ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) vs. Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked

Phone Comparison, Reviews and Tests

Detailed comparison and review of ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) and Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked. With our comprehensive overview, you can simply compare sizes, functions, but also other key features of both phones and easily decide which one is the right choice for you. Our goal is to help you identify the main differences between products and find the phone that best fits your needs and expectations.

Phone Specifications Comparison

ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) vs. Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked Comparison Chart
DESIGN AND DIMENSIONS ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked
Product Type Smartphone Smartphone
Manufacturer Model Number ZC553KL SM-N960U1
Form Factor Touch Touch
Height 151.4 mm 161.9 mm Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked has greater height than ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL).
Width 76.2 mm 76.4 mm Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked has greater width than ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL).
Depth 8.3 mm 8.8 mm ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) is narrower than ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL).
Weight 174 g 201 g ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) is lighter than ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL).
Body Colour Sand gold | Titanium grey | Glacier silver Ocean blue
Body Material Metal -
Protection - Dustproof, splashproof, waterproof
Waterproof (Water-resistant) - Yes Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked is waterproof.
IP rating - IP68
SAR Value 1.52 W/kg (body), 0.419 W/kg (head) 1.59 W/kg (simultaneous), 1.39 W/kg (wireless router), 1.03 W/kg (body), 1.29 W/kg (head)
Integrated Components FM radio Heart rate sensor
Connector Type Headset jack - mini-phone 3.5mm
Micro-USB - 5 pin Micro-USB Type B
USB Type-C - 24 pin USB-C
Headset jack - mini-phone 3.5mm
SIM Card Type (Size) Micro SIM, nano SIM Nano SIM
SIM Card Qty Dual-SIM Single-SIM
SIM Card Configuration Details Micro SIM + nano SIM/microSD -
DISPLAY ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked
Display Type LCD display OLED display
Display Technology IPS Quad HD+ Super AMOLED
Screen Size (Display Size) 5.5" 6.4" Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked has larger screen size than ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL).
Screen Resolution (Display Resolution) 1920 x 1080 pixels 2960 x 1440 pixels Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked has better screen resolution than ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL).
Display Format Full HD QHD+
Pixel Density - 516 ppi
Max Brightness 450 cd/m² -
Colour Depth - 16.7 million colours
Display Enhancement Technology Bluelight Filter for Eye Care -
Display Features 2.5D Glass Always-on display, Edge Screen, Infinity Display, Edge-to-Edge screen
Display Protection (Screen Protector) Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating -
PROCESSOR ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked
Processor Type (CPU) Qualcomm Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
Processor Number MSM8937 -
Clock Speed 1.4 GHz 2.8 GHz Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked has higher clock speed than ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL).
Processor Core Qty 8-core 8-core Both phones have the same number of phone cores.
64-bit Architecture Yes Yes Both phones have 64-bit architecture.
Graphics System (GPU) Qualcomm ADRENO 505 Qualcomm ADRENO 630
MEMORY ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked
RAM 3 GB LPDDR4 SDRAM - 8 GB Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked has more RAM than ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL).
Internal Memory Size (Storage Capacity) 32 GB 512 GB Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked has more internal memory than ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL).
User Memory - 463.4 GB
Supported Flash Memory Cards (Expandable Memory) microSDHC, microSDXC - up to 128 GB microSDHC, microSDXC - up to 512 GB
CAMERA ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked
MAIN CAMERA
Number of Main Cameras 1 2
Sensor Resolution 16 Megapixel 12 Megapixel ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) has better camera resolution than Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked.
Sensor Size 1/3" 1/2.55" ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) has better camera sensor size than Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked.
Lens Type - Wide-angle lens
Lens Aperture F/2.0 F/1.5 & f/2.4 Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked has better lens aperture than ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL).
Lens Construction 5-element -
Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS) - Dual OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked has optical stabilisation.
Focus Adjustment Automatic Automatic
Laser Auto Focus Yes -
Optical Zoom - 2x
Digital Zoom - 10x
Special Effects Depth of field HDR, Bokeh effect, Grid Line
HDR Mode Realtime HDR mode -
Camera Modes Panorama, Time-lapse mode, night mode, selfie mode, manual mode, Real time beauty mode, super resolution mode, low-light shots, All Smiles mode, Mini mode, Photo Effect Mode, Children mode Panorama, Pro mode, Timer mode, HYPERLAPSE, Auto mode, Food mode, Super Slow-mo, AR Emoji, Portraits, Flowers, Indoor scenes, Animals, Landscapes, Greenery, Trees, Sky, Mountains, Beaches, Sunrises and sunsets, Watersides, Street scenes, Night scenes, Waterfalls, Snow, Birds, Backlit, Text, Disney AR Emoji
Face Recognition (Face ID) - Face detection Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked has face detection.
Light Source Dual LED flash LED flash
Video Resolutions 1920 x 1080 (1080p) at 30 fps, 1280 x 720 (720p) at 30 fps 1920 x 1080 (1080p) at 30 fps, 1920 x 1080 (1080p) at 60 fps, 1280 x 720 (720p) at 30 fps, 3840 x 2160 (4K) at 30 fps, 3840 x 2160 (4K) at 60 fps, Super slow motion video 1280 x 720 (720p) at 960 fps, Slo-mo video 1920 x 1080 (1080p) at 240 fps, 2560 x 1440 (QHD) at 30 fps
Camera Features (Functions) Blue Glass Infrared Filter, GIF animation function, QR-code scanner, ZenMotion, Smart Remove, Electronic Image Stabiliser (EIS), MiniMovie, Time Rewind, Deep Trench Isolation technology, PixelMaster 3.0 camera, 3-axis electronic image stabilisation Quick Launch, Playback zoom, Motion photo, VDIS (Video Digital Image Stabilisation), Live Focus, Dual Capture, High CRI LED flash, Tracking AF, Video location tags, Stamps, location tags, Continuous autofocus video, Hyperlapse video support 1080p, Live focus with bokeh filters, Super Speed Dual Pixel, background blur, Scene Optimiser, Eye blink, Motion blur, Lens smudge, Backlit, Full view, Flaw detection, 9.1MP still photos recording 4K video
SECOND CAMERA
Sensor Resolution (2nd Camera) - 12 Megapixel
Sensor Size (2nd Camera) - 1/3.4"
Lens Type (2nd Camera) - Telephoto lens
Lens Aperture (2nd Camera) - F/2.4
FRONT CAMERA
Number of Front Cameras 1 1
Sensor Resolution (Front) 8 Megapixel 8 Megapixel Both phones have the same front camera resolution.
Sensor Size (Front) - 1/3.6"
Lens Type (Front) - Wide-angle lens
Lens Aperture (Front) F/2.2 F/1.7 Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked has better front lens aperture than ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL).
Focus Adjustment Automatic Automatic
Special Effects (Front) Real-time face beautification HDR, Grid Line
HDR Mode (Front) HDR Pro -
Camera Modes (Front) Time-lapse mode, Slow motion mode, selfie panorama, GIF animation function Timer mode, wide selfie mode, selfie mode, AR Emoji, selfie focus
Camera Features (Front) Low-light scene recognition, PixelMaster 3.0 camera Quick launch, Motion photo, Stamps, location tags, VDIS (Video Digital Image Stabilization), Full view, Flaw detection
BATTERY AND CHARGING ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked
Battery Capacity (Battery Size) 4100 mAh 4000 mAh ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) has larger battery capacity than Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked.
Wireless Charging - Yes Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked can be charged wirelessly.
Wireless Charging Standards - WPC, PMA
Standby Time 912 hours -
Talk Time 1020 minutes 2280 minutes Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked has longer battery life when making calls than ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL).
Run Time Details Talk (3G): up to 1020 min
Standby (LTE): up to 912 hrs
Continuous browsing (Wi-Fi): up to 19 hrs
Playback (Music): up to 72 hrs
Talk (CDMA): up to 2280 min
Active online usage (3G): up to 15 hrs
Active online usage (LTE): up to 16 hrs
Active online usage (Wi-Fi): up to 16 hrs
Playback (audio): up to 60 hrs
Playback (audio (Always On Display Off)): up to 95 hrs
Playback (video): up to 21 hrs
Talk (WCDMA): up to 2280 min
Battery Technology Lithium polymer -
CELLULAR ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked
Technology WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM CDMA2000 1X / GSM / WCDMA (UMTS) / TD-SCDMA
Mobile Broadband Generation 4G 4G Both phones have the same mobile network generation.
Operating System Android 7.1.1 Nougat Android 8.1 Oreo
User Interface ASUS ZenUI -
Intelligent Assistant - Bixby
Payment Technology - Samsung Pay
Navigation GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou GPS, GLONASS
COMMUNICATIONS ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked
Data Transmission GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA, HSUPA, FDD-LTE, DC-HSPA+ GPRS, EDGE, EV-DO, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, FDD-LTE, TDD-LTE
2G Band 850 GSM, 900 GSM, 1800 GSM, 1900 GSM 850 GSM, 900 GSM, 1800 GSM, 1900 GSM, 800 CDMA2000 1X, 1900 CDMA2000 1X
3G UMTS Band - Band 1, Band 2, Band 4, Band 5, Band 8
3G UMTS Frequency - 2100, 1900, 1700, 850, 900
4G LTE Band Band 1, Band 2, Band 3, Band 5, Band 7, Band 8, Band 20 Band 1, Band 2, Band 3, Band 4, Band 5, Band 7, Band 8, Band 12, Band 13, Band 14, Band 17, Band 18, Band 19, Band 20, Band 25, Band 26, Band 28, Band 29, Band 30, Band 38, Band 39, Band 40, Band 41, Band 46, Band 66, Band 71
4G LTE Frequency FDD 2100, FDD 1900 PCS, FDD 1800+, FDD 850, FDD 2600, FDD 900, FDD 800 DD FDD 2100, FDD 1900 PCS, FDD 1800+, FDD 1700 - 2110 AWS, FDD 850, FDD 2600, FDD 900, FDD 700a, FDD 700c, FDD 700 PS, FDD 700b, FDD 800 lower, FDD 800 upper, FDD 800 DD, FDD 1900+, FDD 850+, FDD 700 APT, FDD 700d, FDD 2300 WCS, TDD 2600, TDD 1900, TDD 2300, TDD 2500, TDD 5150, FDD 1700 - 2110 AWS-3, FDD 600
Wireless Interface IEEE 802.11b/g/n IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, ANT+/ANT
Bluetooth Bluetooth 4.1 Bluetooth 5.0 LE
NFC - Yes Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked has NFC reader for mobile payments.
Messaging Services SMS, MMS SMS, MMS
MEDIA ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked
Supported Digital Audio Standards - WAV, WMA, AAC, PCM, AMR, MP3, FLAC, XMF, OGG, MIDI, APE (Monkey's Audio), M4A, apt-X, DSF, DSD, MXMF, OGA, 3GA, AWB, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA, DFF, MID, DSD64, DSD128
Supported Digital Video Standards - MKV, FLV, AVI, MPEG-4, WMV, ASF, 3GP, M4V, WebM, 3G2
Sound Enhancements - Dolby Digital Plus sound, Dolby Atmos sound technology, Acoustic Overload Point, stereo speakers tuned by AKG, Dolby Digital sound
FEATURES ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked
Phone Functions Speakerphone, voice control, call timer, conference call, flight mode, voice dialing, vibrating alert Speakerphone, voice control, call timer, conference call, flight mode, voice dialing, vibrating alert
Sensors Ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, digital compass, gyro sensor, hall sensor Accelerometer, proximity sensor, barometer, gyro sensor, hall sensor, RGB sensor, pressure sensor, geomagnetic sensor
Security Devices Fingerprint reader Face recognition, fingerprint reader, eye scan
Additional Phone Features ICEpower technology, Dual microphones, Glove Touchscreen Operation, Google Drive Storage (100 GB) (free for 2 years), ASUS SonicMaster 3.0 technology, ASUS NoiseZero Talk technology, NXP Smart AMP technology, Super Saving mode S Pen multi-input, Face Unlock, Wi-Fi Miracast, Screen Write, Smart Select, MU-MIMO technology, Fast Charging, Samsung KNOX, Face recognition, High AOP Mic, Smart View, Live message, Screen off memo, Samsung DeX support, Bixby Vision, Smart Performance Adjuster, Dual Audio, water-carbon cooling system, S Pen remote function
OTHERS ASUS ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) Samsung Galaxy Note9 Unlocked
Included Accessories USB cable, power adapter, SIM card removal tool, ASUS ZenEar with Mic Power adapter, tweezer, SIM card removal tool, USB connector, USB-C cable, S Pen, Pen nibs, headset (tuned by AKG)
Compliant Standards - IP68
Max Depth of Water Resistance - 1.5 m
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