Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 with 6GB of RAM and upgraded 16MP rear & front cameras is finally made available for users at a price of Rs 14,999. The new variant comes with better cameras compared to the earlier launched variants. Also, this new option goes directly against the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro, which so far had the best cameras in this sub- Rs 15,000 price point. Asus recently announced the open sale of 3GB, 4GB RAM variants of the Max Pro M1, but the Taiwanese company will still be selling the 6GB RAM variant in flash sales every week. The older two variants will also be available at Rs 500 discount during Flipkart Big Shopping Days, but the new variant retails at Rs 14,999. Let’s dive right in and see what this new variant of the Zenfone Max Pro M1 has to offer.
Cameras on the Rear are Surely Better Than the Previous Variants
The new higher variant of the Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 with 6GB RAM sports a 16MP primary rear sensor with PDAF, LED flash and a f/2.2 aperture. This primary sensor comes paired with a 5MP secondary sensor for depth effects. On the front, there is a 16MP camera with soft LED flash and f/2.0 aperture. Notably, the previous model of the Zenfone Max Pro M1 came with a 13MP primary sensor, an 8MP front shooter. It is evident that the front camera has gotten a substantial update from Asus.
The rear camera can shoot good photos under well-lit conditions, and the selfie camera also manages to click some appreciable quality of images. The portrait mode, however, struggles to make the edges stand out. However, Asus is expected to ship a new software update which will resolve the problem pretty soon. There is some grain in the photos when clicked in dim conditions, even then, the Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 can be given a pass for this because of its affordable price point.
When compared to the Redmi Note 5 Pro, the 6GB RAM variant comes close with its rear camera performance. Nevertheless, the superior software tweaking on the Note 5 Pro makes it a winner. A future software update could improve the performance on the Max Pro M1, but it's worth noting that the hardware on the 6GB RAM variant of the Max Pro M1 matches the Redmi Note 5 Pro.
More RAM Helps in Better Multitasking, Memory Management
The 6GB RAM upgrade brings pretty apparent improvements to the working on the phone. While testing with Chrome, WhatsApp and Facebook running in the background the phone were able to run PUBG without any lags. The handset was also able to run Asphalt 8 and Asphalt 9 Legends as well despite being taxing on the memory and graphics.
Earlier, I have reviewed the 3GB RAM variant of the Zenfone Max Pro M1, which due to its low RAM availability faced memory management issues. But that's not the case with the 6GB RAM variant though. Also, the software experience has been improved as well.
Another major change which I noticed is the fingerprint scanner unlocking speed. Asus was criticised heavily for the unlocking speed of the fingerprint scanner, but it has changed with the 6GB RAM variant. The scanner still is not as fast as the Redmi Note 5 Pro, but it's way better than the other two variants of the Max Pro M1.
Verdict
Given that the Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 comes with 6GB RAM and upgraded cameras on the front & rear which offers decent shooting experience, the price point of Rs 14,999 is entirely justifiable. For someone looking for a decent budget phone which would be a bang for the buck, then the Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 seems to be the likely option. However, for Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 users who have already bought the phone but with a lower RAM, this upgrade might not really be of use since the initial variants of the phone present equally satisfying specifications and value for money, but again, the camera performance is way superior to the other two variants.
