ASUS’s MWC 2018 announcement caters both the high-end and midrange market. The company went a bit extravagant with the Zenfone 5Z. But still, the company isn’t forgetting its roots — that’s why we have the ASUS Zenfone 5.
This device looks fairly identical to the more expensive Zenfone 5Z. It has the same iPhone X-like design with its all-screen display, a tiny notch on top, and the dual camera setup at the back in a vertical orientation.
The screen is set at 6.2-inches with a 19:9 aspect ratio. It also has really thin bezels, which results in an incredibly high 90% screen-to-body ratio.
But to make it more affordable, ASUS replaced the Snapdragon 845 chipset found on the Zenfone 5Z to a Snapdragon 636 for the Zenfone 5.
But despite the more toned-down processor, the ASUS Zenfone 5 is still getting some AI boost, which optimizes its performance when playing games or doing other demanding tasks.
The AI feature also enables a lot of photography prowess for the device. For one, it can automatically detect any scene and apply the right effects or settings for the perfect shot.
ASUS Zenfone 5 Specs
- Android 8.0 Oreo, ZenUI 5.0
- Dual SIM, Dual Standby
- 6.2-inch FHD+ IPS display, 2246 x 1080 resolution, ~401ppi
- 90% screen-to-body ratio, 19:9 aspect ratio
- 1.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 octa-core processor
- 4GB/6GB RAM
- Adreno 509 GPU
- 64GB internal storage, expandable via microSD
- 8-megapixel front camera, f/2.0
- 12-megapixel (f/1.8) + 8-megapixel (120-degree wide-angle) dual rear cameras, 4-axis OIS, LED flash
- AI Scene detection, AI Photo Learning Real-time Portrait, and Beautification
- Fingerprint scanner, Facial recognition
- Dual 4G LTE
- WiFi 803.11 a/b/g/n/ac
- Bluetooth 5.0
- Stereo speakers, Smart Amp
- USB Type-C
- Weight: 155g
- Colors: Meteor Silver, Midnight Blue
- Battery: 3300mAh non-removable battery
The entire Zenfone 5 line-up, including this handset, is expected to go on sale in Q2 of 2018. Official pricing is not yet available, but rumors point to a possible $350 price tag.
UPDATE: The official price in the Philippines is Php19,995.