The smartphone industry’s focus went from taking selfies to playing mobile games. Brands used to abuse their product’s front-facing cameras in their marketing shenanigans. But now, they are leaning towards its gaming prowess.
So, if you’ve been checking out Samsung’s marketing materials with their new midrange smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy J6, the company might have captured your attention as Nadine Lustre demonstrated the device’s capability on handling PUBG Mobile.
Samsung claims it can handle mobile games well, without the heavy price tag that most gaming-centric smartphones have.
But other than the Samsung Galaxy J6, there’s also another budget-friendly smartphone that has the same promise — the ASUS Zenfone Max Pro M1. This phone also claims to be a performance-centric smartphone, without costing an arm and leg.
Which between these two phones can actually deliver the best performance for the money? Can their hardware backup their words? Let’s all figure that out in our ASUS Zenfone Max Pro M1 versus Samsung Galaxy J6 specifications and features comparison.
| ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 | Samsung Galaxy J6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 8.1 Oreo | Android 8.0 Oreo |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual standby | Dual SIM Dual standby |
| Display | 5.99-inch FHD+ IPS 2160 x 1080 resolution ~402ppi 18:9 aspect ratio | 5.6-inch HD+ Super AMOLED 1480 x 720 resolution ~294ppi 18:9 aspect ratio |
| Processor | 1.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 octa-core | 1.6GHz Exynos 7870 octa-core |
| RAM | 3GB | 3GB |
| GPU | Adreno 509 | Mali-T830 MP1 |
| Storage | 32GB expandable via microSD up to 400GB | 32GB expandable via microSD up to 256GB |
| Front camera | 8-megapixel f/2.2 LED flash | 8-megapixel f/1.9 LED flash |
| Rear Camera | 13-megapixel + 5-megapixel f/2.2 PDAF LED flash | 13-megapixel f/1.9 LED flash |
| Security | Facial Recognition Fingerprint scanner | Facial Recognition Fingerprint scanner |
| Connectivity | HSPA+ 4G LTE Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n Bluetooth 4.2 GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS FM Radio microUSB 2.0 | HSPA+ 4G LTE Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n Bluetooth 4.2 GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS FM Radio microUSB 2.0 |
| Dimensions | 159 x 76 x 8.5mm | 149.3 x 70.2 x 8.2mm |
| Weight | 180g | 154g |
| Color | Deepsea Black Titanium Grey | Black Gold |
| Battery | 5000mAh non-removable 10w charger | 3000mAh non-removable |
| Price | Php9,995 | Php13,990 |
I guess it’s really obvious who’s the winner here. Despite being noticeably more expensive, the Samsung Galaxy J6 is no match on the Zenfone Max Pro M1.
Right off the bat, the ASUS Zenfone Max Pro M1 already had the win in the software department. It runs on a newer Android 8.1 Oreo, while the Galaxy J6 is only on version 8.0. And as a cherry on top, it has a stock-Android look — which is perfect for the real enthusiasts out there and for those who want a clean and straightforward user experience.
ASUS’ offering also has a bigger and sharper screen. Actually, by this point in time, seeing a 6-inch FHD+ screen on a sub-Php10k smartphone is just common. So, it’s quite puzzling why Samsung still went with a 5.6-inch HD+ display. But I would give them credit for its Super AMOLED screen, which delivers overall better color quality than IPS.
The two devices sport different processors. They are both one of the best midrange processors from their own respective brands. However, people would tend to favor the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 chipset over Samsung’s own Exynos 7870 processor due to its reliability.
The only time the Samsung Galaxy J6 won is in the camera department. It has an 8-megapixel selfie camera — which is the same as the Zenfone Max Pro M1 — but it has a wider f/1.9 aperture for low-light scenarios.
Related
- Honor 7X vs ASUS Zenfone Max Pro M1: Specs Comparison
- Xiaomi Redmi S2 vs ASUS Zenfone Max Pro M1: Specs Comparison
ASUS’ bet might have a dual rear camera setup, but unless you’re really into taking Bokeh/Portrait Mode pictures, I think you might favor the Galaxy J6’s 13-megapixel camera with its wider f/1.9 aperture.
But other than that, I guess the ASUS Zenfone Max Pro M1 will take home the crown. Other than the large and sharp screen and powerful processor, the device also comes with a chunky 5,000mAh battery, which means that you can actually play games on this handset for long hours.
What’s more interesting is that the ASUS Zenfone Max Pro M1 is almost Php4,000 cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy J6. It retails for a price of Php9,995, while the latter costs Php13,990.
ASUS Zenfone Max Pro M1 is a Lazada-exclusive while the Samsung Galaxy J6 is available both online and offline through Samsung’s concept stores, kiosks, and third-party resellers nationwide.