The Asus ZenFone 2 comes with a very low price tag of $300 for the unlocked versions, and is being tagged as a phablet that can go toe to toe with flagship devices such as Apple's iPhone 6 Plus and Samsung's Galaxy Note 4.
There will be two versions of the ZenFone 2 that will be released in the United States. The $300 version is powered by a quad-core 64-bit 2.3 GHz Intel Atom processor, 4GB worth of RAM and 64GB of storage, and features a 5.5-inch display with 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution. The smartphone will also have a cheaper $200 version that will only have a 1.8 GHz processor, 2GB worth of RAM and 16GB of storage.
While the specifications of the premium version of the smartphone look good on paper, does the Intel-based smartphone live up to the high expectations?
Re/code: "It has a bright, vivid, high-resolution screen that I found fluid and sensitive... The ZenFone 2 has a few interesting features. First, it can accept two different SIM cards... I had two big frustrations with the ZenFone 2. One was the plethora of preloaded software that comes with the phone... The second was the difficulty of removing the back cover to get to the SIM and memory-card slots... Still, the ZenFone 2's remarkably low price, and its name brand, make this a smart choice for anyone looking for a good Android phone that won't bust the budget."
9to5Google: "One of the biggest highlights here is value for your money... The phone feels pretty good in the hand... The hardware here is clearly not premium, though... But I very regrettably have to inform you that the software - while not exactly bad - is another one of the very nit-picky reasons not to get the ZenFone 2... But even with all of these downsides, this phone is actually too good not to consider if you're looking for a handset in the $200-$300 price range... I didn't notice any performance issues after a few days of use. In many ways, this phone is a flagship phone at a budget price tag."
Android Central: "ASUS is offering a good phone with a big screen, better-than-average camera and solid internals that offer great performance... The hardware isn't going to blow you away, and it's clear that's where ASUS saved some money in the build, but at these prices we're okay with that... For a maximum of $299 you're getting an unlocked phone with nearly-flagship specs and a really good software experience, along with a camera that can take solid photos you won't have any problem posting to social networks... If you're looking for a larger phone and don't need to have the absolute bleeding edge in every single aspect of the one you pick, looking instead at the price tag and value, the ZenFone 2 is here for your consideration - and it's a good choice."
CNET: "The Asus ZenFone 2 delivers smooth performance, an impressive low-light camera, and has a clean feature-rich UI. The 5.5-inch screen is sharp and bright... The phone has a cheap bulky feel and an unintuitive button layout. Its non-swappable battery delivers only decent life. The price is too high for its above-average capabilities... The Asus ZenFone 2 is too expensive for its above-average ability, but if the price agrees with you, the smooth performance and splendid low-light camera won't disappoint."
PCMag: "I can't believe the Asus ZenFone 2 costs $299. In terms of sheer power per dollar, it's unmatched... If you're going by benchmarks and performance measures, it's the best unlocked phone available for $299... The ZenFone 2 tries to be stylish, but it's a heavy, ungraceful tank of a phone... The 2.3GHz Intel Z3580 processor benchmarks like a pretty high-end chip... Software-wise, though: Ugh... The Asus ZenFone 2 is a truly impressive piece of engineering and an amazing value for its price."
Mashable: "The ZenPhone 2 is the latest in this batch of what I like to call super mid-range smartphones... Thanks to the Intel Atom processor and 4GB of RAM, the entire UI is silky smooth... ZenUI isn't ugly, per se, just outdated looking... The worst part is the phone comes with tons of apps you'll never use... The ZenFone 2 is Asus doing what it does best: Punching below the belts of the industry's titans. In this case, Samsung, LG and even companies like Xiaomi who collectively dominate the Android market... Go the extra mile for the $300 model that I tested and you've got yourself a device that feels as fast as high-end smartphones from last year."
Reviews of the ZenFone 2 have mostly met the bloatware and hardware of the smartphone with disdain, but ultimately, for a price of $300, those negative points can be overlooked for the smartphone's better points and low price tag.
