Everything we know about the Zenfone 3 Laser (ZC551KL)

Asus unveiled the Zenfone 3 Laser during their main Zenfone 3 launch in Vietnam during July. Not a lot of official information was made available and few actual product image exist online. Why is that? It’s because the Zenfone 3 Laser will be released a bit later than the main 3 Zenfone models.

So we don’t know the specific release date of the Zenfone 3 Laser. However Asus has put up an official product page so we are likely to see this phone in some markets in a month or two.

What we do know is that the Zenfone 3 Laser is a 5.5-inch smartphone with specs that put it slightly less robust than the main Zenfone 3 (ZE552KL) model. The Zenfone 3 build is such that there is not a removable battery like the Zenfone 2 Laser. Losing the removable battery is a sacrifice for the new metallic design.

Size wise, the Zenfone 3 Laser is 149 x 76 x 7.9 mm or 5.87 x 2.99 x 0.311 inches (WxDxH). It weighs 150g or 5.29oz.

The Zenfone 3 Laser comes in Silver or Gold colors. It features a high 77% screen-to-body ratio and a fingerprint sensor. It relies on a microUSB port for charging which is one of those cost saving aspects to the Zenfone 3 Laser. There is 4GB of RAM onboard with a full HD 1080P display. Battery life wise, it comes with a 3000mAh battery and it does not have quick charge support.

However, the Laser is aptly named because as Asus says, it’s the “smartphone for photography enthusiasts”. The ZC551KL comes with a 13MP rear camera with 0.03-second laser auto focus with advanced backlight (HDR) modes. Packed into the rear camera is a Sony IMX214 sensor. The front facing camera is 8MP.

Overall, this new generation Zenfone 3 Laser is a big upgrade over the previous generation. Build quality, screen resolution and specs have all been bettered.

Zenfone 3 Laser (Silver) Image Gallery Zenfone 3 Laser (Gold) Image Gallery

(updating with more details…)

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Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe promo video now shows it having up to Snapdragon 821 processor

We were curious as to why the Zenfone 3 Deluxe promotional video was pulled from the Asus YouTube page. We noticed this a couple days ago. Now the video is back, but with one apparent change.

Remember the talk on the web about the Zenfone 3 Deluxe having the newest Snapdragon 821 processor @ 2.4GHz? Well it appears to us that the promotional video has been updated to show the Snapdragon 821 processor inside. That makes it official right?

We don’t know for certain if the original processor will make a showing or not. It would make sense for Asus just to come out with the Deluxe and the Snapdragon 821 making it a true beast of the smartphone world. That said, in the promo video it does say “Up to Snapdragon 821 processor”.

 

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Asus turns it up a notch and releases high quality promo videos

If you watch the most recent promotional videos from Asus you can conclude one thing. Asus is taking this Zenfone 3 launch extremely seriously. You can see the amount of resources they have put into the design and execution of this release. With sagging Windows and tablet sales, the smartphone market is a key for Asus.

Asus Zenfone 3 (ZE552KL / ZE520KL) Promo Video:

Asus Zenfone 3 Ultra (ZU680KL) Promo Video:

Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe (ZS570KL) Promo Video:

 

 

Zenfone 3 models are available to buy right now…from eBay sellers

Personally, I’ve bought a product recently from a Taiwan based eBay seller. It was a good experience and I was completely happy with the item. Price was decent and I didn’t feel like waiting for the North America release dates so I went the eBay route.

The fact is, if you don’t feel like waiting, there are many sellers right now on eBay selling new, unopened Zenfone 3 models.

If you decide to buy one, I strongly suggest you pay the little bit extra for express shipping. This is a new release so why wait? My purchase from an eBay seller from Taiwan went well, but my only regret was not choosing express shipping. I urge you to consider it!

Now when it comes to North America or other area network compatibility, it’s too large a task to tackle right now on our end. If you have an expert opinion, please share in the comment section.

Link to eBay:

Click Here – See All Zenfone 3 Listings on eBay – International Shipping

Massive 6.9-inch Zenfone Go is coming – Beyond Phablet?

Most tech pundits were aghast with the 6.8-inch Zenfone Ultra. Asus has a tendency to outdo themselves and this occasion appears no different.

Should we call a 6.9-inch phone a phablet or a tablet? I think it’s ultimately a phone and Asus has it listed as a Zenfone Go and not under the ZenPad category. Thus, get ready for a gigantic Zenfone Go model in the near future.

We can’t say for certain which markets will see this model, but it would likely be a very limited release. If your country has the previous generation Zenfone Go models, then this 6.9-inch model should be coming to your country as well.

Obviously Asus is rolling out the Zenfone 3 line-up globally right now and we aren’t certain about when the Zenfone Go line-up will be announced. The way things are going, Asus could sneak in this new Zenfone Go phablet among their Zenfone 3 release tour.

So we ask the question to you. Is 6.9-inches just to big or is having that extra screen more handy than the negatives of a large size phone?