Asus Zenfone 2E (AT&T Locked, Like New)

Product Description

Asus have earned a well deserved reputation for delivering quality, high-end components for PCs. This expertise has now come across into the world of smartphones. Following the incredibly successful launch of the flagship Zenfone 2. It soon became clear that there was a gap for a slightly slimmed down version to suit a more modest budget. Often, that can mean a sub-standard product which bears little resemblance to it’s up-market sibling, but the Asus Zenfone 2E manages to avoid all the pitfalls of trying to cover two different target audiences by delivering a fantastic, budget-friendly smartphone.

Other than the 2E being slightly smaller and lighter, there’s very little in terms of the look and feel when compared to the full-fat Zenfone 2. Spec-wise, although there are clear differences, it needs to be pointed out that the flagship Zenfone 2 is extremely well configured and that the 2E still compares favorably against many higher-priced competitors. As an example, in pure numbers, the Zenfone 2E out-specs the iPhone 6 in almost every department, despite being considerably cheaper, even today.

Those Specs

Network: 2G: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, 3G:HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100, 4G: LTE
Size: 148.1 x 71.4 x 10.9 mm (5.83 x 2.81 x 0.43 in)
Weight 155.1 g (5.47 oz)
SIM Micro-SIM
Screen: IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Display Size: 5.0 inches (~65.2% screen-to-body ratio)
Resolution 720 x 1280 pixels (~294 ppi pixel density)
OS: Android
Chipset: Intel Atom Z2560
CPU: Dual-core 1.6 GHz
Battery: 2500mAh – 19hrs talk time, 13 days standby
Comms: Wi-Fi 802.11n b/g/n, Hotspot
Bluetooth: 4.0
GPS: Yes, with Assisted GPS
Camera: 8MP rear, 2MP front. LED flash, 1080p video @30fps
Camera features: Geo-tagging, Face Detection, Panorama, HDR, Touch Focus
Storage: 8GB built in, expandable up to 64GB via MicroSD slot

But Does it all Work Well Enough?

It does, and then some!

The 720p HD screen is clear and bright, with several options for changing the color temperature to suit all tastes. Performance definitely qualifies as solid, with no problems running all but the most processor-intensive games that even top end smartphones sometimes struggle with. The battery life is excellent, and call quality is every bit as good as it should be from a manufacturer who has been making PC sound cards for many years.

The ASUS Zen UI brings a different feel to the Home screen and is easily customizable in a variety of ways. It certainly lifts the Zenfone 2E out of the standard Android UI-using pack, and is easy to set up just the way you want it.

Summary – Asus Zenfone 2E

The Asus Zenfone 2E is fantastic in so many ways, not least because it isn’t trying to be something that it’s not. The term “budget” doesn’t really do justice to the specs of the device and the performance it delivers. It’s not trying to be an iPhone or a Galaxy S7. But, it’s doing rather well at being an above-average welcome to the world of smartphones for newcomers. As well as a terrific upgrade for someone wanting a bit more than just the basics.

Cheap in price only, and impressive in every possible way, the Zenfone 2E is a worthy sidekick to it’s big brother. And, doesn’t let the side down in the way so many other budget and mid-range phones sadly do. It looks great, it feels great and it performs very well indeed.