Asus is bringing new version of its Zenfone 2 to the US, including a $399 model with 128GB of storage and a new low-cost model with a starting price of $199 and one new feature: laser auto-focus.

Earlier this year I reviewed (and liked) a Zenfone 2 with an Intel processor, 4GB of RAM, and a $299 price tag. But the Zenfone 2 family has expanded quite a bit. You can buy models with less RAM, slower processors, and other differences. And this summer Asus launched the Zenfone 2 Deluxe and Laser editions in select markets.

Now versions of those two phones are coming to the US.

asus zenfone 2 laser

Asus Zenfone 2 Laser ZE551KL

Unlike the international version of the Zenfone 2 Laser, this model is the same size and shape as the original Zenfone 2. But there are a few key differences under the hood.

The phone gets its name thanks to the laser-assisted autofocus feature for the rear camera. It also has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor instead of an Intel Atom chip.

Asus charges $199 for a model with 3GB of RAM and 16GB of storage or $249 for a version with 32GB of storage. The phone has a 5.5 inch, 1920 x 1080 pixel IPS display, a 3,000 mAh battery, a 13MP rear camera, and 5MP front camera.

It’s a dual SIM GSM phone with support for 4G LTE (although only one SIM can connect to 3G/4G service at a time). The phone also features 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, and has a microSD card slot for up to 128GB of removable storage.

The Zenfone 2 Laser ships with Android 5.0 Lollipop software.

Asus Zenfone 2 Deluxe

This phone is basically identical to the model I reviewed this summer, except it has 128GB of storage instead of 64GB.

Asus also tends to sell this model with fancier looking rear covers, but since the back panels are removable and swappable, that’s really not that special a feature.

zenfone 2 delux_01

Anyway, the phone has a 5.5 inch, 1920 x 1080 pixel IPS display, an Intel Atom Z3580 processor, 4GB of RAM, a 13MP rear camera, a 5MP front camera, 802.11ac WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, 4G LTE, and a 3,000 mAh battery.

The phone has a microSD card slot for up to 64GB of removable storage, support for NFC, and dual SIM card slots (although one only supports 2G network speeds).

All told, this model offers more storage, more memory, faster WiFi, and a different chip architecture. It also has a much higher price tag: it sells for $399 at the Asus Store and Newegg.

via Android Central

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11 replies on “Asus Zenfone 2 Laser, Deluxe launch in the US for $199 and up”

  1. Good luck actually buying one of these in Asia. Here in Indonesia there’s “no stock”. Even if you can find one, it’s the low end POS. Doesn’t matter – the thing is soooo LOADED with unremovable BLOATWARE it isn’t worth it.

    1. In Thailand they’re being sold in droves, all the different models of Z2. They work well, are very reasonably priced, sturdy, and get updated. It’s not stock Android, but it’s quite good.

      1. Hmmm. Glad things are going well in the Thailand ASUS world. But I stand by my take on the situation here in Indonesia. Hard to find, and only the low-end models loaded with bloatware.

      2. The Zenfone2 Laser finally shows up in Indonesia. It looks like the P.O.Sh**t has a dumbed-down Qualcom Soc (412?), and only a 720p display. The device I held briefly looks FULL of BLOATWARE, plus the Horrrible ZenUI bloated overlay. It runs Android 5, not 5.1 (you will likely Never see an update of any kind). To be fair though, the price is lower here at around the equivalent of $160 bucks includind sales tax (PPN). Some say seeing the thing for a little cheaper. The “Big Box” stores here are currently carrying them; e.g., Lotte Mart and Carrefour. ASUS Fails Again! But at least this time the device is actually available to buy – not that you would want to 🙁

        1. What phone are you comparing to, that you dislike it so much? We don’t have a Zenfone 2, but we have various other zenfones (but only Intel) and I love them for their price-performance ratio. They have all gotten fairly frequent updates too, so I don’t expect that will change with the 2. The bloatware doesn’t get in my way, and I have run different kinds of roms like cyanogenmod in the past (on other phones).

  2. Typical 3rd party manufacture, diluting the brand instead of supporting whats already out there (still running 5.0). This phone is LOADED with bugs, thats why i returned it.

    Its also why Im going with apple next, i dont even trust nexus anymore. Apple is still the only company that “gets” modern technology.

    1. If Apple was really the only company that gets modern technology, technology would still be the preserve of the wealthy, and billions would still be without.

      Seriously, if you’re expecting the same type of experience from a feature-rich smartphone that costs less than half that of a new iPhone, then you’re the one who doesn’t get it.

      Asus has been a major driver in creating a new mid-range feature-rich smartphone market that didn’t even exist 12 months ago. They most certainly “get it”, just not the way you want it, apparently.

      1. Broken, buggy, unsupported, bloatware filled mess. This phone could be great hardware wise but it isnt a great phone because of the brand backing it. They cant charge what apple does because no1 would buy it so they are forced to install their own apps which have enormous permission privileges to sale your data.

        Apples high cost isnt for the hardware its for the 1st class developers, community, support, updates, & stores.

        What apple “gets” is that tech should be seamless & not something you fight with. Theres a reason google & MS are copying several of apples initiatives.

          1. I imagine those are just pro-apple trolls rather than ‘real’ people giving an honest opinion

    2. So as someone who actually owns a Zenfone 2, i can confirm that it isn’t “loaded with bugs”

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