ASUS ZenFone 6 - Big phone with big performance
The ASUS ZenFone 6 is the biggest and the meanest of the three models in the ZenFone series.
The big brother to ZenFone 5
ASUS is getting aggressive in the midrange phone market segment. Less than a month after launching the ZenFone 5 in Singapore, ASUS is selling its bigger brother, the ZenFone 6 at an attractive price of S$299 (promotional price at its Online Store) or S$329 (official retail price).The timing of its availability can't be any better as the market is getting more competitive with the likes of the HTC Desire 816, Huawei Honor 3X and the Xiaomi Redmi Note. Where does the ZenFone 6 stand among the competition? Read on to find out more after this video break:-
Design & Handling
The ZenFone 6 is similar to the ZenFone 5 in almost all aspects except for its size and placement of the power button; it still sports the same curved, soft-touch rear that is comfortable to hold. Its matte texture not only offers a good grip, but also keeps the fingerprints and smudges at bay.
The
ASUS ZenFone 6 (left) is just a bigger variant of the ZenFone 5 (right)
with a slightly better processor, more internal storage, a better
camera and a larger battery.
We really love the finishing on the rear of the ASUS ZenFone 6 (left) and ZenFone 5 (right).
Inheriting
the same design has its pros and cons. While we are fans of the iconic
concentric circle finish, the same could not be said about the lack of
backlighting for its navigation keys.
The power button on the ZenFone 6 resides just below the volume
rocker instead of above it on the ZenFone 5. With the exception of the
HTC Desire 816, it seems that manufacturers recognize that placing the
power button midway on the right side makes more sense as it is easier
for your thumb (for right handed users) or finger (for left handed
users) to reach it.
From top to bottom: Huawei Honor 3X, Xiaomi Redmi Note, HTC Desire 816 and ASUS ZenFone 6.
Due to its 6-inch display size, the ZenFone 6 is too wide to be used
comfortably in one hand. For someone who has reviewed numerous phablets,
the ZenFone 6 is still a challenge to use on a daily basis especially,
even for simple tasks like messaging and web browsing. Fortunately, the
usability aspect is somewhat addressed by software enhancements which
we'll share later in the review.Similar to the ZenFone 5, the ZenFone 6 supports dual micro-SIM and dual-standby functionality. Both micro-SIM card slots also support 3G connectivity, which is a plus point over the Xiaomi Redmi Note, which only supports 3G data on one slot. In addition, the Redmi Note only accepts traditional sized SIM cards.
With
their back covers removed, you can see that all the compared phones
have dual SIM card support. From left to right: ASUS ZenFone 5, Huawei
Honor 3X, Xiaomi Redmi Note and ASUS ZenFone 6.
Although the Huawei Honor 3X supports 3G connectivity on both slots,
it is weird that one slot accepts a micro-SIM card while the other slot
uses the traditional sized SIM card. Perhaps this gives consumers the
choice to have two different SIM card sizes for maximum compatibility no
matter the market, geography and switching between different devices.Located just above the SIM card slots is the micro-SD memory card slot, which is capable of supporting memory cards of up to 64GB in capacity. Having said that, the ZenFone 6 has 11.47GB of available storage space out of the box after updating the preloaded apps installed in the phone's 16GB of built-in storage space. The system OS takes up 3.72GB while preloaded apps take up about 567MB.
Screenshot taken on the ASUS ZenFone 6 after updating the preloaded apps.
Software Features
6-inch 720p IPS Display
The ZenFone 6 comes with a 6-inch HD (1,280 x 720 pixels) IPS display which has a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 3 with anti-fingerprint coating. While the sheer size of the display means that the pixel density (245ppi) is nowhere near "Retina" standard, it's not going to be a deal breaker. We cannot deny the fact that the app icons and text do not look as sharp, but it hardly has a significant impact on the overall user experience. Colors are still vivid and the viewing angles are decent thanks to the IPS display panel.If there is any consolation, ASUS has preloaded an app, Splendid which allows you to calibrate the display settings such as temperature, hue and saturation to fit your preferences.
You can turn on Vivid mode and adjust the color temperature.
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The hue and saturation of the display can also be adjusted according to your preferences.
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ZenUI with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean
As seen on the ZenFone 5, ASUS introduced its customized interface ZenUI with the ZenFone range of smartphones. We've explored the five notable features of ZenUI in a dedicated article and discussed their relevance in the review of the ZenFone 5, hence do head over to these articles if you wish to find out more about the ZenUI. In this review, we take a look at an exclusive feature that is applicable only on the ZenFone 6, which is the one hand mode.Before we dive into the one hand mode on the ZenFone 6, it is important to note that other manufacturers have different takes on such features for their phones with larger displays. Samsung is among the first to deploy one-handed operation feature for its Galaxy Note II, which enables you to optimize four basic tasks - keypad and in-call buttons, the software keyboard, calculator and screen unlock - for use with one hand.
The feature was later enhanced on the Galaxy Note 3 where you can adjust the scale and position of the home screen panel. LG also has a similar feature, Mini View for its 5.9-inch G Pro 2. Mini View gives you the flexibility to adjust the screen from any sizes between 3.7 to 4.7-inches and position it anywhere. ASUS's take is not any different either.
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One
hand mode can easily be accessed via a swipe down from the top which
reveals the quick settings panel for this toggle and much more.
ASUS ZenFone 6 - Big phone with big performance
ASUS ZenFone 6 - Big phone with big performance
ASUS ZenFone 6 - Big phone with big performance
Performance Benchmarks
The ZenFone 6 is powered by an Intel Atom Z2580 dual-core 2.0GHz processor with HyperThreading technology, which allows it to process up to two threads in one cycle (as long as actual hardware resources such as suitable registers within the processor are available at any one point of time). To find out more about HyperThreading, we've summarized it in this article.It's worth stressing again that unlike the majority of the smartphones in the market, the ZenFone 6 does not run on ARM processors. There are only a few mobile devices that are powered by Intel processors, and the more prominent ones are the Acer Liquid C1, ASUS Fonepad Note 6, and Fonepad. Since both camps have touted their superiority in performance, it will be interesting to see how the x86-based Intel Atom processor fares against the ARM processors in phones targeted at the same market.
We will be comparing the ZenFone 6 against the ZenFone 5, HTC Desire 816, Huawei Honor 3X and Xiaomi Redmi Note.
Quadrant Results
Quadrant evaluates a device's CPU, memory, I/O and 3D graphics performances.
Due to its slightly higher clock speed for its CPU
and GPU, the ZenFone 6 is able to perform 20% better than the ZenFone 5.
However, both Intel Atom dual-core processors are no match for the
quad-core (Desire 816) and octa-core processors in the Honor 3X and
Redmi Note.For example, the Redmi Note trashed the ZenFone 6 in the
Quadrant benchmark by about 61%. However synthetic benchmarks like these
don't tell the whole story. Read on and you might be surprised.
3DMark (2013)
Originally developed as a PC benchmarking tool, 3DMark is now expanded to support multiple platforms including Android OS. The Ice Storm benchmark is designed for smartphones, mobile devices and ARM architecture computers.For an in-depth understanding of 3DMark for Android, do head over to our article, "3DMark - Android Device GPU Performance Review." In a nutshell, 3DMark consists of three test sections:
3DMark Ice Storm is an OpenGL ES 2.0 benchmark test that uses fixed off-screen rendering at 720p then scales the output to fit the native display resolution of your device. Ice Storm includes two graphics tests designed to stress the GPU performance of your device and a physics test to stress its CPU performance.
3DMark Ice Storm Extreme raises the off-screen rendering resolution to 1080p and uses higher quality textures and post-processing effects to create a more demanding load for the latest smartphones and tablets.
3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited is used to make chip-to-chip comparisons of different chipsets, CPUs and GPUs, without vertical sync, display resolution scaling and other operating system factors affecting the result.
The ZenFone 6 emerged top in the respective 3DMark
test sections; it had a 25%, 6% and 5% lead over the runner up in all
three tests.
SunSpider JavaScript
SunSpider JavaScript helps measure the browsing performance of a device when processing JavaScript. It not only takes into consideration the underlying hardware performance, but also assesses how optimized a particular platform is at delivering a high-speed web browsing experience.
The ZenFone 6 clinched another win in the SunSpider
Javascript benchmark; it is the only phone of the lot to have a score
below the thousand millisecond mark. In fact, the ZenFone 6 performed
better than some recent flagship smartphones such as the LG G3 (982.6ms)
and Sony Xperia Z2 (940.8ms). So far, it's looking to be a stellar
performer.
Real World Usage Experience
Synthetic benchmarks aside, we are glad to say that
the ZenFone 6 did not suffer from the occasional stutters and freezes
that we experienced on the ZenFone 5. User navigation was smoother and
more responsive, although there is still room for improvement. As
mentioned in our review of the ZenFone 5, the ZenUI is ASUS's first
attempt at developing a new interface for its mobile devices and it will
probably take some time for the company to refine it.
Imaging Performance
One of the key features of the ZenFone series is the PixelMaster camera technology running under the hood. We've done a dedicated article on the PixelMaster camera technology, so remember to check that out. Improving upon the ZenFone 5, the ZenFone 6 comes with a 13-megapixel rear camera sensor with an aperture of f/2.0. Let's see how the 13-megapixel shooter performs in our standard imaging test below:
And how does the 13-megapixel rear camera of the
ZenFone 6 fare against the other phones of its class? We threw in the
HTC Desire 816, Huawei Honor 3X and Xiaomi Redmi Note for comparison's
sake.
As you can see, the photos taken by the ZenFone 6 and
Desire 816 turned out to be more pleasing. You would also notice that
both phones captured a good level of details, as evidenced by the more
legible words at the top and bottom (next to the dice).
Low-light Performance
Image source: ASUS
For the past two years, we've seen how phone makers
shifted their focus to improving low-light photography on their mobile
devices. Two notable brands, HTC and Nokia, have developed innovative
camera technologies - UltraPixel and PureView -
for their high-end smartphones. Starting with the ZenFone 5 and 6, ASUS
also developed a unique shooting mode, the Low Light mode, in its suite
of PixelMaster camera technology.
In a nutshell, ASUS' Low Light mode combines four
adjacent pixels into one and image processing algorithms are applied to
increase the light sensitivity by up to 400% and color contrast by up to
200%. In terms of hardware, the f/2.0 aperture will let in more light
to the camera sensor, which is essential in low-light photography. It is
important to note that photos taken in this mode are at 3-megapixel resolution.
As expected, the ZenFone 6 performed better than the
rest in low light photography. If you zoom in, the image taken by the
ZenFone 6 isn't as sharp as the rest because the Low Light mode results
in a 3-megapixel shot, whereas the other photos are taken at a higher
resolution. It is important to note that the usage of this mode
post-processes the shot to gather data from the adjacent pixels to
recreate one pixel and this robs the native image resolution to be
downsized to just a 3MP shot.
What about the ZenFone 6's low light performance
against the ZenFone 5? Are there any differences between the two when it
comes to using Low Light mode? Let's check out the photo below:
Due to the slightly higher megapixel count (3MP vs
2MP) of the low light shots, the ZenFone 6 has a slight upper hand in
low light conditions. Colors are more vibrant (e.g. look at the color of
the strawberries) and the image is also less 'noisy'.
Battery Performance
Our standard battery test for mobile phones includes the following parameters:• Looping a 800 x 480-pixel video with screen brightness and volume at 100%
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity turned on
• Constant data streaming through email and Twitter
For a 6-inch device to last as long or even slightly
longer than some of its 5.5-inch counterparts is an impressive feat. The
ZenFone 6 lasted more than 8 hours in our standard battery test, which
is about 10 minutes longer than the Desire 816. In fact, the ZenFone 6
managed to last 48 minutes longer than the Redmi Note! In the context of
the ZenFone 5, the larger ZenFone lasted 50% longer.
Its power consumption is also relatively high
compared to the Desire 816 and Honor 3X; the ZenFone 6 drew about 20%
more power. Nonetheless, ASUS managed to keep the power consumption on
the ZenFone 6 below that of the Redmi Note and is in fact just about the
same levels as the ZenFone 5. Considering that the ASUS ZenFone 6 is
the only 6-inch device compared here, its results are commendable.
Portability
We measure the portability of a device by calculating its battery life to (weight x volume) ratio. Since it is the only 6-inch phone in this comparison, the ZenFone 6 obviously has a bigger footprint than the other phones and did not fare as well despite its better battery life. For those curious, the 6.1-inch Huawei Ascend Mate managed just 0.31 in this index, while the Sony Xperia Z Ultra only clinched an index of 0.22. Comparatively, the ZenFone 6 is far better. And as reported in the graph here, you just have to look at the 'smaller' Xiaomi Redmi Note's standing to appreciate that the ZenFonce 6 offers a pretty good portability index.
Real World Battery Performance
But benchmarking gives only one view to the above
assessment. To give you a more realistic understanding on how the
ZenFone 6 fared under real world usage conditions, we included
screenshots of the usage and history graphs based on this reviewer's
usage.
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- The device logged onto the 3G network because the phone does not support 4G LTE connectivity.
- The device logged onto Wi-Fi connections from time to time.
- The typical usage for this reviewer includes making some voice calls, texting via WhatsApp, capturing some photos and sharing them on social networking sites, the occasional web browsing via Pulse News Reader, and emailing.
Conclusion
Retailing at S$299 (promotional price on ASUS Online Store) or S$329 at physical retail stores, the ZenFone 6 is one of the most affordable all-round capable phablet you can get in the market at the moment. Being more affordable doesn't necessarily means its performance is compromised.On the contrary, the ZenFone 6 is capable of holding its own against other phablets in its category and in fact, has an edge over them in design, build quality, benchmarking performance, imaging performance and battery life. The biggest friction point about the ZenFone 6 is its massive form factor, which may be a deal breaker for some consumers. While the implementation of one-hand mode addresses the problem to some extent, it is hard to overlook the challenges in handling a 6-inch device.
Making a choice
If you are considering between the ZenFone 5 and ZenFone 6, we would say it depends on whether you want a form factor that is easier to handle or a larger device with more screen real estate and better battery performance. If handling a larger device isn't an issue for you, we recommend the ZenFone 6 as the additional cost of S$80 (based on the listed prices in ASUS Online Store) is a small sum to pay to get better overall performance and double the battery mileage.We obviously cannot ignore the elephant in the room, which is the S$199 Xiaomi Redmi Note that's going up against both the ZenFone 5 and 6 products. Its price tag will be the main reason for attracting consumers over to its camp while it delivers an acceptable performance for its value. Taking into account the better handling and endless software customizations offered by MIUI, the Redmi Note can be seen as the better deal for many consumers.
However, there is a catch; if you want the Redmi Note, you probably have to count on your lucky stars to grab one of the 5,000 units that will go on sale every week. So far, it has proven to be a frustrating affair for many consumers as the phones typically get sold out in less than a minute. The first batch took only 42 seconds for stocks to be depleted while the second batch took 75 seconds. The most recent sale saw 5,000 units snapped up within 55 seconds.
If lady luck is not on your side, grabbing an ASUS ZenFone 6 off the Online Store may be a feasible option. In any case, the ZenFone 6 delivers a smoother usage experience, better overall performance - be it in benchmarks, imaging quality, even under low light, battery life - and a much larger screen. In essence, the ZenFone 6 is a much more polished phablet. Given the price differential you need to top up for the ZenFone 6, these improved attributes easily make up for that cost.
So apart from the size differential, the main question you should ask yourself is, would you settle for an average phablet at the cheapest price possible, or a good phablet at a reasonable price? The choice is yours.
