Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom is announced with 2.3X zoom camera and iPhone-like Portrait mode

When it comes to dual cameras on smartphones, they come in many flavors. Some are there to give the photographer a greater field of view through a wider lens, others are used to add a background blur effect for stunning close-ups, some even shoot in black and white. The Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom, however, takes a different approach – an approach seemingly inspired by a phone we're all familiar with. 

By now it should be clear that the highlight of the Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom is its camera. On its back we have a 12MP main camera paired with a secondary 12MP shooter sporting a 2.3X zoom lens. You know, kind of what the iPhone 7 Plus stands out with. And that's okay. The iPhone's approach to zooming is practical and efficient, so we have nothing against others trying to emulate it. Asus even goes as far as to include a Portrait Mode, adding a "natural depth of field" to the image, but the feature is coming at a later time via a software update. 

Cameras aside, the Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom is shaping up as a well-rounded mid-range Android handset. Key selling points include its 5.5-inch AMOLED display, the rear-positioned fingerprint scanner, and the metal construction treated to a stylish finish. But the huge, 5000mAh battery is what we're most impressed by. In comparison, that's about 40% more charge capacity compared to what a Galaxy S7 edge can hold. 

Here's a more in-depth look at the Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom specs known so far:

*Will be available after a software update

The Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom is scheduled to launch in February of 2017. Pricing hasn't been announced yet, but knowing Asus, we have a feeling that the figure will be aggressively set.