News & Reviews:   ASUS ZenFone 2

After our in-depth testing and ASUS ZenFone 2 review, we're quite certain about how powerful the smartphone really is. However, an XDA member took it a step further by hacking the device to allow it to run a full-fledged Microsoft Windows 7 operating system. According to Yua Ca Van, the same process can allow installation of Windows 8, 8.1 and even Windows 10. Furthermore, the Windows 7 that was installed ran with next to no bugs with performance on par with normal Windows 7 systems. While this certainly shows the power of the Intel-based ZenFone 2 it isn't actually easy to use Windows 7 on the ZenFone 2 due to the size constraints. Check it out for yourself in the video in this article.

ASUS have just launched their "100 Days of Zen" campaign where everyday for the next 100 days, one winning photo will get their photographer a free ASUS ZenFone 2 smartphone. Done in collaboration with Robert Jahns (otherwise known as nois7 on Instagram) all you have to do to enter is download an image by Robert from the site and add a little something of your own (keep it G-rated please). Hashtag this collaboration creation with #100DaysOfZen and post it on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Check out the sample below and then go to the 100DaysOfZen site for more information. Robert Jahns used the ASUS ZenFone 2 to do all of the photos being used in the contest and if you need a few more details about the smartphone do check out our ASUS ZenFone 2 ZE551ML review as well.

Announced at around the same time, the Huawei Honor 7 and Meizu MX5 share a number of similar features such as an all metal body, more than 5-inch sized full HD display, fingerprint scanner and 20MP rear cameras. Neither are currently available here in Malaysia yet but at 1800 CNY (RM1081) the Meizu MX5 is priced lower than Honor 7 which is going for 1999 CNY (RM1214). The Honor 7 is more compact due to its 5.2-inch display but the Meizu MX5 is thinner at 7.6mm and lighter at 149g despite the larger 5.5-inch display. Both come packing with the latest 64-bit processors, the Honor 7 with a HiSilicon Kirin 935 while the Meizu MX5 comes with a MediaTek MT6795 Helio processor.

The Honor 7 ups the Meizu MX5 with an 8MP front camera but the MX5 has a slightly higher 20.7MP rear camera compared to the 20MP rear camera on the Honor 7. The Honor 7 rear camera uses phase detection autofocus while the Meizu MX5 uses a laser autofocus. Which autofocus is better? Well, the debate on that still hasn't quieted down yet, especially if Huawei uses newer algorithms and sensors like in the Samsung Galaxy S6 which also uses phase detection autofocus. So far, there are still no details yet on which will be coming to Malaysia first, but both have a presence here so we would say in the coming months. For the full comparison check out our Huawei Honor 7 vs Meizu MX5 tech specs comparison tool. Check out our other comparisons in this article or take a spin with our phone comparison tool yourself.

Rumours have surfaced about a new ASUS ZenFone for the entry-level market called the ASUS ZenFone Go. Coming in pastel colours, this new ZenFone follows the same design as the ZenFone 2 complete with rear volume controls. This position is currently held by the ASUS ZenFone C with its 4.5-inch display. This new ZenFone Go is rumoured to come with a 5-inch display with at least a 1280 x 720 pixel resolution. Other tech specs include a MediaTek MT6582 processor, 2GB of RAM, 8GB storage, 8MP rear camera and 2MP front camera. Despite the camera upgrades, it is expected to feature just 3G connectivity. While there are no Malaysia release dates or pricing details we suspect that the ZenFone Go is just for selected markets and won't be coming to Malaysia since we've yet to see any Mediatek powered ZenFones here just yet. It is expected by the end of July 2015 though, and we could see an Intel powered ZenFone Go for Malaysia instead, perhaps powered by the budget friendly and 3G modem integrated Intel Atom x3. Stay tuned for more developments.

Apart from coming out with the award winning ASUS ZenFone and ZenFone 2 smartphones, ASUS also came out with their own ASUS ZenUI interface. Featuring various utilities, apps and functions built into the user interface, the ZenUI provides one of the more complete Android ecosystems based on ASUS products and technologies. This time around, ASUS have come out with their Top 10 ASUS ZenUI tips which you can see in this article.

When it first came out, the ASUS ZenFone range of smartphones made a huge impact as devices that looked as good as flagship smartphones with nearly as good performance and features yet were priced for the entry-level to midrange. Obviously, the ASUS ZenFone 2 range of smartphones have rather big shoes to fill, but with features like 4GB RAM, 5MP PixelMaster front cameras, 64-bit Intel processors, 4G LTE and improvements across the board, the new ZenFones could very well surpass the achievements of its predecessors. Does it live up to the hype or break expectations? Check out our full review of the 4GB RAM enabled ASUS ZenFone 2 ZE551ML with 32GB storage to find out.

As the race for the 4GB RAM smartphones continues the ASUS ZenFone 2 ZE551ML also continues to impress. This time around we take it for a spin with Asphalt 8:AirBorne and with a USB OTG flash drive. How will this versiosn with a 2.3GHz quad-core Intel Atom processor and 32GB storage fare? Check it out for yourself in this article.

After being teased for a bit by ASUS themselves, ASUS recently announced the ASUS ZenFone Selfie ZD551KL smartphone. Featuring a Toshiba 13MP camera with laser focus and 1/3 2" sensors on both the front and back with dual tone LED flash, this ZenFone offers rather different tech specs from the more recent ASUS ZenFone 2 range. This includes a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor, probably 2GB of RAM, a 5.5-inch display with full HD 1080p resolution, 4G LTE and Android 5.0 Lollipop. Rather than go for their usual brushed metal backside, the ZenFone Selfie offers solid pastel colours in aqua blue, pink and white, although the metallic backplates are also available as well. No Malaysia release dates or pricing details yet but we expect these to crop up in the comming months.

ASUS Malaysia recently teased that a new ZenFone smartphone could be coming to Computex 2015 with the hint that it is the front of the phone. Incidentally, it shows a front camera and dual LED flash, which when combined with the spaces in the teaser image, could mean that this will be the ASUS ZenFone Selfie. No tech specs or features yet, but we assume that since the standard front camera is 5MP already, this version will either be 8MP or 13MP. The rear camera will likely be the same 13MP PixelMaster camera while the screen looks to be the same 5.5-inch size. Since most selfie takers tend to be the younger crowd we assume that this display will be in 720p HD and perhaps a full HD 1080p resolution for the richer crowd. Other tech specs will likely be the same 2.3GHz Intel Atom processor and 4GB RAM in the current ASUS ZenFone 2 ZE551ML smartphone. No specific Malaysia release dates or pricing details yet, but we expect it to be soon as even the ASUS Malaysia Facebook page is showing the teaser image above.

Truth be told, quite a few of us have been asking ASUS Malaysia when they'll be selling the 4GB RAM versions of the ASUS ZenFone 2, and now you can get it online at the Malaysian ASUS Store. Both the 32GB storage and 64GB storage versions are available but colours are limited to Gold and Red for now. This new ASUS ZenFone 2 ZE551ML features tech specs that include a very fast 2.3GHz quad-core Intel Atom processor, the aforementioned 4GB RAM, either 32GB or 64GB storage and a 5.5-inch full HD display in a compact body the size of the ZenFone 5. For now, do check out our unboxing and hands-on videos of this ASUS ZenFone 2 ZE551ML below and stay tuned for the full review and more.