Asus Announces Zenfone Zoom and Zenfone 2

CES 2015 is continuing to ring up surprise announcements and it seems like Asus is determined not to be left behind. After initially kicking off with Windows tablets, it went on to state that it will be introducing two new Zenfones as well – the Zenfone 2 which is modeled on the LG G3 and the Zenfone Zoom which is a camera hybrid. Both phones will run on Android 5.0 Lollipop.

The Zenfone 2 is expected to ship with a colossal 4 GB of RAM, which is a first for any existing smartphone. It lies in the phablet category, with a 5.5 inch screen and a quad-core Intel Atom processor. Furthermore, the Zenfone Zoom comes with a 13 megapixel/1080 p camera with 3x optical zoom capability. It can also pack on up to 128 GB of memory storage via microSD card.

Asus Zenfone 2

Investigating the Zenfone 2 more closely, its 5.5 inch size is a good fit as it allows seamless browsing and app usage but remains small enough to fit in your pocket. Any bigger and it might be troublesome to do so. The screen has 1080p resolution with 440 ppi and it helps that the bezels around it are kept fairly thin. It is also protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 3.

There are manual controls for the camera as well with a button on the back, positioned squarely in the middle. Dual-LED flash is included which adds to the vibrancy of images and professional appeal. The brushed metal finish adds style and elegance to the phone and gives it a premium look.

Powered by a 3,000 mAH battery and fast charging technology, the device is likely to last at least a full day even with heavy usage. Priced extremely reasonably, the device is sure to prove a hit with photography enthusiasts as well as those who prefer larger screens.

Asus Zenfone Zoom

The Zenfone Zoom has similar physical characteristics to the Zenfone 2 but adds 1mm of extra thickness due to the included 3x optical zoom lens. Mainly designed to compete with devices that offer an element of professional photography such as the Lumia 1020, it is clear that the camera is the strongest suite of the device. There is a fast f/2.0 aperture as well as software enhancements to improve low-light and HDR modes. The front-facing camera is 5 megapixels and also included is a selfie panoramic mode.

Specifications

Zenfone 2

• CPU: 2.3GHz 64-bit quad-Core CPU
• Chipset: Intel Atom Z3580
• OS: Android OS, v5.0 (Lollipop)
• Supported Networks: 4G LTE, HSPA
• Design:
  • Dimensions: 152.5 x 77.2 x 10.9 mm
  • Weight: 170 g
• Display:
  • IPS capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
  • 1080 x 1920 pixels, 5.5 inches (~403 ppi pixel density)
• Memory:
  • RAM: 2/4GB DDR4
  • Internal: 16GB / 32GB / 64 GB
  • Card slot: microSD, up to 64GB
• Camera:
  • Primary: 13 megapixels 4128 x 3096 pixels, autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash
  • Secondary: 5 MP
• Connectivity: WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac,  Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot, MicroUSB v2.0, A-
• GPS/Glonass, Slimport
• Battery: Non-removable 3,000 mAh battery
• Price/Release Date: Not yet announced