This is one of their "BackTo5" smartphones that they introduced months ago. We just had a chance to borrow it recently and with a new batch of new options that came in from August to September, is Asus Zenfone 5 (2018) relevant at this time?
On UI like what I experienced on Zenfone 5Q, it is quite the lightest ZenUI that I got so far and it made it even better with a more powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor but I noticed that the enjoyment will just last for a few hours even though I am always eager to wipe out every single app that I am already done. Even with their "booster" option in the pulldown menu, it always give me for about 1.8 GB of RAM remaining out of 4 GB RAM. By the way, the version that I played was as of June 2018. Less Asus-based apps too that are not that important which means less stress in your everyday usage.
Display was one of the best that you check right now in the under 20k price range. Some might not like if to compare with others it has a bigger notch this time but if you are into clarify, ZF5 2018 pleased my eyes right on the spot.
Connectivity was excellent on this device thanks to the said Qualcomm SoC. Got no problems on calls, texts, mobile data, WiFi, GPS, NFC and even the OTG support
On benchmarks, we got the usual numbers on Antutu. No complains with the 7 out of 9 sensors that we seen inside the device including gyro
On batttery, another thing that I like on ZF5 2018 as I can squeeze it out on this thing on heavy usage for 30 hours with 5 1/2 hours of screen on time. Although the standard charger did not have it but I confirmed thru one of their officials that it supports QC 3.0 charging as I tested it with a powerbank with the said feature. Video battery rundown test gave us at 15 hours and 20 minutes.
On camera, if you are a almost-a-pure auto shooter but in a high-midrange budget - ZF5 2018 is definitely a no-brainer. They had a huge jump in terms of quality. Good image processing time and color production. The camera modes are also beefy including a full-pledeged pro mode which does the job well
Asus Zenfone 5 2018 rear camera samples
Auto to 18:9 to HDR auto comparison
Normal to HDR comparison
Asus Zenfone 5 2018 auto to bokeh mode selfie camera samples
On extras, I still don't get that they only included the radio app in the pulldown menu and not on the app drawer that to the point that some people from Zenfone-based Facebook users or even first-time buyers of ZF5 2018 might think that it does not have that feature. I would love to see it as a normal thing - in the app drawer. With their DTS-enabled audio, I do not like that move especially on the audio jack which later on, I chose to listen on customized settings
In between our review days, Zenfone 5 2018 just made a price change from Php 19,995 to Php 17,995 which for the overall specs to price ratio, Asus PH should make it even lower for at least Php 16,995 with the recent arrival of two more powerful Helio P60-smartphones, a possible counterpart with SD 660 SoC and two of them has 6 GB RAM and a smaller notch (not to mention the one with flagship Kirin 970 smartphone at Php 2,000 less). ZF5 2018 only has 4 GB RAM and possibly, it might go toe-to-toe on auto camera shooting. For Php 1,000 more, ZF5 2018's might-be good reasons to still buy this one - more reliable on 4K video, lighter UI and more app support on multi-window mode. To this smartphone to be on the conversation for under 20K price bracket, the promise of Android 9.0 Pie update, put that radio app on the app drawer, better RAM management, better sound on 3.5 mm audio jack and put it at least Php 16,995. For now, it's 3.75 out of 5 for Asus Zenfone 5 2018
