM card, or add a microSD card. You can’t use two nano SIM cards with a microSD card though. The good news is – the ASUS ZenFone 5 (Price Check) comes with 64 GB of internal flash storage, so there is plenty of storage space for your apps, photos and videos.
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Display Notch
The ASUS ZenFone 5 (Price Check) has a Full HD+ display, with an aspect ratio of 18.8:9 and a resolution of 1080 x 2246 pixels. It features the display notch made popular by the iPhone X, albeit much smaller in size. This gives it a lot more space for notification icons.
Although the notification icons nearest to the notch can appear “cut-off”, the ZenFone 5 is smart enough to work around the notch. In games and applications that don’t support the notification area, it just displays the main 1080 x 2160 section.
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LTE + WiFi Capabilities
The ASUS ZenFone 5 (Price Check) is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 SoC, whose X12 LTE modem is capable of :
LTE Cat12 downlink speeds of up to 600 Mbps
LTE Cat13 uplink speeds of up to 150 Mbps
802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz) capability
Unlike the ZenFone Max Pro M1 (Price Check),the ZenFone 5 supports the full LTE and WiFi capabilities of the Snapdragon 636 platform.
AI Ringtone + AI Call
The ASUS ZenFone 5 (Price Check) has AI Ringtone – a feature that every smartphone should have! It will dynamically adapt the ringtone volume to the ambient noise level. This relieves you of the need to keep adjusting the ringtone volume, and ensures that you will never miss that important call, or needlessly disturb your partner or baby at night!
The ASUS ZenFone 5 (Price Check) uses two additional microphones to monitor ambient noise levels. The data is used to cancel out the ambient noise when you make calls, so your voice will always be heard clearly, even in noisy environments.
Hi-Res Audio
Audio is an oft-neglected aspect of modern smartphones. The ASUS ZenFone 5 (Price Check) supports Hi-Res Audio playback (sadly, not recording). It even comes with Hi-Res Audio-capable ASUS ZenEar Pro earbuds, so you can enjoy 24-bit / 192 kHz audio on the go!
There is also another advantage in using earphones – the ZenFone 5 supports DTS HeadphoneX, which delivers 7.1 channel virtual surround sound over earphones / headphones. Now you can enjoy a truly immersive experience with your movies and games!
The ASUS ZenFone 5 (Price Check) also boasts two 5-magnet speakers with metal coils, and 36″ larger sound chambers (compared to the ZenFone 4). These stereo speakers are driven by the latest NXP 9874 low-distortion smart amplifiers, delivering a louder and richer audio output.
BoostMaster Battery With AI Charging
The ASUS ZenFone 5 (Price Check) has a 3,300 mAh lithium-ion battery with BoostMasterfast charging capability. In fact, it supports up to 18 W fast charging, even though it only comes with a 10 W fast charger.
Even with the 10 W charger, it only needs a quick 5 minute charge to gain 2 hours of talk time. A 38 minutes charge would get the battery up to 60% capacity. If you need even faster charging, you can upgrade to an 18 W charger.
The ASUS ZenFone 5 (Price Check) also supports AI Charging, a feature that doubles the lifespan of its battery! It accomplishes this feat by intelligently maintaining the battery at 80% capacity throughout the night, and only charging it to 100% just before you wake up in the morning.
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Setting Up The ASUS ZenFone 5
Setting up the ASUS ZenFone 5 (Price Check) is easy, and takes no more than 10 minutes if you are setting it up as a new device. The Goodix FX fingerprint sensor was fast and accurate, so it was a breeze to setup.
Ergonomics
The ASUS ZenFone 5 (Price Check) is a surprisingly small device. It is actually smaller than the ZenFone Max Pro M1 (Price Check) which has a smaller display! Not surprisingly, it is thinner and weighs just 165 g. It is a better fit for those with smaller hands and pockets.
The 6.2″ Super IPS+ display is bright and vivid, with 500 nits of maximum brightness, and a wide 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut. The non-standard 18:9 aspect ratio of. the main display section, while useful in giving you more screen space, will result in some pillarboxing for movies.
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Available Memory + Storage
For a mid-range smartphone, the ASUS ZenFone 5 (Price Check) comes with rather large memory and storage capacities. It has 4 GB of LPDDR4X memory, of which 1.9 GB (47.5%) is available for use. That’s plenty to run several memory-guzzling apps at the same time. In fact, the ZenFone 5 has more free memory than the Samsung Galaxy S9!
The ASUS ZenFone 5 (Price Check) comes with 64 GB of eMMC 5.1 flash storage, of which just over 51 GB (80%) is available for use. That’s enough for over 12,000 photos, or 5.5 hours of 1080p videos, or 2.5 hours of 4K videos.
If you see the storage type listed as eMCP, that’s short for Multi-Chip Package. It merely means the eMMC flash storage was combined with the LPDDR4X memory in a single package to allow for thinner form factors.
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Camera Performance – Photos
ASUS used the excellent 12 MP Sony IMX363 sensor with Dual Pixel autofocus capability, with a secondary 120° wide-angle camera that is most likely using an 8 MP Omnivision sensor.
Photos from the main camera have a 4:3 aspect ratio, with 4032 × 3024 pixels and an average file size of between 2 MB and 3 MB.
Photos from the wide-angle secondary camera have a 4:3 aspect ratio, with 3264 × 2448 pixels and an average file size of between 4 MB and 5 MB.
Here are 10 high-resolution samples from the main 12 MP camera for you to check out. Click on them to load the full-sized photos, which you can also download to examine.
As you can see, the camera itself is excellent – it can really produce really awesome photos. The detail and image quality is simply quite amazing.
However, we noticed that it has trouble focusing on objects that are in close proximity. A laser sensor (used in previous ASUS smartphones) would have helped, but we didn’t see the cheaper ZenFone Max Pro M1 (Price Check) did not have similar issues.
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Camera Performance – Video Recording
Despite its humble price point, the ASUS ZenFone 5 (Price Check) supports 4K video recording. Surprisingly, there doesn’t seem to be a time-limit for 4K video recording, although the file size for each clip is still limited to 4 GB.
Video Recording Test #1 : Piano (1080p)
The ZenFone 5’s 4-axis optical image stabilisation is simply amazing. It works almost as well as a dedicated gimbal, giving you a silky smooth video. The audio recording, while not Hi-Res Audio, is good, with a wider range and richer tone than we have seen in other smartphones of the same price range.
The only downside – the highlights are overblown. Note how the interior of the Padini Concept Store in the background is completely “white out”.
Video Recording Test #2 : Piano (4K)
The 4K resolution is amazing, but the highlights are noticeably overblown. There is a little more jerkiness because the electronic image stabilisation is less effective at this high resolution.
Video Recording Test #3 : Street Market (1080p)
The 4-axis image stabilisation is just amazing. It ironed out most of the shaking in this video walkthrough of the street market. But note again the blown highlights.
Video Recording Test #4 : Street Market (4K)
The 4K resolution is really awesome, but there is noticeably more shaking. The electronic image stabilisation is obviously having trouble coping with the high resolution.
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Work Performance – PCMark
We tested the ZenFone 5’s performance using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.
The ASUS ZenFone 5 (Price Check) has a 3,300 mAh battery, which gave it a battery life of just under 10.5 hours. This gave it a clear 13-15% advantage in battery life over the Samsung Galaxy S9 (Price Check) and Honor 10 (Price Check).
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Battery Recharging Performance
The ASUS ZenFone 5 (Price Check) supports 18W charging, but only comes with a 10W fast charger. Take a look at how fast it recharged its 3,300 mAh battery.
It took the ASUS ZenFone 5 (Price Check) 104.5 minutes (1 hours 44.5 minutes) to recharge its battery from 20% to 100%. This gives it a battery life : recharging ratio of just under 6:1.
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Gaming Performance – 3DMark
We tested the ZenFone 5’s gaming performance using 3DMark, using the Ice Storm Unlimited test.
It boasts a larger, brighter 6.2″ display with Gorilla Glass protection in a smaller, thinner and lighter form factor; with the full LTE and WiFi capabilities of the Snapdragon X12 modem. To top it off, it has a really good Sony IMX363 main camera with fast f/1.8 lens and 4-axis optical image stabilisation.
We can see why the main camera scored a DXOmark score of 93. ASUS basically put a flagship-class camera into this midrange smartphone. Best of all, they did not cripple it to protect their flagship ZenFone 5Z – you can record 4K video with no restrictions!
It also has surprisingly good audio recording quality, and very good optical image stabilisation performance. If you want to record silky-smooth video without using a gimbal, the ASUS ZenFone 5 (Price Check) is a great choice.
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It’s not perfect, to be sure. Its excellent video recording capability is marred by overblown highlights; and its camera has trouble focusing on objects in close proximity. But seriously – did you even expect to find a flagship-class camera at this price point?
That brings us to deal closer – its unbelievable launch price of RM 1,299 / US$ 326. For a fraction of what you would pay for any flagship device, you get a great combination of good performance, great display, and an excellent camera with optical image stabilisation.
For those reasons, the ASUS ZenFone 5 (Price Check) deserves our Editor’s Choice Award! Great work, ASUS!
Price + Availability
Here is the official announcement on the Malaysian price and offers for the ASUS ZenFone 5 and ZenFone Max Pro M1 smartphones.
Here’s a summary of the recommended retail prices :
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The ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (ZB602KL) takes on the new Xiaomi Redmi Note 5, with better features and a much lower price. Let’s take a look, and find out if ASUS truly has a Xiaomi-killing blockbuster on their hands!
The ASUS ZenFone Max Series
The ASUS ZenFone Max is the most popular series of smartphones ASUS has even produced, and for very good reasons. They are mid-range smartphones with good performance and an incredible battery life.
They practically hold within their slim frames a veritable power bank. In fact, they are all capable of functioning as actual power banks, recharging other smartphones and portable devices! Hence, the Max moniker.
ZB601KL vs. ZB602KL
There is some confusion about the model numbers. When the ZenFone Max Pro M1 first launched in India, it had the model number ZB601KL. Subsequently, ASUS started shipping the ZenFone Max Pro M1 as the ZB602KL in other countries. So what’s the difference?
We checked with ASUS, and they confirmed that ZB601KL is an India-specific model, while ZB602KL is the model that ships worldwide. Here are the differences, as far as we can ascertain.
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The main camera on the global model has f/2.0 lens, while the main camera on the Indian model has f/2.2 lens.
The global model supports faster 4G LTE speeds – up to LTE Cat13 DL (400 Mbps) and LTE Cat5 UL (75 Mbps). The Indian model only supports LTE Cat4 – 150 Mbps DL, 50 Mbps UL.
The global model may ship with earphones and/or a soft TPU bumper case, but the Indian model comes with a free ASUS Max-Box passive audio amplifier instead.
The other specifications of the ZB601KL and the ZB602KL are the same.
ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 vs. Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
Here is a specification comparison of the two ZenFone Max Pro M1 models against the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5.
Specifications
ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (ZB602KL)
ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (ZB601KL)
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
Display
6" Full HD+ display
- 1080 x 2160 pixels
- 18:9 aspect ratio, 85% NTSC
- 450 nits, 1500:1 contrast ratio
6" Full HD+ display
- 1080 x 2160 pixels
- 18:9 aspect ratio, 85% NTSC
- 450 nits, 1500:1 contrast ratio
5.99" Full HD+ display
- 1080 x 2160 pixels
- 18:9 aspect ratio, 83% NTSC
- 450 nits, 1500:1 contrast ratio
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Unboxing The ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (ZB602KL)
The ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (ZB602KL) (Price Check) comes in a blue and grey box. This is a generic ZB601KL box, so check the label on the bottom for the actual model (ZB602KL), and specifications, including the colour of the device inside (Deepsea Black).
The complete ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (ZB602KL) (Price Check) kit for Malaysia will consist of the following items :
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One ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (ZB602KL) smartphone
One ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 soft TPU bumper case
One set of ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 User Guide + Warranty Information
One set of ASUS earphones + spare earbuds
One 10 W ASUS USB charger + micro-USB cable
One SIM tray ejector pin
Note that the TPU bumper case and earphones are optional freebies that may not be available in other countries / regions. In India, the ZB601KL lacks both bumper case and earphones, but comes with the ASUS Max-Box passive audio amplifier instead.
ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 Colour Options
The ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (Price Check) comes in two colour options – Deepsea Black and Titanium Grey. Let’s take a quick look at both colour options.
ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (ZB602KL) Up Close!
The ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (Price Check)is the latest ZenFone Max model to be released by ASUS. It follows up on the success of the ZenFone Max Plus M1 (ZB570TL) we saw just a few months ago, and directly challenges the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5.
Despite its very similar name, the ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (Price Check) is a very different beast from the ZenFone Max Plus M1 (ZB570TL). It is, in fact, a leap ahead in features and performance, powered by the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 SoC, with up to 6 GB of RAM and a dual-lens camera.
The ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (Price Check) also comes with a larger 6″ IPS display, with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels. The ultra-wide 18:9 aspect ratio allows ASUS to fit a bigger display in the form factor of a traditional 5.5″ smartphone.
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The Cameras
For a smartphone of such modest pricing, the ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 Price Check) boasts a rather impressive set of front and rear cameras.
The front camera has an 8 MP sensor with f/2.2 lens. And for the first time, it is supported by a soft light LED flash. This gives it a markedly better low-light performance, compared to its predecessors.
The ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (Price Check) also comes with a dual-lens rear camera. It consists of an image camera with a 13 MP sensor and f/2.0 lens, and a depth camera with an 5 MP sensor and f/2.4 lens.
This dual-lens setup will not increase the details of the image like the Huawei P20 Pro, or offer Live Focus or Dual Capture capabilities like the Samsung Galaxy S9. Instead, it offers better depth perception, allowing the ZenFone Max Pro M1 to differentiate the subject from the background, for more realistic and accurate software bokeh effects.
Fingerprint Sensor + Face Unlock
The ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (Price Check) has a Goodie FP fingerprint sensor built into the back. It is a fast and accurate sensor that takes 15 finger presses to register a fingerprint, and less than a second to identify it.
Its rear location allows you to quickly unlock the smartphone with your fingerprint, but prevents it from being unlocked while it is in a car mount. This is where its Face Unlock feature comes in handy.
uses the front camera and facial recognition algorithms to authenticate your identity, so it will work even with the ZenFone Max Pro M1Price Check) mounted on your car’s dashboard.
Triple Slot Tray
While the Honor 10 (Price Check) did away with the microSD card slot, and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 opted for a hybrid SIM slot, the ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1Price Check) comes with a triple slot tray.
The triple slot tray allows you to use two nano SIM cards simultaneously with a microSD card. This gives the ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (Price Check) a distinct advantage over the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5.
LTE + WiFi Capabilities
The ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (Price Check) is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 whose X12 LTE modem is capable of :
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LTE Cat12 downlink speeds of up to 600 Mbps
LTE Cat13 uplink speeds of up to 150 Mbps
802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz) capability
However, ASUS has chosen to implement a limited set of those capabilities :
Indian ZB601KL model : LTE Cat4 150 Mbps DL, 50 Mbps UL
Global ZB602KL Version A model : LTE Cat4 150 Mbps DL, LTE Cat5 75 Mbps UL
Global ZB602KL Version B model : LTE Cat13 400 Mbps DL, LTE Cat5 75 Mbps UL
All Max Pro M1 models : 802.11b/g/n (2.4 GHz) only
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5,000 mAh Battery with Flash Charge
Its eponymous feature is, of course, its large 5,000 mAh battery. That is the battery capacity of many power banks, giving you up to 35 days of 4G standby and 42 hours of 3G talk time! According to ASUS, it will allow you to play games for up to 12 hours, or watch up to 20 hours of YouTube videos.
Now, packing a large battery is nothing special. But we applaud ASUS for fitting such a large battery into a smartphone that is only 8.5 mm thick and 180 g in weight!
If that’s not enough, the ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (Price Check) supports Flash Charge, which allows you to quickly recharge its large battery in less than 3 hours, with a 10 W charger.
Setting Up The ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (ZB602KL)
Setting up the ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (Price Check) is easy, and takes no more than 10 minutes if you are setting it up as a new device. The Goodix FX fingerprint sensor was fast and accurate, so it was a breeze to setup.
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Ergonomics
The ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (Price Check) is not a small device by any means. It is actually slightly larger than the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus (Price Check). For its size and its large battery, it is surprisingly light at just 180 g.
The 6″ IPS display is very nice, with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels, 450 nits of maximum brightness, and a wide 85% NTSC colour gamut. The non-standard 18:9 aspect ratio, while useful in giving you more screen space, will result in some pillarboxing for movies.
Available Storage
The ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (Price Check) comes with 32 GB of internal flash storage, of which 22.6 GB is available for use. If this is not enough, you can upgrade it with a microSD card (up to 2 TB).
For techies, the ZenFone Max Pro M1 uses the slower eMMC 5.1 flash memory, instead of the faster UFS type. Officially, the memory is packaged together with the eMMC storage in a compact embedded Multi-Chip Package (eMCP).
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Camera Performance – Photos
ASUS did not reveal the source and model of the 13 MP and 5 MP sensors used in their dual camera system, but they’re most likely from Omnivision. The photos have a 4:3 aspect ratio, with 4160 x 3120 pixels and an average file size of between 3 MB and 4 MB.
Here are 12 high-resolution samples for you to check out. Click on them to load the full-sized photos, which you can also download to examine.
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Camera Performance – Video Recording
Despite its humble price point, the ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (Price Check) supports 4K video recording. Surprisingly, there doesn’t seem to be a time-limit for 4K video recording, and there is even an option for 4K recording using the new DCI (Digital Cinema Initiative) standard!
Video Recording Test #1 : Piano (1080p)
It is obvious that there is no optical image stabilisation, but there is some electronic image stabilisation. The audio recording was surprisingly good, with a wider range than we have seen in smartphones in the same price range.
Video Recording Test #2 : Piano (4K)
The 4K resolution is amazing, and there is excellent control of the highlights. You can see right into the Padini Concept Store, even read the price boards.
Video Recording Test #3 : Street Market (1080p)
The electronic image stabilisation did a decent job of removing the worst shakes as we walked down the street market. Certainly not as good as smartphones with optical image stabilisation, but better than nothing. We also noticed some wind noise in this recording.
Video Recording Test #4 : Street Market (4K)
The resolution and control is quite amazing. The ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (Price Check) quickly adapted to the change in brightness. We could make out the details in both bright and dark areas. Very good!
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Work Performance – PCMark
We tested the ZenFone Max Pro M1’s performance using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.
We then tested the ZenFone Max Pro M1’s battery performance using PCMark. It basically ran the PCMark work tests until its battery capacity dropped to 20%.
The ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (Price Check) comes with a 10W fast charger. Take a look at how fast it recharged its 5,000 mAh battery.
It took the ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (Price Check) 150 minutes (2 hours 30 minutes) to recharge its battery from 20% to 100%. This confirms ASUS’ claim that it can fully recharge its battery in 3 hours, and gives it a battery life : recharging ratio of 5.7:1.
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Gaming Performance – 3DMark
We tested the ZenFone Max Pro M1’s gaming performance using 3DMark, using the Ice Storm Unlimited test.
The Qualcomm Adreno 509 GPU is reasonably fast in games, but certainly does not offer flagship-class gaming performance.
Our Verdict
The ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (Price Check) is a very impressive smartphone.
Like the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5, it is a mid-range smartphone based on the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 platform, with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of flash storage. They both also have very similar 6″ Full HD+ displays and rear-mounted fingerprint sensors. But that is where the similarities end.
The ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (Price Check) was obviously designed to be a Redmi Note 5 killer. It basically offers almost everything the Redmi Note 5 offers and then some – triple slot tray, a 5-magnet speaker, and a larger 5,000 mAh battery – all in the same form factor and weight!
If that does not impress you, perhaps its price will. Xiaomi priced their Redmi Note 5 (3 GB + 32 GB) at RM 799 / ~US$ 205. ASUS offers the ZenFone Max Pro M1 at just RM 699 / ~US$ 179! Believe it or not, the arguably superior ZenFone Max Pro M1 (Price Check) is 12.5% cheaper than its competitor!
Now, the Redmi Note 5 boasts Samsung sensors for their dual-lens camera, but the Omnivision sensors in the ZenFone Max Pro M1 proved to be surprisingly capable. They delivered really good photographic and video recording performance. Even the audio recording was better than what we would expect at this price point.
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The Redmi Note 5 comes with a rather large 4,000 mAh battery, but it’s no match for the ZenFone Max Pro M1‘s 5,000 mAh battery, which delivered an impressive battery life of over 14 hours!
The ZenFone Max Pro M1 (Price Check) is no doubt chunkier than the Redmi Note 5, but somehow it is actually 1 gram lighter! How on earth did ASUS stuff a 20% larger battery into the ZenFone Max Pro M1 and yet kept the weight so low?
We really love the ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 (Price Check). It offers a fantastic combination of good performance, great display, excellent camera and amazing battery life, at an incredible price point. It is literally a steal!
For these reasons, the ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 deserves our Editor’s Choice Award! Great work, ASUS!
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Right after the official launch of the ASUS ZenFone 5 and ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 smartphones, we had the opportunity to sit down with the top ASUS officials to discuss their latest smartphones. Get the inside scoop on the two new ASUS smartphones, and the direction of the ASUS Mobile team in this exclusive interview!
ASUS ZenFone 5 + ZenFone Max Pro M1 Exclusive Interview
Four top ASUS officials sat down with us for this exclusive interview. They are, from left to right, :
Li Huai Pin, ASUS Malaysia Business Development Manager (Mobile)
Rex Lee, ASUS APAC General Manager
Eric Chen, ASUS Corporate Vice President
Leo Tseng, ASUS Malaysia Country Manager
Facilitating this interview was ASUS Regional Director (Australia and New Zealand), Portia Chang.
Here are the key takeaways from this exclusive interview :
There will be something interesting coming up at Computex 2018 (It was the ROG Phone).
The market is trending towards mobile gaming, so ASUS will have appropriate products to cater to this trend.
ASUS is the top gaming notebook brand in Malaysia, with a 30% market share as of April 2018, beating the runner-up by 18 points.
The market share for ASUS smartphones in Malaysia is currently at around 3%, but ASUS expects to improve that with the ASUS ZenFone 5 and ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 smartphones.
ASUS expects to sell about 1,000 – 2,000 units of the new ASUS ZenFone 5 and ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 smartphones per day, which translates into an average of 45,000 units per month.
ASUS chose to decouple the Max brand from the generational numbering of the flagship ZenFone series, to allow faster and more frequent launches.
[adrotate group=”2″]Due to increased interest in stock Android smartphones, ASUS will look into creating more smartphones with stock Android, although they may not necessarily be under the Android One programme.
ASUS will provide the ASUS ZenFone 5 and ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 smartphones with at least two new generations of Android upgrades – to the future Android Q at the minimum.
ASUS is shrinking their product models in the new generation to reduce market confusion, and to keep prices low.
ASUS plans to launch the ZenFone 5Z in Malaysia in early Q3 2018.
The 6 GB version of the ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 is in shortage worldwide, with an expected availability only around July 2018.
ASUS chose to use a wide-angle camera as the secondary camera because it’s more useful for landscape shots, and a telescopic camera produces noisy and/or shakier photos indoors.
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A full 3 months after being announced at MWC 2018, the ASUS ZenFone 5 and ZenFone Max Pro M1 are finally here! Join us for our coverage of the entire launch event and get the full scoop on their key features, price and availability!
ASUS ZenFone 5 + ZenFone Max Pro M1 Launch
Hundreds of people queued up to catch the ASUS ZenFone 5 and ZenFone Max Pro M1 launch at the KL Convention Centre – all Zen fans eager to be the first to try out the new ASUS smartphones. Don’t worry if you could not make it. We took videos of the entire event. Enjoy!
Launch Kick Off
The ASUS ZenFone 5 and ZenFone Max Pro M1 launch kicked off with Eric Chen, ASUS Corporate Vice-President and Leo Tseng, ASUS Malaysia Country Manager.
ASUS ZenFone 5 Presentation
In this video, Li Huai Pin, ASUS Malaysia Business Development Manager, explains the key features of the new ASUS ZenFone 5, while Andrew Chan, Senior Manager of the ASUS Global Product Team, showcases the photographic capabilities of the ZenFone 5.
Next, Li Huai Pin explains the key features of the ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1, with Andrew Chan, Senior Manager of the ASUS Global Product Team, showing off the photographic capabilities of the ZenFone Max Pro M1.
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ASUS just revealed the ASUS ZenFone Max Plus M1 smartphone, which boasts a 5.7″ full-screen display with a 18:9 aspect ratio and a dual-lens camera system. Here is everything you need to know about the new ASUS ZenFone Max Plus M1 smartphone!
The ASUS ZenFone Max Plus M1 (ZB570TL)
Also known as the ASUS Pegasus 4S in China, the ASUS ZenFone Max Plus M1 has a model number of ZB570TL or ASUS X018D. It has a 18:9 ultra-wide screen display, and a 81.5% screen-to-body ratio. This allows ASUS to fit a 5.7″ display into a 5.2″ form factor.
It is powered by an mid-range MediaTek MT6750T SoC, and comes with 4GB of RAM and up to 64GB of storage. It also has a dedicated slot for a microSD card (up to 256GB), and two nanoSIM slots. All of that is powered by a 4,130 mAh battery with reverse charging capability.
Like the ZenFone 4 Max Pro, the ZenFone Max Plus has a dual-lens camera at the back. But this time, ASUS chose to use a 16 MP + 8 MP combo. The main camera has a 16 MP sensor with f/2.0 lens, while the wide-angle camera has an 8 MP sensor with 120° lens.
Instead of a 16 MP camera in the ZenFone 4 Max Pro, ASUS went with an 8 MP front camera with f/2.2 lens in the ZenFone Max Plus.
The ASUS ZenFone Max Plus M1 Specifications
Specifications
ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Plus M1
Model
ZB570TL
Display
5.7" Full HD+ display with 2.5D curved edge
- 720 x 1440 pixels
Operating System
ZenUI 4.1 (Android 7.0)
System Platform
MediaTek MT6750T
Processor
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (1.5 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (1.0 GHz)
4,130 mAh lithium-ion battery
- with Reverse Charging feature
Dimensions
72.7 mm wide
152.6 mm tall
8.8 mm thick
Weight
160 g
Price & Availability
Locally, the ASUS ZenFone Max Plus M1 was just approved by SIRIM, but ASUS confirmed that it will be ready for purchase / delivery starting 20 December 2017. In the meantime, you can pre-order the ZenFone Max Plus M1 at a very, very special price.
The ASUS ZenFone Max Plus M1 will have a recommended retail price of RM 899 / ~US$ 219. But during the pre-order period, ASUS will offer a limited quantity with a discount or Lazada coupon worth RM 200 / ~US$ 49!
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Offline Pre-Order Offer
Duration : 14-19 December 2017 Collection : 20 December 2017 Offer : Get a RM 200 rebate when you trade in a mobile phone (working or non-working). A deposit of RM 100 will have to be placed.
Lazada Pre-Order Offer
Duration : 14-19 December 2017 Collection : 22 December 2017 Offer : Get a RM 200 Lazada discount voucher when you purchase the ZenFone Max Plus M1 using this pre-order purchase link. trade in a mobile phone (working or non-working). Each account can only purchase a maximum of two (2) units.
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ASUS had a reputation of being short on battery life with their Intel-powered ZenFone 2 smartphones, but almost on a dime, turned around with their ZenFone 3 smartphones to deliver truly amazing battery life. So one of the most anticipated ZenFone 4 model was the ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro, with its focus on battery life.
The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) smartphone is designed to offer extremely-long battery life to users who are always on-the-go, and may not have ready access to a power source. On top of that, it boasts a fast reverse charging capability, as well as a dual lens camera system!
The Pro Edition Of The ZenFone 4 Max
The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) is the “Pro Edition” of the regular ZenFone 4 Max (Price Check). It even comes in the same box as the regular ZenFone 4 Max, with a Pro Edition sticker slapped on it. So make sure it’s the ZC554KL (Max Pro), and not the ZC520KL (Max). Here’s a table comparing their key specifications :
Specifications
ASUS ZenFone Max Pro
ASUS ZenFone Max
Model
ZC554KL
ZC520KL
Design
2.5D glass with metallic design & multiple colour selections
Premium metal unibody
2.5D glass with metallic design & multiple colour selections
Premium metal unibody
Display
5.5" HD IPS display (720 x 1280)
Greater than 400 nits brightness for best outdoor readability
Capacitive touch panel with 10 points multi-touch (support glove touch)
5.2" HD IPS display (720 x 1280)
Greater than 400 nits brightness for best outdoor readability
Capacitive touch panel with 10 points multi-touch (support glove touch)
Operating System
Android 7.0 Nougat with ZenUI 4.0
Android 7.0 Nougat with ZenUI 4.0
System Platform
Qualcomm Snapdragon 430
Qualcomm Snapdragon 425
Processor
8 x ARM Cortex-A53 (up to 1.4 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 (up to 1.4 GHz)
Graphics Processor
Qualcomm Adreno 505
Qualcomm Adreno 308
Memory
3 GB LPDDR3 SDRAM
3 GB LPDDR3 SDRAM
Storage
32 GB internal flash storage
One microSD card slot (up to 256 GB)
32 GB internal flash storage
One microSD card slot (up to 256 GB)
Main Camera
Dual Lens Camera System
Main Camera (25 mm)
- 16 MP Omnivision 16880 sensor
- 1.12 μm pixel size
- f/2.0 aperture
5,000 mAh lithium-ion battery (non-removable)
Supports reverse charging (1A )
4,100 mAh lithium-ion battery (non-removable)
Supports reverse charging (1A )
Dimensions
76.9 mm wide
154 mm tall
8.9 mm thick
73.3 mm wide
150.5 mm tall
8.73 mm thick
Weight
181 grams
156 grams
Available Colours
Rose Pink / Sunlight Gold / Deepsea Black
Deepsea Black
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Unboxing The ZenFone 4 Max Pro
As mentioned above, the ZenFone 4 Max Pro (ZC554KL) comes in the same white box as the regular ZenFone 4 Max (ZC520KL). So look for the “Pro Edition” sticker, and check the label on the underside of the box for the model number.
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Here are the items you will find inside the ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro box :
One ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) smartphone
One ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro TPU bumper case
One ASUS 10 W fast USB charger
One set of micro USB 2.0 cable and OTG cable
One pair of ASUS earphones with spare ear buds
One set of warranty form, user guide and IMEI stickers
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The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (ZC554KL) Smartphone
Thanks to its thin bezel, the ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) has a 5.5″ IPS display in a form factor that is smaller and lighter than the iPhone 8 Plus (Price Check). The only downside – it only has a HD resolution of 720 x 1280.
Somehow, ASUS managed to pack a massive 5,000 mAh battery and everything else into a metal unibody chassis that is just 8.9 mm thick, and weighs only 181 grams. It may not be as svelte as the ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro (Price Check), but it has a much larger battery.
The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430, which has eight Cortex-A53 processor cores running at 1.4 GHz, and an Adreno 505 GPU. It also comes with 3 GB of LPDDR3 SDRAM and 32 GB of internal flash storage.
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Larger, Smarter, Safer Battery
The killer feature of the ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) is its phenomenal battery. It has a massive 5,000 mAh battery – equal to the capacity of most power banks, and much larger than what smartphones generally carry. In fact, you can use it like a power bank, thanks to its fast reverse charging ability.
This battery is not just bigger, it is smarter. It comes with a suite of power management technologies to optimise battery capacity, safety and lifespan. The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) even has a double battery lifespan feature that extends its lifespan by up to 2X, allowing you to fully discharge and recharge the battery (0 to 100%) up to 500 times in a 25°C environment.
The ZenFone 4 Max Pro battery is also protected by 12 battery safety mechanisms. Combined with the automatic battery maintenance capabilities of ASUS PowerMaster, this battery is not only extremely safe, it will have 2X longer lifespan compared to other smartphones.
Finally, this battery has 10W fast charging capability, which allows you to fully recharge the ZenFone 4 Max Pro in just four hours. We will share with you our performance test results of this battery later in the review.
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Soft Lit Selfies
In addition to its battery, the ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) also boasts some serious photographic chops. First up is the high-resolution 16 MP front camera with a 140° wide-angle lens, with f/2.0 aperture. The wide-angle lens lets you fit more of your friends in the frame, while the fast aperture improves its low-light performance.
If the f/2.0 aperture is not sufficient, the front camera has a Softlight LED flash. It delivers just enough fill light, giving you the ability to take great selfies even in the darkest conditions, without harsh shadows and overblown highlights.
Dual Lens Camera
A nice surprise in a smartphone at this price point – a dual lens camera! It consists of a 16 MP main camera with f/2.0 lens, and a 5 MP wide-angle camera with f/2.2 lens. They are both supported by a single LED flash.
The 16 MP main camera is what you would be using for most of your shots. It has fast phase detection auto-focus, and electronic image stabilisation (EIS). But for greater creativity, and more dramatic photos and videos, you can switch to the 120° wide-angle camera. It may have a lower resolution, but it has a 200% wider view.
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SIM & microSD Capability & Fingerprint Sensor
The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) has dual SIM, dual standby capability. But unlike many other smartphones, it has a full SIM tray for two nano SIM cards, as well as a microSD card (up to 256 GB). This allows you to use all three cards simultaneously!
It also boasts a fast, all-aspect fingerprint sensor integrated into the Home button. Our tests showed that it requires just 12 finger presses to register a fingerprint, and is very fast and accurate in recognising the registered fingerprint.
The Ergonomics
The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) may have a large 5.5″ display, but it is svelte at less than 77 mm wide and relatively slim at just under 9 mm. Even though it packs a 5,000 mAh battery, it weighs just 181 grams. That said, it will feel a bit chunky, if you are used to really thin smartphones like the Galaxy S8 or ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro.
We really like the anodised metal chassis, which has a really premium feel that is resistant to fingerprint smears. We also give ASUS props for providing a soft bumper case in the package. It actually adds grip, while protecting the ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) without making it overly bulky, or covering up its look.
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Setting Up The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro
The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) ships with Android 7.1.1 Nougat, and ASUS confirmed that it will be upgraded soon to Android 8.0 Oreo. It also comes with 100 GB of free Google Drive storage for 1 year. Let’s show you just how easy it is to set-up the ZenFone 4 Max Pro.
Available Memory & Storage
The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) comes with 3 GB of LPDDR3 memory, of which 2.1 GB (70%) is free to use. That’s a lot of free memory, allowing you to run many applications simultaneously.
The ZenFone 4 Max Pro also comes with 32 GB of internal flash memory. Of that, just under 22.4 GB is available to use. That’s not a lot, but you can top it up with a microSD card (up to 256 GB).
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The Dual Lens Camera Comparison
The dual lens camera of the ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) consists of a 25 mm main camera, and an 18 mm wide-angle camera. The main camera pairs a 16 MP Omnivision 16880 sensor with a f/2.0 lens, while a 5 MP Omnivision 5675 sensor with f/2.2 lens.
The wide-angle camera may have a lower resolution, but it has a 2X wider angle of 120°. How useful is that? Let’s take a look at these full resolution samples.
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Main Camera Performance – Photos
The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) uses the 16 MP Omnivision 16880 sensor with a f/2.0 lens for its main camera. The full 16 MP resolution is attained with the 4:3 aspect ratio. Each picture has a resolution of 4640 × 3480 and a file size of between 3.3 to 7 MB.
Here are 6 full resolution samples for you to check out. Click on them to load the full-sized photos, which you can also download to examine.
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Main Camera Performance – Video Recording
We tested the main camera’s video recording performance at its maximum resolution of 1080p. It supports EIS (electronic image stabilisation) at this resolution.
Video Recording Test #1 : Piano (1080p)
The EIS did an okay job in this video, but what was very noticeable was its inability to focus properly. It kept seeking, which was very distracting. The audio also lacked punch, with too little bass. It was almost all treble.
Video Recording Test #2 : Street Market (1080p)
The lack of optical image stabilisation is noticeable, although its electronic image stabilisation capability was decent enough to remove the worst hand shaking in this video. However, the audio was extremely thin… why is there so much treble?
Video Recording Test #3 : Cable Car (1080p)
This video showed the limits of electronic image stabilisation (EIS). It could not take out the vibration, but helped to smooth out the heavier hand shaking. From the recorded audio, it appears that the ZenFone 4 Max Pro is tuned to maximise the clarity of the voices, at the expense of other frequencies.
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Work Performance – PCMark
We tested the ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro’s performance using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.
Work 2.0
ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro
ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro
Samsung Galaxy S8
Huawei Mate 9
Performance Score
(Average)
3846
5656
5303
6316
Web Browsing
4371
5708
5155
5624
Video Editing
3716
5888
4998
5370
Writing
2822
4509
5158
6326
Photo Editing
6671
10698
7082
9864
Data Manipulation
2753
3570
4458
5333
The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) may have an octa-core processor, like the other three smartphones, but it is a less-powerful model – the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430. It was 32% slower than the Snapdragon 625 processor used by the ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro (Price Check), and 27.5% slower than the Samsung Galaxy S8 (Price Check).
Battery Life – PCMark
We then tested the ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro’s battery performance using PCMark. It basically ran the PCMark work tests until its battery capacity dropped to 20%.
Thanks to its large 5,000 mAh lithium-ion battery, the ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro lasted 14 hours 19 minutes in our battery test. That’s more than 5.5 hours longer than its higher-performance brother, the ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro (Price Check)!
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Battery Recharging Performance
The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) comes with a 10 W fast charger. It took about 172.5 minutes (2 hours 52.5 minutes) to recharge its battery from 17% to 100%. The fastest recharging happened in the first 90%, before recharging at a lower speed for the last 10%.
The recharging time of under 3 hours is far lower than the 4 hours quoted by ASUS. It also has a battery life : recharging ratio of just 5.2 : 1 – which is excellent.
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Gaming Performance – 3DMark
We tested the ZenFone 4 Max Pro’s gaming performance using 3DMark, using the Ice Storm Unlimited test.
Ice Storm Unlimited
ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro
ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro
Samsung Galaxy S8
Huawei Mate 9
Gaming Score
9751
14015
29509
27853
Graphics
9609
13470
33279
36605
Physics
10285
16328
21130
15164
Graphics Test 1
55.1 fps
80.7 fps
173.1 fps
202.5 fps
Graphics Test 2
33.6 fps
46.0 fps
124.3 fps
131.1 fps
Physics Test
32.7 fps
51.8 fps
67.1 fps
48.1 fps
The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) uses the Qualcomm Adreno 505 GPU, which offers decent performance but is no match for the much faster GPUs in flagship smartphones. It is about 30% slower than the Adreno 506 GPU used by the ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro (Price Check).
Overall Performance
AnTuTu is a nice benchmark for testing various performance aspects of Android devices.
AnTuTu
ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro
ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro
Samsung Galaxy S8
Huawei Mate 9
TOTAL SCORE
41952
65302
175422
123167
3D SCORE
8282
13431
74336
40114
– 3D (Marooned)
5915
8230
43953
23313
– 3D (Garden)
2367
5201
30383
16801
UX SCORE
14099
24848
52159
39975
– UX Data Secure
4655
6226
7996
7943
– UX Data Process
2328
3404
5866
6985
– UX Strategy Games
1143
4611
11165
11860
– UX Image Process
3585
7291
22716
5580
– UX I/O Performance
2388
3316
4416
7607
CPU SCORE
14940
21357
38513
31992
– CPU Mathematics
2964
4304
10996
9680
– CPU Common Use
5180
7150
10939
11139
– CPU Multi-Core
6796
9903
16578
11173
RAM
4631
5666
10414
11086
Even with an octa-core processor, the ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) is no race horse. It is definitely much slower than the top-of-the-line processors used in flagship smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S8 (Price Check). But make no mistake – this is very decent performance at its price point..
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Our Verdict & Award
The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (ZC554KL) smartphone offers extremely-long battery life to users who are always on-the-go, and may not have ready access to a power source. With its large 5,000 mAh battery and the ASUS PowerMaster system, you can run the most strenuous apps on it for hours, and it will still have hours more of battery life to spare.
ASUS knows this, so they added a fast reverse charging feature. This allows the ZenFone 4 Max Pro to function like a power bank, recharging your other devices. If battery life is critical for you, there can be no doubt that the ZenFone 4 Max Pro is about as good as it gets!
But the ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) is not just a smartphone with large battery. It actually boasts some serious photography chops. It has a 16 MP front camera for really high-resolution selfies, with a soft LED flash for low-light conditions.
It even has a dual-lens camera system, albeit not as advanced as those in flagship smartphones. Still, this is a nice surprise for a smartphone at this price point. The main camera has a 16 MP sensor with f/2.0 lens – no complaints here. The wide-angle camera only has a 5 MP sensor, which reduces its utility.
What this means is you will most likely use the 16 MP main camera for a vast majority of your photos, switching to the wide-angle camera only when you really need the wider angle. Still, it is better than not having the option at all.
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What we did not like was its video and audio recording performance. It has focusing issues when there are multiple subjects at different distances, which detracts from its otherwise decent video recording performance. The recorded audio though was reedy and lacks punch. It appears to be tuned for voice recording, at the expense of other frequencies.
The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro (Price Check) looks very similar to the ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro (Price Check). It has the same basic design with a premium anodised metal chassis. Other than the difference in the cameras, it looks like a thicker brother of the Selfie Pro.
All in all, we really like its awesome battery capabilities, premium build quality, and 16 MP front camera. Its dual-lens camera is also a nice bonus at this price point. With all that in mind, we think the ASUS ZenFone 4 Max Pro deserves no less than our Reviewer’s Choice Award!
Other ASUS ZenFone 4 Articles
Here are the links to our other ASUS ZenFone 4 previews and articles :
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The ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro was one of the key smartphones revealed at the ASUS “We Love Photo” event in Taipei. In fact, it is the top-of-the-line model in their Selfie line of smartphones, with two selfie cameras – one of which is capable of taking 24 MP photos! Let’s take a close look at the new ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie (ZD552KL) smartphone, and see if this is the ultimate selfie smartphone!
Updated @ 2017-10-24 : Added a selfie video comparing the viewing angle and video recording quality of the two selfie cameras. Made various other updates and minor corrections to the review.
Originally posted @ 2017-09-14
The ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro Specifications
ASUS launched the ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro (ZD552KL) together with a lower-end ZenFone 4 Selfie (ZD553KL) model. What’s the difference? Here is a comparison table of their key specifications :
Specifications
ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro
ZenFone 4 Selfie
Model
ZD552KL
ZD553KL
Design
2.5D contoured Corning Gorilla Glass display with metal unibody & multiple colour selections
2.5D contoured glass display with metallic-finish unibody
Display
5.5" Full HD AMOLED display (1920 x 1080)
Greater than 500nits brightness for excellent outdoor readability
Capacitive touch panel with 10 point multi-touch sensing (support glove touch)
5.5" HD IPS LCD (1280 x 720)
400 nits brightness for excellent outdoor readability
74.2% screen-to-body ratio
Operating System
Android 7.0 Nougat with ZenUI 4.0
Android 7.0 Nougat with ZenUI 4.0
System Platform
Qualcomm Snapdragon 625
Qualcomm Snapdragon 430
Processor
8 x ARM Cortex-A53 (up to 2 GHz)
8 x ARM Cortex-A53 (up to 1.4 GHz)
Graphics Processor
Qualcomm Adreno 506
Qualcomm Adreno 505
Memory
3 GB RAM / 4 GB RAM
4 GB RAM
Storage
64 GB internal flash storage
One microSD card slot (up to 2 TB)
64 GB internal flash storage
One microSD card slot (up to 2 TB)
Hi-Res Audio 192kHz / 24-bit support (4 X CD quality)
5 Magnet Speaker for louder sound and less distortion
DTS HeadPhoneX: 7.1 Virtual surround
5 Magnet Speaker
Battery
3,000 mAh lithium-ion battery (non-removable)
3,000 mAh lithium-ion battery (non-removable)
Available Colours
Rogue Red / Sunlight Gold / Deepsea Black
Rose Pink / Mint Green / Sunlight Gold / Deepsea Black
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Unboxing The ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro
The ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro (Price Check) comes in a white cardboard box with a sleeve cover. As it comes in three colour options (at launch), you should check for the correct colour using the helpful colour sticker at the lower right corner of the sleeve’s back.
Inside, you will find the following items :
One ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro (ZD552KL) smartphone
One ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro bumper case
One set of User Guide, Warranty Information Form and IMEI stickers
One 10 W ASUS USB charger with micro USB 2.0 cable
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The ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro Up Close
Thanks to its thin bezel design, the ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro (Price Check) has a 5.5″ full HD AMOLED display in a form factor that is smaller, thinner and lighter than the iPhone 7 Plus. The display is protected by Gorilla Glass with a 2.5D contoured edge that merges seamlessly with the diamond-cut chamfer.
Everything is packed into a metal unibody chassis that is just 6.85 mm thick, and weighs only 147 grams. And yes, it has the 3.5 mm audio port. ASUS obviously put a considerable amount of work into the ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro (Price Check).
The ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro (Price Check) is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625, which they used most recently in their ZenFone 3 Zoom smartphone. Like the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom, it also comes with 4 GB of LPDDR3 SDRAM and 64 GB of internal flash storage.
Two Selfie Cameras!
This is the ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro’s killer feature – two front cameras for the perfect selfies. They consist of a main high-resolution selfie camera, and a wide-angle selfie camera for group shots. They are both supported by a soft LED flash that is designed to deliver enough fill light for selfies without overexposure and harsh shadows.
The main DuoPixel selfie camera (on the left) has a high-resolution Sony IMX362 sensor paired with f/1.8 lens. This camera boasts twice the light sensitivity of competing selfie cameras, and the astounding capability to take 24 MP photos. Heck, it can even record 4K selfie videos!
The wide-angle selfie camera (on the right) has a 5 MP Omnivision 5670 sensor paired with f/2.2 lens. With a 120° field of view, It allows you to capture a group shot (a wefie) without using a selfie stick.
The two cameras work individually – you switch from one camera to another, depending on whether you want a close up selfie, or a group wefie..
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The 24MP DuoPixel Technology
You may be wondering how the ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro (Price Check) takes 24 MP pictures with a 12 MP Sony IMX362 sensor. Note that these 24 MP pictures are taken in a single shot, not stitched from multiple shots (e.g. ASUS Super Resolution). And no, they didn’t just double the pixels.
What they did was make full use of the Sony IMX362 sensor.
The IMX362 is a Dual Pixel Autofocus sensor, which means each pixel has two photodiodes. Usually, the two photodiodes are used separately to speed up autofocus, before being combined to capture the pixel data.
When you enable the ASUS DuoPixel Technology for 24 MP photos, the signals from the two photodiodes are not combined to create the final pixel. Instead, they are used to create two pixels, effectively doubling the resolution to 24 MP.
DuoPixel does not merely duplicate the pixels. The two photodiodes are effectively two pixels sharing the same microlens, each recording different beams of light. This is an elegant way to double the effective resolution of the photo. The only drawback – low light performance will suffer because each “pixel” now receives only half of the light. Not to worry though. You can disable DuoPixel for maximum low light performance.
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The 16 MP PixelMaster 4.0 Camera
Even though the ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro’s main focus is the front camera capabilities, ASUS did not neglect the rear camera. It has 16 MP Sony IMX351 sensor coupled with f/2.2 lens and an LED flash. It is capable of recording 4K videos. The camera does not support OIS (optical image stabilisation), but is electronically stabilised on 3 axes when it records full HD videos.
If 16 MP is not good enough, this camera supports the ASUS Super Resolution technology that captures and combines four 16 MP photos to create a 64 MP photo. The camera also supports a new Time Lapse Mode with Power Saving, which lowers the screen brightness and puts the ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro into the Airplane mode. Now you can take long Time Lapse videos without worrying about running out of power.
Hybrid SIM & Fingerprint Sensor
The ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro (Price Check) has dual SIM, dual standby capability. It has a hybrid SIM tray for two nano SIM cards. The second SIM card tray (SIM2) doubles as a microSD card slot (up to 2 TB). Both SIM1 and SIM2 support 3G and 4G connectivity, but only one SIM card can connect to the 3G / 4G network – the other can only connect to a 2G network.
The ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro (Price Check) has a fast, all-aspect fingerprint sensor integrated into the Home button. Our tests showed that it requires just 12 finger presses to register a fingerprint, and is very fast and accurate in recognising the registered fingerprint.
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ASUS SonicMaster 4.0
The audio aspect of smartphones is often overlooked. The ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro (Price Check) has an impressive set of hardware and software audio technologies, which ASUS markets as SonicMaster 4.0.
The ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro (Price Check) is Hi-Res Audio-certified, so you can enjoy 24-bit / 192 kHz audio. It also supports DTS Headphone:X for virtual 7.1 channel surround sound over your headphones. It has a 5-magnet speaker driven by the NXP Smart Amp with 40% more power output and less distortion.
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Setting Up The ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro
The ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro (Price Check) ships with Android 7.1.1 Nougat, and ASUS confirmed that it will be upgraded soon to Android 8.0 Oreo. It also comes with 100 GB of free Google Drive storage for 1 year. Let’s show you just how easy it is to set-up the ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro.
The Ergonomics
The ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro (Price Check) may have a large 5.5″ display, but it is svelte at less than 75 mm wide and slim at less than 7 mm, even with the camera bump. It is surprisingly light at just 147 grams.
The large display with its full HD resolution is just perfect for watching movies. We also applaud ASUS for using an AMOLED display – it is generally more vivid and power-efficient.
We especially like the satin finish of the anodised chassis. It is smooth and comfortable to touch, and is resistant to fingerprint smears. The provided bumper case increases grip while protecting the ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro (Price Check) without making it overly bulky, or covering up its look.
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Available Memory & Storage
The ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro (Price Check) comes with 4 GB of LPDDR3 memory, of which 1.8 GB (45%) is free to use. That is about as much memory as some smartphones ship with, so don’t worry about running out of RAM with the ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro!
The ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro (Price Check) also comes with 64 GB of internal flash memory. Of that, just under 51 GB is available to use. If that’s not enough, you can top it up with a microSD card (up to 256 GB).
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Main Camera Performance – Photos
The ASUS ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro (Price Check) uses the 16 MP Sony IMX351 sensor for its main camera, paired with f/2.2 lens. The full 16 MP resolution is attained with the 4:3 aspect ratio. Each picture has a resolution of 4640 × 3480 and a file size of between 6 to 8 MB.
Here are 10 high-resolution samples for you to check out. Click on them to load the full-sized photos, which you can also download to examine.
