ASUS Zenfone 3 Deluxe review

ASUS made quite a splash in January last year with the mid-range Zenfone 2, with the device offering impressive specifications and features that were coupled with a very budget-friendly price tag. This is a practice that has becoming increasingly common since then, with a lot of OEMs jumping on the "high quality, affordable price" bandwagon, and has also become a growing trend in the flagship space as well.

• ASUS Zenfone 3 review
• ASUS Zenfone 3 Family Hands On

This year, ASUS has released a high-end Deluxe edition along with the two mid-range Zenfone 3 variants, to better compete in this growing smartphone category. Is ASUS' latest flagship offering a compelling option in the face of stiff competition? We find out, in this comprehensive ASUS Zenfone 3 Deluxe!

Design

Expectations are high when a word like "Deluxe" is tacked on to the name of a device, and the ASUS Zenfone 3 Deluxe does deliver in terms of design. As expected from a flagship smartphone, the build quality of this device is fantastic, and unlike its mid-range siblings that utilize a metal and glass construction, the Deluxe edition features a full metal unibody design.

Chamfered edges around the front and back, a sloping, curved back, and rounded corners and sides all make for a device that provides a smooth and comfortable feel in the hand. It is fairly thin, with a thickness of just 7.5 mm, which gives it a sleek look, but even more impressive is the fact that the Zenfone 3 Deluxe features a truly full metal construction.

You won't find any plastic antenna lines as is seen with every other smartphone with a metal body, and ASUS claims that this is the first smartphone to achieve this. This choice doesn't seem to inhibit the phone's ability to pick up a wireless signal, which makes you wonder why we haven't seen this already, especially from much larger OEMs.

Like previous Zenfone devices, you will notice ASUS' signature pattern of concentric circles above the display, on the bottom chin, and along the power button and volume rocker that are both located on the right side. Up top is the headphone jack, and at the bottom are the USB Type-C port and a single speaker unit. On the left side is the SIM and microSD card combination slot.

The devices uses capacitive navigation keys, but instead of embedding a fingerprint scanner into the capacitive home button up front, ASUS decided to keep the sensor on the back. The fingerprint scanner features a thin rectangular design which is unlike the circle or square sensors that we are used to seeing with other smartphones.

Display

The Zenfone 3 Deluxe comes with a large 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a 1080p resolution. This screen is not going to stack up to a Quad HD display in terms of sharpness, particularly if you are planning to use this phone for VR, but it certainly more than gets the job done and actually looks really great.

You get bright and vibrant colors, excellent viewing angles, high contrast, and deep, inky blacks, which are expected features of a Super AMOLED display. The large display makes it the perfect size for playing games and watching videos and movies. It also comes with some handy features that are becoming increasingly common, including a blue light filter, and the ability to tweak the display and color settings to have the screen look the way you want it.

Performance

Under the hood, the Zenfone 3 Deluxe comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor that is backed by the Adreno 530 GPU and a whopping 6 GB of RAM. This is the processing package that powers the majority of 2016 flagships, plus more RAM than the standard, so unsurprisingly, performance isn't an issue with the smartphone.

The device handles everyday tasks like opening, closing, and switching between apps, browsing the web and social media, and a whole lot more, without a hitch. Gaming is very enjoyable, and multi-tasking is a breeze, with you able to a  have numerous apps open in the background, including a couple of games, without any signs of slow down. Despite ASUS' heavily skinned version of Android, the Zenfone 3 Deluxe manages to provide a very fluid experience.

Hardware

64 GB, 128 GB, and 256 GB are the options available in terms of built-in storage, which is further expandable up to an additional 256 GB via microSD card. However, keep in the mind that the second SIM slot doubles as the microSD card slot, so users will have to choose between dual SIM capabilities or expandable storage.

As mentioned, the device comes with a single speaker unit at the bottom which sounds fine and gets decently loud. It's not going to compare to a phone with stereo or front-facing speakers though, and as is the case with any bottom-firing speaker, it is very easy to cover up when holding the device in the landscape orientation.

The different design of the fingerprint scanner from the back doesn't take away from how accurate it is, with it able to unlock the device every single time. However, it isn't the fastest sensor out there, and there have been a few instances where it took two to three seconds to wake and unlock the phone. I'm also not a fan of the fact that there is no haptic feedback or vibration when using the scanner, so there is no way to tell that you are actually unlocking your phone when you are doing it blindly.

The Zenfone 3 Deluxe comes with a decently-sized 3,000 mAh battery, but in my experience, the battery life leaves much to be desired. Light usage will allow for a full day of use, but even slightly heavier usage that involves watching videos on Youtube and playing games will mean that you will need to charge your device in the middle of the day.

Heavy gaming will cause rapid battery drain with any smartphone, but I noticed that it was much faster with the Zenfone 3 Deluxe when compared to other flagship smartphones I've used recently like the Galaxy S7 Edge, Google Pixel, and OnePlus 3T. The phone typically lasts about 8 to 9 hours off the charger, which is significantly shy of what I would normally expect to get a full day's worth of use. The phone does support Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 though, so at least it doesn't take a long time get it back to a full charge.

Camera

The Deluxe comes with a 23 MP rear camera with a f/2.0 aperture, optical image stabilization, and a laser autofocus system. Up front is an 8 MP shooter with the same aperture, and it works pretty well to cover all your selfie needs. A slew of beauty mode settings to take a better selfie are available to use with the front-facing camera, that can hide blemishes, change your skin tone, widen your eyes, and thin out your face.

The camera app is packed with a variety of features, and comes with 20 different shooting modes, including beautification, low light, depth of field, time lapse, and more, so there is a whole lot you can do with this camera. The built-in manual mode is surprisingly well fleshed out. Apart from the usual granular controls for white balance, exposure, ISO, shutter speed, and focus, you also get a built-in histogram and a horizontal level so you can get a perfectly straight shot every time.

With a 23 MP shooter, you might expect the photos to be very well detailed, but that unfortunately just hasn't been the case. The color reproduction and dynamic range are pretty good, but the images lack a lot of detail and sharpness, even in daylight shots. Shots do look fine overall, but zooming in is when you can really see the detail start to break down, and everything just appears rather soft.

In well lit situations, the shutter is nice and fast, but in low light conditions, it slows down drastically. The image quality also deteriorates and OIS doesn't seem to be of any help here. There is a lot of noticeable noise and blooming in the highlights, and the overall image is just soft and lacking in detail or sharpness. It takes a good two or three seconds for the camera to capture a shot in low light, and that makes it really difficult to get a shot that was in focus. Any movement before you are sure that the camera has taken the picture will result in a blurry image.

What is impressive about the camera experience is all the features and shooting modes that are available, but quality of images it is able to capture is a little underwhelming to say the least.

Software

On the software side of things, the Zenfone 3 Deluxe is running Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with the Zen UI on top. While many OEMs have been streamlining their user interfaces, AUS has gone in the opposite direction. The Zen UI changes a lot of the Android experience, and comes jam packed with a ton of features which may or may not be all that useful.

If you prefer something more simplistic, the Zen UI can certainly feel a touch overwhelming. Some of the elements also feel slightly outdated. For example, the app drawer still houses all the widgets, which we haven't seen on stock Android since the Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean days.

The out of the box is also very animation heavy, and while they do look good and flashy, some of the animations are quite long and can make something as simple as opening an app from a folder take more time that it should. You do have the option some of these, like the home screen scroll effects and folder animations to something shorter, but if you stick with the regular settings, it will make the experience feel a lot slower.

The Zen UI is very reminiscent of Samsung's TouchWiz from a few years ago. It is very bright, colorful, has a lot of cartoonish icons, and comes pre-installed with a handful of ASUS's own bloatware applications. The experience can feel incohesive and bloated, but it isn't all bad. There are some features that are useufl, such as double tap to wake and sleep, a one handed operation mode, and a robust themes store that lets you change the look and feel of the UI.

Specifications

Display	5.7-inch Super AMOLED display 1080p resolution, 386 ppi
Processor	2.15 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 Adreno 530 GPU
RAM	6 GB
Storage	64/128/256 GB expandable via microSD card up to 256 GB
Camera	23 MP rear camera, f/2.0 aperture, OIS, laser autofocus, dual LED flash 8 MP front-facing camera, f/2.0 aperture
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 4.2 NFC GPS + GLONASS IR USB Type-C (USB 3.0)
Battery	3,000 mAh
Software	Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Dimensions	156.4 x 77.4 x 7.5 mm 170 grams

Gallery

Pricing and final thoughts

So there you have it for this in-depth look at the ASUS Zenfone 3 Deluxe! The device is priced at $499.99 which isn't a bad price tag, but there are several other smartphones out there like the Axon 7 and the new OnePlus 3T that undercut this price, while offering very similar experiences.

The Zenfone 3 Deluxe features a beautiful design, a great looking display, and comes with a ton of features, but so do a lot of other smartphones, and the Deluxe just falls short in too many key areas to make it really stand out from the crowd.

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It’s official: Xiaomi won’t launch a flat screen version of the Mi Note 2

Back in October, Xiaomi launched a high-end smartphone by the name of Mi Note 2. Suitable for more demanding users, the Mi Note 2 features the Snapdragon 821 processor, 4/6 GB of RAM, a 22.5 MP camera with an f/2.0 aperture and the option of either 64 or 128 GB of storage. But what makes it stand out is its 5.7-inch 1080p AMOLED display that is curved on both sides, just like the one found on the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge.

About a month ago, we reported that Xiaomi might release another edition of the Mi Note 2 with a flat screen. The device was spotted on TENAA — the Chinese equivalent of the FCC — and we were hoping that it would hit the market eventually. But unfortunately, it has now been confirmed that the device will not see the light of day: Zang Zhiyuan, Xiaomi's marketing director, made the announcement recently on the company's official blog.

See also:

Hugo Barra: "Xiaomi could sell 10 billion smartphones and not make a profit"

2 weeks ago

Xiaomi's fans probably aren't too happy with the news, as a lot of them were expecting to see the smartphone launch soon. By offering a version with a flat screen, the Chinese manufacturer would probably be able to sell the device at a lower price point when compared with the curved screen model, which retails for around the equivalent of $410 (4 GB RAM) and $480 (6 GB RAM) in China, by today's exchange rates.

What are your thoughts on this subject? Would you like to see a flat screen version of the Mi Note 2 hit the market? As always, let us know down below.

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Snooper’s Charter: What you need to know about the UK’s new surveillance laws

The Investigatory Powers Act 2016, known colloquially as the Snooper's Charter, is the UK's new surveillance scheme which grants more power to police and other services to investigate online activity. The legislation was recently passed by the House of Lords and House of Commons, and is now legally binding, despite criticism that it would undermine the population's right to privacy. Below are some key details about the bill.

What is the Snooper's Charter?

The Snooper's Charter is a UK surveillance initiative which provides more authority to government departments to investigate greater amounts of online data.

The legislation stipulates that internet providers and phone companies must collect and store customer browsing data for 12 months and allow police and other authorities to access it. This would involve internet service providers holding records of when, where and which websites have been accessed, and by whom.

Additionally, security services and the police will be granted further power to hack into individuals' computers and phones, including the ability to download information, and install software to trace individual characters typed, if provided with a warrant.

How will the Snooper's Charter affect me?

In terms of day-to-day online experience, the Snooper's Charter is unlikely to affect how the internet is used and online content consumed. To be clear, that is not to say that the changes won't have a far-reaching impact, only that those using the internet are unlikely to encounter a difference in how it operates.

The key impact it will have on UK citizens is their loss of privacy. While the legislation doesn't allow the government to access the content of individual messages sent or web pages accessed, it does provide access to the metadata, which many argue can still be used to identify details about a person's private life.

Additionally, it's said that security services could be called upon to hack an individual's phone to eavesdrop on conversations and that attempts could be made to decrypt encrypted messages, in special cases. The individual wouldn't necessarily have to be suspected of criminal activity for this to occur either.

See also:

15 best Android VPN apps

October 28, 2016

Can I avoid the surveillance measures?

Using a private VPN network will put a step between you and others who may attempt to monitor your online activity (government bodies or otherwise) – but none of the commercial VPNs available are truly anonymous and untraceable. Likewise, anonymity network Tor is often recommended as a free way to keep your online activity private, however, there are still questions over how secure this is also.

Should the government wish to investigate an individual it may be difficult for them to avoid complete scrutiny simply through use of a service like Tor or a VPN – but these are likely the best options for now. It also bears noting that visitors to the UK will also be affected, as roaming data will also be logged and recorded because it occurs on local networks.

How have people responded to the Snooper's Charter?

Tim Berners-Lee, founder of the world wide web, said that the Snooper's Charter has "No place in a modern democracy – it undermines our fundamental rights online," while NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden decried it as "The most intrusive and least accountable surveillance regime in the West."

In its defence, UK Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: "The government is clear that, at a time of heightened security threat, it is essential our law enforcement and security and intelligence services have the power they need to keep people safe. The internet presents new opportunities for terrorists and we must ensure we have the capabilities to confront this challenge. But it is also right that these powers are subject to strict safeguards and rigorous oversight."

As of the time of writing, an online petition to repeal the law has accrued more than 150,000 signatures.

When will the Snooper's Charter come into effect?

The previous bill, the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act 2014 (DRIPA), must first be replaced and the Home Office has stated that some of the provisions in the bill will require extensive testing. The new Investigatory Powers Act likely won't come into full effect until 2017.

What are your thoughts on the Snooper's Charter? Is it a necessary security measure in the modern age or an abuse of privacy and freedom? Give us your thoughts in the comments.

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Deal: Buy the LG G5 or V20 and get a free LG TV

We've just found a great deal for anyone who's thinking of buying a high-end LG smartphone: Best Buy is giving out a free 32-inch LG LED 720p Smart TV to customers who buy either the LG G5 or V20.

But as always, conditions do apply, as the smartphones have to be activated on either Sprint's or Verizon's network if you want to score the free TV. But even so, it's still a great deal. Especially for those who were already thinking of getting in bed with the above-mentioned carriers.

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Best LG V20 cases

18 hours ago

If you're interested in snagging this deal, head over to Best Buy's website by clicking the button below. Simply place your order for the G5 or V20 and the free gift will be automatically added to your cart. If you decide to opt for the LG G5, you'll also receive a 3-piece accessory bundle free of charge that includes an extra battery — which is always useful — a charging cradle, and a USB-C cable. Nice!

Get the LG G5 or V20

Even though Best Buy doesn't mention for how long the deal will be available, we expect that it won't last for long, so, you'll probably want to move fast. Let us know if you went with the G5 or the V20 in the comments below.

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Xiaomi’s latest Mi MIX flash sale goes live later today

Xiaomi's latest Mi MIX flash sale goes live later today (December 6). Xiaomi's bezel-less smartphone has been made available in limited quantities previously, selling out in 10 seconds on its first occasion and in 30 the second time around. Another 10,000 units will be go on sale via the Xiaomi online store later today.

The Xiaomi Mi MIX is Xiaomi's new concept phone, featuring an end-to-end display that occupies more than 91% of the device body. It comes in a 4 GB RAM/128 GB internal storage version or a 6 GB RAM/256 GB version, both of which sport a Snapdragon 821 processor and a 4,400 mAh battery.

See also:

Xiaomi: It doesn't make sense to launch the Mi MIX in other markets

October 26, 2016

In our review, we praised the aesthetics of the device – there aren't many similar smartphones on the market – but noted that its design led to a handful of usability problems.

The Mi MIX is priced at 3,499 yuan (~$509) for the 4 GB version or 3,999 yuan (~$581) for the 6 GB version, but they're unlikely to come to markets outside of China. If you want to try and get your hands on a Mi MIX, head to the Xiaomi store at the link.

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Report: Galaxy S8 to ditch the 3.5mm audio jack

The 3.5mm headphone jack has already disappeared from a number of high-end smartphones this year, and it appears that Samsung could be the next manufacturer to follow suit. According to SamMobile's sources, the Galaxy S8 will not only feature a USB Type-C port for data, just like the Galaxy Note 7, but will also use it exclusively for audio too.

If true, those hoping to use their existing 3.5mm headphones with the Galaxy S8 will likely have to faff around with a USB Type-C adapter to extract audio from the port's side pins, as we've seen from the likes of the Moto Z and the iPhone 7. Hopefully Samsung will include an adapter in the box, but it's unlikely that the company will provide customers with a way to charge and listen to their phone at the same time. On the plus side, the Galaxy S8 will be compatible with upcoming digital USB Type-C headphones, that may offer up some advanced features for listeners. The inclusion of a USB Type-C port should also allow Samsung to support a selection of fast charging methods too.

See also:

3.5mm audio vs USB Type-C: the good, bad and the future

July 12, 2016

One of the other potential upsides of ditching the 3.5mm jack is that it will allow Samsung to save some space inside the Galaxy S8. This could be used for a larger battery or some other hardware features. Given that the Note 7 battery fiasco now looks to have been caused by a lack of space for the cell to expand in, this might be a safe move by Samsung.

As part of this new batch of leaks, the Galaxy S8 is also expected to stick with a QHD display resolution, rather than making the jump to 4K as previously rumored. However, Samsung is apparently using a new material to lower power consumption and will opt for a standard RGB pixel layout rather than a Diamond Pentile array. This increases the number of pixels from 7,372, 800 to 11,059,200, which should provide more vivid colors and will increase the pixel density for use in virtual reality headsets. The handset is also tipped to come with integrated stereo speakers provided by its latest acquisition; Harman.

See also:

(Update: Smart AF trademark) The Galaxy S8 may provide better selfies

3 hours ago

We won't know all of the official details about the Galaxy S8 until around the Mobile World Congress 2017 in February, but the phone is shaping up to make some key changes from its predecessor. What do you think about this report, is the loss of a 3.5mm headphone jack a deal breaker for you?

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Google Wi-Fi Review

Made by Google.

That's the tagline the company touted leading up to its October 4th 2016 reveal, where it announced the release of a whole new hardware experience for its customers. This was a turning point for Google, as it gave them much more freedom and flexibility over each and every component that went into the Google devices consumers use every day.

The new hardware suite is wide ranging, with some, like the Pixel, pushing into premium device territory, while others such as Google Home push the boundaries of what our upcoming A.I. overlords are currently capable of.

Google Wi-Fi however, represents an incredibly simplistic version of a usually cumbersome and complicated technology. Through the use of a simple app, sleek setup, and a design reminiscent of its air-freshener like cousin, general consumers and power users alike can get their fix from this old-but-new mesh networking technology.

This is the Google Wi-Fi review.

History

If you're not familiar with the concept of "wireless mesh networking" technology, it's time to get acquainted.

A mesh operates by using multiple networking nodes that talk to one another and spread a signal across a wide area. Only one node needs to be physically plugged into the internet, while the other nodes in the system simply accept the frequency being output by the base node and use their own bands to once again spread the signal in a wide radius.

Like many technologies, mesh was first developed for military purposes, but eventually made it's way into the consumer sector using common appliances such as radios. Over the last decade, mesh technology remained concentrated in enthusiast communities, though it did see some use in large scale projects such as city-wide Wi-Fi. Now, Google is looking to take advantage of this technology to help solve the problem of strong, reliable wireless that can cover your entire house, no matter how big it is.

Google says they have been wanting to use this technology for years, and began working on it about four years ago. They wanted to get the idea of a simple, easy to use Wi-Fi network into the wild as soon as possible however, which is why we have Google OnHub. Now that the company is taking control of its hardware with the new #madebygoogle campaign, it can work with component manufacturers to achieve great hardware at an affordable price. Enter Google Wi-Fi.

Specs

Google Wi-Fi can support both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies. The routers optimize the network each device is using every five minutes, and will switch bands when one network is less congested. This happens only while a device is idle, so don't worry about your movie getting interrupted every few scenes.

The routers support IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, and use WPA2-PSK. The AC1200 2×2 Wave 2 Wi-Fi expelled from these routers can help them talk to one another and expand the mesh outwards. There is no limit to the amount of routers you can use in your mesh, so whether you have a small house or a large warehouse, you should be able to cover your space completely.

Features

Network Management

Google Wi-Fi will automatically switch your devices to the strongest, fastest connection. It can detect congestion on the network and will actively work to move your devices to the connections that will work best. It can support speeds up to about 600Mbps, so don't worry about not being able to stream that 4K movie.

Network Assist

Network Assist is a feature within the Google Wi-Fi app that will help you get the most optimal experience possible. After setting up your access points, Network Assist will tell you if you can maximize your network speed by moving some of your points to other rooms. Since only one access point actually requires direct wiring to the network modem, your other points can be placed anywhere they can get power.

Wi-Fi Pause

Google knows that parents might want to limit their kids' use of the internet, which is why they implemented a Wi-Fi pause feature. Simply select the device you want to halt, and the Wi-Fi will be "paused" on that device. I asked Google if they were planning on implementing a scheduling feature to allow data at certain times, but they said this was a feature that would likely come later, as they wanted to focus more on making the app simple and intuitive for now.

Smart-Home Control

Through a special site, on.here, guests can access and manipulate smart-home appliances like Phillips Hue lights. These lights are currently the only working devices, but Google said they are planning on adding other devices in the future. In addition, Google Wi-Fi supports IFTTT, meaning you can control your Nest thermostat and other things using the app.

Prioritized Devices

If you're a gamer or a movie buff, there are probably specific devices that you want to prioritize to make sure you get the fastest speeds possible. Google has added a "Priority Devices" feature into Google Wi-Fi to let users select the devices they want the highest speeds on.

Device Grouping

You can group a set of devices using labels, meaning you can control multiple connected devices at once. For example, if you want to shut off all the kids' internet at a particular time, you can do that.

Speed Test

Say goodbye to speedtest.net and hello to native testing. Google Wi-Fi can perform a speed test right in the app, making it easy to see if you are having issues. The app will also tell you what kind of video quality you can stream, going all the way up to 4K.

Guest Networks

You can create guest networks through the app as well. This network can have special permissions separate from the main network, but can be set up to still have access to connected devices like Chromecasts. This way you can allow a babysitter or guests in your Airbnb to use features you don't mind sharing, and not the features you don't.

Setup

Setup of the network is actually extremely straightforward, which is what Google was pushing with this product.

First, simply connect one of the Google Wi-Fi routers to your network switch and power it on via Ethernet and USB-C respectively. After that, your phone should auto-detect that Google Wi-Fi is in your home. It will prompt you to download the Google Wi-Fi app if you don't have it already, then have you set up the network.

Simply scan the QR code on the bottom of the router, and Google Wi-Fi registers the router with Google cloud and verifies the encrypted key. You can then name your network, and proceed to select what room your core node is in.

The network knows if you got the (1) or (3) pack, and will prompt you to set up the other nodes if you have more than one. You don't even have to scan these, they should be ready to go. Once it registers that the nodes are in the network, it will have you choose a name and location, and will move you on to the next device.

Each router connects to one another using a 5GHz connection, so it is best to place them about 1500 square feet away from one another if possible. Google wants to promise a consistent 100Mbps to all users if possible, and says you should never experience any drops due to issues with the router. If you do, they have 24/7 customer service that you can call to get your issue fixed right away.

Conclusion

Google Wi-Fi was born out of Project Carrowack, which aimed to solve the problem of home-based Wi-Fi solutions being manufactured for industrial purposes. It allows admins to perform network checks and take control of connected devices and is ridiculously easy to set up via the included app. Simultaneous Band Switching allows for the absolute fastest speeds available on each device, and smart-home control allows for admins and guests alike to take advantage of the future of home technology.

If you're looking for routers that are simple but powerful, this is for you.

You can pick up one node for $129, or three for $299.

Buy Google Wi-Fi (1) Buy Google Wi-Fi (3)

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