Update: ASUS officially launches Zenfone 4, 5 and 6 in PH.
GP brought with him the ASUS ZenFone 4 and ZenFone 5 earlier and so we decided to make a quick hands on with two of ASUS’ newest smartphones. ASUS is set to release the ASUS ZenFone 4 and ZenFone 5 together with the ZenFone 6 and PadFone Mini in the Philippines later this week.
The Zenfone 5 we unboxed comes in a red box. I guess the color of the box depends on the color of the smartphone. Inside the box is the unit itself, charger and earphones.
The ZenFone 5’s design is just gorgeous. In front you have the glossy black display while at the back you have the matte finish cover. Normally, I’d complain about physical buttons but not this time. The ZenFone 5’s physical buttons complemented well with the metallic piece below which features the concentric circle finish unique on every ZenFone device. Even the silver buttons on the side enhanced the overall look of the smartphone.
On top of the ZenFone 5’s 5-inch Corning Gorilla Glass 3 display is the ASUS logo, earpiece, camera and proximity sensor.
On the right side of the smartphone are the volume keys and power button. On the left you can find the slit for opening the back cover.
On top of the smartphone is the 3.5mm headphone jack. The USB port can be found at the bottom.
At the back is the camera, flash as well as the speakers. Opening the back cover will reveal the SIM card slots and the micro-SD slot.
Although a bit bigger than most 5-inch smartphones, the ZenFone 5 feels light. The curved corners together with the matte finish cover provided a good grip on the device.
The ZenFone 5 is equipped with ASUS SonicMaster technology boosting the audio of the device.
The ZenFone 5’s HD IPS display at 294ppi offered a sharp and brilliant display with a wide viewing angle. ASUS’ 5-inch smartphone delivered fast and responsive UI with the Intel Atom Multi-Core Processor with Hyper-Threading. We were able load and play Injustice without encountering any lags. For a mid-range smartphone to be able to play next-gen graphics and 3D animations smoothly, the ZenFone 5 surely packs a punch.
The ZenFone 5’s camera uses PixelMaster technology which provides different shooting modes and effects including HDR, panorama and beauty mode. The said feature lets you blur and even remove unnecessary objects in the background. ASUS takes pride in Zenfone 5 camera’s ability to perfom even in low lighting conditions. Check out some sample shots below.
ASUS has successfully incorporated beautiful design and performance on the ZenFone 5. What we have here is a mid-range smartphone with a premium design and high-end performance out to compete with the existing Dual SIM smartphones in the market. The only thing that will determine the smartphone’s success is the pricing although GP told us that the new ZenFones will be reasonably priced.
Tune in for our full review of the ASUS ZenFone 5 soon.
ASUS ZenFone 5 Specs
CPU | 2X2: Intel Atom Multi-Core Z2580/Z2560 Processor 2.0/1.6GHz with Intel Hyper-Threading Technology |
Memory | 2 GB / 1 GB RAM |
Display | 5inches, HD 1280×720, IPS with Capacitive Multi touch panel Corning Gorilla Glass 3, Supports GloveTouch input |
Camera | Front 2 Mega-Pixel, F2.4 Aperture Rear 8 Mega-Pixel, Auto Focus, LED Flash, F2.0 Aperture, PixelMaster |
Storage | 5GB free lifetime ASUS WebStorage |
Memory Slot | MicroSD card (up to 64 GB) |
Dimensions | 148.2 x 72.8 x 10.34 mm (LxWxH) |
Weight | 145 g |
Battery | 2110 mAh Lithium |
Others | Dual Micro SIM |
OS | Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean) |
Color | Charcoal Black/Pearl White/Cherry Red/Twilight Purple/Champagne Gold |