We are half way into 2018, and it is already becoming difficult for smartphone brands to break into the Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 40,000 without worrying about the OnePlus 6. The OnePlus brand value has reached a historical level and the OnePlus 6 probably the most loved smartphone by critics and end-users. On 5th July, Asus launched its flagship smartphone in India. But after launching of Zenfone 5Z by Asus, we feel that it could be the OnePlus killer. Aggressive pricing, excellent processor, top class cameras and a lot more packed with Asus Zenfone 5Z. So here is our review on Why Asus Zenfone 5Z could be the OnePlus 6 Killer.
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A New Competitor in Indian Smartphone Market
As India holds the first spot on the world’s fastest-growing smartphone market, it is an important place for every smartphone brands to showcase their products. Nowadays, we have several flagship devices from different vendors having top specifications including Xiaomi, Oppo, Samsung, Vivo, and Huawei. So it was a do or die situation for Asus to come back with a killer smartphone. Asus devices are failed before in India, in terms of pricing. But now, Asus Zenfone 5Z is a true competitor in Indian smartphone market. The aggressive pricing and specification of Asus Zenfone 5Z seem it could lead Asus towards the top in the Indian market.
Design & Impression
The moment you see the Asus Zenfone 5Z, the first thing that you will love is the 6.2-inch full-HD+ display with 1080*2246 pixels. This panel has a weird 18.7:9 aspect ratio. In terms of design, the Asus 5Z looks pretty good. The display of the front is protected by the Corning Gorilla Glass 5. Asus is the first Android phone makers to jump with notch bandwagon. The flat back design is coupled with the 155-gram weight, yet the phone feels light and steady in the hand. Asus used USB type C standard on the new Asus 5Z and also includes a dedicated headphone jack. The fingerprint is in the rear and it has a support for face unlock as well. The phone is available with Midnight Blue, Meteor Silver, and Midnight Blue colors.
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Hardware & Performance
Asus 5Z uses the AI across the system and to perform AI related tasks Asus Zenfone 5Z uses the power of Snapdragon 845 Octa-core SoC coupled with the Andreno 630 GPU. The device is released with 3 variants in India – 6 GB RAM + 64 internal, 8 GB RAM + 128 GB internal storage and the 8 GB RAM + 256 internal storages. The ZenUI in the Asus 5Z seems to have involved beautifully over a year. Asus 5Z has a Zen UI 5.0 based on the Android Oreo 8.0 powered by 3300 mAh battery which possesses AI charging to improve the battery life. The Asus 5Z is designed to give power packed performance even while running heavy games and apps. Asus 5Z has an integrated AI bit that is supposed to make the software experience smarter. Interestingly, Asus 5Z bears expandable microSD card support up to 2 TB. The AI included in the phone ensures to load apps and games more quickly.
Camera
Asus Zenfone 5Z includes 12 Megapixels and 8 Megapixels dual rear cameras. On the camera department, Asus has kitted latest Sony’s IMX363 sensor with dual LED flash, supported by 8 MP sensor with the 120 degree wide angles length. For selfies and video calls, Asus 5Z acquires 8-megapixels sensor for selfies.
Pricing
For the base variant of 6 GB RAM and 64 GB storage model Asus priced Rs. 29,999. And Rs.32,999 and Rs. 36,999 respectively for the 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage and 8 GB and 256 GB storage model. Compared with OnePlus 6 pricing, Asus did a good thing by making it Rs. 8,000 lesser. Moreover, ICICI credit/debit cardholders can get an Rs. 3,000 off instantly! The Asus Zenfone 5Z will be available for the buyers on exclusively via Flipkart from 9th July. Additionally, buyers can get a ‘Complete Mobile Protection’ by paying just Rs. 499 on Flipkart. For Asus Zenfone 5Z device no cost EMI starting from Rs. 3,333 per month and Jio offering 100 GB additional data benefit for the Asus 5Z users and they can get Rs. 2,200 cashback too.