topic Re: Zenfone 3 Laser? in Get Support

Zenfone 3 Laser?

skomorokh — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 18:25:17 GMT

I'm looking for a $200-300 phone to use with PM which I can buy locally in Kelowna. What do you think of this option? http://www.staples.ca/en/ASUS-Zenfone3-Laser-55-32-GB-Unlocked-Smartphone-Silver-ZC551KL-S430-2G32GN/product_2446831_2-CA_1_20001?cid=CSE:SBD:SHOPBOT:2446831 What alternatives might be easily obtainable in a small Canadian city?

Re: Zenfone 3 Laser?

computergeek541 — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 08:48:13 GMT

@skomorokh wrote:
I'm looking for a $200-300 phone to use with PM which I can buy locally in Kelowna. What do you think of this option? http://www.staples.ca/en/ASUS-Zenfone3-Laser-55-32-GB-Unlocked-Smartphone-Silver-ZC551KL-S430-2G32GN/product_2446831_2-CA_1_20001?cid=CSE:SBD:SHOPBOT:2446831 What alternatives might be easily obtainable in a small Canadian city?

Depending on what you're looking for, these phones might be worth a look and are roughly within your price range:

Zenfone 3 Max (bigger battery but lower resolution screen, less expensive than Zenfone 3 Laser)

ZTE Axon A1

ZTE Axon Pro (has 4GB of RAM)

Moto G Play (almost bloat-free Android)

Moto G 3rd (water resistant)

Zenfone 2 Laser (has a removeable battery)

Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (good specs and low price but limited software support and usually has to be imported from overseas)

Most of those options are from places that ship to you. But if you're in a small city and really want the ability to purchase a phone locally, you're pretty much at the mercy of whatever models the stores in your area carry.

Re: Zenfone 3 Laser?

bryanbreguet — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 08:52:13 GMT

For the price, that's a relatively weak CPU. Also 2GB of RAM is a little bit low in 2017, especially for almost $300.

Finally, Asus has terrible quality control and the software is pretty **bleep** (ugly, never updated, etc).

I think a Moto G4 Play for $149 is a better option given the price. You can buy it prepaid for Koodo for instance and you just unlock it online.

Re: Zenfone 3 Laser?

outdoorsaddix — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 13:04:49 GMT

I have heard good things about the Zenfone, they aren't the greatest spec'd phones but if that kind of stuff isn't super important to you, they will get the job done.

If you are willing to spend about $120 more to get a much better zenfone, the Zenfone 3 (not the laser) is a good option:

http://www.staples.ca/en/ASUS-ZenFone-3-5-5-64-GB-Unlocked-Smartphone/product_SS5680895_2-CA_1_20001

But in that price range Moto G4 Play is also an option:

http://www.staples.ca/en/Motorola-Moto-G4-Play-Unlocked-Smartphone-16-GB-01011NACRTL-/product_2502631_2-CA_1_20001

And there is a Refurb Moto X 2nd Gen for $259

http://www.staples.ca/en/Motorola-Refurbished-2nd-Generation-Moto-X-Unlocked/product_2472396_2-CA_1_20001

You might have to buy those online, but at least you will have a bricks and mortar store nearby to return it to if you don't like it.

Re: Zenfone 3 Laser?

outdoorsaddix — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 13:07:29 GMT

@bryanbreguet Link to the $149 G4 Play at Koodo? That sounds like a fantastic deal but I can't find it.

Re: Zenfone 3 Laser?

will13am — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 13:18:57 GMT

@skomorokh wrote:
I'm looking for a $200-300 phone to use with PM which I can buy locally in Kelowna. What do you think of this option? http://www.staples.ca/en/ASUS-Zenfone3-Laser-55-32-GB-Unlocked-Smartphone-Silver-ZC551KL-S430-2G32GN/product_2446831_2-CA_1_20001?cid=CSE:SBD:SHOPBOT:2446831 What alternatives might be easily obtainable in a small Canadian city?

I have a zenfone 2 in use. The experience has been by and large good. I would have no problem with getting a zenfone 3. As already suggested, the ZTE axon is a good option and it's at the lower end of the price range. It comes with 32 gigs of storage, 2 gigs ram, 5.5 inch 1080p display and a very fast snapdragon 801 CPU. Canada Computers has it on sale at $199 (sale ends today). They do ship cross Canada for a fee. A colleague bought one off this sale for use on Public Mobile and has reported good initial feedback. The G4 play only has a 720p display, which is pretty weak these days. The 400 series snapdragon CPU is really how end. I would avoid the Chinese brands like Xiaomi that do not really sell phones designed for the North American market. The LTE bands will not match well and you will end up with 3G service only. Good luck with the shopping.

http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?item_id=099686

Re: Zenfone 3 Laser?

WearySky — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 14:50:48 GMT

@will13am wrote:

I have a zenfone 2 in use. The experience has been by and large good. I would have no problem with getting a zenfone 3. As already suggested, the ZTE axon is a good option and it's at the lower end of the price range. It comes with 32 gigs of storage, 2 gigs ram, 5.5 inch 1080p display and a very fast snapdragon 801 CPU. Canada Computers has it on sale at $199 (sale ends today). They do ship cross Canada for a fee. A colleague bought one off this sale for use on Public Mobile and has reported good initial feedback. The G4 play only has a 720p display, which is pretty weak these days. The 400 series snapdragon CPU is really how end. I would avoid the Chinese brands like Xiaomi that do not really sell phones designed for the North American market. The LTE bands will not match well and you will end up with 3G service only. Good luck with the shopping.
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?item_id=099686

I'd definitely recommend the ZTE Axon that CC is selling. I bought one for my mom for Christmas, and she loves it. I set it up for her and I was really impressed at how snappy it is. The only thing you want to do is disable the TouchPal keyboard app that comes with it, apparently it's got issues with ad popups. Definitely recommend it over the G4 Play, for an extra $50 it's totally worth it.

@bryanbreguet wrote:

I think a Moto G4 Play for $149 is a better option given the price. You can buy it prepaid for Koodo for instance and you just unlock it online.

Just an FYI - no need to unlock a Koodo phone to use on Public Mobile. Telus and Koodo locked phones will work on the PM network.

Re: Zenfone 3 Laser?

ajanda — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 18:07:16 GMT

http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/motorola-motorola-moto-g-4th-gen-16gb-smartphone-black-unlocked-refurbished-xt1625/10515532.aspx?path=51ab7e163a31222c8e24c2c80fcf596cen02

I would recommend to get the Moto G4 by Motorola. It has a faster snapdragon processor than the Asus zenfone 3 laser and it runs stock android which is a lot smoother than Asus ZenUI software. The Moto G4 Play is a good option as well but the Moto G4 comes with a better camera, bigger screen, Snapdragon 617 vs 430.

The Moto G4 is CNET's best budget Andriod device for 2016.

https://www.cnet.com/products/motorola-moto-g4/

Re: Zenfone 3 Laser?

WearySky — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 18:12:51 GMT

@ajanda wrote:
http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/motorola-motorola-moto-g-4th-gen-16gb-smartphone-black-unlocked-refurbished-xt1625/10515532.aspx?path=51ab7e163a31222c8e24c2c80fcf596cen02

I would recommend to get the Moto G4 by Motorola. It has a faster snapdragon processor than the Asus zenfone 3 laser and it runs stock android which is a lot smoother than Asus ZenUI software. The Moto G4 Play is a good option as well but the Moto G4 comes with a better camera, bigger screen, Snapdragon 617 vs 430.

The Moto G4 is CNET's best budget Andriod device for 2016.

https://www.cnet.com/products/motorola-moto-g4/

I'd still prefer the ZTE Axon linked above, myself. 32GB storage vs 16 in the G4, Snapdragon 801 vs Snapdragon 617, and 2 year manufacturer warranty vs 90 day warranty. Not to mention it's $40 cheaper for a brand new one vs the refurb one you linked.

Re: Zenfone 3 Laser?

bryanbreguet — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 19:30:34 GMT

@outdoorsaddix wrote:
@bryanbreguet Link to the $149 G4 Play at Koodo? That sounds like a fantastic deal but I can't find it.

Actually PC Mobile: http://www.pcmobile.ca/prepaid_phones.jsp not Koodo, my bad.

It was even $139 from Best Buy on Boxing Day but the promo is over now.

Unlock codes can be found online for cheap.

Re: Zenfone 3 Laser?

skomorokh — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 20:23:07 GMT

Okay, this is great, some good advice here. Axon seems perfect but I'm on a tight timeline so I'd have to express ship it and it'd still be cutting things close.

Sounds like the Asus UI is going to make supporting family a hassle, I take it things are still a bit ick even after tediously disabling the bloat?

So I'm leaning to the Play, can you suggest an unlocking service? What's a reasonable amount to pay? Is that instant? I assume I'm SOL for warranty from PC Mobile at that point? Moto is fairly reliable afaik so it's probably fine?

Re: Zenfone 3 Laser?

Luddite — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 20:40:31 GMT

Unlocks: try http://unlock.mobifree.ca or https://cellphoneunlock.net/products/unlock-motorola-moto-g-play/ There are others; Motos are not expensive to unlock.

Since PC Mobile monthly and prepaid are on different carriers their phones may be sold unlocked. Try a Public Mobile SIM; even unactivated it will say "Unsupported SIM" if locked and "No Service" if unlocked.

Warranty should still be honoured by Motorola, but don't know for sure.

If you are on a really tight timeline and live near Mississauga send me private message. I have a spare SIM you can have.

Re: Zenfone 3 Laser?

WearySky — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 20:53:48 GMT

I've used Mobifree to unlock phones in the past, they're pretty solid.

And yeah, Motorola would be the one to deal with for warranty issues, not PC Mobile.

Re: Zenfone 3 Laser?

hopetindall — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 03:52:53 GMT

I picked up an Acer Liquid Zest Plus (yep - the name is kind of crazy) at Costco for about $170.

Re: Zenfone 3 Laser?

WearySky — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 03:45:09 GMT

@hopetindall Liquid Zest?

Re: Zenfone 3 Laser?

hopetindall — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 03:55:32 GMT

@WearySky wrote:
@hopetindall Liquid Zest?

YES - it does indeed sound like a soap.

Actually not bad for a backup/test phone. It has a ***5000mAh*** battery!!!

It's dual SIM plus a Micro SD slot.

Has Band 4 support for Telus/PM.

Re: Zenfone 3 Laser?

Tvisforme — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 09:25:31 GMT

The ZenFone 2 Laser works very well on both Wind and Public, as well as on T-Mobile and AT&T in the US (from our roaming with Wind). The phone does come with Asus software, some of which is good and some not, but the company has been good about upgrades (Marshmallow at present) and CyanogenMod is officially supported and solid for day-to-day use. (Yes, CM has collapsed but the project will continue and the most recent ROMs are solid.)

Re: Zenfone 3 Laser?

ThisIsMyHandle — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 17:35:45 GMT

I don't know if it helps or not, but I can confirm that the ZenFone 3 Laser works very well on Public Mobile. My wife is using one now and has not had any troubles with it.

That said the UI is nasty and the phone is full of bloatware, but at least it works.

Re: Zenfone 3 Laser?

stonechucker — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 06:05:50 GMT

How is the Zenfone 3 Laser for your wife now? I'm considering buying it, however the ASUS website says no Band 4, but the BestBuy.ca site says band 4 is supported.

whar does Band 4 support, or maybe I should say, what would I miss?

i assume the connection is stable with(out) Band 4?

Re: Zenfone 3 Laser?

thudoan63 — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 09:11:57 GMT

@outdoorsaddix wrote:
@bryanbreguet Link to the $149 G4 Play at Koodo? That sounds like a fantastic deal but I can't find it.

Still not exactly a fantastic deal.

https://www.amazon.ca/BLU-Unlocked-Smartphone-16GB-Ram-Grey-Compatible/dp/B01LZHFSBC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1485249033&sr=8-2&keywords=blu+life+one+x2

$200 with free two-day shipping, and worth the extra $50. Has a better processor, better screen, better camera, and features a gyroscope which the G4 Play lacks.