Highly disappointing that there is no date or confirmation of the Zenphone3 Ultra. The international version is not fully compatible with US LTE bands.
The is no large (6.3-6.8") phone with a large battery and a premium camera in the US. I'll go back to waiting for the highly delayed Lenovo Phab2 line. Otherwise, I was half considering the Posh Volt Max LTE L640 on amazon for the features and price. I am not sure why Asus is withholding the phone which would have the exclusive feature set in North America and busy instead launching all their "me too" phones.
Those aren't large phones, they're small tablets... Xiaomi's Mi Max is cheaper than the Zenfone although the camera isn't premium. It has similar internals like a Redmi Note 3 but with a 6.4" screen.
Anything below 8" is not a tablet. Even 7" is pretty minimal to use. 10" is really normal and 12" is big for a tablet. This isn't 2012 anymore. 6.4" is big for a phone but not crazy big, if you got decently-sized hands. I used a 6" L1520 for two years. It was no problems whatsoever. People who whine need to get updated.
Yes, you prove my point there are no phones which have a large screen, premium camera (and large battery) that are fully compatible with US LTE bands.
Both phones you mention are not. US GSM/LTE carriers use the following LTE bands: AT&T 2, 4, 5, 17 (1900, 1700 abcde, 700 bc) T-Mobile 2, 4, 12 (1900, 1700 def, 700 a)
So my point is Asus would have a north american exclusive device if they would only release a US version. Unlike these phones they are choosing to release which have very similar feature sets to countless other devices.
I'm happy to trade weight and thickness for a 4000+mAh battery. Otherwise, I'd have already purchased the Sony Xperia XA Ultra which seems nice besides it's relatively puny 2700mAh battery. But I agree with your sentiment that Asia is getting all the nice large 6"+ phones with big batteries and decent cameras...which makes the Asus Zenfone3 Ultra no US launch all the more painful.
After Samsung not being able to get the Note 7 fixed even after a massive recall am looking at other brands for a android 5.7" phone with a SD card.
Right now the only 2 options am seeing is the Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe 5.7" and the LG V20. Hopefully there be a detail review comparing the 2 sometime in the future when they both out since they seem to be 2 of the only options for 5.7 phones (after Samsung).
Please rectify. The Zenfone 3 Deluxe that is sold in USA is not ZE552KL, it is ZS550KL: http://www.asus.com/Phone/ZenFone-3-Deluxe-ZS550KL... Same innards (even same screen) but different outer shell (basically a smaller Zenfone 3 Deluxe shell) and Quick Charge 3.0
"The new ZenFones are the first handsets from ASUS based on ARM processors and also the first phones from the company to use Super AMOLED display panels"
Wow, the the only difference between the Deluxe and the regular one is the 821 vs 820 - and they're charging a $200 premium for this single difference? D:
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XZerg - Monday, October 10, 2016 - link
Are you sure the zenbook has ddr3? i think it is a typo given "2133". are the memory soldered or changeable?Ryan Smith - Monday, October 10, 2016 - link
Yes, LPDDR3 is in the specifications.close - Monday, October 10, 2016 - link
And at 11.9 mm I can't really see an SODIMM slot in there. Just like most (if not all) ultrabooks out there it probably has soldered memory chips.maglito - Monday, October 10, 2016 - link
Highly disappointing that there is no date or confirmation of the Zenphone3 Ultra. The international version is not fully compatible with US LTE bands.The is no large (6.3-6.8") phone with a large battery and a premium camera in the US. I'll go back to waiting for the highly delayed Lenovo Phab2 line. Otherwise, I was half considering the Posh Volt Max LTE L640 on amazon for the features and price. I am not sure why Asus is withholding the phone which would have the exclusive feature set in North America and busy instead launching all their "me too" phones.
serendip - Monday, October 10, 2016 - link
Those aren't large phones, they're small tablets... Xiaomi's Mi Max is cheaper than the Zenfone although the camera isn't premium. It has similar internals like a Redmi Note 3 but with a 6.4" screen.Mondozai - Monday, October 10, 2016 - link
Anything below 8" is not a tablet. Even 7" is pretty minimal to use. 10" is really normal and 12" is big for a tablet. This isn't 2012 anymore. 6.4" is big for a phone but not crazy big, if you got decently-sized hands. I used a 6" L1520 for two years. It was no problems whatsoever. People who whine need to get updated.maglito - Monday, October 10, 2016 - link
Yes, you prove my point there are no phones which have a large screen, premium camera (and large battery) that are fully compatible with US LTE bands.Both phones you mention are not.
US GSM/LTE carriers use the following LTE bands:
AT&T 2, 4, 5, 17 (1900, 1700 abcde, 700 bc)
T-Mobile 2, 4, 12 (1900, 1700 def, 700 a)
So my point is Asus would have a north american exclusive device if they would only release a US version. Unlike these phones they are choosing to release which have very similar feature sets to countless other devices.
SquarePeg - Monday, October 10, 2016 - link
The problem with the Lenovo Phab2 is that it's 10.7mm thick and has a weight of 259 grams (9.14oz). I really wish the Honor Note 8 had US bands.maglito - Tuesday, October 11, 2016 - link
I'm happy to trade weight and thickness for a 4000+mAh battery. Otherwise, I'd have already purchased the Sony Xperia XA Ultra which seems nice besides it's relatively puny 2700mAh battery. But I agree with your sentiment that Asia is getting all the nice large 6"+ phones with big batteries and decent cameras...which makes the Asus Zenfone3 Ultra no US launch all the more painful.cyrand - Monday, October 10, 2016 - link
After Samsung not being able to get the Note 7 fixed even after a massive recall am looking at other brands for a android 5.7" phone with a SD card.Right now the only 2 options am seeing is the Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe 5.7" and the LG V20. Hopefully there be a detail review comparing the 2 sometime in the future when they both out since they seem to be 2 of the only options for 5.7 phones (after Samsung).
CoreyWat - Monday, October 10, 2016 - link
Where's the Asus transformer Pro?ajp_anton - Monday, October 10, 2016 - link
Really? A quad core CPU in a watch?damianrobertjones - Friday, October 14, 2016 - link
You'd think that they'd start with dual core then MILK people out of their cash with a quad. Odd.matthewsage - Monday, October 10, 2016 - link
Please rectify. The Zenfone 3 Deluxe that is sold in USA is not ZE552KL, it is ZS550KL: http://www.asus.com/Phone/ZenFone-3-Deluxe-ZS550KL... Same innards (even same screen) but different outer shell (basically a smaller Zenfone 3 Deluxe shell) and Quick Charge 3.0Fullmetaldwarf - Monday, October 10, 2016 - link
Hey,Anton Shilov you could change the first image,ASUS has a different massage under the logo,now is "in search of incredible".jsntech - Monday, October 10, 2016 - link
Looking forward to Zenbook 3 review.sjael - Monday, October 10, 2016 - link
"The new ZenFones are the first handsets from ASUS based on ARM processors and also the first phones from the company to use Super AMOLED display panels"Sure, apart from the padfone which had both...
milkod2001 - Tuesday, October 11, 2016 - link
Nice selection of products there Anton ShillovRo_Ja - Friday, October 14, 2016 - link
ZenUI is just crap.fanofanand - Friday, October 14, 2016 - link
That Zenpad looks sweet, I really hope they release an 8" for $199 or less.milkywayer - Saturday, October 15, 2016 - link
Wow, the the only difference between the Deluxe and the regular one is the 821 vs 820 - and they're charging a $200 premium for this single difference? D: