The ZenFone Max M2 is the latest mid-range Android smartphone from ASUS. It is the successor to last year’s Max M1 and the younger sibling of this year’s Max M2 Pro, which we already took a look at in a separate review.
The Max M2 follows more or less in the footsteps of its predecessor. It’s a simple, no-nonsense device that is designed to focus on a handful of key things, such as performance, camera, and battery life, rather than something extravagant. Well, as extravagant as one can be in this price range.
Even the software is just stock Android, something also found on its predecessor. This makes it just easy to pick up and start using instead of having to get used to any weird idiosyncrasies of a custom software layer on top of Android.
Compared to last year’s model, we do see some regressions in terms of specifications. The display is now just HD instead of Full HD, the processor is a bit slower, and the battery is 20% smaller. In a way then, the Max M2 Pro is more like the successor to the Max M1, while the Max M2 is more of a scaled down version for a lower price bracket.
This is a bit disappointing, as the Max M2 is not cheaper than last year’s M1, which is still on sale. This leaves one to wonder why even bother with the M2 then. That is the question we will try to answer today.
Disclaimer: You might notice that this review is shorter than usual and doesn’t include some of our usual tests. The reason is it has been prepared and written far away from our office and test lab. Still, we think we’ve captured the essence of the phone in the same precise, informative and detailed way that’s become our trademark. Enjoy the good read!