ASUS ZenFone 2 Laser (ZE550KL) review: A ZenFone 2 on a budget
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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:
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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.
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 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.
ZenUI and Android 5.0.2 Lollipop
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