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.
🏆 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.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - G903F |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 40 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 - G903F |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat6 300/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 26, 28, 38, 41 - USA, Canada | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 17, 20, 29 - G903W |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2017, July. Released 2017, September | 2015, August. Released 2015, August |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass), aluminum back, aluminum frame | - |
| Dimensions | 154 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) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 181 g (6.38 oz) | 145 g (5.11 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass (unspecified version) | - |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~267 ppi density) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~432 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~70.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.1 inches, 71.7 cm2 (~69.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | S-IPS LCD | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8937 Snapdragon 430 (28 nm) | Exynos 7580 Octa (28 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 505 | Mali-T720MP2 |
| OS | Android 7 (Nougat), ZenUI 4 | Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 7.0 (Nougat) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM | 16GB 2GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), AF
13 MP, f/2.0, 12mm, no AF | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | - | 16 MP, f/1.9, 31mm (standard), AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | - |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, 24mm (wide) | 5 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide) |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.1, A2DP, LE | 4.1, A2DP, EDR, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, heart rate |
| | - | ANT+
S-Voice |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired
Reverse wired | - |
| Music play | - | Up to 73 h |
| Talk time | - | Up to 15 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 2800 mAh, removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Titanium Gray, Rose Pink, Sand Gold, Deepsea Black | Black, Gray, Gold |
| Models | X00ID, X00IS, X00HDA, ZC554KL | SM-G903F, SM-G903W, SM-G903M, SM-S903VL |
| Price | About 270 EUR | About 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.