Early this month, ASUS released the Android 10 stable update for the Zenfone 6/ASUS 6Z. Now its the turn of its 2018 flagship – the Zenfone 5Z (ZS620KL). The update has begun rolling out to both the Indian variant and global variant (WW) of the device.

The Zenfone 5Z gets new features of Android 10 such as an improved notification system, dark mode, smart replies, new emojis and more. The update also removes some ZenUI features that appear to be useless.

Changelog

• Upgraded system to Android 10
• Removed Google Play system update
• Removed Page Marker, ZeniMoki, Selfie Master, Beauty Live, Kids Mode, Easy Mode, weather animation setting, AI charging, WebStorage, Go2 Pay, Report Location in Safeguard, and Yandex cloud option in File Manager
• Removed the support of Twin app for “Arena of Valor, PUBG, Vainglory, and Injustice 2”
• Upgraded APN settings
• Add the APN setting of Canada Public Mobile
• Modify ASUS APN Setting
• Moved Themes and Mobile Manager to Advanced Settings

ASUS advises that you back up your data before the update. There is also an option to downgrade back to Android 9 but you will erase all your data. Also, do note that some third-party apps are not compatible with Android 10 yet.

The Zenfone 5Z was announced in February 2018 but didn’t go on sale until June. It has a 6.2-inch 1080 x 2246 display with a wide notch at the top. There is a Snapdragon 845 processor under the hood with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of expandable storage. On the back of the phone are dual 12MP + 8MP cameras while an 8MP camera sits in front for selfies. The Zenfone 5Z also has a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, NFC, and an audio jack. It packs a 3300mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging.

When it launched, it ran Android 8 Oreo out of the box. It is safe to say this is its last major OS update.

UP NEXT: OPPO patents foldable device that reminds us of the ASUS Padfone X

(Source, Via)

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Back in August, ASUS started recruiting beta testers for the Zenfone 6 and Zenfone 5Z models. However, it was a closed beta run and only a handful of users got a taste of the early Android 10 based ZenUI 6 build. Now, ASUS is rolling out its first Android 10 open beta build based on ZenUI 6 for Zenfone 5Z users. Those who are on the beta build should have already received the new update (v100.04.44.67).

ZenUI 6 on Android 10 brings the experience very close to stock Android. It features Android 10’s system-wide dark mode as well as new navigation gestures. The security patch is now updated for October 2019. There are a few ASUS centric features in the update as well, such as Game Genie, one-handed mode, and a native screen recorder.

ASUS is yet to reveal an official schedule for the stable Android 10 update for the Zenfone 5Z. The current beta build has a bunch of bugs and hence, it’s not recommended to flash it for your daily use.

For those who want to try out the beta Android 10 build, download the update from this link.

UP NEXT: Asus is the number one Taiwan brand of 2019 according to MOEA

(Via1, Via2)

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Just a week after the Zenfone 5 got the Android Pie update, ASUS has begun rolling it out too to its 2018 flagship, the Zenfone 5z in Taiwan.

The update is 1GB in size and updates the software version of the phone to version 90.10.138.157. Other than bringing a slice of pie, the update also brings a new security patch but unfortunately, it’s November’s and not the latest. The changelog also says the speed of entering burst mode has been improved, Face Unlock is now faster and the performance of the headphone jack has also been improved.

If you don’t want to wait for the OTA, there is a page on XDA that has a link to the file and also explains how to manually install it.

READ MORE: ASUS ZenFone design patent with pop-up selfie camera and full screen

The ASUS Zenfone 5z was announced back in February but didn’t go on sale until June. It has a 6.2-inch 2246 x 1080 display with a notch that ASUS brags is smaller than that of the iPhone X.

Like most flagships released this year, it is powered by a Snapdragon 845 processor. It has up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of expandable storage. There is a 12MP + 8MP dual camera combo on its rear and an 8MP front-facing camera in front for selfies. It also has a fingerprint scanner on its rear and a 3300mAh battery with support for 18W fast-charging.

(Via)

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The ASUS ZenFone 5 series of smartphones was made official at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018 tech trade show that was held in February this year. The Taiwanese company could be working on ZenFone 6 series that may go official at the upcoming MWC event in February 2019. Fresh photos of the ZenFone 6 smartphone that were shared by C4ETech YouTube channel today reveal that it will be arriving with an in-display camera and a rear-mounted triple camera unit.

In the first image, the ZenFone 6 prototype is placed beside the ZenFone 5Z. Compared to the ZenFone 5Z, the ZenFone 6 appears to be sporting a notch-less display surrounded by slimmer bezels. An in-screen camera is situated on the top-left corner of its display. The bottom edge of the ZenFone 6 protype has a 3.5mm audio jack, a USB-C and an external speaker grille.

In the second image, the in-display camera can be seen at the top-right corner of the screen of the ZenFone 6 prototype. There is another image showing another prototype of the phone with a smaller display notch like the OPPO R17 or F9.

There are couple of other images that show that the ZenFone 6 is equipped with a triple camera unit and a fingerprint scanner on its rear shell. Lastly, there is another image showing the handset with a dual camera setup.

• Read More: ASUS ZenFone Lite L1 and ZenFone Max M1 announced in India

Since the above images belong to the prototype of ZenFone 6, there is no guarantee on the design that the company may have adopted for its ZenFone 6 series of smartphones. There is a possibility that the successor of the ZenFone 5Z may feature a triple camera system and the device that will arrive to replace the ZenFone 5 may come equipped with dual rear cameras. The rumor mill is expected to reveal more information on the upcoming ZenFone 6 series through forthcoming leaks.

Whats your opinion on the leaked images of ZenFone 6 prototypes? Share us your views by posting your comments below.

(source)

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Asus Zenfone 5Z, the flagship smartphone from the Taiwanese company, which was first introduced in the Mobile World Congress earlier this year, is now officially available for purchase in the United States.

Starting today, it is now available through B&H Photo, Asus USA as well as Amazon. However, the phone’s listing on the Asus website and B&H shows “out of stock” status and Amazon has limited quantities available with “more on the way.”

The smartphone is already available in Europe as well as in India, where the pricing is lower than the OnePlus 6, aiming to take on the affordable flagship market. In the US, the phone is priced at $499, which is lower than the starting price of OnePlus 6.

Zenfone 5Z features a 6.2-inch Full-HD+ LCD notched display with screen resolution of 2246 x 1080 pixels and 19:9 aspect ratio, along with having DCI-P3 color space and 550nits brightness. The display has a Gorilla Glass on top, protecting it from minor scratches.

It is powered by Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 845 processor, the same chipset that powers most of the flagship smartphones launched this year. It is coupled with Adreno 630 graphics processor, ensuring the smooth experience with gameplay and graphics.

The phone comes in three variants — 4GB RAM, 6GB RAM, and 8GB RAM. The 6GB RAM model comes with 64GB internal storage while the 8GB RAM model packs 128GB onboard storage. All models feature a microSD card slot, which enables users to further expand the phone’s storage capacity. Currently, the 6GB RAM model is available in the US.

In terms of optics, the smartphone features a dual camera setup on the back. It has a 12-megapixel primary camera with Sony IMX363 sensor, 4-axis OIS, 3-axis EIS, f/1.8 aperture and phase detection autofocus, and an 8-megapixel secondary sensor with f/2.2 aperture, OV8856 sensor, and 120-degree wide-angle lens.

There’s an 8-megapixel snapper with support for Face Unlock feature. It also has a fingerprint sensor placed on the back side, which according to Asus, can unlock the device in 0.3 seconds. It packs dual speakers with five-magnets and NXP Smart amplifier, and DTS Headphone: X for 7.1-channel surround sound.

Read More: ASUS Zenfone Live (L1) Android Go Edition lands in the US for $110

Connectivity options on the device include Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5, GPS + GLONASS, and USB Type-C. The company has also retained the 3.5mm headphone jack. The smartphone runs on Android Oreo operating system with custom interface ZenUI. It is powered by a 3300mAh battery that supports ASUS BoostMaster fast charging and AI charging.

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The Zenfone 5Z is already available for sale in some markets and on pre-order in others. If you already have it then you most definitely received an update last month. ASUS is rolling out yet another update and this time, the focus is on the camera performance.

The new update brings tons of camera improvements and new features. One of the new key features is the ability for users to capture images in RAW format. This format captures all the image data recorded by the sensor when you take a picture. There is no compression and the quality of the photo is much higher. Shooting in RAW is also great for those who want to edit their photos themselves.

Another key feature that comes with the update is support for panorama mode. There is also a button for turning on or off EIS. Below is the complete camera changelog:

• Enable RAW file support
• Enable Panorama feature
• Add on/off button for EIS
• Enable flash feature in Pro mode
• Filters upgraded to Real-Time Filters
• Camera Improvements
• Improve HDR functionality
• Improve camera stability
• Improve auto exposure
• Improve photo sharpness
• Improve autofocus functionality
• Improve slow-motion quality and file size(720p)
• Boost audio quality in videos to 192kbps bitrate

The update is also said to bring Wi-Fi stability and fix some bugs.

The Zenfone 5Z is one of the cheapest Snapdragon 845-powered smartphones money can buy. It sells for less than the OnePlus 6 in Europe, India, and North America.

It comes with a 6.2-inch FHD+ display with a notch at the top. Depending on the version you buy, you either get 4GB, 6GB or 8GB of RAM along with 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB of storage respectively.

READ MORE: ASUS ROG Gaming Smartphone Will Hit India in Q3 2018 – Official

The Zenfone 5Z has dual 12MP cameras, an 8MP selfie camera, and a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner. It also has its own version of the iPhone X’s animoji, runs Android Oreo and packs a 3300mAh battery.

(Via)

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ASUS unveiled the Zenfone 5Z back at MWC but as it is typical of ASUS, availability wasn’t until June. In its home country of Taiwan, the variants sold there have just 6GB of RAM. If you have been waiting for the 8GB version, then you should be able to purchase one starting tomorrow.

ASUS itself has announced that the 8GB version of the Zenfone 5Z which has 256GB of storage will be available on August 1 in Taiwan. Although they did not reveal the price, it is believed it will be priced at about NT$16,000 (~$525) based on the price of the same variant in India.

The Zenfone 5Z has a 6.2-inch FHD+ display with an 18.7:9 aspect ratio. It is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 processor. There are dual cameras on its rear in a 12MP + 8MP configuration and an 8MP selfie camera nestled within the notch.

READ MORE: Zenfone Max Pro (M1) heading to Europe August 13 for €250

The Zenfone 5Z has Bluetooth 5.0, NFX+C with Google Pay support, a USB-C port, a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, a 3.5mm audio jack and DTS Audio. It also runs Android Oreo out of the box and packs a 3,300mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0 support.

(Via)

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ASUS has started rolling out an update to its flagship killer, the Zenfone 5Z. The new update brings a number of new features, improvements, and a security patch.

The update which is already rolling out as an OTA in India fixes the screen flickering problem that occurs when you start or stop video recording. It has also improved the quality of video calls and the focus speed of the camera when recording a video.

There are also improvements for the notification LED, NFC, and secure album. The release note also mentions a security patch (June 5).

If you already have the Zenfone 5Z, check for the update under System Updates. You can also manually download it on to your device from here. Copy the file to the root folder of your device and you should get a notification to install the update.

The Zenfone 5Z rocks a 6.2-inch 2246 x 1080 display with an 18.7:9 aspect ratio. Thre is a Snapdragon 845 processor under the hood paired with 4GB/6GB/8GB of RAM and 64GB/128GB/256GB of storage.

READ MORE: ASUS ROG Gaming Smartphone Will Hit India in Q3 2018 – Official

It also has dual 12MP rear cameras, an 8MP front-facing camera, a fingerprint scanner, and dual SIM slots. It runs Android 8.0 Oreo and has a 3300mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0 support.

(Source, Via)

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The ASUS Zenfone 5Z was announced in February but didn’t go on sale until last month. It first went on sale in Taiwan and then Europe. Today, it has also launched in India. It appears its next stop is China.

The Zenfone 5Z may be launching in China soon as the device has been seen on TENAA’s website. The specs are the same and it will be available in all three variants.

ASUS’ Zenfone 5Z is one of the cheapest Snapdragon 845 smartphones in the market at the moment. In Europe and India, the phone sells for less than the OnePlus 6. ASUS will most likely keep to that low-price tag in China too.

READ MORE: ASUS Zenfone Ares Is A Rebranded Zenfone AR, Sells For Much Less Too

For €449, the Zenfone 5Z comes with a 6.2-inch FHD+ notched display, 6GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. It also has dual rear cameras (12MP + 8MP), an 8MP front-facing camera, a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, and a 3300mAh battery.

A launch date should be announced soon.

(Source)

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ASUS had introduced the ZenFone 5Z flagship phone alongside ZenFone 5 and ZenFone 5Q smartphones at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018 in February. Today, popular Indian retailer Flipkart has released a teaser to hint that the ZenFone 5Z may go official tomorrow.

Since the below teaser states that the new smartphone that will go official tomorrow will be a flagship device, it seems that the ZenFone 5Z will be announced tomorrow. Also, the colorful stripe present on the teaser is similar to the one found on the wallpaper of ZenFone 5Z. The Flipkart-exclusive flagship phone will be unleashed tomorrow at 8:45 PM in India (local time). Even the timing hints that the Snapdragon 845 powered ZenFone 5Z will be arriving tomorrow.

The ASUS ZenFone 5Z features a notched IPS LCD display of 5.2 inches that supports Full HD+ resolution and 18.7:9 aspect ratio. The Snapdragon 845 chipset is present under the hood of the ZenFone 5Z. It will is equipped with up to 8 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of storage.

The Sony IMX363 12-megapixel primary sensor + 120-degree 8-megapixel secondary sensor dual camera setup is available on the rear side of the ZenFone 5Z. An 8-megapixel camera is available at the frontside of the phone. A 3,300mAh battery is present inside the phone. The handset is preinstalled with ZenUI based Android Oreo.

Read More: Asus ROG Gaming Smartphone To Launch In The US, Pricing And Availability Details Remain Undisclosed

There is no information available on the pricing of ZenFone 5Z for India. Earlier in this month, it was introduced with a price tag of 499 euros (~Rs. 39,700_ for the model that features 64 GB of storage and 6 GB of RAM in Italy. The Taiwanese company is running an offer in Europe which allows customers to purchase the smartphone with a discounted price tag of 449 euros (~Rs. 35,700) if the order is placed before July 15. ASUS is yet to debut ZenFone 5 and 5Q smartphones in India.

(source|via)

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When the ASUS Zenfone 5Z was announced earlier this year, we called it the new flagship killer as a result of its low price. Its $499 starting price meant that other flagship killers from manufacturers like OnePlus and Xiaomi would have to price their flagship lower to beat it.

Typical of ASUS, the Zenfone 5Z is just going on sale nearly four months after it was announced. The OnePlus 6 which is supposed to be its closest rival has already been available for purchase for a few weeks now. Nevertheless, the Zenfone 5Z comes with a cheaper price tag than the OnePlus flagship. Currently, it is the cheapest Snapdragon 845 phone in Europe.

With a starting price tag of €499 in Europe, the ASUS Zenfone 5Z is cheaper than the €519 OnePlus 6 with the same amount of RAM and storage. However, ASUS says you can even get it for €449 if you order it between now and July 15. This makes the Zenfone 5 not only €70 cheaper than the OnePlus 6 but also cheaper than the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S priced at €499 in Italy.

ASUS is actually offering a €50 rebate when you purchase the phone. You also get €50 off the 8GB RAM + 256GB model which is originally priced at €600.

The ASUS Zenfone 5Z has a 6.2-inch display with a 1080 x 2246 resolution. It has a notch at the top of the display which gives it an unusual 18.7:9 aspect ratio.

Just like its closest competitors, the Mi MIX 2S and OnePlus 6, the Zenfone 5Z also has dual rear cameras. One is a 12MP f/1.8 sensor and the other is an 8MP f/2.0 sensor. It also has an 8MP sensor camera within the notch.

READ MORE: Asus ROG Phone Shines On Geekbench With Best Results Ever For Android

It runs Android Oreo, has a USB-C port, Bluetooth 5.0, and a 3.5mm audio jack. It even has support for storage expansion and packs a 3300mAh battery.

The ASUS Zenfone 5Z can be ordered here. It will be available in other markets starting with Japan on June 15.

(Source, Via)

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ASUS ZenFone 5Z that was announced at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018 tech trade show in February is one of the first smartphones to be driven by Snapdragon 845 mobile platform. It was unveiled alongside the ZenFone 5 and ZenFone 5Q that have been recently made available for buying. During the MWC 2018 event, the Taiwanese company had confirmed that the ZenFone 5Z flagship phone will be made available for buying in June this year. Staying true to its promise, ASUS has confirmed through its Japanese Twitter account that the release of ZenFone 5Z (ZS620KL) is June 15.

The ZenFone 5Z features a metallic frame flanked between glass panels on both sides. It houses a 6.2-inch IPS LCD display that produces Full HD+ resolution of 2246 x 1080 pixels and a screen-to-body ratio of 90 percent.

The Snapdragon 845 chipset powers the smartphone. It comes in multiple variants such as 64 GB storage + 4 GB RAM, 128 GB storage + 6 GB RAM and 256 GB storage + 8 GB RAM. The handset also features a microSD card slot.

The rear panel of the ZenFone 5Z has a vertical dual cameras setup that includes a Sony IMX363 16-megpixel sensor with f/1.8 aperture and a 120-degree wide-angle lens as secondary sensor. For selfies, it features an 8-megapixel camera that is placed inside the notch of the phone. The 5Z is preinstalled with Android 8.0 Oreo.

Read More: ASUS ROG Gaming Smartphone Dazzles In These Hands On Pictures

The ZenFone 5Z is also equipped with dual speakers, dual NEX Smart Amp and Hi-Res audio. It is equipped with connectivity features such as dual-SIM support, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, GPS, USB-C and 3.5mm audio jack. The rear panel of the ZenFone 5Z is equipped with a fingerprint scanner. The handset is fueled by 3,300mAh battery that carries support for fast charging.

Meteor Sliver and Midnight Blue are the two color variants of the ZenFone 5Z. At the launch event of the phone, the Taiwanese firm had confirmed a pricing of 479 euros (~$562) Probably, it belongs to the lowest configuration edition of the 5Z.

(source|via)

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Taiwan phone maker ASUS announced the Zenfone 5 series comprised of the Zenfone 5 Lite, Zenfone 5 and Zenfone 5Z. Out of the three smartphones, the Zenfone 5Z is the flagship model, packing a Snapdragon 845 chipset. The device is yet to go on sale as it is listed to start selling in May. Ahead of that, the AnTuTu score of the flagship has now appeared online. The photo of the Zenfone 5Z with its AnTuTu score of 274499 points on the screen was recently outed on Slashleaks. 

The score is consistent with that of other Snapdragon 845-powered models but it is interesting to note that the score surpasses the 273741 points scored by Xiaomi’s latest Mi Mix 2s. However, the score is lower than that of the Black Shark gaming phone which scored 279,464 points. ASUS is yet to release the Zenfone 5Z into the market and the score wasn’t officially released. Thus, it is possible ASUS may still optimise the device and the official AnTuTu score may be higher than this.

Related: ASUS Zenfone 5 Unboxing/ Hands On: So Much Quality For a Notch-y Midranger

As a reminder, the Zenfone 5Z sports a 6.2-inch display with a resolution of 2246×1080p. The device also has a notch on the display and a screen to body ratio of over 90%. ASUS says the device has an AI engine and a feature called AI boost for processor and software optimizations. The device is equipped with dual rear cameras having a Sony IMX363 main sensor. The Zenfone 5Z also comes with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage or 8GB of RAM and 128GB/256GB of storage. Other features include stereo speakers and each has an NXP smart amplifier. There is also NFC, Bluetooth 5.0, FM radio, an audio jack, and support for Hi-Res audio and DTS. A new ZenUI based on Android Oreo also comes pre-installed. The Zenfone 5Z will have a starting price of $479 when it goes on sale this May, which will potentially make it the cheapest Snapdragon 845 phone we’d be seeing.

(source)

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ASUS had announced the ZenFone 5, ZenFone 5Z and ZenFone 5 Lite (5Q) smartphone at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018 event in February. The Taiwanese company has now confirmed that it will be holding a press conference on April 12 in the home country to announce the arrival of ZenFone 5.

The ZenFone 5 features a notched Super IPS LCD display of 6.2 inches that carries support for an aspect ratio of 19:9 and Full HD+ resolution of 2246 x 1080 pixels. The screen offers an impressive screen-to-body ratio of 90 percent.

The Snapdragon 636 chipset that powers the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 (Chinese edition) and Meizu E3 is present under the hood of the ZenFone 5. It has an internal storage of 64 GB and comes with support for additional storage through microSD card. It is expected to arrive in Taiwan in 4 GB and 6 GB RAM options. It runs on the latest Android 8.0 that is customized with the newest Zen UI. A 3,000mAh battery enabled with Quick Charge 3.0 powers the smartphone.

Read More:Asus ZenFone 5Q Pre-orders Begin in Taiwan with NT$9,900 (~$339) Pricing

For photography, it features a dual camera module on its back panel. It features Sony IMX363 12-megapixel lens as the primary that is coupled with a secondary wide-angle lens that offers a filed of view of 120 degrees. The primary lens with f/1.8 aperture offers features like pixel size of 1.4micron, 4-axis OIS, dual pixel autofocus and 83-degree field of view. It has an f/2.0 aperture selfie camera of 8-megapixel. Other features of the smartphone include rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, face unlock, dual 5-magnet speakers assisted by dual NXP smart amplifiers, PMIC internal dual amplifier, three microphones, dual-SIM, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, GPS, USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack and FM radio.

The ZenFone 5 is likely to be available for buying from April 15 in Taiwan with a pricing of 11,900 TWD (~$406). As far as ZenFone 5Z is concerned, it is expected to go on sale in June.

(via)

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During the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018 that was heled in February, ASUS had launched the ZenFone 5Q (also known as ZenFone 5 Lite) alongside the high-end ZenFone 5 and 5Z smartphones. The Taiwanese manufacturer has started its pre-orders in the home country from March 15 with a pricing of NT$9,900 (~$339). The handset will be available for buying from March 22. Customers who pre-order will be able to ZenPower (10050) powerbank for free.

The pre-orders of the ZenFone 5Q (model number ZC600KL) has begun on various platforms such as the official website, ASUS Store PChome 24h Shopping, Yahoo! Shopping Mall, momo Shopping Mall, Shelfish Mall, Dongsen Shopping, FriDay Shopping Online Platform and offline stores of ASUS. It will be available in colors like Starry Black and Moonlight White at the beginning. As of this writing, there is no confirmation on when the Taiwanese manufacturer will be releasing the Rouge Red color edition of the ZenFone 5Q in Taiwan. Starting from March 1, the handset will be available through Far EasTone Telecommunications (FET) in the country.

Unlike the ZenFone 5 and 5Z smartphones that feature 6.2-inch notched display, the ZenFone 5Q is fitted with a smaller display of 6 inches that does not feature a notch. The dual front-facing cameras of the ZenFone 5Q include the 20-megapixel Sony IMX376 sensor that offers an 85.5-degree field of view as the main sensor. The secondary sensor that accompanies it offers 120-degree field of view.

The dual rear cameras of the ZenFone 5Q features a 16-megapixel primary sensor with 80-degree field of view and the same secondary sensor that resides at the front. The Snapdragon 630 chipset is present under the hood of the ZenFone 5Q. The 5Q features 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of native storage. For more storage, it includes a microSD card.

The handset is running on ZenUI 5.0 flavored Android 8.0 Oreo. It is equipped with a 3,300mAh battery. The other features of the 5Q are rear-mounted fingerprint reader, facial recognition, microUSB, NFC, GPS, Bluetooth, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi and dual-SIM support.

The Taiwanese company is planning to launch the Snapdragon 636 powered ZenFone 5 upper mid-range handset and Snapdragon 845 SoC driven ZenFone 5Z flagship phone in the second quarter of this year. The 5Z may hit the Taiwanese market in June with a pricing of NT$15,000 (~$513). It is an enticing price for a Snapdragon 845 powered flagship smartphone that features an impressive design.

Read More: ASUS Zenfone 5 Max With Snapdragon 660 and 4GB RAM Spotted On Geekbench

ASUS is aiming to release the ZenFone 5 series in over 10 markets across the world in Q3 this year. The Taiwanese company expects that its smartphone division will start making profits from the same quarter.

(source)

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CES 2018 may not have been as great as we expected, but MWC 2018 definitely didn’t disappoint. Despite the fact that majority of the manufacturers (Huawei, LG, HTC, Xiaomi) decided to skip this event to unveil their big guns, the event currently going on in Barcelona still managed to keep us all interested with launches like the Vivo Apex and the Matebook X Pro.

So, let’s take a look at the top launches from MWC 2018.

DAY ZERO:

Sunday was an exceptionally busy day for tech enthusiasts given that three major manufacturers had lined up announcements one after the other. And yes, there was the LG announcement too, launching the LG V30S ThinQ model, but to be honest, that wasn’t the highlight of the day.

The following were the top products announced on Sunday.

HUAWEI MATEBOOK X PRO

Huawei kicked off MWC 2018 with its amazing Matebook X Pro. There’s no doubt that the new laptop is inspired by the bezel-less design of the Dell XPS 13 but the company has taken things to another level. The company has integrated the web camera as a pop up component on the keyboard, ensuring you are away from prying eyes when the camera is not in use. Not only that, the Matebook X Pro features a 3:2 aspect ratio that enables more pixels on the screen with a resolution of 3000 x 2000. Coming from a company that entered the laptop market just a couple of years ago, the Matebook X Pro is definitely a product worthy of your attention.

Read more about the Matebook X Pro and its features from here.

NOKIA 8 Sirocco, Nokia 7 PLUS, & NOKIA 8110

Nokia managed to impress us with its strategy last year, slowing gaining ground in the ever competitive smartphone market. The company used the event on Sunday to unveil a number of new smartphones for the global market. First of all, the Nokia 6 2018 model is finally coming to markets outside of China. It’s a great phone (our hands on here!) in the budget segment.

New announcements of the day included the Nokia 8 Sirocco edition with upgraded features and specs. Basically, the Sirocco is what the Nokia 8 should have been and with Snapdragon 835 inside, the phone could have been a great option back in 2017. But it might be a little too late to the party in 2018, especially with its costly price tag.

The Nokia 7 Plus is actually the most interesting smartphone of the lot. The phone features the powerful Snapdragon 660 chipset with dual cameras and 2X optical zoom. It’s being marketed as a premium mid-ranger and also adopts the current trend of 18:9 aspect ratio for its display, which is something that the Nokia 6 2018 model skipped. For less than $400, the phone offers pretty amazing value. Read more about the model here! Note that there’s a Nokia 7 Plus China edition too, which is cheaper by the way.

The new Nokia 8110 Slider refreshes the iconic banana phone. With a banana yellow shade, the company is definitely trying to bring back the trend to current market. However, apart from the looks, the phone has nothing extraordinary. So, we wonder who will end up buying this one, despite its iconic design. More about the phone here.

Samsung Galaxy S9 & S9+

The Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ unveil were the two most powerful launches on Sunday. The South Korean giant has retained what was good about the S8 and made some minor yet necessary upgrades in the new S9 & S9+ models. Powered by SD845 (in US and China) and Exynos 9810 in other markets, the phone is the most powerful flagship from Samsung till date. The camera gets a super slo-mo bump at 960 fps at 720p among other upgrades. The S9 keeps a single camera module, while the S9+ gets the expected dual camera upgrade.

Read all about the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus from here.

DAY ONE:

The first official day of the MWC 2018 saw Sony & Vivo grab all the attention.

Vivo Apex

Vivo surprised us all by revealing the Vivo Apex Concept smartphone on Monday. It is definitely one of the most interesting smartphone concepts that we have seen lately. The phone features a nearly 98% screen to body ratio, which is insane for a smartphone. The company reportedly made this possible by integrating the microchips directly into the flexible circuit board. Further, the phone features a unique pop up periscope front camera, which enabled the company to limit the front bezel to a bare minimum. Further, there are other high-end tech for its speakers and ear piece.

You can read all about the Vivo Apex Concept from here.

Sony Xperia XZ2 & XZ2 Compact

Sony’s smartphone department wasn’t doing so well in the past few years. Some of its phones have been promising, but as an overall package, the Japanese giant often failed to impress. However, with the XZ2 series, the company is hoping to change some things. First of all, it has ditched the omnibalance design and now, the new models feature an 18:9 aspect ratio display along with a revamped ‘ambient flow’ design. The XZ2 flagship features wireless charging as well.

Overall, if priced correctly the Sony Xperia XZ2 series could be a game changer for the company. You can read all about these two models from here.

Helio P60

Mediatek has given up on its flagship X series chipsets but that doesn’t mean that the company is out of the smartphone market. MTK unveiled the brand new Helio P60 chipset on Monday at MWC 2018, featuring promising specs that can take on the SD660 chip. The company plans to compete in the premium mid-range segment with its new chipset and comes with the new NeuroPilot AI processing tech along with Mali-G73 MP3 GPU to ensure it can handle the premium features of a flagship grade smartphone.

More about the chipset and its specs here.

DAY TWO:

The second day at MWC 2018 saw Nubia and ASUS revealing its top phones for the year.

NUBIA’s First Gaming Phone

Smartphone manufacturers seem to be interested in the concept of gaming phones and Nubia is the first Chinese smartphone company to reveal details about its new Gaming phone. Inspired by a super car design, Nubia’s gaming flagship concept features several cuts and creases at the back with the camera module arranged vertically. The design retains its symmetry and Nubia seems to have done a fine job in making this smartphone design.

The phone is confirmed to launch in China sometime in the coming months, so it’s not just another concept that may never see the light of the day. You can read more about the company’s gaming concept here.

ASUS Zenfone 5Z and Zenfone 5

ASUS unveiled its big guns yesterday, announcing the Zenfone 5 and the Zenfone 5Z models. The Zenfone 5Z is the pick of the lot featuring SD845, 6GB RAM, a 6.2-inch FHD+ display with 90% screen to body ratio — in under $500! But the Zenfone 5 is also a great smartphone, differing from the 5Z model in the processor department (SD636) and memory (4GB RAM).

ASUS isn’t ashamed to accept that the two phones are iPhone X inspired, but it does add that their notch is smaller.

Read all about the two ASUS Zenfone 5 models from here. You can also check out the ASUS Zenfone 5 Lite and the ASUS Zenfone M1 Max models.

This sums up all the major announcements at MWC 2018 so far!

Stay tuned to our MWC 2018 coverage from here.

The post Top Launches From MWC 2018 So Far: Which Products Stood Out? appeared first on Gizmochina.

The Zenfone 5 Lite is an exciting device but the Zenfone 5 and Zenfone 5z are the real stars of ASUS’ announcement.

The Zenfone 5 and Zenfone 5Z are nearly identical devices that differ only in processor and storage configuration. So we’ll only mention the Zenfone 5 except in cases where the Zenfone 5Z has a different specification.

Zenfone 5 Design

The Zenfone 5 has a double-sided glass design. Both are 2.5D curved Coring Gorilla Glass with a metal frame in between them. Like the leaks revealed, the Zenfone 5 has a notch in the display and ASUS isn’t ashamed to say they copied it from Apple, though they justify their action by saying their own notch is smaller.

Zenfone 5 And Zenfone 5Z Specs

The Zenfone (and 5Z) has a 6.2” FHD+ Super IPS display with a 19:9 aspect ratio, 95.4% color gamut and support for DCI-P3. Thanks to the bezel-less display, the Zenfone 5 boasts a 90% screen-to-body ratio giving it the form factor of a 5.5” phone.

Powering the Zenfone 5 is a Snapdragon 636 processor paired with 4GB or 6GB of ROM. Storage is 64GB on both variants but unlike the Zenfone 5 Lite, it doesn’t have a dedicated MicroSD card slot. So you either put a second nano SIM or add up to an additional 2TB of storage.

The Zenfone 5Z on the other hand is powered by the Snapdragon 845, the current Qualcomm champion. ASUS says there is an AI engine and a feature called AI boost which is just marketing for processor and software optimizations. It also comes with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage or 8GB of RAM and 128GB/256GB of storage.

There are stereo speakers and each has a NXP smart amplifier. There is also NFC, Bluetooth 5.0, FM radio, an audio jack, and support for Hi-Res audio and DTS. A new ZenUI based on Android Oreo also comes pre-installed.

The camera and notch are not the only things ASUS has copied from Apple’s iPhone X. The ASUS Zenfone 5 and Zenfone 5Z also have their own version of Animoji called ZeniMoji.

Battery capacity on the Zenfone 5 is 3300mAh with BoostMaster (fast charging). ASUS said it has added a new feature called AI Charging which helps double the lifespan of the battery.

According to ASUS, leaving your smartphone plugged in overnight when it is full degrades the battery. With AI Charging, you can still leave your phone plugged in. The phone studies your sleep pattern, so when you plug in before going to bed, it charges the battery up to 80% and leaves it there. Just before you wake up, it then resumes charging so you can wake up to a full battery.

Zenfone 5 Cameras

The Zenfone 5 has a 12MP Sony IMX363 sensor with a F/1.8 aperture and an 83° FOV. It is paired with a 120° wide-angle camera that allows for up to an extra 200% area into your photos.

The camera also comes with AI scene detection that can identify up to 16 different scenes and objects such as lakes, animals, sunsets, plants (flowers) and humans. There is also HDR and portrait mode.

Up front is an 8MP F/2.0 camera with Night HDR and portrait support, selfie panorama, and GIF animation.

READ MORE: ASUS Joins The Mixed Reality Game With Its Own $429 Headset

Zenfone 5 and Zenfone 5Z Price and Availability

Both phones will be available in Midnight Blue and Meteor Silver when they launch. The Zenfone 5Z will have a starting price of $479, making it the cheapest Snapdragon 845 phone at the moment.  ASUS has not revealed the price of the Zenfone 5 neither has it announced a release date for both phones but when they go on sale, they will come with Hi-Res earphones in the box.

For more MWC 2018 coverage, click here!

The post The ASUS Zenfone 5Z Is The New Flagship Killer But The Zenfone 5 Is Awesome Too appeared first on Gizmochina.