Among the most popular smartphone models sold by ASUS are their ZenFone Max devices. They come with generous batteries that are created to offer plenty of autonomy. A few months ago, we tested the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max, and we were not happy with what it had to offer. We thought it provided less value than the first ASUS ZenFone Max. Many users had similar criticism and, as a result, ASUS listened and released a new and improved ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5. This smartphone is a revision of the previous model and promises to fix the biggest complaints people had. Is this new version a solid upgrade over its predecessor? Read this review and find out:
What is the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 good at?
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 (ZC553KL) smartphone is good at:
- Keeping you away from the power socket for two days in a row between charges
- Multitasking and good web browsing experiences
- Looking better than most smartphones with the same price tag
Pros and cons
Here are the best things about the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 (ZC553KL):
- The hardware is better than that of the previous model - ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC520TL)
- The performance and the camera experience are much better than that of the previous model
- It offers a fingerprint sensor for enhanced security
- It has a large battery (4100 mAh) which offers plenty of autonomy
- It has good build quality and a metallic body
- It has a 5.5 inch screen, which is both large and small enough to please most users
- You get to use and enjoy Android 7.1.1 Nougat
There are also a few not so positive things about it:
- If you want a gaming smartphone, it is not a great choice
- There is no Gorilla Glass protecting the screen
- The smartphone is a bit pricier than it should be
Verdict
The very first ASUS ZenFone Max smartphone (ZC550KL) was a model that we appreciated greatly. Then came the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC520TL) which was a bit of a disappointment in our view. This was also confirmed by user feedback and, as a result, ASUS decided to take action and release ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 (ZC553KL). This revision is a great upgrade in many ways that matter: the processor, the camera, and the performance that it offers. If you want to buy a smartphone from the ZenFone Max family, ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 (ZC553KL) is the one to choose. The only important downside is the price, which could have been slightly smaller. However, the winter sales will be here soon and we expect ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 to be available at great prices, making it a must-buy in its niche.
Hardware specifications and packaging
ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5, also known as ASUS ZC553KL by its factory name, arrives in a box that is made from white cardboard. It is soft to the touch and looks good. On the top, there is an illustration of the smartphone that shows what it looks like both from its front and from its rear side. Near this illustration, you can also see that the smartphone is called Zenfone 3 Max 5.5.
On the sides you will find information about this smartphone and some of its most important characteristics. Turn the box bottom up, and you will find detailed information about the exact smartphone model, the IMEI code, serial number and so on.
Inside the package, you will find the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 sitting on top of a paper tray. Underneath it, there is the power charger with a detachable USB to micro USB cable, a micro USB to USB OTG cable that you can use to charge other devices from your smartphone's battery, a pin for ejecting the SIM tray, the warranty card, and the user manual. Unfortunately, there are no earphones included.
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 is available in four different color variations: Sand Gold, Titanium Gray, Glacier Silver, and Rose Pink. These are the same colors that we have seen for the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max, with one exception: Rose Pink is found only on the ZenFone 3 Max 5.5. The model that we tested was the Titanium Gray one.
As the name implies, ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 has a 5.5 inch screen. This is one of the main differences between this model and the smaller ASUS ZenFone 3 Max, which has a 5.2 inch display. ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 offers a Full HD resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels and uses IPS (In-Plane Switching) technology, which means that the viewing angles are very wide and the colors should be close to natural. The front side of the smartphone, including the display, is protected by 2.5D contoured glass.
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 uses a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon octa-core 430 processor running at 1.4GHz. For video rendering, the smartphone relies on an Adreno 505 video chip that runs at 450MHz and which has support for DirectX 12.1 and OpenGL 3.2. In comparison, ASUS ZenFone 3 Max offers a quad-core MediaTek processor running at 1.25 GHz and a Mali-T720MP2 video chip (with support for DirectX 9.3 and OpenGL 3.1). When it comes to processing power, the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 is definitely an improvement over its predecessor.
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 also comes with 32GB of internal flash storage space, and 2 or 3GB of LPDDR3 memory, depending on the exact version that you buy. It is also worth noting that you can always expand the storage capacity of the smartphone by adding a microSD card of up to 128 GB. The microSD card is inserted instead of the secondary SIM, which means you will have to choose between having more storage space or being able to use the smartphone with two SIM cards simultaneously. You cannot have them both. Note that the model that we tested had 3 GB of RAM.
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 offers a rear camera with a 16 megapixels sensor and an aperture of f/2.0. The camera benefits from a fast laser autofocus sensor, it can shoot pictures with HDR, and it can take advantage of the built-in Dual-LED flash in low light environments. On the front side of the smartphone, you also get a selfie camera with a resolution of 8 megapixels and a f/2.2 aperture.
If you are curious about the connectivity options that you get, ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 offers a Bluetooth 4.1 chip and a wireless network card that can connect only to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi networks using the 802.11 b/g/n wireless standards. What that means is that you will not be able to connect to wireless networks that are broadcast over the 5GHz radio frequency.
This smartphone is a Dual SIM device, and it supports 4G LTE connections. However, if you use it in Dual SIM mode, only one SIM card can connect and use 3G and 4G LTE networks. The secondary SIM card can use the only 2G. Furthermore, the smartphone uses a Dual SIM Dual Standby implementation, which means that both SIM cards are active in standby, but when you take a call on one of them, the other becomes inactive.
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 also includes a variety of sensors: proximity, ambient light sensor, gyro sensor, e-compass, fingerprint scanner, accelerator, and a laser sensor.
The battery is an essential part of any smartphone, and it is even more so in the case of the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5. This model brags about having a large capacity of 4100 mAh (non-removable). It is the same battery that is found on the previous ASUS ZenFone 3 Max.
Having a 5.5 inch screen, the smartphone is also a bit larger than its predecessor. This one is 5.96 inches (151.4 mm) in length, 3 inches (76.24 mm) wide and 0.33 inches (8.3 mm) thick. It weighs 6.17 ounces, which is 175 grams in the metric system.
If you want to see more details about the official specifications of this smartphone, visit this page: ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 - Tech Specs.
Unpacking the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 was a pleasant experience, and our first impressions were positive. Unlike its smaller brother, the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max, the 5.5 model has a larger display, and its hardware specifications are better, which is a welcome change, desired by many users.
Design and build quality
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 is designed both for ease of use and good looks. Although it has many similarities with the previous model, ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 also has some design characteristics of its own. For example, the body is built from metal, and you do not often see this on budget smartphones. With the sole exception of the screen, which is covered in 2.5D contoured glass, all else is covered by the metallic frame of the smartphone.
On the front side of the smartphone, besides the large screen, you can find the ear speaker and the front camera at the top, and the default Android buttons at the bottom. Unlike on the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max, the 5.5 model uses capacitive buttons for Back, Home and Recent apps. As a side note, we always prefer having these buttons separate from the screen.
The back of the smartphone is all-metal. On the lower area there is a dark gray ASUS logo, and towards the top, there are the fingerprint sensor, the camera, and its aids: the Dual LED flash and the autofocus laser sensor. The fingerprint sensor has a rectangular shape and is slightly sunken inside the body of the phone, making it easy to find.
The edges of the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 are rounded, and they are home to all the usual parts that are found on Android smartphones. On the bottom edge, there is the micro USB port, the loudspeaker grille and a small pin hole where the microphone is found.
On the top edge, there's an audio jack and a small pin hole for the secondary microphone. On the right edge, towards the top, there are the power button and the volume rocker. On the left edge, you have the SIM tray. A nice detail is the fact that the side buttons have a different texture from the rest of the body, and that makes it easy to identify them.
Although the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 is a budget smartphone, it looks good, and it has a solid build quality. We like its design, and the fact that it feels sturdy and reliable.
If you would like to read more about the smartphone experience offered by ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5, its camera, bundled apps, and performance in benchmarks, read the second page of this review.
The smartphone experience on the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5
The easiest difference to spot the between the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 and the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max is that the first has a larger display. It is not only larger though, but it also has a higher resolution. The ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 has a 5.5 inches screen and a Full HD resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels. The display uses the IPS technology, and that helps it offer wide viewing angles and a good color reproduction, although not as good as that offered by an AMOLED display. We also found that the brightness is pretty high and that makes the screen readable even in bright light conditions.
Although slightly larger than the average smartphone, the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 fits well in a regular size hand. It is also small and thin enough to fit in a pocket. The only downside when it comes to carrying it is that some people might find it a bit heavier than they would expect it to be. However, considering the large battery packed inside and the fact that it is a smartphone with a metal body, we believe ASUS did a very good job at keeping this smartphone as light as it is, weighing 6.17 ounces or 175 grams.
Regarding speed and performance, the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 managed to satisfy our daily needs. Sure, it does not boast the best processor in the world or lots of RAM. However, the octa-core processor and the 3 GB of LPDDR3 RAM are enough to offer a good user experience when browsing the internet, using apps like Facebook or when multitasking in general.
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 offers decent 4G LTE data transfer speeds also. The mobile internet speeds are OK, but we wished that the signal was more steady. However, that may have more to do with our mobile operator than with the smartphone itself. As far as phone calls go, we can say that the conversations we had on the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 were of good quality, and the volume was loud. However, we wished for crisper sound, that's a bit closer to our voice in real-life.
The display on the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 is OK for watching a movie or a YouTube video, but the loudspeaker is not. If you want to watch a movie or if you want to listen to music, use a pair of headphones. The loudspeaker has no bass, and it sounds too high-pitched. The good thing about it is that it does not distort sounds even at maximum levels.
You can play games on the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 but do not expect for an extraordinary experience. The video chip can run games but the video quality is going to be on the lower side and the number of frames per second will be just enough to make your favorite game playable.
One of the most important selling points of this smartphone is its large battery. With its 4100 mAh capacity, it can easily keep your smartphone running for two consecutive days. Only if you play many games on it will you have to charge it daily.
We have mixed feeling about the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5. In normal day to day activities like browsing the internet or scrolling on Facebook, it behaves admirably. We also like the quality of the screen which looks good and is useable even outdoors. We are also pleased by the autonomy you get from the large battery. However, we wished that it had a better video chip and a better loudspeaker.
The camera experience on the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 offers a better rear camera than its little brother does. It has a 16 megapixels sensor, laser autofocus, and a dual-LED flash. The photos we took with it outdoors in good light conditions are of good quality, with good color reproduction and decent contrast. In night photos, quality is not so great, but that was something we expected. Night time photos are often blurry and pixelated, but with a bit of attention and maybe with a tripod, you can get some good results. You can look at the images from the gallery below to get a better idea of what the camera found on the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 has to offer.
When it comes to video recording, the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 can record clips at a maximum Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. Unfortunately, the smartphone cannot stabilize the image, and that means that videos are shaky, unless you record while standing still.
Here is a sample of a video we took on a moving train, to see how the smartphone does when it has to record moving objects.
And here is a panorama that we recorded, in which you can see how the smartphone handles videos with less movement involved.
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 offers a good camera experience when it comes to shooting photos and recording videos. The results are not always great but they are better than the average you get from other smartphones with a similar price tag.
Android 7.1.1 Nougat, ASUS ZenUI, and bundled apps
ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 comes with the 7.1.1 version of Android, also known as Nougat. The company modified the default user interface and added some new features and changes, in what they call ASUS ZenUI. Among the key features of the ZenUI, we would like to mention the ability to create app folders inside the app drawer, the ability to download and use themes as you like, and the option to increase the touch sensitivity when you are wearing gloves (especially useful during winter).
Besides the default apps from the Android operating system, ASUS also bundled a range of apps that the company thinks are useful for their users. Here is what apps are preinstalled on the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5:
- Amazon Kindle - an ebook reader app which you can use to shop and read ebooks from Amazon.
- Do It Later - helps you create and organize daily tasks, as well as set reminders, notes and other things like that.
- Facebook - the official app of the most popular social network on Earth.
- File Manager - an app which you can use to see and manage the files found on your smartphone.
- FM Radio - you can use it to listen to FM radio stations. You will have to connect a pair of headphones as they act as a radio antenna.
- Gallery - lets you browse and open the photos and videos you take with your smartphone.
- Instagram - the mobile app of the popular photo and video-sharing social network.
- Laser Ruler - an app that uses the laser autofocus sensor on your smartphone to help you measure small distances.
- MiniMovie - useful if you want to create movies or slideshows using the photos that are saved on your smartphone.
- Mobile Manager - acts as a central point for various system maintenance tasks. It gives you a quick overview of your battery and memory use, as well as quick access to the battery saving modes, to the details of your data usage, the apps that are allowed to show push notifications and so on. It also includes an antivirus powered by Avast.
- Need for Speed No Limits - a car racing game that looks good and is entertaining, at least for a while.
- PhotoCollage - use it to create photo collages with ease. If you are into that, you might find this app rather interesting.
- Puffin - is a web browser that, unlike the default Google Chrome browser, also supports Adobe Flash. It might be a good idea to keep it installed if you still visit websites that use the old Flash plugin.
- Quick Memo - a very simple app for taking quick and simple notes.
- Service Center - offers you access to 24/7 support from ASUS.
- SimCity - a game in which you control other people's lives. 🙂
- Sound Recorder - a simple app that uses the smartphone's microphone to record sound.
- Splendid - lets you personalize the settings of your smartphone's display.
- Themes - a portal where you can see, download, install and apply various system themes for the ZenUI user interface.
- Weather - an app that shows you weather forecasts, based on AccuWeather's data.
- WebStorage - a cloud service from ASUS that offers you 5 GB of free storage space.
- ZenCircle - a social network for ZenFone users that works by sharing smartphone created videos.
- ZenTalk - a forum dedicated to all owners of ZenFone smartphones, which can prove quite useful.
- ZenUI FAQ - a customer service app that provides you with in-device assistance and answers to users' frequently asked questions.
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 smartphone comes with the latest Android 7.1.1 Marshmallow, and that is excellent. Although we like the ZenUI user interface, we would have appreciated if ASUS did not bundle so many apps.
Performance in benchmarks
We know now that the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 (ZC553KL) is more powerful than ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC520TL). However, to be more thorough, we also ran a series of benchmarks. Next, you can see the results we got, and you can use them to compare the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 against the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max and any other smartphones.
The first benchmarking app that we used is Vellamo. We began with its series of tests called Multicore. These tests show how good the processor is when it has to run multiple execution threads or, in other words when it has to multitask. The 64-bit Qualcomm snapdragon 430 octa-core processor found on this smartphone managed to get 1704 points in this benchmark. That is close to what a Motorola Nexus 6 offers and is 19% better than the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC520TL).
Then, we ran the Vellamo Metal tests, which measure the performance of the processor when running single threads. In other words, they show how the processor performs when running apps that do not know how to use multiple cores or when the performance per core is important, like in the case of games. The ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 smartphone got 1219 points, which is a similar result to that of an LG Nexus 5. It is also a result that is 32% higher than that of the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC520TL). It is an impressive difference.
Next, we moved on to check how the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 handles games. For that, we used the GFXBench GL Benchmark app. We ran the tests called 1080p Car Chase Offscreen, 1080p Manhattan 3.1 Offscreen, and 1080p T-Rex Offscreen. We used only 1080p tests because they are all run using the same Full HD 1080p resolution, and that means it is easier to compare the smartphone's performance to others, regardless of their size or resolution.
In the 1080p Car Chase Offscreen test, the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 managed to render 148.9 frames, a result that is almost identical to that of the Huawei P10 lite and close to that of an ASUS ZenFone 2 Laser.
In the 1080p Manhattan 3.1 Offscreen test, the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 rendered 285.6 frames. It is a poor result, similar to that of the Huawei P10 lite, but double of what the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC520TL) has to offer.
In the third and final video test that we run, 1080p T-Rex Offscreen, the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 rendered 921 frames. This shows how the smartphone runs older games and, in this case, the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 performs a lot better than its predecessor. It is close to a Motorola Nexus 6, and it is three times better than the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC520TL).
Although the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 is not a smartphone we would recommend to gamers, it is, however, better than its predecessor, the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC520TL). It will run games, but not at high video quality or high framerates.
Moving on to more common use cases, we also tested the performance of the ASUS ZenFone at browsing the web. To do that, we used Vellamo once more and ran its Browser test. The smartphone got a score of 2400 points, which makes it 26% faster than the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC520TL). Once again, this is an impressive difference.
Although the mobile network coverage is not extraordinary in our geographical area, we also wanted to see how the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 would do regarding 4G speed and reliability. The measurements that we made with the Speedtest app show that this smartphone can achieve faster speeds than other similar devices, but they are not constant.
Finally, we also tested the battery life, because that is the most important feature about the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5. To see what the 4100 mAh battery can do, we used an app called PCMark. In its Work 2.0 battery life tests, the ASUS Zenfone 3 Max 5.5 managed to last for 10 hours and 37 minutes. It is a very good result, and it confirms that the smartphone can last a long time if you don't do demanding tasks on it.
The benchmarks show that the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max can handle any task and does pretty well at multitasking. It does not shine when it comes to games, but it can run them nonetheless. Although the battery life you get from it is a bit less than what you get from the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC520TL), the screen is larger, and the performance is much better on the ZenFone 3 Max 5.5.
What is your opinion about the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5?
Now you know what the ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 has to offer and what is our opinion about it. We definitely like it more than its predecessor. At the end of this review, we would like to know your opinion too: Do you like this revision made by ASUS? What do you think about the new ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5?
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