Asus launches ZenFone AR at Rs. 49,999, a Flipkart exclusive
What's the story
Taiwanese tech giant Asus has introduced its flagship ZenFone AR in India at Rs. 49,999. The device is exclusively available on Flipkart.com. Though it's not Asus's costliest smartphone till date (ZenFone 3 Deluxe S821 priced at Rs. 62,999), ZenFone AR's price tag may seem heavy to many Android customers in India. But what sets it apart from others? Let's find out!
The fine print
Loaded with both Google Tango and Daydream technologies
ZenFone AR is the world's second Tango-enabled smartphone and the first and only one to support both Tango and Daydream. Tango is Google's Augmented Reality technology and Daydream is Virtual Reality technology. Asus claims, the high-end phone with Tango and Daydream will change the way users "interact with the world" by expanding their vision and allow them to "experience high-quality, immersive virtual reality".
Hardware
AR, VR applications demand heavy-duty hardware
ZenFone AR comes with a QHD Super AMOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass 4. It runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor with a whopping 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage (expandable up to 2TB). The smartphone runs on Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box. For a "supercharged graphics performance", the device packs a powerful Qualcomm Adreno 530 GPU.
Camera details
ZenFone AR uses three rear cameras
Apart from high-end hardware, Tango also requires "serious camera gimmickry". ZenFone AR's rear TriCam system comprises a regular 23MP shooter with Sony IMX 318 sensor along with two other cameras for motion-tracking and depth. It supports RAW (minimally-processed images) and 4K UHD video-recording. It also houses an 8MP front-facing camera for selfies.
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Offers on Flipkart
ZenFone AR is available in charcoal black with leather-finish. Buyers will receive Asus ZenEar-S earphones, supporting DTS Headphone:X and Hi-Res Audio. Flipkart is offering up to Rs. 15,600 off on exchange and Rs. 2,500 off on Google Daydream View with the purchase of ZenFone AR.
Details
Sadly, ZenFone AR is not water-resistant
The 5.7-inch ZenFone AR packs a 3300mAh battery with a fingerprint scanner-cum-home button. The nano dual-SIM smartphone supports 4G LTE. It weighs 170gm and is only 9mm at the thickest point; its five-magnet speaker with NXP SmartAMP gives high-volume output. Despite coming with a hefty price tag, ZenFone AR lacks an IP65/68 certification, meaning it isn't resistant to water and dust.