Asus zenfone 3 laser camera review. Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage capacity for storing data
Information about the make, model, and alternative names of the specific device, if available.
Design
Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Materials used, colors offered, certificates.
| Width Width information - refers to the horizontal side of the device in its standard orientation during use. | 76 mm (millimeters) 7.6 cm (centimeters) 0.25 ft (feet) 2.99 in (inches) |
| Height Height information - refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use. | 149 mm (millimeters) 14.9 cm (centimeters) 0.49 ft (feet) 5.87 in (inches) |
| Thickness Information about the thickness of the device in different units measurements. | 7.9 mm (millimeters) 0.79 cm (centimeters) 0.03 ft (feet) 0.31 in (inches) |
| Weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement. | 150 g (grams) 0.33 lbs 5.29 oz (ounces) |
| Volume The approximate volume of the device, calculated based on the dimensions provided by the manufacturer. Refers to devices with the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. | 89.46 cm³ (cubic centimeters) 5.43 in³ (cubic inches) |
| Colors Information about the colors in which this device is offered for sale. | Golden Silver |
SIM card
The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.
Mobile networks
A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.
| GSM GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) is designed to replace the analogue mobile network (1G). For this reason, GSM is often called a 2G mobile network. It is improved by the addition of GPRS (General Packet Radio Services), and later EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) technologies. | GSM 850 MHz GSM 900 MHz GSM 1800 MHz GSM 1900 MHz |
| UMTS UMTS is an abbreviation for Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. It is based on the GSM standard and belongs to 3G mobile networks. Developed by 3GPP and its biggest advantage is providing greater speed and spectral efficiency thanks to W-CDMA technology. | UMTS 800 MHz UMTS 850 MHz UMTS 900 MHz UMTS 1900 MHz UMTS 2100 MHz |
| LTE LTE (Long Term Evolution) is defined as a technology fourth generation(4G). It is developed by 3GPP based on GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA to increase the capacity and speed of wireless mobile networks. The subsequent technology development is called LTE Advanced. | LTE 800 MHz LTE 850 MHz LTE 900 MHz LTE 1800 MHz LTE 1900 MHz LTE 2100 MHz LTE 2600 MHz LTE-TDD 2500 MHz (B41) LTE-TDD 2600 MHz (B38) LTE 800 MHz (B18) LTE 800 MHz (B19) LTE 700 MHz (B28) |
Mobile communication technologies and data transfer speeds
Communication between devices on mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data transfer rates.
Operating system
An operating system is a system software that manages and coordinates the operation of hardware components in a device.
SoC (System on Chip)
A system on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device on one chip.
| SoC (System on Chip) A system on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components such as a processor, GPU, memory, peripherals, interfaces, etc., as well as the software necessary for their functioning. | Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 MSM8937 |
| Technological process Information about the technological process by which the chip is manufactured. Nanometers measure half the distance between elements in the processor. | 28 nm (nanometers) |
| Processor (CPU) The primary function of a mobile device's processor (CPU) is to interpret and execute instructions contained in software applications. | 4x 1.4 GHz ARM Cortex-A53, 4x 1.1 GHz ARM Cortex-A53 |
| Processor size The size (in bits) of a processor is determined by the size (in bits) of the registers, address buses, and data buses. 64-bit processors have more high performance compared to 32-bit processors, which for their part are more productive than 16-bit processors. | 64 bit |
| Instruction Set Architecture Instructions are commands with which the software sets/controls the operation of the processor. Information about the instruction set (ISA) that the processor can execute. | ARMv8 |
| Number of processor cores The processor core executes software instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Availability more cores increases performance by allowing multiple instructions to be executed in parallel. | 8 |
| CPU clock speed The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in terms of cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). | 1400 MHz (megahertz) |
| Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) Graphics processing unit (GPU) handles calculations for various 2D/3D graphic applications. IN mobile devices it is used most often by games, consumer interface, video applications, etc. | Qualcomm Adreno 505 |
| Volume random access memory(RAM) Random access memory (RAM) is used by the operating system and all installed applications. Data stored in RAM is lost after the device is turned off or restarted. | 2 GB (gigabytes) 4 GB (gigabytes) |
| Type of random access memory (RAM) Information about the type of random access memory (RAM) used by the device. | LPDDR3 |
| Number of RAM channels Information about the number of RAM channels that are integrated into the SoC. More channels means more high speeds data transmission. | Single channel |
| RAM frequency The frequency of RAM determines its operating speed, more specifically, the speed of reading/writing data. | 800 MHz (megahertz) |
Built-in memory
Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed capacity.
Memory cards
Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage capacity for storing data.
Screen
The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.
| Type/technology One of the main characteristics of the screen is the technology by which it is made and on which the quality of the information image directly depends. | IPS |
| Diagonal For mobile devices, screen size is expressed by the length of its diagonal, measured in inches. | 5.5 in (inches) 139.7 mm (millimeters) 13.97 cm (centimeters) |
| Width Approximate screen width | 2.7 in (inches) 68.49 mm (millimeters) 6.85 cm (centimeters) |
| Height Approximate screen height | 4.79 in (inches) 121.76 mm (millimeters) 12.18 cm (centimeters) |
| Aspect Ratio The ratio of the dimensions of the long side of the screen to its short side | 1.778:1 16:9 |
| Permission Screen resolution shows the number of pixels vertically and horizontally on the screen. Higher resolution means clearer image detail. | 1080 x 1920 pixels |
| Pixel Density Information about the number of pixels per centimeter or inch of the screen. Higher density allows information to be displayed on the screen with clearer detail. | 401 ppi (pixels per inch) 157 ppcm (pixels per centimeter) |
| Color depth Screen color depth reflects the total number of bits used for color components in one pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors that the screen can display. | 24 bit 16777216 flowers |
| Screen area Approximate percentage of screen area occupied by the screen on the front of the device. | 73.88% (percent) |
| Other characteristics Information about other screen features and characteristics. | Capacitive Multi-touch Scratch resistance |
| Corning Gorilla Glass 3 2.5D curved glass screen 500 cd/m² Viewing angle - 178° |
Sensors
Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that a mobile device can recognize.
Rear camera
The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on its back panel and may be combined with one or more secondary cameras.
| Sensor model Information about the manufacturer and model of the sensor used by the camera. | Sony IMX214 Exmor RS |
| Sensor type Information about the camera sensor type. Some of the most widely used types of sensors in mobile device cameras are CMOS, BSI, ISOCELL, etc. | CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) |
| Sensor size Information about the dimensions of the photosensor used in the device. Typically cameras with larger sensors and lower pixel densities offer more high quality images despite the lower resolution. | 4.69 x 3.52 mm (millimeters) 0.23 in (inches) |
| Pixel size Pixels are usually measured in microns. Larger pixels are able to capture more light and therefore provide better low-light photography and wider dynamic range than smaller pixels. On the other hand, smaller pixels allow for higher resolution while maintaining the same sensor size. | 1.127 µm (micrometers) 0.001127 mm (millimeters) |
| Crop factor The crop factor is the ratio between the dimensions of the full-frame sensor (36 x 24 mm, equivalent to a frame of standard 35 mm film) and the dimensions of the device's photosensor. The indicated number represents the ratio of the diagonals of the full-frame sensor (43.3 mm) and the photosensor specific device. | 7.38 |
| Svetlosila | f/2 |
| 5 | |
| Flash type The rear (rear) cameras of mobile devices mainly use LED flashes. They can be configured with one, two or more light sources and vary in shape. | Double LED |
| Image Resolution | 4160 x 3120 pixels 12.98 MP (megapixels) |
| Video resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels 2.07 MP (megapixels) |
| 30fps (frames per second) | |
| Characteristics Information about additional software and hardware features of the rear (rear) camera. | Autofocus Continuous shooting Digital zoom Digital image stabilization Geographical tags Panoramic photography HDR shooting Touch Focus Face recognition White Balance Adjustment ISO Setting Exposure compensation Self-timer Scene Selection Mode Laser autofocus (LAF) |
Front-camera
Smartphones have one or more front cameras of various designs - a pop-up camera, a rotating camera, a cutout or hole in the display, an under-display camera.
| Svetlosila F-stop (also known as aperture, aperture, or f-number) is a measure of the size of a lens's aperture, which determines the amount of light entering the sensor. The lower the f-number, the larger the aperture and the more light reaches the sensor. Typically the f-number is specified to correspond to the maximum possible aperture of the aperture. | f/2 |
| Number of optical elements (lenses) Information about the number of optical elements (lenses) of the camera. | 4 |
| Image Resolution One of the main characteristics of cameras is resolution. It represents the number of horizontal and vertical pixels in an image. For convenience, smartphone manufacturers often list resolution in megapixels, indicating the approximate number of pixels in millions. | 3264 x 2448 pixels 7.99 MP (megapixels) |
| Video resolution Information about the maximum video resolution that the camera can record. | 1280 x 720 pixels 0.92 MP (megapixels) |
| Video recording speed (frame rate) Information about maximum speed recording (frames per second, fps) supported by the camera at maximum resolution. Some of the most basic video recording speeds are 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, 60 fps. | 30fps (frames per second) |
Audio
Information about the type of speakers and audio technologies supported by the device.
Radio
The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.
Location determination
Information about the navigation and location technologies supported by your device.
WiFi
Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for transmitting data over close distances between various devices.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless data transfer between various devices of different types over short distances.
USB
USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to exchange data.
Headphone jack
This is an audio connector, also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.
Connecting devices
Information about other important connection technologies supported by your device.
Browser
A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.
| Browser Information about some of the main characteristics and standards supported by the device's browser. | HTML HTML5 CSS 3 |
Audio file formats/codecs
Mobile devices support different audio file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital audio data.
Video file formats/codecs
Mobile devices support different video file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital video data.
Battery
Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge necessary for their functioning.
| Capacity A battery's capacity indicates the maximum charge it can hold, measured in milliamp-hours. | 3000 mAh (milliamp-hours) |
| Type The type of battery is determined by its structure and, more precisely, the chemicals used. Exist different types batteries, with lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries most often used in mobile devices. | Li-polymer |
| Adapter output power Information about the strength of electric current (measured in amperes) and electrical voltage(measured in volts) supplied Charger(output power). Higher power output ensures faster battery charging. | 5 V (volts) / 1 A (amps) |
| Characteristics Information about some additional characteristics of the device's battery. | Fixed |
Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)
The SAR level refers to the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the human body while using a mobile device.
| SAR level for head (EU) The SAR level indicates maximum amount electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device near the ear in a conversation position. In Europe, the maximum permissible SAR value for mobile devices is limited to 2 W/kg per 10 grams of human tissue. This standard established by the CENELEC Committee in accordance with IEC standards, subject to the ICNIRP guidelines of 1998. | 0.43 W/kg (Watt per kilogram) |
| Body SAR level (EU) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device at hip level. The maximum permissible SAR value for mobile devices in Europe is 2 W/kg per 10 grams of human tissue. This standard has been established by the CENELEC Committee in compliance with the ICNIRP 1998 guidelines and IEC standards. | 0.898 W/kg (Watt per kilogram) |
| Head SAR level (US) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation that the human body is exposed to when holding a mobile device near the ear. The maximum value used in the USA is 1.6 W/kg per 1 gram of human tissue. Mobile devices in the US are regulated by the CTIA, and the FCC conducts tests and sets their SAR values. | 0.62 W/kg (Watt per kilogram) |
| Body SAR level (US) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device at hip level. The highest permissible SAR value in the USA is 1.6 W/kg per 1 gram of human tissue. This value is set by the FCC, and the CTIA monitors mobile devices' compliance with this standard. | 1.09 W/kg (Watt per kilogram) |
ASUS ZenFone 3 Laser It has an acceptable diagonal of 5.5 inches and a thin screen frame (2.58 mm). The resolution of the display here is 1920×1080 pixels, and the screen itself is contrasty and bright. It's great for watching videos and showing off your vacation photos.
The smartphone lies comfortably in the hand, but if you compare it with, the latter, despite the glass surface, sits more securely in the palm. But its impact resistance is lower, since protective glass Corning Gorilla Glass covers both the front and back, while ZenFone 3 Laser (ZC551KL) enclosed in a solid aluminum body, and the protective glass only protects the display. At the same time, the smartphone does not lose its premium appearance.
ASUS ZenFone 3 Laser: equipment
We had no complaints regarding performance. Thanks to its powerful hardware, the smartphone works quickly and responds quickly to touch input. The OS installed here is Android 6.0 with the proprietary ASUS Zen UI interface and software add-ons that, with one click, allow you to clear the memory of unnecessary background tasks. However, this device still cannot compete with top models.
On board ZenFone 3 Laser (ZC551KL) installed 8-core CPU Snapdragon 430 with GPU Adreno 505, 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory. The memory is quite enough to store several thousand photos, and the performance of the smartphone is quite enough to play not too resource-intensive games.
ZenFone 3 Laser (ZC551KL) supports the installation of two SIM cards, and the second slot can be divided into (up to 128 GB) if 32 GB does not seem enough to you. The battery here is also impressive - 3000 mAh. This is quite enough to take photo walks all day long and not worry that your smartphone is about to run out.
ASUS ZenFone 3 Laser: camera
For your price range The 13-megapixel PixelMaster camera based on the Sony IMX214 sensor with a maximum aperture of f/2.0 is more than good. So ZenFone 3 Laser (ZC551KL) will definitely delight you with good pictures. We liked that laser autofocus allows the camera to aim at a target in just a split second, and the color correction sensor makes it possible to get natural color rendition in photographs.
However, if you want a better camera, pay attention to the older model. We tested these two devices together, and we still liked the picture quality of the latter better. The test shots we have given below were taken on ZenFone 3 Laser (ZC551KL) in cloudy and clear weather automatic settings with HDR. For enthusiasts there are many manual settings, including super resolution mode (52 megapixels).
ASUS ZenFone 3 Laser: test results
We tested the performance in the synthetic AnTuTu Benchmark test, where the smartphone scored 155,958 points, as well as in the PCMark benchmark. We show detailed test results in the screenshots below.
While professional photographers were figuring out which was better – Nikon or Canon – the world turned upside down. The most popular device for photography has become the smartphone. Many have long given up their cameras, since the camera on the phone successfully solves everything typical tasks. True, the most advanced technologies first of all end up in top-end devices, which many simply cannot afford, and for those who want an inexpensive device with one pronounced function, the choice is very modest. And from this point of view, ASUS is doing everything right. For fans of huge screens, there's the Zenfone 3 Ultra. For those who believe that there is nothing more important than a capacious battery, there is Zenfone 3 Max. well and ASUS Zenfone The 3 Laser is an affordable phone for those who value a high-quality camera.
Of course, about the most advanced module in budget smartphone out of the question, but overall the camera parameters of the Zenfone 3 Laser look decent. A little later we will talk in detail about how laser focusing works and why it is needed at all. In the meantime, it’s worth taking a look at the main parameters of the model.
Specifications
| ASUS Zenfone 3 Laser (ZC551KL) | ASUS Zenfone 2 Laser (ZE551KL) | Sony Xperia XA Ultra | Huawei Honor 5X | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | 5.5 inches, IPS, 1920 × 1080 pixels, 501 ppi, capacitive multi-touch |
5.5 inches, IPS, |
6.0 inches, IPS, 1920 × 1080 pixels, 367 ppi, capacitive multi-touch |
5.5 inches, IPS, 1920 × 1080 pixels, 401 ppi, capacitive multi-touch |
| Protective glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 3, with oleophobic coating and polarizing filter | Yes, manufacturer unknown | No data | |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 MSM8937: eight cores (8 × 1.4 GHz) ARM Cortex-A53 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 MSM8939: eight cores (4 × 1.7 GHz, 4 × 1.0 GHz) ARM Cortex-A53 | Mediatek MT6755 Helio P10 (four ARM Cortex-A53 cores, 1.2 GHz + four ARM Cortex-A53 cores, 2 GHz) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 MSM8939v2: eight cores (4 × 1.2 GHz, 4 × 1.5 GHz) ARM Cortex-A53 |
| Graphic controller | Adreno 505, 450 MHz | Qualcomm Adreno 405, 550 MHz | ARM Mali-T860 MP2, 700MHz | Adreno 405, 550 MHz |
| Operational memory | 2/4 GB | 3 GB | 3 GB | 2 GB |
| Flash memory | 32/64 GB | 16/32 GB | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Connectors | 1 micro-USB | 1 micro-USB | 1 microUSB; | 1 micro-USB 2.0 |
| 1 x 3.5mm headset jack | 1 x 3.5mm headset jack | 1 x 3.5mm headset jack | ||
| 1 micro-SIM | 2 nanoSIM | 2 micro-SIM | ||
| 1 nano-SIM/microSD (universal) | 1 microSD | 1 micro-SIM/microSD (universal) | ||
| Cellular connection 2G | GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz | GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz | GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz | |
| Cellular connection 3G | DC-HSPA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz | DC-HSPA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz | UMTS/HSPA+ 900 /2100 MHz | |
| Cellular 4G | LTE Cat. 4 (150 Mbit/s, 50 Mbit/s), bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41 | LTE Cat. 7 (300 Mbit/s, 150 Mbit/s), bands 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41 | LTE Cat. 7 (300 Mbit/s, 150 Mbit/s), bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 17, 18, 19, 20, 28, 29, 38, 39, 40, 41 | |
| WiFi | 802.11 /b/g/n/ 2.4 GHz | 802.11/b/g/n/ 2.4 GHz | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac 2.4/5 GHz | 802.11b/g/n 2.4 GHz |
| Bluetooth | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 |
| NFC | No | No | Eat | No |
| Navigation | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS |
| Sensors | Illumination, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass) | Illumination, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass) | Illumination, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass) | |
| Fingerprint's scanner | Eat | Eat | No | Eat |
| Main camera | 13 MP, f/ 2.0, laser autofocus, dual LED flash | 13 MP, f/2.0, laser autofocus, dual LED flash | 21.2 MP, hybrid autofocus, LED flash | 13 MP, f/2.0, autofocus, LED flash |
| Front-camera | 8 MP, no autofocus, no flash | 5 MP, no autofocus, no flash | 16 MP, autofocus | 5 MP, f/2.4, fixed focus |
| Nutrition | Non-removable battery: 11.4 Wh (3000 mAh, 3.8 V) | Removable battery: 11.4 Wh (3000 mAh, 3.8 V) | Non-removable battery: 10.2 Wh (2700 mAh, 3.8 V) | Non-removable battery 11.7 Wh (3000 mAh, 3.9 V) |
| Size | 149 × 76 × 7.9 mm | 152.4 × 77.2 × 10.9 mm | 164 × 79 × 8.4 mm | 151.3 × 76.3 × 8.2 mm |
| Weight | 150 g | 170 g | 202 g | 158 g |
| Water and dust protection | No | No | No | No |
| operating system | Android 6.0 Marshmallow, ASUS ZenUI shell | Android 5.0 Lollipop, ASUS ZenUI shell | Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Sony Xperia shell | Android 5.1 Lollipop, EMUI shell |
| Current price | 16,990 rubles | 12,000 rubles | 27,990 rubles | 14,990 rubles |
|
|
|
|
Design, ergonomics, software
The design can be assessed from two sides: either praise the stylistic unity of the entire Zenfone 3 series, or criticize ASUS for its reluctance to add individuality to each smartphone. However, now all smartphones are similar in one way or another - the standards set ten years ago hardly change, only the display diagonals increase and the thickness decreases.
The smartphone is offered in only two colors: silver and gold. The second option looks more interesting, although this is, of course, not for everybody. Here the color is not as saturated as, for example, in the iPhone, but I would still like more choice: where is black, dark gray, or even pink?
The front panel is completely closed tempered glass with a fashionable 2.5D effect. The edges are slightly rounded around the perimeter, which contributes to a smoother transition to the side edge. You are unlikely to notice it by eye, but holding the smartphone will be a little more convenient. There is a lens above the display front camera, voice speaker and proximity sensor, and under the screen - touch buttons management. ASUS Zenfone 3 Max, if you remember, did not have such buttons - they only used softkeys, which reduced the effective display area.
On the bottom edge there is only a microphone under a nice grille and a microUSB connector. However, it is worth noting here that the lower and upper sections of the case on the rear panel are not metal, like its main part, but plastic. I don’t think that a potential smartphone buyer will be happy to learn about this feature, but ASUS has an excuse - such inserts contribute to better performance of wireless modules. And indeed, the smartphone is in complete order with this. In addition, the plastic does not give itself away - it is painted the same color and has the same texture as the metal base of the case.
On the left side there is traditionally a tray for SIM cards, on the right there is a power key and a double volume button. It is also used to release the shutter in shooting mode. It’s nice that these elements are located in the upper third of the side edge - so it’s convenient to press them with your thumb. Recent experiments by Sony, in which the volume key was located at the bottom, still make us think about where it is better to place the volume control. In my opinion, the ASUS option is more convenient.
On the back of the case there is a flash, a protruding camera lens (which, apparently, is easy to scratch), a laser window and a rectangular, elongated fingerprint reader area. In my opinion, this arrangement of the fingerprint scanner is a little less convenient than on Home button or the power key, but these are minor things. The shape seemed a little awkward to me - the square scanner of the ASUS Zenfone 3 Max was more comfortable to handle.
The dimensions of the device are large (149 × 76 × 7.9 mm), but you can hold it with one hand and it does not cause discomfort. You won't be able to reach the top areas of the screen with your thumb, but typing on the go is quite possible. It is worth noting that even among 5.5-inch smartphones, ASUS Zenfone 3 Laser remains one of the most compact, no comparison with the iPhone 7 Plus.
|
|
|
Now more than ever, it's possible to spend $400 or less on a smartphone that's only slightly inferior to devices twice the price. This is great news for buyers who want a quality device at an affordable price, but it also means that manufacturers have to stretch themselves and create different models from each other. With such competition in the smartphone market, this is not easy to achieve.
The company is not new to the market, having become one of its leaders in 2015 with the advent of the ZenFone 2. Although it had a rather dull design, there was hope for its further development.
In 2016, Asus introduced many varieties ZenFone smartphones 3, one of the cheapest options was ZenFone 3 Laser. The last word hints at the presence of laser autofocus in the camera, but there are many other advantages.
The ZenFone 3 Laser retails for under $200, making it a direct competitor to the Moto G4. Should I give preference to the Asus model?
Contents of delivery
- Smartphone Asus ZenFone 3 Laser
- microUSB cable
- SIM Removal Tool
- Warranty and Safety Information
Design
The Asus ZenFone 3 Laser is a big step up in terms of build quality over the ZenFone 2, ditching plastic in favor of aluminum. Changing the material is a great solution as aluminum gives the smartphone a premium look and feels comfortable in the hand. The back surface is smooth and pleasant to the touch, located under the camera protrusion, allowing you to quickly and conveniently unlock the device. The body thickness of this smartphone is only 7.9 mm, it weighs 150 g, that is, it is very thin and light. Rounded corners make it more comfortable to hold in your hand.
Despite the aluminum body, the appearance of the smartphone is quite standard. A great many similar devices have already been released both in the budget and premium segments, so the developers are not offering us anything new here.
Screen
The LCD screen resolution is 1920 x 1080 pixels, 5.5 inches diagonal. There's nothing remarkable about it, but there's nothing to complain about either. The text is clear, the colors are bright, and the viewing angles are quite wide. For a smartphone in this price range, you can't ask for more.
Interface and functionality
The device is pre-installed with an operating system Android system 6.0.1 Marshmallow, with a shell made by Asus installed on top of it. Over the years, the quality has gradually improved, so that compared to the version on ZenFone 2, it has become noticeably more attractive. Despite this, her appearance remains somewhat cartoonish, although this is a matter of taste.
Apart from the appearance, Asus has made quite a few useful improvements to the system; the built-in bootloader can be flexibly configured, there is a high-quality theme engine, and the screen understands many gestures.
Processor and performance
ZenFone 3 Laser is powered by a processor and has 2 GB of RAM. The processor has eight cores with a frequency of 1.4 GHz. It is intended for devices in the lower and mid-price categories, which can be seen in the performance of this model.
The smartphone copes with most basic tasks without problems. These include browsing, usage, and even games like Asphalt 8: Airborne. The small amount of RAM means that when you open many applications, inactive ones are quickly removed from memory and need to be loaded again.
This is what you would expect from a smartphone priced at $199, so this device is not for those who prefer to open many programs at once.
Connection
The smartphone has two slots for SIM cards, you can use different tariffs for voice communication and mobile internet. Instead of one SIM card, you can install one, which will expand the built-in flash memory capacity of 32 GB. There is support Wi-Fi networks 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.2.
The downside is the microUSB 2.0 connector for synchronization and charging instead of the more modern USB type C.
Cameras
Cameras on budget smartphones usually suffer from savings more than other components. The ZenFone 3 Laser camera is also not outstanding, but for most users its capabilities will be quite sufficient.
Asus did not use a dual camera module, instead choosing one with a resolution of 13 megapixels on the back and 8 megapixels on the front. The main camera of the smartphone, as its name suggests, has laser autofocus. You don't usually see this on cheap smartphones, so this is a pleasant surprise.
Photo quality and video recording
The photos are of high enough quality to be posted on social networks, but you need to keep in mind their shortcomings. Outdoor photos look good, but the less light there is, the lower the quality. When this happens, there is often a problem with focus and the detail of the pictures drops. Video recording at 1080p also produces decent images, but the lack of image stabilization means it will be shaky.
As mentioned above, the screen on this smartphone is bright and multi-colored, it is pleasant to watch videos and play games on it. Unfortunately, the quality of the multimedia experience is significantly degraded by the speaker.
The main drawback is the low speaker volume. Even at maximum volume, you may have trouble hearing the sound, especially in noisy environments. At the same time, at maximum volume the purity of the sound is distorted.
The good news is that there is an analog 3.5mm headphone jack, no adapters or wireless headphones not required.
Call quality
U modern smartphones there are no problems with incoming and outgoing calls, neither does the Asus ZenFone 3 Laser. The sound quality at both ends of the line is good, and the rounded corners of the screen make it comfortable to hold the device in your hand.
Autonomous operation
The smartphone offers decent battery life. If you actively check email on two accounts, work with numerous social networks, watch videos on YouTube in Full HD resolution, listen to music via Bluetooth headphones, the device will last about a day and a half.
The battery capacity is 3000 mAh. The device was turned on at 8:00 am and discharged the next day at 14:45. As for tests with the screen always on, the smartphone lasted 5 hours and 13 minutes.
The downside of the battery is the long recharging time. It took 3 hours and 25 minutes to charge from zero to 100%.
Conclusion
Asus has done an impressive job of delivering a smartphone that packs a lot of value at a third of the price. flagship models. Although its design is quite typical, the quality of the materials allows it to look no worse than more expensive devices.
The smartphone also offers a high-quality screen, a relatively fast processor, fast autofocus and good battery life. battery life. Relatively weaknesses is the shell operating system, poor quality speaker and long charging time, but otherwise the smartphone is very good. At $200, it would be hard to find a better option instead.
pros
- Build quality
- Thin and light
- Large, bright and multi-color screen
- Fast laser autofocus
- Good battery life
- Value for money
Minuses
- Navigation buttons without backlight
- Bad speaker
- Charging time
While professional photographers were figuring out which was better - Nikon or Canon - the world turned upside down. The most popular device for photography has become the smartphone. Many people have long given up their cameras, since the phone camera successfully solves all typical problems. True, the most advanced technologies first of all end up in top-end devices, which many simply cannot afford, and for those who want an inexpensive device with one pronounced function, the choice is very modest. And from this point of view, ASUS is doing everything right. For fans of huge screens, there's the Zenfone 3 Ultra. For those who believe that there is nothing more important than a capacious battery, there is Zenfone 3 Max. Well, ASUS Zenfone 3 Laser is an affordable phone for those for whom a high-quality camera is especially important.
Of course, there can be no talk of the most advanced module in a budget smartphone, but in general, the camera parameters of the Zenfone 3 Laser look decent. A little later we will talk in detail about how laser focusing works and why it is needed at all. In the meantime, it’s worth taking a look at the main parameters of the model.
Specifications
| ASUS Zenfone 3 Laser (ZC551KL) | ASUS Zenfone 2 Laser (ZE551KL) | Sony Xperia XA Ultra | Huawei Honor 5X | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | 5.5 inches, IPS, 1920 × 1080 pixels, 501 ppi, capacitive multi-touch |
5.5 inches, IPS, |
6.0 inches, IPS, 1920 × 1080 pixels, 367 ppi, capacitive multi-touch |
5.5 inches, IPS, 1920 × 1080 pixels, 401 ppi, capacitive multi-touch |
| Protective glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 3, with oleophobic coating and polarizing filter | Yes, manufacturer unknown | No data | |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 MSM8937: eight cores (8 × 1.4 GHz) ARM Cortex-A53 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 MSM8939: eight cores (4 × 1.7 GHz, 4 × 1.0 GHz) ARM Cortex-A53 | Mediatek MT6755 Helio P10 (four ARM Cortex-A53 cores, 1.2 GHz + four ARM Cortex-A53 cores, 2 GHz) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 MSM8939v2: eight cores (4 × 1.2 GHz, 4 × 1.5 GHz) ARM Cortex-A53 |
| Graphic controller | Adreno 505, 450 MHz | Qualcomm Adreno 405, 550 MHz | ARM Mali-T860 MP2, 700MHz | Adreno 405, 550 MHz |
| Operational memory | 2/4 GB | 3 GB | 3 GB | 2 GB |
| Flash memory | 32/64 GB | 16/32 GB | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Connectors | 1 micro-USB | 1 micro-USB | 1 microUSB; | 1 micro-USB 2.0 |
| 1 x 3.5mm headset jack | 1 x 3.5mm headset jack | 1 x 3.5mm headset jack | ||
| 1 micro-SIM | 2 nanoSIM | 2 micro-SIM | ||
| 1 nano-SIM/microSD (universal) | 1 microSD | 1 micro-SIM/microSD (universal) | ||
| Cellular connection 2G | GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz | GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz | GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz | |
| Cellular connection 3G | DC-HSPA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz | DC-HSPA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz | UMTS/HSPA+ 900 /2100 MHz | |
| Cellular 4G | LTE Cat. 4 (150 Mbit/s, 50 Mbit/s), bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41 | LTE Cat. 7 (300 Mbit/s, 150 Mbit/s), bands 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41 | LTE Cat. 7 (300 Mbit/s, 150 Mbit/s), bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 17, 18, 19, 20, 28, 29, 38, 39, 40, 41 | |
| WiFi | 802.11 /b/g/n/ 2.4 GHz | 802.11/b/g/n/ 2.4 GHz | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac 2.4/5 GHz | 802.11b/g/n 2.4 GHz |
| Bluetooth | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 |
| NFC | No | No | Eat | No |
| Navigation | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS |
| Sensors | Illumination, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass) | Illumination, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass) | Illumination, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass) | |
| Fingerprint's scanner | Eat | Eat | No | Eat |
| Main camera | 13 MP, f/ 2.0, laser autofocus, dual LED flash | 13 MP, f/2.0, laser autofocus, dual LED flash | 21.2 MP, hybrid autofocus, LED flash | 13 MP, f/2.0, autofocus, LED flash |
| Front-camera | 8 MP, no autofocus, no flash | 5 MP, no autofocus, no flash | 16 MP, autofocus | 5 MP, f/2.4, fixed focus |
| Nutrition | Non-removable battery: 11.4 Wh (3000 mAh, 3.8 V) | Removable battery: 11.4 Wh (3000 mAh, 3.8 V) | Non-removable battery: 10.2 Wh (2700 mAh, 3.8 V) | Non-removable battery 11.7 Wh (3000 mAh, 3.9 V) |
| Size | 149 × 76 × 7.9 mm | 152.4 × 77.2 × 10.9 mm | 164 × 79 × 8.4 mm | 151.3 × 76.3 × 8.2 mm |
| Weight | 150 g | 170 g | 202 g | 158 g |
| Water and dust protection | No | No | No | No |
| operating system | Android 6.0 Marshmallow, ASUS ZenUI shell | Android 5.0 Lollipop, ASUS ZenUI shell | Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Sony Xperia shell | Android 5.1 Lollipop, EMUI shell |
| Current price | 16,990 rubles | 12,000 rubles | 27,990 rubles | 14,990 rubles |
|
|
|
|
Design, ergonomics, software
The design can be assessed from two sides: either praise the stylistic unity of the entire Zenfone 3 series, or criticize ASUS for its reluctance to add individuality to each smartphone. However, now all smartphones are similar in one way or another - the standards set ten years ago hardly change, only the display diagonals increase and the thickness decreases.
The smartphone is offered in only two colors: silver and gold. The second option looks more interesting, although this is, of course, not for everybody. Here the color is not as saturated as, for example, in the iPhone, but I would still like more choice: where is black, dark gray, or even pink?
The front panel is completely covered with tempered glass with a fashionable 2.5D effect. The edges are slightly rounded around the perimeter, which contributes to a smoother transition to the side edge. You are unlikely to notice it by eye, but holding the smartphone will be a little more convenient. Above the display are the front camera lens, voice speaker and proximity sensor, and below the screen are touch control buttons. ASUS Zenfone 3 Max, if you remember, did not have such buttons - only on-screen keys were used, which reduced the effective display area.
On the bottom edge there is only a microphone under a nice grille and a microUSB connector. However, it is worth noting here that the lower and upper sections of the case on the rear panel are not metal, like its main part, but plastic. I don’t think that a potential smartphone buyer will be happy to learn about this feature, but ASUS has an excuse - such inserts contribute to better performance of wireless modules. And indeed, the smartphone is in complete order with this. In addition, the plastic does not give itself away - it is painted the same color and has the same texture as the metal base of the case.
On the left side there is traditionally a tray for SIM cards, on the right there is a power key and a double volume button. It is also used to release the shutter in shooting mode. It’s nice that these elements are located in the upper third of the side edge - it’s easy to press them with your thumb. Recent experiments by Sony, in which the volume key was located at the bottom, still make us think about where it is better to place the volume control. In my opinion, the ASUS option is more convenient.
On the back of the case there is a flash, a protruding camera lens (which, apparently, is easy to scratch), a laser window and a rectangular, elongated fingerprint reader area. In my opinion, this location of the fingerprint scanner is a little less convenient than on the Home button or power key, but these are minor things. The shape seemed a little awkward to me - the square scanner of the ASUS Zenfone 3 Max was more comfortable to handle.
The dimensions of the device are large (149 × 76 × 7.9 mm), but you can hold it with one hand and it does not cause discomfort. You won't be able to reach the top areas of the screen with your thumb, but typing on the go is quite possible. It is worth noting that even among 5.5-inch smartphones, ASUS Zenfone 3 Laser remains one of the most compact, no comparison with the iPhone 7 Plus.