After hearing rumors and seeing leaked specs, it seems like all the speculation is over because at Computex 2016, ASUS launched a trio of new smartphones that falls under their Zenfone family of handsets. These devices are part of the ZenFone 3 lineup and will be offered in three different variants: the regular ZenFone 3, the ZenFone 3 Deluxe, and the ZenFone 3 Ultra.
Starting with the ZenFone 3, this is pretty much a decent mid-range model from ASUS. The handset will not be packing a high-end chipset, but it will pack a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 under the hood which is more than capable of getting the job done. We are also looking at 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, microSD support, and a 5.5-inch Full HD display.
ASUS is also boasting that the ZenFone 3 will come with a speaker that sports a 5-magnet driver powered by an NXP smart amp, which has also been certified for Hi-Res Audio output. It will come with a 16MP rear-facing camera powered by Sony’s sensors, laser autofocus, phase detection autofocus, and 4-axis optical image stabilization for stills, and a 3-axis stabilization for videos. Its front-facing camera will be of the 8MP variety.
As for the Deluxe model, this is handset will sport a metal unibody, a 5.7-inch Full HD display, and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset with support for Quick Charge 3.0. There is also a 23MP Sony sensor accompanying the phone, along with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. Last but not least is the Ultra version.
This handset is clearly aimed at those who want a huge display. It will come with a 6.8-inch Full HD screen that seems to have blurred the lines between a smartphone and a tablet. It has a PixelWorks iris2+ TV grade processor that is optimized for 4K playback, dual speakers and DTS Headphone:X 7.1 surround sound, so clearly this is aimed at users who want a true multimedia experience, or at least as much as one can expect from a phone. As far as specs are concerned, we’re looking at a Snapdragon 652, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, a 4,600mAh battery, and a similar camera setup to that of the Deluxe model.
In terms of pricing, the ZenFone 3 is priced at $249 while the Deluxe model will be priced starting at $499. As for the Ultra, it will retail for $479. No word on when the handsets will be released yet.
