News

ASUS ZenFone 7 series with improved Flip Camera now official

All flagship specs

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While everyone seems to be stepping away from moving camera modules, ASUS is doubling down on them. The company introduced the Flip Camera on the ZenFone 6 and it improves the feature on the ASUS ZenFone 7 series.

Yes, series. There are two ZenFones this year — the ZenFone 7 Pro and the ZenFone 7. We’ll show you the difference between the two later on but here’s a rundown of what you can expect from the new ZenFone flagship.

Flip Camera in service of an All display screen 

This was the trend not too long ago. Phone makers were putting pop-up cameras on their phones to deliver an all-screen experience. But it had to go in 2020 in favor of other components and to pull down production cost.

ASUS, though, zigs while everyone else zags. The triple lens on the Flip Camera is headlined by a 64MP Sony IMX686 sensor, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 3X telephoto zoom lens.

The Flip Camera is much improved. There’s a new motor module for better weight endurance. The moving part itself is made with what ASUS is calling Liquid Metal. It’s a material that’s light but tough. And they also have an angle sensor so the Flip knows what it’s pointing to at all times.

That screen is also one of the best in the business on paper. It’s a 6.67-inch Samsung AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. It’s a 20:9 ratio and goes up to 700nits for outdoor brightness. It also supports HDR 10+.

Top-of-the-line specs

Like its sister phone the ROG Phone 3, the ASUS ZenFone 7 series is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus and 865 SoCs. That means the phones also support 5G. And while this isn’t a gaming phone per se, it can surely hold its own when playing popular titles like PUBG, Mobile Legends, and Call of Duty. 

Complimenting the processor are the 8GB LPDDR5 RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 internal storage. Rounding up the specs talk is a 5000mAh battery with support for 30W fast charging.

A clean Android experience

While it has a Zen UI 7 skin on top, it comes pretty close to the vanilla Android 10 experience that many users prefer. The changes that ZenFone made are focused on performance optimizations like new sound control, better battery management, and new display features.

On the hardware side the power-button is multi-functional and they’re calling it the All-in-one smart key. It’s a power button, capacitive fingerprint reader, and Smart Key.

A single press behaves as usual but you can customize what it does when you press twice or when you press and hold. This can be anything from triggering a voice assistant to switching certain features on/off like bluetooth, flashlight, and many more.

ASUS also brought over Game Genie from the ROG Phone 3 to help manage your notifications and your hardware while you game.

The differences between the Pro and non pro variants

Unlike most other phone series, there’s not a lot that’s setting the ASUS 7 Pro apart from the ASUS 7. This means, no matter which one you opt for, you will get a flagship experience.

The ZenFone 7 Pro is powered by the Snapdragon 865 Plus SoC while the ZenFone 7 is powered by the Snapdragon 865 SoC. They have the same camera setup except the main and telephoto lenses of the non pro variant don’t have OIS or optical image stabilization.

Lastly, the two phones have different RAM and ROM configurations:

  • ZenFone 7 Pro — 8GB + 256GB
  • Zenfone 7 — 6GB/8GB +128GB

Pricing and availability 

The ASUS Zenfone 7 series will come in two colors: Aurora Black and Pastel White. It’s currently only available in Taiwan but will be released globally at a later date. Pricing are as follows:

  • ZenFone 7 Pro : NT$ 27990 (US$ 954) 
  • ZenFone 7 : Starts at NT$  21999 (US$ 954)

News

US sues Razer over fake Zephyr facemask claims

Advertised N95 filters but didn’t have them

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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.

SEE ALSO: Razer officially launches its Zephyr facemask

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Drones

DJI Avata 2 drone now available: Pricing, availability

Improved features, battery life

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DJI Avata 2

The DJI Avata 2 is now available in the Philippines. It is priced at PhP 47,900 for the single battery variant and PhP 55,900 for the three battery configuration. Customers may purchase at DJI Experience Stores, as well as online via DJI’s official Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok Shop stores.

Your ticket to breathtaking aerial adventures

Designed for content creators and even production professionals, the DJI Avata 2 provides an adrenaline-pumping FPV drone experience with improvements in imaging, safety, and battery life.

The Avata 2 has a 1/1.3-inch sensor that covers a 155-degree field of view and can film up to 4K @ 60fps. Its imaging produces results that have brilliant clarity and vibrant colors. The drone also has dual RockSteady and HorizonSteady stabilization technologies for smooth footage.

For quick sharing, the Avata 2 also supports Wi-Fi for media transfer and livestreaming. The DJI Fly app also lets users take advantage of more features and help them with device management.

Battery life has also been upgraded for a total flight time of 23 minutes. When needing a recharge, PD fast charging can fuel the battery back up to 80% in just 18 minutes.

Immersive flight

The Avata 2 is equipped with the new DJI Goggles 3 and RC Motion 3, allowing users to experience the “flight” real-time in an immersive way. The Goggles 3 features micro-OLED HD displays and low-latency transmission, allowing users to observe surroundings without removing the wearable.

Creativity, control, safety

The Avata 2 also includes an Easy ACRO mode, which is ideal for beginners. This mode lets users perform maneuvers with ease for them to capture stunning footage. Moreover, the drone has an improved propeller guard and new sensors for advanced positioning.

Users may also utilize the Return to Home function. And with Turtle Mode, the Avata 2 can also flip back itself automatically into its original position should it turn upside down at times.

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Laptops

ASUS announces new Zenbook S 13 OLED

New product alert!

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ASUS Philippines has announced the availability of the new Zenbook S 13 OLED (UX5304MA) refresh model. This sleek and powerful laptop comes with the latest Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and Intel AI Boost NPU, offering professionals topnotch performance and efficiency.

The new Zenbook S 13 OLED model retails starting at PhP 87,995 and is available at authorized ASUS stores. This particular variant comes in gray and has a configuration of 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 1TB of PCie 4.0 SSD storage.

Slim, powerful

The Zenbook S 13 OLED is just a centimeter thin and only a kilogram light, making it an ultraportable powerhouse. The device is powered by an Intel Core ultra 7 155U processor (12 cores, 14 threads). With up to 4.8GHz of processing power, the laptop can handle even the most demanding tasks smoothly and seamlessly. It includes an assortment of ports, including 2x Thunderbolt 4, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 3.5mm jack, and 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A.

Moreover, the laptop is pre-installed Windows 11 Home and Office Home & Student 2021 lifetime license. Users will also get a dedicated Microsoft Copilot key to help with their productivity. And with a long-lasting 63Wh battery for up to 15 hours of use, it suits users on the go, without having to worry about charging it when outdoors.

Vibrant colors, crisp details

The laptop also boasts of a 13.3-inch 3K (2,880 x 1,800) OLED display. That’s a little higher resolution than previous variants which display up to 2.8K content. This 16:10  panel delivers vibrant colors and crisp details for an enhanced viewing experience for both work and entertainment. It also has ample maximum brightness should you be using it outdoors or where there is lots of natural light.

Safety ensured

Lastly, customers getting this model will benefit from ASUS’ 4A Quality and Service Warranty. This package includes a standard two-year international warranty, preventive maintenance service, and one-time coverage for customer-induced damages.

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