Asus Zenfone Max M1 and Lite L1 review

Zenfone Max M1 and Lite L1 3

After the success of the Max Pro M1, Asus is all set to getting head to head with the likes Xiaomi with Max M1 and Lite L1 models. Aimed at first time smartphone buyers especially the Lite L1.

We did a first impressions for both the smartphones a while back and here’s our full review after comprehensively testing both of them.

Design and Display

Asus has kept the design simple for both the smartphones. They both feature a same 5.45-inch HD+ display with the 18:9 aspect ratio, which was popular on last year’s smartphones. The smartphones are made out of high-quality plastic with a metallic paint job on top.

Zenfone Max M1 and Lite L1 1

The Zenfone Max M1 features a 13-megapixel camera on the back and a circular fingerprint sensor in the centre, while the Zenfone Lite L1 features a similar camera setup but with a different design. To keep to costs low, Asus has removed the fingerprint on the Lite L1 and added a Face Unlock feature instead.

Coming to the display, both smartphones feature a 5.45-inch 18:9 aspect ratio HD+ display. The tech used here is IPS LCD. Asus has always used good quality displays on their smartphones and the Max M1 and Lite L1 are no exception. The display produces accurate colors and gets pretty bright so outdoor visibility is not an issue.

Zenfone Max M1 and Lite L1 2

The buttons are placed on the right side with the triple slot tray on the left. The bottom of the phone houses the micro USB port, and speaker, while the 3.5mm headphone jack is placed on the top

Performance

The phones are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 430 chipset along with 3GB and 32GB for Zenfone Max M1 and 2GB and 16GB in case of Zenfone Lite L1. The Snapdragon 430 is a budget chipset mainly being used in smartphones priced under INR 8,000. The chipset is capable of providing dual SIM 4G network.

Just like other Asus smartphones, the Zenfone Max M1 and Lite L1 run on Android 8.1 Oreo with the latest version of ZenUi 5 on top. Now with this version of ZenUi, Asus has done away with a bunch of pre-loaded apps and services. This new UI feels snappy and bloat free.

During our testing period, we found the smartphones snappy and lag free. They sure are not up to the level of a mid-range smartphone but are performing well for an ultra-low budget smartphone, suitable for first time smartphone users.

Camera

Asus has kept the imaging performance on these smartphones to the bare minimum. Both smartphones feature a similar 13-megapixel sensor on the back, with the Zenfone Max M1 having an 8-megapixel selfie shooter while the Zenfone Lite L1 sports a 5-megapixel sensor.

Zenfone Max M1 and Lite L1 1

The camera app is similar to what we have seen on other Asus smartphones but in a toned down manner. There is an option to take selfie portraits on both the smartphones. While the image quality is just average, which is to be expected with the budget and ultra budget smartphones. The camera seems okay for the price, and we can’t expect more.

Pricing

  • Asus Zenfone Lite L1 – INR 5,999
  • Asus Zenfone Max M1 – INR 7,499

Pros

  • Decent Display
  • Good battery life

Cons

  • Average Camera performance
  • Average design

Verdict – Should you go for it?

At the cost of INR 5,999 and INR 7,499 for the Lite L1 and Max M1 respectively you can’t go wrong. They both essentially provide all the basic features and some add ons like Face-Unlock. The Lite L1 is specifically aimed at first time smartphone users who get a decent phone for getting familiar with smartphone concept.

Their closest competitor is the Redmi 6 lineup which come with the similar set of specs and features at very competitive prices.

About the author

Yogesh Brar

The guy recommending you tech products & living on the Internet. Or you can connect with me on Twitter: twitter.com/heyitsyogesh