The pricing for the Asus Zenfone 3 puts it squarely in competition with the OnePlus 3, but does it make it's case?
The Asus Zenfone 3 was one of the more awaited smartphones of the year. However, Asus pulled some nerves with the price it chose for the device. This put it squarely in competition with the OnePlus 3, perhaps the best smartphone of this year. The question is, should you buy one over the other?
The Asus Zenfone 3 excels in the camera department, but given that it costs the same as the OnePlus 3, is this enough?
Camera
From a specs point of view, the Zenfone 3 and OnePlus 3 are pretty evenly matched in this department. Both have 16MP Sony IMX298 sensors, with f/2.0 aperture and 1.132 micrometer pixel size. In theory, there should be no difference between the two cameras. That is, if software didn’t play a role in the matter.
Images taken in bright sunlight from the Asus Zenfone 3 (above) and OnePlus 3 (below)
On outdoor and well-lit conditions, the OnePlus 3 creates brighter images with better details, and better dynamic range. However, the differences aren’t easily perceivable, and most won’t see them unless the cameras are viewed side-by-side. Images taken by the OnePlus 3 also appear a tad warmer than those from the Zenfone 3, which many would like.
Having said that, when we moved to low light conditions, the results can be drastically different. The Asus Zenfone 3, by default, has its “optimisation” mode set to Auto. Hence, when clicking under low light, the camera artificially brightens photos, even when the flash is off. The effect makes the camera a split second slower, and the images are quite soft as well, but the end result is evidently worth it.
Photos taken in extreme low light using the OnePlus 3 (below) and Asus Zenfone 3 on optimised mode (above)
It is worth noting that with its optimisation mode off, the Zenfone 3’s camera is exactly the same as the OnePlus 3 under such extreme, or other low light conditions.
Overall, there’s really little separating the two cameras. The OnePlus 3 pulls slightly ahead of the Zenfone 3 sometimes, but the Asus device can provide better low light performance. The embedded galleries will help you make a better decision. Personally, we prefer the OnePlus 3, for its brighter images in regular light conditions.
Note: The fact that the Zenfone 3 can’t record 4K videos can also be a bummer for some.
Performance
As far as the performance is concerned, the specs pretty much sum up the difference. The OnePlus 3 is over 50% faster than the Zenfone 3, and it performs better on games, regular usage and multi-tasking. Using the two phones together, it’s easy to ascertain that the OnePlus 3 switches between apps faster, loads games faster, is smoother at transitioning between data and Wi-Fi, and so on. The Zenfone 3 doesn’t hold a candle to the OnePlus 3 in this department.
Heat
The blazing fast performance, though, does generate more heat on the OnePlus 3. To be clear, while neither device generated abnormal heat readings, the OnePlus 3 is easier to heat up. Upon taxing the processor with heavy games and video recording, the Zenfone 3 reaches 37 degrees Celsius after much effort. However, the OnePlus 3 reaches internal temperatures of 40 degrees under the same stress.
Note: Photo is representational
While this is expected from a high-end processor, it is worth noting that the results are in line with some of Asus and Qualcomm’s claims. The Snapdragon 625 is built on the 14nm process, and promises low power consumption and less heat.
Battery
In terms of battery life, the Asus Zenfone 3 is the better performer. It provides about a day and a half's worth of battery life, which is more than OnePlus 3's one-day battery life. Practically speaking, this doesn't make a big difference, but it's still a point in the Zenfone 3's favour.
Bottomline
The battery is the only area where the Zenfone 3 is a clear winner. Hence, the OnePlus 3 is the more value for money smartphone on overall terms. Its camera is pretty much the same as the Zenfone 3, while it still provides a full day's worth of battery life with notably better performance. If you want the best smartphone in this price bracket, the OnePlus 3 is the one to go for.
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