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ASUS' ROG Phone II combines high-spec power with accessory spectacle (updated)
Gaming phones are a rare breed, and the nascent category has already proved to be too much of a challenge for Razer. Some companies still see it as an opportunity to tap into the ever-growing esports market, however. Devices land with gimmicks like detachable controllers on Xiaomi's Black Shark 2, or a built-in cooling fan on the Nubia Red Magic 3. Neither could top last year's ASUS ROG Phone though when it comes to accessories: It offered a clip-on fan, a WiGig screen-casting dock, a clamp-on controller pad, a mobile desktop dock and a bizarre dual-screen dock. ASUS never shared sales figures for the ROG Phone, but it must have done well enough to warrant a sequel packed with many upgrades. The ROG Phone II is the world's first smartphone with a 120Hz AMOLED display, and it's also the first to feature the more powerful Snapdragon 855 Plus chipset. Another first here is the integration of two vibration motors, just, it hopes. to make gaming a tad more immersive.
ASUS' latest ZenFone and its big battery will hit the US next month
ASUS' ZenFone line is still pretty fresh in our minds, but that didn't stop the company from showing off yet another new smartphone here at CES 2018. The awkwardly named ZenFone Max Plus (M1) -- yes, ASUS is insisting on the parentheses -- is set to launch in the US next month for $329, and its claim to fame is its 4,130mAh battery. Sure, it might not be quite as capacious as ASUS' own ZenFone 3 Zoom from last year, but that battery is still bigger than any you'll find in a normal flagship phone. Not bad at all, considering the asking price.
ASUS ZenFone AR review: A 'better' Tango phone doesn't mean much
Google's Tango augmented reality technology isn't new, and its debut last year on Lenovo's Phab2 Pro left a lot to be desired. I mean, honestly, as neat as AR apps can be, an enormous phone with a mid-range chipset wasn't the best vehicle for them. Meanwhile, ASUS was fine with waiting, and that has made all the difference. The new ZenFone AR ($599+) is better than Lenovo's earlier Tango phone by almost every measure that matters, and it supports Google's Daydream VR platform, to boot. The idea of a phone that's as good at augmented reality as it is at virtual reality is tantalizing, but I'm not convinced the ZenFone AR is going to make a believer out of anyone.
ASUS goes dual-camera crazy for its ZenFone 4 series
ASUS' smartphone division was unusually quiet back at Computex a couple of months ago, but now we know why. Today, the Taiwanese company unveiled its ZenFone 4 smartphone line with not one, but five Android Nougat devices in one go: ZenFone 4 Pro, ZenFone 4, ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro, ZenFone 4 Selfie and ZenFone 4 Max Pro (and these will all get updated to Android O). Going along with the event's "We Love Photo" slogan, all five models share one thing in common: they all have a dual camera setup, though one model is using it for 2x optical zoom, while the rest use it for super wide-angle shots on either side.
Up close with the ASUS ZenFone 3 series
Like it does every year at Computex, ASUS announced a bunch of new smartphones that won't break the bank. Only this time, the best-looking device turned out to be the base model: the ZenFone 3. I managed to get some hands-on time with this $249 device and to my surprise, it looks just as good in real life thanks to the spun-metal finish on the back. It also has a more premium feel than its predecessor due to the switch from a plastic body to a combination of metallic frame and 2.5D glass panels. At this price point (with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage), there's little to complain about, but it'll take some real-life usage to see if the mid-range Snapdragon 625 will suit your needs.
ASUS's ZenFone 3 looks and feels twice its price
Intel may have already quit the smartphone market, but its buddy ASUS continues to fight the good fight with a slightly different approach this year. At Computex, the Taiwanese giant announced not just one, but three new Android M smartphones: ZenFone 3, ZenFone 3 Deluxe and ZenFone 3 Ultra. The three share a common design language, though in our opinion, it's the $249 base model that has the best appearance thanks to 2.5D Gorilla Glass on both sides, as well as the spun-metal finish on the back (underneath the glass). Together, these work well with any of the four color options: Shimmer Gold, Aqua Blue, Sapphire Black and Moonlight White. The sandblasted metallic frame around it adds a nice touch too.
ASUS put an insanely large battery in the ZenFone Max
During its big launch event in India today, ASUS decided to throw in a surprise for those who are into phones with a massive battery: the ZenFone Max. This is one of the very few smartphones that come with a generous -- or perhaps overly generous -- 5,000 mAh cell, and you can even use the phone as a power bank to charge other devices. Like the ZenFone 2 Laser, the Max has a 13-megapixel f/2.0 main camera with laser auto-focus plus dual-tone LED flash, as well as a 5-megapixel front-facing imager and Gorilla Glass 4 on the 5.5-inch screen, though there's no word on the display resolution. The downer is the entry-level Snapdragon 410 chip with just 2GB of RAM, as if the battery life isn't already long enough.
ASUS' photo-centric ZenFones head to India first
Back at Computex in June, we got a first glimpse of ASUS' upcoming ZenFone Selfie and the then-unnamed ZenFone 2 Laser, both being the first phones to switch back to Qualcomm's chipset after ASUS' streak of Intel-powered mobile devices. Today, the company has finally chosen India as the first country to get the Selfie and the Laser, as well as a few surprise devices. Let's talk about the Laser first: It's obviously all about the speedy laser auto-focus on the 13-megapixel, f/2.0 main camera with dual-tone flash. Its also comes in three sizes: 5 inches (not launching in India just yet), 5.5 inches (from 9,999 Rupees or about $160) and 6 inches (from 17,999 Rupees or about $280); all with Gorilla Glass 4 and resolution of up to 1080p. Chipset-wise, these models range from the low-end quad-core Snapdragon 410 with 2GB RAM up to the octa-core Snapdragon 615 with 3GB RAM.
ASUS' PadFone X mini phone-and-tablet hybrid reaches AT&T
If you liked ASUS' PadFone X but weren't willing to pay that much for the combination of an Android smartphone with a tablet shell, AT&T might soon have what you're looking for. The carrier is bringing the PadFone X mini to the US on October 24th, when it will sell for $200 to GoPhone's prepaid customers. There's a lot of hardware here for the money, although it won't surprise you to hear that ASUS makes sacrifices to give you two devices for the price of one. The smartphone half is a bit better than the regular PadFone mini thanks to its larger 4.5-inch screen, but you're still looking at a dual-core Atom processor, a 5-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front shooter. You're also docking into a 7-inch tablet which houses little more than a front camera and an extra battery, so don't expect a night-and-day difference when you use the bigger screen. With that said, the PadFone X mini beats getting a budget smartphone by itself -- give it a look if you'd rather not buy a separate tablet.
ASUS' stylish ZenWatch is all about security, remote control and wellness
After its routine pre-show teasers, ASUS' first smartwatch has finally been unveiled at IFA in Berlin. It's no secret that this Android Wear-powered ZenWatch isn't joining the party of circular watch faces, but it's certainly done a nice job at packaging the 1.63-inch, 320 x 320 AMOLED touchscreen (as featured on Samsung's Gear Live). The body consists of a curved stainless-steel case surrounded by a rose-gold-colored band inset, and the top is dominated by a piece of 2.5D curved Gorilla Glass 3. You also get a genuine stitched-leather strap with a quick-release clasp out of the box, but you can swap it with your own 22mm band to suit your mood.
ASUS' MeMO Pad 7 gets a new chic look, lighter body and sharper screen
It's IFA, so of course ASUS is going to launch a new tablet. This time it's a new MeMO Pad 7 (ME572C) that not only sports a different Intel Atom chip (the 64-bit quad-core Z3560 that clocks up to 1.83GHz), but also has a new chic look that's "inspired by clutch bags and wallets," as well as a screen upgrade to a whopping 1,920 x 1,200 resolution (323 ppi) -- a nice jump from the predecessor's 1,280 x 800 panel. The new Android 4.4 tablet is also thinner at 8.3mm and slimmer at 269 grams, thanks to its fiberglass body, duralumin frame and slim screen bezels. Other features include 2GB of RAM, 16 or 32GB of internal storage, up to 64GB of microSD expansion, up to 16GB of free cloud storage, dual speakers and 5MP/2MP cameras.
ASUS MeMO Pad 7 and 8 review: small, speedy tablets that cut a few corners
The MeMO Pad HD 7 was arguably the sleeper hit among small tablets in 2013. ASUS' device didn't have the speed of the Nexus 7 or the interface tricks of Samsung's Galaxy Tab 3 line, but it was superbly balanced. It ran smoothly, packed smart software and (most importantly) carried a sub-$200 price. For that reason, this year's MeMO Pad 7 and 8 are potentially exciting; they stick to that familiar formula while bringing in faster processors and a fresher interface. What's not to like? As you'll find out in our review, there are a few aspects that definitely need improvement, or even take steps backward -- but it's also clear that ASUS has budget-tablet design down to a science.
ASUS Transformer Pad TF103C review: a speedy budget tablet with a few sacrifices
When it comes to ASUS, buying a full-size Android tablet has usually meant venturing past the $300 mark; even the Transformer Book T100 set you back $349 when it first came out, and that was considered a steal. That's no longer a problem in 2014. ASUS' new Transformer Pad TF103C costs $299 with the company's signature keyboard dock included, or as much as some smaller mid-range slates. While that's potentially a hefty bargain, it begs a few questions: Just what are you giving up to get that price? And is it worth the trade-off when you could likely snag a smaller, but more powerful tablet for less? As I've learned, you're making quite a few sacrifices in the name of a better deal. This is still quality hardware, but you have to know what you're in for.
ASUS Transformer Pad refreshed with front speakers, lighter keyboard
It's been a while since we last heard about ASUS' Transformer Pad series, so today's announcement of two new 10.1-inch models was a nice surprise. Starting from the higher end, we have the TF303CL, which not only features Intel's 64-bit, 1.86GHz quad-core Atom chip (Z3745), but also supports LTE for Europe and Asia-Pacific. Otherwise, the plastic tablet packs the usual set of goodies for a decent Android tablet: a 1,920 x 1,200 IPS display, 2GB of RAM, 16 or 32GB of storage with microSD expansion, 5MP/1.2MP cameras (a downgrade from the old 8MP main imager) and a 25Wh battery. The TF303CL is also enhanced with stereo front-facing speakers, as opposed to the old single-channel speaker (but with two drivers) on the back.
ASUS Transformer Book V is a Windows hybrid laptop with a detachable Android phone
Wow, just wow. ASUS has just announced the Transformer Book V (pronounced "five"), a Windows 2-in-1 laptop with a detachable Android phone. No, this isn't the Windows Phone-powered PadFone that we've been waiting for, but the package is still pretty mind-blowing. Let's break it down. First of all, the 12.5-inch tablet/laptop hybrid part has its own Windows 8.1 brain running on Intel Core architecture. Then you have the 5-inch, ZenFone 5-like Android 4.4 phone, which is the first to run on Intel's 64-bit quad-core Atom (Moorefield) chip with LTE radio. When docked, the phone's Android interface is displayed within Windows 8, and you can also switch to the full Android tablet interface. In other words, you get five modes in total (hence the name): a Windows tablet, a Windows laptop, an Android phone, an Android tablet and an Android laptop.
ASUS' PadFone X goes global: still a 5-inch to 8.9-inch transformer
The ASUS PadFone X due June 6th can be considered as a slightly rugged version of the regular PadFone Infinity flagship line, but it's only limited to AT&T customers. Luckily, for those outside the US, there will soon be a global variant dubbed the PadFone S. These two models are pretty much identical: You get the same 5-inch-phone-to-8.9-inch-tablet transformation, and the guts include the 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800, 2GB of RAM, full HD displays, microSD slot, 13MP plus 2MP cameras on the phone (1MP front camera on the tablet) and 2,300mAh plus 4,990mAh batteries. The only differences are the 3G and 4G bands for obvious reasons, plus the wireless charging here follows the more popular Qi specifications, as opposed to PMA's. There's no info on pricing yet here at Computex; all we know is that it'll arrive in select markets as early as late Q3 this year.
Here's a closer look at ASUS' low-cost Zenfone line
At today's ASUS press conference here in Las Vegas, chairman Jonney Shih unveiled a new line of low-cost Android smartphones, dubbed Zenfones. The devices, which come in a range of 4-, 5- and 6-inches, have dual-core Intel Atom processors inside and run a skinned version of Android 4.3 that ASUS is calling Zen UI. Apart from a focus on imaging software, Shih didn't elaborate too much on what users could expect from that interface. But it's clear from our brief time with the handsets that the sleek UI emphasis simplicity by means of cleaner fonts and larger icons. The real kicker, however, for these newly announced Zenfones is their pricing: $100 for the Zenfone 4, $150 for the Zenfone 5 and $200 for the Zenfone 6. And that's all off-contract.
ASUS unveils Zenfone line packing Android, Intel chips and a simple interface
It's been a while since we've seen an ASUS smartphone that wasn't meant to be used with (or as) a tablet, but the company is making up for that absence by launching the Zenfone line. The Zenfone 4, 5 and 6 all sport dual-core Intel Atom processors and a range of exotic color options. They also tout a new interface layer on top of Android 4.3, ZenUI, that promises both simplicity and a What's Next feature for tracking your daily schedule. Differences between models largely boil down to screen size and performance. The Zenfone 4 starts things off with its namesake 4-inch 800 x 480 LCD, a 1.2GHz Atom chip, a 5-megapixel rear camera and a front VGA shooter. Move to the Zenfone 5 and you'll get a larger 720p display with pen and glove support, a 2GHz Atom, an 8MP back camera and 2MP at the front. The Zenfone 6 builds on this with an even bigger (though still 720p) screen and a 13MP rear camera. ASUS hasn't said when the Zenfone series hits shops, although the absence of LTE suggests that the handsets won't reach 4G-obsessed US carriers in an official capacity. They'll definitely be cheap to buy off-contract, however -- the Zenfone 4 starts things off at $99, while its 5- and 6-inch counterparts will cost $149 and $199.
