Asus zenfone 3 laser camera review. Information about the brand, model and alternative names of a specific device, if any

While professional photographers were figuring out which is better - Nikon or Canon - the world turned upside down. The smartphone has become the most popular device for shooting. Many have long abandoned the camera, since the camera in the phone successfully solves all typical tasks. True, the most advanced technologies first of all fall into top-end devices, which many simply cannot afford, and those who want an inexpensive device with one pronounced function have a very modest choice. And from this point of view, ASUS is doing everything right. For fans of huge screens, there is Zenfone 3 Ultra. For those who believe that there is nothing more important than a capacious battery, there is Zenfone 3 Max. Well, ASUS Zenfone 3 Laser is an affordable phone for those who value a high-quality camera.

Of course, there can be no talk of the most advanced module in a budget smartphone, but in general the parameters of the Zenfone 3 Laser camera look decent. A little later, we will talk in detail about how laser focusing works and why it is needed at all. In the meantime, it's worth taking a look at the main parameters of the model.

Specifications

	ASUS Zenfone 3 Laser (ZC551KL)	ASUS Zenfone 2 Laser (ZE551KL)	Sony Xperia XA Ultra	Huawei Honor 5X
Screen	5.5 inches, IPS, 1920 × 1080 pixels, 501 ppi, capacitive multitouch	5.5 inches, IPS,	6.0 inches, IPS, 1920 × 1080 pixels, 367 ppi, capacitive multitouch	5.5 inches, IPS, 1920 × 1080 pixels, 401 ppi, capacitive multitouch
Protective glass		Corning Gorilla Glass 3, with oleophobic coating and polarizing filter	Yes, the manufacturer is unknown	There is no data
CPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 MSM8937: eight cores (8 × 1.4 GHz) ARM Cortex-A53	Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 MSM8939: eight cores (4 × 1.7 GHz, 4 × 1.0 GHz) ARM Cortex-A53	Mediatek MT6755 Helio P10 (four ARM Cortex-A53 cores @ 1.2 GHz + four ARM Cortex-A53 cores @ 2 GHz)	Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 MSM8939v2: eight cores (4 × 1.2 GHz, 4 × 1.5 GHz) ARM Cortex-A53
Graphic controller	Adreno 505, 450 MHz	Qualcomm Adreno 405, 550 MHz	ARM Mali-T860 MP2, 700MHz	Adreno 405, 550 MHz
Operational memory	2/4 GB	3 GB	3 GB	2 GB
Flash memory	32/64 GB	16/32 GB	16 GB	16 GB
Connectors	1 micro-USB	1 micro-USB	1 microUSB;	1 micro-USB 2.0
		1 x 3.5mm headset	1 x 3.5mm headset	1 x 3.5mm headset
	1 micro-SIM		2 nanoSIM	2 micro-SIM
	1 nano-SIM / microSD (universal)		1 microSD	1 micro-SIM / microSD (universal)
Cellular 2G		GSM / GPRS / EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz	GSM / GPRS / EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz	GSM / GPRS / EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
Cellular connection 3G		DC-HSPA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz	DC-HSPA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz	UMTS / HSPA + 900/2100 MHz
Cellular 4G	LTE Cat. 4 (150 Mbps, 50 Mbps), ranges 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41	LTE Cat. 7 (300 Mbps, 150 Mbps), ranges 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41		LTE Cat. 7 (300 Mbps, 150 Mbps), ranges 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 17, 18, 19, 20, 28, 29, 38, 39, 40, 41
Wi-Fi	802.11 / b / g / n / 2.4 GHz	802.11 / b / g / n / 2.4 GHz	802.11a / b / g / n / ac 2.4 / 5 GHz	802.11b / g / n 2.4GHz
Bluetooth	4.2	4.1	4.1	4.1
NFC	Not	Not	There is	Not
Navigation	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
Sensors		Illumination, proximity, accelerometer / gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass)	Illumination, proximity, accelerometer / gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass)	Illumination, proximity, accelerometer / gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass)
The fingerprint scanner	There is	There is	Not	There is
Main camera	13 Mp, f / 2.0, laser autofocus, dual LED flash	13 Mp, f/ 2.0, laser autofocus, dual LED flash	21.2 MP, hybrid autofocus, LED flash	13 Mp, f/ 2.0, autofocus, LED flash
Front-camera	8 MP, no autofocus, no flash	5 MP, no autofocus, no flash	16 MP, autofocus	5 MP, f / 2.4, fixed focus
Nutrition	Removable battery: 11.4 Wh (3000 mAh, 3.8 V)	Removable battery: 11.4 Wh (3000 mAh, 3.8 V)	Removable battery: 10.2 Wh (2700 mAh, 3.8 V)	Non-removable battery 11.7 W * h (3000 mAh, 3.9 V)
The size	149 x 76 x 7.9 mm	152.4 x 77.2 x 10.9 mm	164 x 79 x 8.4 mm	151.3 x 76.3 x 8.2 mm
Weight	150 g	170 g	202 g	158 g
Water and dust resistant	Not	Not	Not	Not
Operating system	Android 6.0 Marshmallow, shell ASUS ZenUI	Android 5.0 Lollipop, shell ASUS ZenUI	Android 6.0 Marshmallow, shell Sony Xperia	Android 5.1 Lollipop, EMUI shell
Actual price	16 990 rubles	12,000 rubles	27 990 rubles	14,990 rubles

Design, ergonomics, software

Design assessment can be approached from two sides: either praise the stylistic unity of the entire Zenfone 3 series, or criticize ASUS for not wanting to add individuality to each smartphone. However, now all smartphones are somehow similar - the standards set ten years ago hardly change, only the display diagonals increase, and the thickness decreases.

The smartphone is offered in only two colors: silver and gold. The second option looks more interesting, although here, of course, not for everyone. The color here is not as saturated as, for example, in the iPhone, but still I would like more choice: where is black, dark gray, but at least pink?

The front panel is completely covered with tempered glass with a fashionable 2.5D effect. The edges are slightly rounded around the perimeter, which contributes to a smoother transition to the side edge. You will hardly notice this by eye, but holding the smartphone will be a little more comfortable. Above the display are the front camera lens, voice speaker and proximity sensor, and under the screen there are touch control buttons. The ASUS Zenfone 3 Max, if you remember, did not have such buttons - only on-screen keys were used, which reduced the effective display area.

On the bottom, there is only a microphone under a pretty grille and a microUSB connector. However, it should be noted here that the lower and upper parts of the case on the rear panel are not metal, like its main part, but plastic. I do not think that a potential smartphone buyer will be happy to learn about this feature, but ASUS has an excuse - such inserts contribute to better performance of wireless modules. And indeed, the smartphone is in complete order with this. Besides, the plastic does not give itself out in any way - it is painted in the same color and has the same texture as the metal base of the case.

On the left side there is traditionally a tray for SIM-cards, on the right side there is a power key and a double volume control button. It is also used to release the shutter in shooting mode. It's nice that these elements are located in the upper third of the side edge - so it is convenient to press them with your thumb. Recent experiments by Sony with the volume button at the bottom still make you wonder where to place the volume control. In my opinion, the ASUS variant is more convenient.

On the back of the body are the flash, the protruding camera lens (which seems to be easy to scratch), the laser window, and the rectangular, elongated fingerprint reader. In my opinion, this location of the fingerprint scanner is slightly less convenient than on the Home button or the power key, but these are trifles. The shape seemed to me a little uncomfortable - it was more comfortable to operate with the square ASUS Zenfone 3 Max scanner.

The dimensions of the device are too big (149 × 76 × 7.9 mm), but you can hold it with one hand, it does not cause discomfort. You may not be able to reach the top areas of the screen with your thumb, but typing on the go is quite possible. It is worth noting that even among 5.5-inch smartphones, ASUS Zenfone 3 Laser remains one of the most compact, no comparison with the iPhone 7 Plus.

It is a well-known manufacturer of laptops, but for several years now the company has made us happy with mobile gadgets, which have good characteristics. For example, state employees are simple, but they are affordable. Well, flagships or near flagships necessarily have a good camera. This time the manufacturer presented another interesting phablet - Asus Zenfone 3 Laser ZC551KL... Of the characteristic features: fast autofocus, fresh platform and good design.

Appearance

It looks like the designers have finally ditched the radial patterns at the bottom of the dash. This feature has accompanied all the company's devices for several years now. Instead, we see an iPhone-like concept in an all-metal body. It is noteworthy that there is no frame in the device. The back is rounded to the front, which is protected by 2.5D glass. I am glad that, despite the large diagonal and relatively small frames at the edges of the screen, the device still received touch-sensitive buttons: home, back and menu. Speaking of diagonals: here we have 5.5 inches, and the IP matrix received a resolution of 1080x1920 pixels.

Now about the colors: the device is presented in silver and gold. Looks like Asus Zenfone 3 Laser ZC551KL very stylish. The speaker grill is absent: here we see a row of neat holes on the bottom end. Important: do not underestimate the capabilities of the gadget in terms of sound, the speaker received 5 magnets at once. At the back, in addition to a camera with flash and a vaunted autofocus laser, we see a fingerprint sensor. And, judging by the fact that it is stretched, the sensor perceives swipes.

Specifications

The platform of the device is built on the mid-segment Snapdragon 430: not the pinnacle of performance, but fresh, moreover, eight-core. It is worth noting that versions with different amounts of RAM and ROM are available, and the gadgets differ significantly: 2/32 GB or 4/64 GB, respectively. Expansion slot available. But, as already noted, the strengths are not in the technical characteristics: here we see an application for a camera phone. All thanks to the Sony IMX214 sensor, as well as ultra-fast laser autofocus. How super fast? According to the manufacturer, the response time is 0.03 seconds. There is support for pixelmaster, i.e. pictures with a volume of 54 megapixels.

Well, if the price turns out to be adequate, this device can be considered for purchase. True, the battery capacity is average by today's standards (3,000 mAh). Otherwise, photo flags are always desirable among a large audience of gadget lovers.

With the Laser prefix, Asus has always been the more affordable version of the company's flagships. We remember the previous generation of the series as very good and well-balanced devices in terms of characteristics. However, they have not been able to compete with devices from Xiaomi, Meizu and other Chinese manufacturers dominating in the mid-price category. Will the situation change now? Read our Asus ZenFone 3 Laser review, in which we will test the new product and analyze in detail its strengths and weaknesses.

Price and main characteristics

Official retail sales of ZenFone 3 Laser (ZC551KL) in Russia have already begun, the cost of the model is 17 thousand rubles.

Specifications:

• display: 5.5 ", IPS FHD 1920 * 1080 px;
• processor: Snapdragon 430 (1.4 GHz) + video accelerator Adreno 505;
• RAM: 2 GB;
• internal memory: 32 GB + memory cards up to 128 GB;
• camera: main - 13 MP (dual flash, laser autofocus, aperture 2.0), front - 8 MP;
• communication: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS, LTE;
• battery: 3000 mAh.

Case dimensions - 149 * 76 * 7.9 mm, weight - 150 grams.

Completion and appearance

The smartphone is packed in a fairly large box made of white cardboard, on which images of the device and its main characteristics are applied.

The package includes:

• USB-C cable and charging adapter;
• paper clip for the card tray;
• wired headset.

The sound quality of the headphones is quite good and undemanding users will be able to use them for listening to music.

ZenFone 3 Laser does not have an unusual appearance, it is similar to many other smartphones in an all-metal case, but it looks neat and the build quality deserves the highest marks.

The front side of the smartphone is covered with a rounded 2.5D protective glass, under the screen there are touch control buttons, above it there is a front camera, an earpiece and a sensor unit. The glass has a good oleophobic coating and is easy to wipe off fingerprints.

On the back side there are 2 inserts for antennas, stylized as a chrome bezel (the same one frames the front of the case). The camera module, near which there is a two-tone flash and a laser autofocus rangefinder, protrudes significantly beyond the body.

An unusual solution is a rectangular fingerprint scanner. This form did not affect its performance, the sensor responds quickly and adequately. Problems are observed only in the case of wet hands, but this is a common disease of any fingerprint sensors. In addition to unlocking your phone with a sensor, you can start the camera, take pictures and receive calls. It is capable of recognizing up to 5 different fingerprints, each of which can be set to launch the required application.

The layout of the ends of the smartphone is standard. Above is a 3.5 mm jack.

Below is the USB-C port and the main speaker hole.

On the right is the volume rocker and the off button.

On the left is a connector for a hybrid tray with cards, in which you can put 2 SIM cards or a SIM card and a memory card.

For a 5.5-inch screen diagonal, the smartphone is quite compact, primarily due to the small thickness of the side frames. However, due to the rounded shape of the ends and the smooth surface of the metal, it slips in the hand and constantly strives to slip out. ZenFone 3 Laser has to be slipped into a carrying case for comfortable use.

Screen

The display is the strong point of this smartphone. It uses a high-quality IPS matrix with FHD resolution, covered with Gorilla Glass 3. Color rendition, contrast, color temperature, brightness range - everything is at a very decent level, especially considering the cost of the device.

The highlight of ZenFone 3 Laser is the gloved control mode, which has no complaints about its implementation. There is also a blue light filtering mode, which makes it easier to read in a dark room, and a function to fine-tune the screen: you can independently control the white balance, color tone and saturation of the screen.

Performance

ZenFone 3 Laser is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor operating at a maximum frequency of 1.4 GHz and an Adreno 505 video accelerator. The smartphone has 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory, flash cards up to 128 GB are supported.

We didn't notice any interface jams during everyday use, the ZenUI shell is perfectly optimized. The device copes with Full HD video playback, surfing heavy sites and any standard tasks without any problems. In the Antutu test, the ZenFone 3 Laser benchmark scores 45 thousand points. The gaming performance of the smartphone is enough to run resource-intensive toys, but in the same tanks, to get 50 FPS, you need to reduce the graphics settings to low.

Camera

In terms of photography, the ZenFone 3 Laser is good, it's not for nothing that it is positioned as an affordable smartphone for amateur photographers. When shooting during the day, there is nothing to complain about at all - excellent detailing, pleasant colors, a wide dynamic range.

When the lighting deteriorates, the picture starts to wash slightly, but the quality does not drop catastrophically, and there are no problems with focusing - thanks to laser autofocus, the smartphone correctly catches even fast moving objects.

The standard camera application pleases with excellent functionality. In addition to good HDR and many automatic modes for different shooting scenarios, there is a manual settings mode that allows, for example, set the shutter speed to 32 seconds.

Keeps ZenFone 3 Laser branded when filming. It does not know how to shoot in 4K and does not have optical stabilization, but the digital stub does its job well, and the 1080p 60fps picture itself is smooth, good detailing and correct color reproduction.

Speaker, sound quality

The new product from Asus boasts good sound in headphones. The smartphone has an NXP Smart AMP amplifier on board, due to which it can swing even high-impedance headphones. Music lovers will like the sound quality - the music plays in detail, the stage is felt, the elasticity of the bass and clear high frequencies. Not the level of flagships from Meizu, but very worthy.

The manufacturer has focused a lot of attention on the main speaker of the smartphone - it is made using 5 magnets and a special voice coil, which should provide high-quality sound. In practice, things are more modest, it is loud, but we did not notice any record clarity and richness of sound. You can compare the speaker with that of the Xiaomi Redmi 3S.

Battery

ZenFone 3 Laser is powered by a 3000mAh battery. The smartphone confidently survives until the evening even with intensive use, with continuous FHD video playback, the charge lasts for 7.5 hours, while gaming, the battery is discharged by 18-20% per hour. There is no QuickCharge function, it takes about 2 hours to charge.

Communication and Internet

The smartphone works with two SIM cards, but has one radio module. The network reception quality is consistently good, there is support for 3G and LTE. The connection time with navigation satellites on a cold start is 45 seconds, the phone confidently found 25 satellites during the test.

Wireless interfaces are represented by Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1. Connection to external devices via USB Type-C is also provided.

Video review Asus ZenFone 3 Laser

Competitors, conclusion

If you need a smartphone for gaming, then ZenFone 3 Laser will definitely be a bad choice - for 17 thousand, the market is full of more productive solutions (Xiaomi RN3P, ZUK Z2). But in terms of photo capabilities, the hero of our review is one of the best in its class; only one can compete with him on an equal footing, which we also recommend taking a closer look at.

As a result, ZenFone 3 Laser is a smartphone for people who are not ready to buy expensive flagships, but at the same time want a balanced device with a high-quality camera.

If the article was useful to you, do not forget to bookmark (Cntr + D) so as not to lose it and subscribe to our channel!

Specifications

• Body materials: metal, plastic and Corning Gorilla Glass 3
• Operating system: Google Android 7.1.1
• Network: GSM / GPRS / EDGE, FDD-LTE CAT 4 (Bands 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20), two sim cards (nan + micro)
• Processor: 8 cores, 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 1.4 GHz
• RAM: 2GB LPDDR3
• Storage memory: 32GB eMMC + memory card up to 128GB
• Interfaces: Wi-Fi b / g / n, Bluetooth 4.2, microUSB (USB 2.0) connector for charge / synchronization, 3.5 mm for a headset
• Screen: capacitive, IPS OGS 5.5 "" with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels
• Camera: 13 MP (f = 2.0) PixelMaster 3.0 with 1.12 micron pixel size, 1/3 inch Sony IMX214 sensor size, Dual-LED real tone flash; 8 MP (f = 2.0) PixelMaster 3.0, 84 degree viewing angle
• Navigation: GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDSS
• Optional: accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, light sensor, fingerprint scanner, FM radio
• Battery: non-removable, Li-Polymer (Li-Pol) 3000 mAh
• Dimensions: 150x76x7.9 mm
• Weight: 150g

Contents of delivery

• Smartphone
• Network adapter
• USB cable
• Clip
• Warranty card and waste paper

Introduction

I'll start right away with the fact that the ZenFone 3 Laser is not new, it has been sold and available in our market for a long time. However, at the moment the cost of this smartphone has dropped to 10,600 - 11,000 rubles (yes, if you wish, you can find it for this price), and the software version has been updated to Android 7.1.1! That is, the "life" of the device lasted at least one more year, since, for example, the share of Android Nougat 7.0 is about 9%, and 7.1.1 - a pitiful 0.6% (data for June).

In addition to the new version of the system, the ZenUI shell has also been updated. It has become much nicer with translucent menus and submenus, the settings have taken on the look of a clean system. The overall performance has also improved, the battery life has increased slightly. All this, of course, is not very noticeable, but compared to the OS in ZenFone 3 Laser at the beginning of the year - "heaven and earth".

The model itself is notable for the fact that it uses laser autofocus, which is necessary for accurate and fast focusing. In addition to the laser, there is a color correction sensor that helps the software to correctly determine the white balance.

The price of ASUS ZenFone 3 Laser starts at 10,600 rubles for the official device (I still prefer to call them PCT - short and clear).

Design, dimensions, controls

The ASUS ZenFone 3 Laser smartphone has a common concept with the new products of this year, that is, the design of the devices is recognizable: I can't say that I personally especially like the appearance of the Laser, but you can't call it gaudy either - it's simple, but practical.

The front panel is protected by the third generation Corning Gorilla Glass with a high-quality oleophobic coating. The corners are a bit sloping, it is fashionable to call them 2.5D glass - a convenient implementation for swipe movements. The display bezels are visually small, it looks nice.

The corners are smoothed, the side edges are made in the same way, so the phone fits well in the hand, does not slip out. The back panel smoothly transitions to the right and left sides. The cover is made of metal. I found it somewhat primitive, most likely due to a certain alloy: the lid is too thin and feels like a raw sheet of aluminum. Scratches appear quickly enough.

Above and below on the back of the gadget, you can see two plastic inserts - they serve for signal transmission. This again suggests that the device is in the mid-range, as the flagships are equipped with an all-metal case.

Laser is sold in two colors: silver and gold.

In general, the design is quite ergonomic, the phone is easy to use and pleasant to use.

In the upper part of the front panel there is a selfie camera, a light and proximity sensor (no complaints - they work correctly and quickly), an indicator of missed events (flashing brightly, visible from any angle), an earpiece. It is loud, you can hear the interlocutor well.

Below the screen are typical Android touch buttons without backlighting.

Below are located: microphone, microUSB and speakerphone.

The metal power button and volume rocker are on the right, and on the left is a combined slot for nanoSIM + microSIM or microSD + microSIM.

Upstairs there is a 3.5mm audio output and a second microphone with NoiseZero Talk Technology.

On the back side: laser focusing system, vertically extended fingerprint scanner, color correction sensor with dual LED flash of cold and warm light, main camera lens with a metal frame protruding 1.5 mm above the body.

ASUS ZenFone 3 Laser and ZenFone 3 Zoom

ASUS ZenFone 3 Laser and HTC U Play

ASUS ZenFone 3 Laser and Apple iPhone 5

Display

The ASUS ZenFone 3 Laser has a 5.5-inch screen. Physical size - 68x121 mm. The frames are relatively narrow: at the top - 13 mm, at the bottom - 14 mm, and on the right and left - 3.5 mm each. There is of course an effective anti-reflective coating.

The matrix of this smartphone is made using IPS OGS technology, that is, there is no air gap, so the colors are more saturated, and the picture seems to lie on the surface of the screen. The display resolution is FullHD, that is, 1080x1920 pixels, the pixelation is completely invisible, since the density is 400 ppi.

The brightness of the backlight changes depending on the level of illumination even when the sensor is off: indoors - 250 units, good lighting - 300 units, in the sun - about 350 units. Contrast up to 1500: 1 - that's such a great indicator!

The viewing angles are maximum, and, most importantly, there are no purple and yellow shades, that is, signs of a cheap IPS matrix.

Calibrator data

When the brightness of the backlight is increased, the glow increases sharply, and the gamma becomes smaller. The picture will look unnatural: at minimum brightness, the black depth is large, but details are lost in bright areas, and at maximum brightness, the picture becomes too bright - details are lost in dark areas.

In the settings, you can not only select the color mode, but also adjust the color and saturation separately.

Behavior in the light

Behavior in the shade

Sun behavior

Viewing angles

Flare

Battery

This device uses a built-in 3000mAh Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol) battery.

Our tests have shown that the ASUS Zenfone 3 "lasts" about 15 hours from a single battery charge. At the same time, Wi-Fi is always on, mail is synchronized, WhatsApp, Skype and other applications are working. The brightness of the matrix backlight is set to the maximum value, the speaker volume is also set. During the day, calls are made with a total duration of up to an hour.

In a more gentle mode, the device can work up to 2 days. With toys you can count on time up to 5 hours, with videos - up to about 8 hours.

In the settings of the device there are power saving modes: maximum performance, balance, smart power saving mode and power saving mode. Each of them is customizable to suit the needs of the user. In addition, you can restrict auto-start of all applications, which will reduce power consumption.

Communication capabilities

The device works not only in 2G / 3G networks (GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, WCDMA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz), but also in 4G CAT 4 (both SIM cards), which is supported by all operators in Russia - Bands 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20.

There is Wi-Fi standards b / g / n, Bluetooth version 4.2, there is GPS, Glonass and BDSS. I can’t single out anything special.

Memory

The ZenFone 3 Laser's 2GB LPDDR3 (single-channel) RAM is not much, because it feels a little short on memory - many apps are restarted again. Internal memory 32 GB eMMC: read speed - 270 MB / s, write speed - 127 MB / s - decent! You can install a memory card up to 128 GB.

Cameras

The ZenFone 3 Laser smartphone is equipped with two camera modules: the main 13 MP with an aperture of F2.0 (the lens consists of five elements), a Sony IMX214 sensor with a 1/3 "sensor; front 8 MP with an F2.0 aperture. In order to evenly and accurately reproduce skin tones in low light conditions, ASUS equipped the device with a dual LED flash with different LED glow temperatures.

There is a laser autofocus (it helps to focus not only in good lighting, but also in almost zero) and a color correction sensor.

The smartphone copes very well with backlighting, exposure and white balance are excellent, focus is fast, but not always accurate, especially when macro photography against light. The colors are pleasant, natural. Detail is slightly above average, there is minimal blurring in the corners. Oddly enough, the frames look even a little duller on the device's screen than on the PC monitor. Apparently, the ZenFone 3 Laser display matrix cannot reproduce all the colors and details.

Selfies look good, but you should keep your arm outstretched, since the focus is set from about 45 cm. Detail is also slightly above average.

The smartphone writes video in FullHD resolution. I didn't like the quality: the exposure adjusts in jerky ways, the detail is average, the picture has a narrow dynamic range. Video is clearly not the ZenFone 3 Laser's strong point. Selfie videos are nothing like that.

The device has many settings: from completely manual (shutter speed from 32 s to 1/50000 s, ISO 50 - 3200) to super-resolution (goofy trick), low lighting, GIF-animation and so on. I will not list everything, in the reviews of others ASUS described everything in detail.

Sample photos

ASUS ZenFone 3 Laser has an acceptable 5.5-inch diagonal and a thin bezel (2.58 mm). The resolution of the local display is 1920 × 1080 pixels, and the screen itself is contrasting and bright. It is a pleasure to watch videos and show off your vacation photos.

The smartphone is comfortable in the hand, but if you compare it with, the latter, despite the glass surface, sits more securely in the palm of your hand. But its impact resistance is lower, since the protective Corning Gorilla Glass covers both the front and back sides, while ZenFone 3 Laser (ZC551KL) enclosed in a one-piece aluminum case, and the protective glass only protects the display. At the same time, the smartphone does not lose its premium look.

ASUS ZenFone 3 Laser: equipment

In terms of performance, we did not have any complaints. Thanks to the powerful stuffing, the smartphone works smartly and quickly responds to touch input. The operating system is Android 6.0 with the proprietary ASUS Zen UI and software add-ons that, with one click, allow you to clear the memory of unnecessary background tasks. However, this device still does not compete with top models.

On board ZenFone 3 Laser (ZC551KL) installed 8-core CPU Snapdragon 430 with GPU Adreno 505, 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of built-in. The memory is quite enough to store several thousand photos, and the performance of the smartphone is quite enough to play not too resource-intensive games.

ZenFone 3 Laser (ZC551KL) supports the installation of two SIM-cards, and the second slot can be detached for (up to 128 GB), if 32 GB seems a little to you. The battery here is also impressive - 3000 mAh. This is quite enough to take photo walks all day long and not worry that the smartphone is about to run out.

ASUS ZenFone 3 Laser: camera

For its price range, the 13MP PixelMaster, powered by a Sony IMX214 sensor with a maximum aperture of f / 2.0, is more than good. So that ZenFone 3 Laser (ZC551KL) will definitely delight you with good shots. We liked that laser autofocus allows the camera to lock onto a target in a fraction of a second, and the color correction sensor allows for natural color reproduction in photographs.

However, if you want a better camera, pay attention to the older model. We tested these two devices together, and we liked the image quality of the latter better. The test shots below were taken on ZenFone 3 Laser (ZC551KL) in cloudy and clear weather on automatic settings with HDR. For the enthusiast, there are plenty of manual adjustments, including a super-resolution mode (52 megapixels).

ASUS ZenFone 3 Laser: test results

We tested the performance in the synthetic test AnTuTu Benchmark, where the smartphone scored 155,958 points, as well as in the PCMark benchmark. Detailed test results are shown in the screenshots below.