ZenFone 6 announced!


So, yesterday's event gave us the glimpse at the new ZenFone.  I'd steered clear of any rumours so was greatly intrigued to see a camera that was all kinds of reminiscence of the Oppo N1/N3.  Remember that?

Well, aside from the unique camera, the pricing (we don't know the official Canadian pricing yet) is good ... £499 to start equates to about $850CDN, which is super competitive pricing for a top end device that also has a HUGE (hyuuuj?) 5000mAh battery.  Even top end device at 8GB RAM and 256GB storage would be similarly exchanged to ~$1000CDN. 

Let's take a look at the specs you get for it, and then I'll let you see their press release below:


Asus
ZenFone 6
Price (CDN)
Size6.4"
Resolution2340x1080
Processor2.8GHz x1 + 2.4GHz x3 + 1.7GHz x4
TypeSnapdragon 855
RAM6/8GB
Storage64-256GB
removable storageyes
Rear Cam48MP (1/2.0", f/1.79, 79deg, 26mm) / 13MP (f/2.4, 125deg, 11mm)
Front Camsame
Battery5000mAh
Released2019 May
OtherQi + Reverse
motorized dual camera
dual SIM

don't forget you can visit http://databases.androidcoliseum.com to compare 

I'd like to hear how they quality tested that hinge

from Tom's Guide


KEY POINTS 
·         Boundless viewing experience: 6.4" notchless NanoEdge all-screen display with 92% screen‑to‑body ratio, protected by super‑tough Corning Gorilla Glass 6 
·         Extreme performance, long-lasting battery: Flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Mobile Platform with up to 8GB RAM, 256GB ROM and 5000mAh battery
·         Unique Flip Camera: Motorized 180° flip-up module allows Sony IMX586 48MP main camera and 13MP 125° ultrawide camera to be used at either front or rear

·         Smoother, faster and simpler: New ZenUI 6 focuses on the essentials, with a redesigned interface for a smooth and intuitive user experience
Markham, Canada, May 16, 2019 — ASUS today announced the extraordinary ZenFone 6, a powerful smartphone featuring the unique Flip Camera, a groundbreaking innovation that heralds a new era of mobile photography.
Flip Camera is an innovative solution that simultaneously addresses the twin problems of display 'notches' and low-resolution front-facing cameras. The motorized flip-up camera module contains a 48MP Sony IMX586 main camera and a 13MP 125° ultrawide secondary camera, driven by a custom precision stepper motor that flips the module by a full 180° to switch the cameras from rear to front use. It can also be used at any position in between, giving users the unprecedented ability to take professional‑grade shots from any position.
The 6.4-inch ZenFone 6 has a notchless NanoEdge all-screen display that's covered with Corning® Gorilla® Glass 6 for an immersive, near-borderless viewing experience and the toughest protection available. Powered by the flagship Qualcomm® Snapdragon 855 Mobile Platform — which delivers up to a 45% uplift in CPU performance and up to 20% faster graphic rendering compared to the previous generation[i]. A monster 5000mAh battery — one of the largest available in a flagship smartphone — provides up to two days of non‑stop use.
ZenFone 6 truly defies ordinary, combining extreme performance and flexible, high-quality photography in a compact design with instantly recognizable futuristic styling.

Boundless viewing experience
For a truly immersive near-borderless viewing experience, ZenFone 6 is equipped with a 6.4‑inch all‑screen NanoEdge slim-bezel display that has an incredible 92% screen‑to‑body ratio. The notchless design — made possible by the unique Flip Camera — makes any visual task more enjoyable, whether it's browsing the web, messaging friends or watching movies. A cinema-grade 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut ensures rich, lifelike colours and up to 600 nits of brightness makes it easy to read what’s onscreen, even when outdoors. The display is covered by the latest Corning Gorilla Glass 6 for unmatched scratch resistance and drop protection. Gorilla Glass 6 is tested to withstand multiple drops from a meter in height, ensuring ZenFone 6 can easily survive accidental knocks and drops.

ZenFone 6 is powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Mobile Platform, a 7nm 2.8GHz octa‑core processor with up to 8GB RAM. This flagship processor provides ZenFone 6 with ultrafast and super smooth performance, enabling it to run even the most demanding apps and games with ease. Snapdragon 855 delivers up to a 45% uplift in CPU performance and up to 20% faster graphic rendering compared to the previous generation1. A monster high‑capacity 5000mAh battery provides up to two days of battery life.

Unique Flip Camera
ZenFone 6 introduces the groundbreaking Flip Camera, a motorized flip-up dual-camera module that serves as both front and rear cameras. This innovative solution means that there is no need for a camera notch to mar the display, and also means that Flip Camera offers the same high-resolution photos and shooting capabilities whether it's used as a front camera or a rear one.
The main camera of ZenFone 6 boasts the latest Sony IMX586 48MP sensor with an f/1.79 wide aperture lens and Quad Bayer technology for incredible day and night photography. The 2x1 OCL PDAF autofocus system provides the best focus and anti‑shake performance, and the 13MP 125° ultrawide secondary camera lets users fit more friends and scenery in the shot, with real-time distortion correction.
The Flip Camera module is made of liquid metal (amorphous alloy), a highly advanced material that's 20% lighter than stainless steel, but with four times the strength. For added protection, a G‑sensor in the module detects the rate of acceleration, allowing Flip Camera to automatically return the module to a safe position if the phone is dropped.
A custom precision stepper motor smoothly rotates the camera module by up to a full 180° between front and rear camera positions. In the unique Free Angle mode, Flip Camera can be positioned at any angle, giving users the freedom to frame their subjects from high or low angles without having to contort themselves into awkward or uncomfortable shooting positions. There are several other unique shooting modes available, including Auto Panorama for assisted panoramic shots, and Motion Tracking for automatic subject-tracking when recording videos. The new HDR+ Enhanced and Super Night modes provide the best day and night photography experience.

Smoother, faster and simpler
The new ZenUI 6 user interface provides enhanced smoothness and speed, and it’s simple and easy to use even for users new to ZenFone. It has a cleaner and more streamlined look that provides only the essentials, and there's a new Dark Mode colour scheme that helps reduce eye strain in low‑light environments.
The redesigned interface has supersmooth animations, and is designed for easier one-handed use, with commands and other apps neatly arranged along the sides of the display within easy reach of the user’s thumb.
OptiFlex accelerates app launches and reloads, and saves power in standby mode by learning the user’s favorite apps. This keeps the most‑used apps loaded in the memory, so they’re always ready to go. A new Private Listening mode plays all voice messages and Google Assistant interactions via the earpiece only, so no messages will be read out loud in public.
The new physical Smart Key on the side of ZenFone 6 can be customized to initiate popular actions, including Google Assistant tasks. It supports single press, double press or press-and-hold modes that can be assigned to different actions.
The luxury ASUS ZenEar Pro earphones included with ZenFone 6 have been tuned by the renowned specialist headphone company 1MORE to ensure premium sound for an enhanced listening experience.    
           
AVAILABILITY & PRICING

ASUS ZenFone 6 (ZS630KL) will be available in Canada. Pricing and availability will be announced at launch. Please contact your local ASUS representative for further information.