Nokia and Asus have just unveiled two potential best-buys of 2019: Asus Zenfone Max Pro (M2) and Nokia 8.1. The first is the successor of Zenfone Max Pro (M1), one of the best selling affordable phones of 2018, while the second is the European version of the Nokia X7 and it is the successor of the Nokia 7 Plus for Europe. Besides Nokia 8.1, another important mid-ranger recently hitten European shelves: Oppo RX17 Neo. This is an in-depth comparison between these three beasts available at very interesting prices.
Asus Zenfone Max Pro (M2) vs Oppo RX17 Neo vs Nokia 8.1
| Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 | Oppo RX17 Neo | Nokia 8.1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 157.9 x 75.5 x 8.5 mm, 170 grams | 158.3 x 75.5 x 7.4 mm, 156 grams | 154.8 x 75.8 x 8 mm, 178 grams |
| DISPLAY | 6.3 inches, 1080 x 2280p (Full HD+), 400 ppi, IPS LCD | 6.41 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 402 ppi, 19.5:9 ratio, Super AMOLED | 6.18 inches, 1080 x 2280p (Full HD+), 408 ppi, 19:9 ratio, IPS LCD |
| PROCESSOR | Qualcomm Snapdragon 660, octa-core 2.2 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 660, octa-core 2.2 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, octa-core 2.2 GHz |
| MEMORY | 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB, micro SD dedicated slot | 4 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot | 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot |
| SOFTWARE | Android 8.1 Oreo, Funtouch OS | Android 8.1 Oreo, Color OS | Android 8.1 Oreo, Android One |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS |
| CAMERA | Dual 12 + 5 MP f/1.8 and f/2.4 25 MP f/2.0 front camera |
Dual 16 + 2 MP f/2.4 25 MP f/2.0 front camera |
Dual 12 + 13 MP f/1.8 20 MP f/2.0 front camera |
| BATTERY | 3400 mAh Fast Charging 18W |
3600 mAh Fast Charging 10W |
3500 mAh Fast Charging 18W |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | Dual SIM slot | Hybrid Dual SIM slot | Hybrid Dual SIM slot |
Design
If you like to show your smartphone to your friends and you want the most beautiful device, there is no much better than the Oppo RX17 Neo on its price range. Indeed, it comes with a refined glass back available in stunning gradient colors, and it also features a display with a very high screen-to-body ratio thanks to the OnePlus 6T-like waterdrop notch. Further, the device features an in-display fingerprint reader, so its rear side is very clean. Even though it is not at the same level of Oppo, even Asus Zenfone Max Pro (M2) has impressive aesthetics, especially thanks to its elegant glass back.
Display
The most impressive display is again the one found on the Oppo RX17 Neo, thanks to its Super AMOLED technology making colors very brilliant, a larger diagonal and very deep blacks. However, it remains a midrange-class panel and it is not anything spectacular. Asus Zenfone Max Pro (M2) and Nokia 8.1 have average IPS panel with a Full HD resolution, sufficient but again nothing special.
Hardware & Software
The strong point of Nokia 8.1 is under the hood. It features a way better chipset: the Snapdragon 710 running at a max frequency of 2.2 GHz, while its opponents have the older and less powerful Snapdragon 660. You can get Nokia 8.1 with up to 6 GB of RAM and with Android One, a stock version of Google’s operating system which gets updated faster compared to Oppo’s Color OS and Asus’ custom forks. Oppo RX17 Neo and Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 come with the same chipset but the former has more internal storage (128 GB), while the latter boasts a micro SD dedicated slot leaving the dual SIM slot always free and usable.
Camera
If you are searching for the best camera on the rear side, you should go for Nokia 8.1 as its dual camera with Carl Zeiss optics and OIS can achieve definitely better results. On the other hand, Oppo RX17 Neo is better for selfies and it has a very advanced algorithm and AI-backed features for its 25 MP front camera. Asus Zenfone Max Pro (M2) is definitely not a camera phone and it should bring just an average camera performance.
- Read More: ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M2, Max M2 now official in Russia; Pricing and Specifications Revealed
Battery
Just like every device from the Max line-up, Asus Zenfone Max Pro (M2) is mainly focused on the battery life. It comes with a huge 5000 mAh unit which is able to last even two days of intensive use on a single charge. But note that it does not feature a fast charging technology, so it will take a while to reach 100 percent. Oppo RX17 Neo and Nokia 8.1 have a great battery life as well, but they are far from the results reached by Asus Zenfone Max Pro (M2). But at least Nokia 8.1 is able to charge fastly.
Price
The battery life is my main concern when I am looking for midrange handsets and, given that Asus Zenfone Max Pro (M2) has even the lowest price tag (€237/$270 in India), for me it is the device with the best value for money. But overall, Nokia 8.1 is the best phone in this trio. It will cost you about €400/$450, while Oppo RX17 Neo debuted in Europe with a price tag of about €350/$398.
Asus Zenfone Max Pro (M2) vs Oppo RX17 Neo vs Nokia 8.1: PROs and CONS
Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2
PROs
- Huge battery
- Dedicated micro SD slot
- Affordable price
- Good aesthetics
CONS
- Limited availability
Oppo RX17 Neo
PROs
- Awesome design
- Big battery
- In-display fingerprint scanner
- Thinner body
CONS
- Bigger dimensions
Nokia 8.1
PROs
- Better hardware
- Amazing cameras
- Android One
- More affordable
CONS
- Nothing special
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