Asus has released the Android 7.1.1 Nougat update for the photography-oriented ZenFone 3 Zoom. Besides the usual suite of Android improvements, Asus has introduced a new feature on the phone’s camera: Portrait Mode.
The ZenFone 3 Zoom is Asus’ second attempt at making a smartphone with a primary focus on photography. It features two separate 12MP sensors with two focal lengths: a standard 12MP 25mm lens with f/1.7 aperture and a 12MP 56mm “zoom lens” with f/2.0 aperture, which combined offers 2.3x optical zoom. It also has a full suite of software for the camera, from an extensive manual mode to RAW capture.
Retailing at RM2,099, it is a rather pricey upper mid-range device with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor and 4GB RAM. Rounding up the specs list is a 5.5-inch Full HD display, 64GB of internal storage, a huge 5,000mAh battery, and a 13MP front camera.
The Android 7.1.1 update for the ZenFone 3 Zoom introduces several new features to the device, including Multi-Window, Quick App Switch, and a better data saving tool built in. But the most significant update is the new Portrait Mode feature on the device.
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Utilising the two rear camera sensors with different focal lengths, the Portrait Mode feature on the ZenFone 3 Zoom works similarly to that on the iPhone 7 Plus. The depth information collected by both sensors allows for a simulated depth of field look on the final image. However, Asus has gone one step further than Apple in this regard – the ZenFone 3 Zoom offers the option of tweaking the bokeh effects via a slider in the Portrait Mode interface.
There’s now even a dedicated Portrait Mode button in the camera UI as well, replacing the Manual Mode button – that’s now bundled in with the Modes button.
Perhaps the best part of this is the fact that this new feature is being introduced on a device that’s about six months old. The RM2,099 RRP may be a little steep, but the ZenFone 3 Zoom can now be purchased for slightly lower – a quick check at local online stores show prices from as low as RM1,899.
Check out our extended hands on of the ZenFone 3 Zoom for more on the device.
