The Taj to Petronas Towers: Slide to see the Asus ZenFone Zoom's 3x optical zoom in action

There are plenty good camera phones in the market, but Asus still manages to stand out with the ZenFone Zoom. In what is still a rare sight on phones, Asus has packed the rear camera on the ZenFone Zoom with an optical zoom lens - something that we have only seen in a couple of Samsung phones in the past, but they appeared to be more of cameras with smartphone abilities built in, and were therefore, bulky.

The Asus ZenFone Zoom, on the other hand, is plausibly the first phone with optical zoom that actually looks like a phone. In other words, unlike the 10x optical zoom-enabled Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom and Galaxy K Zoom, wherein the zoom lens actually protrudes out from the back of the device, the ZenFone Zoom has all the zooming in and out happening internally, which leads the ZenFone Zoom to actually look like a phone and not an awkwardly designed hybrid.

We put the (optical) zooming capabilities of the phone’s 13 megapixel rear camera to test and captured some shots in two different ways - one with no zoom and the other with 3x optical zoom. Well how the camera performed is something we would like to discuss in further detail in our full review, here we give you an interactive look at how close the 3X zoom takes you to the object.

In the 14 image comparisons below, each pair of images has been shot from the same place - one without the zoom and the other zoomed in. Drag the slider on the images to see more.

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A view of the Petronas Twin Towers from the ground level

Lobby of the Jaypee Palace, Agra

The Taj Mahal, Agra

A view from the Skybridge connecting the 41st floors of the Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur

A full moon captured from Film City, Noida

The Kuala Lumpur Tower as seen from Merdeka Square

A couple relaxing at the Taj

One of the minarets of the Taj Mahal

Pet ostrich at The Westin Sohna Resort & Spa, Gurgaon

Front view of the mosque to the right of the Taj Mahal

Around the Taj Mahal

The KL Tower as seen from outside the Petronas Towers

A distant view of the Taj

Flowers blooming in the Taj Mahal garden