Asus ZenFone 6
Verdict
Key specs
Critic consensus
“With the huge display size of 6 inches in combination with the powerful hardware, the Asus Zenfone 6 A600CG is a really enjoyable phablet. It has a noble and sturdy case with a good build quality. The IPS+ display also offers wide viewing angles as well as good colors. The large amount of memory (2 GB) ensures smooth multitasking. The handling of the phablet is never a problem with the precise and quick touchscreen. Around 12 GB from the internal storage plus up to 64 GB via microSD and 5 GB web storage – this means you can store all important files and multimedia contents on your phone. Thanks to the well-implemented dual-SIM feature and good communication modules, the smartphone is very flexible all over the world and quickly locates your position with the precise GPS module. This flexibility is supported by the enduring battery as well, which is a good thing since you cannot replace it. The main camera of the Zenfone 6 takes decent pictures that look nice on the bright and sharp screen, even though the latter does not support the Full HD resolution. That the quality of selfies is not as good, is not a huge drawback, just like the fact that the update to the current Android 4.4 KitKat is not yet available. The device is very fast, even with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and the handling is very intuitive thanks to ZenUI. If you are looking for a flexible device with a large display and powerful components, then we can recommend the Asus Zenfone 6 A600CG. All in all, the mainstream phablet is convincing device with a very appealing price-performance ratio.”
“The ZenFone 6 is not going to appeal to everyone. It really is huge, so it's not the most portable of smartphones, but if you're ok with that you're going to benefit from a brilliant device for watching TV and movies on the commute. If it's playing games you're most keen on, you might need to look elsewhere as the ZenFone 6 isn't he most powerful of options, but for £250 you'll get a good-looking phablet with satisfactory specs, an impressive camera and a really nice user interface.”
“Like any 6-inch phone the Asus Zenfone 6 is not for everyone, and its huge display could be sharper. But we quite like all its other aspects, particularly its very impressive battery life. Combined with a competitive price this makes for a decent phone-tablet hybrid.”
“Other than minor grouses about its weight, back cover and protruding camera lens, the Zenfone 6 is an excellent device that is snappy and takes awesome shots. It is a plus-sized alternative to the Redmi Note.Of greater concern is the screen resolution, which is a reminder there is no escaping some limitations on an affordable device. The Zenfone 6′s 720p display won’t be as sharp as models packing 1080p (or greater) resolutions on smaller screens. To be fair, those rivals usually cost more too.Still, if you’ve been using a sharper screen than the Zenfone 6′s, then its lower pixel density may take some getting used to. That’s an important point to get a sense of before making a purchase.”
Watch before you decide
In Depth
In Asus’ case, bigger is better as the Zenfone 6 comes with a larger screen and boosted internal hardware. At 6.6 x 3.3 x 0.4 inches, it isn’t a small phone by any means nor is it particularly light at 196 grams. Reviewers warn that its large size isn’t particularly conducive to one-handed use though they add that it is easy to grip thanks to the matte rear surface.
As the name suggests, the Zenfone 6 comes equipped with a 6-inch display. Unfortunately, the screen resolution is only 720p, which produces a less than impressive pixel density of 245ppi. Critics note that there is some softness around the edges of icons and blurring on small text, but add that it isn’t too distracting. Besides this, they found the display good for its price point with natural colors and good viewing angles.
Instead of a quad-core processor, the Zenfone 6 comes equipped with a 2GHz dual-core processor and up to 2GB of RAM. On paper, it might not seem that powerful, but it performed well enough that critics didn’t experience any stutters or pauses when performing basic or more processor intensive tasks. The 3,330mAh battery kept the device running for up to 8 hours when put to battery draining tests. In real-life testing, experts were able to use it for a full day without any issue. As well, the phone comes with up to 32GB of internal storage and a microSD slot.
While the Zenfone 6 uses the same PixelMaster technology as the Zenfone 5, it has upgraded to a 13MP camera. Reviewers were surprised with the excellent detail and color reproduction of the images with Recombu adding, “…we found our photos usually packed plenty of detail of came out perfectly bright…” Even low-light images were fairly clear due to the addition of Low Light Mode. This mode combines four pixels into one and increases light sensitivity and color contrast. While the final images are only 3MP, reviewers point out that the mode reduces noise drastically and provides fairly natural colors. Unfortunately, they also mention that the camera is quite slow, taking a good 2 seconds in between shots.
Experts couldn’t find too much wrong with the Zenfone 6 but warn that its large size might not be for everyone. Trusted Reviews states, “…we quite like all its other aspects…Combined with a competitive price this makes for a decent phone-tablet hybrid.” Hardware Zone adds, “…we recommend the Zenfone 6 as the additional cost is a small sum to pay to get better overall performance…”
What people actually want to know
When was the Asus ZenFone 6 released?
The Asus ZenFone 6 was released on May 20, 2014.
How long does the battery last on the Asus ZenFone 6?
The Asus ZenFone 6 has a 3,330 mAh battery.
Does the Asus ZenFone 6 support wireless charging?
No, the Asus ZenFone 6 does not support wireless charging.
Does the Asus ZenFone 6 have a headphone jack?
Yes, the Asus ZenFone 6 has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Does the Asus ZenFone 6 have NFC?
No, the Asus ZenFone 6 does not have NFC. Contactless payments and tap-to-pair will not be available.
Where can I download the Asus ZenFone 6 manual?
You can view and download the Asus ZenFone 6 manual on our dedicated manual page.
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