ASUS has expanded its Zenfone 2 family, and at the recent Zenfest, they announced the Zenfone 2 Deluxe, which bears the model number ZE551ML. It is the same as the original highest variant of the Zenfone 2. We’ve had the Deluxe for almost 3 weeks now and got the chance to test it thoroughly. Now, let’s take you through a detailed journey of how the Zenfone 2 Deluxe performed and how it compares to its original sibling.
In the box
- Zenfone 2 Deluxe
- USB cable
- Charging Adapter (Quick charger)
- User Guide
- Warranty Manual
Design & Display
The Zenfone 2 Deluxe shares the same dimensions as the older Zenfone 2, weighing 170g and measuring 10.9mm in thickness. It’s a tall and hefty phone, and the thick bezels at the top and bottom make one-handed usage nearly impossible. The button placement is unconventional, with volume rocker at the back and the power button at the top. However, they offer good tactile feedback.
The key highlight of the phone is its uneven, diamond-cut design, which reminds us of the character from Fantastic Four. Despite its unique appearance, it’s not unattractive, and the patterns are neatly done. This polygonal crystal design also provides a better grip but you may feel like your palm is being poked initially. The device comes in white, purple, and maroon colors. We received the purple variant, which looks exceptionally cool. ASUS has included in-built wallpapers that complement the look and feel of the crystal crystal-cut back.
Zenfone 2 Deluxe Photo Gallery
The phone sports a 5.5″ Full HD screen with ASUS’s TrueVivid Full Screen Lamination technology, that enhances color rendering for an enriching experience. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, which prevents scratches. It offers good viewing angles and visibility in sunlight is not an issue.
The only drawback is that the three capacitive buttons at the bottom are not backlit, which can be inconvenient. Asus should provide an option for on-screen navigation keys, especially since the screen is large, to improve usability in low light.
Performance
The Zenfone 2 Deluxe is powered by the same Intel Atom Z3580 64-bit processor clocked at 2.3 GHz. It is paired with 4GB of RAM and a massive 64GB of internal storage that is expandable up to 128GB via microSD. This powerful hardware runs ASUS’s heavily customized Zen UI based on Android 5.0, offering numerous features that may take some time to discover. The phone handles multitasking smoothly, even with as many as 50 apps open. Additionally, one can use gestures to launch the camera, and double-tap to wake or put the device to sleep.
The device performs exceptionally well in gaming, with AnTuTu benchmarks scoring close to the 45K range. Graphic-intensive games like Nova 3, Asphalt 8, Real Racing 3, and Riptide ran smoothly, and the phone was able to keep multiple games running in the background without overheating issues. The crystal design on the back further helps dissipate heat and keeps the device comfortable to hold during long gaming sessions.
The 3000mAh battery on the Deluxe consistently provides 4.5 to 5 hours of screen-on time, which is impressive for a phone with a big screen, powerful processor, and thick-skinned UI. ASUS’s quick charge technology allows the battery to charge from 0% to 60% in just 40 minutes.
When it comes to call quality, it was just good enough but not as impressive as the ones we have seen on Microsoft Lumia or Samsung phones. We may be spoiled by a high benchmark there but for a normal user, there are no glaring issues. Reception too is decent enough both on 3G and 4G.
Camera
The Zenfone 2 Deluxe features a 13MP primary camera with dual-tone LED flash and a 5MP front-facing camera. ASUS claims that the camera is one of the best in its range, but we find this to be slightly overpromising. While the 6-element lens and Toshiba sensor are good, they do not outperform cameras found in flagship devices like the Samsung Galaxy S6 or the LG G4. The camera performs brilliantly in daylight conditions as well as in macro mode. However, it struggles with exposure, especially in low light conditions, which falls short of ASUS’s claims.
The camera app offers a plethora of options, similar to Samsung phones, making the phone fun to use. The manual mode has all the necessary options and works well when the right adjustments are made.
The focusing speed and overall processing are a tad slow, which may be a drawback. Capturing fast-moving subjects like a dancing toddler or a flying bird may be challenging, but using burst mode could help you get a good shot. Camera performance in low light conditions is not exceptional, but switching to HDR mode can improve the results. The videos captured look fine with no major issues.
The 5MP front-facing camera features a wide-angle lens and takes decent pictures, but struggles in indoor or low-light conditions.
Camera Samples
Verdict
Featuring impressive hardware, a well-integrated software experience, an above-average camera, regular software updates, a unique back cover, brilliant gaming performance, good battery life, and 64GB of internal memory; the Asus Zenfone 2 Deluxe is a bang for the buck.
However, this phone isn’t the best choice for users who want to try custom ROMs or prefer the stock Android experience. It is ideal for people who want a phone that works well out of the box, offers a nice user experience, and lasts for a year or two without issues.
Priced at 22,999 INR in India, the Zenfone 2 Deluxe competes with other options in the sub-25k price segment such as the OnePlus 2, Honor 6 Plus, and Samsung A7. Each of these phones has its own strengths and weaknesses, but you must consider them when making your decision. Overall, the Zenfone series has been known for its reliability, making the Zenfone 2 Deluxe a highly recommended choice for the average user.
