Asus Zenfone 5z review: Sleek, swift and power-packed mid-range smartphone

The Zenfone 5z shows strength in all key areas; its AI engine is more than a gimmick and its system-wide implementation adds to the smartphone's smooth performance

The Zenfone 5z, a premium smartphone from the stable of Taiwanese computer peripheral manufacturer Asus, boasts premium innards, coupled with system-wide artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities that learn, adapt and customise user experience based on machine-learning algorithms. Importantly, it is the phone’s starting price of Rs 29,999 that makes it an interesting proposition in the mid-range flagship smartphone segment.

First unveiled at the Mobile World Congress, the Zenfone 5z was the first Android-based smartphone to showcase iPhone X-inspired notch-based screen. However, other smartphone manufacturers rolled out similar offerings before Asus, rendering the Zenfone 5z a late comer to the party. But