Competing with powerful rivals, the Asus Zenfone 3 Laser has its work cut out.
Asus ZenFone 3 Laser
Rs.18,999
The ZenFone 3 Laser’s aluminium alloy chassis, available in silver and gold options, is classy to look at. The slight curve on the sides of the back panel and the matt finish offer a good grip. It tips the scales at 150g, which is on par for a 5.5-inch screen smartphone.
The display (1,080x1,920) does well in terms of crispness, colour richness and brightness.
The ZenFone 3 Laser runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor, with 4 GB RAM, which means it can handle a fair bit of multitasking. The Zen UI interface still comes across as clunky, cluttered and complicated. The 3,000 mAh battery lasts a day and a half with moderately heavy use.
The 13-megapixel optics have laser focus. It does well in good light environments, reproducing colour and detail well. In low light, exposure can lead to the occasional loss of balance.
If it was just about looks, the ZenFone 3 Laser would have been an undisputed winner. However, competitors like the LeEco Le Max (Rs.17,999) are more powerful, while the Lenovo Z2 Plus (Rs.19,999) also offers an uncluttered interface.
