Asus Zenfone 2 Review

Asus has introduced their follow up to its affordable Zenfone smartphone series, the Zenfone 2. There are three variants of the Zenfone 2 depending on the chosen RAM and storage options.  This review covers the variant which feature a 5.5-inch 1080p display and 4GB of RAM.

Pros

• Display: The 5.5-inch screen is bright and vivid, easily seen in broad daylight with good viewing angles. Suitable for playing games and watching videos.  Has a reading mode, which is gentler on the eyes, a vivid mode that gradually increases saturation and a manual mode for more granular controls on display setting.

• Design: Great build quality. Mostly plastic body with faux metal coating and rounded edges. Sleek and comfortable to hold.
• Storage: MicroSD expansion.

 

• Software: Customizable UI. Has an Easy Mode for a simplified interface and a one-handed more for one-handed use. Double tap to wake feature.

• Performance: The 4 GB of RAM makes it fast, smooth and responsive. Handles gaming and multi-tasking extremely well.
• Fast charging technology: 60 percent of battery life can be restored in around half an hour.
• Snapview feature allows users to create separate and secure profiles to store business or personal data.
• ASUS’ Pixelmaster software allows for up to 400% brighter photos
• Selfie panorama mode.

• First smartphone to have 4 GB of RAM
• Affordable: Pricing starts at $199 for the base model. Higher-end models should range from between $50 to $100 above base price.

Cons

• Battery is sealed and non-removable.
• Battery drain issues from the Android OS shorten the battery life. Only a full day of use with around 4 hours of screen-on time.
• Software: Instagram application crashes a lot.
• Camera:   Lacks dynamic range. Shots are often either blown out and overexposed or too dark or underexposed. Image quality deteriorates as lighting conditions worsens.  Takes a long time between shots.
• Speakers: Weak. Sound quality is adequate but it doesn’t get very loud.
• Power Button: Inconveniently located at the top next to the headphone jack. Not easy to press.

The biggest drawback to the Asus Zenfone 2 is its battery life, but this can be resolved with future software updates.  Otherwise, with its beautiful design, powerful specifications and solid user experience, the Zenfone 2 is setting a new standard in the affordable smartphone market.

What are your thoughts on the Asus Zenfone 2?

JR

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