News & Reviews:   ASUS ZenFone 6 Malaysia

ASUS is planning on launching their ASUS Zenfone 6 on the 16th of May. No specs or features had been shared about the device by the Taiwanese company yet but an ASUS smartphone model did surface on Geekbench showing off its tech specs.

Ahead of the reveal of the ASUS Zenfone 6 at MWC 2019, leaks of the prototype of the anticipated smartphone has surfaced. As the race of which smartphone will be able to shrink and finally get rid of the pesky notch on the front of their phones rages on, the Asus Zenfone 6 seems to have gotten creative with placement of the notch on their screens.

The ASUS Store here in Malaysia is now offering the ASUS ZenFone 6 smartphone with a free bumper case. In addition to protecting your new ZenFone 6 smartphone it also looks to be the original ASUS bumper case, so it should fit well with the smartphone. Unlike some other third-party sellers, the official ASUS Store is selling the ASUS ZenFone 6 at the standard Malaysia pricing of RM699. Notable tech specs and features of the ZenFone 6 A601CG includes a 1.6GHZ Intel Atom 2560 processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB storage, a 6-inch 1280 x 720 pixel resolution display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and a top-of-the-line 13MP PixelMaster rear camera. The only limition for this offer seems to be that the first 100 online buyers at the ASUS Store will get the free bumper case so if you don't qualify you can always get it the next day.

As the phablet in the ASUS ZenFone smartphone range, the ASUS ZenFone 6 sports a larger 6-inch display to go with the usual great looks of the ASUS ZenFone smartphones. Other notable tech specs that set it apart include a 13MP rear camera with LED flash, a 2GHz Intel Atom processor and a 6-inch display with 1280 x 720 pixel resolution covered by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 3. We managed to get some hands-on time with it and put it through it's paces. From it's size alone, we feel that it would definitely be the gamer's ZenFone but do check it out for yourself in our hands-on video in this article.

While it hasn't officially landed in Malaysia just yet, the ASUS ZenFone 6 has arrived in limited quantities. Thankfully, ASUS Malaysia dropped one off for us to check out so we'll start out with an unboxing video before going on to a hands-on video and full review. Thanks to some really good tech specs and features like a 13MP PixelMaster rear camera, 6-inch Corning Gorilla Glass 3 covered display with 720 x 1280 pixel resolution, 2GB of RAM and 2MP front camera at RM899 it is currently being awaited for more than the other ASUS ZenFone smartphones. For now, check out the unboxing video of the ASUS ZenFone 6 in this article.

It isn't a big secret that the new range of ASUS ZenFone smartphones are powered by Intel processors, but what most users in Malaysia are asking is "when will the ASUS ZenFone 4, ZenFone 5 and ZenFone 6 arrive in Malaysia?". After the regional launch in Jakarta about a month back, the entry-level to midrange smartphone market in Malaysia has erupted into what appears to be the beginnings of a price war, while the ASUS ZenFone's appear to have been delayed. Intel Malaysia has since teased the ASUS ZenFone's low-light capabilities on their Facebook page, hinting as well that they should arrive on 10 May 2014. We think that such features are certainly worth waiting for, so stay tuned for more developments.

The ASUS ZenFone 4, ZenFone 5 and ZenFone 6 were recently announced for South East Asia, including Malaysia. One of the most notable features of the ASUS ZenFone smartphones is the PixelMaster Camera Technology. While each of the ASUS ZenFone smartphones are competitively priced below RM1000 (RM299 for the ASUS ZenFone 4, RM599 for the ASUS ZenFone 5 and RM899 for the ASUS ZenFone 6), ASUS spared no expense for the camera components. This includes a 5-element Largan lens, high quality camera sensors from Sony and Panasonic and some really awesome camera filter algorithms.

The ASUS ZenFone smartphone range caught our attention when it was first announced at CES 2014 due to it's design, price and performance. Now ASUS already have several smartphone devices in the market, but the ASUS ZenFone smartphone range look to be the first to seriously target the entry-level to midrange market with it's focus on price and performance. Rather than go for a Malaysia launch, ASUS Malaysia were kind enough to invite us for the ASUS Regional launch where the ASUS ZenFone 4, ZenFone 5 and ZenFone 6 smartphones were announced each for below RM1000. Check out the tech specs below for a refresher of the ASUS ZenFone 4, ASUS ZenFone 5 and ASUS ZenFone 6:

• ASUS ZenFone 4
• 1.2GHz dual-core Intel Atom Z2520 processor
• 1GB RAM
• 4GB storage + microSD
• 4-inch TN TFT
• 5MP rear camera
• 124.4 x 61.4 x 11.2mm | 115g
• supports Dual-SIM, 3G, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, MicroUSB
• 1170 mAh battery

The Red Dot Design Award highlights great design combining innovation, functionality, egonomics and quality amongst others, so it comes as no surprise that ASUS recently won it for their new ZenFone range of smartphones. The ASUS ZenFone range of smartphones consists of the ASUS ZenFone 4, ASUS ZenFone 5 and ASUS ZenFone 6, with all of them utilizing the same ergonomic design and solid build quality. The screens are well-protected with Corning's Gorilla Glass 4 while the ASUS ZenUI brings Android 4.3 based energy efficiency together with smooth working functionality. We're all set for the upcoming regional release of the ASUS ZenFone series in the middle of April 2014 so stay posted for more details on the ASUS ZenFone range of smartphones.

We've been looking forward to the ASUS ZenFone 4, ZenFone 5 and ZenFone 6 for quite some time, but it appears that China may get the new range of smartphones before we do. The Intel Atom powered smartphones will apparently be available in China on 11 April 2014, as announced by ASUS on Weibo. The ASUS ZenFones will be running the new Android 4.3 Jelly Bean based ZenFone UI with an Android 4.4 KitKat update expected later in the year. Confirming earlier reports that the ASUS ZenFone range of smartphones would be priced below RM1K, the pricing in China is expected to go for $100 (RM329) for the ASUS ZenFone 4, $150 (RM494) for the ASUS ZenFone 5 and $200 (RM659) for the ASUS ZenFone 6. We'll be attending the regional launch in April as well with Malaysia release dates expected after the middle of the month. Stay tuned to Technave.com for more ASUS ZenFone coverage coming to you soon.