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

Model	Asus ZenFone 5 Lite
Version of the OS	Android 8.0
Interface	ZenUI
Screen Size	6 inches
Definition	2160 x 1080 pixels
Pixel Density	402 dpi
SoC	Snapdragon 430 at 1.4GHz
Processor (CPU)	ARMv8
Graphics Chip (GPU)	Adreno 505
RAM (RAM)	4 GB
Internal Memory (Flash)	32 GB, 64 GB
MicroSD	Yes
Camera (Dorsal)	Sensor 1:16 megapixels, sensor 2: 12 Megapixels
Camera (front end)	Sensor 1: 20 Megapixel, Sensor 2: 12 Megapixel
In video recording	4K
Wi-Fi	Yes
Bluetooth	4.1 + AD2P + LE
Networks	LTE, HSPA, GSM
Supported bands	2100 MHz (B1), 800 MHz (B20), 1800 MHz (B3), 2600 MHz (B7)
SIM	Nano SIM
NFC	Yes
Ports (Input / Output)	microUSB
Geolocation	Yes
Battery	3300 mAh
Weight	168 grams
Colors	Red, White, Black
Price	252 €
	] Product sheet                                                     | Test

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.

	Asus Zenfone 5 Lite	Nokia 6.1 (2018)	Wiko View 2 Pro	Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
SoC	Snapdragon 630	Snapdragon 630	Snapdragon 450 [19659088] Snapdragon 636
AnTuTu 7.x	87,373 points	90,718	69,321 points	116,098 points

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.

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.

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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