Asus zenfone 3 review in Spanish (full analysis)

The second generation Zenfone has been a best seller and the launch of Asus Zenfone 3 has created quite a stir in the community. In these first months the 5.2-inch version and the 5.5-inch version have been launched, the latter being the one we have tested. Do you want to know more about this great smartphone? Don't miss our review!

We thank Asus for trusting the product for its analysis:

Asus Zenfone 3 ZE552KL technical specifications

A renewed and expected premium design

Asus makes a presentation with a gray box and on the side we have some serigraphed letters that indicates the exact model that it has inside.

In the back area we find a sticker with the IMEI numbers and the serial number of the smartphone.

Once we open the box we find:

• Zenfone 3 smartphone in its 5.5-inch version. Quick start guide Card extractor Mini USB cable Minijack helmets and spare parts

Both Zenfone 5 and Zenfone 2 , within a safety margin, share the details of the visual identity. This changed in this generation. The plastic structure was replaced by glass at the front and rear with metal edges. Regardless of its specifications, the new design is without a doubt much more premium. You should not envy anything at all to the main high-end of the market, which came with a much higher price than the Zenfone.

Like every glass smartphone, it seems that it has a magnet to leave fingerprints marked and in this gold color it is even more noticeable. Asus tried to minimize this with an oleophobic coating, but marks are inevitable. And, of course, this makes its footprint more slippery, especially when compared to the Asus Zenfone 2 that we analyzed in its day. In addition to being completely smooth, it doesn't come with the texture on the back of the Zenfone 2. A layer of protection would be almost a requirement here, both to improve the carbon footprint and to protect the glass.

It is also worth noting that the device was the winner of the 2016 Computex design award. Among its dimensions we find 152.6 x 77.4 x 7.7 mm and a weight of 155 grams.

On the right side we have the volume controls and the power button. On the back, we find the camera, the two-tone flash, the laser focus and the fingerprint sensor. On the front, we have only the Android control buttons (which don't light up) and one major change: there is no Asus logo, which certainly made its design more attractive. At the bottom, you will find the reversible USB Type-C connector and the sound box. And finally, the audio connector at the top.

screen

The Zenfone 5's screen was very good, with enough quality not to disappoint, but also not to surprise. The Zenfone 2 had the same screen, only slightly larger and with a Full HD resolution. The technology, however, was basically the same. On the Zenfone 3, maintaining the 5.5 inches and 1080p resolution of the Zenfone 2, it has a completely different screen. The technology here is IPS, and you only have to connect the smartphone for the first time to realize its quality.

Zenfone users will be pleased to learn that ASUS maintained Full HD resolution . On the one hand, it has quality to spare and a pixel density of 401, more than enough that it is not possible to distinguish pixels individually. On the other hand, it does not overload the configuration, since they are less pixels to move, compared to Quad HD screens. In addition to being able to save battery and this is a benefit on a daily basis.

Color quality is another highlight, with well-calibrated contrast and the ability to deliver fantastic maximum brightness. We don't face any problems using it directly in places with sunlight, which is a very important issue. To close the set, the protection glass is Gorilla Glass, which guarantees good protection against scratches and chafing. Both in the front and in the back.

It has an ultra-thin 2.1 mm edge occupying 77.3% of the front of the smartphone, and as previously stated, protected with Gorilla Glass 4. The Asus Zenfone 3 comes in 4 different colors: Moonlight White, Shiny Gold, Aqua Blue, and Black Sapphire.

Powerful hardware

The most powerful model is the Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe , with a Snapdragon 821 chip and 6GB of RAM that we'd love to try when available. But our unit, the Zenfone 3 ZE552KL is about to attack the smartphone segment for 400 euros, so its configuration works according to this objective. In this case, we have Qualcomm's Snapdragon 625 chip, with 8 Cortex A53 cores running at 2.0 GHz , 4 GB of RAM and an Adreno 506 graphics card (GPU).

Yes, it comes with twice the core of the Snapdragon 821 processor , but it uses literal implementations of the Cortex A53, and not the powerful cores of Kryo. That is exactly why it is considering an intermediate chip, belonging to the 600 family of Qualcomm chips. But the day-to-day performance exceeds us as a processor.

We have run various games and apps and feel no delay at any time. Whether playing Real Racing 3 or Dead Trigger, or alternating between various applications, the performance is smooth and competent.

Storage and operating system

The version that we received for this review an Asus Zenfone 3 ZE552KL comes with 64 GB of internal memory and support for micro SD cards up to 256 GB. Ample space to do what you want, and a strong point against the Moto Z Play, which works with 32 GB by default. It is worth saying, however, that the user must choose between two different configurations, since the drawer for the micro SD card is the same as that used by the second SIM card. In other words, you must choose between SIM + micro SD card or 2 SIMs.

Announced worldwide prior to the release of Android 7.0 Nougat, Zenfone 3 comes with Android 6.0.1 out of the box. Asus guarantees the upgrade to the next version, even without a specific date. Above Android we have the ZenUI 3.0, which does not differ much from the ZenUI of the Zenfone 2 (Android 5.0) in visual terms. But it is more fluid, not overloading the configuration, as it happened with previous versions. Due to the use of an ARM architecture, it is now very difficult to use 4 GB of RAM.

I really liked the one-handed mode that allows us to operate the smartphone in a simple way and that it can be activated / deactivated quickly with a double tap on the start button. No fault?

To play augmented reality games it is always good to have the Accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor and compass. And a very important Dual-chip 4G LTE, using the same tray for the second SIM or the micro SD card (that is, you must choose between one and the other) and high-resolution audio from the headphones (24 bits / 192Hz).

It is worth noting the audio quality with headphones. The included headphones are basic, but the Asus Zenfone 3 shows all its power with higher quality headphones. Its audio amplifier is a little less powerful than the one present in the Zenfone 2, but the final quality is undoubtedly good, separating the mids, bass and treble well.

Quality camera with laser sensor

The Zenfone 2's 13-megapixel camera was capable of producing excellent photos. However, not without excessive post-processing, which prevented the use of the camera for a few seconds. Well, this is not a problem with the new Zenfone 3. The camera is 16 megapixels and uses Sony's IMX298 sensor, featuring f / 2.0, phase detection flash, 4-axis optical stabilization, two-tone flash, and HDR.. The latter is available both automatically the more you need it (HDR Pro).

Automatic mode is perfectly capable of handling the vast majority of situations without problems. And of course there is a manual mode with some excellent control options, ideal for those who want to control every aspect of the photo. The front camera offers no less: it has 8 megapixels, the same aperture as the rear camera and is capable of taking excellent quality selfies. Like the Zenfone 2, a refinement program is included, which corrects some imperfections in real time.

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The rear camera is capable of recording in 4K (2106p @ 30fps), Full HD (1080p @ 30fps and 1080p @ 60fps), and HD (720p @ 30fps or slow motion). It is of sufficient quality to have a video camera suitable for most lighting situations, in addition to optical image stabilization going into action without fail. The same goes for the front camera, which requires few corrections to the original video without it being restricted to 1080p @ 30fps without stabilization.

We have n't felt Zenfone 3 overheated in almost any situation. Neither in benchmarks or when it was being loaded. The exception is videos, when they are recorded in 4K or 1080p @ 60fps, which come to life in a few minutes. The camera software didn't crash or lag, but it's a point worth clarifying.

Battery: autonomy that endures the day perfectly

With 3000 mAh of capacity, the Zenfone 3's battery is the same size as the previous generation Zenfones. In this list we include Zenfone 2, Zenfone 2 Deluxe, Zenfone 2 Deluxe Special Edition and Zenfone Zoom. Despite this, its autonomy is much better. A combination of the cheaper chip (Snapdragon 625) with the choice for the Full HD screen , make it one of the advantages in relation to Quad HD screens.

You will not have to charge it more than once a day or once. Still in the testing period, with more frequent benchmarks and various samples of photos and videos. Point for Asus here, as much of this efficiency is also due to its own power management. To close the set, we have fast charge, leaving the battery completely in just over an hour. The smartphone is very little heated during the process and its operation.

Premium fingerprint reader

The fingerprint sensor also stands out on this smartphone. Absent in the previous generation, it plays an important role in the Asus Zenfone 3. In addition to being extremely accurate, it opens the screen even when it is turned off in a fraction of a second. Fingerprint registration is simple and quickly recognizes fingerprints, in addition to having the extra function of unlocking the screen with a double tap. Again, even when the screen is off.

We have tested the fingerprint reader with a wet finger and in positions up to 180ºC without any problem. It's going great! If it is true that if we double-tap the fingerprint reader, the camera was activated, what we did was deactivate this option for convenience.

Final words and conclusion about Asus Zenfone 3

The Asus Zenfone 3 came to the world at Computex 2016, one of the world's leading technology fairs, in Taipei, Taiwan. Now, a few months after its official announcement, it lands in the United States and Europe, and its arrival is highly anticipated by many fans of the brand.

As expected, the new Asus Zenfone 3 arrives stomping. Instead of offering as much as possible within a reasonable price, their strategy is different. It represents an extension of the category, which is now in the "intermediate-premium" category. Mid-range on-chip, premium in design and extra resources.

It would be unfair to classify the Zenfone 3 as an intermediate quality phone because of its Snapdragon 625. Especially when we remember that it has 64 GB in a lower price range and its fabulous 4GB of RAM.

We do not feel the lack of any resources, not even, both the camera, the design and the quality of the screen. We can safely say that Asus hit the table hard in this market segment, bringing a more accessible and a more advanced complete model, which focuses on who is willing to pay for the best experience that the company can offer. In the second case, we are talking about the Zenfone 3 Deluxe , positioned in a more expensive segment and that will come out later this year and will have a very important impact on the high-end market.

Currently it can be purchased in physical stores and online. For example, we can find both this version and the 5.2-inch version between 365 to 399 euros. A very interesting price for this great terminal and it is positioned among the best smartphones on the market.

ADVANTAGE	DISADVANTAGES
+ VERY NICE DESIGN.	- COULD COME WITH ANDROID 7.
+ HARDWARE PERFORMANCE.
+ CAMERA COMPLIES VERY WELL.
+ THE AUTONOMY.
+ FOOTPRINT READER.

And after carefully evaluating both the evidence and the product, Professional Review awards him the gold medal:

Asus Zenfone 3 ZE552KL

DESIGN

PERFORMANCE

CAMERA

AUTONOMY

PRICE

9/10

VERY GOOD SMARTPHONE.