19344 Review ASUS ZenFone 4: dual camera in a new way

Review ASUS ZenFone 4: dual camera in a new way



ASUS ZenFone 4 is the newest smartphone with high-end 5.5-inch screen, dressed in a thin glass case. Not too new for you sounds? What do you think about the modern powerful processor, more memory and two rear cameras — regular and extra wide, and with an innovative focus system and optical stabilization? Have fun? Let’s look at the ability of the product.

Specifications of ASUS ZenFone 4 (ZE554KL)

  • Screen: 5,5″, Super IPS+, 1920 x 1080, 401 ppi
  • Processor: OCTA core Qualcomm Snapdragon 630, up to 2.2 GHz
  • Graphics accelerator: Adreno 508
  • Operating system: Android OS 7.1.1 + ZenUI 4.0
  • RAM: 4 GB
  • Built-in memory: 64 GB
  • Memory card support: microSDXC up to 2 TB
  • Network: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz || UMTS 850/900/1900/2100 MHz || LTE 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41
  • SIM: nano-SIM + nano-SIM (combo slot)
  • Interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, USB Type-C
  • Navigation: GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo
  • Camera: primary — 12 MP, f/1.8 or 25mm (83°), flash, phase AF (PDAF), OIS, hybrid 4x zoom); 8 MP, f/2.2, and 12 mm (120°); front — 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (84°)
  • Sensors: light, proximity, accelerometer, compass, microgyroscope, dactyloscopy
  • Battery: 3300 mAh, non-removable
  • Dimensions: 155,4×75,2×7,5 mm
  • Weight: 165 grams

Packaging equipment

In a simple black box except the unit are a headset, charger, USB cable Type-C paperclip to eject the card tray, quick start guide and a transparent cover.

ASUS ZenFone 4 ASUS ZenFone 4

Appearance

Design ASUS ZenFone 4 laconic: no protruding parts, with the exception of a couple of buttons. Body has better proportions than some other smartphones with a 5.5-inch screen, it’s a little narrower, and because it is more comfortable to hold. The relatively small weight — 165 grams.

ASUS ZenFone 4 ASUS ZenFone 4

On the rear glass surface in the upper part in the center is the logo of the company, and in the top left — two lens main camera and flash.

ASUS ZenFone 4

Screen covered with protective glass Gorilla Glass 2.5 D, that is, with rounded edges. Side screen frames are pretty thin and only visible when the screen is on. Top and bottom margins are the height of 13 and 15 mm, respectively, at the lower center is elongated fingerprint sensor also performs the function of the touch button “Home” on the left — touch the “Back” button on the right “Recent apps”. Both have an adjustable backlight (active always or only when clicked).

ASUS ZenFone 4

On the upper field at the center of the narrow earpiece grille, which is on the right side mounted indicator alerts, and the left lens of the front camera.

ASUS ZenFone 4

On the right side in the upper part is a metal volume rocker and power button. Both the same color as the body.

ASUS ZenFone 4

On the left side — compartment for cards, which opens with a “clip”. To remove the aluminum frame in the first slot you can put a nano-SIM card, and the second — or the same “SIM”, or the microSD card.

ASUS ZenFone 4

At the lower end, and a centered USB Type-C, right — the microphone and the main speaker grille on the left — 3.5 mm audio Jack. A second microphone is located on the top left. And the top and bottom ends are made of a pair of plastic panels, providing the operation of radios.

ASUS ZenFone 4

The level of workmanship and quality of materials of the ASUS ZenFone 4 is the smartphone top-class. According to official information, the device comes in three colors: white, mint green and black. In our test, visited the black model.

Ergonomics

The front and back surface of the smartphone, covered with glass Gorilla glass, making it quite slippery — and tries to slide off any smooth and at least slightly inclined surface. When you hold the smartphone in hand, the situation is a little save curved sides with a matte finish and machined chamfer on both edges. In the black version they are almost not visible, but they feel good to the touch.

ASUS ZenFone 4

Convenient proportions, a small thickness (7.5 mm) and rounded sidewalls of the smartphone ensure high comfort of work with him. Horizontally you can reach with your thumb to any element of the interface, but vertically it does not work — still need to intercept the case. If you use the “one hand”, you go on the reduced copy of the screen panel (size adjustable) and “squeeze” it to that corner of the screen, which is more convenient.

ASUS ZenFone 4

Touch button-dactiloscopy successfully located, a power button and volume controls placed at the optimum height, easy to work with them with either hand.

Screen

ASUS ZenFone 4 has a screen Super IPS+ with a diagonal of 5.5 inches and Full HD resolution (1920×1080 pixels), which corresponds to a density of 401 ppi. The picture is clear and smooth, to see pixelation with the naked eye is impossible.

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ASUS ZenFone 4 ASUS ZenFone 4

Image contrast and rich, with the correct color. There is a possibility to adjust the sliders for color temperature and saturation, and enable ASUS Splendid to adjust the color temperature based on ambient lighting. However, in the mode of “Balanced” unit provides a reliable picture that will suit most users.

ASUS ZenFone 4 ASUS ZenFone 4

The angles of the screen limit: at any angle the picture looks very good. Auto-brightness works quickly and confidently. Oleophobic properties of the surface of the screen is excellent, the fingers glide without any resistance. However, in games it can sometimes create some problems with precision positioning.

ASUS ZenFone 4

Multi-touch takes up to ten simultaneous touches.

ASUS ZenFone 4

The range of brightness of the screen is very large — up to 600 CD/m2. The maximum value of, perhaps, only need to work in Sunny weather, in any room will suffice and a half. The minimum level will allow you to read in a completely dark room. To protect the view include filtering blue radiation of the screen — the intensity is continuously adjustable.

ASUS ZenFone 4

Interface

ASUS ZenFone 4 is running Android 7.1.1 in combination with a proprietary shell ZenUI 4.0. Original offers two screens for application icons (the rest are available via menu button), and screen for Google search.

ASUS ZenFone 4 ASUS ZenFone 4 ASUS ZenFone 4

Swipe upwards on the home screen brings up a menu with a pretty rich settings screen interface, choice of Wallpapers, themes and other details.

ASUS ZenFone 4 ASUS ZenFone 4

Swipe from the top opens the shutter with control device functions. They are placed on the two screens, that is, the panel blinds, you can scroll left and right. The number and type of buttons can be edited, which is very convenient

ASUS ZenFone 4

The smartphone comes standard Google apps, Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, branded app Selfie Master and a few of the usual utilities such as a clock, recorder and calculator.

In addition to the standard interface, offered his version of the “Simplified view” that contains large icons of frequently used applications, as well as “Kids mode” where you can set up restrictions of the child’s actions and a list of available applications. To exit the child mode authorized, so in the absence of parents their child will not be able to knock down configuration and to access the data stored in the device.

ASUS ZenFone 4 ASUS ZenFone 4

ASUS ZenFone 4 has a fingerprint scanner. It remembers up to five prints and works flawlessly. As with many smartphones, the new product has the ability to cause certain apps from the lock screen by drawing symbols.

The machine at work

Electronics ASUS ZenFone 4 is a very powerful OCTA-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor 630 (frequency up to 2.2 GHz). GPU — Adreno 508. On Board there is 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal (user can use about 52 GB) storage capacity can be expanded with cards microSDXC with capacity up to 2 TB.

ASUS ZenFone 4 ASUS ZenFone 4

The combination of modern OS, shell, and powerful hardware provides very high performance and work comfort. All reactions were instantaneous, the interface is smooth, apps are working without problems in multi-window mode.

ASUS ZenFone 4

Smartphone copes with displaying Full HD video from any sources, including online resources.

ASUS ZenFone 4

In a test game set — no nasty surprises. Microgyroscope in Doodle Jump DC Super Heroes worked and definitely helpful. In the game Lara Croft: Relic Run — maximally smooth image, an unmistakable recognition of the swipe.

ASUS ZenFone 4 ASUS ZenFone 4

The game Godfire: Rise of Prometheus to be easy to install and run, walked without the slightest slowdown. Camera World of Tanks: Blitz was consistently supported 60 fps at medium graphics settings at high too, only in the busiest scenes a couple of times to notice prosazhivanie to 45-47 fps. During long periods of playing “heavy” games, the casing is practically not heated.

ASUS ZenFone 4 ASUS ZenFone 4

The results obtained in the benchmarks, confirmed the high level of performance ASUS ZenFone 4.

ASUS ZenFone 4 ASUS ZenFone 4 ASUS ZenFone 4

Audio path is consistent with the General performance level of the smartphone. When listening to music through a good low-resistance headphones it provides convincing sound with rich bass, smooth mid and clear high frequencies. For comfort, you want 70-75% of the maximum volume level. Basic speakerphone is not very loud, clean and natural sound with no distortion at maximum volume level. Usually, it is sufficient for 80% power.

Camera

In terms of photos and video of the ASUS ZenFone 4 is a very advanced smartphone, and one of its striking features is the presence of two major chambers. In itself this is not new — the market has a two-chamber apparatus with a moderate wide angle and normal (portrait) lenses, but the new product, thanks to the two cameras implemented other interesting photography opportunities.

One of the cameras has a lens with a focal length of 25 mm (angle of 83°) and aperture of f/1.8 and 12-Megapixel sensor Sony IMX362 (sensor size — 1/2,55″, and the pixels are 1.4 microns). Second — equipped with ultra-wide angle lens with a focal length of 12 mm (angle of coverage 120°) and aperture of f/2.2 and a more modest 8-Megapixel sensor.

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In addition, the device is more accurate and fast phase autofocus (0.03 s) that uses the entire sensor area. Chetyrehchastnaya optical stabilization enables shooting without smudging within four exposture. It is also proposed a hybrid system for smooth zooms with zoom factor up to 4x.

The main camera supports led flash that can illuminate subjects in pulsed and continuous mode.

The front camera has 8 MP sensor and lens aperture of f/2.0 and a focal length of 24 mm (angle of coverage 84°).

The camera app looks quite familiar, and its elements are intuitive to an experienced Mobilography. On the main screen the left top there is a icon control flash, self-timer, enable, portrait mode, display aspect ratio, HDR, and activity log in the settings menu. Along the lower right side of the screen are virtual buttons for the entrance to the Gallery, switch between the main and rear cameras, the shutter, start the video and switch between Auto and Pro. Next to the shutter button is a switch rear cameras, and wide angle.

ASUS ZenFone 4

Swipe from the left edge of the screen brings up a menu of shooting modes. Among them, images, in addition to auto mode, we offer a Pro mode, panorama mode, GIF animation, Improved portrait, Super resolution. For video there are two special regimes: Slow motion and time Lapse (timelapse).

ASUS ZenFone 4

So, what features give the photographer two cameras in ASUS ZenFone 4? Its main rear camera with “normal”, and really wide angle lens (still 25 mm) allows you to shoot scenes in the usual manner of most smartphones. But the second camera has a super wide-angle lens (12 mm) with a coverage angle of 120°, which is the same point shooting allows you to capture a frame much more space. And this can be useful on the street when taking landscape shots, and in close quarters or in a situation when you cannot step back. These opportunities are repeatedly illustrated in the examples of photography, which presents paired images taken with both cameras in turn.

Results shooting in auto mode in daylight conditions pleased with the high level of detail, accurate colour reproduction and a wide dynamic range — no obvious gaps in the highlights and shadows on the images were very few. The fact that we used a very useful feature is Auto HDR, which the automatics willing used.

ASUS ZenFone 4

Evening and night shots with ISO 200 showing a high level of detail and almost complete absence of artefacts associated with digital noise. Due to the high aperture lens and large pixel size of these images photometric managed to do a lot.

On a smaller part of the nightly snapshots (mostly fireworks) used with automatic sensitivity was higher and closer to 600 ISO. But still the images look quite clear and not really suffer from digital noise.

To obtain better and more predictable result, especially when shooting at night, you should use Pro mode, in which you can quickly switch with the button on the main screen of the app. In professional mode, setting the type, metering and white balance, input exposure compensation, and choice sensitivity (ISO), shutter setting.

ASUS ZenFone 4

When you switch to wide angle the rear camera all the icons are placed on top of the viewfinder — it occupies the entire area of the frame.

ASUS ZenFone 4

When shooting in professional mode as shown the usefulness of the stabilization system, because in addition to entering a negative exposure correction in Pro-mode, you can set the lowest ISO value that automatically extends the shutter speed. But even without a tripod, when using any random support was able to get consistent shots at shutter speeds down to 1/4 second.

When shooting in areas with different sources of artificial light the auto white balance function worked steadily and provided the correct colors.

When shooting with insufficient lighting have the ability to use flash in a pulse mode and constant lighting. The result is almost the same, so you can choose the option that seems more convenient.

ASUS ZenFone 4Flash off ASUS ZenFone 4flash flash ASUS ZenFone 4Constant backlight

Digital zoom can be used for photos and video. Activated and regulated by it just the usual two-finger gesture for zooming pictures. Perhaps worthy of attention can be considered the results when photographing with magnification up to 2x. With further increase in the multiplicity becomes too noticeable loss of sharpness and detail.

  • Shooting at 1x magnification
  • Shooting with 2x magnification
  • Shooting with multiplicity 3
  • Shooting magnification 4x

Smartphone ASUS ZenFone 4 is able to shoot horizontal and vertical panorama, however, he writes in a somewhat smaller resolution than normal photographs. But still they can see a lot of small parts. Bonding by exposure, the program performs quite accurately, but the alignment of the frame is vertical inaccurate when shooting smartphone too much “jump” in his hands.

ASUS ZenFone 4Examples of shooting in the vertical orientation of the smartphone

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ASUS ZenFone 4An example of shooting in the horizontal orientation of the smartphone

Filters effects resulting from the application home page swipe to the right, able to make regular shots more interesting.

ASUS ZenFone 4

Apply effects and edit photos after shooting in playback mode.

ASUS ZenFone 4

The front 8 MP camera copes well with shooting selfie.

ASUS ZenFone 4

Day smartphone is capable of recording high quality video in Full HD resolution and UHD (4K). Electronic stabilizer can guess by the absence of sharp jerks of the camera.

Shooting in a mode “Slow motion”:

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Examples day filming with resolution Full HD at 60 fps:

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Examples of day recording resolution UHD (4K):

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When shooting in a well lit environment problems with the quality and color reproduction is not seen.

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At dusk and night video in Full HD at 60 fps, sometimes it turns out too dark. But in General, the quality in this mode, as in UHD, acceptable noise spoil the picture too much.

It should be noted that in the process of the video can be zoom ratio of 2-3.

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Wireless interfaces

Model ASUS ZenFone 4 (ZE554KL) works with two SIM-cards format nano and supports the work in the Russian LTE networks. Data is transmitted steadily and at a fairly high speed in both directions. To optimize the transmission has the ability to use the Wi-Fi function+ that will unite the traffic of the LTE and Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi was stable and quickly resumed when you return to the area of validity of the registered access points.

ASUS ZenFone 4

The Bluetooth connection worked well. The device is also equipped with a module NFC, which is becoming every day more and more demand for wireless payments.

ASUS ZenFone 4 announced support for four satellite systems: GPS, GLONASS, Beidou and Galileo. However, navigation in Moscow were able to detect satellites, only the first three systems. When searching for just six seconds ZenFone 4 has discovered its whereabouts, and in 20 seconds found 25 satellites. With the hot start on the same action takes not more than two or three seconds.

ASUS ZenFone 4

Work offline

The smartphone is powered by non-removable battery capacity of 3300 mAh which supports fast charging — 50% in just 36 minutes when using the supplied charger (2A, 10 W).

Thanks to modern energy-efficient processor and proprietary technologies optimization of energy consumption in normal daily use, the battery is spent very sparingly: even if you use, including several hours of talking, video watching and web surfing device will last more than a day, depending on activity.

ASUS ZenFone 4

Separate tests showed that for continuous online viewing video and the maximum screen brightness (e.g. outdoors during daytime) per hour consumes about 13% charge. In the Flight mode when the same screen brightness on video playback from the device memory is spent already 10%. But recall that the screen is very bright, and indoors for video enough and 30% brightness. This can further reduce the power consumption.

“Heavy” games expend more energy. The title is WoT Blitz when connected to Wi-Fi on and medium screen brightness for an hour spends about 18% charge. Total — up to 5.5 hours of continuous play on a single charge.

The results

ASUS ZenFone 4 has left a very good impression. The device is handsome in appearance, durable and reliable, as befits a top-end new product. The reverse side of the application of protective glass on both sides of the body were the high slipperiness of the device — you need to constantly control where it is placed, otherwise a second later he can be on the floor. And in one hand, especially at first, to keep it scary.

Such design features still used, and in the foreground, the comfort and the entertainment that provided efficient processor, large memory, great screen and a full set of wireless communication modules.

ASUS has offered a new approach to the use of two rear cameras — it will appeal to those who like to shoot landscapes, architecture and events in a close circle of friends, and maybe — the situation at each hotel, where we had to stop for rest. In short, the equipment for photo – and video — fat plus statement ZenFone 4.

ASUS ZenFone 4 focuses incredibly fast and allows you to take pictures with a viewing angle of 120°. Manual tuning will pull the frame under difficult shooting conditions, but even in automatic mode the camera capabilities at night are impressive. For summary of achievements in the field of photo smartphone receives the award “a Great camera”.

Pros:

  • high quality FHD screen with plenty of brightness;
  • a large amount of RAM and internal memory;
  • high quality photo and video shooting;
  • support fast charging.

Cons:

  • slippery body;
  • combined slot for the second SIM card and memory card.

The author of the text: Vasily Frolov

Picture device: Daria Nesterovskaya

Source: 4pda.ru

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