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The major announcements at Mobile World Congress 2018 are almost done. [caption id=“attachment_4330075” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Asus ZenFone 5 launch invite[/caption] Among the last remaining smartphone makers to announce a new device at MWC is ASUS, and they’re expected to show off at least one new device tonight. ASUS’ event is dubbed #BackTo5, which suggests that the ZenFone 5 series phones will be launched tonight. Leaks from earlier this month have all but confirmed that at least one device will be an iPhone X clone. ASUS will be live-streaming the event, and we have information on how you can stream that video **here** . We invite everyone else to follow our live blog for up to the minute updates from the event.
Asus ZenFone launch updates: ZenFone 5, ZenFone 5 Lite and ZenFone 5z with AI smarts announced
Leaks from earlier this month have all but confirmed that at least one device will be an iPhone X clone.
 "Asus ZenFone launch updates: ZenFone 5, ZenFone 5 Lite and ZenFone 5z with AI smarts announced")
And that’s a wrap
Pricing and SKU details for the other phones are yet to be announced.
Thank you for joining us on this rather short LIVE blog.
For more information on the devices and on everything that happened at MWC, head to our dedicated MWC hub at http://www.firstpost.com/tech/mwc-2018
Three variants of the 5z
The ASUS ZenFone 5z will be available in three variants, offering 4,6 and 8 GB of RAM along with 64, 128 and 256 GB of storage. The base model will be priced at EUR 479 (around Rs 38,000).
India prices and launch dates haven’t been confirmed.
Launch dates
ZenFone 5 Lite: March 2018
ZenFone 5: April 2018
ZenFone 5Z: June 2018
High-end specs
The @ASUS #Zenfone5z will be the flagship #Zenfone5 smartphone housing @Qualcomm #Snapdragon845 SoC, up to 8 GB RAM and up to 256 GB storage. https://t.co/9rgflxXBN9
— Tech2 (@tech2eets) February 27, 2018
The most powerful phone yet?
Lastly, we have the ZenFone 5z. It’s easily ASUS’ most powerful phone yet and will rival the best that Android has to offer this year. Why? Because this beast of a phone is rocking Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 845 chip and 8 GB of RAM.
Biometrics for everyone
One-upping Apple, the ZenFone 5 offers Face and Fingerprint unlock.
The fingerprint sensor is on the rear, placed alongside the iPhone X-like rear camera.
A notch without Animoji?
Not to be outdone in their ability to shamelessly copy Apple, ASUS has announced a “ZeniMoji” feature.
As you would have guessed, this is simply a feature that generates animated emojis using the front cameras.
On the plus side, these ZeniMoji can be streamed on Facebook and used in other apps.
Powerful stereo audio
The ZenFone 5 features “powerfully immersive audio”, says ASUS. It uses bottom and top-mounted stereo speakers to create sound that is 1.2x louder than the iPhone X while having 10 percent less distortion.
Intelligent battery life
ASUS’ new ZenFone’s feature an intelligent battery management solution. The “AI” will learn when you normally wake up and when you keep your phone for charging, will not let it overcharge. Phone charge will be maintained at about 80 percent overnight. Before you wake up, the phone will charge up to 100 percent.
ASUS ZenFone 5 specs
The phone is powered by a Snapdragon 636 platform, 6 GB of RAM and a 3,300 mAh battery.
An unobtrusive notch
The notch is apparently unobtrusive. ASUS promises that it gets out of the way when playing video or any full-screen app that is not notch optimised.
26% smaller than the fruit phone!
ASUS is very proud of the fact that they ripped off the iPhone. In fact, they highlight the fact that they have a notch, and that it’s 26 percent smaller than that on the iPhone X
Wide-gamut display
The display has a 19:9 aspect ratio, supports the DCI-P3 colour gamut, and is 6.2-inches in size
The ZenFone 5 camera explained
The ZenFone5 camera features a Sony IMX363 sensor, OIS, f/1.8 aperture, dual-pixel PDAF and more.
“These cameras can capture an amazing amount of detail”
“The AI tweaks the camera for you, for the picture, for the best scene possible”. Campos
Wide-angle lens and portrait mode
The wide-angle camera and the main camera work together to create portrait photos. The main camera has a larger resolution, and uses data from the wide-angle to blur the background.
Cameras that think for you
The AI camera on the ZenFone 5 will intelligently switch scene modes. The cameras “think for you”, says Campos.
Campos: ASUS AI will learn from everyone
With AI in mind, we built the new ZenUI. These features extend to the display, battery life, camera and more.
Marcel Campos, ASUS Global marketing head on stage
Campos: Devices are evolving so fast. We’ve gone from simple telephones to smartphones to a new breed of intelligent phones.
For ASUS, AI should not be complicated.
ASUS NovaGo PC: An always-connected PC with 20+ hrs battery life
This was announced in December and at CES 2018. http://bit.ly/2GQ5Ops
ZenFone 5 Lite with Qualcomm Snapdragon chips
The phone will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 or 430 and will include a 3,300 mAh battery.
The phones will be available in Moonlight White, Rouge Red and Midnight Black.
ZneFone 5 Lite with 4 cameras
The ZenFone 5 Lite will feature an “Ultra Wide Shot” mode and includes 4 cameras.
The camera will target “lifestyle shutterbugs”.
According to ASUS’ research, the front camera is as important as the rear one.
The cameras include a 20 MP Sony IMX376 camera at the front and a 16 MP rear camera. These are supported by a 120 degree wide-angle camera, one each on the front and on the rear.
Ms. Daniela Idi, ASUS South East Europe Marketingg Manager is on stage
“We want everyone experiencing, creating, his own art.”
The new cameras will offer a unique photography experience, promises ASUS.
Surprise! The phones are already unveiled
It looks like we’re looking at the launch of the ZenFone 5 Lite, ZenFone 5 and ZenFone 5z
ASUS CEO Jerry Shen is on stage
A Spanish hello from the CEO to kick things off, and some background on the “half a decade of global success” that ASUS has apparently enjoyed.
…and the event’s officially started. At last.
5 more minutes
5 more minutes, says ASUS, as they treat us to some colourful streamers and a timer.
Technical trouble?
It looks like the event will be delayed for a bit. The stream is live but there are no signs of the show starting up just yet.
The stream is now live
ASUS ZenFone 5 Max running Android 8.0
And lastly, we have leaks involving the ASUS ZenFone 5 Max. This phone, according to various leaks, is expected to be an upper mid-range device with a large screen and battery. More details at http://bit.ly/2t3r4X3
ASUS ZenFone 5 with dual camera and FullView display
Yet another leak, this time in the form of a render, suggested that a ZenFone 5 with an iPhone X-like notch would be arriving soon. This phone was also rumoured to have an iPhone X-like dual rear camera that was vertically aligned. http://bit.ly/2HPcNk3
ASUS ZenFone 5 Lite with USB-C and glass back leaked online
Leakster Evan Blass had tweeted out an image of what was claimed to be an ASUS ZenFone 5 Lite. The leaked images showed a glass-backed phone with USB-C support. Display size is expected to be in the 5.7-inch to 6.0-inch range.
What’s next for ZenFone?
What's next for #ZenFone? Livestream starts in 30mins! Watch here https://t.co/dXJMKQgtog #backto5 #MWC18 #ASUS pic.twitter.com/WnKJcS42IO
— ASUS North America (@ASUSUSA) February 27, 2018
ASUS has confirmed that the event will happen at 12 am IST
Are you ready? Stay tuned 7.30pm (CET) to witness the new #ZenFone #MWC18 #Backto5 https://t.co/nzM60v1jqo pic.twitter.com/vYfTJQl01I
— ASUS (@ASUS) February 27, 2018
The ZenFone 5 series event is expected to start at 12 am IST. Stay tuned for LIVE updates.
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