Taking on Xiaomi and other entry-level smartphone players, Asus launched the ZenFone Max (M1) and ZenFone Lite (L1) in India earlier last week. Both of these devices are now scheduled to go on sale for the very first time, starting at Rs 5,499 on Flipkart, during its Festive Dhamaka Days sale, as promised.
Both of these ZenFone devices come in a single configuration and almost similar specs, alongwith a tough competition for Xiaomi. Asus ZenFone Max M1) and ZenFone Lite L1 feature a 5.45-inch HD+ screen, with an 18:9 aspect ratio and 1440 x 720p display resolution.
Unlike the MediaTek chipsets that now power Xiaomi’s entry-level devices, Asus sticks with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 430 SoC on both of these devices. ZenFone Lite L1 packs 2GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard storage, whereas the ZenFone Max M1 bumps it up to 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. There’s a dedicated microSD card slot to further expand it by 256GB.
Also see: ZenFone Max M1 Review
On the optics front, both the devices feature a 13MP (f/2.0) rear camera, but the lower-end ZenFone Lite L1 includes only a 5MP (f/2.2) selfie shooter as compared to the 8MP(f/2.2) front camera on ZenFone Max M1.
You do get the usual connectivity options, microUSB charging port, a 3.5mm audio jack, but no dual VoLTE support. The highlight of ZenFone Max M1, however, is the massive 4,000mAh battery (but it still is quite light) as compared to the 3,000 pack inside the Lite L1.
You can take a look at the key specifications of both the entry-level devices right here:
| Specs/ Device | ZenFone Lite | ZenFone Max |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 147.26 x 71.77 x 8.15mm | 147.3 x 70.9 x 8.7mm |
| Weight | 140 grams | 150 grams |
| Display | 5.45-inch HD+ IPS LCD | 5.45-inch HD+ IPS LCD |
| Processor | Snapdragon 430 | Snapdragon 430 |
| RAM | 2GB | 3GB |
| Internal Storage | 16GB | 32GB |
| Rear Camera | 13MP (f/2.0) with PDAF, LED flash | 13MP (f/2.0) with PDAF, LED flash |
| Front Camera | 5MP (f/2.2) with LED flash | 8MP (f/2.2) with LED flash |
| Operating System | Android 8.0 Oreo-based ZenUI 5.0 | Android 8.0 Oreo-based ZenUI 5.0 |
| Battery | 3,000mAh | 4,000mAh |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, E-Compass, Proximity Ambient light | Accelerometer, E-Compass, Proximity Ambient light, Gyroscope |
| Connectivity | 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, A-GPS, GLONASS, microUSB, 3.5mm audio jack | 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, A-GPS, GLONASS, microUSB, 3.5mm audio jack |
If you’re confused about which device to pick, well, we’ve already both the ZenFone Max M1 and Zenfone Lite L1 against its direct Xiaomi competitors, the Redmi 6 and Redmi 6A, so don’t forget to check out those comparisons before you make up your mind. You could also read our in-depth review of the ZenFone Max while you’re at it.
- Buy Asus ZenFone Max M1 from Flipkart (introductory price – Rs. 7,499; retail price – Rs. 8,999)
- Buy Asus ZenFone Lite L1 from Flipkart (introductory price – Rs. 5,999; retail price – Rs. 6,999)