The Zenfone series marks a fresh attempt from ASUS to make its mark in the burgeoning smartphone sector in India. Whether it will be successful or not is something that only time will tell, but we've spent some quality time with the Zenfone 5 ourselves. The design looks good, but the features boasted by the ZenUI and the camera are quite something. Here's a review of the ASUS Zenfone 5, due to land in India very soon....

1. ASUS
Zenfone
5
Review in
pictures

2. Style meets specs
• 5.0-inch, 720p display
• 1.6GHz dual-core Intel
Atom Z2560 processor
• 2GB of RAM and 8 / 16GB
expandable storage
• 8-megapixel primary
snapper
• 2MP front camera
• Runs Android 4.3 with
ZenUI on top
• Dual-SIM 3G (micro-SIMs)

3. Ups the ante in the looks department
• Concentric circle pattern
below the screen adds to
the oomph. It’s prone to
scratches though
• Encased in plastic, but
doesn’t feel cheap
• Available in a range of
hues, including black,
white, red or gold
• Curvy rear adds to
ergonomics

4. Yummy screen
• The 5-inch 720p IPS display offers a pixel density of 294ppi
• Sharp visuals, crisp text, and colourful graphics on offer
• Good viewing angles and sunlight legibility, with ample brightness
• You won’t find the screen quality lacking at all, and it’s certainly one
of the Zenfone 5’s stronger points

5. Master of pixels…
• A feature-packed 8-meg
snapper, featuring ASUS’
PixelMaster tech
• Loaded with modes like
continuous shot, HDR,
panorama, depth of field,
Time rewind, Smart remove,
beautification, GIF
animation etc. A Time lapse
mode available for video
captures
• Range of colour filters
• Lots of creative control,
including ISO, white balance
and exposure

6. … and a creature of the night
• Shoots good images,
especially in daylight
• The images retain a fair
degree of detail and
sharpness, though colours
are oversaturated at times
• Prompts you to switch to
night mode or HDR as per
the conditions
• Low-lights shots are too
dark in auto mode, but the
night mode does its magic
to churn out results that are
quite usable

7. A state of Zen
• Runs Android 4.3 (upgradeable)
with ZenUI on top
• Tons of tweaks, including a
custom lockscreen with
shortcuts and the What’s Next
widget, quick settings, and
colourful icons
• Plethora of useful apps such as
Do It Later, What’s Next and
SuperNote
• App drawer lets you
hide/unhide apps, sort them
the way you want and even
lock them via password

8. Piles of software goodies for the taking
• The screen supports glove
mode
• A special reading mode also
available
• AudioWizard and Splendid apps
let you tweak sound and
display settings
• A suite of apps for hooking up,
including PC Link, Remote Link
and Share Link
• Custom phone app even
includes a built in call recorder
• Easy Mode displays a simplified
launcher, useful for newbies
and the elderly

9. Intel inside, smiles outside
• The 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Atom processor mated to 2GB of RAM keeps
things chugging along. Routine tasks runs smoothly, and even graphics-
heavy games like Dead Trigger 2 work well for the most part, with only an
occasional hint of lag
• Apart from Miracast, the connectivity options are quite standard. The
device accepts micro-SIMs in its two slots, with support for 3G on both
• Out of 8GB, about 4.8GB is available to use, though you can add up to
64GB more via the microSD slot. Sadly, there’s no support for USB OTG

10. A guzzler in your hands
• The sealed 2,210mAh
battery can last for a day,
but only if you’re frugal
• Lasted only about six
hours in our video loop
drain test
• A range of power saving
modes available,
including an Ultra-saving
mode to help prolong
battery life

11. At a glance
• 5-inch, 1,280 x 720 display
• 8MP primary camera, 2MP front
shooter
• 1.6GHz dual-core Intel
AtomZ2560 processor
• PowerVR SGX544MP2 graphics
• 2GB RAM, 8GB expandable
internal storage
• 2,210mAh battery
• Dual-SIM 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
4.0, A-GPS, Miracast
• Android 4.3 with ZenUI
• FM radio

12. -
• The design’s
mainstay, the
concentric circle
pattern, is prone to
scratches
• Average battery life
Pros and cons
+
• Stylish looks
• Smooth
performance
• Lovely display
• Feature-loaded and
capable snapper
• Fresh-looking UI
with tons of useful
features
• Host of handy apps

13. Price
To be announced
Pricing and verdict
“The ASUS Zenfone 5 is a commendable effort, and the manufacturer
seems to have put its heart into it, evident from the array of software
goodies. With the exception of the battery life, the device has a lot going
for it, and could be a compelling option if priced aggressively. The Moto G
is its main rival, but the upcoming Xiaomi Mi 3 could change things
drastically”