Skip to main content

$230 will now get you the Asus ZenFone 2 with 4GB of RAM

Asus ZenFone 2
Jessica Lee Star/Digital Trends
The $200 version of the Asus ZenFone 2, which includes 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, already posed quite the alternative to the Moto G, which charges you $220 to get the same amount of memory capacities. Asus looks to ramp things up even more by introducing a new ZenFone 2 model with double the RAM for just $40 more.

For $230, you can pick up the ZenFone 2 with 4GB of RAM, making it an even more appealing alternative to Motorola’s budget handset. Of course, the memory is not the only thing that makes up this new model, as it also comes equipped with a 5.5-inch, 1,920 x 1,080 resolution IPS display, a MicroSD card slot capable of handling up to 64GB cards, dual SIM card support, and your standard array of wireless radios.

Recommended Videos

Much like the $200 version before it, this new $230 ZenFone 2 is powered by a 1.8GHz Intel Atom Z3560 processor, a slight step down from the 2.3GHz Intel Atom Z3580 chipset found in the $300 ZenFone 2, but not so much that you’ll feel the phone chug.

Not surprisingly, this new ZenFone 2 model poses quite the conundrum for potential customers. For those looking for the best bang for their buck and want to multitask like a champ, the $230 ZenFone 2 seems to be the clear cut choice. Of course, Motorola offers quite a bit of customization with the Moto G, a strong point for those who want their phones with some personality.

Ultimately, however, the customer is the big winner, with the $230 ZenFone 2 representing yet another choice in a sea of impressive, budget-friendly Android smartphones that have popped up in recent months. We reviewed the burlier $300 ZenFone 2 back in May and even if there was more bloatware than we’d normally like on a phone, we thought it provided tremendous value for the asking price.

If you’re intrigued by the $230 ZenFone 2, you can buy it directly from Amazon, so long as you’re OK with black as your color of choice.

Williams Pelegrin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Williams is an avid New York Yankees fan, speaks Spanish, resides in Colorado, and has an affinity for Frosted Flakes. Send…
I record interviews for work. These are my favorite free recorder apps
The iPhone 14 Pro and Google Pixel 7 Pro's voice recording apps running together.

The Voice Recorder app on a phone (left) and the Voice Memos on another phone Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Before you head to the app store on your phone to buy a voice-recording app, take a moment to consider the apps that may already be installed on your phone. Why? In my experience, they're likely all you really need. I’ve recorded interviews and voice-overs for work for years, and I’ve found the two best examples come preinstalled on your phone already, so they’re entirely free to use.

Read more
The best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 cases: 10 best ones so far
Two Galaxy Z Fold 5 phones next to each other -- one is open and one is closed.

Samsung’s next-generation foldable is here with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. This iteration has some notable improvements, including a new hinge design that eliminates the gap from previous generations when the device was folded. You also get a 6.2-inch HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display on the outside while having a 6.7-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display on the inside, with both screens having a 120Hz refresh rate. In other words, they're about as nice as you could ask for.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is made with premium materials, and the triple-lens camera system packs in a 50MP main shooter, 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide lens. There’s a 10MP selfie camera on the front cover, and a 4MP camera on the inner display. You also get a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip inside for the best performance and power efficiency.

Read more
Google Pixel Tablet just got its first big discount and it’s worth a look
Google Pixel Tablet on its charging dock.

Tablets are a dime-a-dozen these days, with offerings from all the great brands including Apple, Samsung, Lenovo, and more. So, if you really want to stand out in a sea of similar tech, you need to do things a little differently. That's what Google's Pixel Tablet offers. How? It comes with a unique speaker dock that can be used to both charge the device and offer room-filling sound -- almost like a smart speaker add-on. Better yet, when your Pixel Tablet is docked it benefits from the Hub Mode, turning the device into a smart display, with digital photo frame support, smart home controls, and hands-free Google functionality. Of course, it could set you back at full price, normally $499 unless you find it included in a roundup of the best Google Pixel deals. Well, guess what? Thanks to a Best Buy Google Pixel Tablet deal, you can get it today for $439 and save $60. Hurry, though, it's part of Best Buy's recent 48-hour sale so it won't stick around for long.

Why you should buy the Google Pixel Tablet
Okay, okay, so in our Google Pixel Tablet review, Joe Maring did give it less than stellar remarks, but he called out its reliable fingerprint sensor, comfortability during use and excellent speaker dock. Honestly, how many tablets come with a matching speaker dock that transforms the entire experience? This tablet also marks a "lot of firsts" for Google, as it's the first tablet from the company in nearly five years, the first Android tablet in eight years, and can be converted into a smart home display with the speaker dock. All of which are notable milestones.

Read more