ASUS may launch flagship small-screen phone ZenFone Mini

Asus has sought to reposition its smartphone division after shipments fell short of expectations in 2020. Citing industry sources, DigiTimes reported that Asus made about $61.8 million in profit in the third quarter of 2020, with $17.8 million from old models and $42 million from new models. Apparently, Asus blamed the scarcity of components caused by the pandemic for failing to meet expectations, but it has a plan to turn things around, which includes the launch of the ZenFone Mini.

According to DigiTimes, ASUS will launch the ZenFone Mini for those who like high-end but compact smartphones, just like Sony's Xperia Compact devices. The report did not give further details about the ZenFone Mini, which is expected to use a much smaller display than the 6.67-inch display of the ZenFone 7 and ZenFone 7 Pro. However, it remains to be seen whether a compact flagship smartphone will sell well, because even Apple's iPhone 12 mini sales are not satisfactory.

In addition, DigiTimes also claims that Asus will launch the ROG Phone 5 before April. Asus will continue to target the ROG Phone series at gamers, with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 at the heart of this year's model. DigiTimes adds that the ROG Phone 5 will be more expensive than its predecessor, which may put off some fans of the series. The ROG Phone 5 has been leaked several times in the past few months, but there is no news on the price of the ROG Phone 5 yet.