News & Reviews:   ASUS ZenFone 2

Currently the only smartphone in the world with 4GB RAM remains the ASUS ZenFone 2 ZE551ML. Featuring a 64-bit 2.3-GHZ quad-core Intel Atom Z3580 processor and high-end PowerVR Rogue G6430 graphics, quite a lot of people have been interested to see how it performs on the benchmarks. This was on top of earlier benchmarks with the ZenFone 2 ZE550CL which earlier scored 50000+ on AnTuTu. Thankfully, someone has come out with a number of benchmarks and unboxing photos. Unfortunately, it seems to be lower with a score of 47434. However, there could be a reason for this as other benchmarks like 3DMark and Geekbench report very high scores. We assume that the AnTuTu benchmark needs to be updated to run 4GB of RAM tests first before the true potential of the ZenFone 2 ZE551ML can be drawn out. Since Geekbench 3 is already cross platform it doesn't need to be optimized, resulting in a 912 single-core score and 2946 multi-core score places it on par with theSamsung Galaxy Note 3 and beating the Samsung Galaxy S5. We'll know more when we get a turn at the ASUS ZenFone 2 smartphones, so please wait patiently for the expected release in April 2015. 

About a month ahead of it's expected official release in Malaysia, the ASUS ZenFone 2 is now available from third party sellers like SatuGadgetDotCom and DirectD. Both are selling the ASUS ZenFone 2 ME550ML with a 1.8GHz Intel Atom processor, 5.5-inch display, 2GB RAM and 16GB storage tech specs at RM999 with limited stocks. Bear in mind that this probably isn't the Malaysia version, it also probably won't support ASUS Malaysia's OTA system updates and that the initial pricing was a 5990 NT$ (RM699). We expect the official Malaysia release date for the official Malaysia ASUS ZenFone 2 smartphones to come sometime in late April 2015 so you shouldn't have to wait too long but if you can't, well, now you know where to go.

ASUS has revealed a new premium smartphone in their upcoming ASUS ZenFone 2 range with a version packing in 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. Coming under the same ZE551ML codename as the other 5.5-inch display ZenFone 2 smartphones, this new addition will be priced at 9990 NT$ (RM1167). Other tech specs will still include a new 64-bit Intel processor, 4G LTE connectivity and full HD 1080p resolution for the 5.5-inch display. All things considered, this is still a very good price tag for a smartphone with all of these features and tech specs. No news yet if it also comes in a more premium gold or platinum colour but it should be revealed along with the other ZenFone 2 smartphones sometime in April 2015.

Asides from the ASUS ZenFone 2 pricing, ASUS have also announced some very interesting peripherals for it with two separate external flash devices. These two external flash accessories are called theASUS ZenFlash and ASUS LolliFlash. They provide a more powerful xenon flash (about 400x more powerful) over the standard LED flash on your smartphone and connect via USB OTG. Not much details about pricing or release dates but we expect it to be announced along with the ASUS ZenFone 2 and ZenFone Zoom come this April 2015. 

ASUS has recently released the ASUS ZenFone 2 for Taiwan with pricing for their 5-inch version and 5.5-inch 4GB RAM version. The release confirms the existance of a 5-inch display version with the model number ZE550CL, 2GB RAM and 16GB storage at just 4990 NT$ (RM582). The 5.5-inch -display ZE550ML will come with a 720p display, 2GB RAM and 16GB storage at 5990 NT$ (RM699) while the ZE551ML 32GB storage version with a 1080p display is priced at 6990 NT$ (RM815). The most premium 5.5-inch 1080p display ZE551ML with 4GB RAM, NFC and 32GB storage version will go at 8990 NT$ (RM1049). If this pricing remains the same for Malaysia, this is very competitive pricing as you wouldn't expect a 4GB RAM premium smartphone for just around RM1000. So far, these ASUS ZenFone 2 models are set for release in Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore and France but we should expect a Malaysian release in April 2015. So far, the ASUS ZenFone 2 ZE550CL has scored impressively on AnTuTu and should be a good upgrade but there is still no news on the ZenFone Zoom yet.

As we near the regional launch time of the ASUS ZenFone 2, it remains the only smartphone to pack in 4GB of RAM. While we have yet to see any benchmarks of the 4GB RAM ASUS ZenFone 2, the 2GB RAM version was recently benchmarked with a massive score of 50401 on AnTuTu. This is higher than previous powerhouse Android smartphones but not as high as an NVIDIA Tegra X1 powered device. The benchmark confirmed tech specs like a 64-bit 2.3GHz quad-core Intel Atom Z3580 processor and PowerVR Rogue G6430 graphics but showed that this could be the 5-inch display version as it only had 2GB of RAM and a 1280 x 720 pixel resolution. There are versions with a 5.5-inch display and 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution along with other tech specs like a 13MP rear camera. Malaysia pricing and release dates have not been confirmed yet but pre-orders have revealed that the 2GB RAM version could go for $299 (RM1076) while the 4GB RAM version may be offered at $439 (RM1580). The 5-inch version is expected to go for $199 (RM717) which should make quite a few users happier due to the very high AnTuTu score above. We expect the larger and higher resolution display to weigh down the AnTuTu score somewhat but the 4GB RAM should offer a bit more of a boost than the 2GB version. The ASUS ZenFone 2 is expected to arrive sometime in March or April 2015.

Initially announced for $199 with 64-bit processors and other improved tech specs, the ASUS ZenFone 2 has been spotted up for pre-order ahead of any official release. The bad news? It seems that the $199 price tag is for the 5-inch display ASUS ZenFone 2. The larger 5.5-inch display versions will start pre-order pricing from $299 while the 4GB RAM equipped version will be priced from $439. While these are not bad prices for the hardware being offered, we can just hear the sighs of disappointment from all the Malaysians who were waiting for a better value smartphone. That being said, ASUS Malaysia could still offer some interesting pricing so don't despair so soon. No Malaysia release dates but as before, we expect a regional launch in late March or April 2015.

At a launch for their new ASUS Fonepad 7 FE171CG tablet and other devices, ASUS Malaysia have confirmed that the upcoming ASUS ZenFone 2 and ZenFone Zoom will be coming to Malaysia sometime in Q2. No exact Malaysia release dates or pricing details were offered but we should know more around March or April 2015. They have said that there will be no supply issues like the previous ASUS ZenFone range of smartphones and we hope that that will remain true when the actual relase date rolls about. They also revealed that the first-generation ASUS ZenWatch would not be coming to Malaysia but have not ruled out the likelihood of the ZenWatch 2 coming here instead. While they didn't reveal exact plans for 2015, they did reveal that their focus would be on achieving top rankings for their notebooks, desktops, Android tablets and smartphones.

The newly announced ASUS ZenFone 2 and ZenFone Zoom smartphones are making waves around the world as ASUS have opted to make one really good ZenFone instead of a new version for each of the three previous original ZenFone smartphones. Due to the 5.5-inch display (which hits a very nice sweet spot in our opinion) the closest original ZenFone in terms of size would be the ZenFone 6, so we've used our tech comparison tool to compare all three smartphones. Key features that the new ZenFone 2 and ZenFone Zoom bring to the table are 64-bit Intel Processors, 5MP selfie-ready front cameras, 4G LTE cat 4 connectivity, dual tone LED flash and for the ZenFone 2, rear volume controls. While there are no Malaysia release dates yet, we expect the ZenFone 2 and ZenFone Zoom to reach us in the next few months or so as the original ASUS ZenFone smartphone range was launched regionally in April 2014.

Local Malaysia price details for the ASUS ZenFone 2 or ZenFone Zoom are also unknown still but based on the current US price of $199 (RM707) we expect the 2GB RAM ZenFone 2 to be priced around RM699. This would result in a drop in price for the existing ZenFone 6 and other previous ZenFone smartphones. Rumours indicate that AnTuTu benchmarks for the new ZenFone 2 could be around 39000 to 41000, which is a huge jump over the previous ZenFone 6 which scored 19661 on AnTuTu. Feel free to compare the ASUS ZenFone 2 or ZenFone Zoom with other smartphones using our tech spec comparison tool or check out the links below:

• ASUS ZenFone 2 vs ASUS ZenFone 5 vs ASUS ZenFone 6
• ASUS ZenFone 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 4 vs Huawei Ascend Mate 7
• ASUS ZenFone 2 vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 4G vs Samsung Galaxy Grand 2

Apart from the new ASUS ZenFone 2, the world's first 4GB RAM smartphone, ASUS also unveiled three new laptop / tablet hybrids at CES 2015. These devices in the ASUS Transformer Book Chi lineup vary in size, tech specs and pricing and feature a detachable magnetic keyboard. The costliest of the lot is the higher-end variant of the 12.5-inch ASUS Transformer Book Chi T300. The hybrid comes with an Intel Core M 5Y71 processor clocked at 1.2GHz, 8GB RAM and a Quad HD IPS display. The lower end variant of the T300 will feature an Intel Core M 5Y70 processor with 4GB RAM and 1080p IPS display. ASUS claims that this 12.5-inch model will be thinner than Apple's latest MacBook Air at 7.5mm. The other two models are the Transformer Book Chi T100 and the Transformer Book Chi T90. The T100 will be powered by an Intel Atom Z3775 processor with 2GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. It will feature a 10.1-inch 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution IPS LCD display. On the other hand, the Chi T90 features an 8.9-inch 1280 x 800 pixel resolution display and is the world's thinnest 8.9-inch tablet. All the three models will run on Windows operating system. The higher end T300 will retail for $799 (RM2841) while the lower end model will sell for $699 (RM2485). The Transformer Book Chi T100 and T90 will bear a price tag of $399 (RM1418) and $299 (RM1063) respectively. All the three models will go on sale sometime in February 2015.