Asus got to the main event of its MWC press conference. That is, of course, the
Zenfone 5. But wait, there's a higher-end Zenfone 5z too. These models are
almost identical, save for the chipset used, and the amount of RAM and storage
you can get them with. They feature a metal frame and 2.5D curved glass on the
front as well as the back.
They are both filled to the brims with AI: AI Boost
(for more power when gaming), AI Photography (with scene detection, photo
learning, portrait mode and beautification), AI Display (stays on while you're
looking at it and has automatic color temperature adjustment), and even AI
Ringtone (which automatically adjusts the volume according to how noisy your
surroundings are). Oh, and Asus is also introducing something called ZeniMoji -
live-animated avatars which you can even use in video calls or live streams.
The Zenfone 5 comes with a 6.2-inch 2,246x1,080
Super IPS touchscreen with DCI-P3 support, 19:9 aspect ratio, 500-nit
brightness, and a notch that Asus boasts is "26% smaller than the Fruit
Phone X" (seriously, those words were actually uttered on stage).
Coincidentally, we happened to have one of those Fruit Phones with us at Asus'
event, so here's what a Zenfone 5 looks like next to it. The phone is powered
by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 636 chipset, built on a 14nm process. You'll get
either 4GB or 6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage.
On the back there's a 12 MP main camera with Sony's
IMX363 sensor, f/1.8 aperture, OIS, dual pixel phase detection autofocus, 1.4um
pixel size, and 83-degree field-of-view. Alongside that you get a 120-degree
wide-angle camera of unknown resolution. Selfies are taken care of by a single
8 MP unit with f/2.0 aperture and 84-degree field-of-view.
The Zenfone 5 features a 3,300 mAh battery with AI
charging that should double its lifespan. You also get dual-SIM functionality,
and dual speakers with dual amps. Hi-Res earphones come in the box, and the
phone has an FM radio too. Software-wise, you're looking at Android Oreo with
ZenUI 5.0 on top. Expect to see the Zenfone 5 in Midnight Blue and Meteor
Silver.
The Zenfone 5z, on the other hand, is basically the
Zenfone 5 but with a Snapdragon 845 at the helm, paired with up to 8GB of RAM
and 256GB of storage. Your exact RAM/storage options are: 6/64, 8/128, or
8/256. This device will be priced from € 479. Official pricing for the Zenfone 5
hasn't been announced yet.