This week in Tech: First look: ASUS ZenFone 3 Laser, ZenFone 3 Max

MANILA, Philippines - While the world awaits the arrival of the ZenFone 3, in Vietnam, two new ASUS budget phones were made official as the company continues its 2016 makeover of popular smartphone spin-offs.

The ASUS ZenFone 3 Laser and ZenFone 3 Max join the ZenFone 3, ZenFone 3 Ultra, and ZenFone 3 Deluxe announced in its native Taiwan last May 2016.

And just like their higher-end cousins, the 2016 Laser and Max feature polished metal designs that look identical and feel better in the hand—not to mention they’re thinner and lighter than their predecessors’. It’s obvious they share the same DNA, but there are different selling points for each phone: a more capable camera for the Laser; a long-lasting battery for the Max.

The designs don’t match the premium aesthetic of the other ZenFone 3 models—we’re not entirely convinced the cases are entirely made of metal—but that can be forgiven.

Android 6.0 Marshmallow is the platform of choice for these latest ZenFones, and this time around, the software nuances that layer the interface are prettier and less intrusive and don’t seem to impact responsiveness too much. Of course, they come with (mostly) upgraded internals as well, which is expected of smartphone successors.

The one thing you won’t find on most budget phones, however, is a fingerprint scanner present on the back of both devices. It’s fast and reliable, though it bears noting the Laser unlocks faster. Neither is as good as the one on the ZenFone 3 or ZenFone 3 Deluxe. For what it’s worth, the scanner on the Laser is oblong in shape; the Max’s has a squarish design with rounded edges.

Of the two, the ZenFone 3 Laser takes photography more seriously, with a camera bump to show for it. The device sports a 13-megapixel rear camera that takes better photos than the 13-megapixel shooter on the Max, and works well enough to allow for some background blur. There’s also an improved laser autofocus system around the back (which the Max doesn’t have) for quick, crisp shooting.

A 5.5-inch, full-resolution display with curved corners dominates the front of the device, while an octa-core Qualcomm 430 chip backed by 4GB of RAM powers the entire assembly.

The ZenFone 3 Max, meanwhile, is better equipped to handle the rigors of daily use, with its moderately sized 5.2-inch display and 4,100mAh battery and ability to charge other phones or devices.

But although the high-capacity cell is something all road warriors will appreciate, we can’t help but question ASUS’ choice to include a smaller battery than that of the original Max. We suppose a compromise had to be made to come up with a sleeker phone, but time will tell if consumers embrace the decision. Nevertheless, the 3GB of RAM inside the new Max should be plenty for multitasking.

Anyway, you get the idea. Different phones for different types of users—ASUS followed the same formula last year to great success. The company shipped 20.5 million ZenFones in 2015; this year, it has set a grander goal: 25 million units sold globally.

The ZenFone 3 Laser and ZenFone 3 Max are priced at 5,990,000 (around $270) and 4,490,000 ($200) Vietnamese dong, respectively. They’ll soon be available in Vietnam, and a wider rollout is expected in the future. The Philippines might see them hit stores in August at the earliest; India and the rest of the world might have to wait until the third quarter of 2016.

Is this it?: iPhone 7 vs. iPhone 6s.

Iphone 7 video leak shows a familiar design

We’re nearing that time of year again, when Apple takes over the tech headlines with a new iPhone that promises to be better than ever.

We’re confident the launch event will happen sometime in September, as is usually the case, and although the Cupertino-based company has yet to give a firm date to focus on, that hasn’t stopped photos and videos of what is believed to be the iPhone 7 from circulating on the web.

The latest leak offers greater detail about what to expect a few months from now. And it seems Apple guru Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities hit the nail in the head when he earlier predicted this year’s iPhone won’t be anything special.

A new video obtained by French site NowhereElse from China’s Weibo shows the iPhone 7 looking very much like the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6S but with some minor design changes.

A bigger camera lens — and subsequently, a more noticeable camera bulge; refined antenna lines; dual speakers at the base; and a missing standard headphone jack — they are what differentiate this year’s model, at least in terms of outward appearance.

Which brings us to the question of whether or not Apple has done enough with the iPhone 7 to cement its dominance in a market brimming with up-and-comers from China and a Samsung juggernaut that had found its groove. In a recent report, industry analyst Kantar Worldpanel said Samsung’s S7 flagship phones outsold the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus in the US in a three-month period ending in May 2016.

Previous rumors have indicated the iPhone 7 will feature two rear cameras, and as much as 3GB of RAM to go with a faster processor, and 32GB of flash storage on the base model, which many agree is long overdue. No company should get away with a 16GB premium smartphone in 2016 — not even Apple. A recycled design with nothing out of the ordinary? We’ll have to wait and see.