(UPDATE 1: According to Abe Olandres, the ZE500CL will retail for P7,995, while the ZE551ML will have three sub-variants in the Philippines, starting at P9,995 (1.8GHz Intel Z3560 with 2GB RAM and 16GB storage). The most expensive model in the ZE551ML series (2.3GHz Intel Z358 with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage) will reportedly sell for P14,995, and the middle-of-the-pack unit will be priced at P12,995.)
(UPDATE 2: We’ve received word from ASUS Philippines about the prices of the Zenfone 2 variants, and we’re publishing it in full: “Prices that Abe posted are not yet final and are still subject to change. So, yes, Abe’s post is not true.”)
(UPDATE 3: Our source from ASUS Philippines says the company “will try its best to bring the 4GB RAM model of the Zenfone 2 by Q2 2015, as originally planned.” Our advice: Hold on to that Zenfone 2 money until the second week of May. By then we’ll know the release dates of all sub-variants, as well as their exact prices.)
If, like us, you’ve been waiting to hear official details about the ASUS Zenfone 2 for months now, today’s the day, people. The Taiwanese company finally dropped the word on which variants — there are a lot, actually — will land in the Philippines in May. Well, sort of. Two models have been listed on ASUS Philippines’ official website, namely the ZE500CL (aka the smaller, entry-level Zenfone 2 rocking a 5-inch display) and the ZE551ML (aka the one with a 5.5-inch 1080p display and a whopping 4GB of RAM).
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Screenshot of ASUS Philippines’ website
We’ve reached out to ASUS to confirm if another variant will arrive eventually, but it’s safe to assume we won’t be seeing a third option given the relatively negligible price difference between the various editions of the Zenfone 2. As you may have gathered, pricing for the hotly anticipated Android Lollipop smartphone remains up in the air at the moment. For now, we’ll keep our ears and eyes peeled for that elusive information.
Specs of the ASUS Zenfone 2 (ZE551ML):
* LTE
* Dual-SIM
* 2.3GHz quad-core Intel Atom Z3580 CPU
* PowerVR G6430 GPU
* 4GB RAM
* 32/64GB internal storage
* microSD card slot (up to 64GB)
* 5.5-inch IPS display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 (1,080 x 1,920 resolution)
* 13-megapixel rear camera with dual-LED flash
* 5-megapixel front camera
* 3,000mAh battery
* Android Lollipop 5.0
Specs of the ASUS Zenfone 2 (ZE500CL):
* LTE
* 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Atom Z2560 CPU
* PowerVR SGX544MP2 GPU
* 2GB RAM
* 16GB internal storage
* microSD card slot (up to 64GB)
* 5-inch IPS display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 (720 x 1,280 resolution)
* 8-megapixel rear camera with dual-LED flash
* 2-megapixel front camera
* 2,500mAh battery
* Android Lollipop 5.0
RAMON LOPEZ’S TAKE: ASUS made the smart move by limiting the Philippine-bound Zenfone 2 variants to just two because there are a million of them. (Okay, they’re not that many, but there are a lot.) Having more than two editions that are a couple of thousand pesos apart would be counterproductive for the company. It may also result in some units getting little to no attention from consumers, regardless of how reasonably priced they are. As appealing as the idea of bringing Zenfone 2s for every budget may sound, the folks at ASUS Philippines chose correctly by going with two models that will most likely appeal to fans of previous-generation Zenfones.
ASUS Philippines chose correctly by going with two models that will most likely appeal to fans of previous-generation Zenfones.
The ZE500CL is designed for Zenfone 5 (and Zenfone 4) owners who don’t want to step up to a 5.5-inch display and live with the compromises that come with the generous screen real estate. The higher-end Zenfone 2 is aimed at power users who see value in a massive touchscreen.
RELATED VIDEO
[youtube link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xjtu7rLPO3w” width=”560″ height=”315″]
Our unboxing of the ASUS Zenfone 2 (article here)
(Thanks to this tweet, we were able to monitor ASUS Philippines’ website and social media accounts.)
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