ASUS Celebrates the Launch of ZenFone in Southeast Asia

Chairman Jonney Shih introduces the flagship smartphone series and ASUS ZenUI user interface

Singapore (15 April, 2014) — ASUS Chairman Jonney Shih, accompanied by CEO Jerry Shen, announced the availability of the ZenFone Series for Southeast Asia at a press event in Jakarta today. During the event, Mr. Shih introduced the complete ZenFonelineup and the exclusive ASUS ZenUI mobile interface, together with many of its unique features. Among the premier ASUS ZenUI features is PixelMaster, a camera technology that is an essential part of the ZenFone experience. The exclusive PixelMaster camera technology makes it effortless to capture memorable photos and videos in any lighting condition.

For the first time, Southeast Asian consumers can experience the empowering luxury of the long-anticipated ZenFone, available in a range of sizes and colours. All ZenFone models come with ASUS ZenUI, the all-new mobile user interface with over 200 enhancements that make ASUS mobile devices even more fun and seamless to use.

The launch of ZenFone in Indonesia marks a significant milestone for ASUS following ZenFone events in Taiwan and China. “We are very excited to bring this empowering luxury to consumers in Southeast Asia.  I have always believed that the best technology is used by a mass audience, so when we set foot on this journey of in search of incredible, we aim to create the most extraordinary phone for everyone to enjoy,” said Chairman Shih.

The ZenFone Series features high-performance and power-efficient Intel® Atom™ processors to deliver outstanding mobile experiences. Joining Chairman Shih on stage, Intel Vice President and General Manger, Asia-Pacific and Japan Region, Gregory Bryant, said: “Intel is proud to join ASUS on the ZenFone journey with our Intel Atom processors. ZenFone offers an incredible user experience at a competitive price, and that will be a compelling proposition for consumers.”

The ZenFone series incorporates beautiful design, high-quality materials and the seamless functionality of ASUS ZenUI to bring empowering luxury to users. Available with screens ranging from 4 to 6 inches and in a variety of striking colours, there is a ZenFone to match anyone’s needs and sense of style. All ZenFone models feature Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 screens for incredible scratch resistance and durability.

Equipped with a spacious 5-inch 1,280 x 720 HD IPS+ display, the ZenFone 5 has a stunning design that measures only 5.5mm at its thinnest edge. Exclusive ASUS GloveTouch technologies increase ZenFone 5’s display sensitivity, making it even possible to use the device with gloves.

ZenFone 5 features the fast and energy-efficient Intel® Atom™ Z2560 processor that runs at 1.6GHz and also benefits from a brilliant 8-megapixel PixelMaster main camera with image stabilization. Coupled with a back side illumination (BSI) sensor and wide-aperture f/2.0 lens with exclusive ASUS PixelMaster technology, the ZenFone 5 is able to capture digital photographs that more than match those snapped by many dedicated digital cameras.

PixelMaster’s Low-Light Mode measures the available light and intelligently adjusts the pixel size to increase light sensitivity by up to 400% – meaning ZenFone 5 snaps great low light shots and videos even without the built-in flash.

Zenfone 4

Also available in 4- and 6-inch, the ZenFone series offer a range of sizes for every consumer segment. The ZenFone 4 has a gorgeous 4-inch display and a powerful 1.2GHz Intel® Atom™ Z2520 processor with Quad-Thread Hyper-Threading Technology – making this a smartphone that never leaves the user waiting for a response. Furthermore, the ZenFone 4 supports microSD expandable storage with up to 64GB, offering users plenty of room to store photos, videos, apps and more.

With two built-in cameras – including a 5-megapixel main camera – for capturing great everyday photos and fun selfies, the ZenFone 4 has a slim design that weighs just 115g and will be available in Charcoal Black, Pearl White and Cherry Red colours, making it a value handset for young, trendy consumers who would like to differentiate themselves from the mainstream.

Like the ZenFone 5, the ZenFone 6 features the ASUS exclusive GloveTouch technologies so that users can operate the device with gloved hands such as mittens or sports gloves under any kind of circumstances.

The 6-inch smartphone also sports 1,280 x 720 HD IPS+ display that is complemented by the ASUS SonicMaster audio technology to deliver immersive entertainment experiences. The ZenFone 6 is equipped with a 13-megapixel main camera and a 2-megapixel front camera for selfies and high-resolution video calls. The ZenFone 6 will be available in Charcoal Black, Pearl White, and Cherry Red colours.

Zenfone 6

 

ZenFone is one of the first ASUS devices to feature ASUS ZenUI, the all-new, exclusive mobile user interface developed around the concepts of freedom, expression and connection. Featuring a new visual design made to be efficient and inviting, it contains modern ‘flat’ icons, vivid color themes, animations, new ringtones and notification sounds, and a clean layout to present information clearly.

ASUS ZenUI also includes two features — What’s Next and Do It Later — designed to free users from actively having to manage the multitude of information they are confronted with daily, and enable them to be more productive. What’s Next puts the information currently most important and useful to the user —  such as upcoming appointments, new messages and missed calls from VIP contacts, weather at the next destination, and more — front and center on the lock screen, the home screen and in the notification drawer.

Do It Later frees the user to focus on the task at hand, without forgetting about other important things that they need to do later. If a user is in the middle of writing an email and receives a phone call, a simple button tap automatically creates a reminder to call that person back. Users can also save interesting items, like articles, YouTube videos, or any web page, to read later. Each reminder and saved item is collected in the separate Do It Later app and includes a shortcut to perform the related action, such as call a contact or view a webpage.

Every ZenFone features PixelMaster, an exclusive ASUS camera technology comprising a set of features including Selfie Mode and Depth of Field Mode that improve camera performance and make it easier for users to capture great photos and videos. Two additional PixelMaster features, Low-Light Mode and Time Rewind, are also available on ZenFone 5 and ZenFone 6.

Low-light mode significantly increases camera performance in poorly lit scenes. By merging adjacent pixels, the camera increases light sensitivity by up to 400% and contrast up to 200%, resulting in clear and bright low-light shots without the need for a flash. Electronic Image Stabilizer (EIS) improves low-light performance even further resulting in sharper, non-blurry photos. Low-light mode is also available when shooting video.

Action photography can be challenging due to subject motion, but Time Rewind makes capturing that perfect moment easier. By automatically taking multiple pictures before and after the user presses the shutter button, the chance of getting a great photo of a difficult subject is increased. After taking the photo, the user can “go back in time” using an easy-to-use interface to select the best shot, or can simply choose to save all of the available shots captured by the camera.

Selfie Mode is a new and innovative way to take high-quality self-portraits (‘selfies’). It enables the user to use the high resolution main camera on the back of the phone — instead of the lower resolution front-facing camera — to take and individual selfie or one with a group of friends. The camera automatically detects when the selected number of people is in the frame and begins a countdown before taking three photos. Afterwards, the user can select the best-looking photo to save and share online.

Depth of Field Mode lets the user capture engaging photographs with sharp, isolated subjects set against rich, softly blurred backgrounds — a look known to photographers as shallow depth of field — that is usually only possible with dedicated, high-end cameras.

The ZenFone 5 will be available in Charcoal Black and Pearl White colours in Singapore in May. It will be retailing at S$249.

Registration of interest for ZenFone 5 begins from 23 – 30 April 2014. Users can log on to the ASUS Singapore website at http://www.asus.com/sg to register their interest for the gadget. The ZenFone 5 will be available for pre-registration at a special price of S$199 (without contract). Where-to-buy information will be released closer to the on-shelf date.

The ZenFone 4 and ZenFone 6 will be available in Singapore in late May. More information on availability will be released at a later date.

2 Specifications and product availability are all subject to change without notice and may differ from country to country. Actual performance may vary depending on applications, usage, environment and other factors.