The device we’re reviewing has a 5.5-inch 720p screen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor, and 2GB of RAM. By the way, an option with a Snapdragon 615 processor and 3 GB of RAM is also available on the market.
You may be wondering: what’s so special about a laser? This Rs 9,999 smartphone comes with a laser autofocus system that directs an invisible laser beam at the subject and adjusts the focus. In theory, this should help speed up focusing and improve the quality of photos. Does this happen in practice? We will try to find out this in this review.
Appearance and Design
Asus ZenFone 2 Laser (ZE550KL) in action asus zenphone 2 As it is. The design of both phones is similar. Asus has also retained its concentric circle design with this device. If both phones are held together, it will be difficult to distinguish them.
There is no button or card slot on the side of the phone. The micro-USB port is located at the bottom. The power button and 3.5mm port remain on top. With the help of touch gestures present in the user interface, you can activate the device with a double tap and also launch selected applications. Other than turning the device on and off, you won’t need any power.
Like the Zenfone 2, the volume buttons on the Zenfone 2 Laser are located on the back of the device. We are happy with the display of this smartphone. Quite sharp for a budget device. Colors and brightness are also appropriate.
The dual-color flash in a laser smartphone is on the left side of the camera, and the laser is on the right. The back panel is removable. The batteries are replaceable and the SIM card slot is located underneath. Ledger has a hybrid SIM card slot and the device has a storage capacity of 16 GB. Due to the smaller storage capacity, dual SIM functionality is slightly reduced.
Specifications and software
Contrary to its tradition, Asus used the Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset in the Zenfone 2 Laser (ZE550KL). The variant we reviewed is powered by a Snapdragon 410 processor and 2GB of RAM. By the way, in addition to the Snapdragon 615 chipset, the expensive version will receive 3 GB of RAM. In terms of processor, the Laser feels like a bit of an expensive phone. However, the addition of a laser autofocus camera makes it worth the price.
Other specifications include 16GB of internal memory, 13MP primary and 5MP secondary cameras, microSD card support up to 128GB, and a 3,000mAh battery. Even though it is a budget device, both SIM card slots support 4G.
The Asus Zenfone 2 Laser runs Android 5.0 operating system and Asus uses Zen UI on top of it. We’re not fans of this UI, but it gets the job done well.
There are many things to like about the user interface, such as improved security and customization options. You can quickly launch the camera by simply pressing the volume button twice. You can also choose gestures that automatically launch selected apps even when the device is in sleep mode. Zen UI has excellent customization options.
camera
The Asus ZenFone 2 Laser gets its name from the laser autofocus feature present in the main camera. On paper, the camera is far ahead of the rest of the smartphone’s specs. This type of camera setup is found in high-end devices.
The camera performs well in suitable lighting and indoor environments. However, in daylight the image appears blurry. This can be corrected to some extent by using HDR mode or very precise focusing, but it is still somewhat annoying. The sharpness and detail of the photos are decent for a device priced under Rs 10,000.
Keep in mind that the laser autofocus system is less effective when taking photographs in remote and open locations. The reason for this is the small receiving sensor. For this reason, photographing moving objects becomes a little more difficult. It is clear that the Zenfone 2 is more suitable for close-range photography using a laser.
More information is recorded faster in close-up images. The laser autofocus system is fast and accurately focuses on the subject. By the way, its laser system is slightly faster than conventional autofocus systems.
The camera app is very easy to use. You have many options in this. Access to most important settings is very easy. It has many amazing filters and modes including slow motion, depth of field, and GIF images. In manual mode there are many professional options. The biggest downside of the camera app is that you don’t have the option to record video from the front camera. This can be fixed using third party camera software.
performance
The camera performance goes in favor of the Asus Zenfone 2 Laser. It’s worth noting that the rest of the specifications of this smartphone are those of an entry-level smartphone, so expect basic performance from it. Despite this, we received pleasant impressions of the phone. Dead Trigger 2 ran very smoothly. During this time, there were no problems with the phone heating up or the battery draining too quickly. Our test videos played without problems. However, sometimes launching the application and unlocking the device took some time. However, this drawback does not bother users of budget smartphones.
The Asus ZenFone 2 Laser’s benchmark results are very similar to those of budget Snapdragon 410-powered devices. While you can get much better performance at this price, keep in mind that you are paying for premium camera technology.The phone’s performance was good in the video loop test. Once fully charged, the battery lasted 14 hours. Perhaps this was made possible thanks to the 3000 mAh battery. With daily use, this phone will last a little more than a day.
our decision
With laser autofocus technology, the Asus Zenfone 2 Laser stands out among other phones under Rs 15,000. It is basically a budget device and the specifications are also of average quality, but with its excellent camera technology, this smartphone creates its own personality. At this price, you’re unlikely to find a camera phone that delivers such fast and excellent performance.
Outdoor shooting, slightly slower performance compared to the competition, and slightly longer app opening times are the main drawbacks of the Asus ZenFone 2 Laser. However, when using this phone there is a feeling of trust. When you need it, it won’t let you down. Plus, it looks good, is well built, and has excellent battery life.
Priced under Rs 10,000, the Asus ZenFone 2 Laser (ZE550KL) arguably offers the best camera performance in tight spaces. If you are into photography, then you can give this smartphone a chance.
