ASUS ZenFone Max Plus (M1) is now officially released in the Philippines at Php 11,995. Living up to the legacy of the “Max” sub-brand, the handset packs a juicy 4130 mAh rating which is, so far, the biggest battery found in a smartphone with 18:9 display. Likewise, the ASUS ZenFone Max Plus is also the first handset to have such aspect ratio.
We were very lucky to spend some time with the handset in its Philippine launch. Here's our quick impressions and hand-on review.
The ASUS ZenFone Max Plus (M1)
Display
The ASUS ZenFone Max Plus boasts a 5.7-inch full view FHD+ display which is a perfect match for uncompromised screen experience. The company also stressed the beauty of ZenFone Max Plus’ expanded viewing area which is crammed in a 5.2-inch smartphone body. It means that you’re holding a compact phone with wider viewing experience. The ultrathin bezels give way for an 80-percent screen-to-body ratio.
I love how the FHD+ pixel resolution registers in a 5.7-inch display. It's dense and comes with great clarity, even in oblique angles.
Design
The display is treated with 2.5D-curved front edges making the handset easy to use and exceptionally comfortable to hold. At the back, the smartphone is a metallic slab which negates most of the fingerprints thrown at it. Despite its big battery, the ZenFone Max Plus is thin and looks premium with its metallic finish.
Rounding up the sides, the right houses the volume rocker and the power button; while the left side is a home for the dedicated SIM tray. The bottom side has the speaker grill, microUSB 2.0 port and a microphone.
Camera
When it comes to the camera department, the ASUS ZenFone Max Plus is also a worker. Equipped with dual-rear camera system, the handset is very promising in taking point-and-shoot outputs. We also like to see how it would fair in capturing portraits. The main camera is a 16MP sensor with f/2.0 aperture lens. It is coupled with an 8MP sensor with 120-degree wide-angle lens.
The selfie camera is an 8MP affair with f/2.0 aperture lens. This is complemented by ASUS Beautification software which is, for me, the best selfie-centric suite in the market right now.
Battery
Being in the Max lineup, the ZenFone Max Plus is expected to excel in battery efficiency. The handset’s battery is, according to ASUS, designed for serious travellers and those who takes smartphone battery endurance seriously. The 4130 mAh battery is just right to have longer mileage without sacrificing its svelte form factor.
ASUS also stressed that the ZenFone Max Plus offers up to 26 days standby time, 26 hours of 3G talk time, 21 hours of web browsing on WiFi and 13 hours of video playback.
Should You Get The ASUS ZenFone Max Plus?
It's very early to tell. But for the reason that it's ASUS first-ever smartphone with 18:9 aspect ratio, we could bet on this one. Plus, the fact that it's only priced at Php 11,995 (which is cheaper even after its closest competitors dropped their prices) and has a lot to offer in the table like the dual-camera system and the 4130 mAh battery, I could say that the Zenfone Max Plus M1 is a steal buy.
Availability in the Philippines
It’s also worth-noting that the handset comes with Face Unlock feature. This gives users a quick, secure and convenient way to unlock the smartphone.
You can now get the ASUS ZenFone Max Plus in your favorite ASUS Concept Stores and partner dealers nationwide at Php 11,995. You can also visit their official Lazada store. Buyers wanted to avail the unit with Home Credit could do so with up to 6 months 0% interest.
ASUS ZenFone Max Plus (M1) Specs
- 152.6 x 73 x 8.8 mm, 160 grams
- 5.7-inch Full View FHD+ Display, 1080 x 2160p, 424ppi
- Front Glass, Aluminum Body
- MediaTek MT6750T
- 1.5GHz octa-core Cortex-A53
- Mali-T860MP2
- 4GB RAM + 32GB ROM, expandable
- 16MP rear camera (f/2.0) + 8MP (f/2.4); wide angle, AF, LED Flash
- 8MP Front camera f/2.0, Portrait Mode, Screen Flash
- 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS
- FM Radio
- 3.5mm Audio Jack
- Proximity, Ambient Light, Accelerometer Sensors, Gyro, Compass
- Fingerprint Sensor, Face Unlock
- Android 7.0 Nougat with Zen UI 4.0
- 4130 mAh battery
- Deepsea Black, Azure Silver, Sunlight Gold
- Php 11,995 with Clear Case worth Php 699 and OTG Dongle worth Php 799
