ASUS $249 ZenFone 5 Now Available 14 Jun 2014 UPDATED 9 Jul 2014

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The latest 5-inch Android smartphone in town, the ASUS ZenFone 5 is a new high-value smartphone that comes in an array of striking and vivid colours.

Featuring in black and white, the ZenFone 5 is equipped with the exclusive ASUS ZenUI mobile interface, an all-new mobile user interface with over 200 enhancements that make ASUS mobile devices fun and seamless to use.

Retailing at S$249, the ZenFone 5 will be available for purchase for users who have pre-ordered the devices at Challenger @ Funan DigitaLife Mall from today.

Live demonstration units will also be available at all StarHub and M1 shops. Both operators will offer the ZenFone 5 at a range of mobile price plans.

Feel What Others Can’t Feel with ZenFone 5

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.

It features wide 178-degrees viewing angles that enable users to effortlessly share content with friends. To minimize dents and scratches, the ZenFone 5 is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and uses direct bonding to enhance colour clarity.

Exclusive ASUS GloveTouch technology increases ZenFone 5’s display sensitivity, making it even possible to use the device with gloves.

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.

See What You Can’t See with the Exclusive ASUS PixelMaster Technology

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 main camera with image stabilisation.

Coupled with a back side illumination (BSI) sensor and wide-aperture f/2.0 lens with the ASUS PixelMaster technology, the ZenFone 5 is able to capture digital photographs that more than match those snapped by many dedicated digital cameras.

PixelMaster is an exclusive ASUS camera technology which comprises a set of features including Selfie Mode and Depth of Field Mode that improves camera performance and makes it easier for users to capture great photos and videos. In addition, Low-Light Mode and Time Rewind are also available on ZenFone 5.

Low-light mode significantly increases camera performance in poorly lit scenes. By merging adjacent pixels, the ZenFone 5 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 Stabiliser (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 on ZenFone 5 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 on the ZenFone 5. 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 an 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.

Do What Others Can’t Do with ASUS ZenUI

ZenFone 5 is one of the first few ASUS Android 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 colour 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, as the name implies, 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.

Local Pricing and Available Details

The ZenFone 5 will be retailing at S$249 and available in 2 colours – Pearl White and Charcoal Black.

The ZenFone 5 will be available for purchase for users who have pre-ordered their devices with ASUS. They will be eligible to purchase and collect the ZenFone 5 units at Challenger @ Funan DigitaLife Mall from 12 to 8pm from today onwards. Proof of confirmation and identification will need to be provided upon collection.

In addition, users who are keen to have a hands-on with the ZenFone 5 could also check out the live demonstration units at all StarHub and M1 shops from today. Both mobile operators will also offer the latest 5-inch Android smartphone at a range of attractive mobile price plans that allow users to connect to the respective DC-HSPA+ mobile networks.

Dress Up Your ZenFone 5

Looking to accessorise and protect the ZenFone 5? The View Flip Cover behaves as a direct replacement for the ZenFone 5’s rear cover which wraps around to cover the screen.

The View Flip Cover not only protects the ZenFone 5, but it also enhances its functionality with a viewing window that allows users to take a glimpse at important information without having to spend more time in doing so. There are five main pages to scroll through an infinity loop, including the time, weather, incoming calls, messages and more. Calls could also be answered without opening the cover.

Available in two colours – black and white – the View Flip Cover will be retailing at S$39 at Challenger @ Funan DigitaLife Mall from today.

Specifications

1 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.

(Updated 9 Jul with “9 Jul Zenfone 5” image)

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