Two Asus mobile devices look to the future

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Tech giant Asus recently came out with two new devices in Japan running on Android and looking to compete with the likes of Samsung, HTC and yes — even Apple. The Asus ZenFone 5 is a new smartphone that runs on Android and comes with a host of unique features that sets it apart from vanilla Android handsets, while its new ZenWatch brings some style and elegance to the future-thinking Android Wear ecosystem.

ZenFone 5

The Asus ZenFone 5 is somewhat unique in Japan (at least until May of this year) as it can be purchased as a SIM-free device from a number of retailers at an affordable price that doesn’t need to be underwritten by a service provider—leaving you free to choose your poison. Those looking for a “Goldilocks” smartphone (one that’s not too big and not too small) will find its 5-inch display fits comfortably in their hands — somewhere between an iPhone 6 or HTC One on the compact side and an iPhone 6 Plus or Galaxy S5 on the larger end—meaning it’s still easily operated in one hand, though may not be front-pocket suitable (depending on how skinny your jeans are).

On the outside, the high-definition, 1,280-pixel screen is protected by a sturdy and scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 3 screen (the outer shell itself is a replaceable plastic cover, so these combined eliminate the need for a protective case) while under the hood is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor that powers the Android Kit Kat 4.4.2 operating system. Other features include a rear-facing 8MP video and still camera and a 2MP selfie cam on the front. It ships with up to 32GB of onboard flash memory with an internal slot for a micro-SD card to expand that to an additional 64GB.

What sets the ZenFone 5 apart from others of its ilk, though, is the suite of proprietary software — called ZenUI — designed to amalgamate your online life, your mobile life and your (ahem) real life. While some users may consider it bloatware, it does a have a few nice integrations. Right from the home screen, the What’s Next? feature intelligently alerts you to upcoming appointments, to-dos and even the weather with a simple swipe, plus you can easily add an additional 5GB of free online cloud storage space for sharing mobile photos or other media. And a new display sensitivity setting allows use of the device even while wearing gloves. All-in-all, the Asus ZenFone 5 is a feature-rich and highly customizable phone for its price point in a saturated market. ¥28,900.

ZenWatch

Also from Asus is the recently released ZenWatch (photo below) — a digital timepiece and lifestyle tracker with looks to please not only tech-obsessed fashionistas, but even —dare I say? — Apple fans. A sleek, tanned-leather wristband with stainless steel clasp sets it apart from other more industrial or rubbery devices in the smartwatch market (for now) — and if you’re not a fan of the band, you can swap it for one of your own choosing provided it’s the standard 22-millimeter size. The rectangular, AMOLED 1.63-inch display face is rather large (especially for small wrists), but the stainless steel case sandwiches an inset, rose gold-colored band gives it a distinguished feel. The Corning Gorilla Glass 3 screen offers sturdy scratch-resistance.

The ZenWatch pairs seamlessly via Bluetooth with any mobile device running Android Wear, as well as its own set of Asus apps that give users a multitude of choices when it comes to displayed watch faces (over 100 of them, all designed for the different moods and personalities of the wearer) and health tracking programs. The case even features a highly accurate heart rate monitor that you access by touching two fingers to the bezel.

Where it shines is the deceptively simple operation. Turn your wrist up to wake the device, swipe left or right, up or down to navigate the screen and access functions, settings and read incoming email or texts (if you’re used to Google’s “card” notifications, you’ll notice the similarity right away). Speak into the highly sensitive watch face mic (à la “OK Google,” Siri or your favourite 1960s TV spy) to launch simple apps like Google Maps, reply to incoming texts (that buzz on your wrist when they arrive), set reminders or even control the tunes playing on your phone without removing it from your pocket.

It’s a stunning watch made all the better by the choice of classic, stitched leather combined with understated, but quality casing materials. The amount of customization—not only for the digital watch face, but also for the different Android Wear apps that can be incorporated with it—make it an early standout for those looking for an actual “smart watch.” Its biggest downside (indeed, probably the biggest negative point for all wearable tech at this stage of the game) has to be the battery, which lasts around 8 hours. It also won’t pair with any Apple devices, so iPhone and iPad users will have to wait—at least until someone figures out how to make that pairing possible.

If you’re already set on getting a smartwatch to pair with your Android device, the Asus ZenWatch will certainly look good on any wrist and probably drum up a few longing glances, compliments and questions — just don’t get caught talking into it like Maxwell Smart. ¥32,180.n