Big is not just smartphones became popular, they completely replaced the compact models in the premium segment. But very large smartphones only gaining market share. Yet by the diagonals of more than 6″ to get used, because such smartphones two years ago called plates, and no one and did not occur to carry them in their pockets. However, the demand is there, because the model of content consumption in recent years has changed a lot, and if five years ago we were sitting on the forums with the 2 “screen is happy and this, now look a lot of video and open the regular internet site from smartphones, which are comfortable large screens. I am glad that in this segment appear more or less affordable models, first tightened the Chinese, and now of A-brands appear good models. One of them now look – ASUS Zenfone 6.
Zenfone line was introduced at the beginning of the year, the exhibition CES 2014. We first saw all three models (4, 5 and 6) at the MWC 2014 . Then we were pleasantly surprised, because, in fact, we have quite a good smartphone without -or trade-offs: quality, interesting, productive, with good cameras, and so on. g., but for a completely ridiculous money. While some of the $ 100 offered something which must be sought a lot of excuses to enjoy it, ASUS showed Zenfone 4, quite adequate to the smartphone. For $ 150 the buyer receives 5 “model with all the benefits of modernity, and 200 – a real fablet. And all this with IPS-screen and two slots for SIM cards. Of course, even at home, this value is specified, excluding taxes (though, like at all), and on the way to our devices are gaining significantly in price (again, like everyone else, so compared to other still good). In, has not officially ASUS Zenfone 6 sold, but there are shops that they are imported, and we decided to ask about progress. As it turned out, ASUS Zenfone 6 sold very well, especially in an environment where equipment becomes more expensive.
Design and ergonomics – ASUS Zenfone 6
Body of the novelty tasteful, even Asian. At headquarters, ASUS told us how much effort was spent on the design, and despite the fact that I do not find it any frills, the hand of the designer there is. At least, this is not a faceless piece of plastic. I like that the volume keys are placed where they are convenient to use, taking into account the dimensions of the device, like a smartphone that feels quite thin, thanks to the narrow edges, like the fact that the speaker is not covered surface on which lies ASUS Zenfone 6, and the lens is scratched, because it is slightly recessed into the body. The little things, the attention that is sometimes not given even in expensive flagship. Below the display there is a small metal plate, made in the style of Zenbook.
Arrangement of elements on the body is pretty standard, I will note only the presence of the memory card slot, it is placed under the lid.
Plastic casing, soft-touch, in his hand felt nice. There are several color options, I have burgundy. Acid does not look, I would say – restrained. However, if the severity of a little – is the black version.
Body is large and this is due, of course, with screens 6″, although the scope is also not the most minimal. Small, but can be less. Use your smartphone with one hand is almost impossible, even with the presence of a special mode that reduces the interface. Just a smartphone still need to somehow embrace, not dropping, so you need to use your other hand. However, do not think that the buyers of this smartphone will be sweating about it, it’s big, but for many it is just and necessary. It is not all easy to use smartphone and tablet separately, and then the two devices in one.
Regarding the assembly. At the show I was a little confused by the fact that the body is slightly crunched, but as it turned out, this is one of those cases where the final samples finalized and such unpleasant moments corrected. Under the removable rear cover has a seal that does not creak design under any circumstances. In hand the device feels monolithic.
Despite the fact that there is no protection of the device from falls is not stated, ASUS Zenfone 6 proved tenacious. I do not spend crash tests monitored models, but sometimes life itself manages the preservation of samples. And this time was such a case. I will not describe how long, but I have a smartphone very much fell on the pavement, and then slid on his screen. The fall was such that I simply do not want to make a smart phone, I was sure that the glass breaks. However, in case of damage there is little, only a small dent in the end. Very nice!
On the whole, I am satisfied with ergonomic smartphone, of course, making allowances for the fact that his customers know what the go.
Luggage
The main camera on the device has a 13 megapixel sensor, front camera – 2 MP. Video written in Full HD. The numbers are good, but the quality I was expecting much more simple. Main feature camera – the ability to receive photos and videos in extremely low light. On presentation stands were square boxes, inside which was a butterfly, and where sunlight does not shine in any way except through a small hole, which also leaned against the lens of the smartphone.
I personally tried to get a photo, and a butterfly in the picture was clearly visible, and the pattern on it is legible. Other smart phones with such a task could not cope. This is done not for artistic shots in the dark, but rather in the extreme case, when a picture just needs to be done. In this mode, the photos are in low resolution – 2 MP. When you are in a dark room, the smartphone will suggest to include the appropriate mode.
But in the daylight the photos are very good, considering that it is absolutely not an advanced camera phone. At 13 MP aspect ratio – 4: 3, which is good. At least, I like it a lot more than a widescreen picture with severely distorted edges. Interestingly, in this not fotonapravlennom smartphone camera settings have a huge number of settings. In addition to shooting modes and styles (sepia, contours, b / w, …), there are options such as the management of volume buttons, adjusting the absorption flicker and others. Settings list is huge. When shooting video, there is a software stabilization, when you turn the resolution drops to 720p.
Display – ASUS Zenfone 6
As I mentioned above, smartphones ASUS Zenfone 6 set IPS-display, and it’s cool, considering the cost of the devices. Not to say that the display in the “six” – one of the best I’ve ever seen, but for this price is OK. Resolution – HD, 6 “pixel density is 245 dpi. Expect for such a price Full HD would be unwise, some competitors for a similar price – qHD. See individual pixel can be, but look at the display nicely, no obvious grain. Good viewing angles (for deviations has little distortion, but not critical, without inversion), pleasant colors. Minimum brightness for comfortable reading in the dark, but the maximum I was not enough in the daylight screen loses readability.
The display is covered with protective glass Gorilla Glass 3, again for an inexpensive cool the ceiling. Not saved on the sensor lighting – automatic adjustment there. In the settings, even the curtains, you can enable read-only mode. Many individual applications for this set, then the default is. The entire interface becomes noticeably warmer and at first looks strange, but his eyes quickly become not so tired after prolonged reading. A reading on the 6 “quite comfortable. Except during “Reading”, you can configure and shades of colors separately, this I had not previously met.
Sound – ASUS Zenfone 6
Only in rare cases, I pay special attention to the sound, and this is exactly the case. To begin with, I immediately noticed that there was also a functional standard player, it is generally surprised. Here you can view the music by folder, there is an equalizer, you can login into various cloud services, including dropboks, you can watch your library of those who are nearby.
But even nicer is that the sound quality is devoid of any obvious flaws. Of course, this is not the device for the most demanding, but most fans do not part with suitable media library, I was very happy with the sound, especially when paired with my Klipsch X7.
Specifications – ASUS Zenfone 6
On the back of the phone indicated that stands inside the processor from Intel, namely – dual Intel® Atom ™ Z2580 processor with a clock frequency of 2 GHz. Graphics – PowerVR SGX544MP2. RAM – 2 GB internal – 16. benchmarks such iron shows good results, but more importantly, how it behaves in the work. In the interface no lag, Real Racing 3 comes with maximum graphics settings, but not the maximum resolution (it is minus optimize the game), GTA SA for some reason does not start. But other games are no problem. For example, Dead Trigger 2 is easy on the highest graphics settings.
In general, the performance is good, especially considering the relative budgetary system. Battery capacity – 3230 mAh. That’s pretty much on a full charge will take a standard device for about 3 hours. But if not the most active operation can work out with the device for about 2 days. However, I have enough of it on the day. There is an option power saving mode, where fuel charge can be configured quite flexibly.
Software – ASUS Zenfone 6
Greater emphasis is placed on software. Android version here is not the latest – 4.3, update to 4.4 promised in the near future. But Zen UI like – it is made in a single design, nothing stands out. Standard applications to use nice, for example, the same weather displays all relevant information with beautiful graphics and animation. There are useful applications, for example: Do It Later, where all of the missed events and subsequent reminders, or What’s Next, which shows the band events in the calendar, including the weather and notes. In general, shell functionality, without the tension of unnecessary features, all useful.
Conclusion – ASUS Zenfone 6
Among the competitors for a similar price, especially among the A-brands, you can find smartphones with 6″ display, but with these characteristics if there is, it is very small. Processor Intel, instead of MTK, 2 GB of RAM, IPS-display, 13-megapixel camera, memory card slot and a 3230 mAh battery and an A-brand rather unknown Kitaichik, make this model very attractive. Disappointed with little upgrade to Android 4.4, yet this year the majority of new products are sold with a KitKat, but everything else was on the highest level.
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