News

ASUS ZenFone 3, ZenFone 3 Deluxe details, images leaked by design website

Published

April 4, 2016

Monch Lopez

If you’re a fan of ASUS’ budget ZenFone smartphone series, 2016 hasn’t been too kind to you so far. Two major tech conferences have passed, and yet the Internet still hasn’t gotten a solid clue as to what the ZenFone 3 might look like.

The situation is particularly worrisome because it’s already April, and the next-generation ZenFone has been tipped for a launch event at Computex 2016 in June.

Will it have two rear cameras like the LG G5? A curved screen like the Samsung Galaxy S7? A smaller screen to match the trajectory of Apple’s recent product announcements? Or will ASUS surprise the bejeezus out of the industry by unveiling a flip phone, or today’s equivalent of a joke goldmine?

At this point, you might be asking yourself: “When will someone throw a bone to us fans who have been waiting for that bloody phone to show up?”

Wish granted. Meet a couple of leaked — albeit convincing — images of ASUS’ upcoming ZenFone 3 and ZenFone 3 Deluxe. And we’re not using the term “convincing” loosely here. Let us count the ways.

ASUS ZenFone 3 Deluxe leaked image

For starters, the images come from Red Dot 21’s design directory. If the name rings a bell, it should, especially in the context of ASUS phones: In 2014, the original ZenFone series bagged the Red Dot design award for mobile devices; the year after that, ASUS won a bunch of other awards for products, including, but not limited to, tablets and notebooks.

So, yes, the connection between Red Dot and the Taiwanese manufacturers is, if nothing else, strong.

A paragraph to describe the ZenFone 3 also appears on the Red Dot website. It reads:

ASUS Zenfone 3 Series is a mainstream smartphone that displays the beauty of craftsmanship and engineering. With 2.5D glass on both front and back sides, we intend to bring the meticulous glass artistry used in watches to smartphone. Beneath those glass lays a thin layer of decoration film with metallic spin texture, portraying the ASUS identity in a new form. A curved aluminum frame offers a robust architecture and a comfortable grip. Zenfone 3 consist of type C USB for speedy charging and file transfer, front flash for selfie in low light situation, laser focus for instant snapshot and finger print recognition for spontaneous ID check.

Going by that description, it sounds like the next ZenFone will have a curved-edge glass on both panels held together by a metal frame, a USB-Type C port with fast-charging capability, front-facing flash, laser autofocus, and a now-ubiquitous fingerprint sensor. It will also support some sort of smart flip cover that lights up to indicate different things.

Meanwhile, the description for the all-metal ZenFone 3 Deluxe reveals far less details.

Metal is the best material to enhance and present the craftsmanship of creating the best smartphone. However, it is also the obstacle to the antenna signal. As the result, the designers and engineers always challenge each other to balance the aesthetic of smartphone appearance design and the possibility of the engineering. Look back to every metallic smartphone, without exception, has some necessary aesthetic flawsfor antenna on the back. These flaws could be the plastic lines, decorations, etc. By absolutely breaking down the principles of radio transmission, combining the design creative thinking and overcoming the limitation of manufacturing, ASUS Zenfone 3 Deluxe no longer needs to compromise and presents the first full-metallic smartphone in the world.

And then there’s the alleged design of the ZenFone 3: It looks a bit like the outcome of ZenFone Zoom and ZenBook engineers reaching a compromise after months of trying to brainstorm for a smartphone. We’ll let you guys handle the front and sides of the phone — but only if you let us do what we want with the back.

That ASUS would rather take a lot of inspiration from previous ASUS products than go back to the drawing board in an effort to get people excited about the ZenFone 3 seems likely. ASUS isn’t the most adventurous when it comes to designing handsets, after all. And if you need proof, look no further than past ZenFone models.

As always, we’ll keep our eyes and ears open for more details about the ZenFone 3 as they come. For now, feel free to speculate wildly over the authenticity of the images and information from Red Dot’s website.

[irp posts=”3880″ name=”ASUS ZenFone 3 review”]

Source: Red Dot 21, Android Police

Related Topics:ASUS smartphones ZenFone 3 ZenFone 3 Deluxe

News

Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4 price, availability in the Philippines

An all-rounder tablet

Published

May 2, 2024

GadgetMatch

Xiaomi maintains its great value proposition with its tablet offerings. In 2023, it was the Xiaomi Pad 6. This time, in 2024, it’s the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4.

Price and availability

The tablet will be available in two variants and are priced as follows:

12+512GB — PhP 39,999
8+256GB — PhP 33,999

It comes in classic Black and White colors.

Meanwhile, the accessories are priced as follows:

Focus Pen — PhP 3,499
Touchpad Keyboard — PhP 6,499

Discounted from May 3 to 9

Naturally, these will be available at special slashed prices from May 3 to 9 on the Shopee exclusive online sale.

12+512GB — PhP 37,199
8+256GB — PhP 31,199

Buyers will get free Redmi Buds 4 Active (valued at Php 999) for every checkout of the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro.

Unboxing the tablet and its accessories

Like the tablet that preceded it, the 6S Pro came with a generous accompaniment of accessories. Other than the tablet itself, there’s the Cover, Touchpad Keyboard, and the Focus Pen.

Watch the unboxing below.

@gadgetmatch

This is our favorite Android tablet right now! #XiaomiPad6SPro #Xiaomi

♬ original sound – GadgetMatch – GadgetMatch

Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4 specs

Display — 12.4” 144Hz 3K display, supports Dolby Vision
Processor — Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Battery — 10,000mAh, 120W HyperCharge
RAM and Storage — 8GB+256GB / 12GB+512GB
OS — Xiaomi HyperOS
Cameras — 50MP main (4K, 60 FPS video), 2MP depth, 32MP front (1080p, 30 FPS video)
Connectivity — USB 3.2 Gen 1, Bluetooth 5.3, WiFi 7
Audio — Six (6) speakers, support for Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res, Hi-Res wireless

Here’s a quick excerpt from our review:

“The Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4 has a mouthful of a name with a feature set that’s just as packed. It’s a device made for many purposes. It’s both a workmate, a creative companion, and a relaxation buddy.”

News

HUAWEI Pura 70 Series: Price, availability in the Philippines

Starts at PhP 47,999

Published

May 2, 2024

GadgetMatch

Huawei’s P Series is now Pura. The company says the rebrand represents a new chapter. But the Pura essentially is the same lineage as the P Series — expert mobile photography and fashion forward. Now, the Huawei Pura 70 Series has been confirmed to come to the Philippines.

The Huawei Pura 70 series has three phones: the Huawei Pura 70, Huawei Pura 70 Pro, and Huawei Pura 70 Ultra. Pricing are as follows

The Huawei Pura 70 (12GB+256GB) is priced at PhP 47,999. It comes in Black, White, and Pink. Meanwhile, the Huawei Pura 70 Pro (12GB+512GB) retails for PhP 59,999 which comes in Black and White. Last and surely not the least is the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra (16GB+512GB) that comes in Black and Green. This one retails for PhP 79,999.

Pre-orders are live as of May 2, 2024. Every pre-order comes with the following:

Mystery Gifts Worth PhP 17998
1-year Accidental Damage Protection Worth PhP 3999
Deposit PhP 1000 Get PhP 3000 Token

The Pura 70 Ultra will come with an Inbox Magnetic case while the other two models have a Magnetic Case Worth PhP 1999.

Huawei Pura 70 Series

The Huawei Pura 70 Series is a reinvention of Huawei’s camera-toting lineup. The new smartphones again promise huge improvements to the world of smarthpone photography.

The series is equipped with a new generation of Ultra Lighting camera system. Combined with the industry’s first HUAWEI XD Motion Engine, it can activate the Ultra Speed Snapshot feature and easily capture fast moments.

The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra also equipped with the industry’s first Ultra Lighting Pop-out Camera. It’s an original retractable camera structure; achieving a thin one-inch image sensor and a large aperture in a compact body, bringing a revolutionary imaging system.

Both HUAWEI Pura 70 Pro and HUAWEI Pura 70 Ultra feature the new Ultra Lighting Macro Telephoto Camera. It promises to produce clear images from distant buildings to close details. Thanks to its periscope telephoto aperture of F2.1, it offers superb light-gathering ability and better telephoto image quality, achieving full focal HD photography across the entire focal length.

News

US sues Razer over fake Zephyr facemask claims

Advertised N95 filters but didn’t have them

Published

April 30, 2024

Luigi Leonardo

The pandemic turned facemasks into a fashion trend. While most brands fought over who could present the most stylish way to protect yourself from the virus, tech companies rushed to pack the most features into a light wearable. Because the pandemic introduced health risks that the world barely understood, most of these products aren’t the safest around. Now, years after introducing its RGB-infused mask, Razer finds itself in trouble over disproven claims.

In 2021, Razer introduced the Zephyr. It was cyberpunk-looking facemask that supposedly carried N95 filters. Over the years, the company failed to have its claims certified. What’s worse, critics analyzed the product and found that the filters did not, in fact, keep 95 percent of particles away. (That’s why an N95 mask is named as such.)

Today, the Federal Trade Commission is asking over US$ 1.1 million in refunds to customers who purchased a Zephyr in the past. According to the proposal, Razer misled consumers by claiming the mask had N95 filters. The company also never submitted the product for testing. Though Razer eventually removed the claims, it wasn’t enough.

Additionally, the proposal is seeking US$ 100,000 in damages and a ban on Razer from selling and marketing any further health-inspired products in the future.