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The newest addition to ASUS’s smartphone portfolio is an entry-level device that has been launched as part of Google’s Android Go program. On Wednesday, ASUS reportedly announced the ZenFone Live L1 in Indonesia, having introduced it as its first device running Android Oreo Go Edition, adding that the product will be released on May 17 in the country. The Taiwanese company hasn’t announced its pricing yet but will presumably share more details on the matter in the coming days. The Android Go device will be launched next in Europe, according to ASUS, with no additional information provided by the company as of this writing. The handset will be available in two variants, with one running Android Oreo Go Edition, while the other one will feature ZenUI 5.0 running over Android 8.1 Oreo, presumably with a price tag of around $100.
The ZenFone Live L1 boasts a 5.45-inch IPS display with an HD+ resolution of 1,440 by 720 pixels using a tall 18:9 (2:1) aspect ratio. The phone will come powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 SoC paired with either 1GB or 2GB of RAM, whereas its internal storage volume will sit at 16GB for both variants, with an option of being expanded by up to 2TB. The variant with Android Oreo Go Edition will include 1GB of RAM, while the one running ZenUI will get 2GB of RAM. A 13-megapixel camera supporting PDAF has been placed on the phone’s back and paired with an LED flash, whereas a 5-megapixel sensor is present on the front. Face unlock is part of the package, as is a 3,000mAh battery. The Android smartphone has dedicated slots for two SIM cards and a microSD card, and supports 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. ASUS will make the Zenfone Live L1 available in four color options – Midnight Black, Rose Pink, Gold, and Blue.
Google first announced the Android Go program last year to target emerging markets where many consumers are expected to switch from feature phones to smartphones for the first time in the coming years. Besides optimizing the Android OS to offer a seamless experience on smartphones with a basic set of specifications, Google has released a whole suite of apps specifically designed for Android Go devices, including YouTube Go, Maps Go, Google Go, and Files Go.
