The devices produced by Asus have always been famous for their high quality, technology and attractive design. It is noteworthy that this applies equally to both tablet computers and laptops, and mobile phones that are marked with this logo. Therefore, it is not surprising that on the network you can see a lot of positive recommendations from those who managed to test Asus smartphones directly from their experience.
Customer reviews of devices, as well as the technical parameters of some of the most popular models will be placed in this article. We will also look at the advantages and disadvantages of each of them and thus make our own verdict on what Asus smartphones are.
Positioning
To begin with, we will try to characterize these devices in general terms. 3 models will take part in our review, namely: the Asus Zenfone 2 Laser smartphone (we will publish reviews about it first), the Zenfone 4 model, and the Zenfone 6. It turns out that we have three devices whose indices increase arithmetically by 2. At the same time, you should not look for logic in determining phones - the “second” version surpasses the “four” in terms of technicalcharacteristics.
However, the general idea is that the smartphone model 4 is a budget representative of a fairly “strong” Zenfon line (which Asus smartphones form). Reviews show that even the low cost and significant limitations in functionality do not prevent the phone from seriously outperforming competitors in the class.
Speaking of Zenfone 2 and 6, it should be said that they are very similar both in their parameters and by definition in the segment. The difference, of course, is in favor of the "two" - it has a more powerful processor, camera and equipment as a whole. However, both smartphones can be attributed to the beginning of the “middle” class or to the upper circle of “state employees”.
Cost
Also, in order to immediately determine the models we describe, we note their price affiliation. To tell the truth, it is different - and, of course, the Asus Zenfon 4 smartphone turned out to be the most affordable. Customer reviews indicate that it (at the time of release) was offered at a price of 4-5 thousand rubles. This is really very cheap for a device with its capabilities.
Next in our cost hierarchy is the “six”. It, again, according to data from users, was offered for 10-11 thousand rubles. Obviously, the smartphone is moving from the "budget" and approaches, rather, to the "middle".
Finally, the Asus Zenfon 2 ZE500CL 5 smartphone turned out to be the most expensive. Reviews about it make it clear that there were several modifications of this device on sale. The most affordable of them was offered for15 thousand rubles; while the most expensive option was available for 19,000.
What can be said about such a price spread? Firstly, we decided on the obvious “state employee” from our review - this is the “four”. Secondly, two other devices, similar in parameters, still differ in their class. This is indicative of Asus' universal approach to positioning its products; about occupying several niches at once and, as a result, a wide representation of their products on the market.
For further characteristics, here are the technical data on the models.
Smartphone "Asus Zenfon 2"
The reviews that we managed to collect regarding each of the phones, we will publish at the end of our review. The thing is that they are all divided into two types - positive and negative.
The first group actually repeats the description of the device parameters, its technical data. We will describe them to you first. The second category of reviews is negative ratings. They relate to some shortcomings identified by buyers in the device - and here you need to pay attention to them when choosing a phone. For example, if the technical data helps to form a general opinion about the charms of a particular model, then reviews of the Asus Zenfon 2 ZE500CL smartphone, for example, will help to more accurately identify its weaknesses. You should definitely find out about them before buying the device, and not after it.
Processor
So, what is the second generation model based on? This is Intel AtomZ3580 which has 4 cores and clock speed up to 2.33GHz. The latter indicator is responsible for the processing speed of information by the processor and, in comparison with other smartphone models, it can be called high. Benchmark tests confirm this: for example, the model clearly outperforms Xiaomi Mi4 and Samsung Galaxy S5; but inferior to Meizu MX4 and Galaxy Note 4.
Autonomy
An important factor is the ability of the model to save charge. In the event that we are talking about the Asus smartphone (the characteristics, reviews of which we are now giving), we are talking about a 3000 mAh battery. With it, the device is capable of playing video for up to 10 hours, games - up to 4, books - up to 13-15 hours of work. Compared to other similar gadgets, this is not much, but it is quite tolerable.
Camera
The 13-megapixel matrix that was installed on the Asus Zenfon 2 smartphone is called a worthy solution by reviews. We, while conducting a review, noticed some inaccuracies in her work. In particular, we are talking about lighting. When taking pictures in a dark environment, some color shifting may occur. Because of this, the most correct thing is to shoot outdoors in sunny weather. Of course, it will not always be possible to adhere to this rule. Also, reviews of Asus Zenfone 2 smartphones report the presence of a special mode in which you can create “bulky”, but somewhat more accurate (in terms of color) pictures.
Asus Zenfone 4
The basis for workThe “four” is still the same Intel Atom, but the hardware version is somewhat different - this is the Z2520. The module has two cores, the frequency of which reaches 1.2 GHz: as you can see, the access speed is almost two times lower than in the case when it was about the smartphone "Asus Zenfon 2" ZE500CL 5.
Reviews show that this is significantly reflected in the speed of the device; on the tasks that it can perform. First of all, this refers to the reproduction of colorful games and applications published on Google Play. If the "deuce" was really able to work with any software, then version 4 has restrictions on the requirements of programs to the device.
Battery
A 1750 mAh battery was installed on the Asus Zenfon smartphone (reviews confirm this). Considering that the device has a quite classic level of charge consumption, it becomes obvious that with a full battery, the phone will be able to “last” no more than half a day.
The developers obviously came to this decision due to the fact that they wanted to make the body of the device thinner. And it's true - in the fourth generation, Asus smartphones (customer reviews confirm this in every possible way) are distinguished by a small width - for this reason, it is simply impossible to increase the battery.
Camera
Finally, our third criterion for characterizing a phone is the device's camera and its capabilities. On Zenfone 4pre-installed matrix with a resolution of 8 megapixels, which also has a system of stabilization and autofocus (we are talking about the main module). There is also a front-facing camera, which has a resolution of only 0.5 megapixels: it is suitable for taking simpler “selfie” shots.
However, in order to better understand the quality of the device's optics, it is enough to study user comments, which we did. Reviews describing Asus smartphones (dedicated to the 4th version of the gadget) indicate that the camera can sometimes incorrectly display the color set, and in low light it loses sharpness and image accuracy. Of course, all this is the consequences of the weak hardware that was installed on a budget device.
The solution may be to shoot in a brighter room, or you just have to live with what you have.
Smartphone "Asus Zenfon 6"
Reviews show that the third model participating in our review is presented in a slightly different technical class due to the diagonal of its screen. So, we are talking about a 6-inch display, which automatically transfers the device to the category of “phablets”.
We have already described how the device is positioned based on the price characteristic above. But what about the technical parameters of the device?
Processor
According to official information from the manufacturer, the model is equipped with a budget Intel processor consisting of two cores (we are talking aboutAtom Z2580). Despite the fact that their clock frequency is 2 GHz, according to reviews, there are no slowdowns, freezes and so-called “freezes” of the screen on the model. This may indicate a high degree of optimization and excellent interaction between the software component of the device and its hardware.
What are the possibilities of "stuffing" this phone? Tests conducted on benchmark applications showed that the smartphone is clearly ahead of Google Nexus 4 and Xiaomi Mi2 in terms of performance, although it noticeably loses to Galaxy Note 3.
Let's put it simply: you can run “bulky” (in terms of graphics) games here, however, some will not be able to be played at maximum resolution.
Autonomy
According to what the owners say about Asus smartphones, a 3100 mAh battery is installed on this model. This, of course, is much more than in the case of the “four”, but it is impossible to call the phone a “long-liver” (in terms of the ability to “hold” a charge): given the size of the model’s screen, the consumption here will be quite large. In the most energy-intensive mode of operation (playing games at maximum brightness and with high sound volume), the smartphone is able to work for just over 5 hours. This is a very good result; in standby mode, the model is able to hold up to 296 hours, and talk time - up to 28 hours.
Camera
It is impossible not to mention this module pre-installed on our phablet. The description says it has a resolution of 13 megapixels.(meaning the main); the secondary camera has a matrix resolution of 2 megapixels. High-quality shooting is ensured by auto focus, as well as a number of software filters that can provide high-quality color reproduction and sharp lines.
Problems, according to reviews, traditionally occur in low light. Then the matrix simply incorrectly recognizes a number of colors, which is why an inaccurate photo is taken. However, in general, the situation is better than in the case of the Quartet.
Zenfone 2 reviews
First of all, we note that we managed to find a large number of recommendations in which buyers advise to purchase this device. This at least indicates the great popularity of the smartphone, as well as its positive qualities in the eyes of people who turned their attention to it.
In addition to positive reviews, here, of course, some negative comments are presented, which list the cons of the device. We will talk about them in the framework of this article in order to navigate the weak points of the device (which was mentioned at the beginning of the review).
So, the first item is the battery. Often, buyers note that the smartphone has a low-capacity battery that loses charge much faster than required. The problem is quite common among mobile devices of this class, but its solution is simple: just purchase a special portable charger (similar to the popular PowerBank). This is offered, among other things, among the accessories developed by Asus. Therefore, we recommend purchasingthis branded gadget.
The second point is some software flaws on the part of the developers. They are expressed in the fact that, for example, the smartphone hangs somewhat immediately after the display is unlocked. This happens if the device is protected by a graphic key. It is quite possible that there is a flaw in the firmware software, due to which such a freeze (freeze) is observed. However, it is short-term, and if you do not focus on it, it should not bring any trouble.
Often, users mention the weakly protected display. Perhaps the problem is common among devices, but it is also easy to deal with it. Take care of the film or protective glass (which is glued) on the screen, so you will protect the main navigation module of your device from damage.
There is information in the reviews about the poor build quality of the device. In particular, buyers complain that the back cover of the smartphone does not fit tightly enough to the body, which causes a slight backlash and creaking. Of course, this drawback cannot be called serious or critical, but there is such a moment in the operation of the device.
Analyzing the rest of the comments on a number of popular review resources, we could not find other massive and any significant shortcomings. Of course, this is a good indicator for the device.
Zenfone 4 reviews
We were looking for interesting customer reviews describing Asus smartphones, dedicated to this model as well. And, of course, found in large numbers.
Buyers of “Zenfon 4” in every possible waypraise the product, mentioning its low cost, excellent reputation of the manufacturer, good build quality. There are a lot of positive comments, they describe those and other advantages that we already wrote about in the technical review for the model. However, of course, many users did not forget to point out the shortcomings they encountered while working with the gadget. Read more about them.
Autonomy, again, is a disadvantage of this model. Given how weak the battery is installed here, in normal use, we can only talk about 9-10 hours of operation. This means that in order to use the gadget during the working day, it will have to be charged twice.
In addition, other shortcomings are mentioned. Some are not satisfied with the fact that the device does not have a flash; others - too tight fit of the back cover (which as a result is quite problematic to remove). There are also comments about a weak 3G module (due to which the speed of connecting to the mobile Internet is much lower than on similar devices of other models).
Among the shortcomings of the device, I recall a weak display (which is impossible to work with in the sun), lack of backlighting of the keys and the presence of errors in the software. The last point is especially depressing, given that even updating the firmware does not help get rid of them. You can meet such failures in the SMS messages menu, when calling other subscribers, playing various applications.
Zenfone 6 reviews
What negative comments did we managefind relative to our "six"? Firstly, these are large, in some ways even bulky dimensions. Some buyers also note that for this reason it is not very comfortable to work with the gadget (although this is a phablet that initially has a large screen and a thickened body).
Secondly, there are complaints about minor errors in the software component; they are expressed in the form that some records may disappear from contacts; the gyroscope may fail or significantly slow down the browser (when typing). Thirdly, many people write that the phone is too quiet. We did not find any more significant drawbacks of the device mentioned by the buyers.
