ASUS today announced the U.S. release of the ZenFone 2 Laser, a follow-up to the successful launch of the original ZenFone 2 earlier this year. To clarify from the start, this isn't the same ZenFone 2 Laser that was already released earlier this year internationally — that phone is a bit on the lower end of the spectrum and is actually a smaller device. The U.S. version of the ZenFone 2 Laser (model ZE551KL) is much higher end, with comparable specs and price to the original ZenFone 2.
The ZenFone 2 Laser coming to the U.S. shares quite a bit with the original ZenFone 2 — including nearly the same external design, a 5.5-inch 1080p display, 13MP rear camera, dual SIM slots, base 16GB of storage and 3000 mAh battery. The ZenFone 2 Laser switches processors to an octa-core Snapdragon 615, drops quick charge, and moves to a static 3GB of RAM. Both of its SIMs now offer full LTE connectivity, the battery is now removable, the screen has Gorilla Glass 4 on it, and the rear camera now sports laser autofocus (hence the name).
More: Hands-on with the ASUS ZenFone 2 Laser
Rather than change out the RAM and processor in two different models, the ZenFone 2 Laser offers all of the same specs aside from storage in its two options. You'll get 16GB of storage in the $199 model, and 32GB in a $249 model — both of which offer an SD card slot for up to 128GB cards.
ASUS is putting the new ZenFone 2 Laser on sale starting today from its own store, along with Newegg, Amazon and B&H.
ASUS Releases ZenFone 2 Laser
ASUS ZenFone 2 Laser delivers a premium phone with laser auto focus, octa-core performance, dual active SIM, Corning Gorilla Glass 4 and removable battery to value-conscious users
KEY POINTS
- Lightning-fast laser auto focus 13 mega-pixel PixelMaster 2.0 camera
- Dual active SIM with selectable LTE data connectivity
- Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor with Adreno 405 graphics
- Removable battery
Fremont, California (November 2, 2015) -- ASUS today releases the unlocked ZenFone 2 Laser for users seeking a premium phone with an excellent camera, dual active SIM, expandable storage and removable battery. The latest addition to the ZenFone 2 lineup features an ergonomic design for greater comfort and a 5.5-inch 1080p display protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 4 for unprecedented damage protection.
Powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 with Adreno 405 graphics delivers an excellent performance without sacrificing battery life. The high-performance processor is matched with 3GB of RAM for fluid multi-tasking and snappy system responsiveness.
New to the ZenFone 2 Laser is an enhanced PixelMaster 2.0 camera with laser auto-focus for lightning-fast and laser-sharp images. The 13-megapixel rear camera packs a wide-angle F/2.0 aperture lens composed of 5-elements for crystal clear images. Dual LED real tone flash enables the ZenFone 2 laser to capture images in low-light situations while maintaining natural skin tones.
The ZenFone 2 Laser supports dual active SIM for simultaneous connectivity to two cellular networks. Dual active SIM is perfect for users that want to consolidate two phone-lines into a single device. Selectable LTE data connectivity enables users to switch which SIM card is used for data through the Android settings, which makes the ZenFone 2 Laser perfect for international travelers.
Expandable memory and a removable battery makes the ideal for enthusiast users that want greater control of storage and power. A micro SDXC slot supports 128GB memory cards for quick and easy storage expansion to accommodate music, movies and select applications. The removable 3000mAh high-capacity battery ensures the ZenFone 2 Laser gets excellent battery life that lasts through the entire work day. Power users that desire longer runtimes can quickly swap out a fully charged battery for extended periods away from a power source.
Pricing and availability
The ZenFone 2 Laser (ZE551KL) 16GB will available for $199 and the 32GB for $249 at Newegg and the ASUS Store in November.

Google Assistant can now complete your online food orders for you
Google is announcing the rollout of several features for the Google Assistant to help you get the most out of your Routines, locate your smartphone, or just help you order food.

Amazon’s second-gen Echo Buds are here with ANC, $120 price tag
Amazon has introduced its second-generation Echo Buds with a more comfortable design and custom-designed Active Noise Cancellation technology.

Oculus Quest 2 games are already getting updates to run at 120Hz
Oculus may have just begun rolling out firmware version 28, but developers are already working on patching their Quest 2 games to support the new 120Hz mode.

These are the best Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 bezel covers and protectors
Need bezel protection for your Samsung Galaxy Watch 3? We're way ahead of you.