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Asus ZenFone 5z
Asus ZenFone 5z
Asus ZenFone 5z
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8.3/10
Informr score
The Asus ZenFone 5z currently has an Informr score of 8.3 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 31 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

The "1-Minute" Review

Verdict

The ZenFone 5z goes toe-to-toe with many flagship offerings at a fraction of the price. Unless you need a waterproof phone or the absolute best camera available, the phone checks all the boxes and offers a great value.

What's good

  • Colorful, sharp display
  • Snappy performance
  • Stereo speakers
  • Dual SIM variant available
  • Plenty of storage
  • All-day battery life

What's bad

  • Slippery glass back
  • No waterproofing
  • Complex settings menu

While Asus has yet to become a mainstream contender in the mobile market, they are developing a reputation for high-end performance at mid-tier prices. Their latest release, the Asus ZenFone 5z, looks to contend with the best phones of 2018. But with low prices often comes compromises hidden in the specifications. 

Looking at the phone, it takes cues from the current mobile trends. The aluminum and glass chassis impressed reviewers with its rounded corners and crisp edges. Unfortunately, the glass back is both fingerprint-prone and slippery. So you’ll want to use the case included with the phone to prevent any damage should you drop it. 

The back of the phone features minimal branding or flair, with a circular fingerprint scanner in the middle. Reviewers found the fingerprint scanner responsive -- though a few had the occasional delay that would require them to scan twice to unlock the phone.

Heading around front, you’re greeted by a 6.2-inch 1080-by-2246 pixel IPS display with the controversial notch at the top trending in 2018. Reviewers raved about the display, with many comparing it to AMOLED displays in terms of brightness, clarity, and color reproduction. With a 90% screen-to-body ratio, bezels are minimal with just a tiny chin on the bottom and the notch at the top. Should you wish to hide the notch, Asus includes options to enable a black bar at the top of the screen.

Powered by the same chip used in many of this year’s flagship releases, the 2.8Ghz octa-core Snapdragon 845 processor keeps things humming along with zero lag or stuttering. Variants with 4 to 8GB of RAM allow you to match pricing with your intended use. Regardless of your pick, multitasking is snappy. Reviewers also found the phone great for gaming -- though the phone warmed slightly during longer gaming sessions.

The phone ships with Android 8.0 Oreo and the ZenUI skin. Apart from a few gestures and graphical tweaks, the ZenUI offers a fairly stock Android experience. Bloat is minimal, leaving plenty of space for your apps, games, and media.

With 64 to 256GB of internal storage and microSD support up to 2TB, you won’t need to worry about running out of storage.

Cameras are one area where mid-tier phones often struggle. While the ZenFone 5z won’t keep up with the Google Pixel 2 or iPhone X, reviewers loved the image quality, low-light performance, and color balance of the phone’s dual-lens rear camera. 

It combines a 12MP main lens and an 8MP wide-angle lens to provide greater flexibility when shooting. While low-light performance wasn’t perfect, many reviewers complimented the phone for bringing out details while not adding tons of noise to shots. 

The 8MP front-facing lens received great reviews as well. Asus’ software-powered portrait mode offers creamy bokehs and the beauty mode adds a nice touch to selfies.

The phone’s 3300mAh battery with USB Type-C Quick Charge 3.0 support lasted through a full day for reviewers -- some even squeezed a second day of light use out of a single charge. Full top-ups take just over an hour. The phone also includes an AI feature that adjusts charging to match your schedule and prevent battery wear.

Audio lovers will find a lot to enjoy about the ZenFone 5z. It includes stereo speakers, DTS Headphone:X support, and Hi-Res Audio support. Whether you’re listening on your favorite headphones or cranking up the speakers, you’ll find rich audio that highlights mids and highs to help the speakers punch through ambient background noise.

Overall, reviewers had no issue recommending Asus’ latest release. Phone Arena says, “... The ZenFone 5Z is a device you won’t regret buying -- especially considering how much you can save in buying a phone of such capability with the few shortcomings it has.” BGR India heaped on equal praise, saying, “... Thanks to top-notch specifications and fine-tuned software, you get the best flagship experience on [a] budget.”


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
2.8 GHz
Processor
Processor
2.8 GHz
6.2"
Screen Size
Screen Size
6.2"
12+ MP, f/1.8
Camera
Camera
12+ MP, f/1.8
3300 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Gadgets 360
Gadgets 360

Asus has hit the ball right out of the park when it comes to pricing, considering that you get a top-of-the-line Snapdragon 845 processor, good cameras, lots of features, and AI-enhanced software. If you are looking for a powerhouse on a budget but find the OnePlus 6 to be a bit out of reach, you ca...

- Aditya Shenoy, Gadgets 360
Notebookcheck
Notebookcheck

With the ZenFone 5Z, Asus has managed to bring competition into the 'flagship-killer' category and does so with panache. It retails at nearly less than half the price of the more expensive Samsung, LG, and Sony Snapdragon 845 contemporaries yet still offers all the essential experiences expected of...

- Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, Notebookcheck
Mobile Syrup
Mobile Syrup

I was quite impressed by the phone's snappiness and would argue that the days of Asus' underwhelming flagships are over.

- Dean Daley, Mobile Syrup
GSMArena
GSMArena

The Asus ZenFone 5z may just be one of the most underappreciated phones around. It's built well, it has an excellent display, it performs like a bat out of hell and has more software features than you can count. We wish the primary camera quality was better (although the wide-angle secondary camera...

- GSMArena
Tom's Guide
Tom's Guide

This is a great bargain, but not the best. The ZenFone 5Z is a very good phone for less than $500, thanks to its lightning-fast performance. But if you can afford to spend the extra $30, spring for the OnePlus 6, which has a nicer display and better software.

- Adam Ismail, Tom's Guide


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Asus ZenFone 5z user manual here.


Asus backs up the ZenFone 5z with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your ZenFone 5z has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Asus support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Asus's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.



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Quick view

Screen Size
6.2"

The Asus ZenFone 5z's screen size is 6.2 inches with 1080 x 2246 pixels resolution.

Processor
2.8 GHz

There is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Octa core 2.8 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 8.0 Oreo (Update Available: 10) operating system (OS).

Camera
12+ MP

You can take photos or capture video with the phone's onboard 12+ MP, f/1.8 camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 8+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
64/128/256 GB

Internal memory is 64/128/ 256 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 2000 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
3300mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 3300 mAh battery.

ZenFone 5z Specs

Overview
Release Date June 13, 2018
Regions Available USA, United Kingdom
Operating System Android 8.0 Oreo (Update Available: 10)

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Octa core 2.8 GHz
Internal Storage 64/128/256 GB
RAM 4/6/8 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 1.160 W/kg
Body: 0.890 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included USB Power Adapter, Manual, Headphones, Data Cable
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Yes
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Yes
SIM card size
Nano-SIM
Dual SIM Yes
Connectivity
USB USB Type-C
USB OTG Support Yes
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC, aptX
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 2000 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
12+ Megapixels, f/1.8
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Face detection, Geotagging, Multi-shot, Night mode, Panorama, Self-timer, HDR, Time lapse, Slow motion recording (1080p at 120 fps / 720p at 240 fps)
Video Recording Formats
MPEG-4
Video Recording Parameters
Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels), 30 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
8+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
Effects, Panorama, f/2.0, HDR
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (IPS)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 1080 x 2246 pixels
Pixel Density 402 pixels
Size 6.2 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen. Corning Gorilla Glass
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 3300 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging Yes
Video Playback Time Unknown
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Unknown
Internet Use (Cellular) Up to 625 minutes
Talk Time Unknown
Standby Time Unknown
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Aluminium
Colors Midnight Blue, Meteor Silver
Dimensions [H x W x D] 15.3 x 7.565 x 0.785 cm (6 x 3 x 0.3 in)
Weight 155 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof No
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key No
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor Yes
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA): Asus ZS620KL

  • 64 GB of storage variant comes with 4 GB of RAM
  • 128 GB of storage variant comes with 6 GB of RAM
  • 256 GB of storage variant comes with 8 GB of RAM
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Asus ZenFone 5z Reviews
Where to buy Asus ZenFone 5z
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