If you're in search for a top-notch smartphone without the price of a typical flagship, Asus and Xiaomi could be your best bet. Not only are they less expensive than Apple and Samsung, they are also known for their top-tier smartphones with powerhouse specs.
Take the Asus Zenfone 3 and Xiaomi Mi 5S Plus as an example. These two 2016 smartphones are definitely flagship killers. If you're choosing between the two, here are some comparison points that you should look at:
Xiaomi Mi 5S Plus vs Zenfone Deluxe Specs
Physically, the Xiaomi Mi 5S Plus and Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe are pretty similar. Both have 5.7-inch screens, 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution and have dual sim slots. Internally, the two aren't that different either. Both run Android Marshmallow and both use the Snapdragon 821 processor and Adreno 530 GPU.
However, the Xiaomi Mi 5S Plus doesn't have a microSD slot. The Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe, on the other hand, comes with a microSD slot with a 256 GB capacity. Both phones then sport either 4 GB RAM or 6 GB RAM, depending on the storage variant.
For the camera, the Xiaomi phone has a 12 MP rear shooter and a 4 MP selfie snapper. The Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe, on the other hand, has an impressive 23 MP rear camera and an 8 MP front camera. When it comes to the batteries, the Xiaomi Mi 5S Plus may have a slight advantage with its 3800 mAh battery compared to Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe's 3000 mAh battery.
Xiaomi Mi 5S Plus vs Zenfone Deluxe, Conclusions
Both phones have hefty specs, but the Zenfone 3 Deluxe may be a tad better than the Xiaomi Mi 5S Plus overall. The whole combination of good cameras, powerhouse internals, and relatively big battery are all indications that the Zenfone 3 Deluxe is a better smartphone. TechRadar says that the Zenfone 3 Deluxe is a big improvement from its predecessor and can now compete with big names like Android Samsung.
However, the Mi 5S Plus' lack of microSD slot, bigger battery, and lower camera specs should easily compensate for its lower price. It's a really good device overall, especially when compared to giant flagships. However, the Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe might have just been glazed with some extras.
