The ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M2 goes on sale in Malaysia for less than RM1,000

ASUS has finally announced the ZenFone Max Pro M2 and Malaysia is among the first countries to get it. This is the successor of their popular ZenFone Max Pro M1 which packs great hardware and a large battery at under RM1,000. The device is a direct competitor to the Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro and Realme 2 Pro.

Compared to the previous model, the ZenFone Max Pro M2 gets a larger 6.3″ Full HD+ display. There’s a notch at the top and the front display is protected by Corning’s latest Gorilla Glass 6. For a more upmarket look, the M2 gets a glossy plastic back that has a nice reflective layer effect.

Under the hood, the ZenFone Max Pro M2 gets a more capable Snapdragon 660 processor that comes with either 4GB or 6GB of RAM. At the moment, ASUS is only offering 64GB of storage for both RAM variants but you can still expand further with its dedicated microSD slot.

In the imaging department, the ZenFone Max Pro M2 packs a 12MP f/1.8 camera with Sony IMX486 sensor and a secondary 5MP shooter for depth of field effects. In front, it gets a 13MP selfie camera. 

Compared to other mid-range smartphones in this segment, the ZenFone Max Pro M2 stands out for having a 5,000mAh battery. It still charges via micro USB and thankfully, it still retains a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Out of the box, it runs on stock Android 8.1 Oreo. According to ASUS, Android 9 Pie update will be available sometime in January 2019.

The ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M2 is officially priced at RM859 for the 4GB RAM + 64GB storage model and RM999 for the 6GB RAM + 64GB storage option. Both models will be available for pre-order at midnight tonight in conjunction with the 12.12 sales. Pre-orders for the 4GB RAM model will be available exclusively through Lazada while the higher spec 6GB RAM unit is sold exclusively on Shopee. According to ASUS, stocks are expected to be available from 18 December 2018 onwards. 

Is the ZenFone Max Pro M2 any good? Check out our full review.