New Asus ZenFone Max handset doubles as a charger for other devices
With a battery that has nearly double what other phones use, the ZenFone Max should run for two days. Or you can use that extra power to charge other devices.
By Kevin Tofel for Mobile Platforms | August 7, 2015 -- 14:35 GMT (22:35 GMT+08:00) | Topic: Hardware
Asus has a new Android phone on the way that should appeal to those who need their handset to last more than a full day on a single charge. Dubbed the Asus ZenFone Max, the phone has a massive battery inside with a unique twist: You can charge other phones, tablets or accessories with it.
Asus announced the ZenFone Max this week at a New Delhi press event, touting the phone's internal 5,000 mAh battery.
For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S6 uses a 2600 mAh battery while the power pack inside Apple's iPhone 6 Plus has a capacity of 2915 mAh.
While Asus didn't share expected run-times for its new ZenFone Max, the phone should easily last for two days with normal use. Or you could use it to top off the battery in another device, getting a few extra hours out of a companion tablet or Bluetooth headphones, for example.
Aside from the large battery, there's little here that stands out; this is essentially a mid-range phone compared to the already available ZenFone 2, which starts at $299.
The new Max model runs on an energy efficient Snapdragon 410 processor and 2 GB of memory. Asus hasn't shared the resolution of the 5.5-inch display, which is likely a 720p screen based on the choice of processor. The Max does have a 13 megapixel f/2.0 rear camera with laser auto-focus, however, and a 5 megapixel front image sensor.
Price and availability aren't yet known but when they are, you can bet Asus will be highlighting the big battery bang you get for your buck.
