ASUS is one of the many device makers taking part in CES 2017, and today the company introduced two new Android smartphones.
First up is the ASUS ZenFone AR. As expected, the ZenFone AR is the second Google Tango smartphone, offering a TriCam system with a 23-megapixel rear camera as well as motion tracking and depth sensing cameras. With this setup, you’ll be able to utilize the ZenFone AR for augmented reality features.
The ZenFone AR also offers a 5.7-inch 2560x1440 AMOLED display, which is a bit smaller than the 6.4-inch screen found on the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro, the first Tango smartphone. This high-res display will be useful for Google’s Daydream VR platform, which is also supported by the ZenFone AR.
Also included with the ZenFone AR’s spec list is a Snapdragon 821 processor and 8GB of RAM, both of which should help to keep performance smooth when you’re utilizing AR to visualize what a piece of furniture would look like in your home or exploring a VR world. Powering the ZenFone AR is Android 7.0 Nougat.
The ZenFone AR will launch in Q2, but there’s no word yet on how much the ASUS ZenFone AR will cost.
Also announced today is the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom. Like the ZenFone Zoom before it, the ZenFone 3 Zoom places a focus on its cameras. The phone has two 12-megapixel cameras on its backside, one with a 25mm wide angle lens and one with a 59mm lens as well as a 2.3x optical zoom. Other camera features include dual-pixel phase detection autofocus, subject tracking autofocus, and a new laser focus system.
Another highlight feature of the ZenFone 3 Zoom is the phone’s battery. There’s a 5,000mAh battery crammed into the ZenFone 3 Zoom’s body, and this big battery can even be used as a power bank to charge other devices. Also included with the ZenFone 3 Zoom is a Snapdragon 625 processor.
The ZenFone 3 Zoom will launch in February for an undisclosed price.
Both of ASUS’s new Android phones are interesting. The ZenFone AR has support for both Google Tango and Google Daydream, but its 5.7-inch QHD display and 8GB of RAM will make it enticing to spec hounds, too. And then there’s the ZenFone 3 Zoom, which isn’t quite as high-end but packs special camera tricks and a huge battery. Now we just have to wait and see how the ZenFone 3 Zoom’s special camera setup actually performs.