The Zenfone 5z has been around since last year and was the flagship to beat with its photography prowess. But is it still worth buying it in 2019?
The 5z has been ASUS’ flagship phone for about a year now. It was known for its performance ang great mobile photography prowess. But does it still hold up against new models in 2019? Let’s find out.
What’s in the Box
Unfortunately, I won’t have a proper unboxing of the device because my review unit lacks some accessories with it. But on paper, the device should come with a Power/Charging Brick, a USB Type-C cord, a Headphone Jack, a Clear Rubber Case, the Quick User Guide, and the Warranty Card with it in the box.
Design and Build Quality
The 5z also have the same design language as the other Zenfones of its generation. But the most important thing that I should point out, is how its built. It has some weight to it and feels really solid to hold. This let’s you know that it is a very robust phone.
The device has a glass back. It doesn’t have a mirror finish but I prefer it that way though. It also has very noticeable notch on the display. I’m not really a fan of notches, but I don’t mind them as much as before. However, new models that are coming out of the market have a much less intrusive teardrop notch or a punch hole camera, which are way better than a big notch.
Performance
Having a Snapdragon 845, it performs flawlessly. That is to be expected since it does share the same processor as the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and Google Pixel 3. It’s fast and snappy, I didn’t experience any lag at all with my time with it. I also haven’t encountered any uncomfortable heating issue.
Below are some benchmark results. For some reason though, 3DMark keeps on crashing when I start Sling Shot.
AnTuTu 
Geekbench 4 
PCMark
- AnTuTu Benchmark = 263,639
- Geekbench 4 = 9,088
- PCMark = 7,976
Camera Quality
The Zenfone 5 lineup’s focus was mobile photography, with their slogan #WeLovePhoto. So it’s no surprise that the Zenfone 5z would have a great camera. It does have a Pro Mode which I personally like. But I think shooting in Auto is perfectly fine thanks to its clear and sharp captures. I’m even surprised at the quality of the front-facing selfie cam.
I could go on and on about the quality of its captured photos, so I guess some sample photos should speak for themselves.
Audio Quality
Speakers are pretty loud and clear; you won’t need a separate speaker unless you definitely want to. It has a headphone jack, it’s a plus for those who like it (like me. Lol).
Battery Life
Battery life is what you would expect from a flagship phone. It can last you for a whole day, even with my use (I’m a power user). I do, however, would love if its capacity would be larger. Because most flagship nowadays have around 4,000 mAh or higher battery capacity.
Other Features
The 5z has a fingerprint sensor on the back, and you can also unlock it with Face Recognition. However, newer flagships nowadays have an in-display fingerprint scanner that’s quickly becoming popular among users. Another feature that the 5z lacks is the ability to charge wirelessly, which to be expected since the phone was launched a bout a year ago. But still, if you are buying a flagship phone in 2019, you certainly would consider having these features.
Zenfone 5z Specifications
| Dimensions | 153 x 75.7 x 7.9 mm |
| Weight | 155 g |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 |
| GPU | Adreno 630 |
| RAM | 6 GB/8 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB/128 GB/256 GB (microSD up to 2 TB) |
| Display | 6.2-inch IPS LCD, 1080 x 2246 |
| Rear Camera | 12 MP, f/1.8 120° wide-angle camera |
| Front Camera | 8 MP f/2.0 |
| Battery | 3,300 mAh |
| OS | Android 8.0 Oreo |
| Color | Meteor Silver Midnight Blue |
| Price | Php 29,995 |
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