The Asus Zenfone 5, released in 2015, was a budget-friendly contender. Now, let's pit it against the Apple iPhone XR, a phone that redefined value in 2018. This comparison explores how a decade of technological advancement separates these two devices.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPhone XR utterly dominates this comparison. While the Zenfone 5 offered good value in its time, the iPhone XR's superior performance, camera, battery life, and modern features make it the clear winner. It's a testament to how quickly smartphone technology evolves.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| | - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, January. Released 2015, January | 2018, September 12. Released 2018, October 26 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), aluminum frame (7000 series) |
| Dimensions | 148.2 x 72.8 x 10.3 mm (5.83 x 2.87 x 0.41 in) | 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm (5.94 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China) |
| Weight | 145 g (5.11 oz) | 194 g (6.84 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Scratch-resistant glass |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~294 ppi density) | 828 x 1792 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~326 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~63.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 90.3 cm2 (~79.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 625 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Dual-core 1.2 GHz | Hexa-core (2x2.5 GHz Vortex + 4x1.6 GHz Tempest) |
| Chipset | Intel Atom Z2520 | Apple A12 Bionic (7 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR SGX544MP2 | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) |
| OS | Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to 5.0.2 (Lollipop) | iOS 12, upgradable to iOS 18.7 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 8GB 2GB RAM | 64GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 3GB RAM, 256GB 3GB RAM |
| | - | NVMe |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, AF | 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, PDAF, OIS |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, 720p@60fps | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR, stereo sound rec. |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 2 MP, f/2.4 | 7 MP, f/2.2, 32mm (standard)
SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | - | 1080p@60fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, EDR | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | Lightning, USB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 15W wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min
Wireless (Qi) |
| Stand-by | Up to 353 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 18 h 30 min (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Po 2110 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 2942 mAh, non-removable (11.16 Wh) |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Charcoal Black, Pearl White, Cherry Red | Black, Red, Yellow, Blue, Coral, White |
| Models | T00F | A2105, A1984, A2107, A2108, A2106, iPhone11,8 |
| Price | About 120 EUR | About 150 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.13 W/kg (head) 1.16 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.99 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 78h
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 341196 (v7), 422465 (v8)
GeekBench: 11437 (v4.4), 2690 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 58fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Asus Zenfone 5 A501CG (2015)
- Very affordable
- Compact size
- Decent for basic tasks
- Extremely slow performance
- Poor camera quality
- Outdated software
- Short battery life compared to modern standards
- No fast charging
Apple iPhone XR
- Excellent performance
- Great camera
- Long battery life
- Fast charging (wired & wireless)
- Access to iOS ecosystem
- Durable design
- Can be expensive (especially now)
- LCD display (compared to OLED alternatives)
- Single rear camera
Display Comparison
The iPhone XR boasts a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina LCD display with excellent color accuracy and brightness. The Zenfone 5 has a smaller 5-inch IPS display, which is adequate but noticeably less vibrant and sharp. The XR's larger size and better resolution provide a significantly improved viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
The iPhone XR's single 12MP camera delivers stunning photos and videos, thanks to Apple's image processing. The Zenfone 5's 8MP camera is functional but produces noticeably inferior images, especially in low light. The XR offers features like Portrait Mode and Smart HDR, absent in the Zenfone 5.
Performance
The A12 Bionic chip in the iPhone XR is a powerhouse compared to the Intel Atom Z2520 in the Zenfone 5. The XR handles demanding apps and games with ease, while the Zenfone 5 struggles with even moderate multitasking. The XR's hexa-core architecture offers a massive performance advantage.
Battery Life
Both phones offer an endurance rating of 78h, but the iPhone XR's larger battery capacity and efficient A12 chip contribute to longer real-world usage. The XR also supports fast charging and wireless charging, features the Zenfone 5 lacks.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Asus Zenfone 5 A501CG (2015)? Primarily those seeking a very basic, ultra-budget phone for simple tasks like calls and messaging, or perhaps for nostalgic purposes. Who should buy the Apple iPhone XR? Anyone needing a reliable, capable smartphone with a good camera, long battery life, and access to the iOS ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Zenfone 5 still usable in 2024?
Yes, for very basic tasks like calls and messaging. However, its outdated hardware and software make it unsuitable for modern apps and demanding usage.
❓ Can the Zenfone 5 be upgraded to a newer Android version?
Officially, no. It's stuck on an older version of Android, and unofficial custom ROMs may be available but come with risks.
❓ Why is the iPhone XR still a good buy?
The iPhone XR offers a great balance of performance, camera quality, and battery life at a reasonable price, especially on the used market. It's a reliable and capable smartphone that will last for years.
