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Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom
Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom
Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom
Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom
...


6.6/10
Informr score
The Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom currently has an Informr score of 6.6 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 14 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Plenty of storage
  • Huge battery
  • Optical zoom
  • microSD support
  • Solid performance

What's bad

  • Old Android version
  • Bloated UI skin
  • No Band 12 LTE support
  • No NFC

Looking to upset the mid-tier market, Asus’ latest release packs a dual-lens rear camera and a massive battery into an affordable package. But mid-tier phones often mean sacrifices. Did Asus make the right cuts with the Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom?

Reviewers have put the phone to the test and are chiming in!

Let’s see what they’re saying…

Asus’ earlier phones were flashy affairs with plenty of flair but questionable quality. The Zoom brings a subtler look with a sturdy build quality that reviewers loved. The all-metal chassis features a brushed finish with a fingerprint scanner on the rear of the case. TechRadar summed up opinions on the phone’s design well, saying, “It’s stripped down, simple and clean. There will be people who are looking for a bit more of an identity here, but coming off of last year’s phone, this is definitely a step in the right direction.”

Flipping the phone over, you’ll find a 5.5-inch 1080p AMOLED screen. Reviewers loved the display, applauding it for its wide color range and great contrast. Android Police said, “The ZenFone 3 Zoom's panel is mostly on-target from what I can see. The white balance is slightly warm, but not so much as to be immediately noticeable.”

However, the capacitive buttons below the screen are not back-lit. This annoyed many reviewers.

As a mid-tier phone, the processor in the Zoom is an older 2Ghz octa-core Snapdragon 625. However, pairing it with 3GB of RAM appears to have paid off for Asus. Performance reviews are positive. From email and messaging to the latest games, reviewers had no issues with stuttering, lag or overheating.

The software was a different tune. Reviewers were quick to point out that Android 6.0 Marshmallow is nearly a year old already. While Asus has mentioned a Nougat update on the horizon, there’s no guarantees until it’s released. To make matters worse, reviewers found Asus’ ZenUI cumbersome. Mobile Syrup summed up opinions well, saying, “But while the display is lovely, what’s underneath it is less so—namely, the mildly bloated ZenUI 3.0 skin running over Android 6.0.1 that is carried over from the Asus Zenfone 3.”

Fortunately, there’s 128GB of internal storage and microSD support. So even with the bloat, you should have no problem fitting your favorite apps, movies and other media on the phone.

One of the most hyped features of the phone is its dual-lens 12MP camera. One lens is a standard lens while the other is a 2.3x zoom lens. This allows the camera to provide optical zoom without having to slap a protruding lens on the back of the phone. Overall, reviewers were impressed with the camera. PC Magazine said, “In good light the phone takes crisp, detailed shots. Autofocus locks on quickly and noise is fairly minimal. Color reproduction is accurate, though perhaps a little dull if you prefer more saturated colors.”

Another popular feature is the phone’s 5,000mAh battery. The phone smashed most battery life benchmarks, with Tom’s Guide saying, “The ZenFone 3 Zoom's battery life is so good, it seems like a prank… In fact, the ZenFone 3 Zoom's battery life is long enough to catapult it to the No. 1 spot on our longest-lasting phones page.”

The only complaints found related to charge times. Without support for newer fast charging methods, the phone took many reviewers nearly 3 hours to top off.

Overall, reviewers had a lot of love for the Asus Zenfone 3 Zoom. Combining a unique camera with solid performance and a minimalist design, most felt it offered enough performance for the average user at a fair price. TechRadar summed up opinions well, saying, “While not perfect in its execution, it’s full of crowd-pleasing features and rocks a pleasing design that defies its price point, coming together as a smart buy for just about anyone."


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
2 GHz
Processor
Processor
2 GHz
5.5"
Screen Size
Screen Size
5.5"
12+ MP, f/1.7
Camera
Camera
12+ MP, f/1.7
5000 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Gadgets 360
Gadgets 360

The Asus ZenFone Zoom S is another good option in the sub-Rs. 30,000 price segment. It’s also attractively priced at Rs. 26,999, making it a tiny bit cheaper than the Moto Z2 Play. However, its biggest selling feature - the cameras - aren't what they are hyped up to be. While the rear camera does pe...

- Roydon Cerejo, Gadgets 360
Android Authority
Android Authority

The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom may not be your dream device in terms of optical capabilities, but the camera is pretty good and the phone excels in other areas. Its battery life is hands-down the best we have seen, and the price is nothing to scoff at.

- Edgar Cervantes, Android Authority
PhoneArena
PhoneArena

The Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom is a smartphone in an uncomfortable position. None of its big features – neither its dual cameras nor its giant battery – end up really panning out in quite the way Asus clearly hoped, and while they don't utterly disappoint, they're far from the major selling poi...

- Stephen S., PhoneArena
Gadgets Now
Gadgets Now

As an initial attempt at a dual rear camera smartphone, we appreciate what it has in store for photography enthusiasts and how well it the cameras are tied with the software.

- Robin Sinha, Gadgets Now
Digit
Digit

Overall, the Asus Zenfone Zoom S is a good phone. It has one of the best cameras we have seen from Asus and would easily be amongst the best in its price category. The build quality as well as performance is decent, but definitely could have been better. The design and UI of the phone are better tha...

- Hardik Singh, Digit


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom user manual here.


Asus backs up the ZenFone 3 Zoom with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your ZenFone 3 Zoom has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Asus support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Asus's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.



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Quick view

Screen Size
5.5"

The Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom's screen size is 5.5 inches with 1080 x 1920 pixels resolution.

Processor
2 GHz

There is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 Octa core 2 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 6.0 Marshmallow (Update Available: 8.0 Oreo) operating system (OS).

Camera
12+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 12+ MP, f/1.7 camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 13+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
128 GB

Internal memory is 128 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 2000 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
5000mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 5000 mAh battery. Asus's performance ratings are 2880 minutes, 1500 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

ZenFone 3 Zoom Specs

Overview
Release Date May 9, 2017
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System Android 6.0 Marshmallow (Update Available: 8.0 Oreo)

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 Octa core 2 GHz
Internal Storage 128 GB
RAM 4 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.558 W/kg
Body: 1.55 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included USB Power Adapter, Manual, Headphones, Data Cable
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Yes
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Yes
SIM card size
Nano-SIM
Dual SIM Yes
Connectivity
USB USB Type-C
USB OTG Support Yes
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared Yes
Bluetooth 4.2
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HID, HFP, HSP, PAN
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 2000 GB)
NFC No
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
12+ Megapixels, f/1.7
Zoom
12x digital
Flash
Yes (Dual LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Geotagging, Multi-shot, Night mode, Panorama, Self-timer, Dual camera feature (12 MP 2nd camera), HDR, Slow motion recording, Time lapse
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV
Video Recording Parameters
Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels), 24 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
13+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology AMOLED
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 1080 x 1920 pixels
Pixel Density 404 pixels
Size 5.5 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating Yes
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen, Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 5000 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging Yes
Video Playback Time Up to 360 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 1500 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 2880 minutes
Standby Time Up to 42 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Aluminium
Colors Navy Black, Glacier Silver, Rose GOld
Dimensions [H x W x D] 15.4 x 7.7 x 0.8 cm (6.1 x 3 x 0.3 in)
Weight 170 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof No
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key Yes
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor Yes
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA): Asus ZE553KL, ZenFone Zoom S
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom Reviews
Where to buy Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom
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