Asus Zenfone 4 Max (ZC554KL)

very long battery life ; stays cool ; usability ; extensive software ; security patches up to date ; USB OTC ; separate MicroSD slot ; decent speaker ; plenty of accessories ; fast MicroSD card reader

slow Wi-Fi without support for 5 GHz ; limited selection of LTE bands ; comparatively high power consumption ; low display brightness ; red tint on photos ; wide angle lens distorts photos around the edges ; 720p display ; pressure-sensitive case

The ZenFone 4 Max’s long battery life is quite special indeed. Not only are charging cycles few and far between, the battery is also fully charged very quickly. Furthermore, it is neither particularly heavy nor particularly chunky. Unfortunately, the...

Massive battery provides solid battery life ; Capable main camera for the price point ; Prompt, smooth performance ; Can charge other USB devices ; Good value, affordably priced at $200

720p resolution + 5.5-inch screen = grain in smaller images and text ; Display is pale and bluish ; Secondary wide-angle camera yields low-quality photos

Battery life ; With such a huge battery, this is pretty obvious. This phone is very difficult to kill, usually netting me roughly two and a half days of use on a single charge.

Software ; This the older, clunkier version of ZenUI that's just hideous. At least Nougat 7.1.1 is running under it all. ; Navigation ; While I dislike capacitive keys, these really irritate me. Instead of being backlit, they're just reflective....

Like with many phones that I review, I had to remember while using and reviewing the Zenfone 4 Max that I, personally as a consumer, do not represent the target audience for this device. It's aimed at someone who wants the best bang for their buck,...