ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5in (ZC553KL) - Review 2022

While ASUS has always plied for the high-end smartphone space, information technology does not ignore the mid-range and affordable segments too. With the ASUS ZenFone 3, it has become harder for users to selection-upward the new flagship cheers to the higher asking price. Enter the sub-RM1,000 ASUS ZenFone 3 Max.

If anything, it is a known fact that this pricing bracket for smartphones is an interesting spot to exist in. While it'due south more often than not filled with low-end entries, sometimes one can observe more affordably priced mid-range smartphones. Of those that have launched in the terminal six months, the ASUS ZenFone three Max stands out . Priced at RM999, it has some pretty great features that ASUS thinks tin differentiate information technology from the rest of the marketplace.

FYI, this is the five.5in Total Hd variant.

Let'southward meet how real that claim truly is.

Blueprint: Bigger yet not Brighter

The original ASUS ZenFone 3 Max is 5.2in, making slightly lithe and easier to hold. This 5.5in take provides merely the right amount of space for users equally it occupies the infinite that the ASUS ZenFone two once took up.

Even with the slightly bigger screen, somehow, this ASUS ZenFone 3 Max is not one of the brighter IPS entries. Thankfully, pictures and videos even so look vibrant and colourful.

Like it's principal brethren and predecessor, the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5in comes with a dedicated 'back, habitation, and app list' capacitive buttons. This means the entire screen, sans the bezels, is fully utilized. Oddly, and this is a huge thwarting for me, these primary interactive controls are not backlit, an odd motion and one that makes it trickier for users to engage when in dark locations.

Thankfully, the backplate material has a squeamish feel when touched, giving it a premium user experience. Information technology also helps that its eight.3mm slim course factor provides some level of comfort when belongings and treatment the larger take on the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max.

Interestingly, the 16MP f/2.0 camera at the rear is regressed within the body, ensuring any chance of the lens beingness scratched is minimized when this 5.5in ASUS ZenFone iii Max variant is placed on the table. Of course, it is not 100% guaranteed.

On the left of the rear-facing main camera is a dual LED lite that provides a pretty brilliant flash output when pictures are being snapped in the dark. Equally for the right side, there is a laser pointer that is used to immediately correct the length between the back-mounted shooter and focused subject area. Combined with the built-in Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF), enables a fast and very accurate focusing experience when capturing a flick.

UI and Launcher: Pure ASUS

As with other Google Android smartphones, the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max v.5in comes with its own UI, the ASUS ZenUI. Based off Google Android vi.1 Marshmallow, it offers a decent user feel. Personally, I beloved it merely because it comes with an app drawer.

Oddly, the card icons feel over-sized and looks like it had been the brainchild of a Fischer Cost team. It definitely can exist improved.

Functioning: Responsively Decent

Having spent ii weeks with the ASUS ZenFone iii Max, information technology is undoubtedly fast and responsive. This is even after prolonged usage. Apps launched mostly immediately when engaged. In fact, the 3GB RAM and Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 Octa-Cadre mobile processor combination really outdid itself as the optimisation work that ASUS engineers carried out have set the bar really high.

At that place is one big minus during my review run, a finding that I am very disappointed with. Where the brochure claims the fingerprint unlocking procedure takes only 0.3s, real life use confirmed that inappreciably always happens and ofttimes times this ASUS entrant would but recognise my fingerprint a few seconds afterward I engage information technology.

As for gaming, all of them launched and played well enough. 99% of the fourth dimension, they all run smoothly with very lilliputian or no lag or stutter. This is even when I play intensive 3D games.

In terms of heating issues, the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max does go warm with heavy utilise though it is nevertheless comfortable to concord and does not become like a heated atomic number 26.

Photographic camera: Fast with Mixed Results

Let's gloss over the fact that the laser autofocus on the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max is no pushover. Indeed, I really honey the built-in light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation pointer at the rear-plate and how it helps the rear-loaded main camera snap pictures quickly.

Personally, I'grand more partial to how I can utilize it as a ruler to notice the altitude of an object as information technology acts as a great tool for those who work on building projects and work-sites.

Options wise, the camera app is loaded out with a number of features similar HDR, low-light mode, and transmission. On its own, the photo-taking app is intelligent enough and tin can detect the surround information technology is in so equally to properly suggest what mode tin can be used.

For all these bells and whistles, the picture quality is sub-par and, truly, is nothing to shout about. With HDR turned on, most pictures expect good, they tend to suffer from a lot of noise. This is a surprising observe because that the camera is merely limited to ISO 1600. That means the sensor is non really working to the specs on paper and falls short, manner short, of its delivery.

Oddly, I tin can't modify the aperture in transmission fashion and, by and large, ended up with f/2.0 for all of my shots. This is not skilful ASUS, not practiced at all.

Battery: Long Lasting

When ASUS decided to get with a 4100mAH for the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max, I wholly support the motion. Even if it is just a mid-range smartphone with a medium chipset and a mildly large screen, the overall battery life is really awesome. ASUS claimed, on paper, that this 5.5in ASUS ZenFone 3 Max variant has a standby time of 38 days even!

For real globe employ, I managed to push button information technology till three total days of use. Information technology could've gone another day for sure if I had not been forced to re-charge the ASUS ZenFone iii Max when it wanted to execute a critical update.

Those who don't like to bring a powerbank around, this ASUS entry is perfect equally it can be used to charge upwardly other devices. In beingness confident with this feature, ASUS has included an OTG cablevision that allows other devices to juice upwardly as well and permit other USB devices to jack in to transfer content.

Conclusion: Better than Expected

Since the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max is priced at RM999, I actually didn't wait much from it. After prolonged apply, it performs way better than I would ever have guessed. Apps run smoothly and quickly, proving that 3GB RAM is more than plenty for those who dearest to multi-task and open up loads of apps or browser tabs at the same time.

With corking looks and having the absurd ability to recharge other devices, the ASUS ZenFone iii Max is, indeed, a decent entry. If annihilation, information technology would be hard to notice another sub-RM1,000 smartphone that performs similarly.