Asus launches Zenfone 2 with 5.5-inch screen, Android 5.0, in effort to lure U.S. buyers

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Published 5 Jan 2015

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S VEGAS—Asus really wants to break into the American smartphone market, so it’s pushing a big-screen phone with a new interface in hopes of impressing Android fans. 

The Zenfone 2 has a 5.5-inch screen, 13Mcamera, comes with Android llipop, though it is overlayed with Asus’ reworked interface. The Zenfone 2 also has a 2.3 GHz, 64-bit Atom processor (unusual for a phone), though there’s 4GB of RAM instead of the 8GB this type of chip could hle.

The HD display delivers 403 ppi has a 178-degree viewing angle, according to Asus. It’s also E compatible has a 3,000 mAh battery.

The Zenfone 2 includes a 13Mrear camera 5Mfront shooter. The camera has a wide-angle, f/2.0 lens that Asus promises will have no shutter lag. Asus’ “xelmaster” software is supposed to instantly touch up your photos. An earlier rumor indicated there would be some kind of dual lens, but it turns out the images were really of the back of the phone which has a giant circle to promote the “Zen” bring.

br new zenui Asus

The Zenfone 2 will have Android llipop with a healthy dose of Zen UI.

Asus is also touting the phone as an ergonomic choice, with a curved build a volume button on the back, such as is found on the G3.

The Zenfone 2 will be available on contract for $200, come in five colors: Osmium Black, Sheer , Glacier Gray, Glamor Red Ceramic ite. There’s no specific word yet on when it will be for sale on what carriers.

y this matters: Asus is making a big push for a piece of the American Android smartphone market, trying to keep up with competitors that keep exping screen sizes camera specs. Its biggest drawback is the Zen UI, which looks far less attractive user-friendly than ’s own aesthetic in Android llipop.