Taiwanese gadget lovers get great news today as Asus have release all versions of the Asus Zenfone 2 in the country including the mush sought after 4GB RAM variant.
Since it was revealed at CES this year, the Asus Zenfone 2 has been the focal point of many a discussion, with most concerned about the pricing for the phone. At CES it wasn’t clear just how much the flagship 4GB RAM model would cost, however now the phone is on sale in Taiwan we have a much better idea of pricing and specifications.
In Taiwan fans of the phone will be able to choose from a number of different Zenfond variants based on the 5-inch and 5.5-inch handset. The base model 5-inch Zenfone 2 (ZE500CL) will ship with a 1.6Ghz Intel Atom Z2560, 2GB RAM, HD display and 16GB memory for NT$ 4990 ( $158).
Gizchina News of the week
Next in the range is the Asus Zenfone 2 (ZE550ML) which has a larger 5.5-inch panel but the same 720p resolution. RAM and memory are also unchanged but the processor is boosted to a 1.8Ghz Intel chip for NT$ 5,990 ($190).
If a 720p HD display isn’t enough for you then the Asus Zenfone 2 (ZE551ML) could be an option. It has a 5.5-inch 1080 display, 1.8Ghz processor, 2GB RAM and 32GB memory for NT$ 6,990 ($221).
Finally though is the top of the range Asus Zenfone 2 (ZE551ML) with a 2.3Ghz Intel Z3580, 5.5-inch FHD display, 32GB memory and 4GB RAM for NT$ 8.990 ($285).
The Zenfone 2 is set to launch in numerous locations around the world with the same specifications and possibly even a Mediatek and Snapdragon version too. Hopefully the Taiwanese retail price is an indication of what customers around the globe can hope to pay for the flagship phone.
A mediatek version of this with 4GB RAM would be very interesting at this price point, especially with the 64GB ROM. Not convinced with the Intel chip due to incompatibility issues with android, as I have a tablet with this chip and numerous apps aren’t compatible so wouldn’t entertain a phone using it.
First, Android Lollipop was developed using the Intel Atom’s x86-64 platform. I suppose that should give the SoC a fighting chance in the Android App space.
I would wanna purchase this phone the moment I can.
bay trail z3580 far more superior than any existing mediatek, i don’t know why you want it, i mean what the reason?
is this your reason: ” Not convinced with the Intel chip due to incompatibility issues with android” from what cave you come from?
what tablet have you use? what app aren’t compatible?
did you know android lollipop tested with intel chip?
if it run android the app will follow, incompatibility happen because spec requirement of app it happens with all chip not only intel
The xmodgames app is not complatible with Lollipop / x86 roms
All I will say is I purchased 2 different tablets with these chips in and I’ve run various benchmarks and the graphics are weaker than the mt6592. It has lower frame rates for gaming and various random apps were not compatible. As for being developed for lollipop, I couldn’t care less as having the physical hardware in my hands has taught me many things don’t work with this chip! Anyone who’s buys this and is happy with it I wish them all the best, just not for me. I want a device that’s gonna run more or less anything off the play store so that means no Intel chip. The price/specification ratio of these phones is pretty good though.
my next phone for sure! absolutely my next phone
which one you suggest JiaYu S3(3gb RAM) or zenfone 2(FHD 2GB RAM)?
I would gues Zenfone 2 for better overall performance. GPU on ASUS side is far more powerful. Let’s just wait for first reliable reviews.
P.S. I would not buy Jiaiu S3 without official Lollipop.
yeah i like GPU of zenfone but i think s3 is also cool
dont buy yet
A pretty comprehensive price range.
Maybe the top gun should be in the 249$ levels, but they have to gain money somewhere.
As told before Lollipop 64bit compatibility was developed with Intel Atom’s chipset as base, so software wise the phone should be sound.
But those thick bezels are just crap.
If every apps out there are going to be magically compatible with Lollipop and x86 arch, then sure yeah, software wise it’s “sound”.
Entry level uses the old Z2560? I thought it was the Z3560, can you confirm on that?
Jest it is: http://www.asus.com/Phones/ZenFone_2_ZE500CL/specifications/
Well that’s lame for Asus, the z2560 was never a good performer and it drained the battery life quickly than competitive device. Poor move on their part.
But who cares about anything else than ZE551ML?
There’s no trick there, the 200 dollar 5.5 inch one uses the z3560. The 5 inch one that wasn’t previously announced, which is 160 dollars, uses the previous gen z2560. If you wanted the 200 dollar one they announced, you’re getting the Atom you expected. They just added a rung below that.
damn cheap phones! I am impressed
likewise , brotha! 😀
i’d LOVE to get me hands on either the $158 or $190 models ! :*
ZE550ML is just what doctor ordered & for 190$. I am still concerned about power consumption as it whose newer clarified on actually what lithography is cellular radio built (28 or 40nm). Let’s hope someone will do a really full expert review.
Didn’t know where to put this as I presume this will be most popular topic in next days I decided to put it hire.
Their is a rumor that AMD (graphics) & MTK are about to join the forces.
Still nothing whose really confirmed even source is pretty good:
http://www.fudzilla.com/news/graphics/37209-mediatek-to-license-amd-graphics
Another rumor floating around web is Samsung is about to adopt MTK SoC’s for it’s not top end products.
If it turns that both of rumors are truth it will boost MTK skyrocket and will help AMD at least a little.
Xiao who?
A mediatek version of this with 4GB RAM would be very interesting at this price point, especially with the 64GB ROM. Not convinced with the Intel chip due to incompatibility issues with android, as I have a tablet with this chip and numerous apps aren’t compatible so wouldn’t entertain a phone using it.
First, Android Lollipop was developed using the Intel Atom’s x86-64 platform. I suppose that should give the SoC a fighting chance in the Android App space.
I would wanna purchase this phone the moment I can.
bay trail z3580 far more superior than any existing mediatek, i don’t know why you want it, i mean what the reason?
is this your reason: ” Not convinced with the Intel chip due to incompatibility issues with android” from what cave you come from?
what tablet have you use? what app aren’t compatible?
did you know android lollipop tested with intel chip?
if it run android the app will follow, incompatibility happen because spec requirement of app it happens with all chip not only intel
The xmodgames app is not complatible with Lollipop / x86 roms
All I will say is I purchased 2 different tablets with these chips in and I’ve run various benchmarks and the graphics are weaker than the mt6592. It has lower frame rates for gaming and various random apps were not compatible. As for being developed for lollipop, I couldn’t care less as having the physical hardware in my hands has taught me many things don’t work with this chip! Anyone who’s buys this and is happy with it I wish them all the best, just not for me. I want a device that’s gonna run more or less anything off the play store so that means no Intel chip. The price/specification ratio of these phones is pretty good though.
my next phone for sure! absolutely my next phone
which one you suggest JiaYu S3(3gb RAM) or zenfone 2(FHD 2GB RAM)?
I would gues Zenfone 2 for better overall performance. GPU on ASUS side is far more powerful. Let’s just wait for first reliable reviews.
P.S. I would not buy Jiaiu S3 without official Lollipop.
dont buy yet
yeah i like GPU of zenfone but i think s3 is also cool
A pretty comprehensive price range.
Maybe the top gun should be in the 249$ levels, but they have to gain money somewhere.
As told before Lollipop 64bit compatibility was developed with Intel Atom’s chipset as base, so software wise the phone should be sound.
But those thick bezels are just crap.
If every apps out there are going to be magically compatible with Lollipop and x86 arch, then sure yeah, software wise it’s “sound”.
Entry level uses the old Z2560? I thought it was the Z3560, can you confirm on that?
Jest it is: http://www.asus.com/Phones/ZenFone_2_ZE500CL/specifications/
Well that’s lame for Asus, the z2560 was never a good performer and it drained the battery life quickly than competitive device. Poor move on their part.
But who cares about anything else than ZE551ML?
There’s no trick there, the 200 dollar 5.5 inch one uses the z3560. The 5 inch one that wasn’t previously announced, which is 160 dollars, uses the previous gen z2560. If you wanted the 200 dollar one they announced, you’re getting the Atom you expected. They just added a rung below that.
damn cheap phones! I am impressed
likewise , brotha! 😀
Mmmmm, LG rippers?
Don’t know why they leave that space towards the bottom, to rest your palms while gaming in landscape mode ?
That aside, it’s a perfect phone for its price
The other 5.5 inch ones use the Z3560, not the previous gen z2560 as was rumored. No bait and switch going on. The z3560 in the other models of the 5.5 inch is just a lower clocked version of the z3580 in the top end one, and with the same graphics chip clock speed.
i’d LOVE to get me hands on either the $158 or $190 models ! :*
ZE550ML is just what doctor ordered & for 190$. I am still concerned about power consumption as it whose newer clarified on actually what lithography is cellular radio built (28 or 40nm). Let’s hope someone will do a really full expert review.
Didn’t know where to put this as I presume this will be most popular topic in next days I decided to put it hire.
Their is a rumor that AMD (graphics) & MTK are about to join the forces.
Still nothing whose really confirmed even source is pretty good:
http://www.fudzilla.com/news/graphics/37209-mediatek-to-license-amd-graphics
Another rumor floating around web is Samsung is about to adopt MTK SoC’s for it’s not top end products.
If it turns that both of rumors are truth it will boost MTK skyrocket and will help AMD at least a little.
Xiao who?
http://www.asus.com/Phones/ZenFone_2_ZE551ML/ nice bezels on their site, but in live it’s horrifying to see this Fone
Looks very thin on their site
Mmmmm, LG rippers?
Don’t know why they leave that space towards the bottom, to rest your palms while gaming in landscape mode ?
That aside, it’s a perfect phone for its price
The other 5.5 inch ones use the Z3560, not the previous gen z2560 as was rumored. No bait and switch going on. The z3560 in the other models of the 5.5 inch is just a lower clocked version of the z3580 in the top end one, and with the same graphics chip clock speed.
Great prices but ffs, could they not figure out a naming scheme for their phones that makes more sense to people?? The two 5.5 inch variants (one with 720, 2gb ram and the 1080, 4 gb ram) have identical names.
that dude on the youtube is pretty hard on the device.
bezels don’t bother me, the rush to zero bezel is dumb, in my opinion
Yeah. The dimensions are supposed to be slightly smaller than the IPhone 6 plus! So it can’t be that bad since it’s the same screen size. And for the price…
The iPhone 6 and 6+ are ugly.
http://www.asus.com/Phones/ZenFone_2_ZE551ML/ nice bezels on their site, but in live it’s horrifying to see this Fone
Looks very thin on their site
Have to commend Asus on this one. Blind them with 4gb of ram and a ultra low price and they will completely overlook the non-removable battery and non-expandable memory.
Good marketing play.
Non-expandable memory? Where did you read that? Look again… It supports MicroSD card (up to 64 GB).
And about the non-removable battery, there are pros and cons, just like there is for the removable batteries.
Oh snap you got me (about the SD card), getting old.
1 point for you.
Great prices but ffs, could they not figure out a naming scheme for their phones that makes more sense to people?? The two 5.5 inch variants (one with 720, 2gb ram and the 1080, 4 gb ram) have identical names.
that dude on the youtube is pretty hard on the device.
bezels don’t bother me, the rush to zero bezel is dumb, in my opinion
Yeah. The dimensions are supposed to be slightly smaller than the IPhone 6 plus! So it can’t be that bad since it’s the same screen size. And for the price…
The iPhone 6 and 6+ are ugly.
Have to commend Asus on this one. Blind them with 4gb of ram and a ultra low price and they will completely overlook the non-removable battery and non-expandable memory.
Good marketing play.
Non-expandable memory? Where did you read that? Look again… It supports MicroSD card (up to 64 GB).
And about the non-removable battery, there are pros and cons, just like there is for the removable batteries.
Oh snap you got me (about the SD card), getting old.
1 point for you.
Z2560 in the 5″? Why, Asus, Whyyyyyy?
I’d easily pay 200 for that if you put an Z3560 in it
Z2560 in the 5″? Why, Asus, Whyyyyyy?
I’d easily pay 200 for that if you put an Z3560 in it
Why on earth I wud need 4GB ???!?! jeezzz come ooon . marketing , this is too much
Real games and multitasking. Smartphones ram is used in a different way than on a PC. 4 GB won’t be enough very very soon.
just bcos of stupid gamez nothing else !
Bit of an LG G3 copy isn’t it with the volume rocker and the case/quick circle type thing..?
I agree with the volume button but the circle case has been first founded by Asus and I think they didn’t launched the circle case before G3 has launched a in the market. So, LG copied Asus.
This comment was deleted.
Real games and multitasking. Smartphones ram is used in a different way than on a PC. 4 GB won’t be enough very very soon.
Bit of an LG G3 copy isn’t it with the volume rocker and the case/quick circle type thing..?
I agree with the volume button but the circle case has been first founded by Asus and I think they didn’t launched the circle case before G3 has launched a in the market. So, LG copied Asus.
You don’t need 4gb ram!
You don’t need 4gb ram!
the 4GB RAM version against MT6752 http://browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench3/compare/2085702?baseline=2076382
the 2GB version with slower SoC vs the MT6732 http://browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench3/compare/2075551?baseline=2057485
the 4GB RAM version against MT6752 http://browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench3/compare/2085702?baseline=2076382
the 2GB version with slower SoC vs the MT6732 http://browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench3/compare/2075551?baseline=2057485