Asus ZenFone 5: 5-inch HD IPS LCD, 2GHz dual-core Intel Atom, Android 4.3, 8MP camera

Coming up the middle of the company’s lower-cost handset trio is the Asus ZenFone 5. Though largely having the same outward design as its siblings, it packs specs decent enough to be considered a mid-range device: 5-inch IPS LCD with 720p resolution, faster processor, and an 8MP rear camera.

Features highlighted in the company’s press release for the Asus ZenFone 5 include the PenTouch and GloveTouch technologies. These two enhances display sensitivity and allow touch input via a pen stylus, a pencil, or even a gloved hand. Though its body is made of cheap plastic, hands-on coverage about the device has found it to be light, pretty solid, and premium-looking. And don’t underrate the dual-core CPU inside just yet (even if quad-core is the norm), as it delivers considerable performance to this budget phone.

Asus ZenFone 5 Specs

• Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, Asus ZenUI
• 5-inch IPS LCD (720×1280 HD), ~294ppi
• 2GHz dual core Intel Atom Z2580 processor
• PowerVR SGX 544MP2 GPU
• 1GB RAM
• 4GB internal storage (?)
• microSD support up to 64GB
• 8-megapixel main camera, with autofocus and LED flash
• 2-megapixel front camera
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
• 3G, HSPA+
• Bluetooth
• GPS, A-GPS
• Dimensions: 148.2 x 72.8 x 10.3-5.5mm
• Weight: 144g
• 2050mAh battery

All the ZenFone smartphones, the ZenFone 5 included, run Android 4.3 Jelly Bean by default, but all three will also be updated to Android 4.4 KitKat. Camera performance is in many ways superior to the ZenFone 4, thanks to the more powerful 8MP rear camera, complete with a backside-illumination (BSI) sensor, image stabilization, autofocus, and LED flash.

No word on a release date has been mentioned, which will differ in every country. Available in four colors (pearl white, charcoal black, champagne gold, cherry red), the Asus ZenFone 5 will set users back $149.

[Source: Asus]