ZenFone AR Unboxing and Initial Impressions

May 4, 2018 Categories: Zenfone AR, ZS571KL by 0 Comments

We know that the ZenFone 5 and Max series launch this year is the hot news. However, we also still want to cover as many models as possible. Afterall, discounts can be found on some older ZenFone models and saving a few bucks may be a top priority to you.

So we’re looking at the ZenFone AR (ZS571KL) which is the VR and AR ready phone. We won’t delve into those particulars just yet but this is more of an unboxing and initial impressions post.

First off, the ZenFone AR isn’t quite up to the pristine look and feel as the ZenFone 3 Deluxe. The ZenFone AR shares many of the ZenFone 3 Deluxe traits so we’re going to do more comparison to that phone than we will than the ZenFone 4 Pro.

The fake leather backing is a throwback to the original ZenFone Zoom if you might recall. It’s grippy so it’s not a bad design choice. All metal vs. non all metal is going to end up the same in every comparison. All metal is just a more pristine look and feel by comparison.

The added features with the cameras mean you get quite an interesting rear panel. It’s going to stand out in a crowd, that’s for sure. There is a lot of technology packed in that section of the phone so it’s completely forgivable. In this case it’s function over fashion. The curvature of the rear is similar to that of the ZenFone 3 Deluxe which we quite liked, but in this case, resting the phone on its back seemed more risky to those camera lenses. The good news is there is a clear case that comes in the box which gives those cameras some clearance which provides a measure of comfort.

Inside the box, you get the top ZenEar S ear buds which is a nice treat, along with a screen protector and clear case. Those accessories just saved you a few dollars!

Weight wise it’s not exactly light but this phone is more about features than it is about weight and thinness. It feels a bit heavy in comparison to the ZenFone 3 Deluxe (ZS570KL) but we need to drill down into specs to know for sure.

We’re going to power this thing up and continue on this ZenFone AR (ZS571KL) journey. Stay tuned!

India pre orders start for ZenFone Max Pro M1 at ₹10,999

May 2, 2018 Categories: India, Shopping and Deals by 0 Comments

India is a very important market for Asus. It’s one of the reasons they are getting  pre order first on the ZenFone Max Pro M1. This model is geared towards taking over the India market with fully packed features at a price that rivals cannot match. We are slightly biased, but it’s pretty clear that everyone sees this as the #1 choice in India for the price point. The question is how will the pre order phase turn out and how long will Asus be able to meet the demand? Starting May 3rd, you can pre order the ZenFone Max Pro M1 with 3GB of RAM and 32GB storage for just ₹10,999 at Flipkart only. People are very upset at how quickly this phone is going “out of stock” but according to Asus, they sold 30,000 units in just 2 minutes.

May 31st Update: ASUS pre orders start at 12 Noon. Also, the grey model will be available, but for how long? You to be quick and follow our link to Flipkart to pre order your ZenFone Max Pro!

 

Optional In-Stock Shopping Links:

$279 USD – Ships from India – International Shipping Available – Click for Details

In Stock – Sold from India – International Shipping – Click here for details


Price Comparison:

Variants ZenFone Max Pro M1 Redmi Note 5 Pro
3 GB RAM / 32 GB ROM ₹10,999 –
4 GB RAM / 64 GB ROM ₹12,999 ₹13,999
6 GB RAM / 64 GB ROM ₹14,999 ₹16,999

 

Check out our recent articles for spec by spec comparison to the other competitors in the India market.

In Taiwan, Asus sells 12,000 ZenFone 5 units in first 24 hours with other markets selling out

May 2, 2018 Categories: News by 0 Comments

We’ve spoken recently about the mounting pressure Asus is facing internally on the ZenFone success. So for the company this is good news. Selling 12,000 ZenFone 5 units in the first 24 hours in Taiwan exceeded their expectations. More than just Taiwan, early indicators out of the Philippines were positive as well with their stocks selling out in 45 minutes. Indonesia had the first opportunity to buy the ZenFone Max Pro M1 through a Lazada flash sale which saw units sell out in minutes. It’s unclear what stock levels were available for the Indonesia Lazada sale, but another upcoming sale is days away as well. India is opening pre orders on May 3rd for the ZenFone Max Pro and that will be a true indicator of how things will be going.

As we’ve mentioned, if a big pre order push comes, hopefully Asus can answer the bell and get units into the hands of consumers. Big delays caused by underestimating demand is not something Asus can afford to do. So given they want to be the #1 choice in markets like India, they need deliver on the expected flood of orders.

June should be a big month for Asus with the launch of the ZenFone 5z which is visually the same as the ZenFone 5, but it’s going to be packing the best hardware available. Asia markets get the first crack to order these releases, with Europe after, and North and South America being the last markets to see ZenFone 5 series models. With some strategy changes though, perhaps most markets will see release dates closer than years past.

 

What do you think is best feature of the ZenFone Max Pro?

May 1, 2018 Categories: Opinion, ZenFone Max Pro, Zenfone Max Pro M1 by 0 Comments

Asus recently released a video in India in which they asked many tech journalists their favorite thing about the ZenFone Max Pro. Do you want to wager what they like the most? Completely unscientific and we only got a glimpse of various responses, but it seemed to me that the pure Android operating system was considered the best feature by a majority of the journalists.

So now it’s your turn. What impresses you most about the ZenFone Max Pro?

 

Let’s recap on a few key features. First, battery life. The 5,000mAh battery is better than the competition and it’s about the best you’re going to find in any mobile phone out there. Second, price. The 3GB RAM and 32GB storage version of the ZenFone Max Pro is VERY cheaply priced. Even if you go to the next model up with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, the price is still lower than anyone else. Simply said, price wise it’s unbeatable. Thirdly, the pure Android operating system. It’s not Android One, but it’s a clean, non ZenUI operating system. Fourth, design, looks and feel. The phone looks great from every video and image we’ve seen. Asus can deliver beautiful devices and the ZenFone Max Pro is no exception.

If you ask us? Our favorite feature is the price. Everything else is a very close second, but without the price being right, nothing else really matters. Our online poll suggests battery and price are top features in your mind, so it will be interesting to see how the pure Android ranks in this poll. We didn’t have pure Android in our poll over the years and perhaps that was a major oversight on our part.

Release date wise, the ZenFone Max Pro is being trickled out in the Indonesia market via some Lazada flash sales. India on May 3rd will be next up. Stay tuned for more markets getting pre order opportunities.

 

Report out of India suggests that 2018/19 is do or die for ZenFone brand

April 27, 2018 Categories: News, Opinion by 0 Comments

We’ve sat on this story for a week or so contemplating whether to mention it or not. We did a follow-up with the article reporter and they did reply with additional information. On that basis, we do believe that it’s accurate. It’s also worth noting that the article was written prior to the India unveil of the ZenFone Max Pro M1 which is highly relevant to this discussion.

The article in question relies on insider sources from Asus which paints a picture of the status of the ZenFone business. From an executive and strategic standpoint, this is a high stakes business. There are a lot of aggressive mobile phone companies and it has been a challenging path for Asus. If you’re curious about the level of concern, consider the fact that the search box on Asus.com has had “ZenFone 4” and “ZenFone 5” auto filled. That should say something and give this story some added credibility.

Essentially the sources suggest that this next period of time in 2018/19 is a make or break for the ZenFone brand. We did ask the source if they are referring to just the India market or the global market. They told us this is about the global market.

The mobile phone business for Asus needs to see a turn around with this generation of models or it appears to be over. Remember what really happened here. Asus really showed up hot and heavy with the ZenFone 2 series which made use of Intel processors. Sure Asus did have a number of earlier ZenFone releases prior to ZenFone 2, but it was the ZenFone 2 that really showed a new found approach by Asus.

Part of that ZenFone 2 buzz and success was based on a cheap price point. In subsequent releases, the cheap price point was a thing of the past. Consumers assumed incorrectly that the ZenFone 3 would follow in the footsteps of the ZenFone 2 price points and a lot of consumer negativity ensued. Things didn’t improve price wise with the ZenFone 4 either. Obviously the sales suffered and this is why things are at a critical stage right now with the ZenFone brand.

Things are not so bleak from our vantage point. The ZenFone 5 price unveils have happened and based on feedback, comments and overall web reactions, Asus is going to do just fine. If sales are what Asus needs, it appears that the ZenFone 5 Max Pro M1 and ZenFone 5z are going to perform better than their best case scenario.

There are still challenges even with the outpouring of enthusiasm over these new models. First, the competition is going to respond because in places like India and Asia, Chinese phone brands have dominated and likely will fight to keep their positions. Secondly, the question is whether Asus is going to be able to maintain inventory levels to meet the demand. These two factors could counter the positives of the excellent value/cost proposition of the ZenFone 5 and ZenFone Max Pro M1.

Asus needs to avoid this.

So what if all the excitement exhibited online doesn’t translate into ZenFone sales? Asus will still manufacture phones, but according to the article, those will not bear ZenFone branding. They will instead be manufactured for specific carriers and will have the carrier’s branding instead. In other words, the ZenFone branding will cease to exist in that situation should it comes to that.

Can we put much faith in unnamed sources? Considering we’ve been on the pulse of the ZenFone releases from year to year, we would suggest there is something to this story. Certainly we concur that things haven’t been going swimmingly for the ZenFone series the past couple of years. However, price is king and the ZenFone 5z and ZenFone Max Pro M1 have created a buzz and interest more than any other ZenFone releases to date. On that note, we believe the concerns are squashed. But again, it’s going to take execution of having units available for consumers otherwise all of the positives could be washed away rather quickly.

So right now, we are watching inventory and stock levels. Asus needs to ensure enough supply to meet the demand because all the other boxes are ticked for a successful year. If the ZenFone brand dies, so do we. Obviously we’re hoping for the best while trying to be neutral and calling things as we see them!

[source: techpp.com]

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