• expired

Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML 32GB, 4GB RAM, 1.8GHz Intel Atom CPU - $344 Delivered @ eGlobal

90
WB10
This post contains affiliate links. OzBargain might earn commissions when you click through and make purchases. Please see this page for more information.

I was assisting my sister to buy a new mobile, and went with this. This was the cheapest price I was able to find.

There are several variants of this model (some have 2GB RAM, different processor, different ROM size etc). This is the version with 4GB RAM, 32GB storage, and the 1.8GHz quad-core processor.

Use the WB10 to get $10 off, to bring it to $344 shipped.

Watched a few YouTube reviews of this, and seems like a very good phone for the price.

They also sell a silver and gold version for $6 more.

Related Stores

eGlobal Digital Cameras
eGlobal Digital Cameras

closed Comments

  • -5

    WOW! What do we need ALL of 4 GB of RAM for?!?

    (The better to have 100's of app's sitting dormant in memory, ready to wake up & record when+what we speak & video what we do…?)

    Seriously, are apps getting SO MUCH larger that we'll need 4 GB any time soon?!?

    • +1

      what?

      • -4

        RAM is where apps sit when running.

        We only need Big RAM when either our apps are Big
        or we need lotsa smaller apps in RAM at the same time.

        Why to we need so many apps in RAM at same time?

        Well, many apps sit about "listening" for nudges from the 'net
        others can be doing a bit of surveillance… maybe.

        A phone I have keeps an eye on all the apps that like to sit in RAM, even before I ever try to run them. It's 30 - 60 apps sometimes(!)

        Why so many? & do I need all that overhead?

        • +6

          Who cares. If the phone doesn't use all the RAM, then that's okay. There is a 2GB version also, but only about $20-30 cheaper. Seems like a no brainer getting 4GB.

          When the Galaxy S2 dropped, with it's 1GB RAM, people were probably like "OMFG WHY DO I NEED 1GB RAM", but here we are years later, where no one will by a phone with less than 2GB RAM.

          RAM IS GOOD!

        • Clearly you do not need too big RAM, then why bother?

        • Why not? I'd rather be at a position where I can run many apps, then not be able to (or have it being laggy).
          Besides, with each major upgrades with the Android, it seems, the RAM requirement is going up.
          More the RAM, the better it seems, is my opinion.

        • @AznMitch: Maybe you're right.

          But - for me - I'd rather get a "No RAM for self-starting app" message, so I can explore why it's auto-starting, rather than have apps doing things I might not want done.

          (The LESS RAM I have, the MORE such messages I should get, right?)

        • lots of people use their phones to play games (myself included) which usually require large amounts of RAM, try playing a recent heavily graphic game on a Galaxy S2 and you'll find yourself waiting forever for the game to load… as edshays said "RAM IS GOOD!"

        • @chrismor:

          Aha! That's what I've been missing… I don't play games on a small screen device (my eyes aren't suited to that)

          Cheers!

        • @IVI: Yeah, in the past I didn't see the point of playing games on a phone but now I have to commute (train) for 45mins to get to work and playing games makes it a lot less boring

        • +1

          @IVI: You could easily check and close those from setting - application manager - running.

          Why do you need to have things stop working for you to check those things? That's like saying, I'd rather have small storage, that way, nothing that I don't want will be downloaded because there are no space left on the storage. Also, there are methods in which you could disable those apps (i.e. Debloater doesn't require root for disabling apps etc).

          I will not go as far as to say 4GB RAM is necessary, I'd say that it's nice to have more RAM in general (if I choose a phone, more RAM will be a plus for me). OS will likely require more RAM, apps will expect more RAM on phone in general, so you'd be likely to be able to use the phone for longer without hassles with more RAM.

        • My phone is struggling at the moment with 1GB RAM.

          I listen to audiobooks and those files can be massive. Combine that with an Android Wear watch and it's one or the other. As soon as I try to open any other app like Chrome or even text message, the other apps will close.

          So yeah, in some cases there is a need for more RAM for those of us who listen to podcasts and audiobooks or use other devices with our phones.

        • @chrismor:
          I'd rather be taking courses (eg, free MOOCs, via Coursera or EdX, etc.), interacting w/ fellow students or instructors (via the MOOC's preferred social media).

          Others enjoy meeting or at least flirting with some of the Real PeopleTM sharing their train rides. ;-)

        • @AznMitch:
          Yes, on finding & stopping auto-start apps, but not manually, via App, Manager.

          There's a set of apps (eg, each a "CM-something") that can do that kind of thing, etc., & bug you with alerts, until you remove it. ;-)

    • +3

      And Bill Gates (denies he) said "640K ought to be enough for anybody.
      ie. 0.000640 Gb of ram.

      • +1

        I don't think there is any conclusive evidence that he've said that (and he've denied saying that)

        Anyways, an interesting read on that quote and whether he've actually said that.
        http://quoteinvestigator.com/2011/09/08/640k-enough/

        • Yeah I know, hence my (denies he) but hey it's Bill Gates, and it's a great line to pin on someone so successful who we love to knock :-)

        • @supabrudda: I think I've missed that part, where you've mentioned that he've denied that, completely (don't judge me, I was half brain dead from looking at some statistic stuff).

        • +2

          @AznMitch: no judgement here, it's beer oclock, those week brain cells are about to be exterminated. :-)

  • Looks like a good deal for a phone with those specs.

    • I like ASUS's Zenfone 5 LTE (based on SnapDragon 400), but but have moved on to a faster Gionee eLife 7 or similar, based on SnapDragon 800).

      And I still like my old Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 (but kick myself for not, then, buying its bigger brother: the …Mega 6.2)

    • Sometimes, I think smartphone makers add RAM or incr Storage, when they can't come up with new -features- to add toa phone, etc.

  • I'm also searching for an Asus Zenfone as a gift too! I've been ebaying and still not sure which one to get - Asus Zenfone 5/6/2, Moto Gen 3, HTC One 7? Any other suggestions?
    I also found one on Gearbest - any thoughts if its reliable and have good warranty with it?
    http://www.gearbest.com/cell-phones/pp_170574.html
    Thanks!

  • +2

    Note this won't have the LTE band 7 (which Optus & Telstra are using for their national higher speed rollout.

    You need the TW(taiwan) version it's also the highest spec'd version with 4Gb ram & the 2.3Ghz cpu./

    As for why you'd need 4Gb ram. No different to having a V8. you don't use it much, but it's handy when you do need it. Android (like all Linux based OS's) use whatever resources are avaialble. My toys have 3Gb ram & they mostly have over 2Gb in use. Chrome is especially a memory hog if it can grab it. With Lollipop & nothing open it uses ~ 1.5Gb

    • Does Band 7 allow better reception in remote areas? i.e. more coverage, or is it going to drop down to 3G?

      • Yeah the plan is that the 700Mhz band will replace the 850 NextG & 900Mhz Optus 3g network.
        So if you live in rural areas I'd be looking to get that band. In captial cities it's not such a concern as they both use other frequencies at the moment.

        I did a lot of research on this phone when it was being released as I was determined to get one. But alas it was hard getting the Taiwan version for a reasonable price. I'd check the ebay sellers.

        I Gave up in early May & got a Note 4.

        • I'm in the city but have headed out to places like Coober Pedy. So it would be good to have something future proof but it is probably time for a new phone by then.

          Unfortunately I left my run a bit too late on the Taiwanese version of the ZE550ML. They are more expensive now.

    • +2

      Regarding bands I agree. You need to be careful if you search out certain versions (ie, Taiwan version) as many stores get confused with different versions available and list incorrect specs.

      I purchased ze550ml for $255.80 in eBay "hump" month - so $50 eBay voucher with it. Excellent phone for the price. Was listed as taiwan version incorrectly, so negotiated $30 refund.

      If you are looking for a case I recommend "slim armour" on aliexpress for about $5 (for 550 or 551). I got the nillkin clear case as well, but prefer the slim armour, as it has a little more protection and does not interfere with the edges of my nillkin tempered glass screen protector.

    • The 700Mhz spectrum being rolled out nationally by Telstra and Optus is band 28.

      Band 7 is 2600Mhz.

      • So\rry everyone, Spockter is right, it's band 28 on the 700Mhz freq…

    • BAND 28 sorry everyone

  • Can I load windows 8.1/10 on this phone? (phone OS ofcourse)

  • I have this and the version with a better processor and honestly there is little if any difference, this model is definitely better value and the faster processor is not worth it in my opinion.

    • What's the cameras like? Can anyone comment on the photos?

      • +1

        Here are some random pictures that i have taken ever since i got the phone, there is a photo taken with 10mp and 13mp to show the difference, the 13mp photos can only be taken in a 4:3 aspect ratio instead of 16:9

        https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B6eZE-zuts7QcF9tNi1B…

        If you want me to take some more photos just ask.

Login or Join to leave a comment