Asus Zenfone 2: New kid on the block

ASUS is launching the successor to the popular Zenfone, the Zenfone 2, this week. Let's check out the handset

The ASUS Zenfone 2 has a hard plastic chassis with a matte finish that makes it look attractive. The capacitive touch buttons are located on the bottom and don't take up much space. The screen is a 5.5-inch full high-definition one with Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The phone is relatively lighter at 170g but thicker than most at 0.4 inches. The Intel Atom-powered phone has a unique design - the power button is on the top and the speaker is located at the back along with the volume button. Upon removing the back cover, one comes across two slots for SIM cards and one slot for a microSD card.

It has a non-removable 3,000mAh battery and boasts Intel's fast-charging technology, one can charge the phone up to 60 per cent within 30-40 minutes, we found.

ASUS Zenfone 2

• Screen: 5.5-inch 1,080 x 1,920 pixels
• Weight: 170g
• OS: Android Lollipop
• RAM: 4GB
• Processor: 2.3GHz Intel Atom 64-bit quad core
• Memory: 32GB, expandable
• Camera (rear/front): 13MP with dual-LED flash/5MP
• Battery: 3,000mAh

The display is sharp and bright enough to function in broad daylight. The phone also comes with colour calibration settings. The animations and transitions are smooth because of its 64-bit processor.

The Zenfone 2 comes with the standard connectivity options including 4G LTE, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

The phone has a large speaker grill but the sound quality is average.

One of the most impressive things about the phone is its 13-megapixel (MP) primary camera. The phone features ASUS's Pixelmaster technology that helps take better shots in low light. It has a 5MP secondary camera that is better than what most smartphones have.

The phone comes runs Android 5.0 Lollipop with the custom Zen user interface. Here, ASUS provides users with flexibility. The phone has a theme engine that lets users customise the home screen and app drawer.

The Zenfone 2 comes with a lot of nifty features. One can scribble a command on the screen to launch a pre-determined application. It also has double-tap wake feature and double-tap shrink. The phone comes with a feature called 'one-hand' use, which makes using the device easier with one hand.

Overall, the device runs smooth and doesn't have a lot of drawbacks, except the non-removable battery that could be a deal-breaker for some. ASUS will reveal the Zenfone 2's price on Thursday at the launch.
The specifications of the phone have been modified to correct an earlier error.