ASUS ZenFone 5Q Review (ZC600KL): Five and Fighting

ASUS Zenfone 5Q is the company’s first ever smartphone with “first true quad camera,” the handset is gunned directly to the popular selfie mid-range market. The ASUS Zenfone 5Q is practically priced at Php 16,995 to compete with other best in class mid-range smartphones. The appeal of the ZenFone 5Q has been proven and tested in this market; which is primarily the most lucrative segment in the Philippines' smartphone industry.

ASUS ZenFone 5Q Review

ASUS ZenFone 5Q Review

Aside from the selfie department, the handset also offers a decent muscle to power your daily tasks. On top of that, its chic design is also a scene-stealer when seen on the wild.

ASUS ZenFone 5Q Review Philippines

From the inside, the ASUS ZenFone 5Q is powered by the ever-efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 and is coupled by 4GB of RAM with clean implementation of Android. Join us in this review and see if this smartphone is worth buying for.

Display

One of the good things about the ASUS ZenFone 5Q is its display. It comes with a 6-inch FHD+ LCD panel with 18:9 aspect ratio. Bezels are also in good shape, though not bezel-less, the handset's front panel is enough to tag it as a good-looking phone.

ASUS ZenFone 5Q Display Review

In terms of the quality, the Zenfone 5Q's display does not differ from its more expensive brethren (Zenfone 5 and Zenfone 5Z) - the display has high contrast, has good viewing angles, and registers sharp photos with high brightness.

Design

Design-wise, the ZenFone 5Q looks like a fusion of the Zenfone 3 and the Zenfone 4 Selfie. The handset is a candybar with chamfered metal frame. It's also defined by a glass front and plastic backing that is polished like glass.

ASUS ZenFone 5Q Design Review Philippines

The edges of the front glass curve into the screen which makes swiping more convenient. Make no mistake, the screen is flat but the implementation of the 2.5D glass is such a joy to look at.

The whole design philosophy is definitely great. The downside, the body is not as sturdy as its flagship-grade brothers. On top of that, the Zenfone 5Q is also a fingerprint magnet. Yes, the stunning finish gets stained with fingerprints the moment you touch it. Check out our Unboxing and First Impressions article to get a good grip of the handset's design.

Performance and Multimedia

There's a Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 underneath. This is coupled by 4GB of RAM for smoother multitasking and app launching. In our time of using the handset, it can definitely take everything thrown at it with ease. There might be occasional stuttering but it's nothing that could bother you.

ASUS ZenFone 5Q Review: Antutu Score

In our Antutu Benchmark test, the ZenFone 5Q scored 86,872. This means that using the ZenFone 5Q as a gaming device is a breeze. Popular titles like PUBG Mobile, Mobile Legends, and Arena of Valor are very playable.

There are occasional lags, especially when you're running graphic-intensive titles. And if I am to nitpick, I could say that I felt a slight warming at the back  panel when the handset is under too much load.

Video streaming with the Zenfone 5Q will definitely be a worthwhile experience. It also offers a decent-sounding speakers for video playback and music streaming.

Camera

The ASUS ZenFone 5Q's camera system is also a winner. The handset boasts the quad-camera set-up (two on front and two at the back).

The rear camera has a 16MP sensor paired with an 8MP 120-degree wide angle camera. On the front, the Zenfone 5Q packs a 20MP selfie camera and another 8MP 120-degree wide-angle lens. For most part, the rear camera took lovely photos. It is also consistently good on most lighting conditions. The ASUS ZenFone 5Q's rear camera focuses quickly and offers great detail. Color accuracy is also one of its strongest points.

However, camera is not consistent when it comes to lowlight environment. Sometimes it takes decent photos with frequent noise. You can use the LED flash to help light up subjects which makes the output instantly better.

The selfie camera also capture great selfies with good detail and color accuracy. Of course, the Beautification feature is also one of the best selfie suites in town. 

Check out ASUS Zenfone 5Q sample rear and selfie photos below.

ASUS ZenFone 5Q Camera Review
Lowlight with Wide-Angle Lens

ASUS ZenFone 5Q Camera Review Lowlight
Lowlight Outdoor

ASUS ZenFone 5Q Camera Review Outdoor
Super Resolution Sample Photo

ASUS ZenFone 5Q Camera Review Good Lighting
Outdoor Good Lighting Condition

ASUS ZenFone 5Q Camera Review Outdoor 2
Outdoor Good Lighting

Outdoor Great Lighting

Outdoor Sample Photo with Wide Angle Lens

Outdoor Good Lighting Sample Shot

Outdoor Environment Sample Shot

Outdoor Shot

Lowlight with Wide-Angle Lens

Indoor Good Lighting Condition

Macro Shot Sample

Selfie Samples

Battery

With regards to the battery life, the ASUS ZenFone 5Q is also a worker. In our PCMark Battery Test, the handset scored atmost 10 hours and 45 minutes. In our battery loop test, the ZenFone 5Q continuously played a 1080p video with 50 percent volume and 50 percent brightness in 12 hours and 40 minutes. 


For a moderate user, the phone can definitely last a day. If you wouldn't mind charging every night, then you're going to be cool with the ZenFone 5Q's battery.

Software

Out of the box, the ASUS Zenfone 5Q comes with Android 7.1.1. Nope, it doesn’t come with the latest Android 8.0 Oreo, nevertheless it is still skinned with ASUS’ ZenUI 5.0. The skin is much simpler that the previous iterations of ZenUI.


From the Homescreen, you can get the Google cards when you swipe from the left, and you can access the apps when swiping up. ZenUI 5.0 Android customizations are quite minimal, which is also a good thing. It’s simply fast and easy to use.


The iconic Manage Home feature can still be accessed by pressing and holding the display while in Homescreen. Other useful ASUS apps are also included like the Selfie Master, Game Genie, Mobile Manager, etc.

The Wrap

In the pile of fiercely contested mid-range market, the ASUS ZenFone 5Q is a competitive phone. It's refreshing to see a candybar phone with 18:9 Aspect Ratio that resembles the older generation ZenFones. The build is a refresh of what Zenfones are all about in terms of design.

The handset may be a capable mid-range phone but it does not stick out in the sea of capable mid-range smartphones. But the ASUS ZenFone 5Q is still a great buy in its own right. From its chic design and glossy back finish, to its buttery internals, fast software, and great battery life, it's difficult to not consider it in your next smartphone purchase.

At Php 16,995, it poses an edge over its closest competitors - Vivo V9 and OPPO F7 - by being more affordable. The ASUS ZenFone 5Q is mainly for ZenFone fans who wanted to have a cheaper option for a new hardware. It's also a great smartphone for content consumption due to its display and speedy software.


Stuff We Like:

Premium Design
Clean Software Implementation
Good Selfie and Rear Cameras
Face Unlock
Dedicated SIM

Stuff We Don't Like

Older Version of Android
microUSD port
Smudge Magnet Body

ASUS ZenFone 5Q Specs

6-inch FHD+ IPS LCD display, 1080 x 2246 pixels at 402 ppi
18:9 Aspect ratio, 75.95% screen-to-body ratio
2.5D curved glass
Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 SoC
2.2GHz Octa-core processor
Adreno 508 GPU
4GB RAM
64GB Storage, up to 400GB expandable
Dual rear camera: 16MP IMX363 (f/2.2, PDAF) + 8MP 120-degree wide-angle
2160p video at 60fps
Dual front camera: 20MP + 8MP 120-degree wide-angle
4G LTE, 3G, 2G
Dual SIM (nano)
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac dual-band
Bluetooth 4.1, A2DP, LE
GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS
NFC
FM Radio
3.5mm audio jack
MicroUSB 2.0
Fingerprint Sensor, Rear mounted
Face Unlock
Gyroscope, Proximity, Compass, Accelerometer Sensors
Android 7.1.1 Nougat, ZenUI 4.0
160.6 x 76.2 x 7.8 mm, 168 grams
3300mAh Li-Ion battery, non-Removable
₱16,995 Official Price in the Philippines
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