Asus Zenfone 3 vs Samsung Galaxy C5 Review + Camera Comparison

With Asus stepping up its mid-range lineup, it surely faces fiercer competition like between the new Samsung Galaxy C series mid-ranger. We put the smaller Asus Zenfone 3 ZE520KL in a comparison against the new metal-clad Samsung Galaxy C5 to find out which Android mid-ranger is better overall.

• Asus Zenfone 3 Full Review
• Samsung Galaxy C5 Full Review
• Zenfone 3 vs Galaxy C7 Comparison

Design and build

The two are closely matched in size with Asus Zenfone 3 made in glass construction while the Galaxy C5 on all-metal one, which is a step up from the plastic Galaxy J series. The latter is also 1 mm thinner but the two weigh the same.

Asus mid-ranger utilizes curved glass up front and on the back whereas the Galaxy entry has beveled glass on the front. There’s also a LED notification on each phone. The fingerprint scanner on the former is noticeably faster than the former though we like more its back-lit navigational keys.

In terms of ports, Asus is now utilizing USB Type-C although with a 2.0 speed. Each has hybrid dual-SIM and microSD card slots accessible through the side.

For the build, both are premium-looking devices so we will leave the decision to you and call this a tie.

Display

Rocking 5.2-inch scratch-resistant panels, the Zenfone 3 IPS+ display is as impressive as to the Super AMOLED of the Galaxy C5. Asus was able to push the LCD to have a more saturated output via its proprietary display setup. Brightness level on two is really good making them clear and legible in outdoors.

Again, we’re putting this under the user’s preference folder. In short, a tie.

Camera

Both come equipped with a 16MP sensor, the Asus shooter boasts a 5-axis optical stabilization while lacking on the Samsung shooter. In terms of actual quality, the Zenfone 3 camera is more accurate in colors and smoother in detail preservation. The wider aperture of the Galaxy C5 produces a bit crisper details but the saturated colors are more apparent.

The front-facing camera is an 8MP on each but again the Zenfone 3 tends to have a more accurate and lively colors while the Galaxy C5 has a brighter but paler output.

For video, the Zenfone shooter easily trumps the Galaxy shooter thanks to the added optical image stabilization and better dynamic range handling.

Although it’s a close fight in some areas, the Zenfone 3 camera proves to be more reliable and better shooter overall.

Performance and benchmark

Powered by a Snapdragon 625 octa-core, the Zenfone 3 beats the Galaxy C5 with Snapdragon 617 in actual speed test by a hairline but takes the big lead on the Antutu benchmark.

Meanwhile, the Snapdragon 625 offers more graphics power and could easily handle graphics-intensive games on highest graphic settings such as NBA 2K16 and Asphalt 8 Nitro without stuttering.

For this round, the hardware on Asus mid-ranger easily takes the cake.

Battery and charging

Now on battery, we have the same non-removable 2600mAh cell, the Zenfone 3, however, lasts longer in endurance rating and could easily reach the 2nd day. For the C5, battery life will barely last a whole day with moderate usage.

Both charging times are less than 1 hour and 30 minutes. Nonetheless, we give this round to the Zenfone 3.

Audio and speaker

Each speaker is a mono channel and bottom firing, the output volume is averagely loud and crisp with the Galaxy speaker being tinny. However, the addition of high-res upscaling on Zenfone 3 makes it a better multimedia player.

Pricing and verdict

With the improved design and build, faster processor, and better camera, the Asus Zenfone 3 is really worth an upgrade if you’re either coming from an old flagship phone or a mid-range Android. The Samsung Galaxy C5 refreshes the mid-ranger series of the company with its new metal design. It’s still a capable device but the Zenfone 3 ZE520KL is a better deal overall.

The ZE520KL retails for P14k to P16,995 pesos or roughly $300 to $370 USD depending on the variant you will pick while the Galaxy C5 is available online at P16,500 to P18,000 or $350 depending on the storage.

If you are to pick your next phone, which will it be between the two? Let’s know in the comment section.
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