If you want to own an Asus Zenfone 2 smartphone but sees the 12k+ price of the 4GB RAM model too expensive, the Zenfone 2 model no. ZE500CL is intended for you.
It’s considerably cheaper at about ₱7,000 but has a smaller 5-inch screen with 720p resolution. It’s more of an updated Zenfone 5 with 4G LTE connectivity and a better Intel processor.
The Asus Zenfone 2 (ZE500CL) runs on the same processor as the Zenfone 5 – the Intel Atom Z2560. This chipset is composed of a 1.6GHz dual core CPU with HyperThreading so it acts like a quad core one, a PowerVR SGX544MP2 graphics renderer and 2GB of RAM.
It comes with Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the box but still with the Asus Zen UI customizations on top. It’s interesting how the flat and beautiful Zen UI integrate with Lollipop’s material design.
The cameras remain unchanged though. You still have an 8MP unit at the back and a 2MP front snapper. Both feature PixelMaster technology which does wonders in low light photography.
| The 5-inch Zenfone 2 side by side with its 5.5-inch brother. |
On the positive side, the Asus Zenfone 2 (ZE500CL) boasts 4G LTE connectivity for faster mobile internet although that is dependent on your area.
The screen is protected by a layer of Gorilla Glass 3 while the buttons and the chin are embellished with concentric patterns. The volume buttons has been relocated to the back of the device just below the camera module.
Powering everything is a 2,500mAh Li-Po battery which is non-removable. The Taiwan launch puts the price of the Asus Zenfone 2 (ZE500CL) at NT$4,990 which is around ₱7,000 when converted. The 16GB version of the Asus Zenfone 5 currently retails for ₱6,995.
