Unveiling Asus Zenfone Selfie ZD551KL Specs Pricing and Insights

Specifications and Design

The Asus Zenfone Selfie ZD551KL is an intriguing device. It blends style with functionality, specifically targeting photography enthusiasts. Released in August 2015, it sports a dual SIM capability with a micro SIM setup. The phone’s robust build features a Gorilla Glass 4 front, a plastic frame, and a plastic back which makes it quite resilient, offering a balanced weight of 170 grams. Its dimensions of 156.5 x 77.2 x 10.8 mm ensure it fits comfortably in the hand.

Display Quality

The Asus Zenfone Selfie comes with a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display, ensuring sharp and vibrant colors. With a screen resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels and a 16:9 ratio (~403 ppi density), it promises an immersive viewing experience. The inclusion of Corning Gorilla Glass 4 offers durability and protection against scratches and other potential screen damages. Furthermore, its oleophobic coating helps in keeping fingerprints at bay, ensuring a clearer view at all times.

Camera Capabilities

As the name suggests, the Zenfone Selfie is designed with photography in mind. Featuring a 13 MP, f/2.0 aperture main camera with Laser Autofocus, it provides clarity and depth in images. It supports panorama and HDR, enhancing the photographic experience. The dual-LED dual-tone flash further improves photo quality in low-light conditions. For video recording, the camera supports 1080p@30fps.

The standout feature is its 13 MP front camera with an f/2.2 aperture and autofocus capability. It includes a dual-LED dual-tone flash, making it perfect for selfies in dim settings. This camera also supports 1080p video recording, ensuring high-quality video calls and content creation for those who enjoy vlogging.

Performance and Software

Under the hood, the Zenfone Selfie is powered by the Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615 chipset built on a 28 nm process. Its CPU is an Octa-core (4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.0 GHz Cortex-A53), teamed with an Adreno 405 GPU. This setup ensures decent performance for everyday tasks and moderate gaming. It originally runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop, but there's an upgrade path to Android 6.0 Marshmallow, giving access to newer Android features and security improvements. ZenUI further enriches the user experience with customizable options and an intuitive interface.

Storage and Memory

The device offers flexibility with dual storage variants - 16GB with 2GB of RAM, and 32GB with 3GB of RAM. This allows users to select based on their storage needs and budget considerations. Additionally, the presence of a dedicated microSDXC slot means you can expand the storage further, accommodating more apps, photos, and videos.

Battery Life

The 3000 mAh Li-Po removable battery ensures the phone lasts a full day on moderate usage. Its endurance rating of 63 hours provides peace of mind for users who are often on the move and rely on their device throughout the day. While not the most extensive battery life in the market, it's adequate for standard use.

Connectivity and Extra Features

The Zenfone Selfie supports 4G LTE, ensuring fast data speeds where available, coupled with a range of connectivity options including Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP and EDR, GPS with GLONASS and BDS, FM Radio with RDS, and microUSB 2.0 with OTG support. It does, however, lack NFC support.

Additional features of note include a 3.5mm headphone jack and several sensors such as accelerometer, gyro, proximity, and compass, providing a more comprehensive smartphone experience.

Audio and Sound Quality

The device ensures satisfactory audio output through its loudspeaker, alongside a conventional 3.5mm headphone jack, which remains a favorite among audio purists. Audio quality tests show noise levels at -92.1dB and crosstalk at -92.5dB, indicating clear audio output both through speakers and headphones. Additionally, the sound levels are decent for a phone in its category, with voice and noise measurements at 65dB and 66dB respectively, and ringtones at 75dB.

Aesthetic Appeal

On the aesthetic front, the Zenfone Selfie ZD551KL offers various color options such as Pure White, Chic Pink, and Aqua Blue, allowing users to choose one that resonates with their personal style. Its design decisions emphasize not only functionality but also a degree of personalization that many users appreciate.

Conclusion

Overall, the Asus Zenfone Selfie ZD551KL, despite its discontinuation, remains an interesting choice for users who prioritize camera quality, especially in the realm of selfies. At its original price point of approximately 280 EUR, it competitively challenged other phones in its class with a focused feature set appealing particularly to photography enthusiasts. Its combination of decent hardware, robust camera setup, and upgradable software make it a noteworthy mention in the mid-range smartphone landscape of its time.