Asus has had more focus on their regular Zenfone line, with the OEM recently announcing an impressive lineup of six Zenfone 4 models, a few of which have already gone on sale. Lesser known is the Zenfone AR, the premium device that was launched way back in January but only just went on sale in June.
The Zenfone AR will finally hit the UK today, so users in that niche crowd have something to look forward to. While some may slight the Zenfone AR for its last-gen processor and hefty price tag, it's undeniable that it brings a lot more to the table than the average flagship device. It's the closest thing to a futuristic device we've had, as it supports Tango and Daydream, Google's AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality) platforms.
It's powered by the Snapdragon 821, the same SoC we saw on flagships like the OnePlus 3T and the LG G6, so although it may pale slightly in comparison to the more recent Snapdragon 835, you'd be hard-pressed to find it wanting in terms of raw performance power. It also features 8GB of RAM and was, in fact, the first Android device to be announced with that specification, alhough it was beaten to the release punch by ZTE's Nubia Z17.
A 5.7" Super AMOLED QHD display, Corning Gorilla Glass 4, and a novel tri-cam system at the back makes this a compelling purchase for those who want something new. Oh, and there's a headphone jack.
The Zenfone AR will retail with a price tag of $1035, or about £800. A pre-order gets you a Daydream View unit for free.