Secrets of the asus zenfone 2 ze551ml 32gb smartphone.

Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML is a 5.5-inch smartphone with flagship specifications and good value for money. Last year, Asus released a line of budget Zenfone. Now the company decided to “step up” to a higher level and presented a device with an average price tag and flagship parameters.

At the same time, in some respects the smartphone still remained at an average level. Yes, it is powerful and productive for all tasks and is equipped with 4 GB of RAM. It has an excellent set of wireless interfaces, including LTE and dual-band high-speed Wi-Fi, an NFC chip, two SIM card slots with two radio modules, and even an advanced USB with OTG support. You can also praise the clear screen with Full HD resolution, Gorilla Glass 3 protection, color settings and glove mode.

At the middle level, only the cameras and battery remained. At the same time, the smartphone turned out to be heavy, and the thickness of the convex body reaches indecent values ​​for a flagship. The 13 MP main camera is noticeably inferior in quality to many competitors. But the 5 MP front camera is perfect for selfie lovers. As for the battery, it was also a weak point in previous Zenfone. Despite the rather large capacity of 3000 mAh, it discharges quite quickly with active use. Sometimes we didn’t have enough charge for even one day - only uncomfortable options saved us, for example, energy saving mode, turning off Wi-Fi and a number of similar “tricks”.

The dimensions of the device measured by us: 152.5 × 77.2 × 11.1 mm, the thickness slightly exceeded that specified by the manufacturer (10.9 mm), weight about 175 grams. The smartphone can be called heavy for its diagonal. Samsung Galaxy Note 4 weighs about the same - 176 grams, despite the fact that it is 0.2 inches larger. There’s also nothing flattering to say about the thickness—like many public sector employees. At the same time, Asus Zenfone 2 is convex in shape - thinner at the edges and thicker towards the center.

The Asus Zenfone 2 case is collapsible, the cover can be removed after a little effort. Underneath you can see the non-removable battery. The build quality is good, but under the cover you can see a small gap, into which a little dust has accumulated over two weeks. During the tests, the smartphone almost did not lose its presentation and was only slightly worn out.

Comfortable use of one hand is out of the question; you will often have to use both hands. The power key has been moved to the top - it’s uncomfortable to reach with your finger. However, the display can be unlocked by double-tapping on the screen. But turning off the screen is still inconvenient. The volume keys on the back are reminiscent of LG smartphones, for example, but the company logos on the backs will prevent them from being confused.

The Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML 4GB smartphone can be purchased in black, white, silver, red and gold colors.

Screen - 4.8

The Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML smartphone has a high-quality display with a diagonal of 5.5 inches. It has an IPS matrix and Full HD resolution (1920×1080 pixels), Gorilla Glass 3 protective glass, a very effective oleophobic coating and glove mode. The pixel density is 401 per inch, the image is clear, individual pixels are visible only if you look closely at the screen. Viewing angles are average for an IPS matrix. The ratio of the display area to the surface area of ​​the smartphone is about 70%, which is not that large due to the wide side frames for a flagship. Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML has a glove mode, it is very sensitive.

The maximum brightness we measured was 311 cd/m2, the display is far from the brightest. The minimum luminosity of a white background is 24 cd/m2, which is uncomfortable for reading in the dark. The auto-brightness function works adequately for lighting conditions. On a sunny day, it’s difficult to read anything from the display, but it’s still possible. At the same time, if you shoot something on the street, absolutely nothing is visible on the display, it is unclear what exactly will be included in the frame and what will not. Separately, we note the ability to customize color rendering in the Splendid application.

Camera

Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML is equipped with average quality cameras for its resolution. The main 13 MP takes pictures well only in normal lighting, and the front 5 MP is suitable for selfie lovers.

The maximum photo resolution is 4128 × 3096 pixels, the arsenal includes autofocus, dual flash, HDR mode, image stabilization and panorama shooting. Like most smartphones, there is a face detection mode, white balance settings, ISO (up to 800) and exposure. The camera is equipped with modes for shooting in low light, shooting GIF animations, miniatures, and so on.

As for the photo quality, it does not reach the flagship level in terms of detail. Autofocus does not always work the first time; you will have to either press the screen or take several photos at once. Good pictures can be taken in bright light, but as soon as the lighting deteriorates, noise appears in the photo and the frames are no longer pleasing to the eye.

The maximum video resolution is 1920x1080 pixels, the shooting speed is 30 frames per second. There is simultaneous shooting of photos and videos, video stabilization, but if you turn it on, the video resolution is cut to 1280x720 pixels. We did not find tracking autofocus during shooting; focusing occurs only by pressing the display.

The front camera takes photos with a resolution of 2560×1920 pixels. You can take panoramic selfies or use HDR mode. “Portrait enhancement” has received advanced settings: adding blush, adjusting the “softness” of the skin, brightening it, separately enlarging the eyes and the ability to make the cheeks thinner. As a result, the photograph turns out to be an alien or a character from a horror movie.

Photo from camera Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML - 2.9

Photos from the front camera of Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML - 2.9

Working with text - 5.0

The Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML comes pre-installed with a convenient proprietary keyboard with Swype support, additional character layout and a number of other features. You can switch between languages ​​using a separate key, set up a personal dictionary, or enable word prediction. There is an option to adjust the keyboard height or even the stroke thickness for handwriting input.

Internet - 4.0

In addition to Chrome, the smartphone comes pre-installed with the proprietary ASUS Browser with a bunch of convenient functions. You can work with at least 20 open tabs thanks to 4 GB of RAM. Chrome has the ability to sync tabs and history with the desktop version of the browser. Asus Browser has a separate mode for reading, saving and printing pages.

Communications - 5.0

Zenfone 2 ZE551ML is the owner of a flagship set of wireless interfaces. Two SIM card slots (with two separate radio modules), LTE, dual-band Wi-Fi, NFC chip, GPS with GLONASS support. Even the USB connector is not simple: with OTG support for connecting peripherals. The dual-SIM Zenfone 2 has its own peculiarity - data transfer over the network only works from the first SIM card.

Multimedia - 3.0

Zenfone 2 ZE551ML supports most common audio and video formats. For music, the device refused to play FLAC and AC-3 files. Videos of TS, WMV, MOV and MPG formats were not launched from the video. At the same time, the smartphone coped with 2K and 4K video. The built-in video player is not very functional. Often he has problems even just rewinding the video. But the audio player offers an equalizer with several presets and manual settings for different frequencies. When listening with headphones, you can turn on bass boost and surround sound. In general, we can call the sound quality in the headphones included in the set average.

Battery - 2.9

Zenfone 2 failed to please us with top-end battery life during testing. In the video test, the smartphone lasted 8 hours 20 minutes, which is not bad and comparable to Huawei Honor 6 or Sony Xperia Z3. But the device failed several tests in player mode, discharging on average in 27 hours. And it's not just this mode. The battery was often not enough for one day of active use. Especially if you keep Wi-Fi on all the time and do not disable the constant search for networks.

At the same time, in the energy settings there is a choice between optimized mode, energy saving mode and custom mode. The manufacturer claims that with fast charging technology, Asus Boost Master Zenfone 2 charges up to 60% in 39 minutes. In our test, the smartphone charged to 60% in 43 minutes, a little longer, but still impressive.

Performance - 3.9

Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML 4 GB is powerful enough for all tasks that smartphones face. The device is equipped with a quad-core 64-bit Intel Atom Z3580 processor and 4 GB of RAM. Any applications, demanding games - he can handle everything. In daily use it works quickly.

It is worth keeping in mind that the model has a version with 2 GB of RAM and a slightly weaker processor. But you won't lose much by purchasing a simpler model. The only difference we noticed is that heavy games load a few seconds faster, and 4 GB at once allows you to store several games or surf the Internet calmly with 20 open tabs in different browsers.

At the same time, no matter how many applications or tabs you open, the system always tries to keep at least 0.7-1 GB of RAM free. If this threshold is exceeded, some applications are thrown out of RAM and loaded again when accessed again. In general, this is a common thing, but there is a feeling that the last gigabyte of RAM is needed for show or characteristics. The Asus Zenfone 2 easily handled any games we put on it, from Minion Rush with My Little Pony to NOVA 3 and Asphalt 8. At the same time, the back of the smartphone heats up to 42.8 degrees.

As for benchmarks, the results are comparable to top smartphones - 46211 in AnTuTu and 15842 points in Ice Storm Unlimited from 3DMark. In GeekBench 3, Zenfone 2 received about 2900 points, comparable to the results.

Memory - 5.0

The Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML smartphone has several different modifications: with , , or GB of permanent memory for data storage. We tested a copy with 32 GB, of which only 25.5 GB was available to the user. This volume is sufficient for most cases. At the same time, it is expandable using a microSD card up to 64 GB. The phone supports hot swapping. Many applications can be installed or transferred from the phone memory to the SD card.

Peculiarities

Zenfone 2 ZE551ML runs Android 5.0 Lollipop OS and its own ZenUI interface. The smartphone is dual-SIM and equipped with two radio modules. We would especially like to mention the price-quality ratio; the device claims to be a flagship, but costs like a mid-level model.

The device has many unusual functions and a large number of applications pre-installed. Such an abundance of everything at once can make an inexperienced user’s head spin. Among the interesting things we can mention is the Splendid utility for adjusting the color rendering of an image, an application for transferring data from an old smartphone, for backing up the system, and a separate one for creating collages from several images. Everything else is pretty much a standard set of software, most of which you are unlikely to ever use.

Among the special functions is a one-handed control mode, turning on the display by double-clicking on it. Like Huawei Honor 4X and 4C, touch gestures work on the smartphone. When the screen is off, you can draw one of 6 letters with your finger: W, S, E, C, Z or V to launch an application. You can find out which ones in the settings or assign them yourself.

Competitors

The price for Asus Zenfone 2 4GB ZE551ML with 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage is 19,000 rubles. Usually it is compared with some flagships or modern top-end devices. We will name 5.5-inch smartphones from approximately the same price range as competitors - lightweight Asus Zenfone 2 ZE550ML, Lenovo Vibe Z2 and Huawei Honor 4X.

An easier comparison to start with is the Zenfone 2 ZE550ML. The models are similar in most respects, but the 551st costs 4 thousand more. The difference is that the 550 does not have an NFC chip, a less clear display (HD vs Full HD), weaker hardware, but still a fast processor and only 16 GB of permanent memory. In our tests, the more expensive Zenfone lasted a little longer. However, most users are unlikely to notice the difference in displays and performance; it is not critical.

Lenovo Vibe Z2 wins in size, battery life, brighter display and the use of metal in the body. At the same time, the Vibe Z2 is several thousand more expensive, there is no slot for a memory card, its screen resolution is lower, and its processor is much weaker.

Huawei Honor 4X - costs only 12 thousand rubles, it is thinner, also with a collapsible body, but a non-removable battery. The Honor 4X's cameras are even slightly better and work about the same on a single charge. At the same time, it is noticeably inferior in the amount of built-in memory, processor performance and wireless interfaces - Honor 4X has LTE, but does not have NFC and dual-band Wi-Fi.

This time there will be an unusual structure review and I'll explain why. Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML is a very interesting smartphone due to its characteristics and, of course, price. It has an excellent display, powerful hardware - we’ll definitely talk about all this below. However, it is in the case of Zenfone 2 that I specifically want to highlight the software component.

On top of the Android 5.0 available right out of the box, the proprietary Asus ZenUI shell is installed here, which is not only stylish, beautiful and convenient, it also significantly expands the capabilities of the device. There are a lot of different settings and everything is presented in a very clear form. I highly recommend that potential owners of the device do not skip this section of the review. The branded shell here is a truly competitive advantage. I will tell you about the most interesting points that I found important and interesting. Go!

ZenUI - an add-on for the OS

Let's start with desktops. In the settings mode, you can edit anything: there are many different interface themes, you can separately change sets of icons, edit the style of folders and the location of icons inside, set live wallpapers, and so on. Animated wallpapers, by the way, are presented here directly from the manufacturer, besides, of course, those poor ones from Google. Unfortunately, not all of them work smoothly enough. The animation may be poorly developed, or perhaps too many hardware resources are spent.

There are really a lot of settings and you can customize the phone immediately after it is taken out of the package. There is no need to install any dubious software or obtain Root rights. People who are far from w3bsit3-dns.com will be happy to receive everything at once without unnecessary movements.

The Asus Launcher shell (ZenUI) seemed to me one of the best on the market in terms of flexibility and appearance.

The only worthy competitor for it, it seems to me, is the interface from Huawei called .

I’ll highlight one great feature for lazy users. In the application list settings there is a “Smart Folder” item. When you click on it, all available applications are grouped by genre into their own folders. The result is only two screens with programs instead of fifteen.

You can put a password on some shortcuts, while others can simply be hidden from prying eyes.

The system works very well. There are no crashes, glitches, freezes, or brakes in sight. Interface animation flies.

Switching between applications occurs with barely noticeable delays and, if we agree that the maximum speed is 100%, then everything here works at about 90-95 percent, not lower. Even the Gallery loads all photos very quickly and there is no noticeable block loading of each image, which can be seen on some devices from competitors.

The screen can be turned off or, conversely, activated by double tapping on its surface. Very convenient functionality that you instantly get used to.

The developers even provided a special children's mode, for which special thanks to them. Once activated, only a limited number of apps are available to your child, which you approve in advance. Exiting the mode requires a password, so children who are smart beyond their years are unlikely to be able to do this on their own. Incoming calls are subject to restrictions, although this point can be configured in detail as needed.

I also liked the fact that you can set the time for games in advance from 15 minutes to infinity. Thus, you let your child play and warn you in advance that you will only have an hour of play, and then the phone will turn into a pumpkin. Whether the child believes it or not is no longer your concern.

It's nice that the manufacturer didn't forget to install a note editor. As many as two pieces. You can enter text as usual using the keyboard, or you can use it to draw your own scribbles. The system does not recognize them, but only puts them in the line as is.

For some reason, many companies have decided to abandon these applications, although users often need to write something down quickly. It gets to the point where some people make notes when creating new contacts! It looks creepy when in the phone book there is a subscriber called “Lunch at the Housing Office from 12 to 13.”

The argument “Why is it needed when you can download any notepad from Google Play” does not apply. Usually, when the need arises to write down something, there is no time to go into the jungle of the application store and look for something suitable there. Traditionally, few people think about such moments in advance.

Now let's look at how you can keep all your existing applications in good shape. Firstly, there is a tool for setting up autorun. Some utilities strive to start automatically after a reboot. The user, of course, is not aware, and meanwhile the application is actively eating up battery power.

In the same window you can see the brush icon, by clicking on which you can clear the RAM of any debris hanging there.

For example, I'm tired of seeing how the default firewall Dr. Safety lit up in the status bar for any reason, even if it seemed like something there. Well, I don’t need the functionality of such applications! Why was it decided differently for me?

In addition to this, on smartphone a whole bunch of different “vital” programs are preinstalled.

This includes the social network ZenCircle, like Instagram, and task managers What`s Next or Do Later, and applications for transferring data between devices, and all kinds of advertising utilities. Some of this may actually be useful someday, but most of it is just garbage that traditionally cannot be avoided. Removing them using standard means is not so easy.

I didn’t like the fact that built-in applications such as Messages or Calls do not display new SMS or missed calls in real time.

You don't always look at the notification panel and it's easy to lose sight of the fact that you received a call. However, in all other places in the system, if information is updated, a tiny “N” icon will hang above the menu item, which obviously means “New”.

There are many functional and not so functional widgets. Many of them look stylish, informative and generally do not violate the feng shui of the interface.

Design

If I didn’t know what Asus Zenfone 2 looks like, and it fell into my hands without any identification marks on the case, I would easily guess, if not the manufacturer, then at least the region where it is located. You see, everything flows, everything changes, and large Asian players continue to pursue their line in design. I don't take the Chinese into account. The leaders in this regard are, of course, Samsung, but our Asus is not lagging behind. All of them cannot break the vicious circle of endless, little different from each other plastic brick phones. They are trying to move the buttons, add new colors (white, gold and even pink), body texture, make metal inserts, and the phones, just as they were faceless bricks, remain so now.

Zenfone 2 is a clear representative (or maybe a victim) of this kind of Asian conservatism. Yes, some elements of the appearance look good, but only individually. If you put everything together, it turns out boring and uninteresting.

Well, it doesn’t play, the smartphone in your hand doesn’t ring, no matter how you look at it.

I'll tell you about the main nuances of operation. The first thing that catches your attention is the back. It is streamlined, the corners are beveled closer to the ribs, due to which you can cheat a little.

The specifications state that the thickness of the device is a mind-blowing 3.9mm, but unfortunately we are talking about the thinnest edge. In the middle, the device is a bit thick and it’s not customary to hold it in your hands while all manufacturers are fighting for every tenth of a millimeter. Here it is 10.8 mm and all of them are felt, believe me, in full.

As for the width, everything is not that simple here either. The device is really wide, and overall quite large. For those who love compact smartphones, our hero is not suitable. All dimensions are shown below in comparison with some key competitors.

The wide frames on the sides of the display are very confusing. Actually, at other ends they are also quite large. Below is an example of an image from the official website and an actual photo taken by me. In the first picture, the display is artificially stretched across the area of ​​the device and it is impossible to estimate the actual width of the frames.

Above the screen there is a front camera, a speaker grid, proximity and ambient light sensors, as well as an LED indicator for various events. The thing is necessary, useful.

The behavior of the automatic backlight brightness is also important. For the most part, the system copes with this task without problems, but if necessary, the backlight slider can be adjusted independently. A small thing, but very important.

The situation with touch control keys is interesting. I criticize phones in which buttons are part of the interface, since they sometimes eat up the useful area of ​​​​the virtual interface. At the same time, I criticize phones where the buttons are located on the body, as a result of which it is difficult to hold the smartphone in a horizontal position - there is a high chance of accidentally touching some touch key and leaving, for example, the game at the wrong moment.

I can’t criticize Zenfone 2 in this regard. The touch buttons here are shifted closer to the display, and there is enough space under them to make it comfortable to hold the device in your hands. Eh, today is not my day!

Although no, there was still a negative point. The symbols of the touch keys are not illuminated and in the dark it is not clear where to press.

The physical keys here are scattered, each in their own corners. The power button is located on the top end. Its movement is completely indistinct and is not accompanied by any noticeable click, which is why there is no desire to press it again. Fortunately, you can wake up your smartphone with a double tap on the glass.

The volume keys are on the back. “Just like in the machines!” - you exclaim and you will be right. The approach is correct, the location is convenient, so why not.

It’s confusing that above the volume control there is a peephole for the main camera, which also protrudes above the surface of the body. The lens will quickly scratch, as can be clearly seen in the photo below.

The multimedia speaker is again located on the back of the device. The sound it produces is not bad, moderately clear, but somehow quiet - not above average.

A whole scattering of different colors will be available for sale: gray, red, white, red, black and (where would we be without it?) gold. The classic dark gray that we have in our review, in my opinion, looks the worst.

Display

The device has a large, 5.5-inch screen with Full HD resolution. The dot density is a more than adequate 403 ppi. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 with high-quality oleophobic coating.

The touch layer here is very sensitive, and you don’t even need to activate the mode of working with the device while wearing gloves. It feels like sometimes you don’t even have time to touch the surface of the screen, but the interface has already responded to the touch. About the same thing was observed in .

Considering that the screen installed here is rather large, it is logical that the developers added a one-handed control mode. To activate it, just double-tap on the touch icon with the house and the entire interface will shrink into a small window. Its size, by the way, can be stretched at your discretion.

The richness of the picture, the contrast - everything is at a very high level, for which we can thank the IPS matrix. Viewing angles are generally good, but even a slight deviation produces a slightly noticeable greenish tint. Of course, everything here is not as critical as in Samsung products (not counting).

You can evaluate this parameter yourself by following the link in. Below or on the right in those images is the hero of today’s review.

Specifications Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML

• Intel Atom Z3580 processor 2.3 GHz (64-bit, 4 cores, 2 MB L2 cache)
• PowerVR G6430 video chip
• RAM 4 GB LPDDR3-1600 (about 2.8 GB free, dual-channel)
• built-in storage 16 / 32, of which 25.53 GB or 64 GB are available for data storage
• Supports Micro SD memory cards up to 64 GB
• IPS 5.5" display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels (403 ppi)
• main camera 13 MP (autofocus)
• front camera 5 MP (fixed focus)
• battery 3000 mAh
• connectors: 3.5 mm audio output, Micro USB 2.0 (OTG supported), two slots for Micro SIM cards
• Android OS version 5.0
• sensors: light and proximity sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, electronic compass
• Dimensions 152.5 x 77.2 x 3.9 - 10.8 mm
• weight 170 g

Wireless interfaces:

• 2G, 3G, 4G (LTE Cat 4)
• Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 4.0, NFC
• Navigation: GPS, GLONASS, Beidou
• FM radio

I'll tell you a little more about the processor. So, the “brains” here are a system based on an Intel Atom Z3580 chip with a clock frequency of 2.3 GHz. By the way, there is also a modification with the Intel Atom Z3560 model and a frequency reduced to 1.8 GHz, and in addition, with 2 gigabytes of memory installed as RAM. We are testing a more advanced solution.

The processor belongs to the Moorefield family and is manufactured using 22-nanometer technology. The declared frequency is the maximum level that is achieved in rare, necessary cases.

The graphics are handled by the PowerVR G6430 video accelerator, which is also used in the Apple A7 processor (iPhone 5S). The only difference is that Asus engineers slightly increased the operating frequencies to 533 MHz at peak. In terms of performance, the chip is slightly ahead of the Adreno 330 (Qualcomm Snapdragon 800), but still inferior to the Adreno 420 or the older solution from the PowerVR G6450 family. The latter is part of the Apple A8, which is installed in or 6 Plus.

3G or LTE are available only on one SIM card - on the first one. The second is equipped with a 2G module, which is suitable for voice calls. It is impossible to change the settings, as this is a hardware limitation.

Performance is enough for games of any level. Asphalt 8, Dead Trigger 2 (for some reason it launched on low settings), Modern Combat 5 - everywhere the device showed its best performance even at high graphics settings.

Having four gigabytes of RAM is a definite benefit. Even with a dozen open tabs in the browser (Chrome) and the same number of background applications running, performance does not drop in any way. Open Internet pages do not reload on their own.

Front-camera

A 5-megapixel sensor with a wide-angle lens is installed on the front so that the whole family can fit into the frame. This is a real haven for selfie lovers. You can make your skin porcelain, remove blemishes, add blush, enlarge the shape of your eyes, remove the cheeks that you managed to eat at the grocery store. In general, everything that the average Asian needs.

In general, the front sensor produces fairly good images. The quality fully satisfies the existing level among smartphones.

Main camera

The rear camera is a 13-megapixel module with a 5-lens lens and f/ 2.0 aperture. The resolution of the images is 4096 x 3072 pixels. Perhaps this is one of the weakest points of the smartphone. The camera here is of average quality. The automatic machine often makes mistakes with the exposure, the edges of some photos turn out to be blurry, and somehow there is too much noise in the photo. On the phone screen the pictures look very good, but on a large monitor everything doesn’t look the best. Examples of photos taken in various conditions below.

What the device doesn't lack for is various shooting settings. There are a lot of them, starting from standard HDR functions, ending with the now fashionable variable depth of field, shooting 3D panoramas, and so on.

At first glance, the maximum resolution mode looks interesting, when the size of the final images reaches 51 megapixels (8192 x 6144 pixels). An exclusively software trick that simply stretches the existing image in the original resolution and programmatically suppresses the protruding pixelation. There are no miracles in the world.

Below on the left edge are 100% cropped photographs with normal resolution (13 megapixels), and on the right are those taken at the maximum size.

I sincerely do not understand why the manufacturer set the photo quality setting: standard or high. Are there really people who will be satisfied with so-so quality when the maximum is available? There’s no shortage of memory here: 32 GB built-in and Micro SD as an additional one. In general, you set everything to the maximum and forget about it forever.

The smartphone can shoot video in a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels at 30 frames per second. Example video below on our Youtube channel.

And again there are strange things here. In the shooting parameters, you can set priority: performance or quality. I have no idea what the difference is, since in both cases the video characteristics are the same: 30 fps, Full HD, data speed 15.20 Mbps, AAC audio 48000 Hz. Yes, and there are no differences to the eye.

Battery life

Frankly speaking, Asus Zenfone 2 could not surprise us with anything in this regard. Normal, standard daylight hours on battery power, if you use the device properly, under load. In moderate operation, the battery life can be two days, but no more.

The smartphone has a non-removable lithium-polymer battery with a capacity of 3000 mAh.

Of course, there are energy saving modes from a productive scenario to an economical one, which is activated independently when the smartphone reaches a threshold of 15% of the remaining charge. The only strange thing is that not all power settings here are translated into Russian. Some things are still in English.

In addition, it is possible to set switching between energy saving modes on a schedule. A convenient thing, especially if you use it at night.

As a bonus, Zenfone 2 is equipped with BoostMaster technology, thanks to which the charge level reaches 60% in just 39 minutes.

The only limitation is the special charger included in the kit with a voltage of 5 - 9V and a current of 2A. By the way, this adapter is included only in the top-end device (2.3 GHz / 4 GB).

Sound quality

I decided to include this section in the review because Asus managed to surprise me.

Not by an order of magnitude, of course, but in a direct comparison, the Zenfone 2 produces deeper, richer and cleaner sound. And all this without activating any improvements.

There is a standard set of presets from Heavy Metal to Dance or Folk. It’s interesting that some are well tuned, at least you don’t want to turn them off right away and forget them. There are only 5 equalizer bands, but this is quite enough to fine-tune the sound to your liking.

The volume reserve is more than enough even for subway trips, but here, of course, a lot depends on the headphones used. If this is not enough for you, then I think it makes sense to see a doctor and have your hearing checked.

The included headphones are only suitable for use as a headset. The sound through them is very mediocre, but due to the ear pads, good noise insulation is achieved. There is only one button on the remote control and the player sometimes processes presses with a delay.

Equipment and accessories

The box consists of two boxes: one contains all the components, and the other is like a casing in relation to the first. On one side of the package there are icons of the main features of the device.

Inside the box we found: a Micro USB power cable, a charger and a wireless headset. It's great that the Taiwanese did not skimp on matches and equipped their product with at least a simple, but still wired headset.

The creators took care of consumers who fell for various covers and cases. Asus View Flip Cover is a case with a round window on the front, a hinged cover and a plastic main one on the back. It can be purchased separately for 1,490 rubles, and the case from the younger model ZE550ML is suitable. The rear part is installed instead of the supplied plastic battery cover.

For some reason, the accessory does not have an NFC module. It is built into the standard cover only.

Without opening the front side of the accessory, you can control some smartphone functions. Receive calls, read SMS, take photos, watch the weather, time and stuff like that.

Bottom line

Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML I could really surprise. At first, I simply perceived it as a boring, uninteresting, yet another smartphone on the market. However, coupled with the software shell, speed of operation and quality of implementation of other functions, it was able to win my preference.

Buy The device is currently available for only 19,990 rubles. For example, on Gearbest.com the device costs ridiculous money. This is the average cost, since within the framework of the price war that has played out on the Russian market, you can find offers even cheaper. For this money, the user risks (oh, what a risk) he gets almost the best value price/ quality.

However, there were still some negative aspects. The first is a questionable design. Despite the textured plastic and the play of light on the edges, the device looks boring. Secondly, the main camera installed on board is weak by the standards of top-end solutions. The latter is the first among equals, but at the level of average-priced devices.

Zenfone 2 cannot be compared with this year's flagships from first-tier companies. On almost all fronts he is losing the competition. However, the device was one of the first on the market to acquire 4 gigabytes of RAM. In my opinion, the Asus smartphone has only one real competitor - this. Both smartphones offer the user excellent performance and very high performance. The Chinese still have a better camera, or rather, two at once, but it costs 6-7 thousand rubles more. In general, let each user decide for himself what is more important to him.

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Hi all. Finally, I got my hands on the Asus Zenfone 2 smartphone in the ze551ml version. 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 features are not available in other configurations.

“So this is almost an old man,” you say. And you will be partially right. Indeed, the phone was presented at the IFO exhibition back in early 2015, which, for a minute, was 1.5 years ago. Some companies manage to change 2 or even 3 generations of their equipment in such a period. But if you take a closer look at the technical characteristics of the Asus Zenfone 2 ze551ml, you will be a little surprised. The phone's features easily outperform mid-rangers in 2016, not to mention state employees. And it not only performs well in tests, but also offers some features that are usually not available in this price category.

In general, in this review I want to convey the idea that the 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 dollars and this was the best offer. The same option in my city offline started at 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 Asus Zenfone 2, but I recommend buying 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 many smartphones with a built-in NFC chip in the category under $200? Don't you know at all? Me too... In fact, the phone has a lot of cool features, we'll talk about them a little further.

Technical characteristics of 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 Corning Gorilla Glass 3 oleophobic coating
• WLAN 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth V4.0, NFC, two radio modules
• 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)
• Operating system version Android 5.0 (there is already 6, but you need to flash it yourself)
• Dimensions 152.5 x 77.2 mm, thickness at the thinnest point 3.9, at the 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, others immediately understand that this is not some mongrel noname. The smart device is assembled to a very high quality, there are no creaks or backlashes, even if you try and twist it mercilessly, the only response will be silence.

However, the appearance 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 into the thin body, so the engineers had to resort to a trick. The phone at its thickest part has swollen by more than 10 mm, but at the edges the thickness is only 3.9 mm. Visually, the phone certainly doesn’t 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 shutdown button is located on the top end. If you are used to turning your phone on and off by pressing this button, then you will experience a real pain. Every time you look for a button in a convenient place on the right or left side and don’t find it there... But Asus can be turned on and off by double tapping the screen. It's actually very convenient.
• The frames around the screen are thick. No, not ugly repulsive... not at all. It’s just that when all manufacturers strive for a frameless design, such a solution causes some aesthetic rejection.
• The volume rocker is located on the back cover. This is neither bad nor good. It's more a question of habit. But overall, I even like this solution.

Screen and battery

I liked the screen. Bright (300 cd/m2), rich, contrast (1200:1). Multi-touch for 10 touches. Excellent viewing angles. The phone has a special Splendid program installed to adjust 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 average)) For some comrades, even 6 inches is not enough. At the same time, such a screen will cope perfectly with any multimedia tasks. You can watch a movie on the road, read a book, or surf the Internet.

As for the battery, if you actively use the phone, the charge will only last for a day, a maximum of one and a half. 3000 mA/h 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 9V and 2A charger. After the battery reaches its 70%, it then charges as usual 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, they can call you on another at the same time. Or, for example, you download something from the Internet using one card, and carry on a conversation using another. The only thing you need to remember is that SIM 1 supports 2G/3G/4G, and SIM 2 only supports 2G voice telephony.

WiFi is 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 fast. Cold start is only 10 seconds, and hot start is almost instantaneous. It catches satellites not only GPS and GLONASS, but also Chinese Beidou.

Well, the main highlight is the NFC chip. It works flawlessly. If you know how to set it up and what programs to install, then you can not only pay for travel, but also pay in stores. If you don’t know, then 4pda can help you.

Processor and graphics

The Asus Zenfone 2 ze551ml is powered by a 64-bit Intel Atom Z3560 1.8 GHz processor. At least that's how it works 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. The Z3560 copes with all modern games with a bang, so why increase battery consumption and heat the street for free.

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

4 gigabytes of RAM even today look like an unjustified luxury. Many flagships are content with 3 gigs, but here there are already 4. But RAM is such a thing that there is never too much and it doesn’t ask for anything. There is no additional battery consumption, thank God.

Camera and sound

The 5 megapixel front camera copes with its task of video calls on Skype and Viber with all 5 points. As for the main camera, as you know, it is 13 megapixels. The aperture is f/2.0, you can shoot Full HD video, there is autofocus. One of the interesting features is the double flash. Two diodes, one white and the other yellow, allow you to more accurately convey color and set the automatic white balance to the correct one.

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

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

The sound in the headphones is another matter. The sound is not just ok, I would say it's amazing. I knew that this phone had a separate audio chip, but I didn’t know that it worked so well. The bass is soft and at the same time elastic, the mids are clean and transparent, and the highs are also booming. All instrumental parts can be heard clearly. I can confidently recommend this phone to music lovers and audiophiles. By the way, an 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 has probably provided for EVERYTHING. I categorically do not advise you to skip the guide that comes after the first start. It may be a little long, but you will know what your Asus is capable of.

The phone does not have bare Android installed, but the proprietary ZenUI shell. This is not a minus or a plus. It looks bright, interesting and fresh.

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

The phone comes with Android 5.0. Updates arrive by air, but there will be no official sixth Andryukha. But it hasn’t been officially there for a long time. Can be downloaded and easily installed. For those who need instructions and firmware files, the link is locked. Like and you will be happy))

If you are not too tired from the review, then pay a little more 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... don’t forget about cashback. LetyShops offers excellent conditions.

Thank you all for your attention!

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

Description ZenFone 2 2015 (second generation)

Modifications

Three modifications of the second generation ZenFone are presented:

• ZenFone 2 ZE551ML - Full HD screen 5.5 inches, Intel Atom Z3580 with a frequency of 2.3 GHz or Intel Atom Z3560 with a frequency of 1.8 GHz;
• ZenFone 2 ZE550ML - 5.5-inch HD screen and Intel Atom Z3560 processor with a frequency of 1.8 GHz;
• ZenFone 2 ZE500CL - 5-inch HD screen, Intel Atom Z2560 with a frequency of 1.6 GHz;

Appearance

Zenfone 2 features a striking, all-new design that combines signature ASUS elements that convey the style of the Zen family with a luxurious brushed metal finish and expressive concentric circle details. The elegant curved design is just 3.9mm thin at the edges, making the design even more attractive. Rounded edges improve usability, and intuitive use has been enhanced by a rear-mounted volume control, ideally positioned for index finger use.

It is worth noting that the ZE500CL model, in addition to its size, differs visually 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 very clear and bright images. The resolution is 430ppi, and the viewing angle of 178 degrees improves viewing photos and videos and working with applications. Asus TruVivid technology makes colors even more vibrant and rich. The display features an ultra-thin 3.3mm bezel, increasing the screen-to-body ratio to an impressive 72%, and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 provides superior protection against damage and fingerprints.

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

ZenUI interface

Zen UI has also evolved with a sleek new design that makes better use of available space and puts information front and center for easier work. Zenfone 2 is the world's first smartphone that gives the user the ability to completely customize the settings to their preferences, including changing the launcher, themes, fonts, icons, etc.

ZenUI includes a number of new features such as ZenMotion, SnapView, Trend Micro and ZenUI Instant Updates that improve usability and enhance privacy protection.

Characteristics of ZenFone 2 2015 (second generation)

Review of ASUS ZenFone 2 2015 (second generation)