Asus launched its ZenFone AR smartphone with 8GB of RAM and support for Google's Tango augmented reality platform at CES 2017 earlier this year and it seems like the company is now ready to bring the handset finally to India. After teasing the smartphone's India launch on social channels last month, the company has now started sending out press invites for a launch event on July 13.
As the company has used "#DareToDream" on teasers for ZenFone AR as well as the launch invite, it is safe to assume that the smartphone will be launched in India on the aforementioned date. In its launch invite, Asus says "Push the boundaries of your imagination," further indicating the augmented reality capabilities offered by the smartphone.
To recall, Asus ZenFone AR comes with support for Google's Daydream VR and Tango AR platform as well. The smartphone comes with a camera arrangement and sensors that allow motion tracking, depth perception, and area learning.
In terms of specifications, the Asus ZenFone AR runs Android 7.0 Nougat and sports a 5.7-inch QHD (1440x2560 pixels) Super AMOLED display and is powered by a Snapdragon 821 SoC that has been claimed to be customised for Tango by the company. As mentioned earlier, the handset comes with an impressive 8GB of RAM.
In terms of optics, Asus ZenFone AR comes with a 23-megapixel Sony IMX318 module with TriTech+ autofocus system, dual-PDAF, second-gen Laser Focus, and continuous-focus. The rear camera supports 4-axis OIS (optical image stabilisation) as well as 3-axis EIS (electronic image stabilisation) for video recording alongside support for 4K video recording. At front, there is an 8-megapixel camera with an f/2.0 aperture and an 85-degree wide angle lens.
The ZenFone AR comes with up to 256GB of built-in storage, which is further expandable via microSD card (up to 128GB) in a hybrid dual-SIM (Micro+Nano) configuration. It houses a 3300mAh battery and connectivity options offered by the smartphone include USB 2.0 Type-C port, Bluetooth v4.2, and Wi-Fi 802.11ac connectivity.
The Taiwanese company has previously confirmed that the Asus ZenFone AR features vapour cooling system to avoid overheating. We will not have to wait very long for the Asus ZenFone price in India and availability as the launch date is not far away.
Asus ZenFone 3 Max, ZenPad 3S 10 start receiving Android Nougat update
Asus has started updating several of its smartphones and tablets to Android Nougat. The announcement has been made on Asus’ ZenTalk forum. The ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) has been updated to Android 7.1 Nougat via the over-the-air update. Besides, the other variant of the ZenFone 3 Max (ZC520TL) has also been updated to Android Nougat.
The Zen UI based on Android 7.1 Nougat for the ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) comes with the version 14.0200.1704.119. The changelog only lists the update to Android 7.1 Nougat from Marshmallow. Additionally, the ZenFone 3 Max (ZC520TL) is getting Android Nougat update. Surprisingly, this particular model is getting Android 7.0 Nougat, instead of Android 7.1 Nougat. At the time of writing, Asus has taken down the forum thread, which means it could be an error on the part of the company. Both smartphones were launched with Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
Android Nougat update for Asus ZenPad 3S 10 has also been announced. The tablet introduced last year has been updated to Android 7.0 Nougat. The update is available for the Wi-Fi version of the ZenPad 3S 10, which has the model number Z500M. The update brings all the notable features of Nougat to the tablet. The update however adds a slew of new features. For instance, the ZenUI keyboard now has a new Uniocode 9.0 emoji and skin tone. Plus, a new app launcher is now available for those who use Easy mode.
Meanwhile, Taiwanese company has slashed prices of its ZenFone 3 and ZenFone 3 Max post the implementation of the Goods and Services tax (GST) in India. The price of the ZenFone 3 (5.5) has been reduced by Rs 3000 to Rs 16,999. Similarly, Asus ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 is now available for Rs 14,999, down from its original price of Rs 15,999.
ASUS Zenfone 4 max unveiled with SD430, 5000mAh battery and Android Nougat 7.1
ASUS has unveiled its next generation of the Zenfone series of smartphones and the Zenfone 4 Max is the first of the lot. The smartphone has been unveiled in Russia at a price of RUB 13,900 (approximately Rs 15,000) which puts in the mid-range category.
The Zenfone 4 adorns a refreshed design with a fingerprint sensor embedded in the home button at the front. The smartphone sports a 5.5-inch 1080p IPS LCD display and runs on a choice of two Qualcomm chipsets – a quad-core Snapdragon 425 and an octa-core Snapdragon 430. Consumers will able to spec their Zenfone 4 Max up to 4GB RAM and 64GB storage.
The main highlight of the Zenfone 4 Max is its 5000mAh battery that could provide a power backup of approximately two days. However, what’s missing a fast charging solution that could have sped up the charging for the mammoth battery. The Zenfone 4 Max also features a 13MP dual rear camera with LED flash and an 8MP front camera.
The phone runs on an updated version of ZenUI built on top of Android 7.0 Nougat. The smartphone is currently available only in Russia and ASUS might launch it in other markets within a few months.
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