Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

mclld

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Nov 6, 2012
2,655
2,117
http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/05/asus-zenfone-2-ces-2015/

http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/05/asus-zenfone-zoom-ces-2015/


I will be keeping a close on eye the $200 version
 

LIVEFRMNYC

macrumors G3
Oct 27, 2009
8,872
10,977
Both the ZenFone 2 and Zoom look nice.

On the ZenFone 2, I wonder how much the 4gb version will cost? I would be willing to pay another $100.
 

iBlazed

macrumors 68000
Feb 27, 2014
1,594
1,249
New Jersey, United States
Ughhh there goes another $200....

I seriously have a problem. But I HAVE to have it. It's so pretty. I wonder how the update support will be, and I can't tell if those buttons are software buttons or if they're capacitative buttons. Capacitative buttons are a huge turnoff.

Also, what's the deal with this ZenUI? Why not good old stock android? Why do some manufacturers choose to put their own crappy skin on top of Android. I like how Motorola does it, stock all the way.
 
Last edited:

MRU

macrumors Penryn
Aug 23, 2005
25,370
8,952
a better place
.

Also, what's the deal with this ZenUI? Why not good old stock android? Why do some manufacturers choose to put their own crappy skin on top of Android. I like how Motorola does it, stock all the way.


Yep agreed. From the videos I've watched there is still some stutters with the Zen UI despite the quad core Intel processor and 4gb ram...

Seriously put stock android and it would likely fly rather than saddle it with zen UI.
 

iBlazed

macrumors 68000
Feb 27, 2014
1,594
1,249
New Jersey, United States
Yep agreed. From the videos I've watched there is still some stutters with the Zen UI despite the quad core Intel processor and 4gb ram...

Seriously put stock android and it would likely fly rather than saddle it with zen UI.
Yeah I really don't get the logic behind it. Seems like they're going out of their way to make the phone slower when the pure Android experience is superior. Why not just save their time and money and leave it the way it was meant to be?
 

dsnort

macrumors 68000
Jan 28, 2006
1,904
68
In persona non grata
Yeah I really don't get the logic behind it. Seems like they're going out of their way to make the phone slower when the pure Android experience is superior. Why not just save their time and money and leave it the way it was meant to be?

Hehehe! I remember when Android was first coming out and many people touted as a strength the ability for vendor to customize the UI to give a unique user experience. Hee Hee Hee!
 

iBlazed

macrumors 68000
Feb 27, 2014
1,594
1,249
New Jersey, United States
Hehehe! I remember when Android was first coming out and many people touted as a strength the ability for vendor to customize the UI to give a unique user experience. Hee Hee Hee!

In my opinion, this "strength" was always a weakness. It's caused fragmentation and an inconsistent user experience. If a user chooses to customize their UI that's fine, but manufacturers should leave it alone.
 

TacticalDesire

macrumors 68020
Mar 19, 2012
2,286
23
Michigan
zenphone2.jpg





If the $200 price tag is real, I'll be buying one. Intel must be heavily subsidizing these things.
 

Dontazemebro

macrumors 68020
Jul 23, 2010
2,173
0
I dunno, somewhere in West Texas
In my opinion, this "strength" was always a weakness. It's caused fragmentation and an inconsistent user experience. If a user chooses to customize their UI that's fine, but manufacturers should leave it alone.

Then we wouldn't have features like true split screen multitasking, IR blaster, myriad of Samsung S exclusives, knock to wake, ecetera ecetera.

I get where you're coming from, but OEM skins offer more than just a visual makeover. They're usually packed with goodies you just can't find in pure android. A good blend of both should be the recipe so consumers can get equal ends of the spectrum.
 

jamezr

macrumors P6
Aug 7, 2011
16,044
18,973
US
Then we wouldn't have features like true split screen multitasking, IR blaster, myriad of Samsung S exclusives, knock to wake, ecetera ecetera.

I get where you're coming from, but OEM skins offer more than just a visual makeover. They're usually packed with goodies you just can't find in pure android. A good blend of both should be the recipe so consumers can get equal ends of the spectrum.
^^^^ this. Completely agree. Look at HTC Sense...great Android skin. Probably the best out there. TW is good but needs a little UI improvements. But without all these overlays.......pure Android is a little boring to me.
 

gotluck

macrumors 603
Dec 8, 2011
5,716
1,215
East Central Florida
Then we wouldn't have features like true split screen multitasking, IR blaster, myriad of Samsung S exclusives, knock to wake, ecetera ecetera.

I get where you're coming from, but OEM skins offer more than just a visual makeover. They're usually packed with goodies you just can't find in pure android. A good blend of both should be the recipe so consumers can get equal ends of the spectrum.

I hear you , but just want to say I would love more Samsung goolgle edition devices. They keep the best items (for me) that are OEM specific and keep stock android. Multiwindow is probably the main feature I'd probably miss. Knock to wake wouldn't hurt either.

So sad it seems discontinued. So many product lines and they can the one that's perfect for me :p
 

nordique

macrumors 68000
Oct 12, 2014
1,995
1,607
Perfect, just what I was looking for - Zenfone 2 looks like the phone that hits a sweet price point

I hope they come to Canada and are priced well. @ 249$, I would jump on that
 

mclld

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Nov 6, 2012
2,655
2,117
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znleHMkPpAw

This video has a HDR comparison mode with a Note 4 towards the end
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YBwOQpRyrs
 

MasterRyu2011

macrumors 65816
Aug 22, 2014
1,064
359
Yeah I really don't get the logic behind it. Seems like they're going out of their way to make the phone slower when the pure Android experience is superior. Why not just save their time and money and leave it the way it was meant to be?


Because they want to differentiate, because they want to make it look like iOS. Because pure Android doesn't sell as well. If people really hate on skins, then the likes of Samsung, LG, and Sony would not be beating Motorola phones and the Nexus line year in and year out.
 

gotluck

macrumors 603
Dec 8, 2011
5,716
1,215
East Central Florida
samsung, lg, sony all have extra hardware that moto and nexus lack. sd card/removable and/or bigger battery/ ir blaster/ better cameras. I'm not so sure that it is the skin that is making the sale (with the exception of the Note). you certainly have a point though.

Because they want to differentiate, because they want to make it look like iOS. Because pure Android doesn't sell as well. If people really hate on skins, then the likes of Samsung, LG, and Sony would not be beating Motorola phones and the Nexus line year in and year out.
 

MasterRyu2011

macrumors 65816
Aug 22, 2014
1,064
359
samsung, lg, sony all have extra hardware that moto and nexus lack. sd card/removable and/or bigger battery/ ir blaster/ better cameras. I'm not so sure that it is the skin that is making the sale (with the exception of the Note). you certainly have a point though.

Yeah..i agree that the hardware definitely helps. It also doesn't help that Nexus devices and the recent Motorola phones (while great in most other aspects) don't take great pictures.

Still the point remains that pure Android isn't that much of an incentive for many --- only tech nerds like us.
 

Savor

Suspended
Jun 18, 2010
3,742
918
Asus have been releasing some very solid phones at competitive prices during the past year. Zenfone 5 is a really good phone for $160. Same can apply to the Zenfone 6 for $70 more here locally. Both are usually out of stock. Asus was even kind to release a cheaper version of the Zenfone 5 called the 5 Lite and Fonepad 7 for the Philippine market.

If Xiaomi doesn't attack the Western market soon, Asus may just steal alot of it from them. Perhaps companies like Huawei, Lenovo, and Archos will soon follow. I am also very interested in the Archos 50 Diamond. But I am also tempted with the Huawei Ascend Mate 7 and Nexus 6. I have 4.7 and 5 inch screen phones. I want to go to my absolute limit in size at near 6 inches. I can never go back to any screen smaller than 4.3. This phablet-loving Asian trend has got me dreaming even bigger with screen and battery life.
 

nordique

macrumors 68000
Oct 12, 2014
1,995
1,607
Those of you familiar with Asus phones in general, which are the best/most recent phones right now? (are any available in Canada?)

Their naming system has me so lost...Zenfone 4 then 6...then 5? Now 2? :confused:
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.