LikeFlipping cameraUninterrupted displayLong lasting batteryRefresh charges
Don’t LikeNot water resistantPhone will get hotNo assist for wi-fi chargingSteep improve in value
More than a yr after Asus impressed with a flipping digicam on its flagship Zenfone 6, the corporate is again with the Zenfone 7 Pro. The cellphone’s standout function is a swiveling digicam that easily flips excessive of the cellphone to take selfies. It additionally sports activities a big uninterrupted show, 5G connectivity, a blazing-fast processor, quick refresh charges and an enormous battery. Alongside the 7 Pro, Asus launched a base variant known as the Zenfone 7.With these up to date options, Asus bumped up costs considerably from the $499 Zenfone 6 to ranges which are powerful to justify. The higher-end Zenfone 7 Pro (the cellphone I acquired for evaluate) prices roughly $960 (roughly £715 or AU$1,290) when transformed from euros, whereas the Zenfone 7 begins at round $840 (about £625 or AU$1,130). Although the Zenfone 7 Pro comes with improved options like Qualcomm’s most superior chipset and a greater flip digicam, you don’t get the worth for cash that made the Zenfone 6 such a wonderful buy.
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The cellphone comes with some drawbacks too. For instance, it isn’t water-proof and there isn’t any assist for wi-fi charging. Plus the cellphone can get uncomfortably scorching when charging or performing demanding duties. If you are dead-set on displaying off a flip-camera cellphone to your pals, then I’d advocate going for the extra inexpensive Zenfone 7. The former seems an identical to the 7 Pro and serves up most of its core options, however has much less storage (128 GB versus 256GB), a special chipset (Snapdragon 865 versus Snapdragon 865 Plus) and no optical picture stabilization within the digicam. Meanwhile, the Zenfone 6’s launch value was $499. If an IP score is necessary to you, the OnePlus 8 Pro is an efficient Android various inside an identical value bracket. Unfortunately, Asus would not at present have plans to formally rollout the cellphone within the US. But the Zenfone 7 and Zenfone 7 Pro are anticipated to be launched in elements of Europe in late September for 699 euros and 799 euros respectively, so that they’ll be fairly simple to import. Asus added a 3rd telephoto lens to the Zenfone 7 and 7 Pro (pictured right here).
Sareena Dayaram/CNET
Asus doubles down on that flip cameraSince the flip digicam influences many elements of the Zenfone 7 Pro’s aesthetic, it is tough to speak about design with out first addressing its most distinctive bodily function. The digicam unit consists of three lenses that flip from again to entrance excessive of the cellphone (and vice versa) with a click on of a button. This permits you to use its larger decision cameras, that are usually reserved for the again of the cellphone, as front-facing shooters. Because of this, Asus eradicated the entrance digicam altogether and in consequence delivered a very uninterrupted show, freed from any notches or cut-outs that might usually home a lens. Like its predecessor, the Zenfone 7 Pro has a notch-less show.
Sareena Dayaram/CNET
For the Zenfone 7 telephones, Asus upgraded the flip-cameras’s motor from the Zenfone 6, to 1 that it says is smoother, extra sturdy and extra versatile as a result of addition of a unique approach sensor. The firm says the flip-cam can endure 200,000 flips, lasting you about 5 years or twice so long as the Zenfone 6. In the week or in order that I’ve spent with this cellphone, I’ve had enjoyable utilizing the flip digicam. I feel it is a inventive, intelligent and well-thought out resolution that really integrates with helpful options. But, regardless of Asus’ claims, I fear the fixed rising and re-emerging of the digicam unit might make it vulnerable to extra put on and tear. For its half, Asus has added an auto-retract safety function to its flip digicam, which might sense when the handset is in a freefall. I examined this by dropping it on to a mattress from a peak of roughly 4 ft and might affirm it really works.
Sareena Dayaram/CNET
The Zenfone 7 Pro is cumbersome, however has a terrific screenApart from the avant-garde flip digicam setup, the sheer dimension and weight of the Zenfone 7 Pro was the following factor I observed about it. It’s one of many heaviest telephones I’ve used and I typically discovered myself navigating it with two fingers. The cellphone I used to be given for evaluate was fully black apart from the again which featured a darkish inexperienced sheen. Overall, the colour scheme was a bit too darkish for my style, however I can see why folks would recognize this end. (The bundled charger and cable are black too.) On the proper aspect of the handset, there are two buttons, particularly, a quantity management fingerprint reader that doubles up as an influence button, which will be customised. The aspect fingerprint labored seamlessly and was simple to get accustomed to, however I do favor an in-display reader. The Zenfone 7 Pro incorporates a 6.67-inch AMOLED show with speedy 90Hz refresh charges. Most telephones have a 60Hz show, which suggests the display screen refreshes 60 instances a second. But it isn’t as excessive because the 120Hz screens on the OnePlus 8 Pro and Galaxy S20. With the sooner display screen, the animations look smoother, whereas textual content and pictures are crisper. The cellphone runs on Android 10 out of the field and has a personalized pores and skin often called Zen UI. It jogs my memory of inventory Android, however general I discovered it clear, easy and simple to navigate.
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The Zenfone 7 Pro’s three camerasThis digicam took sharp and vibrant photos within the daylight and even in overcast climate circumstances. Low mild imaging was principally good too and it did nicely brightening up some environments, particularly after I used Night Mode. At instances, nevertheless, photos regarded barely artificially sharpened.Out of the Zenfone 7 Pro’s tri-camera module, it is the telephoto lens that may be a new addition. It permits for 3x optical zoom and as much as 12x digital zoom. At this degree, photos had been blurry and grainy. If you propose on utilizing zoom to seize particulars of faraway topics, you will not obtain that with this cellphone, sadly. At 3x optical zoom, pictures look crisp in sunny circumstances, however tended to look grainy in trickier lighting environments. Overall, this digicam undoubtedly wasn’t best-in-class, however then once more this cellphone appeals to individuals who need a flipping digicam and never essentially the most effective digicam.As for video, there was assist for as much as 8K video at 30 frames per second with EIS. It makes for large file sizes and is not a video function I anticipate to make use of a lot. But because of the flip cam, you could have the choice of constructing use of this high-tech function from the cellphone’s entrance.Example of ultra-wide shot taken in daylight.
Sareena Dayaram/CNET
Taken on default settings.
Sareena Dayaram/CNET
Example of 3x optical zoom. The picture turned out crisp, vibrant, and true-to-life.
Sareena Dayaram/CNET
This {photograph} was captured utilizing the Zenfone 7 Pro’s devoted night time mode setting. You can see that it has been brightened in comparison with the picture under that was taken with out night time mode.
Sareena Dayaram/CNET
Sareena Dayaram/CNET
Taken indoors with pure mild pouring by the window. The digicam did a great job of taking an in depth and color-accurate picture.
Sareena Dayaram/CNET
The Zenfone 7 Pro’s 5,000-mah battery lasts nicely Asus prides itself on the “unbeatable endurance” of its Zenfone batteries, so I used to be trying ahead to experiencing its seemingly countless battery life and it did not disappoint. It lasted me practically 23 hours with what I’d describe as reasonable utilization. Meaning I used my cellphone for about an hour of Zoom video calls, WhatsApp messaging, studying information on varied social media apps and taking some pictures. When I went to mattress, I muted the cellphone and did not change on airplane mode, which might have preserved battery life much more. Also, after I constantly performed an HD video on Airplane mode for battery checks, the cellphone lasted for greater than 15 hours at 50% brightness.When the battery did lastly run out, it managed to hit a 50 p.c cost in 30 minutes and get totally revitalized in 100 minutes or so, which is barely longer than the quoted 93 minutes. Like the Zenfone 6, Asus determined to stay with an enormous 5,000-mAh battery for the Zenfone 7 collection. Though the capability did not improve with the brand new iteration, it added extra battery-care options and a sooner 30-watt charger. What actually stood out was the diploma of customization Asus offered when it comes to battery-care options and charging. One new function is the choice to allow all the time gradual charging, which the corporate says helps protect battery capability in the long term. Another instance was the higher restrict charging function, which lets you restrict how a lot you cost your battery, say to 90% as an alternative of the total hundred. Again, Asus says that is as a result of recurrently hitting a 100% cost degrades battery capability over time.At the guts of the Zenfone 7 Pro is the brand new Snapdragon 865 Plus processor, which is meant to be 10% sooner than the 865 processor discovered on most premium Android telephones. In my expertise, it was extraordinarily snappy and completely succesful. Nothing bought in its manner. Other fancy telephones that use this processor embody Samsung’s pricier Galaxy Note 20, Note 20 Ultra and Oppo’s Find X2 and Find X2 Pro. The Zenfone 7 Pro is backed up by 8GB RAM and 256GB of inside storage, and held up extraordinarily nicely in benchmark checks.Zenfone 7 vs. Zenfone 7 Pro
Asus Zenfone 7
Asus Zenfone 7 Pro
Display dimension, decision
6.67-inch AMOLED; FHD
6.67-inch AMOLED; FHD
Dimensions (Inches)
6.49 x 3.04 x 0.37 inches
6.49 x 3.04 x 0.37 inches
Dimensions (Millimeters)
165.08 x 77.28 x 9.6 mm
165.08 x 77.28 x 9.6 mm
Weight (Ounces, Grams)
8.11 oz; 230g
8.11 oz; 230g
Mobile software program
Android 10
Android 10
Camera
64-megapixel (major digicam), 12-megapixel (ultra-wide), and (telephoto)
64-megapixel (major digicam), 12-megapixel (ultra-wide), and (telephoto)
Front-facing digicam
None
None
Video seize
8K
8K
Processor
Snapdragon 865
Snapdragon 865 Plus 5G
Storage
128GB
256GB
RAM
6GB/8GB
8GB
Expandable storage
as much as 2TB microSD card
as much as 2TB microSD card
Battery
5,000 mAh
5,000 mAh
Fingerprint sensor
Side
Side
Connector
USB-C
USB-C
Headphone jack
None
None
Special options
Flip digicam, 5G enabled, 90Hz refresh price, 30W charging
Flip digicam, 5G enabled, 30W charging, 90Hz refresh price
Price off-contract (USD)
$840 (transformed from 699 euros)
$960 (transformed from 799 euros)
Price (GBP)
£625 (transformed from euros)
£715 (transformed from euros)
Price (AUD)
AU$1,130 (transformed from euros)
AU$1,290 (transformed from euros)
First printed Sept. 1.