Asus Working on New Intel-Powered Smartphone & New Nexus 7 Android Tablet Model

[dgstorm]

We have an Asus "daily double" for you guys today. The tech company is supposedly working on a couple of intriguing new devices that will hit this summer. The first is an Intel-powered smartphone. It supposedly will be using the Intel Atom Z2580 processor, with two cores running at up to 2GHz. This is the same chip that is in the Lenovo K900 smartphone. This new device will supposedly include a 5 to 5.5 inch display and is likely for emerging markets in China, (although it is possible we will see it elsewhere internationally). The earliest it will launch will be in June.

The second new device from Asus is actually a newly updated and improved Nexus 7 tablet. It is expected to launch in May, which is none too surprising considering Google I/O is happening that month. No real details were given about this new Nexus 7 other than it will have enhanced internals and will probably sell for around $250. Here's a quote with the details,

In addition to its entry-level Fonepad, Asustek Computer is set to launch a new smartphone featuring Intel Atom Z2580 processor (Clover Trail+), targeting the mainstream market segment in June at the earliest, according to sources from the upstream supply chain.

The smartphone is expected to adopt a 5- to 5.5-inch display, similar to that of Lenovo's K900 smartphone, which also uses the Atom Z2580 and will be available in China in April, the sources said.

Meanwhile, Asustek's second-generation Nexus 7 is expected to appear in May with enhanced specifications and a price of US$249 to challenge its 7- to 8-inch competitors including the Apple iPad mini, the sources added.

Source: DigiTimes