ZenFone 4 set of phones coming to North America (including Canada)

Update - Canadian pricing:
AVAILABILITY & PRICINGThe ASUS ZenFone 4 Pro ZS551KL-S835-6G64G-BK is immediately available at a MSRP of $899 at  Amazon.caBest Buy CanadaMemory ExpressNewegg.ca, and and other leading retailers.
The ASUS ZenFone 4 ZE554KL-S630-4G64G-BK (Midnight Black) is immediately available at a MSRP of $549 at Amazon.caBest Buy CanadaStaples, Memory ExpressNewegg.ca and other leading retailers.
The ASUS ZenFone 4 ZE554KL-S630-4G64G-WH (Moonlight White) is immediately available at a MSRP of $549 at Amazon.caBest Buy Canada, Memory ExpressNewegg.ca and other leading retailers.
The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max 5.5” ZC554KL-S430-3G32G-BK (Deepsea Black) has been available since September at a MSRP of $299 atAmazon.caBest Buy CanadaStaples, Canada ComputersMemory ExpressNewegg.ca, and other leading retailers.
The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max 5.2” ZC520KL-S425-2G16G-BK (Deepsea Black) is immediately available at a MSRP of $229 at Amazon.caBest Buy CanadaStaples, Memory ExpressNewegg.ca, and other leading retailers.

So, if you're tired of just the major OEMs and want to stand out from your friends, getting something that's not Samsung or LG or Apple is a way to do it.

These days there are a lot of manufacturers making great phones with competitive specs and prices.

One of the options is from Asus, and I've reviewed the ZenFone 3 series (really loved that Zoom model).

They announced the ZenFone 4 family recently, and they're now available in North America.  Now, the only thing is the links I've tried (see below) for the availability and pricing have been only working if I'm in the USA.  Try the Canadian counterpart of Newegg and it says it's out of stock (yet try to search newegg.ca for the listing and you can't find it).

So, maybe we just need to wait a bit longer.  Either way, They're a pretty good option, won't break the bank and there's a 6GB RAM option in there.  Nice!

Check out the press release below for more details on the 4, 4 Pro and 4 Max (in 2 different sizes) for pricing and specs.


Press Release

ASUS Announces ZenFone 4 Family in North America 


-- Dual cameras featuring wide-angle and telephoto lenses for the ZenFone 4 Pro, ZenFone 4, and ZenFone 4 Max --

Fremont, CA (October 30, 2017) — ASUS today announced the availability of the ZenFone 4 family in North America: the ZenFone 4 Pro, ZenFone 4, and ZenFone 4 Max. The ZenFone 4 family is the first family of smartphones to all feature dual rear cameras, enabling users to capture the best photos in any scenario, at any distance, and in any lighting conditions. Combined with ultra-fast connectivity, users can instantly share their beautiful photos with friends and family, and enjoy using all of their favorite apps and services with unprecedented speed.

ASUS ZenFone 4 Pro
ZenFone 4 Pro: 10X zoom, 8X light sensitivity, 6GB RAM

The 5.5” ZenFone 4 Pro was engineered to deliver an unparalleled mobile photography experience. The ZenFone 4 Pro features an advanced dual-camera system designed to take mobile photography to new heights. Its main camera is equipped with the Sony® IMX362 image sensor with a large 1/2.55-inch size, 1.4µm pixels and a wide, f/1.7-aperture lens to capture brighter and clearer photos in low light. The dual-camera system on the ZenFone 4 Pro also has a 16MP camera with a 2X optical zoom and a 10X total zoom that brings distant subjects closer, putting them in sharp focus while softening background details. Together with the ASUS SuperPixel™ Engine that effectively increases captured light by up to 8X, and optical image stabilization (OIS) that enables blur-free handheld exposures of up to 1/4 seconds, the ZenFone 4 Pro captures sharper, brighter and clearer photos at night and in low-light environments.

The ZenFone 4 Pro is built on the latest Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 835 Mobile Platform, which is designed to deliver powerful performance, while the Qualcomm Spectra™ 180 ISP is designed to support vibrant photos and videos, and the Qualcomm Adreno™ 540 GPU is engineered to provide superior performance for high-end mobile gaming. The ZenFone 4 Pro also features an integrated Snapdragon X16 LTE modem for connectivity up to 600Mbps — indoors and on the go, as well as multi-gigabit 2x2 802.11ac Wi-Fi with MU-MIMO for a robust Wi-Fi experience. With the ultra-fast connectivity, users will be able to download and share 4K UHD videos in seconds, sync their photos, videos and other files almost instantly, enjoy delay-free VR, access to cloud and more, both indoors with 802.11ad Wi-Fi and on the go with LTE. Moreover, the built-in portable Wi-Fi hotspot lets users share LTE connectivity with other mobile devices such as laptops. 802.11ad Wi-Fi ensures that these devices can utilize the LTE connectivity even in crowded places such as airports.

Built-in NFC enables convenient mobile payments with Android Pay™, and a front-mounted live fingerprint reader offers improved security and fast phone unlocking in just 0.3 seconds. To help prevent unauthorized use, the ZenFone 4 Pro has an advanced, extra-secure live fingerprint sensor. A capacitive sensor detects fingerprint details in the usual way, but there's an additional infrared optical sensor that detects blood flow under the skin. The ZenFone 4 Pro is available in Pure Black.

ASUS ZenFone 4
ZenFone 4: Dual Cameras, 120° Landscape Photos

The 5.5” ZenFone 4’s dual-camera system features a main camera with the Sony IMX362 image sensor and a large, f/1.8 aperture lens that offers incredible low-light performance to let users capture gorgeous photos at night or indoors, as well as a 120° wide-angle lens that enables users to fit more scenery and people in the frame for dramatic photos and videos that capture an expanded view.

Powered by the latest Snapdragon 630 Mobile Platform, the ZenFone 4 delivers fast yet energy-efficient performance for every scenario, and a high-capacity 3300mAh lithium-polymer battery and ASUS BoostMaster fast-charge technology means less charging and more moving. The ZenFone 4 also features 4GB of RAM for improved performance and the Adreno 508 GPU is designed to deliver 30% faster graphics performance than Snapdragon 626 for smooth and responsive experiences with the latest apps and games. The ZenFone 4 also features a quick 0.3 seconds fingerprint sensor and NFC, enabling the convenience of Android Pay, and is available in both Midnight Black and Moonlight White.

ASUS ZenFone 4 Max
ZenFone 4 Max 5.5” and 5.2”

The ZenFone 4 Max smartphones are designed to be the perfect all-day photography companions, featuring a dual-rear-camera system with a 13MP main camera and a 120° wide-view camera. The ZenFone 4 Max comes in two different sizes. The ZenFone 4 Max (ZC554KL) features a 5.5-inch display and a high-capacity 5000mAh battery with ASUS PowerMaster technology for an incredible 46 days of 4G standby time. The ZenFone 4 Max (ZC520KL) features a 5.2-inch display with a fast-charging 4100mAh battery for up to 37 days 4G standby. With its massive battery power, the ZenFone 4 Max smartphones can double as a power bank to charge other devices, supplying 5V at 1A to attached devices when using a USB On-The-Go (OTG) cable (sold separately). While charging other devices, the ZenFone 4 Max monitors its own charge level and will not allow the battery to drain below 30% capacity to ensure that users will be able to continue using their phone.

The ZenFone 4 Max smartphones run on the powerful, yet energy-efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 and 425 Mobile Platforms that work in concert with their high-capacity batteries to give users ample power for a full working day and beyond. The Qualcomm Adreno 505 and 308 graphics processors further enhance performance and responsiveness, and enable the ZenFone 4 Max smartphones to run the latest games. The ZenFone 4 Max smartphones also support 4G LTE Category 4 for ultra-fast mobile download speeds up to 150Mbps.

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AVAILABILITY & PRICING
The ASUS ZenFone 4 Pro ZS551KL-S835-6G64G-BK is immediately available at a MSRP of $599 USD at the ASUS StoreAmazonB&HBest BuyNewegg, and other leading retailers.
The ASUS ZenFone 4 ZE554KL-S630-4G64G-BK (Midnight Black) is immediately available at a MSRP of $399 USD at the ASUS StoreAmazonB&HBest BuyNewegg, and other leading retailers.
The ASUS ZenFone 4 ZE554KL-S630-4G64G-WH (Moonlight White) is immediately available at a MSRP of $399 USD at the ASUS StoreAmazonB&HNewegg, and other leading retailers.
The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max 5.5” ZC554KL-S430-3G32G-BK (Deepsea Black) has been available since September at a MSRP of $199 USD at the ASUS StoreAmazonNewegg, and other leading retailers.
The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max 5.2” ZC520KL-S425-2G16G-BK (Deepsea Black) is immediately available at a MSRP of $169 USD at the ASUS StoreAmazonB&HBest BuyNewegg, and other leading retailers.
SPECIFICATIONS

ZenFone 4 ProZenFone 4
ColorsPure BlackMidnight Black
Moonlight White
DesignFront 2.5D curved glass display
Front and rear Corning® Gorilla® Glass
2.1mm slim bezel
172g weight
156.9 x 75.6 x 7.6mm
Live fingerprint sensor
Front 2.5D curved glass display
Front and rear Corning® Gorilla® Glass
2.1mm slim bezel
155g weight
75.24 x 155.36 x 7.7mm
Front fingerprint sensor
Display5.5" FHD 1920 x 1080 AMOLED display
500cd/m2 brightness for outdoor readability
Capacitive touch panel with 10-point multi-touch (supports glove touch)
Blue-light filter for eye care
5.5" FHD 1920 x 1080 Super IPS+ display
600 cd/m2 brightness for outdoor readability
Capacitive touch panel with 10-point multi-touch (supports glove touch)
Blue-light filter for eye care
CPUQualcomm® Snapdragon™ 835 Mobile Platform with 10nm, 64-bit processorQualcomm® Snapdragon™ 630 Mobile Platform with 14nm, 64-bit processor
GPUQualcomm® Adreno™ 540Qualcomm® Adreno™ 508
RAM/ROM6GB RAM / 64GB ROM4GB RAM / 64GB ROM
Main Rear Camera12MP Sony IMX362 image sensor
1/2.55" sensor size, 1.4μm pixel size
f/1.7 aperture lens
83° field of view
25mm focal length
World’s fastest 0.03s Dual Pixel PDAF (100% pixel used for focusing)
4-axis, 4-stop optical image stabilization for steady photos
Color correction (RGB) sensor
LED Flash
Laser and continuous focus
PixelMaster camera modes: Auto mode with low light and HDR / Pro / Super Resolution (48MP) / Beauty / GIF Animation / Panorama / Slow Motion / Time Lapse with Power Saving Mode / 9 various filters
12MP Sony IMX362 image sensor
1/2.55" sensor size, 1.4μm pixel size
f/1.8 aperture lens
83° field of view
25mm focal length
World’s fastest 0.03s Dual Pixel PDAF (100% pixel used for focusing)
4-axis, 4 stop optical image stabilization for steady photos
Color correction (RGB) sensor
LED Flash
Instant camera switching
PixelMaster camera modes: Auto mode with low light and HDR / Pro / Super Resolution (48MP) / Beauty / GIF Animation / Panorama / Slow Motion / Time Lapse with Power Saving Mode / 9 various filters
Second Rear Camera16MP Sony IMX351 image sensor
2X optical zoom
10X total zoom
50mm focal length
8MP 120° wide-angle camera with 200% wider view
Front Camera8MP Sony IMX319 image sensor
F1.9 aperture
87.4° field of view
1.4μm pixel size
8MP
F2.0 aperture
84° field of view
24mm focal length
Video Recording4K UHD at 30 fps video recording
3-axis electronic image stabilization for selfie and rear camera shake-free videos
Still image capture during video recording
4K UHD at 30 fps video recording
3-axis electronic image stabilization for rear camera's shake-free videos
Still image capture during video recording
Wireless TechnologyLTE Category 12
802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ad Wi-Fi
Bluetooth® 5.0
Wi-Fi direct
NFC
LTE Category 12
802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi
Bluetooth® 5.0
Wi-Fi direct
NFC
ConnectivityUSB-C™ 2.0
Front live fingerprint sensor, 0.3 seconds fingerprint unlock, support 5 fingers 360° recognition
USB-C™ 2.0
Front fingerprint sensor, 0.3 seconds fingerprint unlock, support 5 fingers 360° recognition
SIM CardsHybrid slot: Dual SIMs and one MicroSD card
Slot 1: 2G/3G/4G nano-SIM card
Slot 2: 2G/3G/4G nano-SIM card or MicroSD card
Hybrid slot: Dual SIMs and one MicroSD card
Slot 1: 2G/3G/4G nano-SIM card
Slot 2: 2G/3G/4G nano-SIM card or MicroSD card
NavigationGPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDSS, GALGPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDSS, GAL
Operating SystemAndroid™ N with new ASUS ZenUI 4.0Android™ N with new ASUS ZenUI 4.0
Battery3600mAh capacity3300mAh capacity
AudioDual speakers
Triple internal mics with ASUS noise reduction technology
FM radio
Audio CODEC
Hi-Res Audio 192kHz/24-bit standard that is 4 times better than CD quality
DTS (Digital Theater System)
Headphone:X™ 7.1 virtual surround sound for headphone support
Dual speakers
Audio CODEC integrated into PMIC
Hi-Res Audio 192kHz/24-bit standard that is 4 times better than CD quality
DTS (Digital Theater System)
Headphone:X™ 7.1 virtual surround sound for headphone support
Dual internal mics with ASUS noise reduction technology
ZenFone 4 Max (ZC554KL)ZenFone 4 Max (ZC520KL)
ColorsDeepsea BlackDeepsea Black
Design2.5D-contoured glass display
Premium metal body and multiple color selections
181g weight
154 x 76.9 x 8.9mm
2.5D-contoured glass display
Premium metallic finished design and multiple color selections
156g weight
150.5 x 73.3 x 8.73 mm
Display5.5" HD IPS (720 x 1280) display
Capacitive touch panel with 10 points multi-touch
Blue-light filter for eye care
5.2" HD IPS (720 x 1280) display
Capacitive touch panel with 10 points multi-touch Blue-light filter for eye care
CPUQualcomm® Snapdragon™ 430 Mobile Platform with 64-bit Octa-core ProcessorQualcomm® Snapdragon™ 425 Mobile Platform with 64-bit Quad-core Processor
GPUQualcomm® Adreno™ 505Qualcomm® Adreno™308
RAM/ROM3GB RAM / 32GB ROM2GB RAM / 16GB ROM
Main Rear Cameras13MP
f/2.0 aperture
25mm equivalent focal length in 35mm film camera
80° field of view
LED flash
Instant cameras switching
Phase detection auto-focus
PixelMaster camera mode:
Auto (with low light and HDR features) / Pro / Beauty / 52MP Super Resolution / GIF animation / Time Lapse (with power saving) / 9 various filters
13MP
f/2.0 aperture
25mm equivalent focal length in 35mm film camera
80° field of view
LED flash
Instant cameras switching
Phase detection auto-focus
PixelMaster camera mode:
Auto (with low light and HDR features) / Pro / Beauty / 52MP Super Resolution / GIF animation / Time Lapse (with power saving) / 9 various filters
Second Rear Camera120° wide-angle camera
200% wider view for more friends and scenery in the frame
17.9mm equivalent focal length in 35mm film camera
120° wide-angle camera
200% wider view for more friends and scenery in the frame
17.9mm equivalent focal length in 35mm film camera
Video Recording1080p FHD video recording at 30 fps
Take still photo while recording video
Electronic image stabilization for shake-free videos
120˚ wide angle video
1080p FHD video recording at 30 fps
Take still photo while recording video
Electronic image stabilization for shake-free videos
120˚ wide angle video
Front Camera8MP
24mm equivalent focal length in 35mm film camera
85° field of view
Softlight LED flash
Auto with HDR features, Beauty, Selfie Panorama, GIF Animation modes
8MP
24mm equivalent focal length in 35mm film camera
85° field of view
Softlight LED flash
Auto with HDR features, Beauty, and Selfie Panorama modes
Wireless TechnologyIntegrated 802.11b/g/n 2.4Ghz; Wi-Fi Direct
4G LTE Cat 4 150/50Mbps (download/upload)
Integrated 802.11b/g/n 2.4Ghz; Wi-Fi Direct
4G LTE Cat 4 150/50Mbps (download/upload)
ConnectivityBluetooth® 4.1
Micro-USB 2.0 (supports OTG)
0.3s ultrafast fingerprint unlock, five-finger, 360° recognition
Bluetooth® 4.1
Micro-USB 2.0 (supports OTG)
0.3s ultrafast fingerprint unlock, five-finger, 360° recognition
SIM CardsTriple Slots: 2 x SIM & 1 x MicroSD card
Slot 1: Nano SIM (2G / 3G / 4G)
Slot 2: Nano SIM (2G / 3G / 4G)
Both SIM card slots support 3G WCDMA / 4G LTE network band. But only one SIM card can connect to 4G LTE service at a time. Slot3: micro SD card supports up to 256GB
Triple Slots: 2 x SIM & 1 x MicroSD card
Slot 1: Nano SIM (2G / 3G / 4G)
Slot 2: Nano SIM (2G / 3G / 4G)
Both SIM card slots support 3G WCDMA / 4G LTE network band. But only one SIM card can connect to 4G LTE service at a time. Slot3: micro SD card supports up to 256GB
NavigationGPS, AGPS, GLO, BDSGPS, AGPS, GLO
Operating SystemAndroid™ N with ASUS ZenUI, featuring:
Animated weather / Depth of field effect / Mobile manager / Game Genie / Theme store / ZenMotion / ZenUI FAQ / 360 picture & video viewing / PowerMaster
Android™ N with ASUS ZenUI, featuring:
Animated weather / Depth of field effect / Mobile manager / Game Genie / Theme store / ZenMotion / ZenUI FAQ / 360 picture & video viewing / PowerMaster
Battery5000mAh capacity with fast charging
2X faster reverse charging (1A)
Up to 46 days 4G standby
Up to 40 hours 3G talk time
Up to 22 hours video playback
Up to 26 hours Wi-Fi web browsing
ASUS PowerMaster™ Technology:
Power bank mode for 2X-faster reverse charging
10% battery provides 91 hours standby
2X-longer battery lifespan
4100mAh capacity with fast charging
2X faster reverse charging (1A)
Up to 37 days 4G standby
Up to 31 hours 3G talk time
Up to 101 hours Music playback
Up to 21 hours Wi-Fi web browsing
ASUS PowerMaster™ Technology:
Power bank mode for 2X-faster reverse charging
10% battery provides 88 hours standby
2X-longer battery lifespan
AudioLoudspeaker with PMIC internal amplifier
2 x internal microphones with ASUS Noise Reduction Technology
Loudspeaker with PMIC internal amplifier
2 x internal microphones with ASUS Noise Reduction Technology