The Asus Zenfone Selfie series was known for its focus on front-facing cameras and affordability. But with two generations, the ZD551KL and ZD553KL, which one offers the better experience? We're diving deep into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The ZD551KL boasts a significantly better display and a more powerful chipset, resulting in smoother performance. However, the ZD553KL might offer slightly improved efficiency. Ultimately, the ZD551KL is the stronger performer, especially if display quality and speed are priorities.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 - Global, India, Indonesia |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 - Global | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 40 - Global, India, Indonesia |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 3 - India | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 38, 41 - TW/JP/HK/PH/BR |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, June. Released 2015, August | 2017, August. Released 2017, October |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 156.5 x 77.2 x 10.8 mm (6.16 x 3.04 x 0.43 in) | 155.7 x 75.9 x 7.9 mm (6.13 x 2.99 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 170 g (6.00 oz) | 144 g (5.08 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4, oleophobic coating | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~267 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.5 inches, 82.6 cm2 (~68.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~70.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.0 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615 (28 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8937 Snapdragon 430 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 405 | Adreno 505 |
| OS | Android 5.0 (Lollipop), upgradable to 6.0 (Marshmallow), ZenUI | Android 7.0 (Nougat), upgradable to Android 8.1 (Oreo), ZenUI 5 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 4.5 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Laser AF, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0, 28mm (wide), 1/3.0" | 16 MP, 26mm (wide), PDAF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 20 MP, f/2.0, 31mm (standard), 1/2.8", 1.0µm
8 MP, 12mm (ultrawide) |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.2, 1/3.1", 1.12µm, AF | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, EDR | 4.1, A2DP, EDR, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Type | Li-Po 3000 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Pure White, Chic Pink, Aqua Blue | Deepsea Black, Mint Green, Rose Pink, Sunlight Gold |
| Models | Z00UD, Z00UDH, Z00UDC, Z00UDB | X00LD |
| Price | About 280 EUR | About 250 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -92.1dB / Crosstalk -92.5dB | - |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 63h
| - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 928:1 (nominal), 1.680 (sunlight) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 65dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 75dB
| - |
| Performance |
Basemark OS II 2.0: 883Basemark X: 4915 | - |
| OUR TESTS |
|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -92.1dB / Crosstalk -92.5dB | - |
| Battery (old) | Endurance rating 63h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 928:1 (nominal), 1.680 (sunlight) | - |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 65dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 75dB | - |
| Performance | Basemark OS II 2.0: 883Basemark X: 4915 | - |
Asus Zenfone Selfie ZD551KL
- Superior Display (Contrast & Brightness)
- More Powerful Chipset
- Potentially Better Selfie Camera
- Excellent Battery Life (63h Endurance Rating)
- Potentially slightly less efficient than ZD553KL
Asus Zenfone 4 Selfie ZD553KL
- More Affordable
- Potentially slightly better battery efficiency
- Weaker Chipset
- Inferior Display
- Likely lower quality selfie camera
Display Comparison
The ZD551KL shines with its exceptional contrast ratio of 928:1 (nominal) and an impressive 1680 in sunlight. This translates to vibrant colors and excellent visibility even outdoors. The ZD553KL's display, while adequate, doesn't match this level of performance. It likely uses a standard IPS panel without the same level of optimization.
Camera Comparison
Both phones heavily emphasized selfie capabilities. While specific camera specs are missing, the ZD551KL likely had a higher resolution front-facing camera and potentially better image processing algorithms, given its overall higher-tier chipset. Both likely featured dedicated selfie flash and beautification modes.
Performance
The ZD551KL's Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 chipset with its octa-core processor (4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.0 GHz Cortex-A53) provides a noticeable performance advantage over the ZD553KL's Snapdragon 430 (1.4 GHz Cortex-A53). Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the ZD551KL.
Battery Life
The ZD551KL's endurance rating of 63h suggests excellent battery life. The ZD553KL, with its slightly more efficient Snapdragon 430, *might* offer marginally better battery life in real-world usage, but the difference is likely minimal and outweighed by the ZD551KL's superior performance.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Asus Zenfone Selfie ZD551KL? Users prioritizing a vibrant display, better performance for everyday tasks and gaming, and a generally more responsive experience. Who should buy the Asus Zenfone 4 Selfie ZD553KL? Those seeking a budget-friendly option and potentially slightly better battery life, though at the cost of performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the ZD553KL worth buying if I'm on a tight budget?
The ZD553KL is a viable option if your budget is extremely limited and you prioritize affordability over performance. However, consider if the compromises in display and speed are acceptable.
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Asus Zenfone Selfie ZD551KL is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful Snapdragon 615 chipset.
