The ASUS ZenFone 2 family of smartphones and phablets was notable for its use of Intel Atom processors, as well as their ambidextrous design. While the Intel Atom processors were powerful, they guzzled power and had trouble gaining traction in the smartphone market.
Hence, it comes as no surprise when ASUS revealed in Computex 2016 that the new ZenFone 3 series would be powered by Qualcomm processors instead. That decision probably contributed to Intel’s decision to quit the smartphone market for good.
You may have already seen our sneak peek of the new ASUS ZenFone 3 models at Computex 2016. Today, we are going to take a look at the ASUS ZenFone 3 (ZE552KL) smartphone!
ASUS ZenFone 3 Specifications Comparison
Here is how the ASUS ZenFone 3 (Amazon) compares against the other two ZenFone 3 models :
| Specifications | ZenFone 3 Deluxe (ZS570KL) | ZenFone 3 Ultra (ZU680KL) | ZenFone 3 (ZE552KL) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.7" Super AMOLED (1920 x 1080 pixels, 386 ppi) 79% screen-to-body ratio 3,000,000 : 1 contrast ratio ASUS TruVivid technology Bluelight Filter | 6.8" IPS display full-screen lamination (1920 x 1080 pixels, 324 ppi) 79% screen-to-body ratio 178˚wide-viewing angle ASUS TruVivid technology Bluelight Filter | 5.5" Super IPS+ display (1920 x 1080 pixels, 401 ppi) 500 nits brightness 77.3% screen-to-body ratio 2.1mm slim bezel |
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | 2.5D contoured Corning Gorilla Glass |
| Operating System | Android 6.0 Marshmallow ASUS ZenUI 3.0 | Android 6.0 Marshmallow ASUS ZenUI 3.0 | Android 6.0 Marshmallow ASUS ZenUI 3.0 |
| SoC Platform | Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 (MSM8996) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 (MSM8976) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 (MSM8953) |
| Processor | Quad-core Kyro (2.15 GHz) | 4 x ARM Cortex-A72 (1.8 GHz) 4 x ARM Cortex-A53 (1.4 GHz) | 4 x ARM Cortex-A53 (2.0 GHz) 4 x ARM Cortex-A53 (1.4 GHz) |
| Graphics Processor | Qualcomm Adreno 530 (624 MHz) | Qualcomm Adreno 510 | Qualcomm Adreno 506 |
| Memory | Up to 6 GB | Up to 4 GB LPDDR3 | Up to 4 GB LPDDR3 |
| Storage | Up to 128 GB (UFS 2.0) internal flash storage microSD slot (Supports up to 2 TB) | Up to 128 GB internal flash storage microSD slot (Supports up to 2 TB) | Up to 64 GB internal flash storage microSD slot (Supports up to 2 TB) |
| Front Camera | 8 MP, f/2.0 aperture 85˚ wide-viewing angle, Auto Focus | 8 MP, f/2.0 aperture 85˚ wide-viewing angle, Auto Focus | 8 MP, f/2.0 aperture, Fixed Focus |
| Rear Camera | 23 MP Sony IMX318 sensor 0.03 second TriTech auto-focus 6P Largan f/2.0 aperture lens 4 Stop OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) 3-Axis EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) Dual-LED real tone flash Sapphire lens protection | 23 MP Sony IMX318 sensor 0.03 second TriTech auto-focus 6P Largan f/2.0 aperture lens 32 second long exposure 4 Stop OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) 3-Axis EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) Dual-LED real tone flash | 16 MP Sony IMX298 sensor 0.03 second TriTech auto-focus 6P Largan f/2.0 aperture lens 32 second long exposure 4 Stop OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) 3-Axis EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) Dual-LED real tone flash Sapphire lens protection |
| Connectivity | FDD Band 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 7 / 8 / 12 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 26 / 28 / 29 / 30 LTE Cat. 13 (600 Mbps / 150 Mbps) UMTS: Band: 1/2/4/5/6/8/19 GSM: 850/900/1800/1900 Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac USB 3.0 Type-C, BT4.2 + A2DP + EDR GPS/A-GPS/GLONASS/BDSS | FDD Band 1 / 3 / 5 / 7 / 8 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 26 / 28 LTE Cat. 6 (300 Mbps / 50 Mbps) UMTS: B1/B2/B5/B6/B8/B19 GSM: 850/900/1800/1900 Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac USB 2.0 Type-C, BT4.2 + A2DP + EDR GPS/A-GPS/GLONASS/BDSS | FDD Band 1 / 2 / 3 / 5 / 7 / 8 / 20 LTE Cat. 6 (300 Mbps / 50 Mbps) UMTS: B1/B2/B5/B8 GSM: 850/900/1800/1900 Wi-Fi 802.11ac/USB 2.0 Type-C BT4.2/GPS/A-GPS/GLONASS/BDSS |
| Dual SIM capability | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby |
| Sensors | Accelerator / E-Compass / Gyroscope / Proximity sensor / Hall sensor / Ambient light sensor / RGB sensor / IR sensor | Accelerator / E-Compass / Gyroscope / Proximity sensor / Hall sensor / Ambient light sensor / RGB sensor / IR sensor | Accelerator / E-Compass / Gyroscope / Proximity sensor / Hall sensor / Ambient light sensor / RGB sensor / IR sensor |
| Fingerprint Sensor | Yes, rear mounted below camera bump | Yes, integrated with Home button | Yes, rear mounted below camera bump |
| Audio Capability | 5 magnet speaker ASUS SonicMaster 3.0 | Dual 5 magnet speakers ASUS SonicMaster 3.0 FM Radio | 5 magnet speaker ASUS SonicMaster 3.0 |
| Battery | 3000 mAh | 4600 mAh Talk time: 34 hrs (3G) Wi-Fi browsing (14.5 hrs) Video Playback (12.5 hrs) | 3000 mAh |
| Fast Charging | 18 W (9V, 2A) Adapter Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 technology BoostMaster Fast Charging : 60% battery capacity in 39 minutes | 18 W (9V, 2A) Adapter Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 technology BoostMaster Fast Charging : 60% battery capacity in 45 minutes | 10 W (5V, 2A) Adapter |
| Size | 156.4 mm tall x 77.4 mm wide x 4.2 ~ 7.5 mm thick | 186.4 mm tall x 93.9 mm wide x 6.8 mm thick | 152.59 mm tall x 77.38 mm wide x 7.69 mm thick |
| Weight | 170 g | 233 g | 155 g |
| Available Colours | Metal finish: Glacier Silver Titanium Gray Shimmer Gold | Metal finish: Glacier Silver Titanium Gray Metallic Pink | Glass finish: Sapphire Black Moonlight White Shimmer Gold Aqua Blue |
Unboxing The ASUS ZenFone 3 (ZE552KL)
The ASUS ZenFone 3 (Amazon) comes in a classy slate-coloured cardboard box. Wanna see what’s inside? We reveal it all in this video!
Inside the box, you will find the following items :
- One ASUS ZenFone 3 (ZE552KL) smartphone
- One pair of ASUS earphones, with four spare earbuds
- One set of ASUS ZenFone 3 User Guide and warranty card
- One 10W ASUS quick charger
- One Type C USB cable
- One SIM tray ejector pin
- One set of three serial number and IMEI stickers
ASUS is marketing the ZenFone 3 as the more affordable mainstream variant, and the bundled accessories reflect that.
Next Page > Key Features Of The ZenFone 3, Setting Up The ZenFone 3
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The ASUS ZenFone 3 (ZE552KL) Smartphone
With a 5.5″ display, the ASUS ZenFone 3 (ZE552KL) is the smallest model in the family. However, because all three ZenFone 3 models have the same Full HD resolution of 1080 x 1920, the its display boasts the highest pixel density of 401 ppi. The much larger ZenFone 3 Ultra (ZE680KL), for example, has a pixel density of only 324 ppi.
The ZenFone 3 (Amazon) has a very premium feel, thanks to its use of 2.5D contoured Corning Gorilla Glass that seamlessly fits the metal frame carved out of aerospace-grade aluminium alloy. It has a nice heft at 155 g / 5.5 oz – not too light, and not too heavy.
Unlike the ZenFone 3 Ultra, the ZenFone 3 (Amazon) uses a more conventional design – the Volume buttons are placed on the right side, with the Power button. The SIM card tray is placed on the left side. So this is no longer the ambidextrous design that ASUS ZenFones are known for.
The ZenFone 3 also features an improved 5-magnet speaker with Hi-Res Audio support. Not only does it deliver higher fidelity audio, it is now 20% louder with 42% less distortion.
Hybrid SIM & Fingerprint Sensor
The ASUS ZenFone 3 (Amazon) has Dual SIM, Dual Standby capability, with both SIMs supporting 4G. The SIM card tray is located along the left edge, and supports two nano SIM cards. The second SIM card tray is a hybrid SIM tray, which allows you to install a microSD card instead. In other words, it supports either a second nano SIM card, or a microSD card, but not both at the same time.
Unlike the ZenFone 3 Ultra, the ZenFone 3 (Amazon) uses a fingerprint sensor that is located at the back, just under the main camera. This is an all-aspect fingerprint sensor that unlocks the smartphone in just 0.2 seconds. It can also be programmed to activate specific apps (like the camera) with different fingers.
PixelMaster 3.0 Cameras
The ASUS ZenFone 3 (Amazon) sports a decent 8 MP front camera with f/2.0 lens for selfies. While not as good as the 16 MP front camera of the OPPO F1s “Selfie Expert” smartphone, it has a higher resolution than the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, and is capable of recording 1080p videos. The only downside? It doesn’t support screen flash.
The killer feature of the ZenFone 3 (Amazon) is the much improved PixelMaster 3.0 camera at the back. It features a 16 MP Sony IMX298 sensor with new features like fast hybrid autofocus and 3-axis electronic image stabilization.
[adrotate banner=”4″]ASUS paired it with f/2.0 Largan lens with 4-axis, 4-stop optical image stabilization, and a second-generation laser auto-focus sensor.
What all that means is you can capture very high resolution photos and videos in poorly-lit conditions. Any blurring that occurs due to hand shakes and wobbles will be greatly reduced or eliminated.
Focusing is also much faster, thanks to the new laser sensor that accurately detects the range of objects in low light at up to 1.5 m away.
In addition to 1080p videos, the PixelMaster 3.0 camera can also shoot 4K videos. To top it off, it encodes the 4K videos using HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) to keep the file size small while maintaining a high level of image quality.
Finally, the ASUS ZenFone 3 (Amazon) does not have any noticeable limit on how long you can record videos, or how large their file sizes are. We have recorded videos of over 120 minutes in length, and over 11 GB in size. Most smartphones have a 4 GB limit, even if they do not have a time limit.
Setting Up The ZenFone 3
The ASUS ZenFone 3 (Amazon) runs on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, which should be familiar to many Android users. It is very easy to setup. If you are setting it up as a new device, it should take you only 5 minutes to finish the setup process.
Next Page > Ergonomics, Available Memory & Storage, PixelMaster 3.0 Camera Performance
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Ergonomics
When you power it up for the first time, you will be struck by how beautiful its display is. This may not be a QHD display like those on the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (Amazon) or the HTC 10 (Amazon), but you won’t be able to tell the difference. The Super IPS+ display also offers a boost in brightness (up to 500 nits), which is especially useful outdoors in bright sunlight.
The smaller form factor means it is an easier fit for most hands. The ZenFone 3 (Amazon) is also much lighter than its big brother, the ZenFone 3 Ultra – so holding it in one hand is not a problem at all. That said, the Gorilla Glass back makes it just as slippery to grip as the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge (Amazon).
Available Memory & Storage
The ASUS ZenFone 3 (Amazon) comes with either 3 GB or 4 GB of LPDDR3 memory. Our review sample came with 4 GB of memory. Only 3.5 GB was usable, of which 1.1 GB was used by the Android operating system and background apps. This left 2.4 GB of free memory for us to use. That’s more than enough memory to run multiple memory-guzzling apps simultaneously.
The ASUS ZenFone 3 (Amazon) also comes with a generous amount of internal storage – 64 GB. Out of the box, just under 52 GB was available for use. That should be plenty enough for most users, but is expandable via a microSD card (up to 2 TB). It also comes with 100 GB of free Google Drive storage for 2 years.
Camera Performance – Photos
The resolution of the new PixelMaster 3.0 camera is very good. The full 16 MP resolution is attained with the 4:3 aspect ratio. Each picture has a resolution of 4656 x 3492 and a file size of 3.5-5 MB.
Here are six high-resolution samples for you to check out. Click on them to load the full-sized photos, which you can also download to examine.
The Sony Exmor-RS IMX298 is a really good sensor. The colours are vivid but not unnaturally so. However, the highlights are blown out. This was not so much of a problem with the IMX318 sensor used in the ZenFone 3 Ultra.
Next Page > PixelMaster 3.0 Camera 1080p & 4K Video Recording Performance
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Camera Performance – Video Recording
The ASUS ZenFone 3 (Amazon) is capable of recording 1080p and 4K videos, with both 4-axis optical and 3-axis electronic image stabilisation enabled. To test its video recording capabilities, we recorded a street market and a koi pond in daylight, and a night dance as well. They were all recorded in both 1080p and 4K resolutions. Check them out!
The amount of detail captured, especially in the 4K videos, is amazing. However, you can also see how the highlights are blown out. This is especially noticeable in the bright background of the Piano and Night Dance videos.
Next Page > Work Performance, Battery Life, Battery Recharging Performance
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Work Performance – PCMark
We tested the ZenFone 3’s performance using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.
| ASUS ZenFone 3 | ASUS ZenFone 3 Ultra | HTC 10 | honor 8 | |
| Work Performance Score (Average) |
6405 | 6313 | 6105 | 6350 |
| Web Browsing | 8045 | 6257 | 5782 | 8073 |
| Video Playback | 3469 | 4287 | 3321 | 4396 |
| Writing | 7316 | 7166 | 7463 | 6231 |
| Photo Editing | 8246 | 8262 | 9694 | 7352 |
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor powering the ZenFone 3 (Amazon) did very well in this test, besting the ZenFone 3 Ultra (Snapdragon 652), the HTC 10 (Snapdragon 820) and the honor 8 (Kirin 950).
Battery Life – PCMark
We then tested the ZenFone 3’s battery performance using PCMark. It basically ran the PCMark work tests until its battery capacity dropped to 20%.
The ASUS ZenFone 3 (Amazon) only comes with a 3,000 mAh battery, but it lasted almost 12 hours in this test! This is 22 minutes longer than the battery life of its big brother, the ZenFone 3 Ultra, which boasts a 53% larger 4,600 mAh battery. This is excellent battery life.
Battery Recharging Performance
The ASUS ZenFone 3 comes with a 10 W fast charger. Take a look at how fast it recharges the 3,000 mAh battery.
It took us 99 minutes (1 hour 39 minutes) to recharge the ZenFone 3 (Amazon) from 19% to 100%. That’s a battery life : recharging ratio of 7:1 – very impressive!
As the charger does not support any fancy fast charging technologies like Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0, the charging profile is a relatively flat curve. It showed slightly faster charging up to the 70% charge level, before tapering off a little.
Next Page > Overall & 3D Performance, Our Verdict & Award
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Overall Performance
AnTuTu is a nice benchmark for testing various performance aspects of Android devices.
| ASUS ZenFone 3 | ASUS ZenFone 3 Ultra | HTC 10 | honor 8 | |
| TOTAL SCORE | 62761 | 76096 | 113813 | 90737 |
| 3D SCORE | 13022 | 18816 | 50700 | 17706 |
| – 3D (Marooned) | 7906 | 10861 | 34778 | 9829 |
| – 3D (Garden) | 5116 | 7952 | 15922 | 7877 |
| UX SCORE | 23789 | 26794 | 30890 | 34550 |
| – UX Data Secure | 5847 | 5077 | 6319 | 7338 |
| – UX Data Process | 3109 | 4198 | 3379 | 5513 |
| – UX Strategy Games | 4254 | 7503 | 5433 | 9745 |
| – UX Image Process | 7443 | 6879 | 9521 | 5017 |
| – UX I/O Performance | 3136 | 3137 | 6238 | 6937 |
| CPU SCORE | 20342 | 23689 | 21915 | 32255 |
| – CPU Mathematics | 4226 | 6950 | 8494 | 10483 |
| – CPU Common Use | 6593 | 6311 | 5931 | 8543 |
| – CPU Multi-Core | 9523 | 10428 | 7490 | 13229 |
| RAM | 5608 | 6797 | 10308 | 6226 |
The ASUS ZenFone 3 (Amazon) is not going to win any gaming awards. It was fast in 2D graphics and CPU processing, but performed poorly in the 3D tests. It was far slower than top-of-the-line smartphones like the HTC 10, and even some mid-range smartphones like the Kirin 950-powered honor 8.
Gaming Performance – 3DMark
We tested the ZenFone 3’s gaming performance using 3DMark, using the Ice Storm Unlimited test.
| ASUS ZenFone 3 | ASUS ZenFone 3 Ultra | HTC 10 | honor 8 | |
| Gaming Score | 13956 | 17719 | 23171 | 18659 |
| Graphics | 13484 | 21124 | 27512 | 19993 |
| Physics | 15903 | 11328 | 14925 | 15127 |
| Graphics Test 1 | 80.5 fps | 115.2 fps | 136.6 fps | 122.5 fps |
| Graphics Test 2 | 46.1 fps | 76.3 fps | 106.4 fps | 67.4 fps |
| Physics Test | 50.5 fps | 36.0 fps | 47.4 fps | 48.0 fps |
The Qualcomm Adreno 506 GPU in the ZenFone 3 (Amazon) is no 3D powerhouse and it shows. It was half as fast as the HTC 10 (Adreno 530), 36% slower than the ZenFone 3 Ultra (Adreno 510), and 33% slower than the honor 8 (ARM Mali-T880).
Our Verdict
The ZenFone 3 smartphone family represents a concerted effort by ASUS to break into the premium smartphone market. The ASUS ZenFone 3 (ZE552KL) model itself represents the tip of the spear. After all, it is the most affordable variant in the family.
Now, we must point out that this is not the best smartphone for 3D gaming. The ASUS ZenFone 3 (Amazon) is very fast at 2D games, and work applications, but it falters in 3D gaming performance. But if you do not intend to play 3D games on it, this is a very good smartphone for everything else.
It has a really good front and back cameras. Yes, the highlights are overblown (can ASUS fix this in a firmware update please?), but the optical and electronic image stabilisation has been greatly improved. The resulting pictures and videos are quite amazing. They are sharp, and the colours vivid.
[adrotate banner=”4″]The ZenFone 3 (Amazon) also supports 4K video recording, in addition to 1080p recording. And some of you might like to know that it can record videos of indefinite length and file size. No more 30 minute limit. No more 4 GB limit. Just awesome for recording events like your child’s football game or a friend’s wedding!
You will also love the long battery life and the short recharge time – something you will appreciate if you are always on-the-go and have little access to a power point. The same goes for its large memory and storage capacity. With 4 GB of memory, and 64 GB of flash storage, you will find it hard to run out of both.
And last but not, the ASUS ZenFone 3 (Amazon) is a work of art. It exudes luxury with the 2.5D curved glass on both sides melding into the solid metal frame. That is a luxury that comes with a price premium – one that many will feel well worth it.
We are so impressed with the ASUS ZenFone 3 (Amazon) that we feel it deserves no less than our Reviewer’s Choice Award. Congratulations, ASUS!
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