Asus Zenfone Selfie review: Vanity light

A whole bunch of browsers

The Asus Zenfone Selfie comes with a total of three browsers pre-installed. The Asus Browser offers much the same powerful functionality as Google Chrome but differs in that it offers a navigation bar at the bottom with back/forward, tab manager, new tab and a quick shortcut to add the current page to the Do-It-Later app.

It's questionable whether you need a navigation bar at the bottom, when you already have a set of capacitive buttons and another bar at the top. Having access to the tab switcher from the bottom is handy, though.

The Asus web browser

Chrome is the more mature alternative and offers easy transition from smartphone to smartphone not to mention seamless syncing with its desktop counterpart thanks to your Google account. It's fast, clean and makes much better use of screen area. We also mentioned already that Chrome is the wiser choice if any battery longevity is to be expected.

Google Chrome

Then there's the Puffin browser. It's quite unlike most other browsers, has some interesting interface quirks like on screen trackpad or gamepad with a four-way controller, and it can also render flash content.

Puffin browser

Other pre-installed apps

The Asus Zenfone Selfie offers its own file managing app that allows you to easily take care of your video, picture, and document files, although there is no document viewer/editor pre-installed. The file manager can sift through your internal storage and memory card, but also sync with cloud storage like Google Drive, OneDrive and Dropbox. Batch operations are also supported.

File manager

The custom Calendar looks good, syncs with your accounts including Google, and offers Day, Week and Month views, but no Year. There's also a quick Agenda view that shows all of our events regardless of where they're recorded.

Calendar

Asus Mobile Manager aims to give you granular control over app behavior and battery and battery consumption. Auto-start manager keeps a reign on pesky apps that want to start in the backgroung without your knowledge.

Asus Mobile Manager homescreen • auto-start settings

Power consumption can be optimized using the Power Saver app. You can select from four pre-defined modes with different settings for CPU performance, screen brightness and network use. There's also a customized mode where you can set these yourself.

Power Saver

The Data usage section lets you set a cap on cellular traffic, as well as restrict individual apps from internet access - really handy if you want to receive your emails for example, but don't feel like ramping up traffic from social apps. To keep yourself focused, you can disable notifications too, again on an app-by-app basis. There's also a built-in antivirus app, with a shortcut inside Mobile Manager.

Data management options • notification restrictions • Dr. Safety antivirus app

The Clock app packs a world clock feature that displays the time across various time zones, and has an integrated stopwatch and time. There's also a calculator app that has advanced functions in landscape mode.

Clock • Calculator

There's a handy flashlight app with an always-on mode, three-speed strobe, and SOS pattern. Alternatively it can light up the display, but oddly not the front flash. Thanks to the laser autofocus tech, you get a precise Laser ruler, which can measure distances up to 50cm. A simple sound recorder app is also on board.

Flashlight with screen light mode • Laser ruler • Sound recorder

Do It Later is the procrastinator's dream app for chores you want to postpone for a better time without clogging your calendar.

Do It Later is a chore reminder

A ZenLink package of four apps provides added functionality. PC Link enables you to control the smartphone from your computer, via an application you download from the Asus website. Once the application is installed and the two devices paired, a resizable mockup phone window appears on your desktop and you can use your mouse to send commands to the phone.

Remote Link does just the opposite, turning your Zenfone Selfie into a remote for your PC. Another desktop app needs to be installed and communication takes place over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. The Share Link apps is an additional option for quick and easy exchange of photos and what not.

Zen Link apps

Kids mode lets you setup a restricted number of apps for your little ones to use and also limit the range of contacts, from which calls can be received.

Kids mode