Review of Asus Zenfone 2 (ZE551ML)

Photos in the interior

Introduction

The well-known Taiwanese company Asus, whose name comes from the word Pegasus (Pegasus) - a symbol of inspiration in creativity and science, recently introduced the Zenfone 2 smartphone with a large screen diagonal (now it is fashionable to call them phablets) on the Russian market, which boasts a productive chipset of the company Intel, an impressive amount of RAM at the moment - 4 GB, a camera with advanced photo part capabilities, such as manual adjustment of all parameters, low-light shooting mode using unique PixelMater technology, "Super Resolution", HDR and much more. The Asus Zenfone 2 also stands out among its peers with its excellent ergonomic design and eye-pleasing body colors.

The device is available on our market at a price of 19,990 rubles.

Contents of delivery

The smartphone is packed in a nice box. It indicates the color of the gadget that you are purchasing. Inside you'll find a warranty card, a quick start guide for the Zenfone, a USB cable, a headset with a handy noodle cord, and a 2A AC adapter that allows you to charge your battery up to 60% in 39 minutes.

Characteristics

• Body materials: plastic and glass
• Operating system: Google Android 5
• Network: GSM/GPRS/EDGE, LTE CAT 4, Dual SIM
• Processor: 4 cores, 64-bit, Intel Atom Z3580
• RAM: 4 GB
• Storage Memory: 16 GB
• Interfaces: Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, microUSB connector (USB 2.0) for charging / synchronization, 3.5 mm for headset
• Screen: capacitive, IPS OGS 5.5"" with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels
• Camera: 13/5 MP, dual flash
• Navigation: GPS
• Optional: accelerometer, electronic compass, gyroscope, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor
• Battery: non-removable, lithium-polymer (Li-Pol) with a capacity of 3000 mAh
• Dimensions: 152x77x3.9 ~ 10.9mm
• Weight: 170 g

Design, dimensions, controls

The Asus Zenfone 2 phablet has a classic look with a rectangular shape and slightly sloping edges. Under the display is a decorative plastic insert with a recognizable concentric relief - this is inherent in Asus devices.

The design is made in such a way that more than 70% of the front part is occupied by the screen. It is protected by durable glass of the third generation of the well-known company Corning. For all the time of using Zenfone 2, not a single scratch or chip appeared on the display. Separately, it is worth praising the high-quality oleophobic coating: fingerprints are not particularly visible, they are erased quickly, the finger glides over the surface easily and without jerking. Despite the large screen, the device does not feel bulky, the gadget fits perfectly in the hand due to the smooth transitions of the rear panel to the side edges.

The back panel, which has the shape of an arch, is made of polycarbonate in different colors: white, black, red, gray and even trendy gold. The design of the lid resembles metal with horizontal polishing.

It not only looks beautiful, but also convenient in terms of a strong grip: the device does not slip out of the palm, even if it is wet.

I liked the assembly: nothing backlash, no creaks, no crunches under strong compression, the reverse side is not pressed through to the battery. Interestingly, the color coating is quite resistant to mechanical damage. Which is a definite plus.

At the top in the center of the front part is a speech speaker, covered with a metal mesh. Its volume is very high, the interlocutor can be heard not only on a noisy street, but even in public transport and the subway. The timbre is pleasant: both high and low frequencies are heard, the average speaker transmits well.

To the left of the speaker are light and proximity sensors. During testing, none of them was buggy, the backlight was regulated smoothly. On the right is the front camera and an indispensable assistant, an indicator of missed events.

Under the screen are touch buttons "Back", "Home", application menu. They are marked with white translucent paint.

The microUSB connector and the main microphone are at the bottom, and at the top there is an additional microphone for noise reduction, a 3.5 mm headphone jack and a power button. There are no elements left and right.

On the reverse side: a camera eye, almost recessed into the body, a double LED flash, originally placed volume buttons, a speakerphone.

The cover of Zenfone 2 is removable. Below it are two microSIM slots (one of which operates in fourth-generation networks, that is, LTE) and a slot for a microSD memory card. On the socket itself, you can see the NFC antenna, and on the body of the device there is a special contact pad.

Display

The new Asus Zenfone 2 has a 5.5-inch screen. Physical size - 68x121 mm. The frames are quite large: on top - 13 mm, on the bottom - 18, and on the right and left - 4.5 mm each. Of course, there is an effective anti-reflective coating.

The matrix of this phablet is made using IPS OGS technology, that is, there is no air gap here, so the colors are more saturated, and the picture seems to lie on the surface of the screen. The display resolution is FullHD, that is, 1080x1920 pixels, the pixelation is completely invisible, since the density is 400 ppi. The screen contrast is as much as 1300:1, so the image is perfectly visible even under direct sunlight. The sensor response is only 60 ms.

The colors are natural, the viewing angles are maximum, and, most importantly, there are no purple and yellow shades, that is, signs of a cheap IPS matrix!

Below you can see that even at large tilts, the brightness of the image remains almost unchanged:

Black depth is excellent, which is why the contrast is so high. The minimum brightness value of the backlight is enough for comfortable reading information at night.

In the settings, you can not only select the color mode, but also adjust the color and saturation separately.

behavior in the sun

Settings

Battery

This device uses a built-in 3000 mAh lithium polymer (Li-Pol) battery.

Our tests have shown that the Asus Zenfone 2 "lives" for a day on a single battery charge. At the same time, Wi-Fi is always on, mail is being synchronized, WhatsApp, Skype and other applications are running. The brightness of the matrix backlight is set to its maximum value, the speaker volume is also turned up to the full. During the day, calls are made with a total duration of up to 2 hours.

In a more gentle mode, the device can work up to 3 days. With toys, you can count on 4 hours.

Comes with an 18W fast charger. The average charge time is a little less than 1.5 hours, but in just 30 minutes you can recharge the battery by 50%.

In the settings of the device there are power saving modes: maximum performance, balance, smart power saving mode and power saving mode. Each of them is customized to the needs of the user. In addition, you can limit the auto-start of all applications, which will reduce energy consumption.

Communication options

The device works not only in 2G/3G networks (GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, WCDMA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz), but also in 4G CAT 4, which is supported by all operators in Russia.

The Wi-Fi network can operate at high speeds thanks to the support of the ac standard. Separately, it should be said that Zenfone 2 is equipped with an NFC chip and antenna, and USB 2.0 supports OTG mode, that is, flash drives and other devices are easily connected to the phablet. Naturally, there are GPS and GLONASS. The accuracy and quality of positioning is at a height, the track is shown below.

cameras

The Zenfone 2 phablet is equipped with two camera modules: the main 13 MP with F2.0 aperture (the lens consists of 5 elements) and the front 5 MP with F2.0 aperture. In order to evenly and accurately reproduce skin tones in low light conditions, Asus equipped with a dual LED flash with different LED glow temperatures.

Thanks to the excellent camera sensor and fast lens, you get good quality shots in any lighting conditions and artistic bokeh.

Separately, it is worth mentioning several cool camera modes:

• Manual settings. One of the coolest features of the device. Easily adjust shutter speeds, ISO values, and even manually select focus.
• Super high resolution. The camera takes four pictures with a resolution of 13 MP, then combines the frames using a special algorithm, and you get a detailed photo of 52 megapixels
• "Weak Lighting" In low light mode, the camera with PixelMaster technology resizes image sensor pixels to increase light sensitivity by 400% to minimize color noise and increase contrast
• panoramic selfie. The coolest thing, which, I'm sure, will appeal not only to lovers of "selfies", but to all those who like to gather with friends, take pictures against the backdrop of landscapes.

Of course, not without HDR, miniature effect, animation and much more.

The front camera is wide-angle, excellent for taking portraits. In the settings, it is easy to choose the options for smoothing the face, removing wrinkles and other skin defects, enlarging the eyes, blush, and so on. You can even remove a little cheek.

Video shooting takes place in FullHD resolution at 30 fps. Autofocus is very fast and accurate.

Photo examples

Performance

The Asus Zenfone 2 (ZE551ML) boasts that it runs on a chip from the American corporation Intel. The model is called Atom Z3580. The clock frequency is 2.3 GHz, there are four cores, the manufacturing process is 22 nm, and the powerful PowerVR G6430 system from Imagination Technologies is used as graphics.

Despite the presence of only four cores, the chip is not inferior to modern flagship eight-core ARM chips. High performance is enough not only for the smooth operation of the user interface, applications, but also for running any toys at maximum graphics settings.

There are several modifications of Zenfone 2 available on our market - 16/32/64 GB of internal memory plus a microSD slot up to 64 GB, that is, you can count on 128 GB of Flash memory. RAM is either 2 GB or 4 GB, as in our sample. This amount of RAM is enough to store dozens of applications or several games in memory.

Performance Tests

Screenshots from Unkilled and BIA 3

0°

Hi all. Finally, the Asus Zenfone 2 smartphone in the ze551ml version fell into my hands. This means that it has 4 gigs of RAM, a powerful Intel 64-bit processor, and an NFC chip. Let me remind you that these chips are not available in other configurations.

“So it’s almost an old man,” you say. And you will be partially right. Indeed, the phone was presented at the IFO exhibition at the beginning of 2015, and this, for a moment, 1.5 years ago. Some companies manage to change 2 or even 3 generations of their equipment in such a period. But, if you look closely at the technical characteristics of Asus Zenfone 2 ze551ml, then you will be a little surprised. The phone, according to its filling, easily beats the middle peasants of 2016, not to mention the state employees. And not only does it perform well in tests, but also offers some features that are not usually available in this price category.

In general, in this review, I want to convey the idea that Asus Zenfone 2 ze551ml is still a relevant smartphone and I recommend that you take a closer look at it. Perhaps this is exactly the option that you need.

I bought Asus Zenfone 2 ze551ml from Gearbest about two months ago. At that moment the price was $155 and it was the best offer. The same option in my city offline started already from 280, and this is almost twice as expensive. I also used the LetyShops cashback service and returned 5% of the amount paid (about $8). At the time of writing, the price in Gearbest has dropped to 152.99 usd and is still the most interesting among all similar offers in Chinese online stores.

The ze551ml model is the most expensive in the second generation of Asus Zenfone 2, but I advise you to buy it in this configuration. For a small overpayment, you get a more powerful processor, 4 gigs of RAM and, of course, an NFC chip. Tell me, do you know a lot of smartphones with a built-in NFC chip in the category under $200? Don't know at all? Me too… In fact, the phone has a lot of cool features, we'll talk about them a little further.

Specifications Asus Zenfone 2 ze551ml

• Processor Intel Atom Z3560 (1.8 GHz, 64-bit)
• PowerVR G6430 Graphics (OpenGL 3.0 support)
• Memory 4 GB RAM, 16 GB built-in
• Screen 5.5″ IPS Full HD (1920×1080) with oleophobic coating Corning Gorilla Glass 3
• WLAN 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth V4.0, NFC, two radios
• Navigation GPS, GLONASS, BDS
• Battery 3000 mAh
• Front camera 5 MP (f / 2.0), main camera 13 MP (f / 2.0, Full HD video, autofocus, dual flash)
• Version of the Android operating system 5.0 (there are already 6, but you need to flash it yourself)
• Dimensions 152.5 x 77.2 mm, thinnest 3.9, thickest 10.9
• Weight 170 g

Appearance of the device

The phone looks solid and expensive. The ASUS inscription on the front side looks a little controversial, but on the other hand, it is immediately clear to those around you that this is not some outbred noname. The smart is assembled very high quality, there are no squeaks and backlashes, even if you try and twist mercilessly - in response there will be only silence.

However, the look of the device is the main reason for phone critics to practice their craft. Let me write what, in my opinion, it would be better for the manufacturer to remove or fix in the next version:

• Not the best geometry. The powerful filling did not want to fit in a thin body, so the engineers had to go for a trick. The phone in the thickest part swelled more than 10 mm, but at the edges the thickness was only 3.9 mm. Visually, the phone certainly does not look thick, but if you pick up a ruler ... Due to the fact that the back cover has a sloping shape, Zenfon seems to have a hump at the back))
• The off button is on the top. If you are used to turning the phone on and off by pressing this button, then you will experience a real pain. Each time, look for the button in a convenient place on the right or left end and not find it there ... But Asus can be turned on and off by double tapping on the screen. Actually very convenient.
• The bezels around the screen are thick. No, not ugly repulsive… not at all. It's just that when all manufacturers strive for a frameless design, this solution causes some aesthetic rejection.
• The volume rocker is located on the back cover. This is neither bad nor good. It's more of a matter of habit. But in general, I even like this solution.

Screen and battery

I liked the screen. Bright (300 cd/m2), juicy, contrast (1200:1). Multi-touch for 10 touches. Excellent viewing angles. The phone has a special Splendid program for adjusting the color to your taste. You can remove the blue spectrum and enjoy evening reading without fear of possible insomnia.

In general, the manufacturer did not save on the matrix. Honor and praise to him. Screen size 5.5 inches. By today's standards, this is already an average)) For some comrades, even 6 inches is not enough. At the same time, such a screen will perfectly cope with any multimedia tasks. You can watch a movie on the road, read a book, and surf the Internet.

As for the battery, with the active use of the phone, the charge will only last for a day, a maximum of one and a half. 3000 mAh is not a lot, but not a little either. And since we have a voracious powerful processor and a large fhd screen, I definitely wouldn’t leave without charging for the weekend.

Asus Zenfone 2 supports fast charging technology. This means that you can charge your smart phone up to 70% in just 40 minutes. To do this, you need a charger for 9V and 2A. After the battery gains its 70%, it is then charged in normal mode up to 100% at 5 V and 1.35 A.

Network interfaces

Another cool feature is that the smartphone has 2 independent radio modules. This means that if you are talking on one SIM card, then at the same time they can call you on another. Or, for example, on one card you download something from the Internet, and on the other you have a conversation. The only thing to remember is that SIM 1 supports 2G/3G/4G, and SIM 2 only supports 2G voice telephony.

WiFi is set to single-band, but supports the latest AC specification. For me, the lack of a 5 GHz band is not a problem at all, anyway, I don’t have devices with such a frequency yet.

Navigation is slick. A cold start is only 10 seconds, and a hot start is almost instantaneous. It catches satellites not only GPS and GLONASS, but also Chinese Beidou.

Well, and the main highlight, the NFC chip. Works flawlessly. If you know how to set up and what programs to install, then you can not only pay for travel, but also pay in stores. If you do not know, then w3bsit3-dns.com will help you.

Processor and graphics

The Asus Zenfone 2 ze551ml is powered by a 64-bit Intel Atom Z3560 1.8GHz processor. At least that's how it is on my phone. There is an even more powerful version of the Z3580 with a frequency of 2.3 GHz, but I don’t see the point. With all modern games, the Z3560 copes with a bang, so why else increase the battery consumption and heat the street for free.

In synthetic tests, the smart showed itself well, not in the tops of course, but not in the middle either. AnTuTu is gaining about 50k parrots. This is a good result.

4 gigabytes of RAM even today looks like an unjustified luxury. Many flagships are content with 3 gigs, and here it’s all 4. But the RAM is such a thing that there is no superfluous and does not ask for food. Additional battery consumption does not cause, and thank God.

Camera and sound

The front camera of 5 megapixels with its task of video calls via Skype and Viber copes with all 5 points. As for the main camera, as you know, it is 13 megapixels. Aperture f / 2.0, you can shoot Full HD video, there is autofocus. Of the interesting chips, a double flash can be noted. Two diodes, one white and the other yellow, allow you to correctly convey the color and set the automation to the correct white balance.

The main camera takes good quality pictures, but you won't get anything outrageous from it. It can also be noted that in the evening or in low light conditions, the Asus Zenfone 2 will certainly take better quality pictures than other classmate phones. I don’t know what this is connected with, but at dusk, Asus takes pictures much better than the same Xiaomi Redmi 3 Pro.

Now a few words about the sound. The external speaker is loud, the sound, if not bass, is certainly not flat. The speaker does not wheeze even at maximum volume. In general, everything is fine here.

Another thing is the sound in the headphones. The sound is not just normal, I would say that it is gorgeous. I knew that this phone had a separate audio chip, but I did not know that it worked out so well. The bass is soft and at the same time elastic, the middle is clean and transparent, with the tops everything is also buzzing. All instrumental parts are heard clearly. I can safely recommend this phone to music lovers and audiophiles. By the way, the Audio Realtek ALC5647 audio chip is installed here.

ZenUI

On the one hand, the phone is clearly overloaded with proprietary utilities. On the other hand, the manufacturer probably provided for EVERYTHING. I categorically do not advise you to skip the guide that comes after the first inclusion. It may be long, but you will know what your Asus is capable of.

The phone does not have bare Android installed, but a proprietary ZenUI shell. This is neither a minus nor a plus. Looks bright, interesting and fresh.

There are a lot of branded applications installed and most can be safely removed. But do not rush, first we freeze it with Titan, then we test it and, if everything is ok, we delete it.

The phone comes on Android 5.0. Updates arrive by air, but officially there will be no sixth Andriukha. But not officially, it has been around for a long time. Can be downloaded and installed easily. Who needs instructions and firmware files, then the link is locked. Like and you will be happy))

If you are not too tired of the review, then pay a little more of your attention and watch a short video. All the pros and cons of a smartphone in a couple of minutes.

Buying Asus Zenfone 2 ze551ml

You can buy Asus Zenfone 2 ze551ml at a good price in two stores. As a rule, Gearbest always offers the best option. Well, the second option, of course, is Aliexpress. Compare prices and draw conclusions. And yet ... do not forget about cashback. LetyShops offers excellent conditions.

Thank you all for your attention!

Platform Android 5.0
- RAM 2/4 GB
- Built-in memory 8/16/32 GB
- Display 5-5.5″, HD/Full HD

Description of ZenFone 2 2015 (second generation)

Modifications

Three modifications of the second generation ZenFone are presented:

• ZenFone 2 ZE551ML - 5.5" Full HD display, Intel Atom Z3580 @ 2.3GHz or Intel Atom Z3560 @ 1.8GHz;
• ZenFone 2 ZE550ML - 5.5" HD screen and 1.8GHz Intel Atom Z3560 processor;
• ZenFone 2 ZE500CL - 5-inch HD screen, Intel Atom Z2560 @ 1.6 GHz;

Appearance

Zenfone 2 features a striking and all-new design that combines ASUS signature elements that capture the style of the Zen family with a luxurious brushed metal finish and expressive concentric circle details. The elegant curved body is only 3.9 mm thick at the edges, making the design even more attractive. The rounded edges improve usability, and the intuitiveness of use has been improved, including a rear-mounted volume control, ideally positioned for use with the index finger.

It is worth noting that the ZE500CL model visually differs in addition to the size in the location of the flash.

Zenfone 2 is equipped with a 5.5 (5) inch Full HD (for the top model ZE551ML) IPS screen with a very clear and bright image. The resolution is 430ppi, and the viewing angle of 178 degrees improves the viewing of photos and videos and work with applications. Asus TruVivid technology makes colors even more vibrant and saturated. The display features an ultra-narrow 3.3mm bezel that increases the screen-to-body ratio to an impressive 72%, while Corning Gorilla Glass 3 coating ensures superior scratch and fingerprint resistance.

The operating time from a single charge has been significantly increased thanks to a high-capacity 3000mAh (2500mAh) battery, which provides operation on a single charge for up to more than one day. Fast charging technology allows you to recharge the battery up to 60% in just 39 minutes.

ZenUI interface

The Zen UI interface has also evolved with a stylish new layout that makes better use of available space and places information in the center, making it easier to work. Zenfone 2 is the world's first smartphone that gives the user the ability to fully customize settings to their preferences, including changing the launcher, themes, fonts, icons, and more.

ZenUI has a number of new features such as ZenMotion, SnapView, Trend Micro, and ZenUI Instant Updates that improve the user experience and enhance privacy protection.

Specifications ZenFone 2 2015 (second generation)

Review ASUS ZenFone 2 2015 (second generation)

In 2014, Asus launched a new line of Zenfone smartphones, which were distinguished by an affordable price. Judging by the demand for such devices, the idea turned out to be successful, and the line received a logical continuation: Zenfone 2 ZE551ML, released in 2015, is a “live” proof of this. The smartphone boasts decent features, good design, and an attractive price: the junior version can be purchased at a price of 187 USD. But for the older version they will ask for up to 390 USD. It all depends on the configuration (and the wrapping of the store). The indicated prices are approximate and current at the time of the creation of the review.

The design of the device is attractive, and at the same time recognizable. On the front part, under the screen, there is a plate with a gradient pattern. The case back is detachable, slightly curved for a more comfortable grip, and with a metal-like pattern. There are several cover colors to choose from: black, white, grey, red and gold. There is not a single button on the side edges: the volume rocker is on the back side, and the power button is on the top edge. Case dimensions: 77.20 x 152.50 x 10.90 mm. Weight: 170 g.

Specifications Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML

Thanks to the ability to choose the hardware configuration, everyone can choose the right option based on their needs and financial capabilities.

Processor and Memory

The smartphone is sold in two main variations. The differences between them are the processor, the amount of main and RAM. In any configuration, a Power VR G6430 graphics chip is installed, as well as the possibility of expanding memory using MicroSD (up to 64 GB).

A simpler version of Asus Zenfone 2 received a prefix in the name ZE550ML. The smartphone has an Intel Atom Z3560 processor (4 cores, 1.8 GHz). RAM is 2GB and ROM is 16GB.

The older model with the ZE551ML prefix is ​​equipped with a 4-core Intel Atom Z3580 processor with a frequency of 2.33 GHz. The amount of RAM has been increased to 4 GB, and the built-in storage can be 32 and 64 GB.

The difference in performance with the naked eye is quite difficult to notice. Both devices are very fast, except that the version with 4 GB of RAM will notice a faster switching between applications. However, the Intel Atom Z3560/Z3580 processors do not reach the top ranks, so the most demanding games on hardware resources will run without FPS subsidence only at reduced graphics settings.

Offline work

The battery capacity is 3000 mAh. Despite the opening lid, the battery is non-removable. The manufacturer managed to successfully combine the capacity of the battery with a powerful but energy-efficient hardware component, as well as optimize the software. In sum, all this made it possible for the device to work smoothly for 24 hours, with a moderately active load. In practice, this means 2 daylight hours of operation without recharging. In the settings there is a customizable power saving mode, including an ultra-saving mode that allows you to extend the battery life by a few more hours.

Camera

The main 13 MP camera is equipped with a dual flash with a cold and warm glow, as well as laser autofocus. The interface of the camera application is quite simple, but functional. In the settings there is an adjustment of manual shooting parameters, such as exposure, white balance, ISO. There is image stabilization, but at the software level. A high-aperture matrix allows you to get good pictures in low light. A decent result is obtained in the daytime, but the photos are inferior in detail to the pictures taken on the top flagships from A-brands of 2015. The camera can blur the background, quickly focuses.

Videos can be recorded at a maximum resolution of 1080p (1920x1080). The video quality is acceptable, however, the stabilization does not do its job in the best way: the image when shooting while walking still twitches quite noticeably.

The 5 MP front camera takes pictures very well: it is ideal for taking self-portraits.

Display

The 5.5-inch display with an IPS matrix and FullHD resolution (1920x1080) is covered with Gorilla Glass 3 protective glass. The oleophobic layer is really high quality, prints almost do not appear, and are easily erased. The margin of brightness is high, in sunlight the visibility of the image is acceptable. Color reproduction and image contrast are good, viewing angles are maximum. You can individually adjust the color mode, including image contrast and saturation, or choose one of the preset modes.

Networking

Under the cover of the smartphone there are 2 slots for SIM cards, one of them can work in 3G and 4G LTE networks, the second - in 2G networks. But the most interesting thing is that two radio modules were built into Asus Zenfone 2 at once! Those who actively use two SIM-cards can easily switch between them during a telephone conversation. That is, while you are talking with relatives on a personal number, you can easily receive a call from a client or boss on a work number. The smartphone has an NFC module. GPS navigation works quickly and flawlessly.

Sound

The main speaker is loud, even very loud, the sound quality is relatively good. The same can be said about the sound in the headphones. The speaker will please the owner with the opportunity to hear a fairly loud and distinct voice of the interlocutor.

Software part

The operating system used is Android 5.1, with the Asus ZenUI shell. The shell interface allows you to fine-tune desktops, widgets, sort applications into folders or hide them. But at the same time, the launcher looks beautiful and minimalistic, works quickly, and is not overloaded with unnecessary elements. Among the many features of Asus ZenUI, we can note the presence of a built-in autorun application manager, which will help prevent individual software from running in the background on its own, and thereby extend battery life.

Pros and cons of Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML

Advantages:

• a decent indicator of battery life;
• two full-fledged radio modules;
• there is an event indicator;
• good camera;
• acceptable price.

Flaws:

• not very convenient location of the power button;
• The video quality is not the best.

Our review of the smartphone Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML

Previously, lesser-known brands from China appeared in the segment of affordable flagships. Asus has seized the initiative and seems to be doing well. If this continues and the company does not go down the path of greed, its smartphones will become very popular. The Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML is a great, reasonably priced phablet that balances just about everything. Of course, it has more affordable Chinese counterparts, however, none of them can boast of Dual SIM Active.

Audio player and audio manager in ASUS ZenFone 2

There are no complaints about the sound quality - the sound turns out to be quite distinct, there is no “mess” even in fancy music or videos, as well as no bass or surround effects. But for everyday use and the available features are enough.

Iron

They say that the unthinkable will happen soon and future ASUS devices will almost without exception acquire Qualcomm processors. Who knows - until now, the strength of the Taiwanese brand in the smartphone and tablet market has depended not least on the pliability of Intel. The processor manufacturer and the hardware manufacturer at one time came to a consensus “we are doing great with computers and bad with mobile phones, let's work with minimal profit and earn a name”, which turned out to be delicious chip prices for ASUS and good sales of previous ZenFones. In general, it is not surprising that ZenFone 2 is also built on the platform of a permanent partner.

So, we have a quad-core Intel Atom Z3580 (there are also ZenFone 2 with Atom Z3560 on sale, but in general the devil will break his leg in the configurations of this model) of the 2014 sample. It does not look super modern in terms of miniaturization (the 22 nm process technology is now not held in high esteem - Qualcomm can do 20 nm, and Samsung can do all 14 nm), but in Moorefield chips, Intel did a lot of work on bugs and corrected almost everything for which it " kicked before."

Instead of "corn" Hyper-Threading, which programmatically "crushed" two cores into four threads so that the processor worked as a quad-core, there are now four full-fledged cores capable of overclocking up to 2.3 GHz (which is very cool, given the "desktop computer" origin processor). The remaining improvements relate to power consumption (the old Atom in ZenFone 5 ate the battery charge only on the road) and the introduction of a 4G modem. In terms of processor power, the Atom Z3580 is able to easily overtake the Snapdragon 805 installed in the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge and perform on equal terms with the Snapdragon 808 that the LG G4 has acquired.

The graphics of this chip are even more interesting: the PowerVR G6430 video accelerator is familiar to us from the Apple iPhone 5S, only in the case of the Intel processor we are talking about an overclocked modification of the video core. And let the current "High end" in the face of Tegra K1 or Adreno 420 not overtake this graphics - Adreno 320 (used in the Sony Xperia Z3) and Mali-T628 of all variations (used in the Samsung Galaxy Note 3) this video core will bypass without difficulty.

And, of course, how can one not mention here about 4 GB of “RAM” in the older versions of ZenFone 2: today this amount of memory is enough even for an inexpensive laptop or home computer, what can we say about smartphones. Even taking into account Android Lollipop, weighted by the ASUS shell, without running additional applications, 2.5 “giga” RAM was always available in the smartphone. But in general - this amount of memory now allows you to have fun by launching a pack of tricked-out games, so that later you can pause them and switch between them for no reason. Yes, and as a reinsurance against crooked parasite programmers who do not know how to write compact applications, it will also come in handy. Otherwise, there is still little benefit from such a monstrous volume in ZenFone 2.