On Monday Asus took to the stage to unveil quite a few new products, including three new budget devices going by the new ZenFone brand name. The largest of these Intel-powered devices is the ZenFone 6, a 6-inch handset with a starting price of just $199.
In our hands-on preview of the ZenFone 6, Josh Vergara took a quick look at what the largest model brings to the table, noting that for such a massive phone it’s actually very light at just 200 grams.
Asus Zenfone 6 specifications
- CPU: Intel Atom Z2580, dual-core, 2GHz
- GPU: PowerVR SGX 544MP2
- RAM: 1GB OR 2GB (depending on model)
- Display: 6-inch IPS LCD, 720 x 1280 pixels
- Internal storage: 8GB or 16GB, expandable with up to 64GB
- Cameras: 13 MP rear, 2MP front, LED flash
- Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi b/g/n, USB 2.0, A-GPS
- Networks: GSM, HSDPA+
- Battery: 3240 mAh
- Dimensions: 166.9 x 84.3 x 9.9mm, 200g
- OS: Android 4.3 with ZenUI
When it comes to hardware, the Zenfone 6 is essentially the same as its 5-inch brother, though there is a version of the handset that will jump up to 2GB of RAM, and the camera of all variants of the Zenfone 6 is a 13MP shooter — not bad for a budget device, at least on paper.
The Zenfone 6 is certainly not a high-end device, but for those looking for a super-sized phone that packs a reasonable punch, this could certainly be an option. Better yet, the handset has the ability to use any pen or pencil as stylus, and you can even use the phone while wearing gloves. On the downside, the phone only comes with 8 or 16GB of storage, though you can expand the memory with microSD, adding up to an additional 64GB.
For stock Android fans, you’ll be disappointed to know that Asus is packing its own custom skin that it calls Zen UI. On the bright side, the UI still manages some stock-like elements and seems to be a clean, interesting take on Android.
Again, the Zenfone 6 isn’t a Note 3 or even a Xperia Z Ultra, but it is certainly worth looking out for if your on and limited budget and don’t want or need the latest and greatest hardware. We’ll do our best to get a review unit of the ZenPhone 6 as soon as possible so we can jump in and take an even deeper look. In the meantime, be sure to check out all the great news and hands-on videos from our CES 2014 coverage!