Alongside the launch of ASUS‘ mid-range stock Android smartphone, the company also launched the more upmarket ZenFone 5 in Malaysia. If you don’t care for stock Android, want a better camera experience and a more premium body, this could be the ZenFone for you.
The ASUS ZenFone 5 will retail for RM1,299 and will be available for pre-order on Lazada starting the 4th of June 2018.
ASUS’ ZenFone 5 features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 octa-core processor that’s mated to 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. These internals are pretty similar to the ZenFone Max Pro M1, but the ZenFone 5 trades the large 5,000 mAh battery in for a 3,300 mAh cell that charges via USB-C instead.
In its place, you’re getting a larger 6.2″ Super IPS+ display pushing a Full HD+ resolution that comes with everyone’s favourite 2018 feature: A notch.
For photographs, you’re getting a dual camera setup at the back with optical image stabilisation featuring a standard 12MP sensor with f/1.8 aperture lens and a 120-degree super wide angle secondary camera that can also capture depth information. In front, you’re getting an 8MP f/2.0 aperture selfie shooter to boot.
ASUS has also packed the ZenFone 5 full of AI features like an AI camera, AI screen, AI ringtone, AI performance and AI call. All of these features and hardware specs are then wrapped up in a glass and metal body that also features a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner with ASUS’ concentric circle design.
Additionally, the ZenFone 5 also features dual-band 5GHz Wifi, NFC and an earpiece stereo speaker setup. To learn more about the ASUS ZenFone 5, check out our hands-on and first impressions.
If you’re looking for the ZenFone 5z that comes with a more powerful Snapdragon 845 processor, we are told that it’s coming to Malaysia in early Q3 2018.