Category “Review of All ASUS ZenFone Models. Category “Review of All ASUS ZenFone Models Appearance and ease of use


The guys from Asus are simply handsome. Year after year, each new mid-ranger in the Zenfone line remains one of the best smartphones in its price category. And Zenfone 5 continued the good tradition of the brand. The device boasts excellent hardware, beautiful design and an adequate price tag. There are, of course, a couple of complaints, but we’ll talk about everything in order in the review of Asus Zenfone 5 ZE620KL.

Set

In the box we have wired headphones (not bad, by the way), a USB C cable and a power supply with support for " fast charging"at 10 W. I tried to charge my smartphone with it and it only charged 33% in half an hour - this is not fast charging, friends. Not once.

However, it is stated that the device supports accelerated power supply from 18 W adapters. Of course, I checked the operation of this power supply - I will share the results later.

In addition, the kit included a simple case for the first time. Protective film It wasn't in the package, you'll have to buy it yourself.

Design

The first and most important thing that has changed in Asus Zenfone 5 compared to the 4th generation is the screen. Instead of a 5.5-inch panel, a Super IPS+ matrix (as Asus calls it) with a diagonal of 6.2 inches was placed here. The resolution is decent - 2246 by 1060 pixels. If anything, the screen geometry here is slightly unusual - 19 by 9, which gives us an elongated screen with maximum coverage of the frontal area.

Of course, surfing the web and delving into applications on such a large and juicy screen is very convenient.

By the way, the top frame here is exactly the same narrow as the side ones. Do you know how it happens? If you look more closely, you will find a wider stripe on top than on the sides. This, for example, is expressed even more strongly.

In our case, everything is perfectly symmetrical.

Yes, the bangs with the front camera, speaker and LED indicator stand out. It seems annoying, but in fact it’s time to get used to this fashion. To my surprise, I realized that she no longer bothered me. Apparently, he got used to it.

If the protrusion is still annoying, then you can hide it in the display settings. By the way, the latter is really dark here, even when turned off.

The display itself is very high quality and bright. This is truly one of best IPS matrices that I met. At first it even seemed like an AMOLED screen had been installed here, so I had to further refresh my memory Asus specifications Zenfone 5.

There is only one minus in the display - it is brightness, or rather, auto-adjustment. It happens that it sinks and in complete darkness does not want to go down to the minimum level on its own, so you have to do it manually. The problem is solved by rebooting.

The rear of the smartphone is no less beautiful.

Yes, it has a vertical camera, like most of its competitors, but the circular texture under the glass, which shimmers elegantly in the sun, adds to its charm.

Actually, my Asus review Zenfone 5 is like this:

Using a smartphone is extremely pleasant. There is a strong feeling as if you are holding a flagship device in your hands. This is great!

At the end, a little bit of tar. I didn't like the fingerprint scanner on the back at all. Firstly, he practices touches the second, or even the third time. Secondly, the sensor is very thoughtful. I put my finger on it, 1.5-2 seconds passed and only then did the smartphone unlock. By modern standards this is very slow. Fortunately, after a week of use, I got used to such a thoughtful scanner.

Of course, there is an alternative - face unlock. However, it takes just as long for the smartphone to recognize a friendly face. And in the dark this method does not work at all.

Characteristics

In all examples, photos from Zenfone cameras 5 the detailing and white balance are poor. In addition, there are noticeable artifacts around the edges. In the corners the picture floats, blurs, and so on. This is especially critical for a wide-angle camera, which, simply put, is useless here.

Of course, it allows you to cover a noticeably larger angle, but in this case you shouldn’t count on decent quality.

What saves it is the HDR mode. He really pulls out any photo, even a complex one.

Of course, the device can blur the background, but it does it sloppily. It may blur part of the object in the foreground or, conversely, fail to recognize a part of the background and leave it in focus.

But what confuses me most about portrait mode is the exposure. Constant overexposure for portraits is the norm. And if you try to focus on a lighter subject, the photo ends up being too dark.

It is worth adopting the super resolution mode. If by default we have 12 megapixels, then when we turn on this scenario, the output is almost 49 megapixels! Yes, yes, I'm serious now. There is no error.


Regular photo

Super resolution


Regular photo

Super resolution

The algorithms simply take several frames at a time and seamlessly stitch them together into one. Yes, it takes a lot of time (the camera freezes for at least 3-4 seconds), but the result is worth it.

Our front camera is 8 megapixels and produces quite decent photos. You can post a selfie on Instagram or another social network.


The main thing is not to use portrait mode. It's there too, but it doesn't blur the background well. And of course, like the main module, the front camera “pleases” us with overexposure.

But the video recording was extremely pleasing.

The smartphone records 4K video at 30 frames per second without any problems. Detailing, autofocus, noise reduction of built-in microphones - there’s simply nothing to complain about.

Stabilization (4-axis, optical) works just fine. However, you should not expect that the video recording will be exactly the same as when shooting using a Steadicam. The stub here works very subtly - it removes the smallest hand tremors, sudden shaking, and makes the picture smooth but natural. And by the way, stabilization works in all modes, including Ultra HD.

In the settings there is a recording mode at a frequency of 120 frames per second. The result is a very lively video, and, again, with more or less working stabilization.

There are also standard notation- Full HD + 30 fps. In this scenario, the optical stub works most correctly.

System

This time, the programmers have done a great job on their own ASUS ZenUI 5 shell. It is still extremely functional and, perhaps, the most customizable launcher on the market that I have seen. Even MIUI and Flyme OS can envy everything that can be configured on a Taiwanese smartphone.

However, before the release of the 5th version of the shell, everything was spoiled by endless prompts after the first turn on of the device. Like, set up this, then that, keep in mind that you can do this, and after that something else, it wouldn’t hurt to make a backup, log into your account, agree to the newsletter, provide access here, here, back and forth, and so on continue until your cuckoo goes away. The first day of communicating with a brand new device turned into endless customization. Moreover, it was the semi-compulsory conditions of using the device that were stressful.

Now there is no such thing. The system is wow, so customizable, but it has become much more silent. If you want to customize it, you want to use it as is. This is cool. Well done Asus!

About stability.

Unfortunately, there are problems and they are not as rare as we would like.

A couple of times the smartphone froze in third-party applications, did not respond to any buttons, and only after 10 seconds everything returned to normal. Sometimes the standard keyboard is glitchy: sometimes it gets stuck, sometimes it misses your keystrokes and as a result you point at the screen, which is located behind the key block.

Let's attribute all this to the relative freshness of the software, especially since updates arrive regularly. During the week of testing, two new firmware were released, and therefore there is a chance that all the rough edges will be removed in the next updates.

Sound

Behind surround sound Two speakers respond at once: the main one (located at the bottom end) and the conversational one. The latter, of course, is purely symbolic here, because it is not capable of providing real stereo.

The outside sound is loud. To miss an incoming call, you need to try really hard, or go to a Stone Sour concert. By the way, will you come? I'm still thinking. The quality of the speaker is average.

In headphones (thanks, Asus, for the untouched 3.5 mm port), the sound is good. You can use third-party ears, but you can also opt for the complete ones. Their appearance does not inspire confidence, but their sound is surprisingly sane.

Battery

In theory, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor supports Quick Charge 4.0 fast charging. However, Asus does not say anything about this. However, as about QC 3.0. There is only some vague wording - charging at 18 watts.

I tried powering Zenfone 5 from the included power supply (5 volts, 2 amps output). In half an hour the device charged from zero to 33%. A very modest result, which by no means falls under the definition of fast charging.

Next, I connected the device to the Fasttech adapter connector (I talked about it) with QC 3.0 support. The result turned out to be even worse - in 30 minutes the battery gained only 21% of its capacity. However, one reader (thanks, Mikhail!) told me that his UGreen power supply with QC 3.0 is easily recognized by the smartphone as fast charging. The connection is accompanied by the appearance of two plus signs in the battery icon.

The conclusion is this. Zenfon 5 supports fast charging Quck Charge 3.0, but the feature does not work with all power supplies. Until you try, you won't know.

But the smartphone pleased me with its excellent autonomy. In my case, it lasted two full days!

At the same time, two SIM cards were installed inside, I did not optimize the energy consumption, I used the device as is. As a result, the screen operating time was 6 hours. And this is against the background of competitors who barely reach 4 hours. Let me remind you that under the hood we have a 3,300 mAh battery.

Competitors

Owners definitely do not need to update. Yes, the geometry of the new screen is simply space, however, the fourth Zenphone also had a gorgeous display with minimal side frames. The differences in terms of processor are completely insignificant, so you can relax.

Everyone else has something to think about. If you are used to the ZenUI system, like to customize everything for yourself, and you use the second or third generation Zenfone, then it’s worth upgrading to A. You are guaranteed to get a lot of new impressions.

As for the rest of the market, Asus Zenfone 5, of course, has competitors. First of all, this (without S), which can now be snatched for 25 thousand rubles, and maybe even cheaper. Then comes , which is sold in official channels for plus or minus the same money, has more quality camera, but in all other respects it is completely zenfon. You can also remember about , which may someday become cheaper (no).

However, this is not all that. Compared to all these devices, Zenfone 5 still looks more advantageous: either due to the design, or the camera, or the system.

Our hero has only one truly serious competitor - . Identical price, more powerful processor, also nice design and, of course, top-end cameras. It's really hard to compete with him. You can buy Asus Zenfone 5 only if for some reason you are not in the mood for it.

Bottom line

Asus Zenfone 5 has several problems. The first is the stability of the system. The software is still crude, but updates come regularly. There is every reason to believe that all the shortcomings will be removed sooner or later.

The second is weak for its price tag and camera positioning. With skillful hands, you can squeeze decent shots out of the sensor. However, I pointed it, shot it, and got a masterpiece - this is not about Zenfone 5.

And at the same time, the smartphone is full of advantages. I really liked the design. Thin, light, excellent materials and a screen with very narrow frames on all three sides. The display itself does not disappoint. The color rendering quality, viewing angles are all at a very high level.

Under the hood, the device has a fast and modern processor, a lot of memory and various goodies, like NFC. And the whole thing is powered by a 3,300 mAh battery. It doesn’t seem like much, but in reality the device lasts for one and a half to two days on a single charge without any problems.

The most important thing for any device is the price. I couldn’t boast of an adequate price tag at the start of sales, although the device certainly pleased me with its characteristics and capabilities. In the fifth generation, the price list is in order - Asus price Zenfone 5 is 25,990 rubles.

The new leader of a grown and no longer cheap line of smartphones

A year ago, when the appetites of the giants of the smartphone market had already diverged in earnest and the advanced audience seriously looked at little-known Chinese alternatives, Asus presented, under its authoritative name, a trio of different-sized budget Zenfone devices, among which every budget-conscious user could find a smartphone to their liking. Even at the first presentation, the manufacturer announced work on the second generation of devices. And now, almost a year later, we are returning to Asus devices - to the Zenfone pair presented in Russia in general and its flagship representative Zenfone 2 ZE551ML in particular.

Video review

To get started, we suggest watching our video review of the Asus Zenfone 2 (ZE551ML) smartphone:

Now let's take a look at the characteristics of the new product.

Main characteristics of Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML

  • SoC: Intel Atom Z3580
  • CPU: 4 x86-64 cores @2.3 GHz (4 threads)
  • GPU: PowerVR G6430 @533 MHz
  • Operating system: Google Android 5.0 with Asus ZenUI interface
  • Display: IPS, 5.5″, 1920×1080, 401 ppi
  • RAM: 4 GB LPDDR3
  • Internal memory: 32 GB eMMC
  • Supports microSD memory cards up to 64 GB
  • Mobile communication bands: GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900; WCDMA 850/900/1900; TD-SCDMA 1900/2100; FDD LTE 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/9/177/18/19/20/28/29, TDD LTE 38/39/40/41
  • Maximum speed: LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbit/s, UMTS HSPA+/DC-HSPA+ 42/5.76 Mbit/s
  • Supports two SIM cards in Micro-SIM format
  • Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 + 5 GHz)
  • Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, GPS/A-GPS/GLONASS/BDS/QZSS
  • Accelerometer, proximity and light sensors, gyroscope, compass, Hall sensor
  • Rear camera: 13 MP, f/2.0, dual flash, autofocus
  • Front camera: 5 MP, f/2.0
  • Battery: 3000 mAh, non-removable
  • Dimensions 153×77×11 mm
  • Weight: 170 g

Four gigabytes of RAM is more than the flagships, and the amount of permanent memory is good (it also retains a microSD slot). A powerful SoC, decent camera and display force us to put the Zenfone 2 in line with more expensive devices than those with which the line initially competed.

Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML Honor 6 Plus Oppo N3 Meizu MX4 Pro Jiayu S3
Screen 5.5″, IPS 5.5″, IPS 5.5″, IPS 5.5″, IPS 5.5″, IPS
Permission 1920×1080, 401 ppi 1920×1080, 401 ppi 1920×1080, 401 ppi 2560×1536, 546 ppi 1920×1080, 401 ppi
SoC HiSilicon Kirin 925 (4x Cortex-A15 @1.8GHz + 4x [email protected] + i3) Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (4 cores Krait 400 @2.3 GHz) Samsung Exynos 5430 (4x Cortex-A15 @2.0 GHz + 4x Cortex-A7 @1.5 GHz) MediaTek MT6752 (8 cores ARM Cortex-A53 @1.7 GHz)
GPU PowerVR G6430 Mali-T628 MP4 Adreno 330 Mali T628 MP6 Mali-T760
RAM 4 GB 3 GB 2 GB 3 GB 2/3 GB
Flash memory 32 GB 16 GB 32 GB 16/32/64 GB 16 GB
Memory card support microSD microSD microSD — microSD
Operating system* Google Android 5.0 Google Android 4.4 Google Android 4.4 Google Android 4.4 Google Android 4.4
SIM cards 2 × Micro-SIM 1 × Micro-SIM, 1 × Nano-SIM 1 × Micro-SIM, 1 × Nano-SIM 1 × Micro-SIM 2 × Micro-SIM
Battery non-removable, 3000 mAh non-removable, 3600 mAh non-removable, 3000 mAh non-removable, 3350 mAh non-removable, 3000 mAh
Cameras rear (2×8 MP; video 1080p), front (8 MP) rotating (16 MP; video 1080p) rear (20.7 MP; 4K video), front (5 MP) rear (13 MP; video 1080p), front (5 MP)
Size 153×77×10.9 mm 151×76×7.5 mm 161×77×8.7 mm 150×77×9.0 mm 152×76×8.9 mm
Weight 170 g 164 g 194 g 158 g 189 g
Average price (Ya.Market) T-11884502 T-11971680 T-11168101 T-11852174 T-12117304
Offers Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML L-11884502-10

Smartphones with similar characteristics famous brands have a higher price due to the “image” of the devices. Deprived of such gloss, Asus Zenfone is ideologically closer to the flagship devices of lesser-known Chinese manufacturers, which have a more reasonable price-to-feature ratio. Therefore, they are presented in the table above. And I must say, against their background, Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML is not lost at all.

But this model is still the most powerful in the updated line. Another modification with a 5.5-inch display will be presented in our country. Let's compare two new products with last year's Zenfone models.

Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML Asus Zenfone 2 ZE550ML Asus Zenfone 5 Asus Zenfone 6
Screen 5.5″, IPS 5.5″, IPS 5″, IPS 6″, IPS+
Permission 1920×1080, 401 ppi 1280×720, 267 ppi 1280×720, 294 ppi 1280×720, 241 ppi
SoC Intel Atom Z3580 (4 cores x86-64 @2.3 GHz) Intel Atom Z3560 (4 cores x86-64 @1.8 GHz) Intel Atom Z2560 (2 cores) @1.6 GHz Intel Atom Z2580 (2 cores/4 threads x86 @2 GHz)
GPU PowerVR G6430 PowerVR G6430 PowerVR SGX 544MP2 PowerVR SGX 544MP2
RAM 4 GB 2 GB 1/2 GB 2 GB
Flash memory 32 GB 16 GB 16 GB 16 GB
Memory card support microSD microSD microSD microSD
Operating system* Google Android 5.0 Google Android 5.0 Google Android 4.3 Google Android 4.3
SIM cards 2 × Micro-SIM 2 × Micro-SIM 2 × Micro-SIM 2 × Micro-SIM
Battery non-removable, 3000 mAh non-removable, 3000 mAh non-removable, 2110 mAh non-removable, 3300 mAh
Cameras rear (13 MP; video 1080p), front (5 MP; video 1080p) rear (13 MP), front (5 MP) rear (8 MP; video 1080p), front (2 MP) rear (13 MP; video 1080p), front (2 MP)
Size 153×77×10.9 mm 153×77×10.9 mm 148×73×10.3 mm 167×84×9.9 mm
Weight 170 g 170 g 145 g 196 g
Price** T-11884502 T-11883981 T-10988849 T-10736097

*at the time of publication of the corresponding article

Apparently, the four-inch Zenfone did not gain much success - devices with a much larger display diagonal are offered in Russia. Their cost has increased significantly: previously, the official price tags included amounts of $199 and $149. The difference in prices between the new models is not particularly significant and fully justifies the difference in capabilities. The Taiwanese company's appetite is growing, inspired by the success of the first generation of smartphones.

This concludes the excursion into the model range and returns to the main character - Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML.

Contents of delivery

The new Zenfone's box looks much the same as the old one, with round slots in the cardboard case. The IF Design Award 2015 sticker contrasts with the calm palette of the packaging.

The smartphone comes with a Micro-USB cable, an AC adapter, instructions, and a wired headset with an anti-tangle flat cable. And a set of additional silicone plugs of other sizes.

I remember that not every Zenfone spoiled us with a complete headset - the largest model did not have it before. Everything is fine here.

Appearance and ease of use

When creating Zenfone 2, the manufacturer decided on some rather bold experiments, but they did not touch the front panel. From the front, Zenfone 2 ZE551ML is indistinguishable from the first six-inch device in the line.

A camera lens with an LED indicator, a speaker, a light sensor and the Asus logo are compactly placed on top. Thanks to saving space, the manufacturer has achieved that the display occupies 72% of the front panel.

This figure could have been even higher if not for the series' calling card - a relief insert of concentric circles under the display. By the way, the distance between these circles is 0.13 mm. The touch buttons below the screen are still not backlit

As before, the new Zenfone uses an arched design: the smartphone tapers from the middle to the edges. Press releases mention a thickness of 3.9 mm, but the body reaches it only at the very edge, while in the middle it thickens to 10.9 mm.

This is even more than the first Zenphones (with the exception of the four-inch one), and even more so compared to modern competitors. But, thanks to the narrowing towards the edges, the device fits quite comfortably in a jeans pocket: the corners do not stick out and the fabric does not fray. So “more than a centimeter” is not a sentence, no matter how advertisers might want it.

Zen design is also applied to the rear panel. It is textured with the same parallel lines with a pitch of 0.13 mm. The solution turned out to be successful: the appearance has become more interesting, and the smartphone fits more securely in the palm, and there are no fingerprints left.

The speaker grille is located at the bottom, under the logos, there are no changes here. The wide slot here serves only an aesthetic function; the speaker itself occupies a small area in the left corner.

The main external change in Zenfone 2 was the rearrangement of mechanical buttons. We had the opportunity to use the smartphone for a few weeks and get used to these updates. Of course, they cannot be called comfortable. In order to press the volume buttons, the smartphone must be squeezed tightly in the palm of your hand. This takes extra time. It was much easier to poke the thin keys on the side with your thumb. In addition, there are often cases when you have to feel the volume buttons in your pocket if, for example, you use your smartphone as a player. Previously, this was easy because the buttons on the blind sidebar were quickly located. But now it’s not like that: through the fabric of the jeans, the keys practically merge with the rear panel, and the device has to be fished out of a tight pocket every time.

Things are no better with the power button, which is now aligned in the center of the top edge. To reach it with the same hand that holds the smartphone, the device must be moved. You won’t be able to do this instantly - the smartphone is too big. Mechanical buttons decorated with a Zen pattern in the form of concentric circles. Next to the power key there is a headset jack and a second microphone.

The main microphone is located at the bottom, next to the Micro-USB connector.

The smooth side edges of the smartphone are devoid of any functional elements; only at the bottom right there is a slot necessary to detach the back cover. You won't be able to do this without the help of nails. And even if you don’t mind the manicure, problems may arise with the first latch. Here you need to do everything as in the instructions: with one hand you pry up the back cover, with the other you press the phone in the opposite direction. After several such openings, the lid of our sample began to come off in the area of ​​the upper edge. Moreover, the width of the slot was enough for grains of sand to get in there, not to mention smaller particles.

Under the cover there are two Micro-SIM slots, and they are unequal. In Zenfone 5, operating modes could be easily switched through the OS interface, but now you have to remove the cover to do this. Nearby is a microSD slot that allows you to expand the memory by 64 GB.

Due to the method of fixing the rear panel, the smartphone quickly loses its shine of novelty. The glossy sides surrounding the screen are covered with scratches, and, as we have already said, small particles get clogged into the slot. But the new Zen cap shows itself to be very wear-resistant.

To slow down the unpleasant process of depreciation, Asus offers a proprietary Zenfone 2 View Cover Deluxe. It is installed instead of the standard rear panel. The cover is the same on both the front and back. It feels like leather to the touch, but has a more original pattern, and is more convenient to use than a standard lid.

There is a round plastic window on the front through which you can receive notifications and control some basic functions. Plastic protects the main display, but, on the other hand, it can affect the quality of pictures from the rear camera (if the cover is folded back). In addition, touches on the display often have to be repeated, because the touch screen is not the most in the best possible way perceives them through the partition. This cover will cost 1990 rubles.

The package from Asus was supplemented by a couple more accessories.

Branded external battery Asus Zenpower, with dimensions slightly smaller than that of a cigarette pack, has a capacity of 6510 mAh, which allows you to recharge the ZE551ML twice. And there will be a little left for emergencies. The official price of the battery is 1190 rubles.

The second device is more interesting - a compact docking station. It consists of two magnetic halves, comes with a leather case and a Micro-USB cable

The halves move apart and a smartphone is inserted into their grooves.

The functional half is equipped with a Micro-USB connector for connecting a charger and regular USB For external storage. Switching between them is done using a small button. The operating mode is indicated by the color of the indicator. The usefulness of such an accessory is, of course, questionable, but it is implemented in an interesting way.

In addition to the above, Asus introduced detachable flashes to the Russian market. Xenon ZenFlash connects via USB OTG, attaches to the rear panel and, according to the manufacturer, provides a hundred times brighter light than the built-in flash of a smartphone. The simpler LolliFlash consists of two LEDs and connects via a 3.5 mm jack. These accessories will be sold at prices starting from 1090 and 590 rubles, respectively.

The new Zenfone will go on sale not only with the usual single-color, but also with spectacular designer rear panels. Among them, of course, the most attractive in the photo is the Illusion Series pair.

Screen

Before we begin examining the screen using our traditional method, let us mention one unpleasant features operation of the sensor itself. If you type on the keyboard with your thumb right hand, Enter is often mistakenly triggered - the button in the lower right corner, where the screen turns out to be unusually sensitive. Especially when you need to reach the buttons in the upper left corner of the keyboard. For this reason, even if your palm size allows you to handle your smartphone with one right hand, depending on your level of patience, sooner or later you will have to use your left.

A detailed examination using measuring instruments was carried out by the editor of the “Monitors” and “Projectors and TV” sections Alexey Kudryavtsev. Here is his expert opinion on the screen of the sample under study.

The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface that is scratch-resistant. Judging by the reflection of objects anti-glare properties of the screen are no worse than those of the screen Google Nexus 7 (2013) (hereinafter simply Nexus 7). For clarity, here is a photo in which a white surface is reflected in the switched off screens (on the left - Nexus 7, on the right - Asus Zenfone 2, then they can be distinguished by size):

The screen of the Asus Zenfone 2 is slightly darker (brightness according to photographs is 125 versus 128 for the Nexus 7). The ghosting of reflected objects in the Asus Zenfone 2 screen is very weak, this indicates that there is no air gap between the layers of the screen (more specifically, between the outer glass and the surface of the LCD matrix) ( OGS type screen – One Glass Solution). Due to the smaller number of boundaries (glass/air type) with very different refractive indices, such screens look better in conditions of strong external illumination, but their repair in the case of cracked external glass is much more expensive, since the entire screen has to be replaced. On the outer surface of the screen there is special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (very effective, better than Nexus 7), therefore fingerprints are removed much easier and appear at a lower speed than in the case of ordinary glass.

When manually controlling brightness and when displaying a white field in full screen maximum value brightness was about 270 cd/m² (and 330 cd/m² when using third-party programs to adjust the brightness), the minimum was 26 cd/m². The maximum brightness is not very high, however, given the excellent anti-glare properties, something on the screen can be seen even on a sunny day outdoors (and in automatic mode the brightness is noticeably higher - see below). In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable value. In stock automatic adjustment brightness by the light sensor (located in the upper left corner on the front panel). In automatic mode, as external lighting conditions change, the screen brightness both increases and decreases. The operation of this function depends on the position of the brightness adjustment slider. If it is 100%, then in complete darkness the automatic brightness adjustment function reduces the brightness to 33 cd/m² (normal), in an office illuminated by artificial light (about 400 lux) it sets it to 180 cd/m² (just right), very bright environment (corresponding to lighting on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight- 20,000 lux or a little more) increases to 400 cd/m² (enough). Brightness slider at 50% - the values ​​are as follows: 26, 100 and 400 cd/m² (acceptable values), at 0% - 26, 50 and 210 cd/m² (the last two values ​​are too low, but this is expected). It turns out that The automatic brightness adjustment function works adequately. At any brightness level, there is virtually no backlight modulation, so there is no screen flickering.

This smartphone uses IPS type matrix. The microphotographs show a typical IPS subpixel structure:

For comparison, you can see the gallery of microphotographs of screens used in mobile technology.

The screen has good viewing angles without significant color shift even with large deviations of the gaze from perpendicular to the screen and without inverting shades. For comparison, here are photographs in which the same images are displayed on the screens of Asus Zenfone 2 and Nexus 7, while the screen brightness is initially set to approximately 200 cd/m² (over a white field in the entire screen), and the color balance on the camera is forcibly switched to 6500 K There is a white field perpendicular to the screens:

We note good uniformity of brightness and color tone white field. And a test picture:

Color reproduction is good and colors are rich on both screens, the color balance differs slightly. Now at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen:

It can be seen that colors have not changed much on both screens, but the contrast on the Asus Zenfone 2 screen has noticeably decreased due to a significant increase in black levels. And a white field:

The brightness of the screens at an angle decreased (by at least 5 times, based on the difference in shutter speed), but in the case of Asus Zenfone 2 the drop in brightness is slightly less. When deviated diagonally, the black field brightens greatly and acquires a violet or red-violet hue. The photographs below demonstrate this (the brightness of the white areas in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the screens is approximately the same!):

And from another angle:

When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the black field is good:

Contrast (approximately in the center of the screen) is low - about 600:1 . The response time for the black-white-black transition is 17 ms (10 ms on + 7 ms off). The transition between halftones of gray 25% and 75% (based on the numerical value of the color) and back takes a total of 23 ms. The gamma curve, constructed using 32 points with equal intervals based on the numerical value of the shade of gray, did not reveal any blockage in either the highlights or the shadows. The index of the approximating power function is 2.58, which is noticeably higher than the standard value of 2.2. In this case, the real gamma curve strongly deviates from the power-law dependence:

Due to the aggressive dynamic adjustment of the backlight brightness in accordance with the nature of the output image (without identifying a clear pattern), the resulting dependence of brightness on hue (gamma curve) does not correspond to the gamma curve of a static image, since the measurements were carried out with sequential output of shades of gray by almost whole screen. For this reason, we carried out a number of tests - determining contrast and response time, comparing black illumination at angles - when displaying special templates with a consistently average brightness, and not monochromatic fields in the entire screen. In general, such non-disabled brightness correction does nothing but harm, since constant chaotic changes in screen brightness can at least cause some discomfort. However, the manufacturer, represented by Asus, with enviable persistence continues to implement this function in its mobile devices with a screen.

The color gamut from a practical point of view is equal to sRGB:

The spectra show that the matrix filters moderately mix the components with each other:

As a result, visually the colors have a natural saturation. The balance of shades on the gray scale is good, since the color temperature is not much higher than the standard 6500 K, and the deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) is less than 10, which is considered an acceptable indicator for a consumer device. At the same time, color temperature and ΔE change little from hue to hue - this has a positive effect on the visual assessment of color balance. (The darkest areas of the gray scale can be ignored, since color balance there is not very important, and the error in measuring color characteristics at low brightness is large.)

In this device, in the screen settings you can select one of four profiles and in three of them the color temperature slider is active (in the profile Reading it is replaced by an increasing yellowness slider), and in the profile Custom There are also hue and saturation adjustments.

Profile Bright features a raised color contrast:

And it has no practical meaning, like other color rendering settings, except for adjusting the color temperature. The graphs above show the result (data labeled as Corr.), obtained after our attempt to correct the color temperature, for which we had to resort to several iterations. It cannot be said that there is a particular need for such a correction, but it has perhaps become a little better.

Let's summarize. The screen has sufficiently high maximum brightness and has excellent anti-glare properties, so the device can most likely be used outdoors without any problems, even on a sunny summer day. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable level. It is acceptable (and in a bright environment it is necessary) to use mode with automatic brightness adjustment, working adequately. The advantages of the screen include an effective oleophobic coating, the absence of flicker and air gap in the layers of the screen, good uniformity of the black field, as well as the sRGB color gamut and acceptable color balance. Significant disadvantages - aggressive non-disabled dynamic adjustment of backlight brightness and low black stability to deviation of the gaze from perpendicular to the plane of the screen. Nevertheless, taking into account the importance of characteristics for this particular class of devices, the quality of the screen can be considered high.

Sound

In terms of sound, the new Asus Zenfone did not bring anything new to the series. You can adjust the sound through the proprietary AudioWizard, as well as using the equalizer in Asus Music.

The calculable characteristics of the ZE551ML have been raised to the flagship level, but the sound quality remains the same. That is, not at all outstanding. The smartphone has a Realtek ALC5647 DAC, the same as before. When listening through the rear speaker, the mid frequencies prevail, there is almost no bass, as well as the upper register. When you connect headphones, the situation in the lower register improves somewhat. There is no wheezing at any volume level. Concerning conversational dynamics, then we won’t complain about his work: the interlocutor’s speech is legible, the timbre is not distorted.

The device has FM radio and a conversation recording function. Through the settings, automatic recording of all conversations or only from a limited list of numbers is available.

Camera

The maximum resolution of images from the rear camera is 13 megapixels (4096×3072). Commented on her work.

Good sharpness across the frame. “Wet sharpening” catches the eye, removing small out-of-focus details.

The camera works quite poorly with shadows. Feels like a weak sensor.

Sometimes the pictures come out too blurry.

The noise reduction work is visible in the sky.

Details in the shadows and beyond are “eaten up” by noise.

Strong and bright sharpening is noticeable on wires and branches.

The car numbers are practically indistinguishable.
Text in room lighting and also with flash. In both cases the text is well done.
Macro photography in room lighting and with flash. The camera copes well with macro photography, especially in good lighting.

The camera has a mode for taking pictures with a resolution of 50 megapixels. However, there is not much point in it, since it does not provide noticeable improvements. Although the overall image becomes slightly sharper, there is no increase in detail.

We also tested the camera on a laboratory bench using our method.

The camera cannot be called a good one - it has too many shortcomings, although it works well at first glance. When studying the images in detail, problems with sharpness become noticeable, sometimes quite significant. Rough and incomplete noise reduction also contributes to image degradation. The program does not work very well, in particular it abuses sharpening. As a result, pictures often turn out blurry.

The laboratory test makes it very clear that it is best to shoot with the camera outdoors in good lighting. And even in this case, it will produce only an average result.

In this form, the camera is probably suitable for undemanding documentary or art photography, but it is worth keeping in mind its problem areas and taking them into account when creating valuable photographs.

The front camera has a resolution of 5 MP (shooting up to 2560×1920) and a lens with an f/2.0 aperture. Unfortunately, it lacks autofocus, but is equipped with a video stabilization function. The result can be described as good, although the lack of autofocus is noticeable.

Interestingly, in the middle of the left border of the frame we see the same artifacts as in the Nokia N1 on a similar SoC. And the rest of the video parameters of these two devices are almost the same. But if this level is normal for a tablet, then, of course, you want better quality shooting from a smartphone.

Telephone and communications

Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML supports all major second and third generation network bands, as well as LTE Cat4 with a maximum speed of 150 and 50 Mbps for download and upload, respectively. The faster LTE Cat6 standard has not been implemented. In addition to mobile networks, dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (with separate antennas for reception and transmission) is used for Internet access. The list of other wireless standards includes Bluetooth 4.0 LE, as well as NFC. Connecting storage devices via USB OTG is supported.

Navigation on the smartphone works perfectly, almost immediately after turning it on, GPS satellites and coordinates are determined, then Glonass and Chinese BDS are pulled up. The Japanese QZSS even appeared on the list a couple of times.

The smartphone has two slots for Micro-SIM cards on board. The first slot supports work with any mobile communication bands stated in the specification. The second slot is capable of functioning only in second generation networks, and data transfer is not available to it. The good news is that the smartphone also has two radio modules: while one SIM card is used, the second one also remains active.

IN phone application a new “VIP” tab has appeared, where you can add the most important contacts. A filter by VIP group is available in proprietary applications, the list of which ASUS traditionally has a rather large list of: here are utilities for creating notes, backups, and several applications united by the word “Link” in the name, with which you can transfer files between devices and organize remote control and duplicate the screen.

The advantage of VIP contacts is that the SMS application has a tab with a quick filter for this group. Another interesting feature is “ Private messages" Here you can collect secret correspondence and protect it with a password, but they will not be visible in the general window.

The numeric keyboard supports Smart Dial, search by the first letters of the name, and the alphabetic keyboard supports continuous Swype input. It has light and dark themes, as well as three height levels. And, it must be said that when choosing the lowest of them, the message can be typed with one hand without much effort. This will be even easier, since the number of accidental presses on Enter will be reduced, since you don’t have to reach far with your thumb.

OS and software

All new Zenfone models, of course, receive Android 5.0 out of the box. But, to be honest, with the proprietary ZenUI sauce, the difference between Kit Kat and Lollipop becomes much less noticeable. If it weren't for the notifications on the lock screen and the current user icon in the corner, it would be difficult to say with complete confidence about the OS version without additional manipulations.

The main advantage of ZenUI is its extensive appearance customization options. If you don't like the font color/size/style, they can be easily changed. I don't like what's on different screens The status bar symbols blend into the background—it’s easy to make it less transparent (at least black). Icons can also be changed; by default, three sets are available. Appearance settings are quickly launched by sliding from the bottom edge of the display.

Interestingly, desktops are missing an essential element of Android, the Google search bar. Moreover, it was not just made invisible, as can be done in other phones - there is simply no line, and, accordingly, there is more useful space on desktops. And the line appears only on the recent applications screen, launched through the right button under the display.

The Android slide-out menu is conveniently implemented. Previously, depending on the direction of the shift, either notifications or switches were launched. Currently, a single slide opens notifications, and a double slide opens toggles. Traditionally, this ZenUI element provides ample functionality: 4 icons for launching applications and 12 icons for other functions. Among them, we note the quickly beloved memory clearing in one click, as well as the transition to the settings for selecting a SIM card for calls.

ZenUI supports gesture control. They are divided into two groups - move gestures and touch gestures. The first group only includes the ability to shake the device, which will take a screenshot and add the task to Do It Later. We were not able to track exactly how to shake, and in principle there is little benefit from such a function. But what comes in handy are touch gestures. Double tap turns the screen on and off. When turned off, the display recognizes the spelling of six different letters, each of which can be assigned to launch any application.

Through the recent applications screen it is easy to access the task manager and assess the load on RAM background processes and, if necessary, complete unnecessary ones. Any window using a pin icon is pinned to the entire screen, and until you press the two outermost keys under the screen at the same time, this lock will not turn off. This is very convenient, for example, if you use a smartphone with a car mount as a navigator.

In general, the operating system works very stably, without freezes or shutdowns - four gigabytes is more than enough for the gluttonous Android. But sometimes there are bugs that require improvement. For example, when switching users, the phone slows down and several information windows sometimes overlap each other. Pop-up messages sometimes hang on top of other windows and disappear only when the corresponding application is closed. In the settings of alert modes, it would be worthwhile to tweak the interface a little, and translate some menus from English to the end. We discovered all these shortcomings after several OS updates over the air, on version ASUS_Z00A-2.15.40.13_20150506_3876.

The interface for the smart cover is well implemented. Through horizontal scrolling, information about the weather, events, alerts, as well as turning on the flashlight is available; opens when pushed down Additional Information on the selected screen. If necessary, the image from the camera can even be entered into the small window.

The originality and functionality of ZenUI also has a side effect: it takes about a minute for the smartphone to turn on and then load the OS. Our smartphone also came with a couple of more annoying applications to optimize performance. Well, we actually improved performance by removing this software.

Performance and Heat

The Zenfone 2 ZE551ML is powered by the Intel Atom Z3580, the most powerful representative of Intel Moorefield. Cooperation between Asus and Intel in the production of mobile devices has a rich history, but it seems that some of the parties are not satisfied with it: it is already known that the future Zenfone 3 will be based on SoC manufactured by Qualcomm, Snapdragon 615.

For now we are dealing with x86-64 architecture. We encountered the Intel Atom Z3580 single-chip system in the Dell Venue 8 7840 and Nokia N1 tablets. It consists of four cores operating at frequencies from 333 to 2333 MHz, and a PowerVR G6430 GPU (457-533 MHz). The configuration is complemented by a record 4 GB of RAM, as well as 32 GB of permanent memory (of which 25.53 GB is available to the user).

I remember that the Dell tablet was not inferior in performance to Apple iPad Air 3 (adjusted for resolution). Let's see what Zenfone shows.

In Antutu, the new Asus outperformed all competitors, even the powerful MX4 Pro (although a difference of 38 points here, of course, means nothing). There were no such surprises at Geekbench. It is significant here that the results of the x86-64 architecture and Krait 400 at the same frequency are almost the same. In multi-core mode, only smartphones with SoC based on ARM Cortex architecture are ahead.

Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML
(Intel Atom Z3580) 		Honor 6 Plus
(HiSilicon Kirin 925) 		Oppo N3
(Snapdragon 801) 		Meizu MX4 Pro
(Exynos 5 Octa 5430) 		Jiayu S3
(Mediatek MT6752)
3DMark Ice Storm Extreme
(more is better)		 8412 9113 Maxed out! Maxed out! 6595
3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited
(more is better)		 20159 13849 17166 18043 10386
GFXBenchmark T-Rex HD (C24Z16 Onscreen) 23.5 fps 17 fps 23 fps 17 fps 16 fps
GFXBenchmark T-Rex HD (C24Z16 Offscreen) 22.5 fps 17 fps 23 fps 25 fps 16 fps
Bonsai Benchmark 3700 (53 fps) 3726 (53 fps) 3658 (52 fps) 3019 (43 fps) 3232 (46 fps)

Zenfone 2 ZE551ML performs well in gaming benchmarks, coming out on top in Ice Storm Unlimited. Let's complete the performance study with browser tests

Zenfone 2 again snatches victory from MX4 Pro in one of the tests, but based on the results of the entire study, it must be admitted that its position is next to Oppo N3 behind Meizu MX4 Pro. The results of our hero met all expectations. It may not live up to the latest flagships, but its performance is certainly high.

Let us now evaluate the heating of the smartphone. Below is a thermal image of the rear surface (top left in the image), obtained after 10 minutes of running the battery test in the GFXBenchmark program:

It can be seen that the heating is localized in the upper part of the device, which apparently corresponds to the location of the SoC chip. According to the heat camera, the maximum heating was 44 degrees.

Playing video

Format Container, video, sound MX Video Player Standard video player
DVDRip AVI, XviD 720×400 2200 Kbps, MP3+AC3 only sound is played
Web-DL SD AVI, XviD 720×400 1400 Kbps, MP3+AC3 plays fine with AC3 codec only sound is played
Web-DL HD MKV, H.264 1280×720 3000 Kbps, AC3 plays fine with AC3 codec plays without sound
BDRip 720p MKV, H.264 1280×720 4000 Kbps, AC3 plays fine with AC3 codec plays without sound
BDRip 1080p MKV, H.264 1920×1080 8000 Kbps, AC3 plays fine with AC3 codec plays without sound

Zenfone never learned to digest XviD, which is disappointing. There is also no support for AC3 tracks.

We did not find the MHL interface, like Mobility DisplayPort, in this smartphone, so we had to limit ourselves to testing the output of video files on the screen of the device itself. To do this, we used a set of test files with an arrow and a rectangle moving one division per frame (see “Method for testing video playback and display devices. Version 1 (for mobile devices)”). Screenshots with a shutter speed of 1 s helped determine the nature of the output of frames of video files with various parameters: Resolution varied (1280 by 720 (720p), 1920 by 1080 (1080p), and 3840 by 2160 (4K) pixels) and frame rate (24, 25, 30, 50, and 60 fps). In the tests we used the MX Player video player in the “Hardware” mode. The test results are summarized in the table: Red marks indicate possible problems associated with the playback of the corresponding files.

According to the criterion of frame output, the quality of playback of video files on the screen of the device itself is good, since frames (or groups of frames) can be output with more or less uniform alternation of intervals and without skipping frames. When playing video files with a resolution of 1920 by 1080 (1080p) on a smartphone screen, the image of the video file itself is displayed exactly along the edge of the screen in true Full HD resolution. The brightness range displayed on the screen depends on the actual range in the video file and for typical files it is equal to the standard range of 16-235, that is, all shade gradations are displayed in the shadows and highlights.

Battery life

The battery capacity of Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML is 3000 mAh (11.4 Wh). And according to this indicator, our hero again finds himself side by side with Oppo N3. In general, for devices of this size this is not an outstanding value.

The smartphone has several energy saving modes. Two of them are based on limited functionality, so we used the third, “Optimized Power Saving”, by enabling it in reading and video mode. In reading mode, the smartphone launched not just one page of a book, but auto-flipping, due to which the operating time may be slightly shorter compared to competitors.

Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML, like many others powerful smartphones, shows itself to be more energy efficient as the load increases. You can’t write him down as an outsider - after all, he worked with 3D games at the level of leaders. But in reading mode, the new Zenfone is noticeably inferior to all of the listed competitors, and this scenario is still the most relevant. In the near future, we will study how much auto-scrolling affects the boot of the device, and will come to a completely unified methodology.

The characteristics of the smartphone claim support for BoostMaster fast charging technology, but in our case it did not work - the smartphone was charged evenly in just over three hours. Perhaps it's all about a third-party adapter for a domestic outlet, which we were forced to use in tests.

Bottom line

Before all the shortcomings Zenfone smartphones crossed out the cost of these devices, because of which they could be forgiven a lot. With the new prices, the future of the series no longer seems so cloudless. Second-generation Asus Zenfone smartphones have fallen out of favor budget segment and took places in the middle price range. At the same time, not all models meet the technical requirements of the newfound positions, and even the older ZE551ML in some aspects has not grown compared to last year’s devices. Sometimes this is pleasing: the device’s display has retained a fairly high quality. Sometimes it’s upsetting: the sound and camera remained at the budget level. Zenfone 2 ZE551ML captivates with its quantitative characteristics, as befits a flagship of the series, and there is nothing to complain about here: a powerful processor with a decent amount of RAM and flash memory provide great job proprietary ZenUI in Full HD resolution. True, not very long.

During the presentation, the manufacturer announced the expected prices of smartphones. Zenfone 2 ZE551ML in maximum configuration costs 19,990 rubles. The basic model ZE550ML, the characteristics of which we provided at the beginning of the article, costs 14,990 rubles. In addition, it became known about the intermediate modification ZE551ML with a 5.5-inch FullHD display, SoC Intel Atom 3560, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of permanent memory. Its price will be 17,990 rubles. IN service centers Asus Premium in Moscow and St. Petersburg it will be possible to return a previous generation Zenfone and get a discount on a new one (up to 3,500 rubles).

The Zenfone 5 we are reviewing today is one of the best deals on the market for its price, as well as the most interesting smartphone from the entire ZenUI line. Let me remind you that we already had a detailed “First Look” at this device, so if you read it, I recommend that you immediately go to the sections “Dimensions”, “Screen”, “Camera”, “Battery life” and “Conclusion”.

Characteristics:

  • Class: state employee
  • Form factor: monoblock
  • Case materials: matte rubberized plastic
  • Operating system: Android 4.3, Zen UI
  • Network: GSM/EDGE, WCDMA, dual SIM support (microSIM)
  • Platform: Intel Atom Z2560
  • Processor: dual-core 1.6 GHz
  • RAM: 2 GB
  • Storage memory: 16 GB, microSD memory card slot (cards up to 64 GB are supported)
  • Interfaces: Wi-Fi (b/g/n/), Bluetooth 4.0, microUSB connector (USB 2.0) for charging/synchronization, 3.5 mm for headset,
  • Screen: 5’’, capacitive, 1280x720 pixels (HD), automatic backlight level adjustment
  • Camera: 8 MP main camera, 2 MP front camera
  • Navigation: GPS/GLONASS (A-GPS support)
  • Sensors: accelerometer, position sensor, light sensor
  • Battery: non-removable, Li-Pol, capacity 2050 mAh
  • Dimensions: 148.2x72.8x9 mm
  • Weight: 145 grams

Equipment

  • Smartphone
  • Charger
  • PC cable (also part of the charger)

Our package also included a wired headset, but commercial samples will not have it.


Appearance, materials, control elements, assembly

The smartphone has a calm, strict appearance, the corners are slightly rounded, which is typical for Asus devices.

An interesting design element is the bottom panel under the touch buttons. It is made of textured plastic and shimmers beautifully in the light.


Dust collects at the junction between the touch buttons and the iridescent panel

Most of the front side of the smartphone is occupied by a five-inch display, above it there is a speaker mesh, a front camera eye, as well as light and proximity sensors.


Below the screen you can see a row of three touch buttons: “Back”, “Home” and “Recent applications”. The distance between the keys is quite large, so you can sometimes miss a button (expecting it to be closer to the one next to it).

The back cover and ends of the device are made of matte rubberized plastic. It's more smudge-resistant than soft-touch plastic, but it still shows fingerprints, they're just barely noticeable.


A place for an external speaker is also allocated on the back of the device. He has an average level maximum volume, and the sound quality is average, to put it mildly. Using ZenFone 5 as a “music box” is unlikely to work.

At the top end there is a 3.5 mm headphone jack, and at the bottom there is microUSB for charging and connecting to a PC.



On the left side you can see the volume rocker and the power button. They are installed in such a way that it is convenient for you to press them with your right thumb. The material of these buttons is similar to bottom panel smartphone, they also shimmer in different shades in the light.

At the bottom of the left side there is a special groove, by prying it, you can remove the back cover. By the way, the smartphone is surprisingly well built. Despite the removable cover, there are no backlashes.


Hidden under the cover are slots for two SIM cards in microSIM format, as well as a slot for a memory card.

In all the photographs you can see small specks of dust, unfortunately, this is a feature of rubberized plastic; it very quickly becomes covered with such specks of dust, and removing them later is very problematic.

Dimensions

To begin with, I suggest you familiarize yourself with the dimensions of the smartphone and its closest competitors in the table below.

As you can see, Zenfone 5 stands out only for its length; the device is slightly taller than other models, but otherwise it has typical dimensions for five-inch devices.



The smartphone is relatively comfortable to hold in your hand if you are already accustomed to a similar screen diagonal. However, you are unlikely to be able to operate it with one hand.

Screen

First, I suggest you familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the screen.

In the first glance, I wrote that the device has a poor oleophobic coating, so it seemed to me upon a quick acquaintance. After almost a month active use I have to take my words back. The oleophobic coating here is standard, yes, it is a little worse than on flagship smartphones, but in general, using the Zenfone 5 display is much more convenient thanks to its presence.

As for the quality of the screen itself, it has good picture clarity, and it’s easy to read even small text. But the maximum brightness let us down, its margin is lower than that of many competitors (than that of the same Acer Liquid E3, for example). When the display is tilted, the image is not inverted, but noticeably fades.

When reading at night minimum brightness I also want to turn it down a little more. As for behavior in the sun, the screen is almost completely blind, the image is practically indistinguishable.


Traditionally, Asus devices come pre-installed with the Asus Splendid application, which allows you to change the color scheme to suit your needs.

Another setting used in smartphones from this company is reading mode. When it is turned on, the white color becomes yellowish, and the entire color scheme is softened, this is done in order to reduce eye strain. It’s convenient that you can choose the applications in which the reading mode will work.

The smartphone supports operation with gloves; to do this, you need to enable the corresponding option in the screen settings. Pressure sensitivity isn't as good with gloves on, but you should be able to take a call or read an SMS without taking off your gloves.

operating system

The smartphone is running operating system Android 4.3 with proprietary ZenUI shell from Asus. The manufacturer has completely redesigned it, and now it looks a little like a mixture of TouchWiz and CyanogenMod. And yet it remains just as comfortable.

There are a lot of different innovations in ZenUI, so I plan to write a separate article about it, the link to which will be added to the full review.

Performance

To begin with, I suggest you familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the chipset used.

To begin with, I note that the commercial version of the device will have 2 GB of RAM, but our sample had only 1 GB. After long-term use, I can note that an extra gigabyte would clearly not have hurt our sample, since there was no more than 150 MB of free memory. However, I can’t say that applications often crashed or froze.

Now about heating. The device gets hot, sometimes quite hot, but it’s not clear why. It seems that you are simply receiving a call, but it feels as if the smartphone was given a command to fry the part of your face or ear to which you leaned the device.

As for performance, there are no complaints about the device. You can run most powerful games and other heavy applications without any problems. I would like to separately note fast work built-in launcher is a big plus of the device.

Autonomous operation

First, I suggest you take a look at the battery characteristics and the results of our tests.

With everyday use (total screen activity is about three hours: email, Twitter, web surfing, two SIM cards running in the background), the device’s charge lasts for one full day. The device has several power saving modes, with their help you can fine-tune the behavior of applications or simply limit the processor frequency. According to my feelings, there are especially many battery life they didn't add.

Wireless interfaces

I note that changing chipsets from MediaTek to Intel Atom had virtually no effect on improving the quality of the GPS module, cold start still takes about two minutes, and this, of course, is a minus of the device.

The device has support for two SIM cards. There is only one radio module in the device, so when talking on one SIM card, the second one becomes inaccessible. As for the interface for working with two cards, on the one hand, it is well made (in the dialer and SMS messages there are buttons for selecting the SIM card from which the call will be made), but one function is implemented inconveniently. I have often seen how in MediaTek devices, with one click on the switch in the curtain, you could change the active 3G from one card to another, but for this operation you need to go to the settings.

Camera

The smartphone has two cameras, the main one is 8 MP and the front one is 2 MP. Asus paid a lot of attention to the camera, talking about various modes and a large number of settings. But let's first look at the quality of the photos.

From interesting features I will note the improvement in lighting when shooting in poor lighting. However, as you can see, despite the slight improvement in light, the quality of the image is still low.

ZenFone 5 and 2 sounded good, but more out of spite than out of spite - the sound in Intel Atom chips was not amazing. In the case of ZenFone 3, the task was simplified because Taiwanese engineers finalized sound path Qualcomm chip.

The volume reserve is crazy even in 60-Ohm headphones and the owner capitulates before the sound slider reaches the far right position. The sound itself is not bad - clean, deliberately averaged, although with slightly “cut” low frequencies. At high volumes, due to this amateur performance, the bass is already sorely lacking, the sound feels shrill. You have to go to the system equalizer to “inflate” the low frequencies and slightly reduce the detail. By the way, the equalizer itself is smart, so it won’t be difficult to customize ZenFone 3 for yourself. Don't expect stunning sound, but the quality will be quite at the level - higher than that of Honor 8 or Alcatel Idol 4S, for example.

The speakerphone speaker in both smartphones is of average quality - loud and with a noticeable bias towards high frequencies, but without extremes. That is, it does not squeal or distort the music beyond recognition, but only slightly loses detail if you “twist” it to the maximum.

Iron

ASUS smartphones and Intel processors are like the people and the party, that is, united. Largely due to the symbolic price of Atom chips, previous ZenFones managed to cost like “basement Chinese” with obviously higher quality. But Atoms did not provide any more advantages, because the jokes with starting Windows 7 on the phone remained a joke, and heating, regular cheating with Android version updates (hello, Lenovo!), and then the lag in “parrots” from competitors completely buried Atom smartphones.

Smartphones it produces Asus company, have already managed to prove themselves from the best side. Thus, these devices have gained fame as reliable, stylish, functional phones, which are also available at a low price. It is due to this that they have gained such high popularity in the market.

In today’s article we will talk about a gadget that is not the “freshest”, but still present in the line of smartphones - Asus Zenfone 5 16Gb. The model that we will discuss will be subject to deep technical analysis and, to some extent, criticism. As a result of this, we hope to find out what positive and negative qualities the device is endowed with, what its strengths and weak sides, and what, in fact, should a buyer who purchases this smartphone. At the end of the review, we hope you will have your own impression of what you have read about the device.

general characteristics

Let's start introducing the smartphone with its general description. The device was presented at the end of 2014, and after that a whole line of Zenfone devices was presented. Nevertheless, in terms of its technical characteristics, it remains quite relevant (for the budget class) and meets the requirements of the market as a whole. At a price of $200 (at the time of its debut, it probably reached $250-300), the device is equipped to suit even the most demanding buyer (at the time of release, that’s for sure). And the technical parameters presented by the developer, taking into account the cost, are an understandable basis for such strong interest in the phone from the public. A large number of reviews and recommendations are the clearest confirmation of this.

The model has 2 GB of RAM, an average-quality camera, a Snapdragon 400 processor and a well-equipped screen with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels.

However, let's not get ahead of ourselves and create a false impression among readers that the model works with outdated systems. No, in fact, the device functions smoothly and dynamically, due to high level optimization of the entire system, consisting of software and hardware components.

However, in order to present the model to you in a more complete light, we have prepared this review, to which we proceed directly.

Equipment

The phone comes in a familiar, classic box made of thick dark cardboard. On top cover, as usual, there is an image of a smartphone, as well as inscriptions with its name and the name of the company.

Inside the box we find the device itself, Charger(consisting of a cord for connecting to a PC and an adapter with a “plug”), as well as a standard headset. As reviews dedicated to ASUS Zenfone 5 16Gb note, the sound quality of the latter is quite good, considering that this is a factory accessory. By definition, they must be different from what a buyer can purchase “on the outside.”

In addition to the above, the smartphone we are describing comes with instructions.

Design

The appearance of the device is made in the classic Asus style - this design will be demonstrated a little later on the Asus Zenfone 2 - a line consisting of three devices.

The front part of the ASUS Zenfone 5 16Gb A501CG is visually “composed” of two segments - a glass-covered screen and a pseudo-metallic plate that shines in the light. Between them are located physical buttons - navigation elements, available on every Android device. At the top of the device you can see the speaker slot, as well as the developer’s logo.

The side edges of the device are covered with a back cover, which covers them with a single “casing”, along with the back side. Surprisingly, there are no difficulties in removing it - it comes off easily and without difficulty. On the right side of the smartphone you can see metal screen lock buttons, as well as a volume rocker. The top edge became the place for the audio jack, and the bottom edge became the place for the charging port.

On the back of the phone you can see the camera eye, under which you can find the flash and again the brand name.

Zenfone 5 16Gb is made of plastic due to its budget. True, the device should not be underestimated because of this: its matte texture is very pleasant to the touch, which makes it easier to work with the device - it does not slip out at all during a conversation.

Connectors for access to SIM cards and a memory card slot are located under the back cover. Here you can also notice non-removable battery device

Screen

The display of the device has a diagonal of 5 inches - this normal size for a smartphone of this class. According to reviews related to ASUS Zenfone 5 (2) 16Gb, such a screen makes the phone quite convenient for working with basic functions and at the same time is not too bulky in terms of mobility.

The quality of the picture shown on the display can also be called high. The resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels contributes to the screen density being around 290 ppi. In practice, this means that if you want, you can see the “grain” effect, but to do this you will need to really carefully concentrate your vision on one point.

With other indicators ASUS screen Zenfone 5 16Gb is all good - it has decent viewing angles (thanks to which the image does not lose its color and saturation as a result of rotating the device), capacitive multi-touch (capable of reading up to 10 simultaneous clicks).

You can also praise the display taking into account the characteristics of the glass that covers it. According to the technical data, it is made of material that can withstand impacts and scratches. In addition, there is a quality feature that ensures that no traces of the user’s fingers remain on the screen.

CPU

The smartphone operates on a processor consisting of two cores. The clock frequency of each is up to 1.6 GHz, which is quite enough to work with most applications presented in the Google Play catalog.

At the same time, the developers endowed the device with two RAM options - 1 and 2 GB. Due to this, it can be argued that the second version of ASUS Zenfone 5 16Gb will be able to demonstrate greater performance. And, of course, this will have a positive effect on the everyday tasks facing the phone.

Memory

Users most likely will not notice the lack of space on a smartphone. The developers equipped the model with 16 GB of internal space and, in addition, connected a memory card module, with which you can further expand the space for loading personal data. Thus, the ASUS Zenfone 5 16Gb A501CG smartphone can be purchased by those who like to work with a large amount of content without having to worry about space on the device.

Battery

Another key factor that shows the level of comfort when interacting with a phone is the ability of the smartphone to operate on a single charge. This is the autonomy of the model, its “endurance”.

In the case of ASUS Zenfone 5 16Gb A501CG, there is no need to worry about how long the device will work. The latter is equipped with a battery with a capacity of 2110 mAh. This means that with “normal” use of the device (which consists of performing everyday tasks), the battery charge will last for one day. If desired, you can use the economical operating mode, which is expressed in disabling the data exchange mode when it is not needed. This will make it possible to “stretch” work with the device for a couple of days. An alternative solution may also be to purchase portable battery(Power bank).

It is best to ask the buyers themselves about how the battery behaves in practice - those who were directly involved in the “tests” of the smartphone. We will present their opinion at the end of the article, and also offer a simple but effective method battery saving.

Connection

The ASUS Zenfone 5 (2) 16Gb A501CG (Black) smartphone is capable of supporting two SIM cards. In this, in fact, it is no different from most modern Android devices. After installing them, the system asks the user to select which card is a priority. After this, you can change this setting using the corresponding menu item.

The tests we carried out and ASUS review Zenfone 5 16 Gb showed that the volume of the earpiece, connection stability and the ability to “catch a signal” are at their best, due to which we can only praise the communication features of the model. We were unable to find any reviews about the device “losing connection,” as often happens with some Chinese devices.

operating system

The ASUS Zenfone 5 LTE 16Gb described by us is based on the OS Android versions 4.3 (it was a current modification at the time of release of the smartphone). Today, apparently, version 6.0 is available, and you can upgrade to it using a Wi-Fi connection.

The graphical shell here is developed individually for this model - it is ZenUI, which in the future will also be present on the second generation line mentioned above. It included, for example, ASUS Zenfone 2 Lazer 16Gb. The 5th version is its “predecessor” in the model range.

The new interface looks, in our opinion, more attractive than the standard Android “shell”. The functions that are offered to the smartphone user are presented here in a more convenient form. In addition, of course, new icons, graphic backgrounds and transitions between different phone menus have been developed, which also gives some kind of visual “freshness” for those who are used to working with “bare” Android.

Camera

The device is equipped with two shooting modules located on the front and back parts devices. The main camera has a resolution of 8 megapixels, while the front one is equipped with a 2 megapixel matrix. As noted by those describing ASUS Zenfone 5 16Gb A501CG Black reviews, the quality of the images can be quite competitive with photos created using more expensive smartphone models. This is partly the result of high-quality hardware. On the other hand, the developers achieved this effect due to optimized software basis. Also, as noted earlier, the device is equipped with a flash.


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