I guess this is cheapest ZenFone 2 ZE551ML 5.5-inch 16GB LTE Dual SIM Factory Unlocked RED so far.
$242.10 delivered with coupon code C10AUS
5.5" Screen
Dual SIM
includes band 28
And roid OS, v5.0 (Lollipop)
Intel Atom Z3580 Quad-core 1.8 GHz
microSD, up to 64 GB
Internal 16 GB, 4 GB RAM
Thanks to claud9902 for the coupon code, and remember to use cashback.
Original 10% off Selected Categories on eBay deal
Picked up a Gray one for the same price!
this or xiaomi redmi note 3?
I also wanted to know the answer to this question.
Is the camera on this Asus better quality than the Xiaomi?
Camera is better
Photos taken using Zenfone 2's camera are slightly better because of its auto contrast setting (on by default) which in other words, editing the photos you take on-the-spot before saving so that they'll look nice.
But that end up causing some delay before you can take the next photo, especially on low light situations where the phone will somehow struggle. So the enhancements are mostly done on the software side, and the phone would sometimes struggle when recording video (choppy framerates on a whim) regardless of how strong its processor Intel claims to be.
cheers for that.
The 2.3GHz 4GB 64GB variant is the best but make sure you get the Taiwan model for B28.
Qualcomm processor is better despite being slower because of the QC compatibility.
The typing is annoying.
No lanyard hole
Cheap spare parts
Check on GSMarena for a better one, but the 2.3GHz 4GB 64GB variant has one of the top specs since its release
I've been using the Zenfone 2 64GB+4GB RAM for about 10 months now and recently got a Redmi Note 3 32GB+3GB RAM and I would recommend the RN3 instead.
I can't remember the benchmarks but the Snapdragon 650 performs much better. ZF2's processor just can't properly maintain its graphics performance. A simple example: Tiny Tower, which shouldn't be graphically demanding, has choppy framerates delivering your bitizens on the elevator using the ZF2, but ridiculously smooth on the RN3.
Now, perhaps the game's not properly optimised for Intel chips and that's the second con, where there are, and will have, apps and games that won't run on Intel chips (like Pokemon Go initially and even though it can now, the latest version still has graphic glitches).
Camera photo quality from ZF2 is better, but performance isn't with sometimes choppy video framerates and longer delays before you can take the next photo due to the camera app enhancing the photo you took (you can turn off the auto-contrast setting but then it becomes RN3's level), compared to RN3's more reliable and snappy camera performance.
There are nice tweaks in Asus's software like double-tap-to-wake and closer-to-stock ROM (compared to MIUI) but it's still stuck in 5.0 (because Intel) so MIUI gets better software support, if you can get used to how it works compared to stock Android.
So overall, RN3 is better in performance, battery (4000 mAh vs 3000 mAh, but ZF2 has fast-charging), and camera. Software-wise it depends on yourself.
Official marshmallow update is out. I've had it on for a few weeks now. I wouldn't expect any further major updates to OS though. Just tweaks and security patches (which Asus is actually pretty good at releasing).
"And roid OS, v5.0 (Lollipop)"
Roids? Just say no!
Do you even lollipop bro?
Does it include a 64GB SD card?
No mention of it in the E-bay listing.
Might need a title change.
Is Quad 1.8 enough for dual SIM and 4G browsing etc?
Mine is ridiculously fast, no lag for new HD games / videos etc
Downside is slow software updates (only just got 6.0), plastic is a bit cheap.
As a Redmi note 3 user I like my phone. Fingerprint sensor is snappy and more convenient/practical than I expected.
Not sure how Zenfone 2's processor power compares to RN3, but even if it was a bit better I would take RN3 for its 4000mah battery rather than Zenfone's 3000mah.
I've just replaced my Zenfone 2 with a Redmi 3S.
Zenfone was disappointing. Battery was terrible, other hardware unreliable. Finally the touchscreen was registering phantom touches, clicking links I didn't want or scrolling pages while I tried to read them.
Very impressed by the Xiaomi after a week. Battery is amazing. I found the 5.5 screen just too big for my pockets, so happy with a smaller unit. Haven't noticed the camera being much different.
Be careful about band 28 LTE though. I commute through low- and no-network areas and I notice more dead spots with the new phone than the Zenfone (which was a tw model so had band 28; the HK models don't).
Wouldn't be too surprised if they "accidentally" listed the Z3580 and the actual phone came with a Z3560 instead…
Doesn't mean it is clocked to this speed. That speed might exceed its thermal limit.
I'm not an expert here, so might be wrong.
So what's the actual clock speed for this chipset? Don't they refer to the maximum clock speed when they say clock speed?
I can't find any specification saying 1.8GHz.
Yes, the small battery is a concern for the Dial SIM particularly.
If I recall the second SIM is 2G, making it next to useless in the near future.
I've asked the seller to confirm a couple of these things and if the SD is dedicated or shared.
SD slot is dedicated.
Bloody good phone esp. at this price point.
I got this phone last year and I wouldn't really recommend it - I've had a myriad of problems and right now it won't turn on at all. This is the 2nd time this has happened and I'm pretty sure it comes from connecting it to PC so I have to wait a few weeks for it to discharge.
I never really got used to the back volume buttons after a year of use, and removing the back is very difficult if you don't learn the correct technique.
Do a bit of reading from other owners here: https://www.reddit.com/r/zenfone2/
I have had mine for a year and the battery life is middling like others have reported here. I have a RN3 Pro on the way and it beats this by far.
Haven't had the issues others have had, asus are good at updates but i can't even view photos on PC now, so this phone is starting to break down. Build quality is crap too.
I would highly recommend people buy a Xiaomi or some other phone instead.
That being said, qd are a great store fast postage no issues. Here's hoping asus have learnt and the new zenfone is better
Had this phone problems all round speaker went out pretty quickly, glass screen protector didn't crack but the screen did, battery life nearly lasted a day. And some others.
Good price. Bought one for my wife in Oct 2015 for $287.20 delivered. Highly recommended. Just beware there are numerous preinstalled ASUS bloatwares.
I have this phone and its been brilliant apart from the back cover; which you get a spare in Deluxe Edition. There's a simple way of opening the back but I tend to always forget so damage can occur. I highly recommend flashing a different ROM as this has made a difference dramatically on this device.
10.9mm thick, deal breaker for me.
No problems with connecting to PC.
The battery is not great, but with a fast charger, or a battery pack, you're fine. Alternatively, put it in energy saving mode.
The back is so easy to take off, i really dont know how this could be difficult.
The volume buttons are difficult to push if in your hand, but much easier to push if its in your pocket, where your phone generally is. I have no real preference, but it wasn't a random design decision.
Not an all day phone but if you're in and out of home or the office, its decent.
Buy a smart cover cheap from one of the China shops, 5 buckers.
Oh, boy. This, the Nexus 5x, a xiaomi, Sony M5 or maybe a nextbit…