Using an unusual flip camera on the cool Zenfone 6, Asus found a great way to differentiate its fair price winner from the competition, and it continued the theme with some other major improvements with the new Zenfone 7 and Zenfone 7 Pro is. The motorized camera module returns but this time with more sensors, faster speeds and more durability. Asus decided to release two Zenfone models this time, but this is the Zenfone 7 Pro, we will be looking at it here, about the standard Zenfone 7 later.
Let’s start with the party piece of the ZenFone 7 Pro: the crazy motorized flip-over camera. If you are unfamiliar with Zenfone 6, this is very easy: rear camera to become Front camera, physically flipping to the front with the tap of a button. This is the best way to resolve the issue of small front-facing cameras with limited quality. The larger module has three sensors instead of two on the Zenfone 6: a 64-megapixel IMX 686 with optical image stabilization (OIS), a 12MP wide-angle, and an 8MP telephoto with OIS for 3x optical zoom.
These are set inside a module made of liquid metal for weight and durability, it is 40% smaller than the one on the Zenfone 6, but with a motor that is twice as powerful. It has twice tested 200,000 flips of the ZenFone 6, which is equivalent to 100 daily flips for the next six years. The motor and gearbox have been redesigned for speed and adjustment. It adjusts in steps of 0.5 degrees compared to two degrees on the Zenfone 6.
Asus has also worked on camera performance and feature sets. It has improved low-light performance, plus color and contrast levels, then added 8K video recording at 30K per second (FPS), 4K slow-motion video at 120FPS, and a Pro mode for video. This enables a new super-stable shot system that combines electronic image stabilization with wide-angle sensors to reduce movement in fast-growing video. Use a motorized flip camera to take large-scale wide-angle panorama shots automatically, track moving objects automatically, and also set a quick access angle for the module.
The great advantage of the flip camera is that all the features of the rear camera can be used on the front camera because the rear camera are doing Front camera. Want an 8K selfie video, or a true 113-degree wide-angle selfie? The Zenfone 7 Pro protects them, and no other phone offers such a comprehensive selfie camera system. Even though the cameras are not up to the highest quality level by rear-camera standards, they are certainly above the pack in terms of front-facing cameras.
How about the rest of the phone? The AMOLED screen measures 6.67 inches and has a 90Hz refresh rate, HDR10 Plus support, and has the same color calibration technology as the Asus ROG Phone 3 Gaming Phone. The Snapdragon 865 Plus processor and 5G connection are the same, and it comes with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage space. The phone has a metal frame, Gorilla Glass 3 at the back and Gorilla Glass 7 above the screen.
The phone has a massive 5,000mAh battery with 60% fast charging in 35 minutes with hypercharge and a full charge in 90 minutes. Asus added various features to keep the battery working well over time, including a slow charge system for those who charge their phones overnight, as we saw on the OnePlus 8 Pro. The software is Android 10 with Asus’s ZenUI 7, which looks and operates the same as Google’s version of Android on the Pixel 4. The power key on the side of the phone has a fingerprint sensor, which also acts as a smart key. With assignable quick tasks and access to Google Assistant.
The ZenFone 7 Pro’s large battery and motorized flip camera add up to a total of 230 grams of phone – 10% heavier than the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. And it is also not water-resistant, which is a tough cell in 2020. However, Asus offers a slightly bumpy case in the box and a custom transparent case that will help you secure the phone. There is only one speaker and none of the amazing audio technology heard on the ROG Phone 3, and the headphone jack has not performed again here.
What about Zenfone 7? It will come with a choice of a standard Snapdragon 865, 6 GB or 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage, while the camera will not have any OIS features.
The Zenfone 6 offered excellent value at $ 500, but with its fairly high specification, the Zenfone 7 Pro is not so cheap. We are still awaiting US prices, but in Taiwan, the Zenfone 7 Pro will be priced at $ 950, while the Zenfone 7 will cost around $ 750. The company also recognizes some difficulty with finding the Zenfone 6 for sale and has said that the Zenfone 7 will be in far better supply – we can only hope that this will happen when retailers stock them. We will update our story when the final US and European pricing and release details arrive.
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