Three new models hit the market and all of them include the Android Marshmallow operating system. We talk about those that make up the new product range ASUS Zenfone 3, which clearly shows that this company has bypassed Intel as a processor supplier - here a certain failure in collaboration is detected - and, now, uses Qualcomm components.
As we have indicated, there are three models that have been announced, when only one was expected. The big difference is in the dimensions of the screen, which place each of them in a market segment. Of course, they all have some common elements, such as having a fingerprint reader integrated in the back, that the main camera has optical stabilization and, finally, that they are Dual SIM type (the second tray is for the micro SD, by the way).
Next, we leave a list for each of the three models that make up the new ASUS Zenfone 3 range where you can know its solvent characteristics, but with some "must" such as the resolution of the screen in some of the cases and the absence of fast recharge in the terminal that gives its name to the range of product:
ASUS Zenfone 3
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor
- 5,5-inch screen with Super IPS type Full HD quality
- 4 GB of RAM
- 16-megapixel main camera (Sony IMX298) and 8-megapixel front
- 64GB expandable storage
- Connectivity: WiFi ac; Bluetooth 4.2; LTE (Cat.6), USB Type C (2.0)
- Battery 3.000 mAh
- White, black, gold and blue colors
ASUS Zenfone 3 Ultra
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 processor
- 6,8-inch screen with IPS-type Full HD quality
- 4 GB of RAM
- 23-megapixel main camera (Sony IMX318) and 8-megapixel front
- 128GB expandable storage
- Connectivity: ac WiFi; Bluetooth 4.2; LTE (Cat.6), USB Type C (3.0)
- 4.600 mAh battery with fast charge
- Silver gray and pink colors
ASUS Zenfone 3 Deluxe
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
- 5,7-inch screen with SuperAMOLED type Full HD quality
- 6 GB of RAM
- 23-megapixel main camera (Sony IMX318) and 8-megapixel front
- 256GB expandable storage
- Connectivity: ac WiFi; Bluetooth 4.2; LTE (Cat.13), USB Type C (3.0)
- 3.000 mAh battery with fast charge
- Gold, silver and gray colors
This latest model is the most striking, so it is striking that its panel not QHDThis is something necessary to compete with high-end products—and this will be a disadvantage. However, the ASUS Zenfone 3 Ultra is the first device compatible with 7.1 surround sound and DTS. One final detail: they all include Tru2Life+ technology, which improves the quality of the images displayed on the screen, but it remains to be seen if it's truly effective. What do you think of these new Android devices?
Design, materials and screens
The family is betting on metal frame with diamond-cut polishing and crystal Gorilla Glass 3 with 2.5D curvature on both sides of the Zenfone 3. The grip is solid and the back integrates the fingerprint sensor in a comfortable position. The 5,5-inch model handles figures of 152,6 x 77,4 x 7,7 mm y 155 gr, with metal buttons with good travel and a 5-magnet bottom speaker.
The Super IPS/IPS+ display offers Full HD resolution and density close to 401 dpiWith careful calibration, clean whites, and deep blacks for an LCD panel. In the Zenfone 3, Super IPS+ technology provides high gloss (around 600 nits) for outdoor visibility, while the Deluxe switches to SuperAMOLED the 5,7-inch and the Ultra scales up to a 6,8-inch IPS, all with the improvement of Tru2Life+.
Performance and hardware
The Zenfone 3 integrates the Snapdragon 625 (8x Cortex-A53 at 2,0 GHz, 14 nm) with Adreno GPU 5064 GB of RAM and 64 GB expandable. This SoC prioritizes efficiency and fluidity over brute force, enabling agile multitasking and demanding games in Full HD. The Ultra goes up to Snapdragon 652 to push its large panel and the Deluxe bet on Snapdragon 820 with Adreno GPU 530 along with 6 GB of RAM, a clear leap for users looking for power.
Hybrid trays allow dual SIM with full connectivity (LTE up to Cat.6 on Zenfone 3 and Ultra, Cat.13 in Deluxe) or one SIM plus microSD. The USB Type C It's common, with standard 2.0 in the base model and 3.0 in the Ultra and Deluxe. One detail to consider: in some markets the Zenfone 3 lacks NFCSomething to consider if you use mobile payments.
Cameras, focus and sound
The Zenfone 3 has a sensor Sony IMX298 16 MP with f / 2.0 aperture, 4-axis OIS, approach TriTech (laser + phase detection + continuous focus in 0,03 s), lens protected with sapphire crystaldual LED flash and mode auto-HDRShoot in RAW from manual mode and record in great detail; enabled on compatible variants video up to UHD 4K in addition to 1080p at 60 fps.
Ultra and Deluxe share a 318MP IMX23 With the same philosophy of fast focus and stabilization, designed for larger shots. The front camera features 8 MP f/2.0 with Full HD video, useful for selfies and video calls. ASUS camera software adds pro modeHigh resolution by pixel shift, low light with pixel blending and smart bursts.
The audio is a strong point of the set: speaker of 5 imanes, profile ASUS SonicMaster 3.0 and support Hi-Res 24-bit/192 kHzThe Zenfone 3 Ultra also boasts compatibility with DTS 7.1 for mobile cinema with suitable headphones.
Connectivity, sensors and biometrics
All models include WiFi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2 LE, GPS with GLONASS/BeiDou, FM radio in compatible regions and the aforementioned USB-C. The rear fingerprint reader offers reading of 360 degrees, registration of up to 5 prints and unlocking around 0,2 s, with useful gestures such as activating the camera or receiving taps to shoot.
The sensors are also used at the software level: laser focusing allows Measure distances from the proprietary app, and there are screen profiles with blue light filter and configurable color modes to fine-tune the visual experience.
Software, autonomy and charging
They come with Android marshmallow and cape ZenUI 3.0, a fairly Android-friendly interface that adds multiple functions: one-handed mode, screen-off gestures, Game Genie for issuing game cards, theme manager and utilities such as Mobile ManagerThe counterpart is the presence of bloatware greater than desired, although many apps can be uninstalled or deactivated.
The battery life is competitive thanks to the efficiency of the Snapdragon 625 and the Full HD display: with 3.000 mAh The Zenfone 3 lasts through a heavy day and can approach a day and a half with moderate use; in benchmark synthetic tests it hovers around 13 hours and a half in mixed use. The Ultra raises the bar with 4.600 mAh and also offers fast charge and USB 3.0. In the base model, the availability of fast charge may vary market/versionAnd official implementation is not always present, a point to review if it is a priority.
With three distinct profiles, this family covers users who are looking for equilibrium and good value for money (Zenfone 3), even for those who prioritize large format multimedia (Ultra) or maximum performance and less compromised finishes (Deluxe).
