The Asus Zenfone 5z comes with a lot of jargon, but that's fine

At its launch today, Asus made a big deal about the artificial intelligence operations on its newest phone, the Zenfone 5z. But here's the thing, a lot of it really is jargon. And that's okay because, at its core, the Zenfone 5z is the best smartphone Asus has made in the last two years.

The AI ​​Jargon


Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a buzzword and Asus knows that. In fact, the real reason why is it that they are all handled by Qualcomm 's AI engine on the Snapdragon 845. The chipset's Hexagon DSP comes with added AI capabilities.

Some of these features, like learning what you use and keeping them open "when you need them" does involve learning. However, tuning the screen's color temperature is a rule-based program that has been built into the software.

There is also an Intelligent Fast Charging feature, which takes into account the fact that you are charging charging. So, if the phone recognizes that you charge it between midnight and 8 am, it will charge up to 80% and trickle charge after that, to ensure that the battery is as close to your wake up time as possible.

With Quick Charge 3.0 support, charging is pretty fast, so Asus says battery charging and battery life. But the feature does not make it so easy that your phone loads fast when it's charging for shorter periods, for that, Qualcomm's Quick Charge 3.0 is the sole differentiator.

In the long run, the AI ​​features in the phone's camera is perhaps the only true implementation of artificial intelligence on the phone. And while many may question the company's tactics there, that's completely fine.

Why?


Artificial Intelligence is indeed a buzzword today, but its definition is also somewhat loose. Many companies call rules-based programs AI, and Asus is doing the same. And while that may be wrong, it does not change the fact that the Zenfone 5z is an excellent smartphone with an even better price.

Starting at Rs. 29,999, Asus is giving you the features of a flagship phone. Having used the Zenfone 5z for a week, I can attest to the fact that it offers smooth regular use, charges as fast as any Quick Charge-enabled phone, and has a distinct and pretty design.

Combined with a decent camera, that still needs some work, That's pretty much the definition of value for money.

The truth is, the Zenfone 5z is a dependable smartphone, and while Asus might be blurring the lines a little bit, it's not actually misleading customers. The features of the company are not immediately noticeable on the phone, but they are meant to enhance the user experience, just like OnePlus' Shelf feature, which one never really uses.

Zenfone 5z is a good phone.