There are two types of smartphone buyers in the market: the ones who prioritize the design, while the others which like to focus more on the value, actual specs, and usability.
If you’re shopping at the sub-Php12k range, and still can’t decide if you’d go with form over function or vice versa, then this comparison might be for you. This price category is quite sensitive since consumers want to make the right purchasing decision to make the most out of your money.
Here we have the Huawei Nova 2 Lite and ASUS Zenfone Max Plus. The former — Huawei’s latest smartphone — immediately beats the Zenfone Max Plus in the design department. It offers a shiny and stunning build compared to ASUS’ handset.
On the other hand, the Zenfone Max Plus has a slightly boring and standard-looking design. It has basic color options and an array aesthetics that it inherited from its older brothers.
However, the Zenfone Max Plus makes up for it by offering a better set of specifications when compared to the Nova 2 Lite. But the question is, should you really sacrifice the design just to have a better-performing hardware? Or should you stand in the middle ground and settle for a device that has decent performance but is appealing to look at?
| Huawei Nova 2 Lite | ASUS ZenFone Max Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 8.0 Oreo EMUI 8.0 | Android 7.0 Nougat ZenUI 4.0 |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby |
| Display | 5.99-inch HD+ IPS display 1440 x 720 resolution, ~268ppi 18:9 aspect ratio | 5.7-inch FHD+ IPS display 2160 x 1080 resolution, ~424ppi 18:9 aspect ratio |
| Processor | 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 octa-core | 1.5GHz MediaTek MT6750T octa-core |
| RAM | 3GB RAM | 4GB RAM |
| GPU | Adreno 505 GPU | Mali-T860MP2 GPU |
| Storage | 32GB internal storage Expandable via microSD up to 256GB | 32GB internal storage Expandable via microSD up to 128GB |
| Front camera | 8-megapixel Toning flash | 8-megapixel LED flash |
| Rear Camera | 13-megapixel + 2-megapixel LED flash | 16-megapixel + 8-megapixel LED flash |
| Security | Facial Recognition Fingerprint scanner | Facial Recognition Fingerprint scanner |
| Connectivity | 4G LTE Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n Bluetooth GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS | 4G LTE Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n Bluetooth GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS |
| Dimensions | 158.3 × 76.7 × 7.8mm | 152.6 x 72.7 x 8.8 mm |
| Weight | 155g | 160g |
| Color | Matte Black, Blue, Gold | Silver, Black, Gold |
| Battery | 3,000mAh | 4130mAh |
See also: Huawei Nova 2 Lite vs Nova 2i: Specs Comparison
The Zenfone Max Plus easily blew the Nova 2 Lite out of the water in the specs department. It offers a sharper display, bigger RAM, higher-resolution dual cameras, and of course, a substantially larger battery.
However, let’s not forget that the Huawei Nova 2 Lite comes with a newer version of Android, a larger screen — and like what we were saying earlier — an attractive design and color.
Personally, I think that the ASUS Zenfone Max Plus is the better option. But that’s the tech enthusiast in me talking. If I’d be objective, I think that the Huawei Nova 2 Lite is a better option for most consumers, considering its hardware is not that bad either.
I have spent some time with the Nova 2 Lite and found out that the entire performance and user experience is still really good, even though it’s still on pre-release software. So, choosing the less-powered but the better-looking smartphone isn’t really a bad idea.