Ever since they were announced at Computex 2016, ASUS has churned out a number of ZenFone 3 models, like the ZenFone 3 Ultra phablet and the eponymous ZenFone 3 smartphone. But what mobile photographers have been waiting for was ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (ZE553KL).
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) is the photography-focused ZenFone 3 model designed to take on the Apple iPhone 7 Plus (Amazon | Lazada) head-to-head, and beat it in every aspect. Yet it costs only half as much! Don’t believe us? Read on and find out for yourself!
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom vs. The Apple iPhone 7 Plus
We are serious about the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) taking on the Apple iPhone 7 Plus (Amazon | Lazada). Check out this comparison of their specifications and see how they compare with each other!
| Specifications | ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom | Apple iPhone 7 Plus (32 GB) |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.5" Full HD AMOLED display - 1080 x 1920 pixels - 500 nits brightness | 5.5" Full HD IPS display - 1080 x 1920 pixels - 625 nits brightness |
| Protection | Premium aluminium-alloy frame 2.5D contoured Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | IP67-rated dust and water-resistance Dual-ion exchange strengthened glass |
| Operating System | Android 6.0 Marshmallow | Apple iOS 10 |
| Platform | Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 | Apple A10 Fusion |
| Processor | 4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (2.0 GHz) 4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (1.4 GHz) | 2 x Apple Hurricane cores (2.34 GHz) 2 x Apple Zephyr cores (2.34 GHz) |
| Graphics Processor | Qualcomm Adreno 506 | PowerVR 7XT GT7600 Plus |
| Memory | 4 GB LPDDR3 SDRAM (933 MHz) | 3 GB LPDDR4 SDRAM |
| Storage | 64 GB internal flash storage microSD card (up to 2 TB, shared with SIM2) | 32 GB internal flash storage No microSD card slot |
| Front Camera | 13 MP PixelMaster camera - Sony IMX214 sensor - f/2.0, 5-element Largan lens | 7 MP camera with f/2.2 lens |
| Main Camera | 12 MP PixelMaster 3.0 camera - Sony IMX362 sensor (1.4 µm pixels) - f/1.7, 6-element lens - Dual Pixel PDAF technology - 4-axis, 4 stops Optical Image Stabilization for steady photos - 3-axis Electronic Image Stabilization for shake-free videos | 12 MP camera - Sony Exmor RS sensor - f/1.8, 6-element lens - Optical image stabilisation |
| Zoom Camera | 12 MP sensor (unknown model) with f/2.6 lens - 2.3X fixed optical zoom - 12X maximum zoom (digital + optical) | 12 MP sensor with f/2.8 lens - 2X fixed optical zoom - 10X maximum zoom (digital + optical) |
| Connectivity | 4G : LTE Cat4 WiFi : 802.11b/g/n Bluetooth : 4.2 | 4G : LTE Cat12 WiFi : 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth : 4.2 |
| SIM Capability | Dual SIM, Dual Standby with Hybrid SIM tray - nano SIM slot 1 (3G / 4G) - nano SIM slot 2 (3G / 4G) / micro SD | Single nano SIM only |
| NFC Capability | No | Yes |
| GPS | GPS, AGPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, AGPS, GLONASS |
| Fingerprint Sensor | Yes, Rear-Mounted | Yes, built into Home button |
| Audio | 192 kHz / 24-bit Hi-Res Audio support 5 magnet speaker with NXP Smart Amp Dual microphone with noise cancellation VoLTE support DTS Headphone:X virtual surround sound technology | No Hi-Res Audio support Stereo speakers |
| FM Radio | Yes | No |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh lithium-ion battery Supports reverse charging | 2,900 mAh lithium-ion battery No reverse charging support |
| Dimensions | 77 mm wide x 154.3 mm tall x 7.99 mm thick | 77.9 mm wide x 158.2 mm tall x 7.3 mm thick |
| Weight | 170 grams | 188 grams |
| Colour Options | Navy Black, Glacier Silver, Rose Gold | Rose Gold, Gold, Silver, Black, Jet Black |
| Price | US$ 329 | US$ 769 |
We will go into more detail later, but first, let’s unbox the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom!
Unboxing The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) is a premium smartphone, so it comes to no surprise that ASUS gave it the full treatment. It even comes with a soft case and a pair of ZenEar earphones!
Inside the box, you will find the following items :
- One ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) smartphone
- One ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom soft case
- One set of ASUS ZenFone 3 User Guide, Warranty leaflet and IMEI stickers
- One 10 W ASUS charger with a 3-pin adaptor
- One USB Type C cable
- One pair of ASUS ZenEar earphones with four spare earbuds
- One SIM card tray ejector pin
Next Page > The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom Key Features
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The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (ZE553KL)
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom has a 5.5″ display like the iPhone 7 Plus, but it is slightly smaller and lighter. Instead of the usual IPS display though, the ZenFone 3 Zoom uses an AMOLED display that is protected by the latest Gorilla Glass 5 cover with a 2.5D edge, and a full metal unibody chassis.
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) uses the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 SoC as the ZenFone 3 smartphone. It comes with 4 GB of LPDDR4 memory and 64 GB of internal flash memory. All that is powered by a large 5,000 mAh battery.
The button placements are the same as that of other ZenFone 3 models – the Power and Volume control buttons are on the right side, with the hybrid SIM slot on the left side, and the fingerprint sensor on the back.
Like many thin devices, the audio port on the ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) is located at the bottom, next to the bidirectional Type C USB port. But note that it is still using USB 2.0 standard, not the latest USB 3.1 standard.
Hybrid SIM & Fingerprint Sensor
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) has dual SIM, dual standby capability. It has a hybrid SIM tray for two nano SIM cards. The second SIM card tray (SIM2) doubles as a microSD card slot (up to 256 GB). Both SIM1 and SIM2 support 3G and 4G connectivity, but only one SIM card can connect to the 3G / 4G network – the other can only connect to a 2G network.
The ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) has an all-aspect fingerprint sensor located at the back, just under the main cameras. Our tests showed that it requires just 10 finger presses to register a fingerprint, and is very fast and accurate in recognising the registered fingerprint.
The ZenFone 3 Zoom Cameras
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) boasts a 13 MP front camera, built around the Sony IMX214 sensor and a 5-element Largan lens with f/2.0 aperture. It does not have a dedicated LED flash but uses screen flash instead, like the Apple iPhone 7 Plus (Amazon | Lazada).
Like the iPhone 7 Plus, the ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) has a dual camera system, with a main camera and a zoom camera. This is different from the dual-lens camera of the Huawei Mate 9 or the Honor 8 smartphones, which combines images from two cameras with the same focal length.
Its main camera boasts the Sony IMX362 sensor with large 1.4 µm pixels, and Dual Pixel PDAF technology. It is coupled to a 6-element lens with f/1.7 aperture, and boasts 4-axis, 4-stops optical image stabilisation as well as 3-axis electronic image stabilisation capabilities.
The zoom camera has a 12 MP sensor of unknown model, paired with a 59 mm f/2.6 lens. This gives us a 2.3X optical zoom over the main camera. The Apple iPhone 7 Plus (Amazon | Lazada) has a similar zoom camera, with a shorter 2X zoom and an f/2.8 lens.
Next Page > The Initial Setup, Ergonomics, Available Memory & Storage
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Setting Up The ZenFone 3 Zoom
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) runs on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, and is very easy to set-up. If you are setting it up as a new device, it should take you only 5 minutes to finish the setup process.
The Ergonomics
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) is a 5.5″ smartphone that is 7.7 cm wide, so it is a two-handed device. But because it’s reasonably thick at just under 8 mm, it offers better grip than its thinner rivals. The large display with its full HD resolution is just perfect for watching movies. We also applaud ASUS for using an AMOLED display – it is generally more vivid and power-efficient.
We especially like the satin finish of the anodised aluminium chassis. It is smooth and comfortable to touch, and is resistant to fingerprint smears. Adding on the provided soft case greatly increases grip, but the Power button may be harder to activate.
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Available Memory & Storage
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) comes with 4 GB of LPDDR4 memory, of which 2.2 GB (55%) is free to use. That is more memory than some smartphones ship with! You will never run out of memory with the ZenFone 3 Zoom!
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) also has 64 GB of internal flash memory. Of that, just under 52 GB is available to use. If that’s not enough, you can top it up with a microSD card (up to 256 GB).
Next Page > Camera Performance – Photos
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Camera Performance – Photos
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) uses the excellent Sony IMX362 sensor for its main camera, which boasts very advanced optical and electronic image stabilisation and a fast f/1.7 lens. The full 12 MP resolution is attained with the 4:3 aspect ratio. Each picture has a resolution of 3928 × 2944 and a file size of between 4 to 8 MB.
Here are 16 high-resolution samples for you to check out. Click on them to load the full-sized photos, which you can also download to examine.
As the picture show, the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) can really produce amazing pictures. The automatic HDR capability worked great too, adding dynamic range whenever the light permits. The final result – very vivid colours, even in low light. For that, we have to thank the Sony IMX362 sensor with its large 1.4 µm pixels, and the fast f/1.7 lens.
[adrotate banner=”5″]Next Page > Camera Performance – Video Recording
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Camera Performance – Video Recording
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom’s photographic capability extends beyond just photos. It is capable of recording videos at resolutions of up to 2160p (4K) at 30 fps. It also boasts advanced optical and electronic image stabilisation as well as support for Hi Res Audio. Let’s check out how well it does…
Test #1 : Blues Band (1080p)
The image stabilisation seems to do a very good job, but notice the occasional jerks. We have no idea why it happens, but it seems to only afflict the 1080p video recordings. It did produce very good audio though, and had good control of the bright background.
Test #2 : Blues Band (4K)
Electronic image stabilisation appears to be turned off, so there is more wobbling at 4K, but there’s no sign of the sudden jerks in our 1080p example above. The resolution at 4K is amazing!
Test #3 : Rainbow Waterfall
This is another test of the ZenFone 3 Zoom’s image stabilisation capabilities. Oddly enough – there is no sign of the sudden jerks. This probably means that the jerks we saw in the first video is likely to be software-related. Probably errors in electronic image stabilisation.
Test #4 : Logging Camp
A 4-wheel drive ride is a great way to test the advanced image stabilisation capabilities of the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom. As you can see, it did a pretty good job on this rugged logging trail. It may not appear so, but we were seated at the back shaking non-stop. 😀
Test #5 : Jungle Ride
Here is another video on the same 4×4 Hilux truck ride through the Pahang jungle. Nice job on the image stabilisation, ASUS!
Next Page > Work Performance, Battery Life & Recharging Speed
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Work Performance – PCMark
We tested the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom’s performance using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.
| ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom | ASUS ZenFone 3 | Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) | OPPO F1s | |
| Work Performance Score (Average) |
6655 | 6405 | 4954 | 3884 |
| Web Browsing | 7595 | 8045 | 5143 | 3688 |
| Video Playback | 4545 | 3469 | 4515 | 3789 |
| Writing | 7264 | 7316 | 4948 | 4141 |
| Photo Editing | 7824 | 8246 | 5243 | 3933 |
Both the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) and the original ZenFone 3 smartphone use the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 SoC, so it’s no surprise they perform about the same. They both did much better than the Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017), and the OPPO F1s in this test.
Battery Life – PCMark
We then tested the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom’s battery performance using PCMark. It basically ran the PCMark work tests until its battery capacity dropped to 20%.
The Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro is so popular because it has a large 5,000 mAh battery. The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) with a large 5,000 mAh battery as well, even though it’s much smaller in size. But more importantly, it has a much longer battery life of 17.25 hours – 33% longer than the Galaxy A9 Pro!
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Battery Recharging Performance
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) comes with a 10 W charger, instead of more powerful 15-18 W chargers common in other flagship devices. Take a look at how fast it recharged the 5,000 mAh battery.
It took the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) about 160 minutes (2 hours 40 minutes) to recharge its battery from 20% to 100%. This is 20% longer than what the Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro (with a similar 5,000 mAh battery) took with its 15 W charger. Overall, it has a battery life : recharging ratio of 6.5 : 1, which is good but not exceptional.
Next Page > Gaming & Overall Performance, Our Verdict & Award
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Gaming Performance – 3DMark
We tested the ZenFone 3 Zoom’s gaming performance using 3DMark, using the Ice Storm Unlimited test.
| ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom | ASUS ZenFone 3 | Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) | OPPO F1s | |
| Gaming Score | 13844 | 13956 | 13540 | 7666 |
| Graphics | 13372 | 13484 | 13548 | 7511 |
| Physics | 15797 | 15903 | 13510 | 8265 |
| Graphics Test 1 | 80.3 fps | 80.5 fps | 81.1 fps | 49.4 fps |
| Graphics Test 2 | 45.6 fps | 46.1 fps | 46.2 fps | 24.4 fps |
| Physics Test | 50.1 fps | 50.5 fps | 42.9 fps | 26.2 fps |
Like the ZenFone 3, the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) did well in this test, matching the Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017), and coming in twice as fast as the OPPO F1s.
Overall Performance
AnTuTu is a nice benchmark for testing various performance aspects of Android devices.
| ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom | ASUS ZenFone 3 | Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) | OPPO F1s | |
| TOTAL SCORE | 63218 | 62761 | 56431 | 41486 |
| 3D SCORE | 12966 | 18816 | 15458 | 4868 |
| – 3D (Marooned) | 7878 | 10861 | 10511 | 3188 |
| – 3D (Garden) | 5088 | 7952 | 4947 | 1679 |
| UX SCORE | 24089 | 26794 | 18496 | 17640 |
| – UX Data Secure | 5713 | 5077 | 5295 | 4885 |
| – UX Data Process | 2991 | 4198 | 2612 | 2542 |
| – UX Strategy Games | 4193 | 7503 | 3671 | 2829 |
| – UX Image Process | 7893 | 6879 | 3373 | 3885 |
| – UX I/O Performance | 3299 | 3137 | 3545 | 3499 |
| CPU SCORE | 20683 | 23689 | 16459 | 14336 |
| – CPU Mathematics | 4264 | 6950 | 3132 | 3142 |
| – CPU Common Use | 6673 | 6311 | 5199 | 4805 |
| – CPU Multi-Core | 9746 | 10428 | 8128 | 6389 |
| RAM | 5480 | 6797 | 6018 | 4643 |
The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) did well in this test, beating the Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) by 12%, and the OPPO F1s by 52%.
Our Verdict & Award
While ASUS may not make a point about it, it is obvious that they are targeting the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) squarely at the Apple iPhone 7 Plus (Amazon | Lazada). They even eschewed the innovative zoom camera in the original ASUS ZenFone Zoom for the same dual camera system used in the iPhone 7 Plus. However, they were not aiming to copy, as much as beat, the iPhone 7 Plus on as many aspects as possible.
The iPhone 7 Plus has a 7 MP front camera with f/2.2 lens? ASUS gives the ZenFone 3 Zoom a 13 MP front camera with f/2.0 lens!
The iPhone 7 Plus has a 12 MP Sony Exmor RS main camera with f/1.8 lens? ASUS tops that with the latest 12 MP Sony IMX362 sensor with Dual Pixel PDAF technology and a f/1.7 lens!
The iPhone 7 Plus has a 12 MP zoom camera with 2X optical zoom and f/2.8 lens? The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom gives you a 12 MP zoom camera with 2.3X optical zoom and f/2.6 lens!
[adrotate banner=”4″]This isn’t just about beating the iPhone 7 Plus (Amazon | Lazada) on specifications. The ASUS PixelMaster 3.0 camera on the ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) is amazing. It produces some of the best pictures and videos we have ever seen. Its 4K video recording and audio recording quality was especially good.
ASUS didn’t just stop at the ZenFone 3 Zoom’s photographic capability. To make sure the photos and videos look great on the device itself, they opted for an AMOLED display, instead of a regular IPS display. They even packed in a large 5,000 mAh battery, in a form factor that is smaller and lighter than the iPhone 7 Plus (Amazon | Lazada) with its puny 2,900 mAh battery.
But arguably, what’s most impressive about the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom (Amazon | Lazada) is the fact that it delivers its superior capabilities at half the price of the Apple iPhone 7 Plus (Amazon | Lazada)! We don’t know how ASUS managed to do that, but we think their efforts deserves no less than our Editor’s Choice Award! Congratulations, ASUS!
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