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In this episode of specs comparison, we will be comparing two midrange smartphones with promising specs to see which one has the advantage in each key aspects. Will it be the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 or the ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1? Let’s begin!
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 surprised a lot of the readers when it was launched in the Philippines due to its affordable price. It has a 5.99-inch 18:9 FHD+ display with 2160 x 1080 resolution, Snapdragon 636 processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB internal storage, 12MP + 5MP rear cameras with LED flash, a 13MP front camera with LED flash, and 4,000mAh battery with fast charging.
The ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 is the company’s game-changer since they upped the smartphone’s specs to be at par with the current trend in the mid-ranger market. It has a 5.99-inch 18:9 FHD+ display with 2160 x 1080 resolution, Snapdragon 636 processor, 3GB/4GB RAM, 32GB/64GB internal storage, 13MP + 5MP rear cameras with LED flash, 16MP front camera, and 5,000mAh battery with fast charging.
Here are their detailed specs:
| Specification | Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 | ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.99-inch 18:9 FHD+ IPS display @ (2160 x 1080), 424 ppi | 5.99-inch 18:9 FHD+ IPS display @ 2160 x 1080px, 424 ppi |
| Glass Protection | Corning Gorilla | - |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 1.8Ghz Octa-Core | Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 1.8Ghz Octa-Core |
| GPU | Adreno 509 | Adreno 509 |
| RAM | 4GB LPDDR4X | 3GB/4GB |
| Storage | 64GB Internal Storage | 32GB/64GB internal storage |
| Expandable | expandable up to 256GB via microSD | microSD, up to 400 GB (dedicated slot) |
| Rear Camera | 12MP + 5MP rear camera with LED flash | Dual 13MP f/2.2 PDAF 5-element lens, 80-degree wide angle lens + 5MP rear cameras w/ LED flash |
| Front Camera | 13MP front camera with LED flash | 16MP front camera |
| SIM Slot | Dual-SIM (Hybrid) | Dual SIM (dedicated microSD card slot) |
| Connectivity | 4G LTE w/ VoLTE | 4G LTE w/ VoLTE |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n |
| Sensors | Fingerprint scanner, IR Blaster | Fingerprint scanner |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 4.2 | Bluetooth 4.2 |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS | GPS, A-GPS |
| Features | Face Unlock | Face Unlock |
| 3.5mm Audio Port | Yes | Yes |
| Port | microUSB | microUSB |
| OS | Android 8.1 Oreo with MIUI 9.5 | Android 8.1 Oreo |
| Battery | 4,000mAh battery with fast charging | 5,000mAh battery with fast charging |
| Color | Champagne Gold, Rose Gold, Blue, Black | Meteor Silver, Deepsea Black |
Here are the advantages of each smartphone:
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1
While checking out their individual specs, we noticed that both devices have interestingly similar specs. Their displays are eerily identical which are ideal for users who are fond of watching or streaming videos. One specific difference, however, is that the Redmi Note 5 has Corning Gorilla Glass protection while the Max Pro M1 is without.
There’s not much to say in terms of performance since both of the devices are equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 chipset with an Adreno 509 GPU. One thing’s for sure, overall performance will be smooth for both.
The two devices have the same camera setups having dual-rear shooters and a single front. What’s different, however, is that the Max Pro M1’s secondary rear contains a wide-angle lens. Sample photos will be up soon so stay tuned on which one wins this department.
The Max Pro M1 has a larger battery capacity than the Redmi Note 5. The “Max” series is known for its large battery capacity that should, theoretically, provide longer battery life. However, other factors such as the display, processor, and Operating System will affect their performance.
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro is priced at Php11,990 while the ASUS Zenfone Max Pro M1 is yet to be priced locally.
It’s a pretty close fight but what do you guys think? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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richard says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
the biggest advantage of Xiaomi is MIUI, software is always updated.
Riptonize says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
Lol MIUI is a heavier skin than ZENUI
tae says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
Note 5 for the win.
Metoo says:
🥉 Rookie🏆1
When the price of Max Pro comes out, it will not be a close fight anymore.
Jess says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
I went to SM Megamall Mi Store to check out and purchase a Redmi Note 5 AI. When I saw the model unit, I was very disappointed with its screen not being that bright. You have to increase brightness to 75% to get a decent brightness. Sadly, that will consume a lot of battery. On the other hand, the model unit of the Asus Zenfone Max Pro in the Asus store has a very bright screen. Even at 30%, the screen is bright. This is why I purchased the Asus phone instead of the Xiaomi phone even it costs 2K pesos more.