The latest Asus ZenFone takes AI and sound seriously
By Vishnu Anand
Bangalore, July 16 2018: Slim phones, metal body phones, dual camera phones -- every year, the smart phone industry ends up having one favourite feature that soon becomes a must-have on devices across price ranges. This year has  been all about dual lens phones and superior selfie performance. Along the way, Artificial Intelligence starting creeping in to spec sheets as a regular feature. Most of us are still unsure about the role of AI in a smart phone, but one brand has demystified it with its latest offering,  ZenFone 5Z.
Asus has incorporated AI at three levels in its device -- a deep learning layer that forms the foundation of computing intelligence;  and on top of it,  a machine learning layer that learns from your repeated smart phone usage and a final  slab of AI that uses all the data from deep learning and machine learning and converts them into actionable insights that enhance your user experience. Here's how:
The phone's Photo Learning  formula   studies  your photography behaviour and switches to relevant settings depending on the object being shot and ambient lighting conditions. The photo gallery itself is powered by AI which automatically groups people and places, creating  a photo album of sorts. The ZenFGone 5Z also uses AI features for better power optimization: If the device recognizes that your phone is idle while charging, it will switch over to a slow charging as against its regular QuickCharge 3.0 feature that charges to 60% in about half an hour. Then there are the AI bells and whistles -- like  adaptive ringtone which uses AI to gauge your surroundings and adjusts your ring volume.
The other thing that sets apart the 5Z, is that it takes sound performance seriously. With a combo of features such as an NXP-powered dual smart amplifier, the Qualcomm aptX audio compression tool, DTS Headphone capabilities, a dual 5-magnet speaker and an intelligent audio wizard, the device is an audio powerhouse which isn't just loud but also clear. This helps in a better content viewing as well as great  gaming experience.
Powered by the Snapdragon 845 processor, the 5Z comes with a separate AI computing engine. The camera is powered by the Sony IMX363 sensor with 16 pre-defines AI scene detection modes. The 6.2 inches device comes in a 19:9 aspect ratio with an FHD+ screen and adaptive display. With a 12 MP dual back and 8MP front clicker, the 5Z supports face unlock and distortion free video recording. The ZenFone 5Z is priced at Rs. 29,999 for the 6 GB + 64 GB variant, Rs. 32,999 for the 6 GB + 128 GB variant and Rs. 36,999 for the 8 GB + 256 GB variant. The devices are available exclusively on Flipkart.
For a phone that packs in high-end specs and uses AI effectively, the 5Z is flagship material at a not-so-flagship price.