This time I decided to dig in the direction of Asustek and talk about the new smartphone Zenfone 3, advertising for which is sticking out from behind almost every bush these days.
Recalling the prolificacy of the company and the rather extensive model diversity of last year’s, which, depending on the version, was presented in almost 6 modifications, I expected to see something similar in 2016.
However, at the summer Computex exhibition in Taiwan, we were shown only 3 models, called Zenfone 3, Zenfone 3 Ultra and Zenfone 3 Deluxe.
Taking into account the presented screen diagonals from 5.2 inches in the classic version to 6.8 inches in the Ultra version and different fillings, there were 4 standard sizes and even more modifications.
However, Asus decided that there was not enough confusion here, and after a month and a half they “threw some more fire” by adding the strange pair of Zenfone 3 Laser to the family, although the regular Zenfone 3 also has laser autofocus and the Zenfone 3 Max, the main advantage of which is a high-capacity battery .In fact, these are two intermediate and compromise versions, since the most common Zenfone 3 already knew almost everything the same, and even in several configurations.
As a result, the current model range has equaled and even surpassed last year’s variety, which was not easy for even a specialist to understand.This means that the phrase “I want to buy Zenfone 3” can only indicate membership in a family of devices with very different characteristics, capabilities and costs.
In this video, I do not set myself the task of sorting out the entire current Asus model range - let them take the rap themselves, since they have made such a mess, especially since I don’t see any sense or logic, either in the naming of individual modifications, or in the motley variety presented. essentially similar gadgets.I’ll just try to guide you on how not to get confused when purchasing, because despite all the leapfrog with names, Zenfone 3 is worth a closer look!
Today I will talk about one of the younger modifications, which is called Zenfone 3, without any additives.This device is available in two sizes, corresponding to the screen diagonal, but according to stupid logic they are called exactly the same.
The differences lie in the digital model code, which normal people do not pay attention to when purchasing. So, the version with a 5.2-inch screen is called ZE520KL, and the larger one with a 5.5-inch diagonal is called ZE552KL.
Moreover, many online stores do not write these codes at all, which causes real chaos both in their assortment and in the minds of consumers. And the only way out when buying such a gadget is to clearly know what you want to buy, and I’ll tell you about the nuances now.
So, for our acquaintance, I chose the younger modification ZE520KL. It should be clarified that the first two digits of this gibberish just indicate the diagonal - and 52 means 5.2 inches.
By analogy, the ZS570KL is 5.7 inches, and the ZU680KL is 6.8. But even if you remember these 7 characters by heart and ask for an Asus ZE520KL in the store, this still doesn’t mean anything, since inside the model is the amount of RAM and storage memory, and in some cases even the processor is different, and this can only be found out from the product card or description on the box of the gadget itself.
In my case, there is 3 RAM and 32 GB of permanent memory, although there are modifications and 4/64 and 4 color options - white, gold, turquoise and black. Moreover, this applies only to the ZE520KL, while other letters and numbers have their own cuisine.
However, enough of the exaggeration. If you managed to break through all the obstacles and got to your treasured gadget, then a pleasant surprise awaits you - the Zenfone generation is an order of magnitude cooler than the second!
The boring plastic lid shaped like a cradle and the flashy block of buttons on the back in the style of the latest LGs have given way to a more classic layout made of premium materials and a more discreet design.
To please lovers of both glass and metal, Asus decided not to “bet on one horse,” and Zenfone 3, depending on the modification, can be either in an all-metal case or in the form of a glass sandwich with a metal base in the middle.
True, the metal lid went to the most expensive Deluxe version, while the more affordable ones use glass, as in our case.
If we very briefly describe the design of the new Zenfone 3, we can do it as follows. Imagine a big shaker in which Sony Xperia Z5, Samsung S7 and Honor 8 were placed and shaken together thoroughly.
From the resulting mass they created an image similar to everyone at once, but with a couple of original touches in the form of an oblong fingerprint scanner and ends painted to match the body color.
But don’t get me wrong, the new Asus is very good-looking, but there is absolutely no originality in its image...
And, by the way, this smart device will most likely be compared with when purchasing - they are very similar in appearance, time of appearance on the market and price.
Both glasses of the new Asus have fashionable curves at the ends and a couple of silver masks on the aluminum bumper located in a circle.
The power and volume buttons are on the right, where everyone is used to. At the top is a headphone output and one of the microphones. The main microphone is at the bottom, next to it is USB Type C for synchronization and charging.
Right next to it is a grille, behind which the only speaker on the body is located.The memory card tray is on the left side, regardless of the version, it accepts a pair of SIM cards and a memory card instead of a second card, if necessary.
It is curious that Asus, with the design of its tray, gives owners of both micro and nanoSIM cards a chance, although many competitors have long used only nanoSIM cards.
A rather significant element of the Zenfone 3 is the design of the rear panel. Its main part is a protruding and massive block, behind which the camera lens is hidden.
In this sense, Zenfone 3 is very reminiscent of the Samsung S7, and I think for good reason. The fact is that both Samsung and Asus use an optical matrix stabilizer that compensates for hand shake at long shutter speeds, and this design is physically difficult to hide inside a body just over 7 millimeters thick.On the same glass Sony or Honor 8, the lens does not stick out, but there is no optical stabilization.
Another feature of the Zenfone 3 is the Android control keys, which are placed below the screen, which, of course, is convenient and does not take up any useful space on it, but it seems like they saved money on the buttons themselves - they are not backlit, and in the dark this is completely uncomfortable.And their typography takes us back to the days of the fourth Android. Maybe Asus is not aware that Google has been using circle, square and triangle for these purposes for more than a year?
In principle, this is not critical, but there is a certain vintage feel to it, and it does not really fit with the ultra-modern image of the entire gadget.
In principle, it’s almost boring to talk about the screen on modern mid- and high-end devices - it’s just awesome. In addition to the diagonal, which in my case is 5.2 inches, it is worth noting the FHD resolution and IPS+ technology.
If you want exactly the same gadget, but a little larger, you can look towards the ZE552KL with the same display, but with a diagonal of 5.5 inches.If your choice is DELUXE, then this is the ZS570KL model with a diagonal of 5.7 inches, and IPS gives way to an FHD Amoled matrix.
On board is Android 6, redrawn beyond recognition, thanks to ZenUI Launcher and many proprietary applications.
In this sense, Asus has been acting quite cunningly for a long time, simply posting more than a dozen proprietary utilities for all occasions - from camera control and its own file manager to theme support and weather service in the public Play Market.This way, they can update each application independently of the entire system and constantly offer the latest software to all their users.
Other manufacturers, in order, for example, to update the built-in gallery, need to release separate firmware. In this sense, Asus smartphones are much more convenient.
In general, proprietary software is everywhere here, and you almost never encounter a clean system. However, I would note some clumsiness and not very neat drawing of details, but for 90% of users this is probably not noticeable.
About iron. Asus does not produce processors itself, and it does not have the capabilities of Samsung or Huawei. Intel also abandoned its new Atoms, finally focusing on Windows, so the choice could only be on the side of Qualcomm or Mediatek.
Qualcomm won, and in our case it uses the mid-level Snapdragon 625 chipset in combination with Adreno 506 graphics; this is the first time I’ve seen them inside a “live” smartphone. Judging by the number, which Qualcomm traditionally has, the higher the better, its performance should be higher than the 615 and lower than the 650 version.
And indeed, in Antutu such a combination gains about 63,000 parrots, which makes the Zenfone 3 in its basic version a typical middling product at the end of 2016.
If we compare it with the same Honor 8, its Kirin 950 scored more than 93,000 in the Antutu synthetic test, that is, it showed itself to be almost a third faster, and if you like to play games, this is quite significant.
It’s also strange that the rather large and voluminous device received a battery with a capacity of 2650 MAh, and for the 5.5-inch version – 3000 MAh.
Of course, Asus says that the new processor is extremely power efficient thanks to the new FinFet transistors and 14nm process technology.Of course, all this is cool, but why reduce the battery capacity so much, because competitors, all other things being equal, have about a quarter more capacity, and their processor technologies are also not the most “ineffective”.
Well, what can I say: the final autonomy remained approximately at the same level, and if Zenfone 2 on Atom sat down almost completely during daylight hours, then ZenFone 3 does it about the same, and there is no need to talk about obvious progress.
Now about the sound. Asus claims that the built-in speaker is simply magical thanks to the use of five-magnet systems, a voice coil with a metal frame and a specially designed resonance chamber.For the life of me, I didn’t notice it! The speaker is loud and clear, but without the top and bottom that would deserve all the regalia listed above.
Among the cool moments, I’ll note a special mode on the street, which raises the peak volume even more when activated, but also mercilessly cuts frequencies.
With headphones it’s good and very “tasty”, but it doesn’t send shivers down my spine, or maybe I’m unlucky with the headphones. But I got the impression that the audio path here is good, but not the most outstanding possible.
Well, for dessert, I have prepared for us a discussion of the camera, which proudly rises more than a millimeter from the back panel, and clearly attracts the attention of everyone who picks up the device.
To the right of the lens, above the dual flash, there is a color correction sensor, which is responsible for the correct white balance, and to the left is the laser autofocus eye.Zenfone 3 itself, according to Asus, is the world's first smartphone equipped with TriTech technology, which simultaneously includes laser, phase detection and tracking autofocus with a response speed of 0.03 s.
Perhaps I have deja vu, but I heard something similar from Sony, only in a slightly different formulation. But there are really no questions with the focus: it works very quickly.
A very decent 16-megapixel Sony IMX 298 sensor, exactly the same as that of the flagship Xiaomi Mi5, Huawei Mate 8 and OnePlus3, is responsible for capturing the image.It is also worth recalling the combination of optical and electronic stabilization for photos and videos, so the hardware tools for shooting are selected at a very high level.
The engineers just had to avoid ruining it all with software filters, and they did a great job, because Asus’s post-processing technologies had already “eaten the dog.”
The new creation is called PixelMaster 3.0, and it successfully combines all the bells and whistles listed with a convenient camera control application.With one click, it can turn from simple to professional - with many fine settings and an electronic level.
It’s convenient that the captions and menu items rotate according to the screen orientation and are not focused only on vertical shooting!
This is how the camera behaves during the day:
In these photographs, I note the good rendering of details and color transitions against the background of the wall - at the level of top solutions from competitors!
If there is a little less light, and we find ourselves indoors, the electronics are not lost, and here we pull out the picture to a decent level:
Regular night photography is also very good:
For those who doubt their photographic capabilities, there are 21 built-in presets to suit specific shooting conditions or tasks, and there are many interesting points there.For starters, there's the rather stupid super-resolution mode, with which the camera automatically stitches four 16-megapixel photos into one with a resolution of 64 megapixels. This is what comes of it.
First, a regular shot on auto settings:
Now from the same point, but in Super resolution mode:
For those who are too lazy to look at the details, below are fragments:
It can be seen that other filters and other post-processing are applied to the bottom image, but there is no dramatic increase in quality - the license plate of the blue car is not visible any better, but the file size has increased many times over. And the shooting itself takes 2-3 seconds.
But the “low light” mode really works, although the resolution, on the contrary, is reduced to 3 megapixels. This picture was taken by me in almost complete darkness on the playground (only the windows of the houses were visible), but you can easily see all the objects.
The most valuable thing about this mode is that thanks to the optical stabilizer and fast focus, the frames are not blurry!
Right there in the menu there is a QR code scanner or a tool that allows you to programmatically change the depth of field, and it copes with this task quite well.
Here you can paste animated gifs, shoot panoramas, or enable “intelligent shooting control,” which automatically removes moving objects from a static frame. IN overall - quite good!
In my opinion, this is exactly the case when a cool photosensor meets a cool software filling.
But to the question of who takes better pictures - Zenfone 3 or Honor 8 with its dual camera, there is no clear answer. Both are damn good and each in their own way!
If we talk specifically about the ZE520KL model, then this is a very peppy mid-range model, the appearance of which even looks a bit premium...
However, the processor, which is quite modest by modern standards, the small battery capacity, the lack of backlit keys and high-speed charging, indicate that Asus did not intend to show off with it, but only for the Zenfone 3 camera you can forgive anything...
The beginning of autumn was rich in announcements and launches of new smartphones, since during this period the IFA consumer electronics exhibition takes place in Berlin and Apple presents new iPhone devices. However, even if we go back a couple of months, this year has been full of strong devices, from flagship to attractive budget ones. Now all the new products have already been announced and there is time to take a closer look at what was presented not so long ago, like the ZenFone 3 Zoom smartphone.
This device has a respectable processor, a large battery and an interesting dual camera. Considering the price is half the price of the flagships (or even three times, if), the Asus device seems worthy of attention.
Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom package contents:
- Smartphone Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom
- USB C to USB A cable
- USB charger 5V and 2A
- Headphones with replaceable tips
- SIM Removal Tool
- User manual, warranty
- Case
Design Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom
You won't confuse ZenFone 3 Zoom with modern-style smartphones. There is no new screen shape or smaller frames. The device has the usual capacitive Android buttons.
Despite the outdated appearance, the remaining hardware components are of a fairly high level. The edges may not be too impressive compared to the curves of the iPhone, but they look quite attractive. The back surface is simple, but it's a stylish, minimalist simplicity.
An easily accessible fingerprint scanner is located at the top center, and the camera is located even higher. The dual camera catches your eye, but you can also pay attention to the unusual strip of flash and sensors below.
The width of the smartphone is 77 mm, the body thickness is 8 mm, which is approximately . Like it, the Asus smartphone feels quite large. This is mainly due to the width, as well as the large bezels around the 5.5-inch screen. This smartphone takes up a lot of space in the palm of your hand.
Screen
In this case, an AMOLED panel with a resolution of 1080p is used. This is not the highest resolution by today's standards, but it is quite sufficient, especially for the mid-price category.
The screen looks quite high quality, but there are several important nuances. It is advisable to select the Super Color mode, in which the colors become rich in AMOLED style. The standard mode is more neutral, and color reproduction is not the most accurate.
The maximum screen brightness also does not set records and is 473 nits. This applies not only to manual mode, but also to automatic mode, which is usually higher on smartphones. In addition, the minimum brightness is mediocre at 9 nits.
Interface and functionality of Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom
The developers have made changes to the Android system, offering, among other things, an interesting quick settings screen. It's bright and colorful, but slightly strange; there are both smartphone settings controls and application shortcuts.
While this fresh approach is welcome, at least from a visual standpoint, overall the content here is pretty standard. There is a graphic theme engine, a RAM cleaning mode of dubious value, and a number of gesture controls. All this is not bad, but it does not represent any particular attractiveness. A pure version of Android might be better here.
Processor and memory, technical characteristics of Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom
Mid-price smartphones have a wide selection of processors, one of the best is which is used here. This processor offers an excellent balance between speed and low power consumption.This review examined the version of the smartphone with a memory capacity of 3/32 GB, while the maximum value is 4/64 GB.
Performance is on par with smartphones with the same components, like and.
Connection
There is nothing special to say regarding support for communication standards. , which is not found on all average smartphones. There are no unusual components like an infrared sensor, but there is an FM receiver.Cameras Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom
The name ZenFone 3 Zoom speaks of the photographic ambitions of the developers. The main camera with a resolution of 12 megapixels has optical stabilization, the secondary telephoto camera is also 12 megapixels, making 2.3x zoom available.
Asus also brought a technology called TriTech autofocus system, which is assisted by a Dual Pixel system and laser autofocus with an object tracking algorithm. High quality shooting in low light is promised, which is facilitated by optical stabilization of the main camera and a fairly wide f/1.7 aperture. These are all promises, but what actually happens?
Photo quality
The photos don't turn out too bad, so the serious components weren't wasted. In low light, photos aren't as good as Asus would like buyers to believe, and there's a fair amount of digital noise.
It's more interesting to consider the camera software. On the one hand, there is a rich selection of options, including several shooting modes. However, implementation is a concern. For example, zoom mode: pressing the button allows you to enlarge the image by 2.3 times.
Unfortunately, to return to normal size you need to scroll down to 5x zoom and it will be software, which many people try to avoid. Even worse, the camera often gets confused about which mode is selected, and you can get 2.3x magnification when the screen says 1.0x. Overall, the camera does its job, but since it is the main selling feature of this smartphone, I would like to see it more developed.
Video recording
Judging by the hardware specifications, it seems that this camera is capable of shooting video as well as photos. Resolutions up to 4K are supported, there are different combinations of frame rates and stabilization. Reality did not live up to expectations.The videos turn out to be quite dark, and the sound quality leaves much to be desired. The main thing is that the camera is not very skillful at using the zoom.
Other smartphones with similar specs allow you to switch between wide-angle and telephoto lenses while recording, but here you have to stop shooting first. You can pre-select optical zoom or use digital zoom during shooting, but the switch between 1.0x and 2.3x modes is not available during shooting.
Multimedia
The speaker on this smartphone is quite loud, but like many other smartphones, it suffers from a lack of bass. The package includes headphones with replaceable tips; connecting to a smartphone automatically launches the DTS Headphone:X software. By default, the sound is of poor quality, it lacks clarity and purity. This is a traditional mode, there is also access to pseudo-3D positioning and another mode, but the quality there is not too high.
Thus, this smartphone relies too much on software processing, when in fact it could use a better speaker and headphone components.
Call quality
There are no complaints about the quality of telephone conversations. The only problem was with the physical appearance of the smartphone. Its body is too wide, so holding it near the ear is not very comfortable, especially for a long time.Battery life of Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom
Apart from the dual camera, the other standout feature on this device is the huge 5000mAh battery. It's especially surprising to get a battery like this given the thin body.
The good news is that the combination of this battery and the energy-efficient Snapdragon 625 processor ensures high battery life. In tests with the screen on, the device lasted more than 12 hours.
The recharging time is quite long and amounts to over 3 hours. Fast charging is not supported, at least not with the included adapter.
Conclusion
The Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom smartphone is in an awkward position. None of its big features, i.e. the dual camera and huge battery, give it much advantage. This is not to say that they are disappointing, but it is difficult to imagine that a smartphone will be bought specifically for these parameters.
If you ignore the marketing promises, this is a pretty high-quality device. It has decent performance, at least good battery life, and a decent camera that does more than other models at this price and has the capabilities of some other devices.
The Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom is priced at $330 or less, so it's good value for money. This will be quite a good purchase, especially for not the most demanding users.
Pros of Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom
- High battery life
- Value for money
- Functional camera
Cons of Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom
- Camera software needs improvement, low light quality is unsatisfactory
- Audio quality is not the best
- No water protection
- Outdated design
- With such a large battery, the operating time could be longer
In this review, I want to look at the best ASUS smartphones. Let's get acquainted with their characteristics, find out how much they cost, consider their positive and negative sides. We will select the optimal models in terms of price/quality ratio.
ASUS is a Taiwanese brand that supplies interesting products to the information technology market. The company is not afraid of innovative solutions and is dynamically increasing its income thanks to customers who enthusiastically accept all new products.
What types of smartphones are there?
ASUS named the smartphone that became a bestseller ZenFone. The range is wide enough to satisfy a variety of customer needs:
- ZenFone 3. A smartphone with an original design, covered with protective glass on both sides. The 5.5-inch display with Full HD resolution and a wide viewing angle provides an excellent picture in any lighting conditions. Available in silver, gold, turquoise and sapphire color options. A high-aperture lens, tracking autofocus, and dual image stabilization system provide clear pictures and videos of revolutionary quality;
- ZenFone 5. Functional and productive, with a powerful Intel processor that handles multitasking perfectly. The GPU is responsible for high-quality images in any application;
- ZenFone Deluxe. In a thin all-metal body, with a 23 MP camera with triple autofocus. The 5.7-inch screen, made using Super Amoled technology, provides high contrast and brightness, and an expanded color gamut. Built-in fingerprint scanner for data security;
- ZenFone Zoom. A specially created model for lovers of high-quality photographs. Powered by an energy-efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon S625 processor. 12 megapixel camera with the possibility of total zoom up to 12 times;
- ZenFone Go. Model with a diagonal of 4.5 or 5 inches. Available in 5 colors with an ergonomic design. An original solution is a functional button on the back surface to increase the sound volume and the ability to take photos. Supports 2 SIM cards;
- ZenFone Max. Designed for active people. An energy-efficient 4100 mAh battery allows you to get the most out of your smartphone. Listen to music up to 87 hours, browse websites up to 18 hours without stopping;
- ZenFone Live. A smartphone model optimized for online broadcasting. The front camera is equipped with a light-sensitive flash for the highest quality selfies. Dual microphone controls background noise levels;
- ZenFone AR. The 5.7-inch smartphone supports Google's innovative platforms: Tango and Dayfream. Virtual reality in images is perceived as something natural.
Common disadvantages of smartphones
Experienced users name a number of difficulties they encountered when choosing a smartphone:
- Hybrid slot and non-removable battery in ZenFone 3, ZenFone Zoom models;
- Overpriced on models with standard options;
- No 4" miniature models.
Popular models
ZenFone also has its fans. ZenFone Go is called inexpensive, lightweight, and fits comfortably in the hand. The model can be purchased in either jet black or a positive red or lemon version. A smartphone with two good cameras provides great opportunities for lovers of high-quality photos and selfies.
ZenFone Max attracts with its design, ultra-thin body, updated fingerprint sensor, and 180° viewing angle. The capabilities of this smartphone fully justify its market price.
With 3x optical zoom, ZenFone Zoom is a must-have for creative photography enthusiasts. Corning Gorilla coated glass makes the screen more durable.
My rating of ASUS smartphones
- ASUS Zenfone 5 LTE A500KL.
- ASUS Zenfone 2 Laser ZE500KL.
- ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom ZE553KL.
- ASUS ZenFone Selfie ZD551KL.
- ASUS ZenFone Go ZB500KL.
- ASUS ZenFone Go TV.
- ASUS ZenFone Live ZB501KL.
- ASUS ZenFone Go ZB500KG.
Smartphone ASUS Zenfone 5 LTE A500KL
Specifications ASUS Zenfone 5 LTE A500KL
| Are common | |
| Type | smartphone |
| OS version | Android 4.4 |
| Frame | classical |
| Control | touch buttons |
| SIM card | micro SIM |
| Number of SIM cards | 1 |
| Weight | 145 g |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 72.8x148.2x10.34 mm |
| Screen | |
| Display | |
| Touch screen type | multi-touch, capacitive |
| Diagonal | 5 inch |
| Image Size | 1280x720 |
| Pixels per inch (PPI) | 294 |
| There is | |
| There is | |
| Multimedia capabilities | |
| Camera | 8 million pixels, 3264x2448, built-in flash |
| Camera functions | autofocus |
| Recording videos | yes (MPEG4, 3GPP) |
| Max. video resolution | 1920x1080 |
| Max. video frame rate | 30 fps |
| Front-camera | yes, 2 million pixels. |
| Audio | MP3, AAC, WAV, WMA, FM radio |
| Headphone jack | 3.5 mm |
| Connection | |
| Standard | |
| Interfaces | |
| Satellite navigation | GPS/GLONASS |
| A-GPS system | There is |
| Memory and processor | |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 MSM8926, 1200 MHz |
| Number of processor cores | 4 |
| Built-in memory capacity | 16 GB |
| RAM capacity | 2 GB |
| Memory card slot | Yes, up to 64 GB |
| Nutrition | |
| Battery type | Li-polymer |
| Battery capacity | 2110 mAh |
| Talk time | 20.6 hours |
| 395 h | |
| Charging connector | micro-USB |
| Other functions | |
| Control | |
| Airplane mode | There is |
| A2DP profile | There is |
| Sensors | |
| Flashlight | There is |
| Additional Information | |
| Peculiarities | Gorilla Glass 3 display; GloveTouch technology support |
Pros and cons of ASUS Zenfone 5 LTE A500KL
Advantages:
- price quality.
- The display is high quality.
- quick search for satellites.
- good camera.
- GPS works well.
Flaws:
- small battery capacity.
- There is no backlighting for the bottom keys.
- The battery is not removable.
Video review of ASUS Zenfone 5 LTE A500KL
Smartphone ASUS Zenfone 2 Laser ZE500KL
The compact gadget ASUS ZenFone 2 Laser ZE500KL is endowed with an elegant arched design tapering towards the side edges, which creates a feeling of thinness of the body. On the front panel at the bottom there is an iridescent gradient pattern. Due to the textured surface of the cover, the device does not slip in your hands. The device is available for sale in several color options.
The RAM capacity of 2 GB emphasizes the middle class of the smartphone; this is quite enough for stable and efficient operation of the device. A solid storage capacity of 16 GB is enough for user content, applications, and games. The 5" IPS screen with HD resolution is protected by 4th generation Corning Gorilla Glass and features maximum viewing angles, a rich color gamut and a decent amount of brightness. The model is interesting because of the presence of laser focusing, which is found only in expensive devices.
Specifications ASUS Zenfone 2 Laser ZE500KL
| Are common | |
| Type | smartphone |
| OS version | Android 5.0 |
| Frame | classical |
| Control | touch buttons |
| SIM card | micro SIM |
| Number of SIM cards | 2 |
| alternating | |
| Weight | 140 g |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 71.5x143.7x10.5 mm |
| Screen | |
| Display | color IPS, 16.78 million colors, touch |
| Touch screen type | multi-touch, capacitive |
| Diagonal | 5 inch |
| Image Size | 1280x720 |
| Pixels per inch (PPI) | 294 |
| Automatic screen rotation | There is |
| Scratch-resistant glass | There is |
| Multimedia capabilities | |
| Rear camera | 13 MP |
| Photoflash | rear, LED |
| Rear camera functions | autofocus, laser |
| Recording videos | There is |
| Geo Tagging | There is |
| Front-camera | yes, 5 million pixels. |
| Audio | MP3, FM radio |
| Headphone jack | 3.5 mm |
| Connection | |
| Standard | |
| LTE bands support | FDD-LTE: |
| Interfaces | Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.0, USB |
| Satellite navigation | GPS/GLONASS |
| A-GPS system | There is |
| Memory and processor | |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 MSM8916, 1200 MHz |
| Number of processor cores | 4 |
| Video processor | Adreno 306 |
| Built-in memory capacity | 16 GB |
| RAM capacity | 2 GB |
| Memory card slot | Yes, up to 128 GB |
| Nutrition | |
| Battery type | Li-polymer/removable |
| Battery capacity | 2400 mAh |
| Charging connector | micro-USB |
| Other functions | |
| There is | |
| Control | voice dialing, voice control |
| Airplane mode | There is |
| A2DP profile | There is |
| Sensors | lighting, proximity, compass |
| Flashlight | There is |
| There is | |
| Additional Information | |
| Equipment | smartphone, battery, charger, USB sync cable, headset |
| Announcement date | 2015-06-02 |
Pros and cons of ASUS Zenfone 2 Laser ZE500KL
Advantages:
- stable operation of the device;
- software support by the manufacturer;
- several body colors, attractive design;
- the screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 4;
- laser autofocus;
- excellent battery life;
- a decent amount of main and RAM memory.
The disadvantages include the location of the volume keys, for this reason it will be difficult to choose a smart case.
Video review of ASUS Zenfone 2 Laser ZE500KL
Smartphone ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom ZE553KL
Specifications ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom ZE553KL
| Are common | |
| Type | smartphone |
| OS version | Android 6.0 |
| Frame | classical |
| Control | touch buttons |
| SIM card | nano SIM |
| Number of SIM cards | 2 |
| Multi-SIM mode | alternating |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 77x154.3x7.99 mm |
| Screen | |
| Display | color AMOLED, 16.78 million colors, touch |
| Touch screen type | multi-touch, capacitive |
| Diagonal | 5.5 inch |
| Image Size | 1920x1080 |
| Pixels per inch (PPI) | 401 |
| Automatic screen rotation | There is |
| Scratch-resistant glass | There is |
| Multimedia capabilities | |
| Camera | 12 million pixels, LED flash |
| Camera functions | autofocus, optical stabilization, optical Zoom 2.30x |
| Diaphragm | F/1.7 |
| Recording videos | There is |
| Max. video resolution | 3840x2160 |
| Max. video frame rate | 30 fps |
| Front-camera | yes, 13 million pixels. |
| Dual camera | Yes, the resolution of the second camera is 12 million pixels. |
| Audio | MP3, FM radio |
| Headphone jack | 3.5 mm |
| Connection | |
| Standard | GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A |
| LTE bands support | bands 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 |
| Interfaces | Wi-Fi 802.11n, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.2, IRDA, USB |
| Satellite navigation | GPS/GLONASS/BeiDou |
| A-GPS system | There is |
| Memory and processor | |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 MSM8953 |
| Number of processor cores | 8 |
| Video processor | Adreno 506 |
| Built-in memory capacity | 64 GB |
| Memory card slot | yes, up to 2048 GB (combined with a slot for a second SIM card) |
| Nutrition | |
| Battery capacity | 5000 mAh |
| Battery | non-removable |
| Charging connector | USB Type-C |
| Fast charging function | There is |
| Other functions | |
| Speakerphone (built-in speaker) | There is |
| Control | voice dialing, voice control |
| Airplane mode | There is |
| Sensors | lighting, proximity, gyroscope, compass, fingerprint reading |
| Flashlight | There is |
| USB-host | There is |
| Additional Information | |
| Equipment | smartphone, headset, USB-C cable, OTG cable, SIM eject tool, charger |
| Peculiarities | Corning Gorilla Glass 5; main camera sensor - SONY IMX362; Front camera sensor - SONY IMX214 |
| Announcement date | 2017-01-04 |
Pros and cons of ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom ZE553KL
Advantages:
- Dual camera with good aperture.
- amoled display
- battery.
- The speaker is very loud.
Flaws:
- no NFC.
- no music player on board.
Video review of ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom ZE553KL
Smartphone ASUS ZenFone Selfie ZD551KL
ASUS ZenFone Selfie ZD551KL combines fashion trends, innovative technologies and impeccable workmanship. The selfie phone will delight you with a convenient ZenUI interface, a high-quality screen and two excellent cameras with special shooting modes. The model has good performance hardware and ample customization options.
ASUS ZenFone Selfie ZD551KL is made in a case with classic or bright colors and decorative elements in the form of patterns of concentric circles. The highlight of the model is that the standard cover can be replaced with a case with a window for quick access to settings. The device's incredibly thin and sleek profile fits comfortably in your hand.
The gadget can take excellent self-portraits thanks to a high-quality 13 MP front camera, which is not inferior to the main one in its characteristics. The same cameras are equipped with a two-color LED flash Dual-Color Real Tone and autofocus. Color balance and saturation can be adjusted using a special application. Bright rich colors are provided by proprietary ASUS TruVivid technology. The macro camera will be appreciated by lovers of macro photography; it allows you to take clear pictures from a distance of only 6 cm.
Specifications ASUS ZenFone Selfie ZD551KL
| Are common | |
| Type | smartphone |
| OS version | Android 5.0 |
| Frame | classical |
| Housing material | plastic |
| Control | touch buttons |
| SIM card | micro SIM |
| Number of SIM cards | 2 |
| Multi-SIM mode | alternating |
| Weight | 170 g |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 77.2x156.5x10.8 mm |
| Screen | |
| Display | color IPS, 16.78 million colors, touch |
| Touch screen type | multi-touch, capacitive |
| Diagonal | 5.5 inch |
| Image Size | 1920x1080 |
| Pixels per inch (PPI) | 401 |
| Automatic screen rotation | There is |
| Scratch-resistant glass | There is |
| Multimedia capabilities | |
| Camera | |
| Camera functions | autofocus, laser, macro mode |
| Diaphragm | F/2 |
| Recording videos | There is |
| Max. video resolution | 1920x1080 |
| Max. video frame rate | 30 fps |
| Geo Tagging | There is |
| Front-camera | yes, 13 million pixels. |
| Audio | MP3, FM radio |
| Headphone jack | 3.5 mm |
| Connection | |
| Standard | GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A Cat. 4 |
| LTE bands support | 2100, 1900, 1800, 850, 2600, 900, 800 MHz |
| Interfaces | Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.0, USB |
| Satellite navigation | GPS/GLONASS |
| A-GPS system | There is |
| Memory and processor | |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 MSM8939 |
| Number of processor cores | 8 |
| Video processor | Adreno 405 |
| Built-in memory capacity | 16 GB |
| RAM capacity | 2 GB |
| Memory card slot | Yes, up to 128 GB |
| Nutrition | |
| Battery type | Li-polymer/removable |
| Battery capacity | 3000 mAh |
| Charging connector | micro-USB |
| Other functions | |
| Control | voice dialing, voice control |
| Airplane mode | There is |
| A2DP profile | There is |
| Sensors | illumination, proximity, gyroscope, compass |
| Flashlight | There is |
| USB-host | There is |
| Use as a USB storage device | There is |
| Additional Information | |
| Announcement date | 2015-06-01 |
Pros and cons of ASUS ZenFone Selfie ZD551KL
Advantages:
- excellent front camera;
- good performance;
- good autonomy;
- competitive price.
Flaws:
- low maximum screen brightness.
Video review of ASUS ZenFone Selfie ZD551KL
Smartphone ASUS ZenFone Go ZB500KL
The ZenFone Go ZB500KL smartphone from ASUS is based on the quad-core Qualcomm MSM8916 Snapdragon 410 processor. The model is maximally adapted to the needs of the modern user. A 2 GB fast storage device ensures efficient operation of the device, correct operation of applications and prompt execution of operational tasks.
The gadget has a simple and convenient user interface, which is distinguished by the ease of providing information and a modern design. Here you will find many useful functions and programs. The front panel of ZenFone Go ZB500KL is protected by tempered glass and is available in several colors: black, gray, white, red, turquoise, gold. The lower part is decorated with a pattern of concentric circles.
Cameras of 5 and 13 megapixels allow you to shoot video in high resolution, take high-quality self-portraits and make video chats. The image is displayed on a 5" display with an IPS matrix, which is characterized by natural color reproduction and maximum viewing angles. Thanks to support for ASUS TruVivid technology, the image is bright, clear and saturated. High-quality communication is ensured by a well-thought-out antenna design; the signal is received even in the subway or tunnels Reduced power consumption of the wireless module has a positive effect on the battery life of the device.
Specifications ASUS ZenFone Go ZB500KL
| Are common | |
| Type | smartphone |
| OS version | Android 6.0 |
| Frame | classical |
| Control | touch buttons |
| Number of SIM cards | 2 |
| Multi-SIM mode | alternating |
| Weight | 150 g |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 70.85x143.7x11.25 mm |
| Screen | |
| Display | color IPS, touch |
| Touch screen type | multi-touch, capacitive |
| Diagonal | 5 inch |
| Image Size | 1280x720 |
| Pixels per inch (PPI) | 294 |
| Automatic screen rotation | There is |
| Multimedia capabilities | |
| Rear camera | 13 MP |
| Photoflash | rear, LED |
| Rear camera functions | autofocus |
| Rear camera aperture | F/2 |
| Recording videos | There is |
| Front-camera | yes, 5 million pixels. |
| Audio | MP3, FM radio |
| Headphone jack | 3.5 mm |
| Connection | |
| Standard | GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G, 4G LTE |
| Interfaces | Wi-Fi 802.11n, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.0, USB |
| Satellite navigation | GPS/GLONASS |
| A-GPS system | There is |
| Memory and processor | |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 MSM8916 |
| Number of processor cores | 4 |
| Video processor | Adreno 306 |
| Built-in memory capacity | 16 GB |
| RAM capacity | 2 GB |
| Memory card slot | There is |
| Nutrition | |
| Battery capacity | 2600 mAh |
| Charging connector | micro-USB |
| Other functions | |
| Control | voice dialing, voice control |
| Airplane mode | There is |
| A2DP profile | There is |
| Sensors | illumination, proximity, Hall, compass |
| Flashlight | There is |
Video review of ASUS ZenFone Go ZB500KL
Smartphone ASUS ZenFone Go TV
Specifications ASUS ZenFone Go TV
| Are common | |
| Type | smartphone |
| OS version | Android 5.1 |
| Frame | classical |
| Control | touch buttons |
| SIM card | micro SIM |
| Number of SIM cards | 2 |
| Multi-SIM mode | alternating |
| Weight | 160 g |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 76.9x151x10.7 mm |
| Screen | |
| Display | color TFT, touch |
| Touch screen type | multi-touch, capacitive |
| Diagonal | 5.5 inch |
| Image Size | 1280x720 |
| Pixels per inch (PPI) | 267 |
| Automatic screen rotation | There is |
| Scratch-resistant glass | There is |
| Multimedia capabilities | |
| Camera | 13 million pixels, LED flash |
| Camera functions | autofocus |
| Diaphragm | F/2 |
| Recording videos | There is |
| Front-camera | yes, 5 million pixels. |
| Audio | MP3, AAC |
| Headphone jack | 3.5 mm |
| Connection | |
| Standard | GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A Cat. 4 |
| LTE bands support | 2100, 1900, 1800, 850, 2600, 900, 800 MHz |
| Interfaces | Wi-Fi 802.11n, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.0, USB |
| Satellite navigation | GPS/GLONASS/BeiDou |
| A-GPS system | There is |
| Memory and processor | |
| CPU | Qualcomm MSM8928, 1400 MHz |
| Number of processor cores | 4 |
| Video processor | Adreno 305 |
| Built-in memory capacity | 16 GB |
| RAM capacity | 2 GB |
| Memory card slot | Yes, up to 64 GB |
| Nutrition | |
| Battery capacity | 3010 mAh |
| Standby time | 335 h |
| Other functions | |
| Speakerphone (built-in speaker) | There is |
| Control | voice dialing, voice control |
| Airplane mode | There is |
| A2DP profile | There is |
| Sensors | illumination, Hall |
| Flashlight | There is |
| Additional Information | |
| Equipment | smartphone, battery, charger, USB cable, headphones |
| Peculiarities | Corning Gorilla Glass 3; TV tuner Sony SMT-EW100 |
| Announcement date | 2016-05-11 |
Pros and cons of ASUS ZenFone Go TV
Advantages:
- full operation in LTE networks.
- battery with a capacity of 3010 mAh.
- OTG support.
Flaws:
- touch buttons without backlight.
Video review of ASUS ZenFone Go TV
Smartphone ASUS ZenFone Live ZB501KL
Specifications ASUS ZenFone Live ZB501KL
| Are common | |
| Type | smartphone |
| OS version | Android 6.0 |
| Frame | classical |
| Control | touch buttons |
| SIM card | micro SIM+nano SIM |
| Number of SIM cards | 2 |
| Multi-SIM mode | alternating |
| Weight | 120 g |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 71.74x141.18x7.95 mm |
| Screen | |
| Display | color, touch |
| Touch screen type | multi-touch, capacitive |
| Diagonal | 5 inch |
| Image Size | 1280x720 |
| Pixels per inch (PPI) | 294 |
| Automatic screen rotation | There is |
| Multimedia capabilities | |
| Camera | 13 million pixels, LED flash (front and rear) |
| Camera functions | autofocus |
| Diaphragm | F/2 |
| Recording videos | There is |
| Front-camera | There is |
| Audio | MP3, AAC, WAV, WMA, FM radio |
| Headphone jack | 3.5 mm |
| Connection | |
| Standard | GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G, 4G LTE |
| LTE bands support | bands 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 |
| Interfaces | Wi-Fi 802.11n, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.0, USB |
| Satellite navigation | GPS/GLONASS |
| A-GPS system | There is |
| Memory and processor | |
| Number of processor cores | 4 |
| Built-in memory capacity | 32 GB |
| RAM capacity | 2 GB |
| Memory card slot | yes, up to 128 GB (combined with a slot for a second SIM card) |
| Nutrition | |
| Battery capacity | 2650 mAh |
| Charging connector | micro-USB |
| Other functions | |
| Speakerphone (built-in speaker) | There is |
| Control | voice dialing, voice control |
| Airplane mode | There is |
| Sensors | lighting, proximity, compass |
| Flashlight | There is |
| Additional Information | |
| Equipment | smartphone, USB cable, Sim extraction tool, charger |
Pros and cons of ASUS ZenFone Live ZB501KL
Advantages:
- light phone.
- fast.
- good cameras.
- bright display.
Flaws:
- The battery is not removable.
- At maximum settings the camera slows down slightly.
Video review of ASUS ZenFone Live ZB501KL
Smartphone ASUS ZenFone Go ZB500KG
ASUS ZenFone Go ZB500KG is a convenient and modern device with wide functionality. In multitasking mode, excellent performance is provided by the 4-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. The smartphone features a user-friendly interface, ZenUI 2.0, specially designed for ASUS devices. It stands out for its ease of providing information and modern design.
The model is equipped with a 5" IPS screen with rich colors, high clarity and brightness of the image. For taking photos, the gadget is equipped with an 8 MP rear camera. The device has two slots for SIM cards, you can use two phone numbers at the same time, which is very convenient. High-quality communication is ensured even in subways, tunnels and other places with poor signal levels thanks to the thoughtful design of the antennas.The wireless device also boasts reduced power consumption, which results in increased battery life.
Specifications ASUS ZenFone Go ZB500KG
| Are common | |
| Type | smartphone |
| OS version | Android 5.1 |
| Frame | classical |
| Control | touch buttons |
| SIM card | micro SIM |
| Number of SIM cards | 2 |
| Multi-SIM mode | alternating |
| Weight | 170 g |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 71.6x144x11.9 mm |
| Screen | |
| Display | color, touch |
| Touch screen type | multi-touch, capacitive |
| Diagonal | 5 inch |
| Image Size | 854x480 |
| Pixels per inch (PPI) | 196 |
| Automatic screen rotation | There is |
| Multimedia capabilities | |
| Camera | 8 million pixels, LED flash |
| Camera functions | autofocus |
| Diaphragm | F/2 |
| Recording videos | There is |
| Front-camera | yes, 2 million pixels. |
| Audio | MP3 |
| Headphone jack | 3.5 mm |
| Connection | |
| Standard | GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G |
| Interfaces | Wi-Fi 802.11n, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.0, USB |
| Satellite navigation | GPS/GLONASS |
| A-GPS system | There is |
| Memory and processor | |
| Number of processor cores | 4 |
| Built-in memory capacity | 8 GB |
| RAM capacity | 1 GB |
| Memory card slot | Yes, up to 128 GB |
| Nutrition | |
| Battery capacity | 2600 mAh |
| Battery | removable |
| Charging connector | micro-USB |
| Other functions | |
| Control | voice dialing, voice control |
| Airplane mode | There is |
| A2DP profile | There is |
| Sensors | lighting, proximity, compass |
| Flashlight | There is |
| Additional Information | |
| Peculiarities | thickness 5.3 ~ 11.9 mm |
Pros and cons of ASUS ZenFone Go ZB500KG
Advantages:
- compact body;
- high-quality body assembly;
- excellent design;
- improved user interface;
- convenient keys;
- realistic pictures;
- bright colors and impeccable detail;
- the sound is clear;
- good autonomy.
- software processing of the main camera.
In January 2015, news arrived from Las Vegas: “ASUS presented the world’s first smartphone with 4 GB of RAM.” Applause.
Two years have passed, and the next CES presented a traditional note: record holders from ASUS announced the first flagship on the planet with 8 GB of RAM. It's time for a standing ovation.
ASUS releases are funny for two reasons. Firstly, this amount of RAM (8 GB) is simply not required now - by the time it becomes relevant, the phone will already be outdated.
Secondly, ASUS’s undisguised desire to appear in IT publications is easily discernible. Once a year the corporation accomplishes this mission, but then no one remembers about it.
ASUS makes deeply secondary, dull, faceless devices. But these are emotions. Now let's confirm them with facts.
1. The most disgusting design. If Sony is sick with self-copying, then ASUS has another problem - their smartphones are deeply tasteless. The lineup can be naively called diverse, but it would be more correct to note the complete lack of corporate identity.
The bar under the screen (absolutely useless) appears and disappears. The manufacturer's name is either engraved on the front panel (the most severe bad manners) or remains behind the scenes. The situation is similar with the front Home key: it is inserted either on the screen or under the screen.
Even the fingerprint scanner regularly moves from front to back and back again. There is simply no single format.
The worst sin performed by ASUS is copy-paste. In the picture below you can easily see the features of the iPhone 7 (left) and the old rectangles from LG (right).
And here is a mutant that combines Samsung and ancient Nokia. It is impossible to take a smartphone in your hand and understand that it is ASUS: there is nothing characteristic there.
The only detail that the Taiwanese company has the right to consider as its unique achievement is the ugly iridescent “metal-like” insert. They shove her into the most hopeless smartphones, thinking that she will help. Will not help.
2. Marketing random. ASUS names gadgets so that no one understands what they are talking about.
For example, there is a model with the flashy name ASUS Zenfone 3 Deluxe. It has two modifications that are clearly not named for people: ZS550KL (5.5-inch screen) and ZS570KL (5.7-inch diagonal).
Does ASUS really think that a healthy person would waste time poking around in these tedious nuances? Of course not: he will go to the vendor who does not bring chaos to the lineup.
However, once ASUS outdid itself. A diamond from the collection of wildest names – ASUS Zenfone 3 Deluxe Special Edition. Four words, one number. Bravo! Moreover, all four words are aimed at residents of Rublevskoye Highway who walk with iPhones.
By the way, the design of the Deluxe Special Edition was taken from the HTC Touch Diamond from the 2000s. Even there these edges looked much better.
3. The most disgusting shell. Nobody loves filling their phones with slag more than these crazy Asians.
Shocking fact: in some countries, Zenfone 2 had 20 programs that were removed only after receiving root rights. It is clear that not everyone was involved in root - undemanding users had to put up with the built-in software.
And one more funny story. ASUS loves itself so much that it makes its branded applications publicly available on Google Play. And he not only uploads them, but also inflates their ratings: for example, the useless launcher from the Zen UI set has the same number of ratings as the most popular Nova Launcher. Why do this is a mystery.
Apparently, ASUS employs very vain and ambitious people. The tragedy is that the Taiwanese have nothing but these qualities. That's why the company's smartphones turn out so weak, flawed and hopeless.
Asus Zenfone 3 ZE520KL is quite compact by the standards of its diagonal, but at the same time it looks more expensive than its price tag. This year the company decided to make major changes in appearance.
Previously, Zenfons were large and plastic, but always recognizable. But this year the company decided to keep up with trends and made a phone with a metal body, covered it on both sides with glass, fashionably curved along the edges on the front panel (2.5D glass). They even didn’t forget to add a fingerprint scanner on the back. On the one hand, now Zenfone 3 looks fashionable and stylish, but on the other hand, it becomes like everyone else, without the ability to remove the cover and battery. The phone can be distinguished from other premium models only thanks to the rear panel with a protruding square lens (in the “best” traditions of the Samsung Galaxy S6) and an oblong fingerprint scanner. From the front, the model is similar to the same iPhone 7, only with three touch buttons under the screen, unfortunately, without backlight. Unusual details include barely noticeable inserts for antennas on the top and bottom ends and the use of a new USB type C connector, which is increasingly becoming common among mobile devices.
Asus Zenfone 3 ZE520KL fits quite comfortably in the palm of your hand. It can be operated with one hand, but not always easily - sometimes you have to pull hard with your thumb. The dimensions of the device measured by us: 146.9 × 74 × 7.9 mm, Zenfon has finally become compact and is now quite comparable to such a lean phone as the Huawei P9 Lite, and is slightly inferior only to the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016). True, a smartphone can only be called thin without taking into account the protruding camera lens. Zenfone 3 ZE520KL weighs relatively little - 144 grams, like Huawei P9.
The case of the Asus Zenfone 3 ZE520KL is non-separable and, as already mentioned, is made of metal and covered with glass on the front and back. Surprisingly, during use, the phone almost did not lose its presentation, even after getting acquainted with the keys in your pocket (barely noticeable scratches do not count). The build quality is good, but there is one thing: the control keys on the side are really loose and move up and down noticeably. In addition, although the glass is protective, it is still glass and may not survive an accidental fall on the asphalt. In addition, it gets dirty easily and is quite slippery - the phone does not slip out of your hands, but it always tries to slide off inclined surfaces.
The Asus Zenfone 3 ZE520KL smartphone can be purchased in white (“Moonlight Silver”), black (“Black Sapphire”), gold (“Shining Gold”) and turquoise (yes, “turquoise water”) colors.
Screen - 4.7
The Asus Zenfone 3 ZE520KL smartphone has a high-quality, clear and bright display. It is very good, one can only wish it had a slightly wider color gamut and a lower color temperature.
The screen has an IPS matrix with Full HD resolution (1920×1080 pixels). The pixel density is 424 per inch, and the image is clear enough to not see edges. The display is protected by Gorilla Glass 3, but it’s not clear why it’s from the generation before last. The display can be praised for its effective oleophobic coating and glove mode. Viewing angles are not bad for IPS matrices, but they can be wider. The range of measured brightness was wide - from 4 to 604 nits. This is enough on a sunny day, and at night it will not blind your eyes. There is also an auto-brightness function, and it works quickly and adequately to changing lighting conditions. The contrast turned out to be good, 1020:1, but nothing more; some IPS matrices are capable of more (for example, the iPhone 7 Plus). The color gamut is slightly narrower than the standard one - 94%, but the color rendering accuracy turned out to be very high, comparable to some TVs. I was a little surprised by the high color temperature, which makes the picture look a little cool. This problem can be solved by manual adjustment, but it is unclear why this should be left to the consumer and not done right away as it should be. Separately, we note the mode of operation with gloves; with it, the display becomes very sensitive and recognizes touches through the fabric.
Camera
Finally, Zenfon's shooting quality has been improved - the phone has good cameras of 16 and 8 MP. Just last year, Zenfone 2 was equipped with mediocre, mediocre cameras, which were even awkward to compare with other top models.
The maximum resolution of the photos taken is 4656 × 3492 pixels, the arsenal includes triple autofocus (phase, laser and tracking), a two-color LED flash, a 4-axis optical stabilization system, a wide aperture (f/2.0), a 6-element lens and a color correction sensor . This alone shows that the company has made efforts to improve the camera. It’s just a pity that they didn’t reveal the physical dimensions of the sensor, perhaps they were embarrassed. What happened in the end? And it turned out very well, the level of detail is high, although slightly lower than that of the leaders in mobile photography such as LG G5. The camera has stopped making ungodly “noise” and naturally reproduces different colors. As for focusing, everything is not so perfect; indeed, seven nannies have a child without an eye. As a rule, all pictures are in focus, the phone is able to focus quickly, but when constantly pointing at different objects, it takes a little time for the phone to “understand” that it needs to adapt to the new situation. It is useless to try to photograph moving objects; the photos come out blurry. But the camera takes good close-up shots (macro photography). The phone has a couple of HDR modes (including auto-HDR), which work quite effectively and the results look natural. True, without it the camera cannot always cope with light sources. In poor lighting, the quality of frames deteriorates in terms of noise, but optical stabilization helps out somewhat and does its job.
As usual, Asus decided to cram many different (useless?) shooting modes into the camera, describing each of them would be incredibly long, we can only list the most interesting: “Manual”, “Panorama”, “QR code”, “Low light” " and "Night" (oil), "Depth of Field", "GIF Animation" and "Slow Motion". Other modes like “Super Resolution”, “Children” (filming children with an overlay of the sound track “bird”, “chicken”, “piano”, “horse” and others), “Miniature”, “Smile” look unnecessary or even questionable in the adequacy of the developers. In manual mode, the following set of settings is available to you:
- focusing - from macro to infinity
- shutter speed - from 32 to 1/50000 seconds (it seems that this is too much)
- ISO - from 50 to 3200
- exposure - from −2 to +2
- color temperature from 2500 to 6500 K in increments of 50 degrees.
In addition, there is a special level that will not allow you to fill the horizon again. The customization options are very wide, no worse than last year's LG G4, and in some ways even wider.
The company also decided to teach the camera to shoot 4K video, however, in this case you lose the ability to enable stabilization, which is available when shooting in Full HD. We never saw tracking autofocus when recording video; focusing occurs only by pressing the screen (with such advanced focusing we could implement this function). But there is autoexposure so as not to overexpose or get too dark recordings.
The front camera with a large aperture (f/2.0) takes photos with a resolution of 3264x2448 pixels. It handles selfies well even indoors, although it sometimes lacks dynamic range. In addition, it is a little annoying with various “improvements” to the portrait, such as adding blush, “softness,” skin lightening, and so on; personally, we wanted to quickly turn them off. But the front camera can shoot video up to Full HD resolution, take panoramic selfies and even GIFs.
Photo from camera Asus Zenfone 3 ZE520KL - 4.1
Photos from the front camera of Asus Zenfone 3 ZE520KL - 4.1
Photos in HDR format from the camera of Asus Zenfone 3 ZE520KL - 4.1
Working with text - 5.0
The Asus Zenfone 3 ZE520KL uses a comfortable proprietary keyboard with an impressive number of features. It has such typical features as support for continuous word input (Swype) and marking of additional characters. You can switch between languages using either a separate key or a “swipe” on the space bar. There are many free and paid keyboard themes to choose from. To edit text, you can go to a special window with icons for cutting, copying, pasting, moving the cursor (like the iPhone 6 Plus in landscape mode). In addition, you can change the size of the keyboard, move it around the screen, select icons to display on the toolbar at the top, enlarge the characters, and even adjust the long press delay (from 100 to 700 ms). And all this is not counting typical functions like voice input, dictionaries, auto-corrections and more.
Internet - 3.0
The Asus Zenfone 3 ZE520KL comes pre-installed with Chrome and Puffin browsers. At the same time, it is not clear where the proprietary brand went; it seems that they abandoned it. In Chrome, you can sync your tabs and history with the desktop version and double-click to scale text to your chosen size. Puffin turned out to be an interesting browser, with the ability to add a small touch panel on top of the page, which will serve as a touchpad for a cursor or a virtual joystick with a cross and two buttons. It’s unusual, but it’s not clear whether such features are needed in a smartphone. In addition, along with them, the browser begins to simply slow down or do some inexplicable things like sudden movements around the page or sudden enlargements of an image.
Communications - 3.8
Asus Zenfone 3 ZE520KL received a good set of communications:
- dual-band and high-speed Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac
- LTE Cat. 4 with VoLTE support (calls over 4G network)
- Bluetooth 4.2
- GPS with GLONASS and BeiDou
- USB type C
- FM radio (needs headphones)
- two SIM cards (Nano and Micro).
The top level lacks LTE of a higher category, an infrared port and, most importantly, an NFC chip, which the second Zenfon had. In addition, the predecessor, Zenfone 2 ZE551ML, had two radio modules, but now only one. And in general, it seems that there are no more phones left that work simultaneously with two SIM cards at once. In addition, with the transition to metal, the phone received only two card slots instead of three, which means one of them is a combination one. But the new product has a good old radio, which is ignored by many metal models like OnePlus 3, Samsung Galaxy S7, Meizu Pro 6 and many others.
Multimedia - 3.6
The Asus Zenfone 3 ZE520KL smartphone supports only the most common audio and video formats, and the sound quality in the headphones turned out to be only average, despite the manufacturer's assurances.
As for music, the phone refused to play AC-3 files, but it handled FLAC. TS, RMVB, FLV, WMV and some videos in MOV and MPG formats were not launched from the video. But it handles 4K video quite well. It’s a bit of a pity, but the phone doesn’t have any proprietary video and audio players left; we liked them. The pre-installed “Video Player” can be called standard, without any features. The standard Google Play Music is used as a music player - a full-fledged Google music service, not the most intuitive, but with good functionality. The smartphone comes with mediocre headphones, the sound in them is also adequate.
Battery - 3.5
Low battery life has always been a problem even for top-end Zenphones, but this is already a thing of the past. With the transition to an energy-efficient chipset, the Asus Zenfone 3 ZE520KL shows good results. If its predecessors were not always enough for a day of work, then the new product normally holds a charge for up to one to one and a half days, depending on the mode of use. This can be called a good step forward, correcting a serious error that is critical for a smartphone that aspires to some kind of status.
Formally, the phone's battery capacity is not that large - 2650 mAh, about the same as that of the LG Nexus 5X, but lower than many competitors, for example, Huawei Honor 5C. In the video test, the smartphone lasted 6 hours 40 minutes at maximum brightness, not the highest result, but not bad considering the high brightness of the screen. The iPhone 7 worked the same amount of time, but the Meizu Pro 6 worked three hours longer. But in audio player mode (classically a weak point for Zenfonov) it lasted a very long time - just over 100 hours, almost like the long-playing Huawei Honor 4C Pro. Shooting a 10-minute Full HD video consumed only 7% of the charge, the result is better than average. As for gaming, an hour of racing drained the battery by a quarter, which means that gamers can last the phone for 4 hours. Not a fountain, but better than the typical 3-3.5 hours. In daily use, the device lasted for us for one to a day and a half, but for budget-conscious users (those who don’t spend forever in instant messengers, rarely shoot or play, don’t keep the screen at maximum brightness and don’t turn on GPS, Wi-Fi, etc.) enough for two, if not more. Using the included 2A charger, the smartphone is fully charged in 2 hours (68% in the first hour). If you have little charge left, you can use the energy saving mode. There are five different consumption modes in the phone - “Productive”, “Normal”, “Saving” (turns off networks “in sleep”), “Ultra-energy saving” (only phone and SMS functions) and “Custom” (only the brightness of the screen and network is adjusted in it ).
Keep in mind that there are versions of the Zenfone 3 ZE520KL with both 3GB and 4GB of RAM, but in both cases the chipset uses the modern, energy-efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 - eight-core, clocked at up to 2.0 GHz. It is considered a mid-level solution, but shows good results within its framework, approaching top-end processors. There are more powerful and cheaper devices on the market with a 10-core Mediatek Helio X20, for example, Xiaomi Redmi Note 4, but this chipset cannot boast the same energy efficiency. In daily use, the Zenfone 3 ZE520KL is mostly smooth and fast, running games easily and maintaining good frame rates in games like NOVA 3 and Asphalt 8. But the phone still needs optimization. It periodically slows down in unexpected places of its clumsy interface: when switching between camera shooting modes, switching between programs, or when entering a list of widgets. The worst thing so far is scrolling through the contact list that opens from the Messenger application to send SMS. It is likely that these shortcomings or some of them will be corrected along with updates, but for now, because of such issues, the stability and smoothness of operation does not look the best. If you look at the test benchmark results, the Asus Zenfone 3 ZE520KL gets scores slightly above average:
- in GeekBench 4 (processor test) - 4079 points (the tablet for professionals, iPad Pro 12.9, is slightly higher than 4879 points, and the top-end Galaxy S7 - 5324)
- in AnTuTu (mixed test) - 62790 (some hundred thousand lower than the iPhone 7 Plus)
- in 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited (graphics test) - up to 13909 (slightly higher than Huawei Honor 7).
We also checked whether the smartphone gets hot when playing games. After half an hour of racing, the Zenfone 3 ZE520KL body remained cool, its temperature did not exceed 35.4 degrees. Perhaps the Game Genie application is worth mentioning separately. It launches automatically in games, which is a little annoying and annoying (round icon on top of the game). It is stated that the program allows you to speed up the device in the game and gives some advice. In the first case, an application with a funny name “Power and Acceleration” is launched, which clears the RAM. We wouldn't refuse advice in games either, but we didn't notice any valuable tips. In addition, Game Genie can record your game while simultaneously shooting video of your face on the front camera in a separate round window. Moreover, this video can be immediately streamed on YouTube or Twitch. If you do not need such specific functionality, you can disable it in the settings.
Memory - 5.0
Asus Zenfone 3 ZE520KL is sold in two versions: 32 GB of storage and 3 GB of RAM, or 64 GB of storage and 4 GB of RAM. In our case, 52.6 of 64 GB were available. Not a bad amount to choose from, but even if this is not enough, you can add up to 2 TB using a memory card (according to the manufacturer). Moreover, you are given 100 GB of Google Drive cloud storage for free for two years.
Peculiarities
The Zenfone 3 ZE550KL smartphone runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS and the proprietary ZenUI 3.0 interface. The smartphone supports two SIM cards (the slot for the second is a combined one) and, unlike its predecessor, it has only one radio module.
What is unusual about the phone are the body materials (metal covered on both sides with glass), the triple camera focusing system and the fingerprint scanner. Among the unpleasant features - the phone is easily soiled, slippery, the camera lens protrudes from the body, and the keys on the side noticeably play. We also note that literally a couple of items in the settings remained not translated into Russian (for example, in “ASUS Individual Settings”).
The company's own interface can be called unusual and functional, but rather confusing and ponderous. The smartphone immediately comes pre-installed with a bunch of different software, almost like Samsung phones from two years ago, if not worse. The most annoying thing is that the lion's share of these applications cannot be deleted, even the 150 cm “laser ruler”, let alone a proprietary photo editor or software for optimizing and backing up a smartphone. It’s strange that they forgot to install another antivirus. The phone has a fairly wide choice of customizing and designing the interface to suit you, for example, a desktop or widgets with various effects. Among the atypical features, we note the glove mode, one-handed control mode, adjusting the color temperature of the image and various control gestures (turn on the display by double-clicking, launch an application by drawing a letter on the screen, and so on).
