Asus ZenFone 4 Selfie Philippines Price, Initial Review, Specs, Dual Front Camera Features

Back in August 2015, Taiwanese electronics company Asus launched their Asus ZenFone Selfie ZD551KL, which - as its name suggests - was targeted towards consumers who enjoy taking self-portraits using the front-facing camera of their handsets.

That earlier model had a 13 MegaPixel autofocus camera with Dual Tone LED flash right above the display, allowing the user to snap clear and crisp regardless of the lighting condition.

Oddly enough, it took the company almost two years to come up with follow-up to that selfie-centric handset. But what's good is that, the 2017 iteration already incorporates neat enhancements as well as new features that go along the latest trends in snapping selfies.

In terms of design and build, the Asus ZenFone 4 Selfie represents a clear upgrade coming from its predecessor.

Not only is this newer model far thinner and lighter but it also flaunts a real metal frame that makes it look and feel more elegant and sophisticated. I mean, just look at these photos.

The rear camera resolution had also been bumped up to 16 MegaPixels coming from 13 MegaPixels on the predecessor. And what's nice is that it now has Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF) which locks in the subject far faster.

Also, the camera interface is now more intuitive and easier to use. There's even a Pro mode that lets you tweak settings - like White Balance and ISO - to get the exact look that you want to achieve in your photos. And I'm sure you'll appreciate the one-click Background Defocus button that gives you virtual Bokeh effect in your shots where the background of your subject is beautifully blurred.

Of course, the main selling of the Asus ZenFone 4 Selfie ZD553KL is its all-new Dual Front-Facing camera module, which incorporates cool tech trends in snapping selfies and groufies.

The first one is the front-facing Softlight LED flash, which is more less similar to that of the older model. This feature allows the user to snap clear and crisp selfies even in low to zero lighting conditions such as in bars or clubs. The bulb supports both flash and torch light illumination for self-portraits and videos up to Full HD resolution.

The Dual Front Camera Set-up is made up of a 24 MegaPixel Selfie shooter with standard field of view and another 8 MegaPixel lens with wide-angle 120-degrees field of view.

With just a click of an on-screen button in the camera app, you can quickly toggle between the regular selfie shooter and the groufie or - as Asus calls it - WeFie wide-angle camera to shoot photos with your friends or with better view of your background. Both optics benefit from Asus' all new SelfieMaster photo and video beautification mode that instantly evens out the user's skintone in every shot or clip.

To be fair, you'll find other Android smartphones in the market with Soft LED front flash or Dual Front-Facing Camera Module -- but if my memory serves me right, only Asus ZenFone 4 Selfie offers both of these at the same.

Under the hood, Asus ZenFone 4 Selfie runs its near-bloatware-free, Zen-UI-4.0-skinned Android 7.1.1 Nougat operating system with a 64-Bit Octa Core 1.4 GHz ARM Cortex-A53 and Adreno 505 GPU based Qualcomm MSM8937 Snapdragon 430 chipset that's complemented by 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage that can easily be expanded using the dedicated microSD card slot. The handset is powered by a non-removable 3,000 mAh Li-Po battery that should be good enough to deliver around a whole day of uptime.

So is the handset worth recommending? Well, having played with the device during the event, I'd say if you and your friends love to take selfies and wefies, you should certainly include this model in your bucket list. The Dual Front Cam, the SoftLight Front Flash, and the top-notch SelfieMaster beautification software combine to make Asus ZenFone 4 Selfie one of the best 2017 handsets in delivering those kinds of shots. However, if you're a heavy mobile gamer or a power user, you might want to look at other mid-level smartphones by Asus or other brands with better CPU and GPU.

Personally, I wish that this device's 5.5-inch IPS display had a Full HD resolution instead of just HD -- but I guess it's a compromise that Asus made to keep the price of the phone fairly affordable all while adding new features and improving the design and build of the product.

For those who are interested, Dual-SIM 4G-enabled Asus ZenFone 4 Selfie is now available at all Asus Concept Stores and partner retailers across the country. Currently out in just one color - Black, this smartphone dons an official suggested retail price of Php 13,995.

TechPinas Smartphone Technical Specs Table (TSTST)Name : Asus ZenFone 4 Selfie ZD553KL
Type : Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen)
Price Category : Midrange
Dimensions : 155.7 x 75.9 x 7.9 mm
Weight : 144 grams
Available Colors : Black
Operating System : Android 7.1.1 Nougat with ASUS ZenUI 4.0
Display : 5.5 inches (~70.6% screen-to-body ratio), 1280 x 720 pixels, IPS LCD, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, 2.5D Curved Corning Gorilla Glass
Processor : 64-Bit Octa Core 1.4 GHz ARM Cortex-A53, Adreno 505 GPU, Qualcomm MSM8937 Snapdragon 430 chipset
RAM : 4GB RAM
Internal Storage : 64GB ROM, expandable via dedicated microSD card slot supporting up to 2TB
Camera : Back: 16 MegaPixels, Phase Detection AutoFocus (PDAF), LED flash
Front: Dual Camera Module - 24 MegaPixels (for Selfie) + 8 MegaPixels with wide-angle 120-degrees field of view (for WeFie), SoftLight LED flash
Video Capture : Front and Back: Full HD 1080p 30 frames per second
Audio and Video Playback : MP3, WAV, eAAC+, FLAC, MP4, H.264
Ports : microUSB 2.0, USB On-The-Go, 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity : Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth v4.1 with A2DP, EDR, 3G HSPA+; LTE Cat4
GPS : A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS
FM Radio : Yes
Sensors : Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Proximity, Gyroscope, Fingerprint Scanner in front
Network : 2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 and SIM 2,
3G HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 20(800), 40(2300)
SIM Card Type : Dual nanoSIM
Battery : Non-removable 3,000 mAh Li-Po battery
Uptime : Whole Day of Regular Use (TBC)
Value-Added Features : Dual Front Camera Module with Wide Angle Shot, Front Flash, Aluminum Alloy Shell
Announcement : Philippines - August 19, 2017
Availability : Philippines - August 2017
Price : Official Suggested Retail Price in the Philippines - Php 13,995

Asus ZenFone 4 Selfie With Dual Front-Facing Camera, Arriving in August 2017

Information about the 2017 selfie-centic midrange Android smartphone of Taiwanese electronic company Asus are now starting to surface online.

The Asus ZenFone 4 Selfie is expected to be the the first handset by the brand to sport a Dual Camera module in front, which is reminiscent of what we currently find on popular mid-level releases by OPPO and Vivo Mobile.

This is more or less confirmed by leaked press photos of this model that were first posted online by former Engadget Senior Editor and Twitter personality, Evan Blass.

According to insiders, the Asus ZenFone 4 Selfie's Dual Camera set-up will be comprised of a 20 MegaPixel shooter plus an 8 MegaPixel lens. Currently, we can only speculate on what this module can do but based on what we've seen so far from competing brands, it can either be for zoom-out groufie shots or for bokeh effect, where the background of the subject is beautifully blurred. Either way, this set-up will certainly put Asus shoulder-to-shoulder with other top players in the Selfie smartphone game.

As for technical specifications, various sources claim that this model will have a 5.5-inch HD IPS display panel, a 16 MegaPixel PDAF camera at the back, Full HD 30fps video recorder, Dual SIM Dual Standby capability, 4G LTE connectivity support, and a non-removable 3,000 mAh battery pack. Inside, it is believed that the phone will run its Zen-UI-skinned Android 7.0 Nougat operating system with a 64-Bit Octa-Core 1.4 GHz ARM Cortex-A53 and Adreno 505 GPU based Qualcomm MSM8937 Snapdragon 430 chipset that's complemented by 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage that's easily expandable using a dedicated microSD card slot.]

Side Note: Like many of you, I'm still hoping that these rumored technical specifications of ZF4Selfie are not entirely accurate. I mean, I'd love to see a Full HD display on this model along with a more powerful processor and bigger battery pack.

In terms of design and build, looking at these images, it appears that the handset will have an anodized aluminum shell at the back and a 2.5D Curved Glass face that will make it look and feel both durable and elegant. The Fingerprint Scanner is located in front, lining the home button and flanked by two capacitive buttons, most likely for Back and Multitasking Panel.

For the color options, so far, we're seeing Black, Gold, and Red.

Now, as for the price and release, I'm guessing that Asus ZenFone 4 Selfie will don an official SRP of Php 16,990 in the Philippines - based on the leaked 9,990 Taiwan Dollar price tag of the model - when it gets released within this month, August 2017.

Asus Philippines is expected to formally unveil the all-new Asus ZenFone 4 Selfie alongside the more powerful Asus ZenFone 4 via a media and consumer event to be held on August 19, 2017.

OPPO F3 Red Edition Price, Specs, Features : Coming To the Philippines

Chinese handset maker OPPO Mobile is expected to formally launch the OPPO F3 Red Limited Edition in the Philippines within this month, August 2017.

Hot on the heels of the success of the Gold and Black variants of the same midrange handset model, the OPPO F3 Red should provide another attractive color option for consumers who see their smartphones as a representation of their style and personality.

A symbol of power, good fortune, courage, and prestige, Red has historically been a very popular choice of color for people who want to infuse positive vibes in their lives.

It's also a great option for fashion-forward consumers who want their gadgets to exude an air of exclusivity and to reflect their stand-out persona.

I would like to give credit to Mr. Tony Phung of Vietnam for all OPPO F3 Red photos in this post.

As shown in these images, OPPO F3 Red will have an all Black face, which perfectly complements Metallic Red finish of the aluminum back plate. I believe this look is largely similar to that of the OPPO R9s Red version.

As for the phone's specs and features, well, it should be exactly the same as that of the Gold and Black editions.

OPPO F3 Red will have a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS display, 13 MegaPixel rear camera with f/2.2 aperture, LED flash, phase detection autofocus and 1.12 µm pixel size, a non-removable 3,200 mAh battery pack, 4G LTE connectivity support, and Dual SIM Dual Standby capability.

Under the hood, this handset runs its Color OS 3.0 flavored Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS with a 64-Bit Octa Core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 and Mali-T860MP2 GPU based Mediatek MT6750T processor, has 4GB of RAM, and comes with 64GB of storage that you can quickly beef up using the dedicated microSD card slot, which means that there's no need to compromise Dual SIM capability.

The top selling point of the OPPO F3 is its Dual Front-Facing Camera that's comprised of a 16 MegaPixel f/2.0 optic with standard field of view for regular selfies plus a wide-angle 8 MegaPixel f/2.4 lens for group photos or groufies. This unique set-up benefits from OPPO's own Beautification Mode, which instantly improves selfie shots by evening out the user's skintone and highlighting his or her good facial features, delivering self-portraits that are instantly ready for sharing on social media.

OPPO Philippines has started posting teaser photos of the OPPO F3 Red Edition on its official Facebook page, which tells us that the handset should be officially launched within the next few days. As yet, though, the company hasn't disclosed the exact release date nor pricing information for this version. We are inclined to believe, however, that OPPO F3 Red will still have the same Php 15,990 price tag of the other versions. Here's to hoping that's the case -- but we'll let you know if OPPO Philippines ends up pricing it a bit higher.

Update: OPPO F3 Red has just been officially launched in the Philippines via a media and consumer event held at SM Aura in Bonifacio Global City on August 12, 2017. The handset is now available at all OPPO Stores nationwide for Php 15,990, which is just the same as the price of the Gold, Rose Gold, Black, and Sarah Geronimo Editions or Versions.

TechPinas Smartphone Technical Specs Table (TSTST)Name : OPPO F3 Red Limited Edition
Type : Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen)
Price Category : Upper Midrange
Dimensions : 153.3 x 75.2 x 7.3 mm
Weight : 153 grams
Available Colors : Red
Operating System : Android 6.0 Marshmallow with Color OS 3.0
Display : 5.5 inches (~72.3% screen-to-body ratio), 1080 x 1920 pixels (~401 ppi pixel density), IPS LCD, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, 2.5D Curved Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Processor : 64-Bit Octa Core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53, Mali-T860MP2 GPU, Mediatek MT6750T chipset
RAM : 4GB RAM
Internal Storage : 64GB ROM, expandable via dedicated microSD card slot supporting up to 256GB
Camera : Back: 13 MegaPixels, f/2.2 aperture, phase detection autofocus (PDAF), LED flash, 1/3" sensor size, 1.12 µm pixel size
Front: Dual Camera Module = 16 MegaPixels (1/3.1" sensor size, f/2.0) + 8 MegaPixels, f/2.4
Video Capture : Rear: Full HD 30 frames per second, Front: Full HD 1080p 30 frames per second
Audio and Video Playback : MP3, WAV, eAAC+, FLAC, MP4, H.264
Ports : microUSB 2.0, 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity : Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth v4.1 with A2DP, EDR, 3G HSPA+; 4G LTE Cat4
GPS : A-GPS
FM Radio : No
Sensors : Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Proximity, Gyroscope, Fingerprint Scanner
Network : 2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 and SIM 2,
3G HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100
4G LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 38(2600), 39(1900), 40(2300), 41(2500)
SIM Card Type : Dual nanoSIM
Battery : Non-removable 3,200 mAh Li-Ion battery
Uptime : 12 Hours of Uptime with Regular Use
Value-Added Features : Dual Selfie and Groufie Camera Set-up, Color OS features, Premium Build, Red Color
Announcement : Philippines - August 2017
Availability : Philippines - August 2017
Price : Official Price in the Philippines - Php 15,990

Buy OPPO F3 with Discount via OPPO Philippines Back To School Promo

From having an official suggested retail price of Php 16,990 when it was launched in the Philippines last May 13, 2017, the popular OPPO F3 will go for only Php 15,990 from now until July 31, 2017; That's Php 1,000 off -- if my math serves me right.

This generous discount courtesy of the Chinese handset maker is in line with its celebration of Back-to-Season here in the Philippines; A time when young consumers or their parents purchase new gadgets to aid in school work.

"OPPO strives to deliver the best experience to its customers. This special Php 1,000 discount for the OPPO F3 is a delight for students and parents who want to avail the latest groufie smartphone," shares Mr. Stephen Cheng, Brand Marketing Manager of OPPO Philippines.

He added, "This is also a great opportunity for anyone to share their best moments in school and might even win prizes from our online contest [, which OFans can join through the company's official Facebook Page]."

Participants of the OPPO PH 2017 Back-To-School Giveaway with successful entries are eligible to win prizes such as premium backpacks, OPPO A37 handsets and a grand prize of an OPPO F3 smartphone plus a laptop! This online giveaway will start from June 5, 2017 and will run until July 2, 2017. Announcement of winners will be on July 7, 2017 via OPPO Philippines' official Facebook page.

OPPO F3 is one the hero smartphones of OPPO Philippines this year. This metal-clad Dual-SIM 4G-enabled smartphone sports a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS display protected by 2.5D Curved Gorilla Glass 5 touchscreen, a 13 MegaPixel f/2.2 PDAF rear camera, 64-Bit Octa Core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 and Mali-T860MP2 GPU based Mediatek MT6750T chipset, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of expandable storage, and a non-removable 3,200 mAh Li-Ion battery.

More: OPPO F3 Philippines

The cool, unique feature of this smartphone is its Dual Front-facing camera module, which is made up of a 16 MegaPixel f/2.0 shooter with standard field of view for selfies plus a 8 MegaPixel f/2.4 snapper with wide-angle lens for groufies.

This is how the standard selfie taken using the 16MP camera looks.

And this is how the wide-angle groufie shot looks. Notice how much area the 8MP wide-angle camera captures. Just imagine how many friends you can fit in every photo. Oh, and that's my mom.

The discounted OPPO F3 is now available at all OPPO Concept Stores and authorized retail channels nationwide and online. The handset is currently available in two colors, namely, Gold and Rose Gold.

OPPO F3 Philippines Price, Specs, Official Release Date in the Philippines

I've just arrived home from the official launch of OPPO F3 in the Philippine held at the Grand Ballroom of Conrad Hotel Manila earlier this evening, May 4, 2017.

Apart from unveiling the much awaited selfie-centric midrange handset at the event, the Chinese handset maker also took the opportunity to introduce their latest celebrity endorsers and influencers.

Pinoy celebs who are now promoting OPPO handsets include Sarah Geronimo, Alden Richards, Robi Domingo, Gretchen Ho, Ronnie Alonte, Ruru Madrid, Rocco Nacino, Ella Cruz, Kris Bernal, and Joshua Garcia, Jeron Teng, among others.

To put it simply, OPPO F3 is the smaller and more affordable version of the best-selling OPPO F3 Plus released in April 2017. For whereas F3 Plus sports a larger 6-inch display and sells for Php 23,990, this new release sports a smaller 5.5-inch Full HD IPS screen and dons an official SRP of just Php 16,990.

The OPPO F3 shares many similarities with its larger sibling -- two of which are its svelte form factor and metal-clad enclosure, which work together to give this model an air of understated elegance and corporate sophistication.

Frankly, just like the extremely popular OPPO F1s and F3 Plus, OPPO F3 looks like the iPhone 6s when viewed from some angles, which is certainly not a bad thing when we talk about aesthetics.

Nothing at the top panel but a pinhole for one of the microphones. I like it; Neat.

The microUSB 2.0 port, 3.5mm combo jack, the other microphone, and loud speaker are all located at the rear of the handset.

On the right panel, you'll find the power button and the tray for the Dual nanoSIM slots and the dedicated microSD memory expansion slot.

At the back, OPPO F3 sports a 13 MegaPixel autofocus camera with f/2.2 aperture, LED flash, and 1.12 µm pixel size. I got to play with this shooter at the exhibit area and I'd say that it focuses on subjects fast - thanks to PDAF - and performs relatively well indoors.

Just like the OPPO F3 Plus, the main selling point of the OPPO F3 is its Dual Front-Facing Selfie Camera module, which is made up of a 16MP f/2.0 optic for standard selfie shots plus a secondary 8MP f/2.4 wide-angle lens for groufies.

If you enjoy taking groufies with your family and friends, you're sure to love this feature!

The two optics also work together to add interesting bokeh and double exposure effects on selfies to make them look even more visually pleasing.

Under the hood, OPPO F3 runs its Color OS 3.0 flavored Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS with a 64-Bit Octa Core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 and Mali-T860MP2 GPU based Mediatek MT6750T chipset, has 4GB of RAM for multitasking, and comes with 64GB of expandable storage; A decent set of internal handset for a 2017 Android smartphone in this price echelon.

According to Mr. Stephen Cheng, OPPO Philippines' Brand Marketing Manager, "We at OPPO always strive to reinvent the mobile experience, and the release of the F3 reflects our relentless passion for even better smartphone photography. Through our continued innovation, we hope to cement our brand’s position as the leading camera phone in the industry." He added, "Our latest Group Selfie Expert is a total package that comes at an affordable price. With its combined features from the front and back cameras to the aesthetics and battery life (from a rather large 3,200 mAh pack), the F3 holds great potential in taking the groufie trend to new heights."

OPPO F3 will be available at all OPPO Concept Stores and official dealers across the Philippines starting on May 13, 2017. Budget-conscious consumers may opt to purchase the phone via installment through Home Credit.

TechPinas Smartphone Technical Specs Table (TSTST)Name : OPPO F3
Type : Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen)
Price Category : Upper Midrange
Dimensions : 153.3 x 75.2 x 7.3 mm
Weight : 153 grams
Available Colors : Gold, Rose Gold
Operating System : Android 6.0 Marshmallow with Color OS 3.0
Display : 5.5 inches (~72.3% screen-to-body ratio), 1080 x 1920 pixels (~401 ppi pixel density), IPS LCD, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, 2.5D Curved Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Processor : 64-Bit Octa Core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53, Mali-T860MP2 GPU, Mediatek MT6750T chipset
RAM : 4GB RAM
Internal Storage : 64GB ROM, expandable via dedicated microSD card slot supporting up to 256GB
Camera : Back: 13 MegaPixels, f/2.2 aperture, phase detection autofocus (PDAF), LED flash, 1/3" sensor size, 1.12 µm pixel size
Front: Dual Camera Module = 16 MegaPixels (1/3.1" sensor size, f/2.0) + 8 MegaPixels, f/2.4
Video Capture : Rear: Full HD 30 frames per second, Front: Full HD 1080p 30 frames per second
Audio and Video Playback : MP3, WAV, eAAC+, FLAC, MP4, H.264
Ports : microUSB 2.0, 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity : Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth v4.1 with A2DP, EDR, 3G HSPA+; 4G LTE Cat4
GPS : A-GPS
FM Radio : No
Sensors : Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Proximity, Gyroscope, Fingerprint Scanner
Network : 2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 and SIM 2,
3G HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100
4G LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 38(2600), 39(1900), 40(2300), 41(2500)
SIM Card Type : Dual nanoSIM
Battery : Non-removable 3,200 mAh Li-Ion battery
Uptime : TBD
Value-Added Features : Dual Selfie and Groufie Camera Set-up, Color OS features, Premium Build
Announcement : Philippines - May 4, 2017
Availability : Philippines - May 13, 2017
Price : Official SRP in the Philippines - Php 16,990