Asus Zenfone Max Pro (M1) ZB601KL/ZB602K

• L
• LP760
• Dkd
• 28 Feb 2019

CO2, 19 Feb 2019I've a plan to buy this phone, but I hv some questions for ... moreI own Asus zenfone max pro m1 since 3 months.
Here's my opinion...
1. Display is beautiful definately better than redmi note 5 pro(my friend own redmi)
2. Speaker is loud but sound quality from them is just average.
3. Camera ok in daylight but poor in dark but most importantly camera app UI is one of the worst.
4. Batterylife is really really good.while browsing more than 10 hours of on screen time.in PUBG almost 6-7 hours of continuous gameplay with single full charge.
5. Gaming no issues.PUBG runs smoothly I've played in HD with high frame rate but still run smoothly.
6. Software side software contain some bugs like sometimes camera app crashes.general UI is responsive no big issues but in my opinion UI animations are slightly heavy so tuned them down to 0.5x from Developer Settings after this UI is fluid.
7. Fingerprint reader is slower and quite frequently fails to register my fingers.
8. Android 9.0 is coming to this but when noone knows for sure.Asua cant keep its promise up to date.

• Reply

• T
• The Doubter
• bxd
• 28 Feb 2019

A new FOTA update has been rolling out to Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 (both ZB601KL and ZB602KL) on 27/02/2019. The complete changelog (provided by Asus) is given below :

Build No. : 15.2016.1902.340
Update Size : 432.45 MB

Changelog :
1. Update Google security patch to February 2019.
2. Update GMS version to 8.1_2018-12.
3. Improve camera app translation issue.

Since the server pushes update notice to different serial numbers by batches, it may take some days for you to receive the FOTA notice. In the meantime, you may tap “System update” in [Settings] >>[System] to check if there is new firmware available. Or, you can also try to manually update the firmware by referring to the following link :
https://www.asus.com/zentalk/thread-1158-1-1.html

Asus ZenTalk Forum Link : https://www.asus.com/zentalk/forum.p...e%3D1&mobile=2

Everyone please provide the feedback of the update after installing - if it is a useful update☺️ or if it introduced new set of bugs😡..

At last an update even without Android Pie. Copy and Paste from XDA Developer Forum

• Reply

• ?
• Anonymous
• t@G
• 27 Feb 2019

jeeva, 19 Feb 2019takes 3.30 hours to charge and gives just 5.30 hours screen... moreNo one is going to believe your nonsense. Next time make a believable fake review. Thanks.

• Reply

• A
• AnoM
• uC4
• 26 Feb 2019

So, end up the Android system after long maintained will be the same and only version, the hardware on these smartphone are differed slightly.
Even the same SD636 SoC might be manufactured by different vendor, the quality of different vendor vary slightly here and there.
So, that is why some smartphone eventhoght also equipped with SD636 can be cheap, some can be more expensive, it might lie in the quality of the components chosen.
Back to Android OS, there are still more works from Google to improve the OS. It is getting better and better now, but without those old bugs, and those early hardware, we won't get what we have today.
So, appreciate what ASUS and Google team has done to work out the updates.

• Reply

• A
• AnoM
• uC4
• 26 Feb 2019

There might also question by after updates, some phone has issue, this has to discuss on semiconductor and production.
By common, we expect each smartphone of the same model is the same. In actual, each component from phone to phone differ slightly, and this is where the problem comes, where the turning parameter at some phone might already hit the limits for particular hardware, so it will cause malfunction.
So, bug fix is need to retune on certain parameter that might hit limits on some device.
Not every device of the same model are made totally equal, and these slight different in quality actually made the fine tuning and tweaking much mode difficult.
There is also smartphone that is installed with parts from different vendor that will also cause the issue. Take for LCD screen, despite it look the same for the same models, the sold units might be installed with screen sourced from more than 1 vendors. The different source screen might cause trouble in the updates if not carefully tweak for different sourced model.

• Reply

• A
• AnoM
• uC4
• 26 Feb 2019

I going to talk about the Android version updates, not specifically for this phone, but from a developer point of view, and manufacturer point of view. I am not working for smartphone development, but I am a software developer that work for product development, but not in the smartphone field, but the principle of software still the same.
Regarding why many phone cannot get latest Android version updates, or even no updates, by comparing to Windows operating system, I would say Android OS is still very young, and still evolving. To make sure an OS can be installed on many platform, it is the software engineer that have to make sure it can be installed without bugs. But in the real world, this is actually untrue. Many of the hardware actually is incompatible to each others, these hardware doesn't always follow the same standard, and no proper general standard is made. So, as each manufacturer use different hardware, when the original Android OS is incompatible, then manufacturer have to tweak the Android OS for their selected hardware, and this tweaking can take weeks to months, can be quite complex. Take for example, to this date, there are 4 big mobile platform SoC:
1. Qualcomm Snapdragon series
2. Samsung Exynos series
3. Huawei HiSilicon Kirin series
4. Mediatek Helio series
All these SoC need customize tweak for reducing and eliminating bugs and error, despite all license ARM architecture, all implement the architecture with different customization.
The same apply where inside these SoC series, there are low end, midrange and high end SoC, that also need special tuning so that on low end SoC, thing will still work smoothly.
All these tweaking and tuning take times, and it is human, the engineers that tweak and tune. This involve quite amount of cost for human resource for maintaining certain model.
So, that's why for low end model, the cost price already very low, manufacturer can't afford to allocate resource for maintaining the device if the sales is not good for particular model.
They likely aim to start a new platform model and develop from there which at least promise more sales and more earning.
So, there is a reason why Oneplus can update their smartphone Android OS so fast, simply because they works like Apple iPhone, sold expensive models, and just 1 or 2 model yearly, then only need to maintain at much 2 models per a new year. For every other brand, flagship model get the priority for updates, then only slowly comes to mid range and lower range model.
All in all, all updates actually come in price, the Android OS might be free, but the job to get it tweaked and comply is not free, there is a maintenance and development cost involve.
Well, at least this Zenfone Max Pro M1 will be getting Android Pie update, it is slow, but I think all worth the wait. Of course, won't expect magic to happen. Even though Android Pie will be updated, it won't make this phone out perform high end phone, it's optimization will be maxed out at it's hardware limits.
So normally, to get a better performing smartphone, buying new model is the only solution, because upgrading in hardware will increase performance much faster than optimizing software, because smartphone is improving on hardware too, not just software.

• Reply

• A
• Artur
• 8T%
• 26 Feb 2019

I came from an iPhone SE and this is my mini review:

- Battery is great. A full day and a half with intense use or two days with moderate use. A large battery make a huge difference in your life if your use your phone to work and study like me.
- It's not AMOLED but the screen it's one if the best I've ever seen on an LCD Android. Blacks are blacks, not grey. Also it's very bright.
- The so is responsive with enough multitasking for a normal user.
- Charger and earphone sucks. I'm keeping my Apple earbuds.
- Camera it's good on bright environments and just "ok" at low light. Camera app it's buggy and ugly. Install Google Camera to have an 50% improvent in quality!
- The phone is sturdy and well built. Design is subjective but I like the sober design choice here.
- I don't game but performance it's good without any hiccups on day to day tasks.
- The glass is fingerprint resistant, with a smooth and quality feel
- Fingerprint reader is 100x faster than my iPhone SE. Even with sweety fingers like mine.
- Sound is super LOUD on the speaker and kind of low on the headphones.
- Call quality it's good.

This phone it's such a bang for the buck. Thank you Asus!

• Reply

• d
• dwe
• gN@
• 26 Feb 2019

Ali, 25 Feb 2019Zenfone M1 is best phone ever, i get 3 days battery, it has... morey should we stop complaining
if u r satisfied with this phone next time buy max m2 also

• Reply

• A
• Ali
• uwx
• 25 Feb 2019

Zenfone M1 is best phone ever, i get 3 days battery, it has 5000 mah. Great display full hd screen, 85% sRGB color gamut, bright 450 nits screens. For best photos download google pixel camera app. The phone is very sturdy and has great performance Snapdragon cpu, very smooth. And stop complaining those who faced small issues, this phone is very low priced, even cheaper than iphone x battery.

• Reply

• M
• Mass
• YQW
• 25 Feb 2019

Aaaaa, 25 Feb 2019Don't buy this phone, because asus zenfone max pro m1 conta... moreYes are absolutely correct. Utterly waste Phone.........No proper response.....

• Reply

• T
• The Doubter
• bxd
• 25 Feb 2019

Asus where is Android Pie update for this phone ? February almost end and nothing happens, not a regular updates have being receives.

• Reply

• A
• Aaaaa
• rJx
• 25 Feb 2019

Don't buy this phone, because asus zenfone max pro m1 contain fully bugs. 1. Touch sensitivity issue,2.battery drain,3. Average camera performance etc...

• Reply

• m
• mike
• bEZ
• 25 Feb 2019

whats the use of android one or stock android devices if the update comes so late
marketing strategy..
the even released m2 on oreo..such a joke

• Reply

• U
• Umang
• rJ$
• 25 Feb 2019

Asus is shameless brand because they had promised that they will definitely give android pie update on Asus Zenfone max Pro m1 in February and when we ask them when it will be released they simply it is under testing and 6 months later when we ask whe android pie update for Asus Zenfone max Pro m1 will be released they answered same that is it is under testing

• Reply

• A
• AnoM
• IVP
• 25 Feb 2019

Regarding the Android Pie updates, this is a tricky question, and also a obvious one.
1st, this is not the Android One smartphone, so expected the update will be slow, even if the phone sport a pure Android UI, which doesn't translate to say update will be better. I would say even Android One device also struggle to get update, indeed much slower than device such as Google Pixel.
2nd, this is not a flagship device. This is quite controversial and also happen on all non-flagship device on all other brand, not just ASUS, especially this phone is an entry level budget phone, then the priority to get Android version update will be much lower.
Next time, only buy something from Google Pixel, then also consider Oneplus if you really want fast Android updates, but those won't come to the price of Max Pro M1, basically is 3 to 4 times more expensive.
Then, next time also consider only buy the flagship phone from specific brand that will get prioritize to get the update faster.
Lastly, only buy from brand that has reputation to roll out fast Android updates on flagship device.
Well, I sound like apologist for this brand, but nope. I actually own before other budget smartphone from other brand as well (Xiaomi, Samsung, HTC, Sony, LG, Honor, Huawei, Meizu), and it is the common fate for budget phone that doesn't get Android version updates, or barely any updates at all after long time usage, I know the feel of waiting for update, but it always doesn't come.
All in all, Android version update comes in price, much bigger price than you think.
The only alternative to get latest Android version for budget Android smartphone is to flash custom ROM.

• Reply

• r
• ratan
• g}w
• 25 Feb 2019

When Asus will release Android Pie update for Zenfone Max Pro M1?

Asus has promised to release on Feb.

From 6 months Asus is testing android pie, while other company already released android pie.
As it is nearly stock so the update should come faster than others but Asus doesn't believe in customer satisfaction.

• Reply

• T
• The Doubter
• bxd
• 23 Feb 2019

The february nearing ends but till now Asus still dont give us any update, this is weird.
I dont think Asus will give us Android Pie this month because there is no beta update for it. Just give us a regular update including security patch that enough for now.

• Reply

• ?
• Anonymous
• RIL
• 20 Feb 2019

The Doubter, 20 Feb 2019My Max Pro M1 charge time from 15% to 100% take 2 hour 45 m... moreYes almost same with mine

• Reply

• T
• The Doubter
• bxd
• 20 Feb 2019

jeeva, 19 Feb 2019takes 3.30 hours to charge and gives just 5.30 hours screen... moreMy Max Pro M1 charge time from 15% to 100% take 2 hour 45 minutes. For Screen On Time(SOT) with 20% brightness and internet (70% wifi, 30% 4G LTE simcard broadband) I can get around 9 hour SOT with 85% battery usage. Roughly with 1 cycle battery charge I can use my phone for 3-4 day. I dont play game with my phone.

• Reply

• j
• jeeva
• D0h
• 19 Feb 2019

Anonymous, 29 Jan 2019Don't worry, its performance is actually quite extra ordina... moretakes 3.30 hours to charge and gives just 5.30 hours screen on time for 25 hrs use...
so honestly its not an battery centric phone dont believe others comments....
battery performance is tooo bad on this

• Reply