ZenFone 3 Ditches Plastic Body For An Upgraded But Still Affordable Smartphone Package

Taiwanese phone-makers Asus are back again with an addition to their ZenFone series, this time leaving behind their two previous plastic models for a uni-body (the world’s first) aluminum and glass phone with all the features of a powerful mid-range device.

ZenFone 3 Review

With a 5.5 inch full HD, Gorilla Glass display and 32GB of on-board storage, the ZenFone 3, looks like, “an iPhone and Samsung Galaxy S7 hybrid,” according to a recent Cnet review. With its USB-C port, the device has also embraced the connection-of-choice for contemporary smartphones. Power-wise, the phone’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor is fast enough for the most CPU heavy apps, and the Zenfone 3’s battery will make sure you have around 16.5 hours of power, so no more desperately searching for a charger at midday. For those who love mobile photography, the smartphone comes equipped with a 16-megapixel rear camera, capturing photo and video with four-axis optical image stabilization. And for those glamorous selfies? The new Asus phone will have you looking your best with an 8-megapixel front camera and ‘Beauty Mode,’ a feature that can retouch your face for the perfect shot.

The ZenFone 3 offers some features that are unique for a mid-range device. Optimally placed on the back of the phone is a fingerprint scanner, which not only acts as a secure way to open your device, but also can snap photos without having to reach around to the screen. Movie addicts will love the cinematic 3D Surround Sound, and night owls will appreciate the blue-light filter, offering a softer orange glow that can help you fall asleep easier. Cnet reviewers did counter that the user interface can be quite cluttered right out of the box, and some tinkering with notification settings is required to prevent the software from becoming a nuisance. Fingerprints are also an issue for the glass rear of the device.

Despite minor qualms over design and functionality, at a starting price of $249, Asus’s ZenFone 3 is nicely designed device with enough features to make it a strong competitor in the smartphone market.