Introduction and Specifications

The Zenfone 2 offers premium features starting at $199 unlocked.

The ASUS Zenfone 2 is a 5.5-inch smartphone with a premium look and the specs to match. But the real story here is that it sells for just $199 or $299 unlocked, making it a tempting alternative to contract phones without the concessions often made with budget devices; at least on paper. Let's take a closer look to see how the new Zenfone 2 stacks up! (Note: a second sample unit was provided by Gearbest.com.)

When I first heard about the Zenfone 2 from ASUS I was eager to check it out given its mix of solid specs, nice appearance, and a startlingly low price. ASUS has created something that has the potential to transcend the disruptive nature of a phone like the Moto E, itself a $149 alternative to contract phones that we reviewed recently. With its premium specs to go along with very low unlocked pricing, the Zenfone 2 could be more than just a bargain device, and if it performs well it could make some serious waves in the smartphone industry.

The Zenfone 2 also features a 5.5-inch IPS LCD screen with 1920×1080 resolution (in line with an iPhone 6 Plus or the OnePlus One), and beyond the internal hardware ASUS has created a phone that looks every bit the part of a premium device that one would expect to cost hundreds more. In fact, without spoiling anything up front, I will say that the context of price won't be necessary to judge the merit of the Zenfone 2; it stands on its own as a smartphone, and not simply a budget phone.

The big question is going to be how the Zenfone 2 compares to existing phones, and with its quad-core Intel Atom SoC this is something of an unknown. Intel has been making a push to enter the U.S. smartphone market (with earlier products more widely available in Europe) and the Zenfone 2 marks an important milestone for both Intel and ASUS in this regard. The Z3580 SoC powering my review unit certainly sounds fast on paper with its 4 cores clocked up to 2.33 GHz, and no less than 4 GB of RAM on board (and a solid 64 GB onboard storage as well).

Before taking a closer look at the Zenfone 2 we'll first check out the specs for each model.

Specifications

  ASUS Zenfone 2 (ZE551ML)
16GB
ASUS Zenfone 2 (ZE551ML)
64GB      
Processor Intel Atom Z3560
Quad-core 1.83 GHz
Intel Atom Z3580
Quad-core 2.33 GHz
Graphics PowerVR G6430 PowerVR G6430
Memory 2GB LPDDR3 800 MHz 4GB LPDDR3 800 MHz
Screen 5.5-in FHD IPS LCD
1920x1080 (408 ppi)
5.5-in FHD IPS LCD
1920x1080 (408 ppi)
Storage 16GB eMMC
MicroSD Slot (up to 64GB)
64GB eMMC
MicroSD Slot (up to 64GB)
Camera 13MP Rear
5MP Front
13MP Rear
5MP Front
Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (Dual-band)
Bluetooth 4.0
Intel 7262 + Intel 2230
(Dual-SIM active, CAT 6 LTE + GSM)
802.11a/b/g/n/ac (Dual-band)
Bluetooth 4.0
Intel 7262 + Intel 2230
(Dual-SIM active, CAT 6 LTE + GSM)
Connection USB 2.0 (power and data)
Headphone jack
MicroSD
MicroSIM x2
USB 2.0 (power and data)
Headphone jack
MicroSD
MicroSIM x2
Battery 11.4 Whr
3000 mAh
11.4 Whr
3000 mAh
(BoostMaster adapter included)
Dimensions 152.5mm x 77.2mm x 10.9mm
6.00" x 3.04" x 0.43"
170 grams (6.00 oz)
152.5mm x 77.2mm x 10.9mm
6.00" x 3.04" x 0.43"
170 grams (6.00 oz)
OS Android 5.0 Android 5.0
Price $199 (unlocked)
Amazon.com
$299 (unlocked)
Amazon.com

Here's a quick look at the box contents for the 64 GB version:

Only the 64GB version comes with the larger 18W BoostMaster rapid charging adapter shown. Contents are otherwise unremarkable, but there is a premium feel to the packaging that helps inspire confidence. We'll see if the phone lives up to this first impression!

Next we'll take a closer look at the design of the Zenfone 2.

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