The Big Switch. Or the One Where Zenfone 2 Laser 6.0 got me Switching Sides.

The Big Switch. Or the One Where Zenfone 2 Laser 6.0 got me Switching Sides.

If you’re a long time reader of the site, you know that the only smart phone I pretty much used and adhered to was then-Nokia’s Windows Phone Lumia line. I adored it, fought for it, even tried to convert some of the editors here at Unbox.ph to adapt to it. Sadly that all changed when the Fire Nation attacked – or in this case, when ASUS decided it was time for me to jump ship. :p

Lelz

About two weeks ago, they had me try on one of their mid-range phones, the Asus Zenfone2 Laser. But it wasn’t just any other Zenfone2 Laser; it was the 6.0 variant (or more formally known as ZE601KL). It’s not just the additional screen size that changed with the 6-inch phablet. A couple of game-changing updates were added that simply adds bigger difference in overall experience.

Asus ZenFone2 Laser Unbox

We’ve already covered the basics of the Zenfone 2 Laser 6.0 in a previous article last year, but for everyone’s convenience let’s list down the specs one again.

ASUS Zenfone Laser ZE601KL specs

  • 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 616 octa-core processor
  • 3GB of RAM
  • 6-inch full HD display, Corning Gorilla Glass 4, 1920 x 1080 resolution
  • 32GB of storage, expandable via microSD up to 128GB
  • 13-megapixel PixelMaster camera with Laser AF
  • 5-megapixel PixelMaster Camera front
  • Dual-SIM (with both SIMS capable of handling 3G and LTE)
  • 3G, LTE
  • WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, A-GPS
  • 3,000mAh battery

For Php 11,995, not only do you get a significant upgrade on your Zenfone 2 Laser’s display (both size AND pixel resolution), you also now hold a 6 inch octa-core droid with an additional 1 gig of Ram to boot to ensure that nothing gets in the way of maximizing Zenfone 2 6.0’s multimedia potential.

 

BIG LEAP

I’m already accustomed in using a 6-inch phablet as my last phone (and my daily driver of almost 2 years) had been the Nokia Lumia 1520 . Back then the specs of this Lumia flagship was more than enough to get me through my daily tasks – even helping me with most of my daily content creation work. Sadly, and while it’s harder for me to admit, the changes on the Windows Phone front from 2013 to 2016 isn’t as drastic as it is with the other phones out in the market. Suddenly Android mid-range phones are using octa-core as a staple with emphasis on bigger RAM and bigger battery capacity. These changes, along with the ever-growing number of apps that are proliferating an already robust ecosystem pushed me to consider changing phone OS especially since my 1520 showed signs of extreme wear and tear. With luck (or providence), ASUS handed me the Zenfone2 Laser to tinker around with.

The 'Droid that I'm looking for?

I was reluctant at first (I am a creature of habit) but as I use the Zenfone Laser 6.0 more and more, I’m not more accustomed to the shortcuts, intuitive UI design of the Zenfone Launcher and other nifty knick-knacks of the droid. Finally after much internal deliberation (and my 1520 giving up on me like it’s on its last days), I switched my primary SIM and inserted it unto the Asus Zenfone. I’m now a droid-user and yes, there is a BIG difference.

 

BIGGER EXPERIENCE

The Zenfone 2 Laser 6.0 was built to accommodate a bigger space for your multimedia usage. With full HD viewing capabilities (1080p versus 720p of the Zenfone 2 Laser 5.5) and a bigger screen, binge-watching over at Netflix (OMG! YAAASSS) or watching various Let’s Play videos over at Ungeek.ph (ahem, ahem – SUBSCRIBE y’all!) is more pleasurable than ever.

Subscribe y'all!!! :D

Audio capabilities are outstanding as well. The dual speakers ensure that you have crystal clear (and loud) audio coupled with crystal clear viewing. Bass could use a bit more oomph but the mid-levels are excellent. 😉

Clear mids and excellent volume output.

If you would rather game than watch movies, tv series or let’s play videos on YouTube, Zenfone 2 Laser’s 3GB RAM and octa-core processing power should be able to handle majority of games available in Google Play. To test it, and against my brother’s protest, I downloaded Marvel Future Fight. I think I just made the worse decision of my life. (Oh no, what have I done??? hahaha)

Oh nooooo! What have I done??? :3

Besides a few animation glitches at the start, the game performed without slowing down as much — even when hordes of A.I.M. forces decided to barrage my team.

So far so good. Just a few animation spikes but nothing too jarring.

Aside from the obvious internal upgrade from its 5.5 brother, the Zenfone 2 Laser 6.0 aesthetically is a gorgeous piece of equipment. For a mid-range phone, it looks unequivocally high-end. While the rear panel is still made out of polycarbonate, its brushed-metal finish gives it a different luster than most colored candy shell phones out there. The phone is beautifully accentuated with the signature Asus concentric-circle detailing that we came to expect with all the other Zenfone 2 units.

Look at that beauty. :3

Fitting the phone with 13MP PixelMaster camera with Laser Autofocus (hence Laser) the 6.0 definitely does not look like a phone that costs a mere Php 11,995! If you’re ever in the market for a gorgeous-looking and high-performing mid-tier phone, you might want to give the Zenfone 2 Laser 6.0 a try. It got me jumping from one phone OS to another, and that’s a pretty big deal, no? 🙂

Asus Zenfone 2 Laser 6.0 is currently available and retails for Php 11,995
Asus Zenfone 2 Laser 6.0 is currently available and retails for Php 11,995

 

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