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ASUS ZenFone 2 Hitting North American Smartphone Market

• Ethan Zelinskas
• May 19th, 2015

Known primarily in the United States for its desktop’s, laptops, and computer parts, ASUS is set to make a foray into the North American smartphone market with the ZenFone 2.  The ASUS ZenFone 2 faces an uphill battle against more entrenched competitors as it moves in on the territory of the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the iPhone 6. Those looking into the ZenFone 2 may be slightly confused, as the title covers a line of phones rather than a single device.

Regardless of which precise version one looks at, there are a few definitive features across the board. The ZenFone 2 sets itself apart from its contemporaries with an Intel Atom processor.  All models feature either a 5 or 5.5-inch screen, making for a rather hefty phone. One of the ZenPhone 2’s touted features is a 13-megapixel camera with specialized lowlight mode which significantly outstrips the lowlight performance of the iPhone 6 and Galaxy 6S’s cameras according a review by CNET. CNET did, however, criticize the convex plastic backing as having a “cheap bulky feel.” The back is replaceable with backings of various colors and textures available. The ZenFone 2 faced concurring critique from CNET and AndroidPit for its awkwardly placed power button at the center-top of the phone as well as a non-removable battery.

The models diverge most at their storage capacity and RAM. The top-of-the-line model comes with 64GB of storage and a beefy 4GB of RAM at a price point of $499—which CNET criticized as too high an asking price despite the praise they offered the phone’s “smooth performance.” Weighing in at only 16GB of storage and 2GB of RAM, the most basic model does offer a significantly reduced price point at $199. Four other variants make up gradient between the two extremes.  How precisely the ASUS ZenFone 2 will perform in North American markets is the question that looms large. Death or survival will be determined by whether or not the device can convince consumers that it meets the vast, varied, and constantly expanding demands they have for their phones.