Choosing a new smartphone can be overwhelming, especially with so many options available. Today, we're pitting the budget-friendly Asus Zenfone 4 Max against the popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S to see which offers the best value and features for your money. Let's dive in!
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S is the clear winner. While the Zenfone 4 Max offers decent battery life, the Note 10S boasts a significantly faster processor, superior camera, faster charging, and a more modern display, making it a more compelling choice overall.
| 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 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 40 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 26, 28, 38, 41 - USA, Canada | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2017, July. Released 2017, September | 2021, March 04 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, April 28 |
| 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) | 160.5 x 74.5 x 8.3 mm (6.32 x 2.93 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 181 g (6.38 oz) | 178.8 g (6.31 oz) |
| | - | IP53, dust and splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass (unspecified version) | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~267 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~70.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.43 inches, 99.8 cm2 (~83.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | S-IPS LCD | AMOLED, 450 nits (typ), 1100 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core (2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8937 Snapdragon 430 (28 nm) | Mediatek MT6785V/CD Helio G95 (12 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 505 | Mali-G76 MC4 |
| OS | Android 7 (Nougat), ZenUI 4 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, MIUI 14 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.2 |
| 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, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | - | 13 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, 24mm (wide) | 13 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.1, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| 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 |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired
Reverse wired | 33W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Titanium Gray, Rose Pink, Sand Gold, Deepsea Black | Deep Sea Blue (Ocean Blue), Shadow Black (Onyx Gray), (Frost White) Pebble White |
| Models | X00ID, X00IS, X00HDA, ZC554KL | M2101K7BG, M2101K7BI, M2101K7BNY, M2101K7BL |
| Price | About 270 EUR | € 101.48 / £ 135.82 / ₹ 13,999 |
| SAR | - | 1.07 W/kg (head) 0.81 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.60 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) |
Asus Zenfone 4 Max ZC554KL
- Excellent battery life
- Affordable price
- Reverse wired charging
- Outdated chipset
- Low-resolution display
- Mediocre camera
- Slow charging
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S
- Fast processor
- Excellent camera
- Vibrant AMOLED display
- Fast charging
- Modern design
- Can get warm under heavy load
- Software can be a bit bloated
Display Comparison
The Redmi Note 10S features a 6.43-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering vibrant colors and smooth scrolling. The Zenfone 4 Max has a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display, which is adequate but lacks the vibrancy and smoothness of the AMOLED panel. The Note 10S's higher resolution also contributes to a sharper image.
Camera Comparison
The Redmi Note 10S shines with its quad-camera setup (108MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro, 2MP depth). It captures detailed photos with good dynamic range. The Zenfone 4 Max has a dual-camera setup (13MP main, 5MP front), which is adequate for casual snapshots but falls short in low-light conditions and overall image quality.
Performance
The Redmi Note 10S's Helio G95 chipset and dual-core Cortex-A76 CPU provide a substantial performance boost over the Zenfone 4 Max's Snapdragon 430 and Cortex-A53 CPU. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the Note 10S. The Zenfone 4 Max is sufficient for basic tasks but struggles with demanding applications.
Battery Life
The Zenfone 4 Max is known for its large 5000mAh battery, providing excellent battery life. The Redmi Note 10S has a 5020mAh battery, offering comparable battery life, but the faster charging (33W) on the Note 10S allows for quicker top-ups.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Asus Zenfone 4 Max ZC554KL? Users prioritizing long battery life and a very budget-friendly price point. Who should buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S? Those seeking a balance of performance, camera quality, and modern features without breaking the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Zenfone 4 Max still worth buying in 2024?
Only if you're on an extremely tight budget and prioritize battery life above all else. Otherwise, the Redmi Note 10S offers significantly better value.
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful processor and higher refresh rate display.
