ASUS unveiled the ZenFone 3 Zoom last week at CES 2017, but gave no word on how much it will cost when it drops in stores next month. The consensus is that it could be pretty expensive because of the advanced dual-camera array strapped to its back. But now we know the price of the top-of-the-line Zoom variant (click for complete specs).

The 128GB version will run you 3,699 Chinese yuan (approximately $530 or P26,500). The Taiwanese manufacturer revealed the price during the recent ASUS ZenFone 3 Pegasus 3S launch event in China (don’t get any ideas; it likely won’t be released here).

Anyhow, the Philippine peso conversion is in line with the local price of the original ZenFone Zoom, which was listed at P26,990 at launch. It wouldn’t be a stretch to think that the ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom may sell for the same sum. Expect to pay less for versions with 32GB and 64GB of storage (possibly with different CPU and RAM configurations). Just how much remains to be seen.

ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom product video

Unlike what came before, the ZenFone 3 Zoom forgoes the 3x mechanical zoom system that defined the original, opting instead for a dual-camera solution modeled after the Apple iPhone 7 Plus. It remains capable of closing in on a subject, though the magnification has been reduced to 2.3x. Still, that’s more than can be said for the big iPhone. But perhaps more interestingly, the new Zoom, whether by design or out of necessity, looks like an Apple phone, with its metal casing and parallel antenna bands.

Specs-wise, this year’s Zoom has the same processor and memory as the ASUS ZenFone 3 (Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 and 4GB). The battery is a 5,000mAh unit, which should keep the 5.5-inch AMOLED screen running for more than a day.

What do you think of the price, if it proves accurate? How much do you think it should cost? Let us know in the comments below.

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