What's good
- Snappy performance
- Vivid and crisp display
- Sturdy build
What's bad
- Suffers from bloatware
- Slow shutter speed
- Not bright enough for sunlight legibility and too bright for night-time use
Asus hopes to make its mark in the smartphone market with the ZenFone 2 – a good unlocked phone offered at a relatively low price. It doesn't feature any premium materials, instead flaunting an all plastic build with a brushed aluminum finish. The finish combined with the curved back made it very comfortable for reviewers to hold while also providing a good grip. With that said, at 6 inches tall and 170 grams, many did find it to be a bit unwieldy and bulky.
The 5.5 inch IPS LCD display offers a full-HD resolution of 1,920 x1,080 pixels. While not as sharp as QHD screens, critics describe the screen as crisp with barely any discernible pixels. They add it offers excellent viewing angles and bright and vibrant colors though blacks tended to be a bit lighter than they expected. The only downside was in the screen's brightness. Many found it didn't get bright enough for good sunlight legibility or dark enough to comfortably view in the dark.
The ZenFone 2 offers two configurations: a 1.8GHz quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM and a quad-core 2.3GHz processor with 4GB or RAM. Experts all received the 2.3GHz quad-core version. When put to the test, it performed admirably during everyday use without a hitch and even when they started to put more pressure on the CPU with multitasking they didn't notice any problems. With that said, they add it does take a bit longer for apps to load and there were occasions where it got uncomfortably warm.
The biggest issue with the ZenFone 2 is the amount of bloatware preloaded on the phone. In total, experts counted 67 installed apps, many of which they immediately uninstalled to open up space. Battery life is decent though not great providing them with around a full day of juice with moderate usage.
At such a low price point, reviewers were expecting a more mediocre camera experience. For the most part they were proven wrong. Their pictures were generally detailed and accurate though it lacked the contrast of higher-end phones. The camera app provides 17 different modes to choose from though most either stuck with Auto or HDR. Surprisingly, low light pictures turned out fairly well thanks to the low-light mode PixelMaster, though critics point out that without optical image stabilization getting good low-light shots required a very steady hand. The biggest complaints were with its overall speed and poor focusing abilities. Still, consider it perfectly passable for posting photos on social media sites.
At the end of the day, most reviewers recommend the ZenFone 2. Android Central states, "If you're looking for a larger phone and don't need to have the absolute bleeding edge in every single aspect…the ZenFone 2 is here for your consideration." The Verge adds, "The ZenFone 2 still makes a fantastic package considering what you're paying." On the other hand Gizmodo says, "The ZenFone 2 is a fantastic phone for the money, but OnePlus redefined how much phone you could expect…"
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Ershad Kaleebullah, Gadgets 360With the ZenFone 2, Asus improves on most aspects of the Zenfone 5 except for the camera. The 4GB of RAM could come in handy if you often have multiple browser tabs open at the same time. Also, the PowerVR graphics chip is a solid performer and that is a boon for Android gamers.All said and done, ou...
- Derrick Miyao, Android GuysOverall I could not be more happy than to start my journey into the budget to mid-range devices with the Asus Zenfone 2. I picked this phone to start with, because I know Asus has a great track record for creating great products at affordable prices like the Nexus 7. Intel has also proven to be quit...
- Brittany A. Roston, SlashGearThe ZenFone 2 Laser is, in mostly every way, the same as the ZenFone 2. The differences lie under the hood, which translates into a slight drop in performance, and in features, the most notable of which is laser-assisted auto focus. The price starts at $199 USD, putting it in the sweet-spot budget r...
- Michael Desjardin, ReviewedThe Asus ZenFone 2 is the very definition of a "budget" phone; it doesn’t have a curved screen, it’s not at all water resistant, and it certainly isn’t the most attractive piece of hardware out there. But Asus found a way to pack the ZenFone 2 with a bunch of value, and not at the...
- Mark Burstiner, TechnoBuffaloDespite some shortcomings, the Asus Zenfone 2 is easily one of the phones to beat in the value category.
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Asus ZenFone 2 user manual here.
Asus backs up the ZenFone 2 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your ZenFone 2 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Asus support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Asus's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.
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