Like the Zenfone Max Plus released at the end of last year, the new product features a capacious battery, a large screen and a low price. However, in two of the three characteristics, there is serious progress: the battery has become even more capacious, and the display is even larger. At the same time, the price remained at the same level: 14 thousand rubles for the version with 32 GB of internal memory and 3 GB of RAM and 16 thousand rubles for the version with 64 GB of storage / 4 GB of RAM.
Let's explore the characteristics of new items.
Key Features of Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 (ZB602KL)
- SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 636, 8 cores Kryo 260 @1.8 GHz
- GPU Adreno 509
- Operating system Android 8.1 Oreo without additional shells and with the promised upgrade to Android P 9.0
- Touch display IPS 6″, 2160×1080, 402 ppi
- Random access memory (RAM) 4 GB, internal memory 64 GB
- Support Nano-SIM (2 pcs.)
- microSD support up to 2TB
- GSM networks (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)
- WCDMA/HSPA+ networks (1, 5, 8)
- LTE FDD Cat.4 (1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20), TD (40) networks
- Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n (2.4GHz)
- Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, LE
- Micro-USB 2.0 OTG support
- GPS, A-GPS, Glonass, BDS
- Front camera: viewing angle 84.8 °, photo 8 MP;
- Main rear camera: photo 13 MP, video 4K 30 fps
- Additional rear camera: photo 5 MP, used as an auxiliary for the main
- Proximity and light sensors, accelerometer, compass, magnetometer, gyroscope
- Fingerprint scanner, face recognition sensor
- Battery 5000 mAh
- Dimensions 159×76×8.5 mm
- Weight 180 g
For clarity, let's compare the characteristics of the new product with its predecessor - Asus Zenfone Max Plus, in order to understand what has been changed. And as competitors, we will indicate the recently tested Meizu M6s and Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus.
| Asus Zenfone Max Pro | Asus Zenfone Max Plus | Meizu M6s | Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | 6″, IPS, 2160×1080, 402 ppi | 5.65″, IPS, 2160×1080, 480ppi | 5.7″, IPS, 1440×720, 282 ppi | 5.66″, IPS, 2160×1080, 403 ppi |
| SoC (processor) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 (8 cores Kryo 260 @1.8GHz) | MediaTek MT6750T (4x Cortex-A53 @1.5GHz + 4x Cortex-A53 @1.0GHz) | Samsung Exynos 7872 (4x Cortex-A53 @1.6GHz + 2x Cortex-A73 @2.0GHz) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 (8x Cortex-A53 @2.0GHz) |
| Flash memory | 32/64 GB | 32/64 GB | 32/64 GB | 32/64 GB |
| Connectors | Micro-USB connector | Micro-USB connector | Micro-USB connector | Micro-USB connector |
| Memory card support | up to 2 TB | microSD up to 128 GB | up to 256 GB | up to 128 GB |
| RAM | 3/4 GB | 3/4 GB | 3 GB | 3/4 GB |
| cameras | main rear (photo 13 MP; video 4K 30 fps), secondary rear (photo 5 MP), front (8 MP) | main rear (photo 16 MP, video Full HD 30 fps), additional rear (photo 8 MP), front (8 MP) | main (photo 16 MP, video 1080p 60 fps), front (8 MP) | main (photo 12 MP; video 4K 30 fps), front (5 MP) |
| User identification sensors | face recognition, fingerprint scanner | Fingerprint's scanner | Fingerprint's scanner | Fingerprint's scanner |
| Hull protection | No | No | No | No |
| Battery capacity (mAh) | 5000 | 3300 | 3000 | 4000 |
| Operating system | Google Android 8.1 | Google Android 7.0 (with ZenUI 4.0 skin) | Android 7.0 (with Flyme 6.3 shell) | Android 7.1.2 (with MIUI 9.2 Global skin) |
| Dimensions (mm) | 159×76×8.5 | 153×73×8.8 | 152×73×8 | 159×76×8 |
| Weight (g) | 180 | 160 | 160 | 180 |
| Average price (for version with minimum flash memory) | ||||
| Asus ZenFone Max Pro M1 (3/32GB) Retail Deals | ||||
| Asus ZenFone Max Pro M1 (4/64 GB) Retail Deals | ||||
The comparison table shows a very interesting picture: we see that in most respects the novelty outperforms not only its predecessor, but also competing devices of the same price category. Let's pay attention to the screen size, battery capacity, version of the operating system (moreover, without shells, which is a plus for many users), the presence of a face recognition function (the only one of all devices in the table!), The number and capabilities of cameras.
What is Zenfone Max Pro inferior to competitors? Firstly, in thickness (the difference is about half a millimeter), and secondly, in the resolution of the main camera.
However, characteristics, as we know, are not everything. Let's move on to face-to-face acquaintance with the Asus device and study its strengths and weaknesses.
Packaging and equipment
The smartphone comes in a fairly large box, where, in addition to the device itself, you can find a 5V 2A charger that supports fast charging, a Micro-USB cable, in-ear headphones similar to those included in the Asus Zenfone 5 kit, a user manual leaflet and a key clip to remove the SIM/microSD card slot.
In general, the equipment is standard, there is nothing that goes beyond the usual "gentleman's minimum", but again I want to praise worthy headphones - unlike the rubbish that inexpensive smartphones often come with, you can safely use this headset and not run to the store on the first day for a better option.
Design
The appearance of the new Asus smartphone largely inherits the Zenfone Max Plus - here, too, a metal case with rounded edges - but the feel of the device is different. First, it's thinner, so despite the big battery and 6-inch screen, the Zenfone Max Pro doesn't feel bulky. And secondly, the frames around the screen are smaller and, therefore, the usable front surface area is larger.
The remaining changes are less significant, although it is still impossible not to mention them. So, the two cameras on the back surface are now located vertically, one above the other, and not horizontally. Don't ask why. So fashionable :) However, you can ironically imitate some market leaders as much as you like, but human psychology works this way: a vertical block with two cameras is now a sign of a new device. So, as they say, a trifle, but nice. In addition, the manufacturer claims that the placement of the cameras affects the ability to implement the background blur effect (bokeh).
A much less noticeable, but actually more important feature is the updated speaker. Despite the fact that it is located only on one side, the sound quality and volume are really very decent.
But the set and location of connectors and slots have not changed. On the right side there is a volume rocker and a Power button (of course, all are metal), on the left side there is a cradle with three slots that can be pulled out with a key clip: for two Micro-SIM cards and one microSD card (up to 2 TB).
We've previously noted that Asus is one of the few manufacturers that doesn't require the user to choose between two SIMs or one SIM plus one microSD. So, for example, the competitor Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus has only two slots, and many other competitors too. Zenfone Max Pro, on the other hand, offers “honest” three slots. Even in the most budget model.
Alas, like its predecessor, Max Pro uses a Micro-USB connector instead of the much more convenient USB Type-C. But even the more expensive Zenfone 5 Lite does not have USB Type-C, that is, it remains for the time being the prerogative of the exclusively upper segment. But what appeared, and quite unexpectedly for a device for 14-16 thousand, is the face recognition function.
Previously, we saw it in Asus Zenfone 5. And we can only be glad that the manufacturer did not limit the use of technology, "letting" it into the device for 14 thousand. We have tested this option. In order to set it up, it takes only a couple of minutes, and most of the time is spent on pressing the “yes”, “yes”, “next” buttons ... The face scan itself takes only a couple of seconds, but when everything is set up, unlocking happens almost instantly.
We haven't been able to use this feature for a long time and evaluate its "learnability", but apparently there are no differences in the algorithm and hardware implementation from Asus Zenfone 5. So, again, we warmly welcome the presence of the option. Of course, the smartphone also has a fingerprint scanner, which is habitually located on the back surface under the index finger.
It should be noted that the device lies well in a medium-sized hand, fits in a jeans pocket and looks quite elegant, not "shovel-like". Despite the low price, there is no feeling of cheapness from it. So the overall impression of the design is positive.
Screen
The screen of the smartphone has a diagonal of 6 inches and a resolution of 2160x1080. This gives a dots per inch density corresponding to 402 ppi. By the way, the Zenfone 5 Lite has the same parameters, the price of which is higher. And compared to its predecessor - Zenfone Max Plus - the screen has become larger. However, size and resolution are not the only characteristics that affect user experience. So let's take a closer look at the screen. Conducted detailed testing Alexey Kudryavtsev .
The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface, resistant to scratches. Judging by the reflection of objects, the anti-glare properties of the screen are slightly better than the screen of the Google Nexus 7 (2013) (hereinafter simply Nexus 7). For clarity, here is a photo in which a white surface is reflected in the off screens (on the left is Nexus 7, on the right is Asus ZenFone Max Pro, then they can be distinguished by size):
The screen of Asus ZenFone Max Pro is slightly darker (brightness in photos is 112 versus 116 for Nexus 7). The doubling of reflected objects in the screen of Asus ZenFone Max Pro is very weak, which indicates that there is no air gap between the layers of the screen (more specifically, between the outer glass and the surface of the LCD matrix) (OGS type screen - One Glass Solution). Due to the smaller number of borders (glass/air type) with very different refractive indices, such screens look better in conditions of intense external illumination, but their repair in case of cracked external glass is much more expensive, since the entire screen has to be changed (the manufacturer, however, promises when buying in the company's online store).
On the outer surface of the screen there is a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating, which is approximately the same as Nexus 7 in efficiency, so fingerprints are removed much more easily, and appear at a slower rate than in the case of ordinary glass.
When manually controlling brightness and when outputting a white field full screen the maximum brightness value was about 450 cd / m², the minimum - 5.4 cd / m². The maximum brightness is high, therefore, given the excellent anti-glare properties, the readability of the screen even on a sunny day outdoors should be at an acceptable level. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable value. In the presence of automatic brightness control by light sensor (it is located to the left of the front speaker slot). In automatic mode, when the ambient light conditions change, the screen brightness both increases and decreases. This function depends on the position of the brightness slider. If it is at 100%, then in complete darkness the auto-brightness function reduces the brightness to 135 cd / m² (too bright), in an artificially lit office (about 550 lux) sets it to 340 cd / m² (normal), in a very bright environment ( corresponds to lighting on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or a little more) the brightness rises to 450 cd / m² (to the maximum, which is what you need). If the slider is at about 50%, then the values are: 10, 200 and 450 cd/m² (normal), and if the slider is at 0% - 1.9, 35 and 450 cd/m² (the first and second values are too low). It turns out that the auto-brightness function works adequately and to some extent allows the user to customize their work to individual requirements. At any brightness level, there is no significant backlight modulation, so there is no screen flicker.
This smartphone uses an IPS type matrix. Micrographs show a typical IPS subpixel structure:
For comparison, you can see the gallery of microphotographs of screens used in mobile technology.
The screen has good viewing angles without significant color shift even at large deviations of the gaze from the perpendicular to the screen and without inverting shades. For comparison, here are photos in which the same images are displayed on the Asus ZenFone Max Pro and Nexus 7 screens, while the screen brightness is initially set to about 200 cd / m², and the color balance on the camera is forcibly switched to 6500 K.
White field perpendicular to the screens:
Note the good uniformity of brightness and color tone of the white field.
And a test picture:
The colors on the Asus ZenFone Max Pro screen are clearly oversaturated, and the color balance of the screens is slightly different.
Recall that the photo can not serve as a reliable source of information about color quality and is provided for illustrative purposes only. The reason is that the spectral sensitivity of the camera matrix does not exactly match this characteristic of human vision.
Now at an angle of about 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen:
It can be seen that the colors have not changed much on both screens, but on the Asus ZenFone Max Pro, the contrast has decreased to a greater extent due to more black highlighting.
And the white box:
The brightness at an angle of the screens has decreased (at least 5 times, based on the difference in shutter speed), but the Asus ZenFone Max Pro screen is still a little darker. The black field, when deviated diagonally, is highlighted strongly, but remains conventionally neutral gray. The photos below demonstrate this (the brightness of the white areas in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the screens is the same!):
And from another angle:
When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the black field is good:
Contrast (approximately in the center of the screen) is high - about 1050:1. The response time for the black-white-black transition is 21 ms (11 ms on + 10 ms off). The transition between 25% and 75% grayscale (according to the numerical value of the color) and back takes a total of 34 ms. The gamma curve constructed from 32 points with an equal interval according to the numerical value of the shade of gray did not reveal a blockage either in the highlights or in the shadows. The exponent of the approximating power function is 2.26, which is slightly larger than the standard value of 2.2. In this case, the real gamma curve deviates little from the power dependence:
This device has a not very aggressive dynamic adjustment of the backlight brightness in accordance with the nature of the displayed image - on average dark images, the backlight brightness decreases. As a result, the resulting dependence of brightness on hue (gamma curve) does not correspond to the gamma curve of a static image, since the measurements were carried out with sequential grayscale output almost on the entire screen. For this reason, we carried out a number of tests - determining contrast and response time, comparing black flare at angles - we carried out (however, as always) when displaying special patterns with a constant average brightness, and not monochromatic fields in full screen. In general, such an unswitchable brightness correction does nothing but harm, since a constant change in screen brightness can at least cause some discomfort, reduce the visibility of gradations in the shadows in the case of dark images and the readability of the screen in bright light, since the brightness is not the brightest on average. backlight is lowered.
The color gamut is slightly wider than sRGB:
Let's look at the spectra:
The spectra of the components are well separated, which leads to a wide color gamut. We have already seen this in the case of, for example, the Sony Xperia Z2 and other mobile devices. Sony points out that these screens use LEDs with a blue emitter and green and red phosphors (usually a blue emitter and a yellow phosphor), which, in combination with special matrix filters, allow for a wide color gamut. Yes, and in the red phosphor, apparently, the so-called quantum dots are used. For a consumer device, a wide color gamut is not an advantage, but a significant disadvantage, because as a result, the colors of images - drawings, photos and films - oriented to the sRGB space (and the vast majority of them) have an unnatural saturation. This is especially noticeable on recognizable shades, such as skin tones. The result is shown in the photo above.
The balance of shades on the scale is not bad, since the color temperature is slightly higher than the standard 6500 K - about 7200 K - and the deviation from the black body spectrum (ΔE) is about 10, which is considered an acceptable indicator for a consumer device. At the same time, the color temperature and ΔE change little from shade to shade - this has a positive effect on the visual assessment of color balance. There is an option in screen settings. Screen color:
This adjustment can slightly improve the color balance by lowering the color temperature, while ΔE remains practically unchanged and remains about 10. low brightness is large.)
There is a mod setting that allows you to reduce the intensity of the blue component.
Pro eye strain marketers came up with, but the statement about fall asleep faster partly correct. In principle, bright light can lead to disruption of the daily (circadian) rhythm (see article about), but everything is solved by adjusting the brightness to a comfortable level, and there is absolutely no point in distorting the color balance by reducing the contribution of blue.
To summarize: the screen has a high maximum brightness and has excellent anti-glare properties, so the device can be used outdoors without any problems even on a sunny summer day. In complete darkness, the brightness can be lowered to a comfortable level. It is permissible to use the mode with automatic brightness adjustment, which works quite adequately. Also, the advantages of the screen include an effective oleophobic coating, the absence of an air gap in the layers of the screen and flicker, high contrast. The disadvantages are the low stability of black to the deviation of the gaze from the perpendicular to the plane of the screen, the non-switchable brightness correction depending on the displayed image, and overestimated color saturation. Nevertheless, taking into account the importance of the characteristics for this particular class of devices, the screen quality can be considered high.
Performance and communications
The smartphone is powered by SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 636. This SoC, already familiar to us from, includes eight Kryo 260 cores operating at a frequency of 1.8 GHz. The SoC also includes an Adreno 509 GPU. The amount of RAM in the model that came to us for testing is 3 GB, although there are options with 4 GB of RAM, as well as a large amount of built-in flash memory. Considering that the price difference is only 2000 rubles, the second option seems preferable to us. But let's see what the junior modification is capable of!
For comparison, we present the results of the same smartphones that appeared in the table at the beginning of the article. Note that along with the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus, the competitor of the Asus model can also be considered equipped with the same SoC as the Zenfone Max Pro. However, Redmi Note 5 costs several thousand more in official retail, and in this segment every thousand rubles counts. Therefore, we decided to still compare Zenfone Max Pro with Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus.
Let's start with browser tests. In all smartphones, testing was carried out in the Chrome browser.
The results are unequivocal: Zenfone Max Pro is the undisputed leader. Meizu M6s comes closest to it, but in all three tests, the Asus smartphone still outperforms its competitor, and the difference is greater than the possible error.
Let's look at the results in the comprehensive tests AnTuTu 6 and GeekBench 4.
Here the results are even more revealing. The superiority of the novelty over its predecessor is especially evident, but the products of competing manufacturers are far behind.
The last block of tests is game scenes that demonstrate how to work with 3D graphics: 3DMark and GFXBenchmark.
| Asus Zenfone Max Pro (Qualcomm Snapdragon 636) |
Asus Zenfone Max Plus (MediaTek MT6750T) |
Meizu M6s (Samsung Exynos 7872) |
Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus (Qualcomm Snapdragon 625) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3DMark Sling Shot Extreme ES 3.1 (more is better) |
934 | 388 | 420 | 466 |
(onscreen, fps) |
9,8 | 4,4 | 12 | 6 |
| GFXBenchmark Manhattan ES 3.1 (1080p Offscreen, fps) |
10 | 4,6 | 5 | 7 |
| GFXBenchmark T-Rex (onscreen, fps) |
35 | 16 | 24 | 21 |
| GFXBenchmark T-Rex (1080p Offscreen, fps) |
36 | 17 | 17 | 23 |
So, now there is no doubt: in its segment (about 15 thousand rubles), Asus Zenfone Max Pro occupies a leading position in terms of performance. All the numbers speak for themselves. An attentive reader may ask: why in the test GFXBenchmark Manhattan ES 3.1 (Onscreen, fps) did the subject show fewer frames per second than the Meizu M6s? But the answer will be quite simple: since this test displays an image at the same resolution as the screen of a smartphone, Meizu M6s with its 1440 × 720 pixels has a natural advantage, which does not at all indicate higher performance.
thermal images
Below is a thermal image rear surface obtained after 10 minutes of running a battery test in the GFXBenchmark program:
Heating is more localized in the upper right part of the device, which apparently corresponds to the location of the SoC chip. According to the heat chamber, the maximum heating was 37 degrees (at an ambient temperature of 24 degrees), this is not very much.
Video playback
Video playback test completed Alexey Kudryavtsev.
We did not find an MHL interface, as well as Mobility DisplayPort, in this smartphone, so we had to limit ourselves to testing the output of video files on the screen of the device itself. To do this, we used a set of test files with an arrow and a rectangle moving one division per frame (see "Methodology for testing video signal playback and display devices. Version 1 (for mobile devices)"). Screenshots with a shutter speed of 1 s helped determine the nature of the output frames of video files with different parameters: the resolution varied (1280 by 720 (720p), 1920 by 1080 (1080p) and 3840 by 2160 (4K) pixels) and frame rate (24, 25, 30, 50 and 60 fps). In tests, we used a regular video player. The test results are summarized in the table:
| File | Uniformity | Passes |
|---|---|---|
| not playable | ||
| not playable | ||
| Great | No | |
| Great | No | |
| Great | No | |
| Great | No | |
| Great | No | |
| Great | No | |
| Great | No | |
| Great | No | |
| Great | No | |
| Great | No | |
Note: If both columns Uniformity and Passes green ratings are set, this means that, most likely, when watching movies, artifacts caused by uneven alternation and dropping frames will either not be visible at all, or their number and visibility will not affect viewing comfort. Red marks indicate possible problems with the playback of the respective files.
According to the criteria for displaying frames, the quality of playing video files on the screen of the smartphone itself is very good, since frames or groups of frames can (but are not required) to be displayed with even intervals and without gaps. When playing video files with a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels (1080p) on a smartphone screen, the image of the video file itself is displayed exactly at the height of the screen (in landscape orientation), one to one in pixels, that is, in its original resolution. The brightness range displayed on the screen corresponds to the standard range of 16-235: all gradations of shades are displayed in the shadows and in the highlights. Note: this smartphone has support for hardware decoding of H.265 files with a color depth of 10 bits per color, but the display is apparently still in 8-bit mode.
Camera
The smartphone is equipped with three cameras, two of which are rear and give a resolution of 13 megapixels and 5 megapixels. And the front camera allows you to take 8-megapixel selfies.
However, as you know, camera resolution is not the only important indicator. We tested according to our methodology. Results comments Anton Solovyov.
The camera turned out pretty good. It could well be called a flagship, if not for the annoying blur zone on the left side of the frame (possibly a marriage) and the rough noise reduction in the shadows. The rest of the camera is very pleasant: good detailing in the field of the frame and according to the plans, not so bad work in the shadows, despite the noise, excellent macro photography. As a result, in sufficient light, the camera performs well, and with a lack of light, it performs somewhat worse, but still remains operational. It is quite suitable for documentary and artistic shooting.
It is given to the camera with difficulty: the image shows ripples during posting, the picture twitches. However, this is also due to the low frame rate - an average of about 24 fps. the situation is already better, but the camera copes quite normally for 30 fps.
Battery life
The non-removable battery installed in Asus Zenfone Max Pro has a capacity of 5000 mAh. This is a very large capacity for a standard-sized device, even exceeding that of the Zenfone Max Plus (although it was slightly thicker). Therefore, of course, we were especially interested in how the smartphone would show itself.
Testing has traditionally been conducted at typical power levels without power saving features, and the screen brightness was set to 100 cd/m², which is optimal for use in moderately lit rooms. The results of Zenfone Max Pro and competitors are shown in the table below.
| Battery capacity | Reading mode | Online video mode | 3D game mode | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asus Zenfone Max Pro | 5000 mAh | 28h 55m | 21h 30m | 12:14 p.m. |
| Asus Zenfone Max Plus | 4130 mAh | 17:00 | 10:00 a.m. | 5h 55m |
| Meizu M6s | 3000 mAh | 13:00 | 10:00 a.m. | 4h 20m |
| Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus | 4000 mAh | 16h 20m | 12h 25m | 9 a.m. |
| Asus Zenfone 5 Lite | 3300 mAh | 18h 30m | 2:30 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. |
| Asus Zenfone 5 | 3300 mAh | 18h 30m | 2:30 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. |
| iPhone X | 2716 mAh | — | 10:00 a.m. | 3 a.m. |
Continuous reading in the FBReader program (with a white theme) lasted until the battery was completely discharged for about 28 hours and 55 minutes. Yes, yes, this is not a typo and not a measurement error! The smartphone really lay for more than a day with an open e-book, without turning off.
Watching high-quality (720p) YouTube videos continuously over your home Wi-Fi network lasted about 21.5 hours - also an excellent result.
Finally, the GFX Benchmark Manhattan battery test, which simulates 3D games, gave a result of 12 hours and 14 minutes - among the smartphones we have tested recently, this is an absolute record.
But the advantages of Zenfone Max Pro are not limited to this. The device supports the fast charging function: using the included power supply, it charges from zero to 100% in just 2 hours and 45 minutes (we checked). At the same time, the screen shows how much time is left and what charging is in progress - fast or slow (if you use some other power supply).
Interestingly, even with fast charging for more than two hours, the device does not heat up, and the power supply remains moderately warm.
And one more thing: in sleep mode, the smartphone loses only 1% of the charge per night, this is a very good result. But in general, the battery is discharged fairly evenly, so do not be afraid that the device will last much less from 50% to zero than from 100% to 50%.
Outcome
It looks like Asus has made one of the best mid-range smartphones of the year. At least several circumstances speak in favor of this bold statement: firstly, a combination of decent performance (higher than competitors in the same price category and even many more expensive devices) and excellent battery life (again, practically out of competition); secondly, a large screen of good quality and a very nice, all-metal body design; and thirdly, one of the best technological equipment in its class - we are talking, first of all, about the face recognition function, but also about support for microSD cards up to 2 TB, the presence of Bluetooth 5.0 and the latest version of Android, and without additional shells, but with the promise of an update to Android 9.0.
Of course, it would be strange if there were no flaws in the smartphone at all. These include the lack of stabilization when shooting video (this is very striking), the inability to switch between the two rear cameras, and some imperfections in the pictures themselves. However, compared to its predecessor, released just six months ago, everything has become much better in this part - for example, 4K video shooting has appeared.
Well, it’s unnecessary to expect from a smartphone for 14-16 thousand rubles those options that are so far only inherent in higher-class devices - for example, USB Type-C and Wi-Fi 802.11ac 5 GHz. This is not here, but such a solution cannot even be called a disadvantage, because if the above things were there, then Asus would have to save money on something else. Whereas now Zenfone Max Pro gives the impression of a product balanced and clearly aimed at the expectations and needs of the vast majority of users.
The Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 deserves our Editorial Original Design Award for its excellent, rare combination of thin body and long battery life.
Smartphone Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 provided for testing by the manufacturer
The ZenFone line continues to grow, and today on the review of the long-lived smartphone ZenFone Max, its key feature is the battery capacity - 5000 mAh. Let's see if the rest of the characteristics let us down.
Characteristics
| Specifications | |
| Class | Average |
| Form Factor | Monoblock |
| Housing materials | Matte smooth plastic |
| Operating system | Android 5.0 + ZenUI |
| Net | 2G/3G/LTE (800/1800/2600), Dual SIM microSIM, LTE-A cat.4 |
| Platform | Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 |
| CPU | Quad-core, 1.2 GHz |
| video accelerator | Adreno 306 |
| Inner memory | 16 GB |
| RAM | 2 GB |
| Memory card slot | There is |
| WiFi | Yes, a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 4.0 , A2DP |
| NFC | Not |
| Screen diagonal | 5.5 inches |
| Screen resolution | 1280x720 pixels |
| Matrix type | IPS |
| Protective covering | Gorilla Glass 4 |
| Oleophobic coating | There is |
| Main camera | 13 MP, f/2.0, laser focus, push focus |
| Front-camera | 5 MP, f/2.0 |
| Navigation | GPS, A-GPS, Glonass |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, light sensor, proximity sensor |
| Battery | Fixed, Li-Pol 5000 mAh |
| Dimensions | 156 x 77.5 x 10.6mm |
| The weight | 202 grams |
| Price | 16 000 rubles |
Equipment
- Smartphone
- Charger
- PC connection cable (also part of the charger)
- Wired headset
Included with the smartphone is a good wired headset-gags, otherwise the set is standard: cable, charger and documentation.
Appearance, materials, controls, assembly
ZenFone Max has a recognizable design, similar to other devices in the line, but with two good, in my opinion, features. In the white version, the front side is white, not black, as in the same ZenFone Selfie. And the bezel in the model plays beautifully in the light - its color changes from silver to golden and vice versa.
There will be two versions of the device on sale, black and white, the latter was on our test.
Below the screen is a panel of touch buttons, and even lower - a beautiful pattern, like all models from the Zen line. The buttons, like in other models, do not have a backlight, and this is a minus, it is not always easy to find them in the dark. In general, Asus could have safely abandoned both the buttons and the pattern in order to reduce the height of the device.
Now let's move on to the rest of the controls:
The area above the screen. LED, light and proximity sensors, speaker mesh
Right end. Volume rocker and power button
Upper end. 3.5 mm headphone jack
Bottom end. Microphone hole and microUSB port
Back cover. Mesh external speaker
Back cover. Main camera, LED flash, laser focus
The LED in the device is small and thin, however, some devices do not have it at all. The power button and volume rocker are positioned exactly so that your thumb just rests on them. Both have the same beautiful textured pattern of the Zen range. The external speaker has an average volume margin, in a noisy place you can miss a call.
The back cover is removable, to remove it, you need to pick up a special groove in the lower left corner. But the battery is non-removable, and I was very surprised.
Hidden under the cover are two slots for microSIM-cards and a slot for a memory card. Cards up to 64 GB are supported.
The device is perfectly assembled, I can only find fault with the fact that the glass on the front panel and the area with a textured pattern are not at the same height, the glass rises a little. Otherwise, there are no backlashes and squeaks, the absence of the latter is due to the large number of latches on the cover, it is difficult to remove it.
Dimensions
A capacious battery, one way or another, plays a role in relation to the size of the device, so ZenFone Max can not be called compact. On the other hand, when you take it in your hand, there is no feeling that it is heavy or thick, the device is more likely to be called weighty. I love lightweight smartphones, but during the test I used Max as the main device without any problems.
But there is one point that I would like to draw attention to - the height of Max, it is higher than the competition, and the reason for this is simple: the touch buttons and the panel below them. I believe that in future models these elements should be abandoned.
Compared to Apple iPhone 6
Screen
Despite the low resolution for such a diagonal, I really liked the screen in Max, it is good for the middle segment, HD resolution does not overload the system, and in everyday use the difference between HD and FHD is noticeable only in small fonts.
The screen has good viewing angles, an average brightness range and natural color reproduction.
Traditionally, Asus adds some nice settings for the display: fine-tuning the color reproduction, a special reading mode, the ability to work with the device while wearing gloves.
Operating system
The smartphone runs Android 5.0.2 and ZenUI shell. I can't stop saying that I love the direction Asus is heading with their shell. All elements are made as separate applications, so updates can be received directly from the Play Store without waiting for a new firmware. The manufacturer is working on the shell, so the same keyboard began to work much better and more accurately than a year ago on the original ZenFone 2. ZenUI has a lot of interesting chips and features, so I highly recommend reading our detailed review of this shell.
Among the additional features, I will highlight the TrueCaller ID application, which determines the caller based on a common database of numbers. Here you can hang up the call and add spammers to the black list. But I recommend not confirming the request to read contacts, otherwise the numbers of all your friends will be in the common TrueCaller ID database.
Of the nice features, I will allocate 100 GB of space on Google Drive for 2 years.
Performance
The economical Snapdragon 410 was chosen as the chipset, its capabilities are enough for the eyes to serve HD resolution, while it does not consume much energy. The smartphone works great in most usage scenarios. Of course, some productive toys will run at medium settings, but the device is not designed for gamers.
In games and benchmarks, the area under the camera heats up, in other situations I did not notice much heating.
Offline work
The results in our standard smartphone tests are simply amazing, in my memory this is one of the longest-playing models. In everyday use, ZenFone Max also did not let us down: with an average activity of about two hours of screen time (mail, twitter, browser, instant messengers), you can safely count on three days of work. For more active users, the device is guaranteed to provide two days of use.
By the way, the smartphone can also act as an external battery, however, Asus was greedy and did not include the appropriate USB-OTG cable in the kit. But there is no support for Quick Charge, the average time to fully charge the device takes about three hours.
I would also like to draw your attention to the Asus application manager, it works very aggressively, so do not forget to add all instant messengers to the exceptions or disable this utility altogether.
Camera
The device takes good pictures during the day and in cloudy weather. The white balance is determined accurately, the detail is average, it, of course, is inferior to the flagships of large companies.
There are many different modes in the camera settings - night, super resolution, background blur, and even a couple of selfie presets.
The video is recorded in FHD, the quality is average, when focusing by pressing the camera does not always accurately select the object for focus.
Wireless interfaces
The smartphone is relatively inexpensive, so you don’t get dual-band Wi-Fi, no .ac support, no NFC, but GPS is fast and works as it should.
Conclusion
I had no complaints about the quality of speech transmission, you and your interlocutor hear each other perfectly.
In retail, Asus ZenFone Max is sold for 15-16 thousand rubles. It is important to understand that the key advantage of the model is a super-capacious 5000 mAh battery, which provides the gadget with two to three days of work without recharging. At the same time, the manufacturer made the rest of the parameters tolerable enough so that the user does not have to pay for a good time with a bad display or low speed. I enjoyed using the ZenFone Max and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a phone with a big battery. However, let's not forget about competitors.
Acer Liquid Z630. The battery capacity is 1000 mAh lower, but the price starts from 12,500 rubles. And this device is also a little thinner and lighter, plus a cool back cover, stylized as paper.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3. For those who want a higher resolution and performance stuffing, Redmi Note 3 is suitable, our resellers sell it for 12-13 thousand rubles. Just keep in mind that this device does not have a slot for a memory card.
Lenovo Vibe P1. A serious competitor with FHD resolution, Qualcomm Snapdragon 615, 5000 mAh battery and Quick Charge support for 18,000 rubles.
Now the market has come to the point where not only flagship but also affordable devices can work well and look good. This certainly does not mean that top lines are no longer needed. Indeed, in inexpensive devices there is always something to complain about. But the ratio of good and bad moments still outweighs in the direction of the first. Today we will see how the ASUS ZenFone Max Pro (M1) is doing with this.
There are several models in the manufacturer's line that are somehow similar to each other and there will be no fundamental difference in them for most users.
Among these devices is the Max model, which focuses on a large display and a capacious battery. In our review, a modification of the ZenFone Max Pro (M1) is more advanced in the line of affordable ASUS smartphones. It has higher performance, a 6-inch screen and a 5000 mAh battery.
ZenFone Max Pro (M1) Package and First Impressions
The Max Pro (M1) kit does not carry any bonuses - only a smartphone, a charger with a detachable cable and a paperclip to open the SIM card tray and memory card. The device is large and would be worth protecting with a case, which is more likely to help save the huge display if dropped. For those who carry a smartphone in their pocket or bag with keys, some kind of film will obviously not interfere. But I'm not sure that such an accessory is easy to find.
During the initial setup, the smartphone will please with a practical SIM card tray, which not only allows you to install two operator cards, but also has a separate microSD slot, which is not so common in modern smartphones. Enthusiasts will like clean and fresh Android 8.1, not ZenUI. The speed of work, respectively, will not disappoint. And at the same time, the user will be presented with 100 GB of Google Drive cloud storage for a year.
Design and usability
Large smartphones, although comfortable for reading books, watching videos and playing games, are quite complicated gadgets to use that require excessive caution, and sometimes second-hand support. It will not be easy to cope with such a large screen with one hand, because the frames have not gone away, and there is a lot of display area. The dimensions of the case are similar to the iPhone 6-8 Plus, only ZenFone is a millimeter thicker: 159 × 76 × 8.45 mm, and its weight is 180 grams.
There are not many colors: either gray or dark blue. The body is made of glass on the front and metal on the back. But between the back and front is a plastic base. The user experience is quite good.
All work items are standard. The developers did not miss, and there are no problems with the search for buttons and a fingerprint scanner. By the way, the scanner works perfectly and very rarely can refuse authorization, which is easily corrected by repeated touching. And in work, you will have to get used to the size of the case itself, but not to the placement of control elements.
Such a smartphone is primarily suitable for those who need a large device. But for those who are used to more compact cases, it will still be difficult. The gadget will have to be intercepted all the time, and the pocket for it is not small. For those who always use cases to protect their smartphone, it will be even more difficult. But users who just need a large smartphone should be satisfied with both tactile sensations and ergonomics.
Display ZenFone Max Pro (M1)
The large building was by no means accidental. The 6-inch screen is one of the reasons for such dimensions. He received rounded corners and protective glass, which also flows smoothly into the body. The display resolution was 2160×1080 pixels (402 ppi) and the aspect ratio was 18:9.
The IPS-matrix is set up well, but a direct comparison shows that it lifts up the colors quite a bit. Nothing critical, the image is very good. For an amateur, you can adjust the color temperature. The Night Light mode is in place, although it turns on abruptly. Of course, there are no complaints about the viewing angles.
The readability of the display in direct sunlight is fine, but an interesting feature has surfaced. Glasses with a polarizing layer usually slightly change the picture when the display is in a horizontal position, and in the ASUS test, when the smartphone is oriented vertically, it simply “goes out” and the glasses will have to be removed to work with the smartphone. This is the only thing with which I had difficulties, otherwise I was completely satisfied with his work.
Sound
There is only one speaker and it is located at the bottom, to the right of the charging connector. A conversational speaker with music and video will not help him. But it is loud and sounds better than most in inexpensive gadgets. A little more bass and it would be very cool, as for such a device. Naturally, notifications with it are difficult to miss. If you don’t want to disturb someone, you will have to use third-party headphones, because there is no headset in the box. With my Monster Jamz and Ultimate Ears Super.Fi 5 Pro (EB) headphones, the smartphone had no problems.
With the earpiece, too, everything is in order: on a noisy street, you can easily hear the interlocutor.
ZenFone Max Pro (M1) performance and software
The top-end ZenFone Max Pro got an eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor with an Adreno 509 graphics core. RAM can be 3 or 4 GB, and a 32 or 64 GB drive can be expanded with a memory card. From communications there is everything you need, including NFC, which comes across not in all phones, and the new Bluetooth 5.0. The only thing that upsets me is the N-standard Wi-Fi receiver, which does not support networking in the 5 GHz band.
But at work, do not complain about it. Although it is not as powerful as flagship smartphones, it will not be much inferior in everyday use. Moreover, demanding games can be played not at low graphics settings. At the same time, even the case does not get very hot. For an inexpensive smartphone, this one performs very well.
Well, it’s worth repeating that this time the company did without visual changes in the system. Android 8.1 is not overloaded with a bunch of duplicate applications and other things that will lie in the smartphone's memory as a dead weight. The system works quickly, animations do not slow down, there are no sudden crashes of applications ... In a word, everything is stable and neat.
autonomy
One of the points that makes the Max prefix justified is a 5000 mAh battery. It will allow you not to wonder about charging for a couple of days, even if the user plays in store queues and periodically uses the navigator. In my case, it was possible to get more than 12 hours of screen time in two days, and the battery still did not remain empty. In the PCMark test, the result showed 13 hours. Excellent indicator!
With such battery life, one would have to prepare for the fact that it will take a long time to charge. Compared to today's flagships, of course, three-plus hours can seem like a really long time to regenerate a battery. But remembering its capacity and, accordingly, endurance, it is not so long. For “full minced meat”, only support for induction charging was not enough. But the complete power supply is quite small and will not interfere in a backpack.
Cameras ZenFone Max Pro (M1)
The popular dual-camera setup has not gone unnoticed by the ZenFone Max Pro, where the 13-megapixel sensor does most of the work, and an additional 5-megapixel sensor helps for bokeh. On the front panel there is one sensor with a resolution of 8 MP.
On paper, it is, as always, a mobile photographer's dream. But in reality, the cameras of an inexpensive smartphone have a hard time in difficult conditions (insufficient lighting, backlit sunlight, moving objects, and so on). During the day, depending on the shooting mode, you can get noticeable overexposure, you will have to linger to shoot in HDR, in the evening there will be a lot of defects in the pictures. In general, if you remember the price of the gadget, then any weaknesses in the camera can be forgiven.
Bokeh, for which there are two sensors in the main module, is not the best. The definition of the edges of objects is "limping" if there is a complex background with a lot of shades and details, and the software blur itself does not look quite natural. Probably future updates should help with this issue, but don't bet on it.
Videos can be recorded up to 4K. The recording quality matches the price tag. You shouldn't expect much, but the result is not as bad as what inexpensive smartphones have done before. It would be much better if there was at least some kind of image stabilization.
You can expect an acceptable result from the front camera during the day, but in difficult conditions the photo will be noticeably soapy after noise reduction. With the transfer of color in such conditions, it also copes not in the best way.
The camera application starts up relatively quickly, all the necessary settings are at hand. Difficulties arise only when processing HDR, where the camera simply does not respond to anything for a couple of moments after pulling the trigger. Everything else is simple and predictable. What was missing was the ability to turn on the grid in the "viewfinder".
Asus Zenfone Max Pro attracts attention by trying to please everyone at once. The slogan of this smartphone sounds like “live while playing”, and the slogan of ASUS itself is “in search of the incredible”. Let's try to figure out whether it is possible to play modern games for little money, having received a good gadget for every day in addition.
| Model | |
| Dimensions, weight | 76×159×8.45 mm, 180 grams |
| Screen | 6.0 inches, IPS LCD, 1080 x 2160 dots, 18:9 ratio, 404 ppi, 450 nits brightness, 85% NTSC coverage, 2.5D glass |
| OS | Android version 8.0.1 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM636 Snapdragon 636, Octa-core 1.8 GHz Kryo 260 |
| GPU | Adreno 509 |
| RAM/ROM | 3/32GB, 4/64GB + there is support for microSD memory cards up to 2 TVs (a slot for a card is allocated) |
| Interfaces | VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Bluetooth HID GPS, A-GPS, Glonass, BDS, NFC |
| cameras | Main: 2 modules 13 MP (f/2.2, 25 mm, 1.12 µm, PDAF) + 5 MP (f/2.4, 1.12 µm), HDR. Front camera: 8 MP (f/2.2, 26 mm, 1.0 µm) |
| battery | Li-Ion, 5000 mAh |
Design and management
Asus Zenfon Max Pro M1 can be considered an almost perfect smartphone in terms of design. Despite the fact that the screen size of 6 inches was recently considered to be a phablet, now it has become typical for a regular smartphone. Even with not a small display, the device in question manages to look very compact. In the hands of the device lies and feels like a medium-sized 5.5-inch gadget.
Important! Another significant plus is the good location of the fingerprint sensor. The index finger falls on it by itself, very naturally.
The body of the device is all-metal, and even with a very capacious battery, but at the same time it weighs a little. It's nice that matte finish, non-glare, prints on it are almost imperceptible.
Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1
On the left is a slot for a SIM card and a memory card. On the right side are two volume buttons and a power button. For blind use, the power button is marked tactile ornament. A very logical and popular solution.
On the top edge is a microphone. He settled here in splendid isolation. But the second microphone and headphone jack are closely grouped below. A microphone is also built into the bottom. Above the screen, there is a speaker and a camera with a flash. On the back of the device, you can see a scanner, a flash and a dual camera with the corresponding inscription.
The display of the gadget is covered tempered glass with roundings throughout the plane. I must say that this is one of the few models for whom such roundings are suitable, they add sophistication. The phone looks quite stylish, while managing to retain the classic features of a monoblock. It lies well in the hand and has a very comfortable size.
Screen features
The display of the Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 is a strong point of the device. This is a 6-inch matrix, made using IPS technology. There are three points for which the Asus engineers should be commended.
- Good screen brightness. It allows you to work with the same comfort both indoors and in natural light.
- Color coverage is as much as 85%. This is a lot, the traditional sRGB technology used in most state employees cannot boast of such a result.
- High contrast ratio, 1500 to 1. It will take a long time to find the best indicators.
The screen does not consume much energy, its work is balanced and controlled by the appropriate applications. The viewing angles of the device are also impressive. To notice distortions, the smartphone will have to be twirled in the hands for a long time. Thanks to the "smart screen" feature that has finally appeared in Android, the screen will not turn off while the user is looking at it.
Advice! In order to extend the life of the charge, you can set the timer to turn off the screen in all other cases.
The Asus Zenfon Max Pro M1 screen is definitely its strong point. It is very good that for a fairly small amount the user has the opportunity to purchase a device with such display parameters.
Memory and performance
In the review of Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1, it is necessary to mention the performance of the smartphone. The device is equipped with one of the most powerful chips to date. The graphics accelerator allows you to run a lot of toys without thinking at all about whether the device will pull it or not. You can safely install any of the application store.
Permanent memory will be enough even in the minimum configuration. At 32 GB, you can save enough information, and if not enough, then buy a memory card. RAM is provided 3 GB or 4 GB depending on the configuration. Three gigabytes from manufacturers is a necessary minimum, which allows you to comfortably use the phone. Although a couple of years ago, only flagships could boast of such volumes.
The results of synthetic tests are another reason for optimism. Smartphone confidently bypasses its main competitors in benchmarks. The system turned out to be quite cold, which reduces all slowdowns due to freezing to almost zero.
Smartphone Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 perfectly justifies its advertising slogan: you can and should play on it. Given the ratio of price and performance, the feasibility and profitability of each invested ruble increases significantly.
Smartphone Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 zb602kl decided to be unique and interesting in all aspects. Connoisseurs of the operating system from Google can rejoice, on the device clean android 8.1 installed out of the box, without root and reinstallation. For some reason, the proprietary graphical shell did not fit into the concept and positioning of the model. And this news is really good. First of all, the bare system is minimum pre-installed applications. We do not take into account branded ones; if desired, they can be easily turned off or deleted. In addition, the eighth version looks more interesting than most third-party shells from smartphone manufacturers. Simply put, Android 8.1 is good on its own.
Do not forget about update system. In the case of a clean OS, they will come directly from the Google servers, without delay. The user can be sure that the most up-to-date system with fresh security patches is installed on his device.
Important! Thanks to modern architecture and software capabilities, face unlock is available on the smartphone. Perhaps this is one of the few "chips" that the owner uses for the first couple of days, and then turns it off. However, the system works well, the face is remembered and recognized, although not without errors.
Communication and sound quality
Asus Zenfone Max Pro specifications indicate a wide range of phone capabilities.
- A modern smartphone user often needs fast internet. And for lovers of high speeds, the device has in stock support for 4th generation networks, as well as fast Wi-Fi.
- Connoisseurs of high technology and the most modern payment methods, no doubt, will be happy with the possibility of making contactless payments. Yes, there is full-fledged NFC-module.
- The smartphone can also be used as a navigator. Traveling at the user's service GPS and GLONASS.
Conversational microphone and speaker perfectly cope with their duties. Two microphones provide excellent noise cancellation. Another "chip" that can attract young and active users is five-magnet speaker. It has an integrated audio codec. The smartphone sounds very good, loud and clear, without wheezing. If you use a headset, the sound will also please connoisseurs of music of various directions.
Battery and autonomy
Phone Asus Zenfon Max Pro is the longest-playing phone in the line. The prefix "max" in the name hints at the increased battery capacity. It remains a mystery how with a 5000 mAh battery the body of the device managed to remain thin(thickness only 8.45 mm).
Such a large volume, as a rule, is the lot of power banks with a dialer function. Inexpensive phones have to compensate for large energy losses with a powerful battery. Gluttonous processor, lack of competent control at the software level, etc. But the gadget is built on the most current energy-efficient platform. That is why a long-lasting battery is not an attempt at compensation, but another advantage.
To put the battery in a day, even at maximum load, is an impossible task. Games, movies, the Internet, 100% screen brightness, the phone will do just fine with all this. You will have to charge it only on the second day. And if you use the device moderately, then on the third.
Important! The fast charging function looks like a kind of cherry on the cake. From zero to one hundred percent, the device will charge in 2 hours and 40 minutes, up to half the capacity and even faster.
Camera Specifications
The Asus Zenfone Max Pro is equipped with a 13/5 MP dual main camera (f2.2/2.4). It would be a shame if one of the functions of the device significantly differed from the rest for the worse. Asus engineers obviously thought the same. The picture quality is satisfactory. The camera does not convey all the magic of the frame, the image capture angles also leave much to be desired. But still, with the help of a smartphone, you can create a beautiful frame and process it in a convenient built-in editor. In addition, the device can record 4K video. Few competitors with similar models can boast of this.
The front photo module has an extension of 8 megapixels. It has everything you need to create a great self-portrait: a wonderful viewing angle, as much as 85 degrees, blurring the background. There is a flash, but you should not use it for its intended purpose, because in the dark the matrix photographs much worse. The front camera is great for group shots., several people can easily fit into the frame.
Device type:
Smartphone/Communicator
2G standards:
The mobile communication standard defines the technologies used and the principle of building mobile communication networks. Mobile communication networks are usually divided into analog (NMT, AMPS) and digital (D-AMPS, GSM, CDMA, WCDMA, UMTS), as well as classified by generation (generation) stages of development of the standards themselves.
GSM(Global System for Mobile Communications) is the most popular and widespread second-generation 2G cellular communication standard almost all over the world. In our country, as in most European countries, frequencies of 900 and 1800 MHz are allocated for this standard. In the countries of the American continent, it is customary to use the frequencies 850 and 1900 MHz.
The widespread introduction of GSM to replace obsolete analog networks has made it possible to significantly expand the subscriber base and the range of services provided, making cellular communications widely available. However, the specificity of GSM limits the currently demanded services based on high-speed Internet access.
GSM 900 / GSM 1800 / GSM 850 / GSM 1900
3G standards:
3G(Third Generation) - Third generation mobile communication technologies based on packet data transmission. Third-generation 3G networks operate, as a rule, in the range of about 2 GHz, allowing you to transfer data at a speed comparable to a dedicated home Internet. In addition to standard voice telephony services, 3G networks are initially focused on various multimedia services, such as video telephony and video conferencing, online viewing of terrestrial television and films, listening to Internet radio, etc. The most common third-generation communication standard is WCDMA (UMTS) operating in most European countries, incl. in Russia and CIS countries.
UMTS 900 / UMTS 850 / UMTS 2100
4G (LTE) standards:
4G (Fourth generation)- The fourth generation of mobile communications, characterized by high data transfer rates and improved voice quality. Fourth generation networks include mobile data technology LTE(Long Term Evolution). The data transfer rate according to the LTE standard in theory reaches 173 Mbps for reception (download), and 58 Mbps for upload (upload).
LTE 900 / LTE 1800 / LTE 2100 / LTE 850 / LTE 2600 / LTE 800
VoLTE:
VoLTE (in English Voice over LTE - voice over LTE)- Voice over LTE technology that allows voice services to be provided and delivered as a data stream over LTE. MegaFon is the first telecom operator in Russia to launch VoLTE without restrictions on the type of users: all subscribers of the Capital Region only, regardless of the tariff plan and the billing system used, can activate the HD voice in 4G service and make calls using the new technology from using mobile devices with VoLTE support of the MegaFon network.
SIM generation:
Each new generation of SIM cards is smaller than the previous one. Format Mini-SIM(2FF) appeared in the 1990s and is now used mainly in simple push-button phones. Cards Micro SIM(3FF) have been used in smartphones since 2003 to this day. Nano SIM(4FF) is the most compact card installed in modern smart devices. eSIM is a chip built into the device on which you can write a virtual SIM card. This format is not supported by all carriers.
Number of SIM cards:
Accumulator battery:
The difference in the chemical composition of batteries determines their physical and consumer parameters.
Ni-Cd(Nickel - Cadmium) and Ni-Mh(Nickel - Metal Hydride) batteries are quite heavy and bulky. Being not completely discharged before recharging, they are prone to loss of capacity (memory effect), and therefore require periodic prophylaxis (charge-discharge, the so-called training).
Against, Li-Ion(Lithium - Ion) and Li-Pol(Lithium - Polymer) batteries do not have these disadvantages. However, they lose their charge faster at low temperatures and have poor drop resistance. Unpretentiousness in maintenance and relatively smaller dimensions and weight were the decisive factors for their active use.
Li-Pol, 5000 mAh
Working hours:
Standby time / with active use of the device.
The indicated values represent the operating time of the device under ideal conditions and may differ from the actual time. This feature is associated with the influence of many different factors, for example, the temperature regime of operation, the power of the signal received from the base station, the frequency of using the device and its additional functions.
Wireless Charging Function:
A phone with wireless charging function can be charged without connecting a cable, just put it on a special induction panel. A wireless charger is usually not included with your phone and must be purchased separately.
When choosing a charger, pay attention to the wireless charging standard (the most common is Qi).
NFC module:
NFC(Near Field Communication, "near field communication") - a wireless communication technology that allows the exchange of data between devices located at a distance of up to 20 centimeters. There are many possible applications of NFC technology: transferring files between devices, connecting to accessories, using the device as a payment card, etc.
Equipment:
Phone, USB network charger, USB cable, SIM eject key, warranty card, manual, packaging
Guarantee period:
Memory and processor
The amount of random access memory (RAM):
RAM, which is used for their work by programs and applications in the device. The speed of the device depends on its size. The actual free memory space may differ from that specified by the manufacturer.
Built-in memory:
Built-in device memory- the total amount of memory intended both for storing user data and for applications installed by the manufacturer, and also includes a section with the Operating System. The actual free memory space may differ from that specified by the manufacturer.
Display and keyboard
Display type:
TFT IPS- High-quality liquid crystal matrix. It has wide viewing angles, one of the best indicators of color reproduction quality and contrast among all those used in the production of displays for portable equipment.
Super AMOLED- if a conventional AMOLED screen uses several layers, between which there is an air gap, then in Super AMOLED there is only one such touch layer without air gaps. This allows you to achieve greater screen brightness with the same power consumption.
Super AMOLED HD- differs from Super AMOLED in a higher resolution, thanks to which it is possible to achieve 1280x720 pixels on a mobile phone screen.
Super AMOLED plus- this is a new generation of Super AMOLED displays, differs from the previous one by using more sub-pixels in a conventional RGB matrix. The new displays are 18% thinner and 18% brighter than the older PenTile displays.
AMOLED- an improved version of OLED technology. The main advantages of the technology are significantly reduced power consumption, the ability to display a large color gamut, a smaller thickness and the ability of the display to bend a little without the risk of breaking.
retina- display with a high pixel density, designed specifically for Apple technology. The pixel density on Retina displays is such that individual pixels are indistinguishable to the eye at a normal distance from the screen. This provides the highest image detail and greatly improves the overall viewing experience.
Super Retina HD- The display is made using OLED technology. The pixel density is 458 PPI, the contrast ratio reaches 1,000,000:1. The display has an extended color gamut and unrivaled color accuracy. Pixels in the corners of the display are anti-aliased at the sub-pixel level, so borders don't distort and look smooth. Super Retina HD reinforcement layer is 50% thicker. Breaking the screen will be harder.
Super LCD is the next generation of LCD technology and features improved features compared to earlier LCD displays. Screens have not only wide viewing angles and better color reproduction, but also reduced power consumption.
TFT- A common type of liquid crystal displays. With the help of an active matrix, controlled by thin-film transistors, it is possible to significantly increase the speed of the display, as well as the contrast and clarity of the image.
OLED- organic electroluminescent display. Consists of a special thin-film polymer that emits light under the influence of an electric field. This type of display has a large margin of brightness and consumes very little power.
Touchscreen:
The touch display is a conventional graphic display, on top of which is placed either a pressure-sensitive substrate or infrared sensors. Such a display responds appropriately to pressing with a stylus (pen) or fingers and is a more convenient way of interface interaction with the device than a keyboard.
Additional display:
As a rule, an additional display is installed in folding phones. Depending on the machine model, the secondary display may show the caller's number, time, signal strength, and battery level.
Photo/Video Camera
Main camera:
Thanks to the built-in digital camera it is very easy to capture important moments in life or shoot a video. Modern smartphone cameras are often not inferior in quality to real cameras. The use of two, three or even four modules allows you to take wide-angle shots, photograph distant objects and achieve the effect of artistic background blur - bokeh.
Two modules (13 + 5 Mpix)
Autofocus:
Photo flash:
Designed for short-term and intense illumination of objects during shooting. In cell phones, there is xenon (which is based on an electric gas discharge lamp filled with xenon) or LED (LEDs act as a light source).
LED
Communications and interfaces
WiFi:
WiFi(IEEE 802.11) is a high-speed wireless connection technology aimed at building corporate, private or public networks. The technology is based on the use of so-called multiple access points (hot-spot), to which client terminals are connected. Wi-Fi technology is described by many specifications (standards), which is displayed in their name with the last letter (for example, IEEE 802.11g).
Based on Wi-Fi technology, public Internet access points have been created in cafes, hotels, airports and other places. Connecting your device to these hotspots is as simple as possible and requires you to enter your network identifier (SSID), username, and password.
bluetooth module:
Technology Bluetooth implements a wireless connection of devices over a secure radio channel in the 2.4 GHz band. The technology is based on the use of profiles (services) as tools for performing specific tasks (audio gateway, hands-free, headset, file transfer, dial-up networking, serial port, etc.). Each profile contains a specific set of operations and defines the possible areas of interaction between devices.
With a Bluetooth connection, devices can be up to ten meters apart, and therefore, the development of wireless accessories is one of the prerogatives of this technology.
Bluetooth version:
Bluetooth stereo support:
bluetooth stereo or A2DP(Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) - a Bluetooth profile or service designed to transmit music in stereo sound. Devices that support the A2DP profile allow you to listen to music using wireless Bluetooth headphones, thereby relieving you of the restrictions imposed by traditional wired stereo headsets.
PC connection:
By connecting the device to a personal computer, you can quickly and conveniently edit phone records or organizer notes, save important SMS messages or backup copies of the device’s contents to your PC, download various pictures, melodies, photos or video clips, and access the Internet.
Depending on the characteristics of the device, connection to a PC is carried out using an interface cable, infrared port, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi modules.
Audio jack:
Connector type for connecting external audio devices (wired headsets, headphones, speakers). Many modern smartphones use a universal connector, such as USB Type-C or Lightning, for audio output, charging and data transfer.
Messages
SMS:
SMS(Short Messages Service) or short text messages are an alternative way to exchange information over cellular networks. Most devices support receiving and sending SMS messages in both English and Russian. Type the desired text, for example, "Darling, I'm at home. I kiss you and I'm waiting for you," and within a few seconds it will be delivered to the mobile device you specified.
In addition, various SMS services are provided on the basis of the SMS service, from weather forecasts and exchange rates to dating and downloading simple melodies or pictures.
MMS:
MMS(Multimedia Messaging Service) is a universal multimedia messaging technology that develops the idea of short SMS messages. In addition to plain text, an MMS message can contain color pictures and photographs, audio files in various formats, or short video clips. In addition, MMS messages can consist of several frames, representing a kind of animation.
Multimedia messages are sent using GPRS or EDGE packet data. You can send MMS messages both to a device compatible with this technology and to e-mail.
Email:
built-in email client is an analogue of programs for working with e-mail on a personal computer, but in a slightly limited version. As a rule, the E-mail client allows you to send and receive e-mails, as well as small attachments in the form of files with pictures or melodies.
Alerts
Vibrating alert:
In situations where the use of sound notification is not entirely appropriate, or is completely useless, built-in vibrating alert will inform you about an incoming call or other event with a slight trembling of the body of the device. For example, at a lecture or meeting, near a busy highway or at a noisy party.
Additional functions
Sensors:
Accelerometer(or G-sensor) - device position sensor in space. As a main function, the accelerometer is used to automatically change the orientation of the image on the display (vertical or horizontal). Also, the G-sensor is used as a pedometer, it can be controlled by various functions of the device by turning or shaking.
Gyroscope- a sensor that measures the angles of rotation relative to a fixed coordinate system. Able to measure rotation angles in several planes simultaneously. The gyroscope together with the accelerometer allows you to determine the position of the device in space with high accuracy. In devices that use only accelerometers, measurement accuracy is lower, especially when moving quickly. Also, the capabilities of the gyroscope can be used in modern games for mobile devices.
Light sensor- a sensor, thanks to which the optimal values of brightness and contrast are set for a given level of illumination. The presence of the sensor allows you to increase the operating time of the device from the battery.
Proximity sensor- a sensor that detects when the device is close to the face during a call, turns off the backlight and locks the screen, preventing accidental pressing. The presence of the sensor allows you to increase the operating time of the device from the battery.
Geomagnetic sensor- a sensor for determining the direction of the world in which the device is directed. Tracks the orientation of the device in space relative to the Earth's magnetic poles. The information received from the sensor is used in mapping programs for orientation in the area.
Atmospheric pressure sensor- sensor for accurate measurement of atmospheric pressure. It is part of the GPS system, allows you to determine the height above sea level and speed up the location.
touch ID- Fingerprint identification sensor.
Gyroscope / Proximity / Illumination / Accelerometer / Geomagnetic
Satellite navigation:
GPS(Global Positioning System - global positioning system) - a satellite navigation system that measures distance, time, speed and determines the location of objects anywhere on the Earth. The system was developed, implemented and operated by the US Department of Defense. The basic principle of using the system is to determine the location by measuring the distances to the object from points with known coordinates - satellites. The distance is calculated from the signal propagation delay time from sending it by the satellite to receiving it by the GPS receiver antenna.
Type of shell:
Monoblock(regular, classic, brick) - the most versatile and common type of case in a traditional form factor without any opening or sliding parts.
Monoblock with flip(with lid) - a classic case with an additional lid covering the main keyboard.
Folding(clamshell, book, frog) - this type of body consists of two halves that unfold between themselves. Usually, the main and, if any, additional displays are located in the upper part, and the keyboard block is located in the lower part.
Slider(sliding) - the body consists of two halves moving apart relative to each other. Until recently, cases of this form factor were inherent in expensive fashion models.
Rotating(rotator) - perhaps the most unusual type of case, when the front half rotates 180 or 360 degrees relative to the back half. Due to its design features, it is rare.
* Specifications and scope of delivery, including pre-installed or additional software, are subject to change by the manufacturer without prior notice.
