Let’s kick off the 2019 budget mid-range wars!
The first quarter of 2019 is off to a great start with bang-for-the-buck offerings from Honor and ASUS. Both the Honor 10 Lite and ZenFone Max M2 offer a great spec sheet for roughly a hair under Php 10k. Right now, it is unavoidable to compare both phones and see which offers a better set of features. Before we jump into the comparos, let’s do a quick rundown of their spec sheet:
Honor 10 Lite specs
- Kirin 710 octa-core processor
- Mali-G51 MP4 GPU
- 3GB RAM
- 6.34-inch Full HD+ IPS display
- 32GB/64GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD up to 256GB
- 13-megapixel f/1.8 + 2-megapixel rear camera with PDAF and LED flash
- 24-megapixel f/2.0 front camera
- Dual SIM
- 3G, LTE
- WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC
- GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
- Fingerprint scanner, face unlock, GPU Turbo 2.0
- 3400mAh battery
- Android 9.0, EMUI 9.0
Asus Zenfone Max M2 Specs
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 octa-core processor
- Adreno 506 GPU
- 3GB RAM
- 6.3-inch HD+ IPS LCD Display; 720×1520 resolution,
- 32GB of Expandable Storage up to 2TB
- 4G, LTE
- 13-megapixel f/1.8 Main Rear Camera, AI Scene Detection, 4K video recording, EIS, LED Flash
- 2-megapixel f/2.4 Secondary Rear Camera, Depth Sensor
- 8-megapixel f/2.0 Front Camera
- WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC
- GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
- Face unlock, Fingerprint Scanner, NXP Smart Amplifier
- 4000mAh battery
- Stock Android 8.1 Oreo
Internals
While both offer 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage, the Honor 10 Lite has a 64GB variant, though that particular model means you’ll be going over the Php 10K mark. As for the processor, the Kirin 710 performs better than the Snapdragon 632 in many aspects: aside from using a smaller, more power-efficient 12nm lithography, the Kirin 710 has a higher 2.2GHz clock speed.
In terms of hardware support, both have NFC, WiFi, and Bluetooth. However, the ZenFone Max M2’s Snapdragon 632 processor supports Bluetooth 5.0 and 5Ghz WiFi.
As for software, the ZenFone Max M2 has a slight advantage for using stock Android 8.1 Oreo. On the other hand, the Honor 10 Lite comes with the latest version of Android out of the box, along with EMUI 9. On paper, stock Android should translate to better resource management, but EMUI’s unique features like GPU Turbo 2.0 gives it a slight edge in providing the best performance possible for games.
Looks
It boils down to a matter of preference: the ZenFone Max M2 has a rather dated rear that has an aluminum back panel, while the Honor 10 Lite offers gradient colors with its curved polycarbonate back panel. While aluminum is technically better (and more resistant to scratches), the Honor 10 Lite’s polycarbonate back is durable and is solidly built—as long as you don’t mind its finish being a smudge magnet.
Display
Technically speaking, both have roughly the same screen size at. However, the Honor 10 Lite has the better display, as you get Full HD+ resolution along with a smaller waterdrop notch.
Camera
When it comes to the rear cameras, the ZenFone Max M2 and Honor 10 Lite technically have the same setup: a 13-megapixel f/1.8 primary camera and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. The difference lies on the camera features: while both have AI scene detection, the ZenFone Max M2 has 4K video recording (but no EIS—you only have that for Full HD video recording), while the Honor 10 Lite has the brand’s trademark AIS Night Mode.
Things are different when it comes to the front camera, as the Honor 10 Lite has the advantage with its 24-megapixel f/2.0 snapper.
Battery
The ZenFone Max M2 is called a battery king, and for a good reason: its 4000mAh battery is big for its price range. The Honor 10 Lite’s 3400mAh battery is no slouch either, as the Kirin 710 processor is power efficient, which should last you for more than a day on moderate to heavy use.
Unfortunately, both phones come with MicroUSB ports, though the ZenFone Max M2 has fast charging capabilities.
Which is the better phone then?
While the ZenFone Max M2 is Php 1k cheaper, the premium you pay for the Honor 10 Lite is worth it: you get a higher resolution display, a better front camera, and Android Pie out of the box. If you don’t mind going beyond the Php 10k mark, you can grab the Honor 10 Lite with double the internal storage at 64GB.
At a hair under Php 9k, the ZenFone Max M2 is a strong contender and is a good choice if you prefer an aluminum back, a bigger battery, stock Android, and the ability to shoot videos in 4K resolution.
Don’t forget to check out our quick reviews on both phones:
