ASUS ZenFone 3 Officially Launched; Price and Quick Hands-On

ASUS finally unveils the official price of the the much awaited ZenFone 3 at the Zenvolution official Philippine launch event. The smartphone comes in two sizes, a smaller 5.2-inch and a 5.5-inch, and a higher-than-expected price tag.

ASUS ZenFone 3 Price, Specs

The ASUS ZenFone 3 features a new look and updated specs. I was expecting a price point similar to last year’s, but after seeing the upgrades, I think the increase is justified.

In terms of design, the ZenFone 3 features a new shape with curved edges. It has a glass-metal profile that features Gorilla Glass protection for both front and back.

The variants have the same specs under the hood – a 2GHz octa-core Snapdragon 625 processor, 4GB of RAM and 64GB storage. The camera has the same 16MP Sony IMX298 processor and uses the same ASUS TriTech Autofocus System. Both also use an 8MP front camera. Other notable the specs include a fingerprint sensor and a USB Type-C port.

The difference of the two display sizes comes in the type of display technology used and the size of the battery. The 5.2-inch is equipped with a regular IPS display and a 2,650mAh battery, while the 5.5-inch variant a Super IPS+ display and a 3,000mAh battery.

Also Read: ASUS ZenFone 3 is coming this August

And now for the price. The ZenFone 3 5.2-inch has an SRP of P16,995. It’s not bad, but it is a few thousand pesos more than last year’s. While the 5.5-inch goes a little bit higher at P18,995. Both, by the way, are now available at ASUS kiosks and partner stores.

ASUS ZenFone 3 key specs:

• 5.5-inch Super IPS+ / 5.2-inch IPS Full HD Display (1920 x 1080)
• 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 3
• 2GHz Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 Processor
• Adreno 506 GPU
• 4GB RAM
• 64GB Storage +microSD
• 16MP Main Camera with Sony IMX298 sensor, PixelMaster 3, F/2.0, Dual-Tone Flash, OIS + EIS
• ASUS TriTech Autofocus System (2nd Gen Laser AF, Phase Detection AF, Continuous AF)
• 8MP Front Camera
• Cat 6 LTE
• Wi-Fi 802.11ac MU-MIMO
• Bluetooth v4.2
• USB Type-C Port with USB 2.0 connectivity
• Fingerprint sensor
• Android 6.0 Marshmallow with ASUS ZenUI 3.0
• 3,000mAh / 2,650mAh battery
• Colors: Sapphire Black, Moonlight White, Shimmer Gold, Aqua Blue (only for 5.2-inches)

ASUS ZenFone 3 Quick Hands-On

I was really excited to get my hands on the ZenFone 3 because I really like the new look (glass-metal-glass combo). The design was updated and features a more robust spec list. But is it enough to warrant a higher price?

Quick answer? I say yes for now (Of course, a full review could change the answer). The phone looks beautiful and modern. It feels really good in the hand and the build quality is solid. It has a thin profile and a light weight. The UI is quick and responsive, and the animations butter smooth.

There are somethings I personally prefer though. One, the ZenFone 3 is light and all but I prefer a smartphone with a little heft. And in terms of size, I like the smaller 5.2-inches because it is easier to operate and fits my pockets better.

And there you have it, the ASUS ZenFone 3. If you’ve been holding off on buying a new smartphone, this is definitely another option to consider. Stay tuned for our full review soon.

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