So I have had this phone for about a month, and there are somethings I like and dislike, but overall I really like the phone!
Size/Physical Appearance
So this is my first phone with a button on the back, and its actually really not that bad at all. I know a lot of previous reviewers had an issue with a back button, but you get used to it really quick. The size of the phone is actually kinda big for one handed use, and it does get a but annoying trying to swipe down the notification bar with one had. I do have NOVA which I have created a swipe down gesture, but I can see it being annoying for some people. Overall, I think the phone looks pretty nice.
I'd rate an 8/10
Display
The display on this phone is actually pretty good. Visible in bright daylight with no problem. The display is not as good as the S6, but its comparable to other phones for sure. I think this phone has naturally better colors than the S6, because the S6 display is more warm (has a subtle orange tine), whereas this is more natural, especially the whites. This phone does a some themes to change the UI, and they are actually quite good. Not that much of a variety, but I'm sure more will come later.
I'd rate an 8/10
Sound
Now this is one area where the phone falls short. The back speaker on this phone is not loud at all. In fact, even at full volume of playing music, at times it may be a bit muffled. If you have a high quality sound file on the phone, it sounds better, but still not too loud. Now don't get me wrong, its not so quiet that you wouldn't hear it at all, but you may not hear the phone ring if you left the phone in the other room.
The sound with headphones on this phone is also not really good when compared to other devices. I have played the same song with headphones on my S6, and on the Zenfone 2, and the difference is quite noticeable. The Zenfone sounds more like the treble has been boosted up and bass driven down. Sure there is an equalizer in the stock music player, but it really doesnt help much at all. Now im not sure if this specific problem is with my phones, but sometimes I would listen to music on the headphones, and the bass is completely gone. I would play the same song on my S6 and the music is full, but quite opposite on the Zenfone 2. It is only after I restart the Zenfone 2 that the sound fixes itself. Seems like a bug to me
I's rate this a 6/10
Performance/Speed
This is where this phone shines. When I say this phone is fast, I mean fast. The 4GB of ram really does justice with this phone. There is no lag, no stutter, no slowdowns, no anything. I have about 5 different games on my phone, and I switch between them, as well as other apps, and it works really well with no stutter in between. I can even say this phone performs better than the S6 in terms of speed, but its probably because of the 4GB of ram.
I'd rate this a 10/10
Camera
The camera is usually one of the most important features of a phone to me, and the Zenfone 2 I can say will not be my daily camera driver. The camera is not exceptional. It is not really an "above average" camera when compared to the latest smartphones. However, it does have some good points. The macro mode on this phone is actually pretty good and works well. I am able to get close and focus on a point with ease and no problems. When taking a photo in daylight, the photo will be good but it depends on how u position the camera. One wrong position and you will get a backlight so bright you would think you took the picture in heaven. I don't thine the colors are truly accurate after taking a picture. It will either oversaturate a bit, or will under saturate and make the picture look like there is an Instagram filter on it. The camera has a lot of modes. Some will be useful some will not be. However, one of the great modes is the low light mode. Although there will be some noise after taking a pic, it will turn a dark room into one that looks like 5 lamps are on. In other words, it works really well!
The front camera is really not too great either. When compared to the S6, there is not much light being drawn in (thanks to the S6's F1.9 aperture) There difference is quite clear actually. I would call it a near-average camera, but certainly not above average
You can see my sample pics here: http://forums.androidcentral.com/as...rison-zenphone-2-v-galaxy-s6.html#post4468755
I'd rate this a 6/10
Battery
So the Zenfone 2 has a non-remoable battery, but does have a removable back cover. I am actually quite impressed with this battery. This certainly lasts me more than a whole day. I do everything on this phone from listen to music, to play games, to check FB, to read news. I have my phone on auto-brightness, but the battery does last quite long. I would say if I were to use the S6 and the Zenfone 2 the exact same way, the Zenfone 2 would probably last longer, but it does have a bigger battery.
This phone does have power saving modes. Ultra Power Saving Mode is pretty cool, but it mostly changes thing in the background, such as lowered performance and limiting background running apps. It is not like the S6 where it will change the whole display black and white, or change it to a completely different interface. I would say that this may not be needed much since the phone does last quite a while.
I'd rate this a 9/10
______________
Quick Summary
Pros
- Great display
- Great Battery
- Fast fast fast
Cons
- Camera is no on par with other phones (both front and back)
- Back speaker sound is not loud
- Headphone sound is not too good
Overall Rating: 8/10
Size/Physical Appearance
So this is my first phone with a button on the back, and its actually really not that bad at all. I know a lot of previous reviewers had an issue with a back button, but you get used to it really quick. The size of the phone is actually kinda big for one handed use, and it does get a but annoying trying to swipe down the notification bar with one had. I do have NOVA which I have created a swipe down gesture, but I can see it being annoying for some people. Overall, I think the phone looks pretty nice.
I'd rate an 8/10
Display
The display on this phone is actually pretty good. Visible in bright daylight with no problem. The display is not as good as the S6, but its comparable to other phones for sure. I think this phone has naturally better colors than the S6, because the S6 display is more warm (has a subtle orange tine), whereas this is more natural, especially the whites. This phone does a some themes to change the UI, and they are actually quite good. Not that much of a variety, but I'm sure more will come later.
I'd rate an 8/10
Sound
Now this is one area where the phone falls short. The back speaker on this phone is not loud at all. In fact, even at full volume of playing music, at times it may be a bit muffled. If you have a high quality sound file on the phone, it sounds better, but still not too loud. Now don't get me wrong, its not so quiet that you wouldn't hear it at all, but you may not hear the phone ring if you left the phone in the other room.
The sound with headphones on this phone is also not really good when compared to other devices. I have played the same song with headphones on my S6, and on the Zenfone 2, and the difference is quite noticeable. The Zenfone sounds more like the treble has been boosted up and bass driven down. Sure there is an equalizer in the stock music player, but it really doesnt help much at all. Now im not sure if this specific problem is with my phones, but sometimes I would listen to music on the headphones, and the bass is completely gone. I would play the same song on my S6 and the music is full, but quite opposite on the Zenfone 2. It is only after I restart the Zenfone 2 that the sound fixes itself. Seems like a bug to me
I's rate this a 6/10
Performance/Speed
This is where this phone shines. When I say this phone is fast, I mean fast. The 4GB of ram really does justice with this phone. There is no lag, no stutter, no slowdowns, no anything. I have about 5 different games on my phone, and I switch between them, as well as other apps, and it works really well with no stutter in between. I can even say this phone performs better than the S6 in terms of speed, but its probably because of the 4GB of ram.
I'd rate this a 10/10
Camera
The camera is usually one of the most important features of a phone to me, and the Zenfone 2 I can say will not be my daily camera driver. The camera is not exceptional. It is not really an "above average" camera when compared to the latest smartphones. However, it does have some good points. The macro mode on this phone is actually pretty good and works well. I am able to get close and focus on a point with ease and no problems. When taking a photo in daylight, the photo will be good but it depends on how u position the camera. One wrong position and you will get a backlight so bright you would think you took the picture in heaven. I don't thine the colors are truly accurate after taking a picture. It will either oversaturate a bit, or will under saturate and make the picture look like there is an Instagram filter on it. The camera has a lot of modes. Some will be useful some will not be. However, one of the great modes is the low light mode. Although there will be some noise after taking a pic, it will turn a dark room into one that looks like 5 lamps are on. In other words, it works really well!
The front camera is really not too great either. When compared to the S6, there is not much light being drawn in (thanks to the S6's F1.9 aperture) There difference is quite clear actually. I would call it a near-average camera, but certainly not above average
You can see my sample pics here: http://forums.androidcentral.com/as...rison-zenphone-2-v-galaxy-s6.html#post4468755
I'd rate this a 6/10
Battery
So the Zenfone 2 has a non-remoable battery, but does have a removable back cover. I am actually quite impressed with this battery. This certainly lasts me more than a whole day. I do everything on this phone from listen to music, to play games, to check FB, to read news. I have my phone on auto-brightness, but the battery does last quite long. I would say if I were to use the S6 and the Zenfone 2 the exact same way, the Zenfone 2 would probably last longer, but it does have a bigger battery.
This phone does have power saving modes. Ultra Power Saving Mode is pretty cool, but it mostly changes thing in the background, such as lowered performance and limiting background running apps. It is not like the S6 where it will change the whole display black and white, or change it to a completely different interface. I would say that this may not be needed much since the phone does last quite a while.
I'd rate this a 9/10
______________
Quick Summary
Pros
- Great display
- Great Battery
- Fast fast fast
Cons
- Camera is no on par with other phones (both front and back)
- Back speaker sound is not loud
- Headphone sound is not too good
Overall Rating: 8/10
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