Asus Zenphone 3: Specifications, pricing and Australian availability
Asus has announced three new premium Android smartphones at Computex targeting the high-end market with mid-range price points.
At the Computex trade show in Taiwan, it’s more usual to see a new graphics card or laptop than it is a new smartphone, but that doesn’t mean it never happens. Alongside a new domestic robot appliance ("Zenbo") and new 2-in-1 Windows Transformer tablets, Asus has also announced three new Android smartphones.
The Zenfone 3 is the effective baby of the group, although that seems like a misnomer for a phone with a 5.5 inch screen, Snapdragon 625 processor and 4GB of RAM. The Zenfone 3 Deluxe ups the ante with a 5.7 inch display, 6GB of RAM and the Snapdragon 820 found in phones such as the HTC 10 and LG G5. The Zenfone 3 Ultra is the largest of the range with the biggest battery, but it’s actually less computationally powerful than the Deluxe, featuring a 6.8 inch display, Snapdragon 652 processor and 4GB of RAM. Asus hasn’t formally announced Australian availability yet for the new phones, and Australia isn’t typically a market where it directly offers handsets. That being said it’s likely that at least one direct importer will offer the Zenfone 3 range when they become available later this year. It’s expected that the Zenfone 3 will cost from US$249 depending on specifications, while the Zenfone 3 Deluxe will sell from US$499 and the Zenfone 3 Ultra will retail starting at around US$479. At current conversion rates and applying GST, that would equate to around $380, $765 and $735 respectively, which is aggressive pricing, especially for the Zenfone 3 Deluxe.Here’s how the specifications for the three new phones compare:
| Asus Zenfone 3 | Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe | Asus Zenfone 3 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|
| OS | Android 6.0 | Android 6.0 | Android 6.0 |
| Screen size | 5.5in | 5.7in | 6.8in |
| Resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
| Display density | 400 | 386 | 323 |
| Storage | 32/64GB | 64/128/256 | 32/64/128GB |
| Weight | 155g | 170g | 233g |
| Processor | Snapdragon 625 | Snapdragon 820 | Snapdragon 625 |
| Rear camera | 16MP | 23MP | 23MP |
| Front camera | 8MP | 8MP | 8MP |
| Battery | 3000mAh | 3000mAh | 4600mAh |