We're in Delhi at the launch of Asus' Zenfone 2. Here's what we think after the first 15 minutes of using it.
ASUS took the wraps off its all-new smartphone the ASUS ZenFone 2 at Delhi today. The ZenFone 2 comes within a year of the debut of ASUS’ Intel-powered smartphones – the ZenFone 4, 5 and 6 that have made it a formidable player in the Indian and global smartphone space. The headline feature of the ZenFone 2 is the 4GB RAM, a first for any smartphone in the world.
The ZenFone 2 comes in four variants that range from Rs 12,999 to Rs 22,999 with most of the differences under the hood. The flagship ZenFone 2 doesn’t just boast of 4GB of RAM but also comes with a 64-bit Intel 2.3GHz processor that makes this device lightning quick. During our quick hands on with the device, we noticed visibly quick responses when switching apps. ASUS claims a response time of 60 milliseconds while firing up apps.
Stating that they believed form should follow function, we liked our first impressions of the build quality. It is 3.9mm thin at its thinnest point and weighs 170 gms. ASUS sticks with the same brushed metal finish that we saw in its 2014 devices. Aside from a range of colours they will also offer a range of customisable finish options. The volume key moves back, reminiscent of the LG flagship devices. This device sports an expanded screen without compromising on the overall device footprint. It manages this with a 72 percent screen-to-body ratio. The screen resolution on the top-end ZE551ML with a 5.5-inch screen is 1920x1080 pixels, translating to a 403 PPI pixel density.
ASUS’ ZenFone 5 and 6 featured cameras that punched way above their weight. The ZenFone 2 claims the same power-packed camera for a device in this price band. The 13MP shooter features a Super HDR mode with PixelMaster 2.0 and Pixel merging technology that ASUS believes will lend it an edge in low light scenarios. Our first impressions were good, although some of the optional accessories like the quirkily termed ‘Lolliflash’ for selfies were not available to review at the launch. They have also lined up a series of accessories that will complement this device including a new 10,500 mAh power bank. The ZenFone 2 comes with a 3000 mAh battery that also offers a quick charge option – something that appears to being a norm with most devices launched this year.
We were impressed with our first brush with the ZenFone 2. It’s a great follow up to ASUS’ 2014 devices that were game changers in the sub Rs 20,000 segment. The big challenge for ASUS will be communicating the differences between the four variants that all wear the ZenFone 2 badge.
Quick Specs
ASUS ZenFone 2
- 64-bit Quad Core Intel Atom processor (1.8 GHz and 2.3 GHz versions)
- Two RAM variants: 2GB and 4GB (The first and only smartphone in the world with a 4GB RAM)
- Storage variants: 16/32/64 GB with Micro SD Card support up to 64GB
- Dual SIM (With ‘dual active’ mode)
- 4G LTE with support up to 250 MBPS downloads
- 5.5-inch screen is 1920 x 1080 pixels with a 403 PPI pixel density (on the top-end version).
- 13MP primary shooter (Xenon flash) / 5MP front Camera (With Selfie Panorama)
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