Asus ZenFone 5 Lite Test: Our Complete Review – Smartphones

Introduction

After a rather complex generation 4, Asus returns in 2018 with the Zenfone 5 range, simpler and carrying many promises. The most accessible of them, the Zenfone 5 Lite, will it follow the same path? Answer with this test

Datasheet

This test was made from a smartphone loaned by the brand.

Design

While Zenfone 5 and Zenfone 5Z use the same chbadis, this is not the case Asus Zenfone 5 Lite, the third smartphone in the range proposed by the Taiwanese in 2018. Forget the notch, the Zenfone 5 Lite takes a design that we were rather used to see in 2017, with a big screen 18: 9 to the front, surrounded by reasonable size margins. We are talking here about a mid-range smartphone, and a slight "delay" on this point is quite acceptable.

At the back there is a 2.5D glbad back, quite elegant, with two cameras in the middle, arranged vertically and a fingerprint reader in the center. The two faces of glbades are joined by a plastic frame. Everything is pretty well integrated and well finished, although we still regret to see a camera come out back.

For a phone sold at this price, the Zenfone 5 Lite is a really nice smartphone in hand and which breathes the quality of manufacture. Only downside aesthetics: the front sensors have not been painted and are therefore particularly visible, but it is not so serious.

The most problematic is the use, still in 2018, of a micro-port. USB, where we now expect the more modern USB Type-C. Fortunately, the port jack is still there. Note the presence of three slots: a microSD port and two SIM ports. There is no need to choose between an SD card or a second SIM, as it is the case on other smartphones.

Screen

The Zenfone 5 Lite integrates a 6-inch IPS screen with a definition of 2160 x 1080 pixels (18: 9). On paper these are good characteristics and, in use, its use is very pleasant.

Once under our colorimetric probe, the screen Zenfone 5 lite is correctly illuminated with a maximum brightness of 440 cd / m² for a good contrast (for a non-AMOLED screen) of 1390: 1.

The color rendition is the Achilles heel of this screen. The colors are much too cold (9900 K, while the average turns rather between 6500 and 7500 K) what is confirmed by a level of red under the normal and a level of blue which burst the ceiling (45% above the expected score). The diagram confirms a sRGB space almost completely covered, with this imbalance towards the blue.

Fortunately, it is possible to correct this problem in the display parameters proposed by ZenUI (Settings> Display), by activating the option " "Blue filter" and choosing level 3. With this setting, the blue level approaches normal and the color temperature drops to 6700 K, a result much more true to reality.

Software

Unlike Zenfone 5 and 5Z, the Zenfone 5 Lite runs Android 7.1.1 Nougat with the ZenUI interface and is not Treble compatible. This version of Android was released in December 2016, 18 months before the release of this phone, although the brand promises an update to Android 8.x Oreo during the third quarter of 2018. More serious, the latest security patch Monthly available for the phone is January 2018, 6 months before the release of this phone.

L The interface installed here by Asus is quite heavy, it reviews in depth what Google proposes by default, including changing most of the aesthetic codes to the system parameters and adding a number of features.

cite the many customization options of the application launcher, the theme engine, the "genius of the game" for streamer games on YouTube and Twitch, ZenMotion gestures, Twin Apps or even Page Marker.

We sometimes get lost and confuse some features: OptiFlex to speed up the launch of application, the " super optimization " of the Mobile Manager application and setting the mode performances are three different things in three very different places in the system, all of which seem to regulate the performance of the smartphone.

Performance

Not to overshadow Zenfone 5's Snapdragon 636, the Zenfone 5 Lite must Be content with a Snapdragon 630. The difference between the two chips is mainly about the processor power and the quality of the audio processing chip. In both cases, the SoC allows the phone to integrate recent standards: 4G LTE Cat 5. (400 Mbps / 75 Mbps), Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g / n / ac 2.4 and 5 GHz, and Bluetooth 4.2.

On paper, choosing a Snapdragon 630 does not penalize it not really face its direct competitors, often equipped with the same chip or a lower chip. We note that the Nokia 6 (2018) is doing better, probably thanks to better software optimization. This lack of optimization is really felt by the use of the phone, which tends to slow down or even collapse due to the proliferation of spots. This can really hinder the use of the phone when, for example, the camera application is idling and prevents a picture from being taken correctly.

In game, the Adreno graphics chip is doing its job and Arena of Valor (graphic quality) set to average) as PUBG Mobile rotate in good conditions and very stably at 30 frames per second. Another good point: I did not notice overheating of the phone, even after several parts, at most a warm zone at the back of the camera.

Camera

The Zenfone 5 Lite does not offer one, not two, but four photo sensors! Okay, we cheat a little, the smartphone actually integrates two cameras in the back, and two cameras in the front. In both cases, Asus does not specify much information about the second sensor, except that it photographs in wide angle at 120 °. An interesting differentiating element, the Zenfone 5 Lite puts on selfies to stand out. Indeed the back-end camera is less well equipped: a 15-megapixel sensor with f / 2.2 lens, while the smartphone uses a 20 megapixel Sony IMX376 sensor with f / 2.0 lens at the front. This difference is confirmed with the photos taken by the smartphone.

The main selfie sensor

A selfie master photograph

the self-portrait wide-angle sensor

the main selfie-sensor by night

Asus still offers its "Selfie Master" application that allows to apply filters and retouching on the photos. A good idea on paper, but the automatic processing is really very aggressive and eraser a little too facial features for my taste.

The secondary wide-angle camera allows as expected to more easily make group photos. The result is rather good, but we notice a fairly marked deformation on the edges of the photo.

At night, things get tough naturally. The face is rather well captured, but the background is missed, with a lot of noises and a lack of detail screaming.

The back-end camera is doing well less well than the one up front, not surprising to that considering the choices of the manufacturer. Under ideal conditions, the photos are still successful even if the pique could be better: the dynamics are good, the colors are beautiful, although a little saturated.

Wide-angle [19659113] Main sensor ” style=”width: 397px; height: 298px;”/>

Main sensor

The wide-angle camera makes it possible to widen the field logically, but unfortunately the sensor is really difficult, even in daylight. One can notably notice noise in the sky.

In the darkness there is food and drink. The photo of the street lit by two lampposts is pretty good with the main sensor, although the colors pull a little too much towards the yellow because of the light source. Conversely, the same picture taken with the wide-angle lack of heat and the photo processing seems too aggressive with a significant loss of detail. In a photo asking for details, like the plant, the phone is doing well for a device in this range, but we note that the phone has failed to capture the background, and contented with the front lit by a lamppost

Autonomy

The Zenfone 5 Lite incorporates a battery of 3300 mAh, a capacity in the good average of the market. And this is also felt for use where the smartphone behaves like a device in the right market average. It allowed me to easily hold the day with mixed use including some quick Pokemon Go sessions and lots of web and social networking.

Aiming Self Test

• Zenfone 5 Lite :
                   529
• Nokia 6 (2018) :
                   525
• Redmi Note 5 :
                   767

Our SmartViser test that simulates a varied use of the smartphone (standby, web, games, etc.) has achieved a battery life of 8:49, a good result, just ahead of the Nokia 6 (2018). Note that the ZenUI interface offers quite advanced energy saving options, including a " super-economy mode " that disables the network, but is not as advanced as some competitors suggest. (apps and games remain accessible)

The smartphone comes with a 10W charger that saves 14% in 30 minutes of charge. It took 3 hours to recharge from 9 to 98% of battery, which is absolutely huge.

Price, release date and alternatives

The Zenfone 5 Lite is already available from 299 euros. This smartphone will have to deal with a Nokia 6 (2018) cheaper and promising a good follow up updates, and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5, always aggressive about its quality / price ratio. The latter offers among others a newer version of Android, regular updates of the MIUI interface and a better autonomy.

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Photo Gallery

Test Asus Zenfone 5 Lite The verdict

The one of the strong points of the device. The quality of workmanship is irreproachable, and the back glbad is the most beautiful effect. It does not offer a design as incredible as the best devices on the market, but for this price, the manufacturer has made the right choice, except the use of a micro-USB port in 2018.

The 6-inch screen IPS Zenfone 5 Lite is well defined, bright and contrasted. He is doing so very well. Beware of color rendering that is much blue-blue by default, although it is possible to easily get a more accurate rendering in the phone options.

The phone goes with a version and security updates. delay. Despite the efforts of the brand, the interface ZenUI remains heavy and seems to gratify the performance of the smartphone.

The Snapdragon 630 was designed for smartphones in this range. In raw performance, whether in tests or on a game, the SoC is doing well and without special heating. On the other hand, the lack of software optimization is felt for everyday use. The experiment lacks fluidity!

With its battery of 3300 mAh, the Zenfone 5 Lite is a little better than the average of smartphones in this range. He easily holds the day with a mixed use. Too bad the phone is so slow to be recharged!

All in all, the camera on the back is doing very well for a smartphone at this price, especially as the brand focuses on the front camera and its dual sensor. The latter produces great results both with the main camera and with the wide-angle lens. In dim light, it's not so good, but only the florets can really manage in these conditions.

By far, the Zenfone 5 Lite seems to have it all: a modern Soap Snapdragon 630, a beautiful IPS screen without notch, an elegant design, an irreproachable quality of manufacture, a reader of well placed prints and 4 photo sensors.

When one goes into the detail, one realizes several problems with the realization. The phone has software late on its release, a poorly calibrated screen by default and a second dorsal photo sensor close to uselessness. Above all, the software is poorly optimized, strike the performance of Snapdragon and causes really annoying slowdowns.

Brought back to its introductory price, the Zenfone 5 Lite remains a good smartphone overall. If the brand had done the job on the software, it would be admirable. That's without counting the arrival of the Redmi Note 5 in France which is essential in each mid-range device test as the alternative of choice.

• Positive points
  • Elegant, sober and efficient design
  • A beautiful screen with just right colors when calibrated
  • The double camera in front
  • No notch?
• Negative points
  • No USB Type-C
  • Android 7.1 Nougat on a new phone in 2018!
  • Slowdowns and a lack of software optimization
  • 1h30 to recharge 50% of battery, it is very slow!