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ASUS ZenFone 2 Laser (ZE550KL) review: A ZenFone 2 on a budget

By Cookie Monster - 16 May 2016
Launch SRP: S$279

Overview, Design & Features


A budget ZenFone phablet 

Wait, haven't we already reviewed a ZenFone 2?

Yes, we did review the ZenFone 2 and the more recent ZenFone Selfie.

But wait, there's actually a total of 7 different variants under the ZenFone 2 family, which include the 5-inch ZenFone 2 (ZE500CL), the 5.5-inch ZenFone 2 (ZE551ML), (ZE550ML), the 5.5-inch ZenFone 2 Deluxe (ZE551ML), the 5-inch ZenFone 2 Laser (ZE500KL), the 5.5-inch ZenFone 2 Laser (ZE550KL), the 6-inch ZenFone 2 Laser (ZE600KL), and (ZE601KL).

With such diverse options under one master ZenFone 2 branding, it's easy for people to get confused as they not only differ in screen size, but also various configurations. Despite being over half a year old now, it's also one of the most popularly searched phone series on our site. As such, we decided to review yet another variant to see if it can still live up to its value for money and performance proposition.

In this particular review, we focus on the 5.5-inch ZenFone 2 Laser (ZE550KL) which is a budget variant of the highly successful ZenFone 2 (ZE551ML). Priced at just S$279, it is one of the few phones in ASUS' portfolio to come with laser autofocus, which can focus as fast as 0.2 of a second. Is the ZenFone 2 Laser (ZE550KL) the ultimate cameraphone in its category? Let's find out! But first, here's a quick overview of its specs:

ASUS ZenFone 2 Laser specifications
  ASUS ZenFone 2 Laser (ZE550KL)
  ASUS ZenFone 2 Laser (ZE550KL)
Launch SRP
  • From S$279
Operating system
  • Android 5.0 Lollipop with ASUS ZenUI
Processor
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 quad-core 1.2GHz
Built-in Memory
  • 2GB RAM
Display
  • 5.5-inch / 1,280 x 720 pixels / IPS
Camera
  • Rear: 13-megapixel, autofocus, PixelMaster and LED flash
  • Front: 5-megapixel, autofocus, PixelMaster
Connectivity
  • Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 +EDR
Storage Type
  • 16GB internal storage space
  • microSD support up to 128GB
Battery
  • 3,000mAh
Dimensions
  • 152.5 x 77.2 x 3.9 ~ 10.8mm
Weight
  • 170g

 

Build and features

ASUS did not break the mould with the ZenFone 2 laser; it inherits the best and the worst of the ZenFone 2 design traits. For example, we are still annoyed that ASUS places the power button on the top of the device which is not intuitive for a phone of its size, though a double tap gesture on the display mitigates the issue. The three capacitive navigation buttons also lack backlighting, making it a pain to use in the dark. To add on, some right-handed users may not like the fact that the back button is located on the other end of the display.

The rear volume control has a metallic finish and provides good tactile feedback .

On a more positive note, the ergonomic rear arc design makes the ZenFone 2 Laser very comfortable to hold in the hands. Adjusting the volume during music and video playback is convenient thanks to the rear volume controls. Our review unit comes in red and the rear cover has a matte finish, which provides additional grip. The rear cover is also removable so that you can access dual-SIM card slots and microSD memory card slot.

The micro-SIM card slot 1 and microSD memory card slot are located on the left of the rear volume controls while the micro-SIM card slot 2 is located towards the right.

The SIM card slot 1 is located together with the microSD memory card slot, and you have to remove the battery to access the former. Both micro-SIM card slots support 3G and 4G although only one SIM card can be connected to 4G network at a time.

 

5.5-inch HD Display

For ASUS to price the ZenFone 2 Laser this low, some corners had to be cut. As the display is usually one of the most expensive component on a phone, it is only natural that this aspect receives the least attention. The ZenFone 2 Laser comes with a HD display (1,280 x 720 pixels resolution) which does a decent job for web surfing and most normal usage needs, but pixelation is apparent especially after our eyes have gotten accustomed to sharper displays of more premium devices. Like most recent ZenFone devices, there is a screen color mode to adjust the color temperature and an option to enable Bluelight filter.

You can adjust the screen color mode via Settings > Display > Screen color mode. 


ZenUI and Android 5.0.2 Lollipop

It's concerning to see the ASUS ZenFone 2 Laser running an Android security patch level dated in Dec 2015.

ZenUI is the custom overlay that ASUS installed on its mobile devices running Android OS since 2014. You can check out the core features of the ZenUI here: 5 notable features of the ASUS ZenUI. Over the past year, ASUS has added more than 1,000 new features to the ZenUI which include ZenMotion, ZenUI launcher, Themes and SnapView. Some of the features were discussed in our review of the ZenFone 2
 
You have about 7.66GB of available storage space out of the box after installing the app updates.
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7.5
  • Design 8
  • Features 7.5
  • User-Friendliness 8
  • Performance 7.5
  • Value 7.5
The Good
Long battery life
Good design and handling
Decent camera performance
Expandable storage
The Bad
Outdated processor
HD display resolution
Only 16GB onboard storage
Navigation buttons not backlit
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