[Review] ASUS ZenFone 3 (ZE552KL) – Zen and the art of the premium workhorse smartphone

Camera
The rear camera on the ZenFone 3 comes with a 16-MP sensor sourced from Sony, specifically their IMX298 that also sees service on the Xiaomi Mi 5 and Huawei Mate 8. Paired with this is a 6P Largen lens with an f/2.0 aperture. The camera also integrates 4-axis optical image stabilisation (OIS) and 3-axis electronic image stabilisation (EIS) for jitter free videos and snaps and is also capable of capturing 4K videos too. Other additional features include what Asus dubs as TriTech Autofocus that combines phase detection autofocus, a laser autofocus and continuous autofocus to allow the camera to lock-on to subjects in 0.03 seconds.

Combined with this are a number of modes including a HDR Pro mode, a Super Stacked resolution mode that stacks multiple snaps into a larger image, a night mode, a depth of field mode, a miniature mode, the ability to create GIFs and Asus’ famous Pixelmaster Low Light mode that allows for shots in ridiculously dim conditions though it’s locked at 4-MP resolution .There’s a lot to take in as there’s a mode for every conceivable need but it’s a good problem to have.

Manual mode is of interest and offers a full array of controls including a built-in leveller and controls for ISO, exposure and white balance. 

In terms of performance, the ZenFone 3 serves up some impressive snaps with good colour reproduction and detail when viewed on a PC.

The ZenFone 3 managed to take the fast moving monorail with good detail.

A shot with the HDR Auto mode on using the ZenFone 3’s rear camera

Shots on Low Light mode are understandably noisy but that aside, image performance even under dim lighting did not disappoint with daylight shots offering excellent quality. On Auto mode, the phone generally got most settings right though Depth of Field mode does occasionally get some subjects oddly focused, though it’s not a huge quibble to begin with.

This depth of field shot with the ZenFone 3 on a human subject under daylight has a well blurred background.

This depth of field shot with the ZenFone 3 is a bit off as the algorithm blurred out a bit of the foreground too.

A well lit shot using the ZenFone 3’s Auto HDR mode.

At dusk the ZenFone 3 delivered good shots with HDR Auto mode

A close-up shot of pastry with the ZenFone 3 with good colours and detail

Super Resolution mode with the ZenFone 3

Even when zoomed in the details on the Super Resolution shot are pretty crisp.

Videos can be captured in up to 3,840 x 2,160 UHD pixel resolution though image stabilisation only kicks in when videos are set to 1080P. Captured footage in UHD was rather impressive while 1080P video was excellent with image stabilisation smoothly compensating for hand jitter to deliver pleasantly smooth results.

The ZenFone 3 serves up great colours in this close-up macro shot of several stuffed toys

As camphones go, the ZenFone 3’s primary rear camera is a very capable package indeed.

Battery Life & Conclusion
The ZenFone 3 comes with a 3,000mAh battery that is juiced by a USB Type-C port. With moderate use, it was easily able to last over a day and a half thanks to a combination of the efficient Snapdragon 625 processor, Full HD display and other tweaks under the hood. Juicing it up to full from a nearly dead cell took just under two hours or so which is pretty good as things go. If you need to eke out further battery life, you can fire up the battery saver manager on Power Saving mode.

As it stands, the ZenFone 3 is a truly standout phone that offers superb value and performance for your money. If you’re seeking a solid workhorse with flagship looks at a price that won’t have you hocking house and home, the ZenFone 3 should be at the top of your list.

WHAT WE LIKED Superb build quality, excellent camera, great performance for price, good battery life
WHAT WE DIDN’T Extremely slippery, casing is a fingerprint magnet, chock full of bloatware
WE SAY The ZenFone 3 is an extremely well- made phone that straddles the borderline between mid-range and premium, offering beautiful build quality with decent hardware and a great camera at a price tag that won’t bust the bank. This is well worth your consideration.

Specifications