ASUS Zenfone 2 Deluxe hands-on, first impressions

We’ve had our takes on the latest Zenfone 2s namely the Selfie and Laser. Now we have the high-end variant among the series which is the Deluxe. It’s a bit similar to the other Zenfones but this one boasts a 128GB internal storage with 4GB RAM — not mentioning a very unique back cover. While we prepare the full review of the device let’s first take a quick look of this device up close.

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Just like the Selfie and Laser, the Deluxe flaunts a 5.5-inch display that fits 1080p resolution. It is then protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3 that should protect it from light scratches. As usual, three capacitive buttons are present and don’t light up.

asus-zenfone-deluxe-review-philippines-5

One of the things that make this device stand out in the crowd is its special back cover that touts the company’s design language for this device. The company describes this pattern tessellated triangles that show off a crystalline look.

Truly, it’s not something usual that you see on smartphones so it will most likely make you give a second look when you see it. We’ve had it only for a while and people who’ve seen it expressed their curiosity on the phone.

asus-zenfone-deluxe-review-philippines-3

The device is equipped with a 13-megapixel PixelMaster rear camera with f/2.0 aperture and real-tone dual flash right above it. It’s different from the Selfie or Laser since both of those have the flash on the side, rather than up top. Below the sensor, we still have the volume rocker layered with the company’s concentric circle design.

What’s interesting about these triangles is that they change color depending on how the light bounces off of them. Check out the different angles of the Deluxe:

asus-zenfone-deluxe-review-philippines-7 asus-zenfone-deluxe-review-philippines-8 asus-zenfone-deluxe-review-philippines-6 asus-zenfone-deluxe-review-philippines-9

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Just like the other Zenfones, the back cover could be pried open via the small gap on the lower edge.

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Once popped open, you would be greeted with its unremovable battery with a capacity of 3000mAh. Also hidden here are the dual-SIM slots and memory expansion via microSD.

Running on an Android Lollipop version 5.0 with the company’s ZenUI layered on top, the handset showed snappy performance while browsing through its UI. As mentioned earlier, storage won’t be a problem with the Deluxe since it carries 128GB of space with 111GB available right off the bat.

It’s got a lot of pre-installed apps but again, isn’t a problem, storage-wise. Still you can uninstall some of them if you don’t want extra clutter on your screen.

That’s it for now and stay tuned for our full review that’s coming out in a couple of days.

ASUS Zenfone 2 Deluxe specs:
5.5-inch Full HD IPS display @ 1920 x 1080 resolution
Corning Gorilla Glass 3
64-bit 2.3GHz Intel Atom Z3580 quad-core processor
4GB RAM
128GB internal storage
Expandable up to 128GB via microSD
13MP PixelMaster rear camera with f/2.0 aperture and real-tone flash
5MP front camera with 85-degree field of view
Dual-SIM/dual active
4G LTE, 3G HSPA+
Wi-Fi ac
Bluetooth 4.0
GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
3,000mAh battery with ASUS BoostMaster fast charging tech
Android 5.0 Lollipop with ZenUI
170g
Purple/White/Blue
Price: Php17,995

The post ASUS Zenfone 2 Deluxe hands-on, first impressions appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

ASUS Zenfone 2 Deluxe hands-on, first impressions

We’ve had our takes on the latest Zenfone 2s namely the Selfie and Laser. Now we have the high-end variant among the series which is the Deluxe. It’s a bit similar to the other Zenfones but this one boasts a 128GB internal storage with 4GB RAM — not mentioning a very unique back cover. While we prepare the full review of the device let’s first take a quick look of this device up close.

asus-zenfone-deluxe-review-philippines-2

Just like the Selfie and Laser, the Deluxe flaunts a 5.5-inch display that fits 1080p resolution. It is then protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3 that should protect it from light scratches. As usual, three capacitive buttons are present and don’t light up.

asus-zenfone-deluxe-review-philippines-5

One of the things that make this device stand out in the crowd is its special back cover that touts the company’s design language for this device. The company describes this pattern tessellated triangles that show off a crystalline look.

Truly, it’s not something usual that you see on smartphones so it will most likely make you give a second look when you see it. We’ve had it only for a while and people who’ve seen it expressed their curiosity on the phone.

asus-zenfone-deluxe-review-philippines-3

The device is equipped with a 13-megapixel PixelMaster rear camera with f/2.0 aperture and real-tone dual flash right above it. It’s different from the Selfie or Laser since both of those have the flash on the side, rather than up top. Below the sensor, we still have the volume rocker layered with the company’s concentric circle design.

What’s interesting about these triangles is that they change color depending on how the light bounces off of them. Check out the different angles of the Deluxe:

asus-zenfone-deluxe-review-philippines-7 asus-zenfone-deluxe-review-philippines-8 asus-zenfone-deluxe-review-philippines-6 asus-zenfone-deluxe-review-philippines-9

asus-zenfone-deluxe-review-philippines-4

Just like the other Zenfones, the back cover could be pried open via the small gap on the lower edge.

asus-zenfone-deluxe-review-philippines-1

Once popped open, you would be greeted with its unremovable battery with a capacity of 3000mAh. Also hidden here are the dual-SIM slots and memory expansion via microSD.

Running on an Android Lollipop version 5.0 with the company’s ZenUI layered on top, the handset showed snappy performance while browsing through its UI. As mentioned earlier, storage won’t be a problem with the Deluxe since it carries 128GB of space with 111GB available right off the bat.

It’s got a lot of pre-installed apps but again, isn’t a problem, storage-wise. Still you can uninstall some of them if you don’t want extra clutter on your screen.

That’s it for now and stay tuned for our full review that’s coming out in a couple of days.

ASUS Zenfone 2 Deluxe specs:
5.5-inch Full HD IPS display @ 1920 x 1080 resolution
Corning Gorilla Glass 3
64-bit 2.3GHz Intel Atom Z3580 quad-core processor
4GB RAM
128GB internal storage
Expandable up to 128GB via microSD
13MP PixelMaster rear camera with f/2.0 aperture and real-tone flash
5MP front camera with 85-degree field of view
Dual-SIM/dual active
4G LTE, 3G HSPA+
Wi-Fi ac
Bluetooth 4.0
GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
3,000mAh battery with ASUS BoostMaster fast charging tech
Android 5.0 Lollipop with ZenUI
170g
Purple/White/Blue
Price: Php17,995

The post ASUS Zenfone 2 Deluxe hands-on, first impressions appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

ASUS Zenfone 2 Deluxe hands-on, first impressions

We’ve had our takes on the latest Zenfone 2s namely the Selfie and Laser. Now we have the high-end variant among the series which is the Deluxe. It’s a bit similar to the other Zenfones but this one boasts a 128GB internal storage with 4GB RAM — not mentioning a very unique back cover. While we prepare the full review of the device let’s first take a quick look of this device up close.

asus-zenfone-deluxe-review-philippines-2

Just like the Selfie and Laser, the Deluxe flaunts a 5.5-inch display that fits 1080p resolution. It is then protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3 that should protect it from light scratches. As usual, three capacitive buttons are present and don’t light up.

asus-zenfone-deluxe-review-philippines-5

One of the things that make this device stand out in the crowd is its special back cover that touts the company’s design language for this device. The company describes this pattern tessellated triangles that show off a crystalline look.

Truly, it’s not something usual that you see on smartphones so it will most likely make you give a second look when you see it. We’ve had it only for a while and people who’ve seen it expressed their curiosity on the phone.

asus-zenfone-deluxe-review-philippines-3

The device is equipped with a 13-megapixel PixelMaster rear camera with f/2.0 aperture and real-tone dual flash right above it. It’s different from the Selfie or Laser since both of those have the flash on the side, rather than up top. Below the sensor, we still have the volume rocker layered with the company’s concentric circle design.

What’s interesting about these triangles is that they change color depending on how the light bounces off of them. Check out the different angles of the Deluxe:

asus-zenfone-deluxe-review-philippines-7 asus-zenfone-deluxe-review-philippines-8 asus-zenfone-deluxe-review-philippines-6 asus-zenfone-deluxe-review-philippines-9

asus-zenfone-deluxe-review-philippines-4

Just like the other Zenfones, the back cover could be pried open via the small gap on the lower edge.

asus-zenfone-deluxe-review-philippines-1

Once popped open, you would be greeted with its unremovable battery with a capacity of 3000mAh. Also hidden here are the dual-SIM slots and memory expansion via microSD.

Running on an Android Lollipop version 5.0 with the company’s ZenUI layered on top, the handset showed snappy performance while browsing through its UI. As mentioned earlier, storage won’t be a problem with the Deluxe since it carries 128GB of space with 111GB available right off the bat.

It’s got a lot of pre-installed apps but again, isn’t a problem, storage-wise. Still you can uninstall some of them if you don’t want extra clutter on your screen.

That’s it for now and stay tuned for our full review that’s coming out in a couple of days.

ASUS Zenfone 2 Deluxe specs:
5.5-inch Full HD IPS display @ 1920 x 1080 resolution
Corning Gorilla Glass 3
64-bit 2.3GHz Intel Atom Z3580 quad-core processor
4GB RAM
128GB internal storage
Expandable up to 128GB via microSD
13MP PixelMaster rear camera with f/2.0 aperture and real-tone flash
5MP front camera with 85-degree field of view
Dual-SIM/dual active
4G LTE, 3G HSPA+
Wi-Fi ac
Bluetooth 4.0
GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
3,000mAh battery with ASUS BoostMaster fast charging tech
Android 5.0 Lollipop with ZenUI
170g
Purple/White/Blue
Price: Php17,995

The post ASUS Zenfone 2 Deluxe hands-on, first impressions appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

ASUS Zenfone Selfie Review

We recently gave you a hands-on look at ASUS‘s camera-centric handset, the Zenfone Selfie. It packs a 13-megapixel camera for both its rear and front shooters that are coupled with two-tone, dual LED flashes in addition to an array of software features to produce high-quality images. Will it perform well on its specializations? We find out.

Design and Construction

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Since it also belongs to the popular Zenfone family, the physique is almost identical to the Zenfone 2 with the button placements up top and at the back. The screen is also one of the things that remained constant, with a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS display reinforced with Corning’s Gorilla Glass 4.

Obviously targeting the younger crowd, the Zenfone Selfie takes a more vibrant approach with bright colors in pink, blue and green. The back cover has a smooth matte finish that’s almost similar with the ZE550ML variant we reviewed back in April. We would have preferred the diamond-cut back cover as this matte, rubbery finish is a fingerprint and smudge magnet.

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The ASUS Zenfone Selfie takes the term selfie to the center of the picture — that is, a 13-megapixel front-facing camera to take that perfect selfie. To be clear though, ASUS is not the first one to do such a feat. There have been others before it, most notably the HTC Desire EYE which also has a 13.1MP front-facing camera, f2.2 aperture and dual LED, dual-tone flash.

What the company added to its front camera is the 88-degree wide angle lens that could fit more people into the shot and take a better group selfie. The dual-tone, dual LED flash along with the earpiece speaker flanks the camera lens right up in the center.

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The trio of non-illuminating capacitive buttons (Back, Home, Recent Apps) also make their appearance here, right above the company’s signature concentric-circle design for the bottom panel.

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Turning it around, we have the same 13MP rear camera with dual-tone flash. What makes it different from its front shooter is the implementation of a laser auto-focus similar to what LG G4 is using to quickly focus on subjects while shooting.

Also seen here is the volume rocker that doubles as a shutter button to make things easier when taking a seflie.

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Up top there’s the power and lock button right beside the 3.5mm audio jack for connecting headphones.

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While down below we have the microUSB port for charging and transferring files. From this angle we can also see the handset’s convex form factor when lying on its face — a common sight for Zenfones.

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Removing the plastic back cover, you will be greeted with its removable battery, dual SIM card trays, and a microSD slot for memory expansion. This also reveals the speaker which, just like other Zenfones, is just placed in one side and is in no way a long grille like the holes on the back cover suggest.

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Spotting it from the side we can see that the Selfie doesn’t really boast of a thin form factor. Instead, it possesses a somewhat chunky build, but doesn’t affect its handling significantly.

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Finally, it also has curved corners that make it easier to hold as it sits comfortably on the hand.

The post ASUS Zenfone Selfie Review appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

Affordable ASUS Zenfone Go announced in PH

Adding to the plethora of new devices available locally,  ASUS officially launches the Zenfone Go for the Philippine market.

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ASUS Zenfone Go (ZC500TG) specs:
5-inch HD IPS display @ 1280 x 720 resolution
1.3GHz MediaTek MT6580 quad-core processor
2GB RAM
16GB internal storage
Expandable up to 64GB via microSD
8MP rear camera with f/2.0 aperture
2MP front camera
3G
Wi-Fi
Bluetooth
GPS, A-GPS
2070mAh battery
Android 5.1 Lollipop
144.5 x 71 x 9.98mm (dimensions)
135 grams
Available in black, white, and red

As we’ve previously reported based on an info shared with us, the ASUS Zenfone Go will have an affordable price of Php5,995. Stay tuned for our first impressions on the device.

The post Affordable ASUS Zenfone Go announced in PH appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.