Asus rolls out software update to 5.5-inch Zenfone 3 Deluxe (ZS550KL) model

May 5, 2017 Categories: News, Software Updates, Zenfone 3 Deluxe, ZS550KL by 0 Comments

Asus has demonstrated quite clearly that they are working to improve their latest Zenfone models. We have a couple new updates to tell you about, so let’s get to it.

Version: ZS550KL_WW_V23.41.40.6

Date: 2017/05/03

Release Notes:

  1. Lock screen wallpaper slideshow. Change wallpaper every time you wake up your device. And users can go to “Settings” -> “Lock screen” -> “Wallpaper slideshow settings” for setting.
  2. Improve total user experience of shutter speed.
  3. Add “ CAF mode” setting to focus mode.
  4. Fix Camera app’s function problems and improve function reliability.
  5. Improve cell network connectivity.

We noted that Asus hired a large team of photo technology specialists for their Zenfone development. With the number of camera software updates as of late, it’s quite possible this is why. There are seemingly quite a large amount of tweaks that can be made to the software to improve the quality and user experience.

If you don’t get the automatic update notification, go into your settings and click the “check for updates” button.

Here is what the pink Zenfone 3 Zoom (ZE553KL) looks like

May 5, 2017 Categories: Images, Photo Gallery, ZE553KL, Zenfone 3 Zoom by 0 Comments

Is pink your thing? It’s a popular choice but unfortunately it won’t be available in a lot of markets. I don’t believe that it will be in North America but Asia and Europe are options. If you like, check out the pink Zenfone 3 Zoom images below. They are high resolution, not the highest, but definitely full detail at 1000px.

If you’re still waiting for the release date, hold tight. With the marketing ramp up, I think it must be coming very soon. Amazon Canada has a pre order page up so that’s an indication that it must be close. Let’s hope!

Zenfone 3 Zoom destroys iPhone 7 Plus in battery tests

May 3, 2017 Categories: Comparisons, News, ZE553KL, Zenfone 3 Zoom by 0 Comments

Update May 9: The Zenfone 3 Zoom is now available to buy for $329 USD. Check out full details here.

In fighting terms, there is an expression of “no contest”. A whipping. A drubbing. Choose your phrase or your terms for a no contest because that’s what the Zenfone 3 Zoom vs. iPhone 7 Plus battery comparisons prove. It’s not close folks!

We pay a lot for our mobile phones. We should expect a lot from them. Battery life has long been a source of irritation. Have companies dealt with battery life woes? Some have but most haven’t. Asus stepped up with the Zenfone Max series which set out to provide a battery life experience that was far above and beyond consumers expectations.

So when Asus showed the 5,000mAh battery inside the Zenfone 3 Zoom, it was eye opening. However I do not think that the amount of coverage was quite up to the level it should have been at. Perhaps this new video comparison by Asus will help educate people on just how impressive the battery life is on the Zenfone 3 Zoom.

In the video, Asus left the most shocking test result to last. I don’t think they should have done that. The video playback battery life test should have been right at the start of the video to ensure that everyone could see plain and simple, how much better the Zenfone 3 Zoom performed. It’s shocking and I’m not exaggerating!

Video Playback Battery Test – Zenfone 3 Zoom vs. iPhone 7 Plus

  • Zenfone 3 Zoom (ZE553KL) – 7hrs 56min 48sec
  • Apple iPhone 7 Plus – 3hrs 42min 56sec

Difference: 4hrs 13min 52sec

(source: time difference calculator)

More than 4 hours longer video playback on the Zenfone 3 Zoom vs. iPhone 7 Plus.

This is the biggest take away. All the other results are big, but they aren’t as dramatic as the video playback test. It’s actually a bit mind boggling. The Zenfone 3 Zoom is half the price of the iPhone 7 Plus on top of the battery advantages.

Check out the video below and see for yourself:

Screenshots:

Don’t be confused. Zenfone Zoom S is the Zenfone 3 Zoom

May 3, 2017 Categories: News, ZE553KL, Zenfone 3 Zoom, Zenfone Zoom S by 0 Comments

There has been quite a number of articles written over the past few days about some mystery Zenfone Zoom S. Rumors started that it was a smaller version of the Zenfone 3 Zoom. However since that initial buzz, we’ve come to realize that the S is the same as the Zenfone 3 Zoom.

This won’t matter to a lot of you because it’s only Thailand so far and Malaysia and Indonesia being a couple other markets that may have the Zenfone Zoom S rather than the branding of Zenfone 3 Zoom.

Ultimately this is much ado about nothing.

If you are asking that question about when the Zenfone 3 Zoom is coming to stores near you, we are seeking those answers for you. Delayed certainly. However we do expect some Zenfone 3 Zoom pre orders to begin as we’ve just seen in Canada.

 

Amazon Canada reveals Zenfone 3 Zoom price at $479 CAD

April 30, 2017 Categories: Canada, News, Price, ZE553KL, Zenfone 3 Zoom by 1 Comment

Well it looks like we’ve discovered the price of the Zenfone 3 Zoom (ZE553KL) in Canada. We see a pre order price of $479 CAD which means the price will like be right around $399 USD.

ZE553KL-S625-3G32G-BK

As you may recall, the initial Zenfone 3 Zoom pre order pages had different prices from retailer to retailer. With those US listing now down, we have yet to see an actual retail price but count on the $399 USD as being the retail price. Part of this pricing may depend on the RAM and storage because the Canada SKU doesn’t match the US SKU that was spotted earlier.

So a bit of a surprise here. We see this Canadian variant with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. This is less than the Zenfone 3 (ZE552KL) which has 4GB of RAM and 64GB Storage. However, the less RAM and less storage is of minor consequence. You get a LOT in the Zenfone 3 Zoom that is simply with more.

Breaking down this $479 price, the original Zenfone 3 (ZE552KL) retail price was $429 CAD at launch. It has since dropped in price. So for the extra $50 you are getting a AMOLED display which for me is worth the price of admission. You get the dual cameras and you get the whopping 5,000mAh battery as well. Yes less RAM and less storage which are not ideal but should be inconsequential when it comes to user experience. The microSD card slot is more than suitable. It could be said though that a cameracentric phone should never be equipped with 32GB of storage. I guess those AMOLED displays don’t come cheap because they are in such short supply these days.

It’s interesting that the initial listings in the US showed a 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. Those listings have been removed so I’m wondering now if the Zenfone 3 Zoom has been dialed down a bit in terms of RAM and storage in both countries. It’s not clear if this configuration is exclusive to Canada or if the US will get a more esteemed 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. We should have those details very soon.

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