a few weeks ago, i was shopping around for a phablet (a device with a 5-inch display, at least) and did my research. i rounded off my choices to a few Lenovo handsets and the ASUS Zenfone 6.
last week, i ended up buying the Zenfone 6 because of the excellent reviews that i've read online and the SD card slot option. finding a dealer wasn't easy, though: most stores carry only the Zenfone 4 and 5 variants, and even the ASUS shops have yet to carry it in their inventory. i really wanted to buy the red one, but the store i bought it from only had black, which wasn't a bad choice after all.
i intend to use it as a multimedia device more than anything else, and it hardly disappoints. the 6-inch gorilla glass screen is ideal for video playback and browsing pictures, though i wish the display could have been made a little brighter. the dual-core Intel Atom processor handles all downloaded applications well, and i have yet to experience a serious lag or an unexpected restart. battery life lasts about more than 18 hours with moderate mobile browsing and gaming. the rear and front cameras perform well under low lighting, as advertised. it came up a bit short in the audio department, though: the speakers were quite weak, and their positioning at the back dampens the volume further especially if you're palming the device from behind.
given its features, i think it's a steal for its price. more expensive phablets may have brighter screens and better resolution, but the Zenfone 6 matches up well in terms of user interface, camera performance, battery life, and processing power. even if it's made of almost entirely plastic, it's got the appearance and design factor of a pricier device. i wouldn't recommend it for people who plan to use it just for simple cellphone functions: it's too huge to use with just one hand, and it's not as portable as other models that you can keep in your pocket.
