Weeks after Asus launched the ZenFone Max Pro M1, it has now launched two new smartphones: ZenFone Max M1 and Zenfone Lite L1. These are budget phones aimed at the Rs 7000-8,000 range.
The Asus ZenFone Max M1 and the Asus ZenFone Lite L1 have been released together probably since their specifications are almost the same on several counts barring a few.
The display size is common in both the phones 5.45 inches and the HD+ display with a screen resolution of 1440x720pixels is also the same. These are minimum bezels display with an aspect ratio of 18:9. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 430SoC is the processor fitted on both these phones, the Asus ZenFone Max M1 and the ZenFone Lite L1. This is seen as a slight departure since many Chinese phones in this range would have other chipsets and not a Qualcomm one. Both phone will be pre-loaded with the Android Oreo version 8.0 with Zen UI 5.0 as the skin over it.
The differences between the two models start with the RAM. While the lower end ZenFone Lite L1 will come with 2GB RAM the ZenFone Max M1 will have 3GB RAM. The internal storage will be 16GB and 32GB respectively and both allow a microSD card to be inserted to boost the storage by an additional 256GB.
Asus ZenFone Lite L1
There is a small difference in the camera set up as well. The ZenFone Max M1 has a 13MP sensor in the rear and an 8MP sensor in the front while the ZenFone Lite L1 will come fitted with a 13MP sensor in the rear and a 5MP sensor for selfies. Beauty, Pro, Panorama, Time Lapse, HDR and Portrait are some of the modes supported on both the camera setups.
The other variations between the models include a fingerprint sensor in the Max M1, a 4,000mAh battery and a 10W charger. The Lite L1 model of ZenFone will have a face unlock as a biometric option and no fingerprint sensor and the battery will be only 3,000mAh. The charger will be 5W. The connectivity options and the sensors on board will be complete in all respects.
Both the Asus ZenFone Max M1 and the Asus ZenFone Lite L1 will be Flipkart exclusives in India and will start being sold to buyers during the Flipkart Festive Dhamaka Sale possibly coinciding with Diwali, in early November.
The ZenFone Max M1 is being priced at Rs 8,999 and the Asus ZenFone Lite L1 at Rs 6,999. But there are launch-time offers of discounted prices. These will be Rs 7,499 and Rs 5,999 respectively with Rs 1,500 and Rs 1,000 being shaved off the listed prices. Some service provider may join in with their own offers to sweeten the purchase.