Unveiled earlier this year at CES, Asus' ZenFone 2 is now available for sale in Taiwan. The variant with 4GB RAM (ZE551ML) is up for sale for the equivalent of $290, along with two models — ZE550ML and ZE500CL — that offer a more modest 2GB RAM.
All three versions are available from leading carriers in the country — Chunghwa Telecom, FarEasTone, Taiwan Mobile and Vibo Telecom — along with Asus' online storefront. The ZE551ML variant features a 5.5-inch full-HD display, quad-core 64-bit 2.3GHz Intel Atom Z3580 CPU, 4GB RAM, 64GB internal memory, microSD card slot, 13MP camera at the back, 5MP front camera, dual-SIM functionality, LTE connectivity and a 3,000mAh battery. The handset also comes in a version that has 2GB RAM and 32GB storage.
The ZE550ML model features a lower-clocked 1.8GHz Intel Atom Z3560 CPU, 5.5-inch 720p display, 2GB and 16GB internal memory, with the rest of the hardware remaining the same. The ZE500CL is the entry-level model in the ZenFone 2 lineup, and has a 5.5-inch 720p display, 1.2GHz Intel Atom Z2560 CPU, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal memory, 8MP camera at the back, 2MP front camera, LTE connectivity and a 2,500mAh battery. All three models run Android 5.0 out of the box.
In terms of pricing, the ZE551ML version with 4GB RAM is listed for NT$8,990 ($290), while the same device with 2GB RAM is retailing for NT$6,990 ($220). The ZE550ML model is available for NT$5,990 ($190), with the ZE500CL variant on sale for just NT$4,990 ($160).
At the launch event in Taipei, Asus chairman Jonney Shih announced that the ZenFone 2 would make its way to global markets in due course of time:
The ZenFone 2 series will build on the resounding success of the ZenFone. ZenFone 2 embodies every aspect of the ASUS brand spirit—In Search Of Incredible—and we look forward to introducing this empowering luxury worldwide with upcoming launch events in China, Hong Kong, France, Russia, Japan, Indonesia, India, and the United States.
The pricing of the ZenFone 2 will make the device extremely competitive against the likes of what Xiaomi, Lenovo and Huawei have to offer in this segment. Asus has several features in its favor — including the design — as you'll see in our hands-on post linked below:
Update: A previous version of the article suggested that the 4GB version was available for $220. As it turns out, that was the pricing of the variant with 2GB RAM, with the model featuring 4GB RAM available for $290.
Reader comments
Asus ZenFone 2 with 4GB RAM is now available in Taiwan for $290
I want this!! For that price it's a bargain!
Saw comparison between Asus zen phone with 4gb vs Samsung S6 with 2gb RAM edge in you tube and Samsung out performed. Why does Asus seems to be so slow even with higher spec?
Where can I buy one.... I'm in the usa
Posted via the Android Central App on my amazing 1+1
@patstar I agree I move from my N4 for that price
Posted via the Android Central App
Also, I love my N4 but this phone sounds much powerful than anything on the market and @ a great price
Posted via the Android Central App
That sounds like a bad ass phone @ a awesome price. All that power in a phone!!!
Posted via the Android Central App
I really hope it's priced similarly when it hits US. Im tired of buying low budget phones every year. I need a good mid range phone.
Posted via the Android Central App
Battery life? The original Zenfone battery life was horrible, like 4 hours of non-so-heavy use. That was not very zen.
The only phone with 4GB of RAM?
what's the catch? Where does it trail behind other flagship phones?
Posted via the Android Central App
Will have to see the pricing for the model in the states, I'm between this and seeing what the new Moto X looks like when I upgrade from my M8 later this year, only reason I got a M8 last year over the X was the SD slot lol
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I'll be replacing my Moto G 2013 with the 4GB ram version. Looking forward to getting my hands on this.
The big print giveth, the small print taketh
Looks a lot like the G3. Killer specs for that price though. How does that Intel SoC stack up against the SD810 and Samsung's new Exynos?
Posted via the Android Central App
Will you be getting review units?
Both versions of ZE551ML have FHD displays, the only diferente is the CPU and RAM
Posted via Android Central App
I needs it now....
There were an Asus event at Taipei today, it not just about Zenfone 2. There is new products like 4 new kind of powerbank and something call
Zenflash work as Cam flash light for cell phone check out the video a you will find that zenflash and powerbank in it.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=BAr21oaPjQQ
I need dis in my life.
Posted via the Android Central App
The ZF2 needs to hit the US ASAP! I would seriously consider this over the moto G to replace my ailing Nexus 4!
Wow, 4GB ram. Is that because Android is so inefficient or what does 4GB ram do?
Yes.
Posted via the Android Central App
Bring this phone to T-mobile ASAP. Thank you.
I plan on replacing the wife's Note 3 with this, whenever it hits the States.
Posted via the Android Central App
I'm ready for this. I also want an updated Padfone series with a 7-8.9" and 12" tablet sleeve and a keyboard/battery dock with extra ports. Running Android or Ubuntu Touch.
The USA is seriously lacking mid-range lte phones. There are not many options to use on the MVNOs that are priced so well. We have lots of phones in the 50-175 range, not much in the 200-400 range. I think this phone would kick butt here on Cricket and MetroPCS.
Att, Verizon, Sprint, and T-mobile know that. If you aren't on a family plan why would you pay $200-$300 for a flagship phone on a postpaid account when you can pay $300 outright for a pretty good device and pay $30-$60 a month on a prepaid plan?
That is why they aren't in line to bring this phone to the states.
It's probably because US carriers push contract plans, which discourage people like Asus from focusing on the US as anything but an afterthought. The demand isn't very great here, mostly because people just don't know. Thanks carriers.
Posted from my Moto G.
Well most carriers are pushing financing plans. Like att and tmobile. If this gets to att with $200-$300 price tag people might choose this with att next than the other phones.
I wonder when carriers will get rid of 2 year contracts completely. That would be the fall of $650 plus phones (looking at you Apple and Samsung).
I agree I wld move from Samsung for that price
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Well it is coming to the US in April.
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I predict savvy customers will start to drift to offers like this and others from Huawei and Xiaomi and away from Samsung and the like that keep increasing their prices an removing hardware features a la apple.
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Wouldn't drift too quick. Forgot which one, but a security company said that the Xiaomi phone they looked at was riddled with security flaws and suspicious services than ran in the background of the phone. Considering their widespread success I wouldn't be surprised if the Chinese government was helping them out in exchange for access to their users' data.
Posted on my OnePlus One
Damn, this device NEEDS to come to North America. Would love to get my hands on one especially at those price points.
Does it supports T-Mobile's bands?
Posted via the Android Central App
Hi guys, I'm really curious about the pricing structure of zenfone 2. Last week, i red an article saying 4GB will be priced as $439 and the 2GB is for $299. Since it's already released in Taiwan, what's really the actual pricing of Z2? Thank you if anyone can answer me..:)
The former price of $439 is unofficial ie., not true..
The latest is official..
That really is a killer price from a great company. I was really interested in the ZP5 when it was first released, so maybe I'll check this out.
Wouldn't mind taking this for a spin.
Posted via the ACA on NEXUS 6
Nice!
The price is wrong for ZE551ML (4GB,32GB).
The variant with 4GB RAM (ZE551ML) is up for sale for the equivalent of $220
The price supposed to be the list below:
ASUS ZenFone 2 ZE551ML (4GB/32GB)：8990 元 ($290)
ASUS ZenFone 2 ZE551ML (2GB/32GB)：6990 元 ($220)
At the time, it wasn't mentioned that there were two variants of the ZE551ML. Updated the article with the same. Thanks!