[Canada Computers] Asus Zenfone 4 - 199.88 (GVA)

I have this phone. It's a really good size and good for the price. Camera's awesome, speed is good. It also has nice surround speakers and good audio software to make it sound better. However, I have a few issues with the UI (not sure of the right word?) being laggy after firmware updates. So if you do get it, try to disable those updates because they will really mess things up. Make sure you get a screen protector and case as it's super easy to dent/scratch it.

No Android 9 / P for this. No root, no custom ROM.

Say no to Asus phones. Seriously. Seems good bang for buck at beginning, then plagued with problems.

Great deal, Costco also has on sale now for $299

I've had this phone for almost a year now without any issues. I received the zenfone 4 as a warranty replacement for my zenfone 3 which was having issues with the camera focus. This supports some claims of asus phones having issues but bang for the buck it is a good option.

Midrange phone for a great price.

meepsheep wrote: ↑I have this phone. It's a really good size and good for the price. Camera's awesome, speed is good. It also has nice surround speakers and good audio software to make it sound better. However, I have a few issues with the UI (not sure of the right word?) being laggy after firmware updates. So if you do get it, try to disable those updates because they will really mess things up. Make sure you get a screen protector and case as it's super easy to dent/scratch it.

How can Speed be good and UI is laggy?

I've had this phone for almost exactly one year, and I'm now a believer in cheap Android phones UNLESS you use it as your only camera, and actually want to have quality photos. From that standpoint, it cannot compare to the (broken) Pixel 2 it replaced, nor can cheap phones in general keep up with the best and brightest.

As far as any sort of actual phone/productivity aspects, it's really just as good from a day to day perspective, and the battery life started better and stayed better.

Psykopathik wrote: ↑

May 4th, 2019 4:01 am

Say no to Asus phones. Seriously. Seems good bang for buck at beginning, then plagued with problems.

+1. We have 3 generations of Asus phones, and they all developed problems quickly. While it's true that our family uses their phones hard (like installing lots of clutter and not treating them gently), our other Motorola and Samsung phones don't seem to have these problems.

I don't believe this is getting further software updates. Also consider that ASUS is all but shutting down their phone division. Their phone division still exists, but a vast majority of it will be gone. Those updates need TLC and without people to work on it, you know what you're getting. I would look at the upcoming Google Pixel 3a to be honest. If this ZenFone was $150, maybe it's worth it. Given the amount of losses ASUS is posting for getting out of the phone business, there is going to be a fire sale to clear out their inventory.

strange! its feature list only 4 3G frequence, and NO 4G channel !!! (means no LTE)

Exp315 wrote: ↑

May 4th, 2019 10:11 am

+1. We have 3 generations of Asus phones, and they all developed problems quickly. While it's true that our family uses their phones hard (like installing lots of clutter and not treating them gently), our other Motorola and Samsung phones don't seem to have these problems.

We have the opposite story. My wife had been using her ZenFone 2 Laser since June 2016. I had been using my Zenfone 3 Zoom since August 2017. No problems except for running out of storage space (hers is only 16GB, mine is 32GB).

Meanwhile My own LG G1 flat out died. My mother's Samsung C7 flat out died on her because the the charging mechanism inside got fried while charging. My sister's LG G4 also died and I had to use the "freezer method" to save her photos. My dad's Samsung A8 has its screen cracked while it was in his jeans pocket.

My experience tells me to avoid Korean phones and go for Asus. I think Asus make solid phones.

Landon99 wrote: ↑

May 4th, 2019 6:43 am

How can Speed be good and UI is laggy?

All apps run smoothly. UI is good but sometimes slows down on the home screen. It's an occasional issue.

meepsheep wrote: ↑

May 4th, 2019 2:33 am

I have this phone. It's a really good size and good for the price. Camera's awesome, speed is good. It also has nice surround speakers and good audio software to make it sound better. However, I have a few issues with the UI (not sure of the right word?) being laggy after firmware updates. So if you do get it, try to disable those updates because they will really mess things up. Make sure you get a screen protector and case as it's super easy to dent/scratch it.

Re performance, two things to look at are:

a) another launcher - often OEM developer teams for the stock launcher (and other default apps, like camera) are not crackerjack, and there's a lot to be gained from installing third party apps as defaults instead. Complaints about how Android (as compared to Apple) devices "look and feel" are usually unwarranted because (unlike Apple) the user interface can be completely renovated with third-party functionality.

b) It's generally a bad idea to disable system updates / upgrades, but Android system installs leave a ton of useless residual kludge in the system cache, that can impact performance by confusing or clogging devices rummaging through it all while they run. Android devices generally have a "Recovery Mode" hidden menu - often activated with power+volume button on reboot - that permits a System Cache Wipe (terminology varies). I routinely do this procedure after any large Android system update or version upgrade. Obviously confirm for your own model and verify any online advice from anybody, including me.