Taking a cue from Gionee’s Marathon series of smartphones, Asus introduced a new ZenFone Max model at the start of this year. The focus was on delivering the maximum possible battery life without making too many compromises. The result was a decent package that balanced performance and price well enough, while still delivering its key objective.
A few months later, we had a refreshed model, simply called the ZenFone Max (2016) (Review), which added a bit more processing power while maintaining the long battery life. Both were still entry-level offerings though, and now Asus diversifying the Max series and bumping it up to the mid-range segment with two new models with very similar names – the ZenFone 3 Max (ZC520TL) which sits in the sub-Rs. 15,000 price bracket and the ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL), which resides in the sub-Rs.20,000 segment. The ZC520TL variant features a smaller 5.2-inch, 720p display; a MediaTek SoC and 13-megapixel and 5-megapixel cameras whereas the higher priced model features a larger, 1080p display, Qualcomm SoC and 16-megapixel and 8-megapixel cameras. We have the latter of the pair in for review today.
This price bracket has some really good value-for-money offerings such as the Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime (Review) and Lenovo Z2 Plus (Review), both of which offer tremendous performance and features under Rs. 20,000. In fact, Asus’s very own ZenFone 3 Laser (Review) can be found for just a bit more than the ZC553KL’s Rs. 17,999 price tag. So, how does the Asus compare? Let's find out.
The Asus ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) is the latest entrant in the Max series, and now competes in the mid-range segment. The phone boasts of an aluminium chassis and a 5.5-inch full-HD display, which produces sharp pictures and text. The phone is powered by an octa-core Snapdragon 430 SoC, and has 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. The processor is a bit weak for gaming but manages to handle most other tasks well. The phone supports 4G LTE on Indian bands and doesn't heat up much during use. The cameras perform very well in daylight and low-light situations. Battery life is also very good, and this phone can last an entire day and more on a single charge. At Rs.17,999, it feels a bit too expensive considering you can find more powerful offerings for the same price or lower.
Product Name | Price in India |
---|---|
Asus ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) (2GB RAM, 32GB) - Sand Gold | ₹ 8,599 |
Asus ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) (2GB RAM, 32GB) - Glacier Silver | ₹ 14,500 |
Asus ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) (3GB RAM, 32GB) - Titanium Grey | ₹ 14,500 |
Asus ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) price in India starts from ₹ 8,599. The lowest price of Asus ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) is ₹ 8,599 at Amazon on 18th December 2024. This Phone is available in 1 other variant like 3GB RAM + 32GB Storage with colour options like Glacier Silver, Sand Gold, and Titanium Grey.
Brand | Asus |
Model | ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) |
Price in India | ₹8,599 |
Release date | November 2016 |
Form factor | Touchscreen |
Dimensions (mm) | 151.40 x 76.24 x 8.30 |
Weight (g) | 175.00 |
Battery capacity (mAh) | 4100 |
Removable battery | No |
Colours | Glacier Silver, Sand Gold |
SAR value | 0.42 |
Screen size (inches) | 5.50 |
Touchscreen | Yes |
Resolution | 1080x1920 pixels |
Processor | 1.4GHz octa-core |
Processor make | Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 |
RAM | 2GB |
Internal storage | 32GB |
Expandable storage | Yes |
Expandable storage type | SD card |
Expandable storage up to (GB) | 128 |
Rear camera | 16-megapixel |
Rear flash | Dual LED |
Front camera | 8-megapixel |
Operating system | Android 6.0.1 |
Skin | ZenUI 3.0 |
Wi-Fi | Yes |
Wi-Fi standards supported | 802.11 b/g/n |
GPS | Yes |
Bluetooth | Yes, v 4.10 |
NFC | No |
Infrared | No |
USB OTG | Yes |
Headphones | 3.5mm |
FM | Yes |
Number of SIMs | 2 |
Wi-Fi Direct | No |
Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) | No |
SIM 1 | |
SIM Type | Micro-SIM |
GSM/CDMA | GSM |
3G | Yes |
4G/ LTE | Yes |
Supports 4G in India (Band 40) | Yes |
SIM 2 | |
SIM Type | Nano-SIM |
GSM/CDMA | GSM |
3G | Yes |
4G/ LTE | Yes |
Supports 4G in India (Band 40) | Yes |
Compass/ Magnetometer | Yes |
Proximity sensor | Yes |
Accelerometer | Yes |
Ambient light sensor | Yes |
Gyroscope | Yes |
Barometer | No |
Temperature sensor | No |