SMARTPHONE SPECIAL... NEW BUDGET SMARTPHONES (2)

NEW BUDGET SMARTPHONES (2)





Entry-level smartphones have enough processing muscle to handle every productivity task smoothly and even play Full HD movies. You can also expect a day-long battery life.

ASUS ZENFONE LIVE

The ZenFone Live is an entry-level device for the click happy. It boasts of a good rear camera, and you also get a host of related customisations including a photo-editor and collage app.

The Asus ZenFone Live sports a slightly curved glass on its screen; is lightweight because of its plastic build, but feels sturdy.

The Live's display is the best among these budget handsets. Colours look vibrant, while images and text are rendered crisply. You also get a blue light filter to reduce eye strain while using the phone in the dark.

In terms of extras, you get an `audio wizard' that lets you create separate profiles for music, games and movies. You also get a call recorder, a photo collage app, a slideshow creator, photo editor, as well as 100GB of free Google Drive cloud storage for two years.

However, its mainstay is its rear camera. It takes close-up shots with depth of field. Colours appear punchy and the photos are sharp. However, close inspection reveals some softening and noise in the darker regions of the picture. Its front camera's LED flash proves useful for video calls in dark settings. Its live beautification filters can even be used during a video chat. Still, don't expect great picture quality in low light.

The ZenFone Live posted the lowest benchmark scores. In real world use, this also translates to a sub-par gaming experience, and sluggish response especially when it comes to loading, switching between, and running resource-intensive apps.

Also, like the Redmi 4A, it lacks a fingerprint sensor and comes with a hybrid slot that can be used either for a second SIM or microSD card to augment its storage capacity.

SPECS: 5-inch HD display | 1.4GHz Snapdragon 400 quad-core processor | 2GB RAM | 13MP rear (LED flash), 5MP (LED flash) front camera | 16GB storage, hybrid microSD | 2650mAh battery

Rs 9,999 | RATING: 5.5/10

What the ratings mean: Below 5:

The product is poor and doesn't offer the experience it promises | 5 & 6: The product works as advertised | 7: The product is good; will not disappoint the buyer | 8: Very good; super value for money | 9: The device is exceptional | 10: You're kidding, right?
All ratings awarded to devices factor in prices to arrive at a final score.

Ashutosh Desai TOI 5AUG17