ASUS is widely known for its smartphones, where modern design and top performance combined with relatively reasonable prices. But powerful hardware best manifests itself in combination with modern SOFTWARE. Users ASUS official update to a new version of Android, usually “arrives” early. And one of smartphone with top-end hardware is ZenFone 5Z.
Recently we talked about one of the ASUS smartphones — then it was the model ZenFone 5. What’s the difference between versions with letter “Z”? Most importantly — increased productivity. Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 were sent to rest and put the flagship chip Snapdragon 845, “RAM” has expanded from 4 GB to 8 GB, added a version with 256 GB built-in (very fast) memory, support fast charging and a couple of little things. And although outwardly ZenFone 5Z is a copy of his younger brother, he is able to surprise.
When we took ZenFone 5Z in hand, the first Association for some reason was with iPhone X smartphones do have something in common, despite the fact that the fingerprint scanner of the model from ASUS is located on the rear panel. Here is the 3.5 mm Jack (Yes, against the trend can and should go) and dual camera. Otherwise, the similarity ends: it is a device of a completely different price segment.
The box is simple, but interesting, want to see what’s inside. Equipment, by the way, not the poor: charging adapter, USB cable-C, and earbuds with silicone case. To enable fast charging in the box with the phone there is a power adapter with support for the standard PD 3.0 and the following characteristics: voltage — 9 V; the current is 2 a; power — 18 watts.
The appearance of smartphone raises no objections — all is done tastefully and beautifully, in a glass case with a brushed metal effect looks very cool. On the right, the volume buttons and the power on the left — the tray for the SIM card and memory card microSD.
At the rear, as we have said, is a fingerprint scanner, flash and dual camera, the front — display with on-screen buttons, the traditional “bangs”, where you placed the earpiece, sensors and front camera. Frame is small, the effective area involved to the maximum. In the public sector usually like to place under the logo, with a free space, but ASUS decided to place it at the back to provide the user with a fair 6.2 inch screen with Full HD resolution+.
Design no questions (except that “otpechatky” a disease common to all smartphones) — it looks modern flagship that is not ashamed, and for an important meeting to go to. The main point here, perhaps, lies in the specifications.
Features
- Display: 6.2 inch Full HD+ (2246х1080) Super IPS+
- CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (64-bit, 8-core, 10 nm)
- Graphics: Adreno 630
- Operating system: Android 8.0 + ZenUI5
- Memory: 6/8 GB
- Built-in memory: 64/256 GB
- Memory card support: microSD up to 2TB
- SIM: nano-SIM + nano-SIM (combo slot)
- Wireless interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2.4/5 GHz, 2×2 MIMO, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC
- Camera: primary — 12 MP (f/1,8) + 8 MP (f/2,2), front — 8 MP (f/2.0)
- Battery: 300 mAh 3
- Dimensions: 153x75x7,7 mm
- Weight: 165 g
Characteristics, as they like to say, top: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, which will drive any game (probably give him GTA V, and to cope with it). RAM is enough — a maximum of 8 GB, and built-in 256 GB you can easily expand with a microSD card with a capacity of… up to 2 TB! Sense to run it in AnTuTu just yet. Do you know why? Yes, because he is gaining almost 275, 000 points! By the way, this is more than the Google Pixel 3, Samsung Galaxy S9+ and Huawei P20 Pro. That’s it!
Full HD+ for the 6.2-inch display is plenty, although the inexperienced user will hardly notice the difference visually. Pleased with the battery capacity of 3000 mAh — for two days with average load, the device worked without problems.
The fingerprint scanner on the rear panel is fast, but you can use a more advanced method is to unlock your smartphone in the face. Built-in artificial intelligence analyzes how much you use each time to “learn” to produce and more accurate recognition.
In all other respects, too level: 8 Android with a proprietary shell ASUS ZenUI 5, the quick launch bar (the system displays the application according to the preferences and activity of user) signature application for creating animated emoticons — ZeniMoji, and support of proprietary tools and services.
Performance
With such characteristics, the performance problems could not be. Whichever genre you choose, a smartphone can cope with any.
Proponents of dynamic games aimed at training the reaction rate, choose the genre action. The story of these toys is set against the backdrop of the confrontation, fight, overcome obstacles and respond to stimuli. For those who like to solve puzzles more suitable for quests and strategy. They need to be smart and find a solution of intermediate targets to achieve the ultimate goal. Well, the card game has not been canceled, they are now very popular.
ZenFone 5Z was obviously designed specifically for gamers. He has all the attributes to allow easy launching complex mobile games. The next few years this device will be one of the best in the entertainment segment. The almost “frameless” screen has a crisp color reproduction. To run the latest games on this smartphone is a pleasure.
Camera
ASUS is not in vain written on the box of a smartphone “We love photos”. After all, not only 5Z ZenFone smartphone with top-end performance, but with a cool camera.
The main camera has a resolution of 12 MP + 8 MP. It is worth noting that when shooting in automatic mode it has no inherent in most smartphones small errors in determining the white balance. The smartphone is able in real time to analyze the scene, caught in the viewfinder, and choose the optimal shooting mode with the support of the intelligent assistant.
The front camera has a resolution of 8 megapixels, and the main enjoyable moment was the fact that when shooting background light sources (window light) images look very balanced. Many other smartphones in a similar situation perenochevat highly bright areas or do the indistinguishable subject.
The application of the camera simple and intuitive interface with the main elements on the main screen.
The example photo on the main camera ASUS ZenFone 5Z (source)
The example photo on the main camera ASUS ZenFone 5Z (source)
The example photo on the main camera ASUS ZenFone 5Z (source)
The example photo on the front camera ASUS ZenFone 5Z (source)
The flagships of the “smoke” on the sidelines
We have a smartphone left a pleasant aftertaste. It is easy in the hand, and one hand to use it is also convenient. Here thanks size! In any hand of medium size smartphone will lie comfortable, and the diagonal of the screen is enough for many tasks. And what a performance! It’s a decent phone for their 30-40 thousand rubles (depending on memory capacity). Only cooler…ASUS ROG. But this is a spoiler and a topic for a separate discussion, which will be held soon.