Asus Zenfone 4 Max vs Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo: A Detailed Comparison

Looking for a reliable and affordable Android phone? The Asus Zenfone 4 Max and Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo are both contenders in the budget smartphone arena. But which one offers the best value for your money? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo edges out the Zenfone 4 Max thanks to its slightly faster processor and Samsung's generally better software support. However, the Zenfone 4 Max boasts a larger battery, making it a strong contender for users prioritizing battery life.

PHONES
Phone Names Asus Zenfone 4 Max ZC554KL Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - G903F
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 401, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 - G903F
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 MbpsHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat6 300/50 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 26, 28, 38, 41 - USA, Canada1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 17, 20, 29 - G903W
Launch
Announced2017, July. Released 2017, September2015, August. Released 2015, August
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass), aluminum back, aluminum frame-
Dimensions154 x 76.9 x 8.9 mm (6.06 x 3.03 x 0.35 in)142 x 72.5 x 8.1 mm (5.59 x 2.85 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMMicro-SIM
Weight181 g (6.38 oz)145 g (5.11 oz)
 -IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass (unspecified version)-
Resolution720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~267 ppi density)1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~432 ppi density)
Size5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~70.4% screen-to-body ratio)5.1 inches, 71.7 cm2 (~69.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeS-IPS LCDSuper AMOLED
Platform
CPUOcta-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53Octa-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A53
ChipsetQualcomm MSM8937 Snapdragon 430 (28 nm)Exynos 7580 Octa (28 nm)
GPUAdreno 505Mali-T720MP2
OSAndroid 7 (Nougat), ZenUI 4Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 7.0 (Nougat)
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal32GB 3GB RAM16GB 2GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1eMMC 5.0
Main Camera
Dual13 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), AF 13 MP, f/2.0, 12mm, no AF-
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, panorama, HDR
Single-16 MP, f/1.9, 31mm (standard), AF
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesLED flash-
Single8 MP, f/2.2, 24mm (wide)5 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide)
Video-1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes
Comms
Bluetooth4.1, A2DP, LE4.1, A2DP, EDR, LE
NFCNoYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS, GLONASS
RadioFM radioFM radio
USBmicroUSB 2.0, OTGmicroUSB 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
Features
SensorsFingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassAccelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, heart rate
 -ANT+ S-Voice
Battery
Charging10W wired Reverse wired-
Music play-Up to 73 h
Talk time-Up to 15 h (3G)
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAh, non-removableLi-Ion 2800 mAh, removable
Misc
ColorsTitanium Gray, Rose Pink, Sand Gold, Deepsea BlackBlack, Gray, Gold
ModelsX00ID, X00IS, X00HDA, ZC554KLSM-G903F, SM-G903W, SM-G903M, SM-S903VL
PriceAbout 270 EURAbout 300 EUR
SAR-1.03 W/kg (head)     1.27 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.46 W/kg (head)     0.58 W/kg (body)

Asus Zenfone 4 Max ZC554KL

  • Larger Battery
  • Larger Display
  • Reverse Wired Charging
  • Affordable Price

  • Slightly Slower Processor
  • Less Refined Software
  • Plastic Build

Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo

  • Slightly Faster Processor
  • Samsung's Software Experience
  • More Premium Feel (compared to Zenfone)

  • Smaller Battery
  • Smaller Display
  • Older Model - Limited Software Updates

Display Comparison

The Zenfone 4 Max features a larger 5.5-inch display, offering more screen real estate for browsing and media. The Galaxy S5 Neo has a 5.1-inch display. Both use IPS LCD panels, providing decent viewing angles and color reproduction, though neither is exceptional. Resolution is similar, around 720p on both.

Camera Comparison

The Zenfone 4 Max typically features a 13MP rear camera, while the Galaxy S5 Neo also has a 13MP rear camera. Image quality is comparable, with both producing decent photos in good lighting conditions. Low-light performance is average on both devices. The S5 Neo might have slightly better image processing due to Samsung's software.

Performance

The Galaxy S5 Neo holds a slight advantage here. While both phones utilize an Octa-core Cortex-A53 processor, the S5 Neo's Exynos 7580 runs at 1.6 GHz compared to the Zenfone 4 Max's 1.4 GHz Snapdragon 430. This translates to slightly snappier performance in everyday tasks and apps. Both will struggle with demanding games.

Battery Life

The Zenfone 4 Max shines in this category. It packs a significantly larger 3000mAh battery compared to the Galaxy S5 Neo's 2400mAh. This translates to noticeably longer battery life, easily lasting a full day of moderate use, while the S5 Neo may require a midday top-up.

Buying Guide

The Asus Zenfone 4 Max is ideal for users who prioritize long battery life and a larger display for media consumption. The Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo is a better choice for those who value a slightly faster processor and a more polished software experience, especially if Samsung's ecosystem is appealing.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo has a slight edge due to its faster processor, but neither phone is ideal for demanding games. Both will struggle with high graphics settings.
❓ Will the Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo receive software updates?
The Galaxy S5 Neo is an older model, so software updates are unlikely. The Zenfone 4 Max may receive a few more updates, but support is also limited.