The first Snapdragon 821 phone is a ZenFone 3 version launching in India

Ever since the third generation of the ZenFone series was first introduced at ASUS’ keynote event at the opening of Computex 2016, smartphone enthusiasts in India have been waiting to get their hands on them. The ZenFone 3 series has finally arrived in India, after its launch today at the company’s annual Z3NVOLUTION event in New Delhi.

The ZenFone 3 series range really has something for everyone, starting from the base ZenFone 3 model to the flagship ZenFone 3 Deluxe, the behemoth ZenFone 3 Ultra, and the decently priced ZenFone 3 Laser, and most excitingly, a Special Edition of the Deluxe that is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor.

ZenFone 3

If you’re looking for a feature-packed smartphone that’s easy on the pocket, then the ZenFone 3, with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, a 16MP camera on the back, and an 8MP front-facing shooter, should be a good choice. The design is great as well, with the device featuring a metal and glass construction, with 2.5D curved glass on the front and back.

ASUS is offering the Zenfone 3 in two variants — the ZE520KL comes with a 5.2-inch display, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage, and 2,650 mAh battery, and is priced at at Rs 21,999 (~$330). While the ZE552KL features a 5.5-inch display, 4GB RAM, 64 GB storage, and a 3,000mAh battery, and is priced at Rs 27,999 (~$420).

Zenfone 3 Deluxe

The Zenfone 3 Deluxe packs premium features, including a 5.7-inch Full HD Super AMOLED display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 6GB RAM, and a rear fingerprint sensor. In terms of design, ASUS was particularly proud of the fact that the Deluxe and Ultra are the first smartphones with full metal constructions to be without any antenna lines, and that certainly helps its look.

Smartphone enthusiasts in India will be particularly happy to know that ASUS is also offering the Snapdragon 821-powered Special Edition of the Zenfone 3 Deluxe, making it the first smartphone ever to feature this chipset, which the company claims is 10 percent more powerful than its predecessor.

The smartphone also features a 23MP camera on the back and an 8MP front-facing, along with a 3,000mAh battery. Be prepared to shell out more for all that power and speed though, as the Zenfone 3 Deluxe is available at Rs 49,999 (~$750) for the 6GB RAM/64 GB storage Snapdragon 820-powered variant, and Rs 62,999 (~$945) for the 6GB RAM/256GB Special Edition with the Snapdragon 821.

Zenfone 3 Ultra

If you love playing games and watching videos right on your smartphone, then the Zenfone 3 Ultra with its 6.8-inch IPS display, Snapdragon 652 processor, and a whopping 4,600mAh battery should be just right for you.

It’s undeniably big, but gaming and media-consumption should be a whole lot of fun, and if smartphone photography is your thing, the Ultra features the same rear camera setup as the flagship Deluxe. The ZenFone 3 Ultra with 4GB RAM and 64GB of onboard storage sells for Rs 29,999 (~$450) .

ZenFone 3 Laser

The cheapest of the series is the ZenFone 3 Laser, which comes with a 5.5-inch Full-HD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor, 4GB RAM, 32GB storage, and a 3,000mAh battery. The smartphone also has a 13MP rear camera along with an 8MP front facing shooter, and a fingerprint scanner, and can be all yours for an affordable Rs 18,999 (~$285).

The Zenfone 2 had done a pretty good job in the Indian market by capturing both the heart and wallets of buyers, and the ZenFone 3 series seems all set to do an encore. Keep in mind though that only the Zenfone 3 (ZE520KL) is currently up for sale at Amazon India, Flipkart, and Snapdeal, while the ZE552KL variant should be available shortly. As for the others, you will have to wait till next month.

Which model did you like in the ASUS ZenFone 3 series and why? Let us know in the comments below!