The ZE551ML promises to offer a very smooth and slick interface, with minimal lag. The top of the line version with the 4GB RAM is actually the world's first smartphone to come with 4GB RAM.
Take note that the Zenfone 2 range has many variants, so do not get confused by it.
The entry-level ZE500CL comes with a 5" 720 display, quad-core Intel Atom Z2560 chipset clocked at 1.6GHz and 2GB of RAM. The ZE550ML has a larger screen size at 5.5". Processor has been upgraded to the Atom Z3560 at 1.8GHz, with 2GB RAM.
Then there's the ZE551ML, which I'm reviewing now. It has a 5.5" display with Full HD resolution. There's a version with the same Atom Z3560 and 2GB of RAM and a range topping model, sporting an Atom Z3580 with specs out at 2.3GHz and 4GB of RAM.
The Zenfone 2 is a nice looking phone, with a plastic shell and brushed aluminium-like back cover. It's plastic though, but done tastefully. Our unit is in silver, but multiple colour choices such as Black, White, Gold, Red and other customisable covers are available.
Dimensions: 77.2 x 152.5 x 3.9 ~ 10.9 mm (WxDxH)
Weight: 170 grams
Price in Malaysia: From RM1199 (4GB RAM, 32 GB storage) to RM1399 (4GB RAM, 64GB storage).
Though if you look around shops, I was able to find the top line one at RM1350, inclusive GST but not including protective accessories like phone cover and tempered glass.
Features
Pros:
- Intel Atom Z3560 chipset with a 2.3GHz quad-core processor, PowerVR 6430 GPU
- 5.5" IPS screen has 1080p resolution and 403ppi density, Gorilla Glass 3 protection
- 4GB of RAM, up to 64 GB of storage (depending on the version you buy)
- MicroSD slot for further storage expansion
- Dual-SIM (second SIM is 2G only) with dual-call capability
- Bluetooth, GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS
- LTE Cat.4
- NFC
- Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot
- 13 megapixel main camera with dual-LED dual-tone LED flash, 1080p@30fps video recording; 5MP front camera
- 3,000mAh battery, with fast charging feature where 60% of the battery capacity can be charged in 39 minutes. This 18W BoostMaster adapter/charger is included with 2.3GHz/4GB ZenFone 2 model only.
- Android 5.0 Lollipop with Asus Zen user interface
- Good build quality, back cover has the brushed metallic feel
- LED notification light has only 2 colours - amber (while charging) and green (full charge and for notifications). I wished the light would be bigger though.
- No illuminated touch buttons (home, back and open-tasks).
- No 2160p video recording (do you really need that?)
- Non-removable battery even though it has a removable back cover
- Plastic build (solid feel, but if you're into aluminium and metal casings, then you might want to look elsewhere).
Phone is packed in an attractive box, colour matches with the phone inside.
The usual set of accessories, a charger and a set of earphones with earbuds.
Here, the AC adapter is provides the fast charging feature where it puts out a maximum 2 Amperes at 9 Volts to give the 18 Watts charging power, so that it can charge the phone to 60% in 39 minutes (as claimed by Asus).
Handling and feel
The phone is 10.7mm thick, which may look like a lot comparing to the 7mm thickness of other competitors, but at the edges, it is much thinner, at 3.9mm. It has a natural feel when held, with the back cover curving to be at its thickest in the centre.
There is a feature for one-handed use, where the screen is sized smaller, to ease the use of operating the screen when using only one hand. This is good when you're standing in a train or carrying stuff on the other hand, when you've only one hand to use the phone.
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| ZenUI with settings which can be turned on/off and customised. |
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| One-handed feature which makes it easier to use the phone with one hand as the screen is huge. |
The IPS display is sharp enough, though the images could be a tad over-saturated. But there are setting to adjust the colour control through Asus' Splendid App. I'd recommend protecting the screen with a tempered glass protector. In terms of brightness, the phone is not that bright,so reading when the phone under direct sunlight could be a bit difficult.
Battery life
A 3000mAh battery is not user replaceable. The capacity is about expected for a smartphone this size. Our tests show that Zenfone 2 can last as much as 9 days in standby mode (when a single SIM card is used).
Average amount of usage of voice calls, WhatsApp, browsing, video playing will drain the battery in around 24 hours which is okay for this segment. I didn't bother using the Asus Brower, as I'm used to Chrome. I read from other reviews that the Asus Browser was more heavy in battery usage, so you might want to stick with Chrome.
Signal reception and connectivity
Connectivity to Maxis' network in 2G, 3G and 4G/LTE posed no issues at all. Transition was seamless and smooth. Dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac radios are available, with hotspot support, which was fine as well.
GPS was quick to load, with locations precisely mapped. There is an FM radio receiver but no infra-red blaster, so home devices can't be controlled using this method.
Operating system
Google's Android 5.0 is being the OS, but with Asus' ZenUI integrated in. Asus' has put in a host of proprietary apps, some which may not be of much use, like Omlet chat (another chat app) and ZenFlash camera (another camera app).
One nice feature is the ability to double-tap to turn the screen or off. This is logical as the power button is right on the top of the phone, so it may not be so convenient to press the button using one hand.
The task switcher is the standard Android 5.0 rolling screen, but there is a 'pin' button, which keeps the selected app in view regardless of taps on the capacitive buttons.
Another shortcut is the ability to draw the letter "C" on the screen while in sleep mode. This will wake the phone and launch the camera app. "W" launches the browser. We are able to preset up to six setting, and can assign any app of your choice to any letter.
Speed and Performance
The 4GB Asus ZenFone 2 delivered impressive performance across, even shaming some flagship devices from more established manufacturers behind it on more than one occasion.
Thought there are not many smartphones using the Intel chipsets, the majority are using Qualcomm chipsets, nevertheless, the Intel Atom Z3560 proved to be able to compete with the Snapdragon quad-core 2.26GHz processors.
Multi-tasking isn't an issue at all, with hardly any lag switching between application and games such as Modern Combat 5, Real Racing, etc.
Phone function
One basic thing that shouldn't be forgotten, a phone has to perform this well - making and receiving calls. Reception is good, in-call sound is clear and loud enough. Call logs are combined with the dialer, as well with a list of favourites or VIP contacts.
Being a dual-SIM phone a choice of options are offered on how to handle the two SIMs. Enabling/disabling of SIMs can be configured within the settings menu, as well as assigning a name for each SIM for easier identification. The speakerphone is not that loud though, so Asus could improve on that in the future.
The Asus keyboard comes with the swipe feature, so those who are used to this feature will not miss out when using this phone.
Audio, Video Players and Gallery
A custom gallery app is used to view photos and playback videos. Bundled also is an app for movie making, called the Asus MiniMovie app, which lets you select images and compiles them into a short movie clips with transitions, fading effect, etc. with music, which can be customised.
The audio app comes with an equalizer with multiple presets and a single custom setting to adjust the highs and lows (treble and bass).
Camera
The 13 megapixel camera has a fast and wide f/2.0 aperture lens, and this is helped by a dual-LED flash. Many shooting modes are available, among them the landscape/panorama, night, HDR, selfie and auto-mode. We have control over the ISO, white balance, exposure compensation, the list goes on.
Sharpness, detail and depth of field are all present in the sample photos below. Check them out and give your comments. All photos are stock out of the camera, no editing was done. Overall, I think it's a commendable effort from Asus. I understand that the sensor for the camera is sourced from Toshiba.
The selfie 5 megapixel sensor is adequate for video conferencing and selfies. It comes with a wide angle lens, so it is easy to position the camera for selfie shots.
Conclusion
The Zenfone 2 is a value for money package with a near-premium design, fast performance, dual-SIM flexibility and plenty of power for every day use. All of that comes at a compelling price and good enough build quality.
With these features and lower price compared to its competitors, it's no wonder why we are now seeing more and more people using Asus phones.
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