Earlier this year, it was confirmed that there will be a follow-up to Asus's highly successful ZenFone 2. In addition to the launch confirmation, the specs of the much-anticipated ZenFone 3 might make it a slimmer flagship than its predecessor, as it was also confirmed that the device will be featuring a USB Type-C port.
According to an earlier interview with Trusted Reviews, Asus Chairman Jonney Shih subtly hinted that upcoming Asus flagships might carry USB Type-C connectivity, including the ZenFone 3.
Shih said, "I think Type C is the way to go, frankly speaking. You will see the answer when you see the ZenFone 3."
Shih also hinted that USB Type-C ports may have found its way sooner on the Asus ZenFone 2. However, the pricing and the timing were considered factors, and the current-gen flagships launched with the traditional ports. Shih added, "But if you're too much ahead, then sometimes it may be a disaster, right? So that's our strategy. We're still not like Apple. [Apple] can always try to lead in a very aggressive way."
With USB Type-C losing its initial rarity, the price-to-component ratio now makes it possible to maintain the ZenFone 3's price range even with the new standard featured on it. "We would like to be more aggressive than other competitors, but sometimes we also need to be a little bit practical. Make the trade-off, frankly speaking," Shih added.
Meanwhile, with USB Type-C connectivity seemingly confirmed for the ZenFone 3, rumors suggest that Asus might also feature a fingerprint scanner with its next flagship outing.
According to Phone Arena, the factors involved are the same with the USB Type-C being postponed for the ZenFone 2. With more and more flagships featuring fingerprint scanners as one of their selling points, the prices for the components will eventually be lowered. With the price decline, Asus can integrate a fingerprint scanner on the ZenFone 3 without affecting its price range, a competitive one that is also one of the selling points of the ZenFone lineup.
