Asus ZenFone launch updates: ZenFone 5, ZenFone 5 Lite and ZenFone 5z with AI smarts announced

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 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?

ASUS has confirmed that the event will happen at 12 am IST

The ZenFone 5 series event is expected to start at 12 am IST. Stay tuned for LIVE updates.