Asus ZenFone 4 Max: A fairly cheap way to get dual cameras

For a phone with the moniker of Max, the ZenFone 4 Max isn't quite the beast it should be.

Instead, the Max and the Max Pro are lower-end phones compared to the Selfie and the basic ZenFone 4. They're powered by Qualcomm's lower end Snapdragon 425 or 430 processors  (depending on your configuration) as opposed to the Snapdragon 625, 660 and 835 CPUs found in other ZenFone 4 models.  

Also,while the Max also comes with the Pro version, the "Pro" here is misleading -- the two phones are almost identical, with the Pro only getting a slightly higher-resolution rear camera -- 16-megapixels compared to the 13-megapixel shooter, to be exact. Both devices, however, sport a partnered 5-megapixel wide angle rear camera. That said, there's one thing that the Max excels in and that's battery life -- the phone packs a massive 5,000mAh battery. 

Apart from those dual cameras and their metal unibody construction, the Max and Max Pro don't really stand out. Unless you're desperate for a cheap dual-camera phone, your best bet is still to skip this and get the normal ZenFone 4 instead. Don't be fooled by the misleading Max moniker, you're just getting a bigger battery at most.

The Max is currently sold in Russia for 13,990 rubles, which converts to around to about $235, £180 and AU$295 respectively. 

Quick specs

Asus ZenFone 4 Max

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 or 430
  
• Rear dual-cameras: 13-megapixel main, 5-megapixel, 120-degree wide angle
  
• Front 8-megapixel camera
  
• 5.5-inch HD (1,280x720 pixels) display
  
• Dual-SIM
  

Asus ZenFone 4 Max Pro

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 or 430
  
• Rear dual-cameras 16-megapixel main, 5-megapixel, 120-degree wide angle 
  
• Front 16-megapixel camera
  
• 5.5-inch HD  (1,280x720 pixels) display
  
• Dual-SIM