Yes, the Asus ZenFone 5 Lite (also sold as the ZenFone 5Q) has four cameras in total: two on the front and two on the back. This was one of the first mid-range phones to offer a dual-lens setup on both sides, letting you take wide-angle selfies and portrait-style shots with either camera.
What the Four Cameras Actually Do
Each of the four lenses has a specific job, and understanding them helps you know what the phone can and cannot do.
- Rear main camera: 16 MP, f/2.2 aperture. This is the standard camera you use for most photos.
- Rear secondary camera: 5 MP, 120-degree wide-angle lens. It lets you fit more into a shot, useful for landscapes or group photos.
- Front main camera: 20 MP, f/2.0 aperture. It captures detailed selfies.
- Front secondary camera: 8 MP, 120-degree wide-angle lens. It allows wide group selfies or a wider background in your shot.
The secondary cameras are not used for depth sensing (that was a common trend at the time); they are purely for wide-angle shots. The phone uses software to create a bokeh (background blur) effect for portrait mode, not a dedicated depth sensor.
Why Asus Put Four Cameras on a Mid-Range Phone
In early 2018, when the ZenFone 5 Lite was announced at Mobile World Congress, the smartphone market was obsessed with dual cameras. Flagship phones like the iPhone 8 Plus and Samsung Galaxy Note 8 had dual rear cameras, but very few had dual front cameras. Asus saw an opportunity to differentiate its mid-range offering by giving both sides a wide-angle option.
The strategy worked in terms of attention: the ZenFone 5 Lite was one of the first phones in its price bracket to offer four cameras. It was aimed at younger users who take a lot of selfies and group shots, and who wanted a phone that could do everything a flagship could, but for less money.
Camera Performance: What to Expect
In good daylight, the main rear camera produces sharp, colorful images that are perfectly acceptable for social media. The wide-angle lens is noticeably less sharp, especially at the edges, and has more distortion, but it is a fun addition that you do not get on many phones at this price.
Low-light performance is the weak point. The f/2.2 aperture on the rear camera lets in less light than the f/1.8 lenses found on many rivals, so indoor and night shots tend to be soft and noisy. The front camera has a slightly wider f/2.0 aperture, but it still struggles in dim conditions.
The phone can record 4K video at 30 fps from the rear camera, but there is no stabilization, so footage can be shaky. The front camera is limited to 1080p.
Software and Camera Modes
The ZenFone 5 Lite runs on Android 8.0 Oreo with Asus’s ZenUI 5.0 skin. The camera app includes several modes:
- Auto: The default mode that handles most situations.
- Portrait: Applies a software-based bokeh effect to either the front or rear camera.
- Pro: Manual controls for ISO, shutter speed, white balance, and focus.
- Beauty: Applies skin smoothing and other enhancements.
- Panorama: For stitching together wide shots.
- Slow Motion: Records at 120 fps in 720p.
One useful feature is the ability to switch between the main and wide-angle lens with a single tap in the viewfinder. The phone also has a “selfie master” mode that uses the wide-angle front camera to include more background in your selfie.
Common Problems and How to Solve Them
Like any phone, the ZenFone 5 Lite has a few quirks that users commonly report:
- Wide-angle photos look soft: This is normal for a 5 MP sensor. Try to use the wide-angle lens only in good light and keep the subject in the center of the frame.
- Portrait mode sometimes blurs the wrong area: The software-based depth effect is not perfect. Make sure there is good contrast between the subject and the background, and avoid busy backgrounds.
- Battery drains quickly when using the camera: The 3300 mAh battery is fine for general use, but the camera app can be power-hungry. Close other apps before taking photos or videos.
- No night mode: The phone does not have a dedicated night mode, so low-light shots will be grainy. Use the Pro mode to manually increase ISO (at the cost of noise) or use a tripod for longer exposures.
How Does It Compare to Other Phones of Its Time?
When it was released, the ZenFone 5 Lite competed with phones like the Moto G6, the Nokia 7 Plus, and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro. Here is how it stacked up:
- Moto G6: Had a dual rear camera (12 MP + 5 MP) but only a single front camera. The ZenFone 5 Lite offered a wider front camera.
- Nokia 7 Plus: Had a better processor (Snapdragon 660 vs. Snapdragon 630) and a more capable dual rear camera with Zeiss optics, but it also had only a single front camera.
- Redmi Note 5 Pro: Had a dual rear camera and a single front camera, but offered better low-light performance and a faster processor.
The ZenFone 5 Lite’s main advantage was its versatility: no other phone in its price range let you take wide-angle shots from both the front and back. However, it lost out on raw performance and low-light quality to some rivals.
Is It Still Worth Buying in 2024?
As a daily driver, no. The phone is now several generations old and will not receive any more software updates. The Snapdragon 630 processor is slow by modern standards, and the 4 GB of RAM (in the higher-end version) is barely enough for today’s apps. The camera, while innovative for its time, is far behind even budget phones from 2024.
However, if you are a collector or want a cheap secondary phone for basic tasks and you can find one for very little money, it can still take decent daylight photos and has a headphone jack and expandable storage. Just be aware that you will not get any security updates, so you should not use it for online banking or anything sensitive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the ZenFone 5 Lite have a night mode?
No, the phone does not have a dedicated night mode. You can use the Pro mode to manually adjust ISO and shutter speed, but the small sensor and f/2.2 aperture mean low-light shots will still be noisy and lack detail.
Can the wide-angle cameras take portrait shots?
Yes, you can use the wide-angle lens in portrait mode, but the bokeh effect is software-based and may not be as accurate as with the main lens. The wide-angle lens is best for scenery or group shots, not for portraits.
Does the phone have optical image stabilization (OIS)?
No, the ZenFone 5 Lite does not have OIS on any of its cameras. This means videos may be shaky, and low-light photos are more prone to blur from hand movement.
Can you take 4K videos with the front camera?
No, the front camera is limited to 1080p at 30 fps. The rear camera can record 4K at 30 fps, but without stabilization.
Is the ZenFone 5 Lite waterproof?
No, the phone does not have an official IP rating for water or dust resistance. You should keep it away from water and moisture.
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