We don’t usually talk about Asus here on GizChina, but since late 2014 the Taiwanese hardware maker has been gaining more and more traction in the smartphone market.
The Zenfone 2 for example, is a very popular phone with a tonne of variants that go along. There’s however a niche that’s getting more popular by the day, and one that Asus doesn’t want to let go of — that of big battery phones.
We’ve seen some companies rise around the concept of big battery phones. This includes Oukitel and Homtom (among others), which produce phones mainly with a USP of a massive battery. Most recently, we saw the Homtom HT3 which is a sub-$60 phone with a 3000mAh battery. Oukitel, on the other hand, has a phone with a 10,000mAh battery — the K10000.
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Coming back to Asus and their big battery phone, there’s a device that you may not have known about yet — the Asus Zenfone Max.
What the Zenfone Max does is it bundles a large battery with some decent specs (including 2GB RAM) and makes for a nice, long-lasting phone… that with a brand name people around the world would recognise.
In other words, if you are brand conscious (i.e., don’t want to try a battery phone from up and coming makers), you might want to look at the Zenfone Max. It’s specs include:
- 5.5-inch screen with 1280 x 720p resolution
- Snapdragon 410 CPU
- 2GB RAM
- 16GB on-board expandable storage
- 13 mega-pixel rear camera
- 5 mega-pixel front facing camera
- 5000mAh battery
- Dual SIM
- Android 5.0
The Zenfone Max has been around for a while now, but the current pricing of the phone is what makes it a lucrative deal… if you aren’t a hardcore gamer. From China, you can import it from $139.99 via Geekbuying.
What do you think about the sudden rush of big battery phones that’s taking over the Android market?
Lenovo has been consistently pushing big batteries for the last year, big batteries are a 2015 trend. Maybe it grows this year but not in high end where most users buy on looks and a thinner phone might die by noon but it is shiny.
Hi, do you think that Xiaomi will release a Redmi 3 with 3gb ram and 32/64gb rom? I was planning to get the MI4C but I am not a power user and the prime MI4C is around 260$ which is still fine but above my budget. Thanks.
I heard some resellers listed a 3/32 redmi 3, but there’s no real proof, and it’s strange xiaomi didn’t launched this version along with the standard one… That’s a change they will do it like redmi 2 1/8 and 2/16, but for now it’s rumors more than anything…
However, redmi 3 does have an hybrid sim/microsd reader, so space shouldn’t be a problem i think, maybe the catch for you is the third giga of ram?
You are right, I have read some information on the web. Not sure if a Redmi 3 will be released with 3gb ram and at least 32gb rom. For the Redmi Note 3, both version (standard and prime) have been released at the same time. I don’t mind the extra gb ram but it might be useful for MIUI. Ibuygou has listed the Redmi 3 at 159$, do you think it is a great value for the money. Should I wait for the new SOCs (mediatek, snapdragon)? I was before tempted to get the MI4C but then changed my mind because of its price through resellers and design. Should I wait for new phones with new socs like 650?
Waiting for a sd 650/652 powered device could be a remunerative gamble, but to find a budget device with those socs will take a lot of time for sure… Just look at all of the insanely overpriced sd615 devices we’ve seen this year!
And yeah, miui isn’t the most ram friendly rom ever, but redmi note 2 is always snappy with just 2gb of ram, so i think it’s fine after all.
However, 159$ seems a bit like a lucrative price, surely it will drop if you wait some sometime (likely after chinese new year)
Hi, thank you for your reply. I think you are 100% right, I doubt that we will see a budget phone with SD 650/652 for a screen size equal or below 5 inch. Recently, Xiaomi anounced the Redmi Note 3 Pro with a SD 650 SOC. The only problem is that I mainly used phones with screen size below 5″ until now. I am not against a bigger screen like a 5.5″ but my preference is a screen of 5.2″. I have seen a geekbench for a phone named Xiaomi Kenzo, just wondering what this phone is and when it will be released. I mean it would have been great from Xiaomi to release a MI4C with a Mediatek Helio P10 at a competitive price. I think that I will wait for reviews for the Redmi 3 and Note 3 Pro. Meizu MX5 in 32GB version is also very nice and compact for a 5.5″ phone but expensive at the moment. Cheers.
Doubt it since the price would collide with the Note 2.
As for Redmi 4c , you should avoid devices with that SoC and see what arrives with SD650 or better. Depending on what you need, the Mi4 might be a viable choice,especially once the Mi5 launches since the price could drop further.
If you aren’t stuck on Xiaomi, there are other options and it would be preferable to wait a bit for phones with Mediatek P10.
Not a great time to buy right now since new SoCs are about to arrive and a new cycle is starting. Waiting a few weeks would be best. It also gives you time to do your research and find what best fits your needs.
Yeah, you might be right. I hesitated a lot regarding the MI4C which is I am sure a great phone but 2015 wasn’t Qualcomm’s year. I mean that a Mediatek CPU inside the MI4C clocked at 1.6GHZ would have been a great option sold below 200$. The Redmi 3 seems to be a great value for the money, SD SOC 616 provide an antutu around 40K which is amazing at that price. Ibuygou sells it at 160$ right now, they are margin a lot but they have all the accessories. I don’t know what to do, there will always be better phones with better SOCs but I doubt they will cost below 160$. Xiaomi use very good quality components inside their devices and they have now an international reputation.
MI4 has a downside for me —> the storage capacity and I hate white color. The only version in black has no 4G connectivity. MI5 will for sure cost around 400$ for the basic version which is above my budget.
I think I will wait for reviews of the Redmi 3 and then decide what to do. I am not a power user so the choice will not be difficult.
160$ is far too much for a 720p device and that store might not have actual stock for weeks if Xiaomi runs out of stock fast (today they did). Soon the price should drop towards 120-125$ (it’s 106$ in China and 15-20% premium is normal). Since you don’t mention the Note 2 and 3, i am assuming 5.5 inch is too big?
But you really should wait because this is not the typical “there will always be better phones”, this is the time of the year when new things arrive. P10, X20 , SD652 and 650, SD820 so everything gets refreshed.
Guess i’ll say something nobody said before, there might be a Mi5c. A Xiaomi Kenzo showed up in geekbench and the speculation was that it is a Redmi 3 or maybe Note 4 because it only had 2GB RAM but maybe it makes some sense if it’s a 5c, we’ll see in February i guess http://browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench3/search?q=xiaomi+kenzo
You are right, Ibuygou and Gizchina Shop have listed the Redmi 3 at the same price. Of course, until they have stocks the price might drop a bit. Moreover, I will wait a couple of days to see some reviews and hopefully during that period price will become more attractive. I hope other devices will be released pretty soon at prices below 250$. Fingers crossed!
I would wait to see what the A72 devices will cost.
So note the new Redmi Note 3 with SD650. By far the best performance per $, for now since others will do better soon enough. No microSD slot though.
Yeah, heard about it but it is 5.5 inch phone. I will think about it and test some similar size phones at a shop before to make my decision. I mean that I had phones below 5″ for many years so jumping from below 5″ to 5.5″ isn’t that easy. Do you think that manufacturers will release a very good mid range phone with one of the socs you mentioned above. I agree with you on one point, the price asked by resellers for the Xiaomi Redmi 3 is insane. I think making 30$ margin is ok but 50-60$ is huge. Thanks.
40k used to mean something but it is low on Antutu 6.
Both are good, get what your budget allows. Note 3 is max at 32GB.
It all started with the oukitel K10000
You won’t say that if make a quick search on the Asus Zenfone Max. It just released but it launched earlier than the K10000
SD 410 … no thanks !
Check the price elsewhere (is this a mistake) and check the rest of the spec i.e. camera spec, 5P Blue Glass f2.0 Largan lens, laser autofocus (0.25sec), dual realtone flash + Gorilla Glass 4, etc. shame about the SD 410, but everything else ..
SD410 is the only shame for this price.
Extra advantage for some of us with this specific deal is that Geekbuying now operate a EU return & refund service (for a small few $ insurance fee on checkout), having had to return two items to China recently and all the hassle that involves, this is a big incentive for me to buy here.
thats what i just said … :p
Right NOW is the right time..
Because 2 year ago, consumer has not been cumulatively Frustated with small battery in performance phone..
So a big battery however good will be outshined by Apple like slim phones..
Now.. when you see someone sigh at their blank phone then tugged it away or searching for an outlet..
You will think : “Yeah buddy, i know that feeling…”
About damn time we got good batteries. Finally.