Both, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro and the newly launched Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 aim to capture the lower mid-range smartphone segment and come with almost simi
Xiaomi launched its Redmi Note 5 Pro in under the lower mid-range section in India and it offers everything you would require from a sub-15K phone — Superior performance, excellent battery life and a good camera. However, standing up to the competition, Asus has now introduced its Zenfone Max Pro M1 in the country, which also has everything a consumer requires for the price. It is equipped with the latest mid-range chipset, a tall display, dual cameras and a massive battery. The decision for choosing between the two will be left for you, which can be made easy by reading our review of the Redmi Note 5 Pro ( review) and the Zenfone Max Pro M1 ( review). Here, you can take a quick glance at the specs of both the smartphones.
Performance and storage
Both the Redmi Note 5 Pro and the Zenfone Max Pro M1 are equipped with the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor, which clocked at 1.8GHz. As the processors are exactly the same and clocked at the same speed, only real-world usage and stress tests will differentiate the two devices. We observed in our Asus smartphone review that its AnTuTu score is almost at par with the Redmi Note 5 Pro, which uses the SD636, edging past the Zenfone Max Pro by about 50 points.
One major advantage Asus’s device has over the Xiaomi smartphone is stock Android 8.1 Oreo. We were a bit disappointed when the Redmi Note 5 Pro was launched running on Android Nougat, but the company has promised soon rolling out the latest Android flavour for the smartphone. You can read more about this in our in-depth review of the Redmi Note 5 Pro here and of the Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 here.
Display and design
In the display department, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro features a 5.99-inch FHD+ IPS LCD Univisum display, which sports good viewing angles and nice colour reproduction. The Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 also sports a similar 6-inch FHD+ IPS LCD panel with a taller 18:9 display, but the colours seem more vibrant than its competitor.
In terms of design, the Zenfone Max Pro doesn’t really stand out from the crowd but it does feel well-built, thanks to the 5000mAh battery, and functional as its minimalist body puts the display as the center of attraction. The Redmi note 5 Pro has improved upon the design of its predecessors but there’s a pronounced camera bump with the dual rear camera, due to which the phone rocks everytime you tap on the display if it’s kept on a flat surface.
Camera
The main camera on the Redmi Note 5 Pro captures a good amount of detail and has a punchy colour reproduction, under ample lighting conditions and Low light image capabilities are equally good, with the camera exhibiting good dynamic range. The smartphone is equipped with a 12MP + 5MP dual rear cameras and a 20MP front-facing sensor.
The Zenfone Max Pro M1’s camera leaves a lot to be desired but it’s not a bad camera per se. However, it cannot stand up to the ones seen on the Redmi Note 5 Pro. Photos from the Zenfone Max Pro can be considered average as highlights get clipped often and lack texture details in comparison with the Xiaomi offering. The Asus smartphone
Battery and pricing
The 5,000mAh battery on the Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 can easily deliver over a day and a half of usage. PCMark’s 2.0 Battery test ran for 10 hours 39 minutes, which converts to over one day of use. All in all, the smartphone has a commendable battery life and Asus also bundles a fast charger with the device that can charge the phone to its full capacity in around 2 hours 30 minutes. The Redmi Note 5 Pro comes with a 4000mAh battery and also delivers excellent battery life.
For the pricing, you will have to spend Rs 13,999 for the 4GB RAM/32GB ROM model of the Redmi Note 5 Pro and its 6GB RAM and 64GB internal storage variant costs Rs 16,999. However, will you be able to buy it in the ongoing flash sale is another question altogether.
The Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 comes in a 3GB RAM/32GB ROM variant, which is priced at Rs 10,999 and a 4GB RAM/64GB internal storage model, which will cost you Rs 12,999. As it will be available via open sale on May 3, there’s a chance you will be able to purchase it easily. Also, the smartphone is priced slightly lower than the Redmi Note 5 Pro.
