Four months after ASUS unveiled its new ZenFone 2 at the CES, the company is now releasing unlocked versions of the device in North America.
ASUS announced the launch through an event in New York City, where it was revealed that there will be two versions of the smartphone that will be coming to North America.
"ZenFone 2 has been incredibly popular with consumers in Asia and Europe, and we are very excited to bring this empowering luxury to North America," ASUS Chairman Jonney Shih said, adding that the smartphone strikes the perfect balance between functionality, beauty and performance.
Shih refreshed attendees of the event on the specifications of the ZenFone 2, which packs a quad-core 64-bit 2.3GHz Intel Atom processor, RAM of 4GB and storage of 64GB, along with a 5.5-inch screen with 1920x1080 pixel resolution protected by Gorilla Glass 3.
This version of the ZenFone 2 will come at a price of $299 with no contract with a carrier. The second version of the smartphone, which will pack only a 1.8GHz processor, RAM of 2GB and storage of 16GB, will come at a lower price of $199.
The smartphone also has a 13MP rear-facing camera, a 5MP front-facing camera, a 72 percent screen-to-body proportion and a physical rear key for improving navigation. The device is also very thin at only 3.9 millimeters.
Customers are given the choice of black, red, gold or grey for the color of the smartphone's plastic back, and because the device is unlocked, customers can choose the carrier that will service them, though choices currently do not include Sprint or Verizon. The smartphones will also have the needed bands to operate properly in North America and other areas.
The ZenFone 2 will be available for purchase from several retailers, including Amazon, B&H, Groupon and Newegg in the United States, and Canada Computer, NCIX, Newegg and Memory Express in Canada.
Intel-powered smartphones have not gained popularity in the United States, but the release of the ZenFone 2 could change that. The price of $299 for the more powerful version of the ZenFone 2 would put it in competition with the discontinued Google Nexus 5, the Nexus 6 and the OnePlus One as among the best deals for unlocked smartphones.
ASUS, however, has not specified which among the Intel Atom processors are included in the ZenFone 2. Intel rebranded its line of Atom processors by simplifying them into three kinds: the x3, the x5 and the x7.
