Asus today launched its latest smartphone Zenfone Max Pro M2 in India. The new mid-range phone is a successor to last year’s popular Zenfone Max Pro M1 and this time it comes several improvements. The key features of the Zenfone Max Pro M2 are FHD+ notch display, dual rear camera, and a powerful Snapdragon 660 processor. The Zenfone Max Pro M2 price in India starts at Rs. 12,999.
With all these features and such pricing, the Zenfone Max Pro M2 becomes a strong competitor to the Xiaomi’s recently launched Redmi Note 6 Pro which has good selfie camera and a good processor. Here we are comparing both the phones on the basis of their specs, features, and price in India.
Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 Vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro Specifications
| Key Specifications | Zenfone Max Pro M2 | Redmi Note 6 Pro |
| Display | 6.3-inch IPS | 6.26-inch IPS |
| Screen Resolution | FHD+ 2280×1080 pixels, 19:9 aspect ratio | FHD+ 2280×1080 pixels, 19:9 aspect ratio |
| Operating System | Android 8.1 Oreo | Android 8.1 Oreo with MIUI 10 |
| Processor | Octa-core, Up to 2.2GHz | Octa-core, Up to 1.8GHz |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 660 | Snapdragon 636 |
| GPU | Adreno 512 | Adreno 509 |
| RAM | 3GB/4GB/6GB | 4GB/6GB |
| Internal Storage | 32GB/64GB | 64GB |
| Expandable Storage | Yes, Up to 2TB | Yes, up to 256GB |
| Primary Camera | Dual: 12 MP (f/1.8, 1.25μm), PDAF + 5 MP (f/2.4), LED flash | Dual: 12 MP (f/1.9, 1.4µm) + 5 MP (f/2.2), PDAF, dual-LED flash |
| Front Camera | 13 MP (f/2.0, 1.12µm), LED Flash | Dual: 20 MP (f/2.0, 0.9µm) + 2MP (f/2.2, 1.75µm) |
| Video Recording | 2160p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh | 4,000 mAh |
| 4G VoLTE | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 157.9 x 75.5 x 8.5 mm | 157.9 x 76.4 x 8.3 mm |
| Weight | 175 g | 182 g |
| Sim Card Type | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM) | Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM) |
| Price | 3GB/32GB- Rs. 12,999
4GB/64GB- Rs. 14,999 6GB/64GB- Rs. 16,999 |
4GB/64GB- Rs. 13,999
6GB/64GB- Rs. 15,999 |
Design
Starting with the design first, both the phones look different in terms of design. The Zenfone Max Pro M2 comes with a plastic body but with a premium look. There is a 3D glass-like back panel with a wave pattern that looks cool. The phone is also lightweight and not very thick despite having a massive battery. It is compact and one hand usage is easy.
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro, on the other hand, sports a metal and plastic body. It has a metal back panel with a plastic frame around it. This is the similar design to other Redmi series phone and not looks so classy. The phone is a little bulky in comparison to Zenfone Max Pro M2.
Overall, both the phones look average in terms of design, but Zenfone’s glass-like back gives it a premium feel.
Display
The 6.3-inch IPS LCD display on Zenfone Max Pro is a quite big and offers an immersive experience. It sports 19:9 aspect ratio so the bezels are minimum on each side. Because of the FHD+ screen resolution, the brightness is good and colors are also sharp. The daylight visibility is not too bad. The display panel is protected by the latest Corning Gorilla Glass 6.
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro’s 6.26-inch display also comes with a 19:9 aspect ratio. So, it also has fewer bezels on either side and a wide notch on the top. The brightness, daylight visibility, colors are good as it is again an FHD+ panel. Both the displays are almost identical except for the protection.
Cameras
The Zenfone Max Pro M2’s dual rear camera setup has a 12 MP Sony IMX486 sensor with wide f/1.8 aperture, large 1.25-micron pixel and a 5MP secondary camera for depth effects. There are Portrait mode, HDR, and AI mode that can detect 13 scenes. The phone also supports EIS for video stabilization.
The smartphone sports a 13MP f/2.0 aperture front camera with soft LED flash. The front camera also comes with Portrait and Beauty modes.
You can record up to 4K videos on Zenfone Max Pro M2 but Redmi Note 6 Pro allows only 1080p recording.
The Redmi Note 6 Pro also sports dual rear camera setup. It has a 12 MP primary sensor with f/1.9 aperture and a 5MP secondary sensor. It clicks some nice pictures in all lighting conditions just like its predecessor.
There is another dual camera set up at the front. It has a 20MP+ 2MP combination with 4-in-1 Super Pixel tech. The front cameras also support Portrait, HDR, AI, and Beauty modes. The phone results in good selfies in all conditions.
We will do a detailed camera comparison of both the devices very soon and show you the results as well.
Performance
The Zenfone Max Pro M2 gets Snapdragon 660 processor that clocked at 2.2GHz and coupled with Adreno 512 GPU. It is a powerful processor in the mid-range segment. It is paired with 3GB/4GB/6GB RAM and 32GB/64GB internal storage options.
The Redmi Note 6 Pro, on the other hand, still runs the old Snapdragon 636 processor with Adreno 509 GPU. The Snapdragon 636 is an average performing processor in this segment. The Redmi Note 6 Pro comes with 4GB/6GB RAM and 64GB storage options.
Software
The Zenfone Max Pro M2 runs stock Android Oreo 8.1 out of the box. You will get a pure Android experience as there are no bloatware and third party apps installed. The Redmi Note 6 Pro also runs Android Oreo 8.1 but it has its MIUI 10 on top. The MIUI 10 has its own set of features and some unwanted apps as well.
Battery and Connectivity
The Zenfone Max Pro M2 packs a massive 5,000 mAh battery. It doesn’t support fast charging. In terms of connectivity, it supports dedicated SIM card slots and a dedicated microSD card slot too.
The Redmi Note 6 Pro also packs a big 4,000 mAh battery. It also supports QuickCharge 3.0 fast charging. Connectivity options are limited as there is a hybrid slot.
Conclusion
The Zenfone Max Pro M2 seems more affordable between the two devices being compared here. It starts at Rs. 12,999 and packs a better hardware too. The Redmi Note 6 Pro that comes with at least 4GB RAM is priced higher than the 3GB model of ZF Max Pro M2. In terms of looks, Zenfone Max Pro M2 looks better with its glass-like back. In terms of performance, the SD660 again beats SD 636. We are not talking about the camera here. Overall, if you are looking for a phone with good hardware and stock Android UI, Zenfone Max Pro M2 is surely a good option in this price point.
