What's good
- Smooth performance for basic and processor-intensive tasks
- Crisp and decently color accurate photos
- Good battery life
What's bad
- Slow shutter speed
- Fairly low resolution for large screen
- Too large to use one-handed
In Asus' case, bigger is better as the Zenfone 6 comes with a larger screen and boosted internal hardware. At 6.6 x 3.3 x 0.4 inches, it isn't a small phone by any means nor is it particularly light at 196 grams. Reviewers warn that its large size isn't particularly conducive to one-handed use though they add that it is easy to grip thanks to the matte rear surface.
As the name suggests, the Zenfone 6 comes equipped with a 6-inch display. Unfortunately, the screen resolution is only 720p, which produces a less than impressive pixel density of 245ppi. Critics note that there is some softness around the edges of icons and blurring on small text, but add that it isn't too distracting. Besides this, they found the display good for its price point with natural colors and good viewing angles.
Instead of a quad-core processor, the Zenfone 6 comes equipped with a 2GHz dual-core processor and up to 2GB of RAM. On paper, it might not seem that powerful, but it performed well enough that critics didn't experience any stutters or pauses when performing basic or more processor intensive tasks. The 3,330mAh battery kept the device running for up to 8 hours when put to battery draining tests. In real-life testing, experts were able to use it for a full day without any issue. As well, the phone comes with up to 32GB of internal storage and a microSD slot.
While the Zenfone 6 uses the same PixelMaster technology as the Zenfone 5, it has upgraded to a 13MP camera. Reviewers were surprised with the excellent detail and color reproduction of the images with Recombu adding, "…we found our photos usually packed plenty of detail of came out perfectly bright…" Even low-light images were fairly clear due to the addition of Low Light Mode. This mode combines four pixels into one and increases light sensitivity and color contrast. While the final images are only 3MP, reviewers point out that the mode reduces noise drastically and provides fairly natural colors. Unfortunately, they also mention that the camera is quite slow, taking a good 2 seconds in between shots.
Experts couldn't find too much wrong with the Zenfone 6 but warn that its large size might not be for everyone. Trusted Reviews states, "…we quite like all its other aspects…Combined with a competitive price this makes for a decent phone-tablet hybrid." Hardware Zone adds, "…we recommend the Zenfone 6 as the additional cost is a small sum to pay to get better overall performance…"
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Ershad Kaleebullah, Gadgets 360All things considered, the Asus ZenFone 6 with its price tag, seems like the best bet for a mid-range phablet.
- Andrew Williams, TrustedReviewsLike any 6-inch phone the Asus Zenfone 6 is not for everyone, and its huge display could be sharper. But we quite like all its other aspects, particularly its very impressive battery life. Combined with a competitive price this makes for a decent phone-tablet hybrid.
- Dominic Moass, KitGuruOn the whole we were very impressed with the Asus ZenFone 6. It is very affordable for the size and has potential to meet a new niche in the market.Solid everyday performance, despite lagging behind in the benchmarks, means the ZenFone can keep up with everything you throw at it. On top of this is t...
- Michael Moser, NotebookcheckWith the huge display size of 6 inches in combination with the powerful hardware, the Asus Zenfone 6 A600CG is a really enjoyable phablet. It has a noble and sturdy case with a good build quality. The IPS+ display also offers wide viewing angles as well as good colors. The large amount of memory (2...
- Ashleigh Allsopp, Tech AdvisorThe ZenFone 6 is not going to appeal to everyone. It really is huge, so it's not the most portable of smartphones, but if you're ok with that you're going to benefit from a brilliant device for watching TV and movies on the commute. If it's playing games you're most keen on, you might need to look e...
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Asus ZenFone 6 user manual here.
Asus backs up the ZenFone 6 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your ZenFone 6 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.
Resources
Manuals / User Guides
- Asus ZenFone 6 Manual (PDF)
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