Introduction

Do we have a good one for you today – the ASUS ZenFone 2 goes up against the Meizu M2 Note.  Two of the better Chinese manufacturers go up against one another – they both cram as much as they can into each device and then charge a rock bottom price.  We are looking at the best model that ASUS is offering, so it has more RAM and storage than the Meizu M2 Note, but still costs only $299.  The M2 Note will set you back only $160, and we are talking about a FHD display and octa-core processor.

These two devices share many attributes, starting with the physical size and 5.5-inch display size.  They both have a Full HD resolution display with 1920 x 1080 pixels and they both share 403 pixels-per-inch due to having the same size display.  Both devices have a microSD card slot for expansion of the internal memory – the ZenFone 2 allows up to 64GB and the M2 Note allows up to 128GB.  Both have the same camera specs – the main shooters are 13MP with autofocus and dual-tone LED Flash and the front-facing cameras (FFC) are both 5MP.

The ZenFone 2 and M2 Note have the usual suspects – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS and a microUSB port for charging and data transfer and both devices have a non-removable battery.

Please take a deliberate look at the detailed Specifications Comparison chart below and here you will see just how these two great devices stack up against one another – click on the “View Full Comparison” link at the end of the chart to expand the details.  After that, we will look at each individual device in greater detail and point out some of its pros and cons.  From all of this information we will try to determine the winner based on specs and execution of design and functions.

Specifications

Smartphones | SpecOut
ASUS ZenFone 2

ASUS must have liked the design of the LG G series as the ZenFone 2 stole some of its looks and design features from them – although made from plastic, they stole the brushed metal look.  And like the LG G3/G4, it is extremely sharp looking and has a good feel in your hand due to the curved back and sides.  ASUS also placed the volume rocker switch on the back of the device, although the on/off switch is on the top of the device.  The Meizu M2 Note is also plastic, but like the ZenFone 2, it feels solid in your hand and is well-built.

The ASUS ZenFone 2 sports a 5.5-inch IPS LCD Full HD (FHD) display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and 403 pixels-per-inch (PPI), which are the exact same specs for the M2 Note.  We are looking at is the high-spec ZenFone 2 that uses a 64-bit Intel Atom Z3580 quad-core processor clocked at 2.3GHz and is coupled to 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal memory and, like the M2 Note, they both offer expansion by way of a microSD card.  This compares to the 64-bit MediaTek MT6753 octa-core processor, 2GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage in the M2 Note.

The main camera on the ZenFone 2 is a good unit sporting a 13MP sensor, autofocus and a dual-tone LED flash, although there is no OIS.  The ZenFone 2 comes with a large 5MP FFC for social selfies and video chatting.  The M2 Note also uses a 13MP main camera and a 5MP FFC.  Both devices will do a good job taking your everyday pictures. Power for both devices is in the form of a non-removable battery even though the back easily comes off the ZenFone 2.  The ZenFone 2 uses a 3,000mAh battery, while the M2 Note has a slightly larger non-removable 3100mAh battery.  Both devices will get you through the entire day and the ZenFone 2 has a quick charge option.

This Dual-SIM device is also NFC enabled, has an FM radio and is running Android 5.0 Lollipop with its ZenUI Skin overlay.  You can find the ASUS ZenFone 2 (ZE551ML) with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of memory on Amazon for only $299 and comes in black, silver, gold, or red.

Meizu M2 Note

Meizu is making a real name for itself, and the M2 Note is the follow up to their M1 Note with Meizu fixing the shortcomings of the first model, ending up with a great new device.  Meizu continued to keep its physical home button (maybe they will add a fingerprint sensor in the future) and the sides, just the sides, are slightly curved making it comfortable to hold.  It comes in a variety of colored plastics, which are matte, while the white is glossy.

The display on the M2 Note is 5.5-inches, using the same FHD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and 403 PPI as on the ZenFone 2.  It uses a 64-bit MediaTek MT6753 octa-core processor clocked at 1.3GHz with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage.  This is up against the ZenFone 2’s Intel Atom quad-core processor with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage – both devices have room to increase that storage via a microSD card…128GB in the M2 Note and 64GB in the ZenFone 2.

The camera area is decent and also the same as the ZenFone 2 – a 13MP main shooter with autofocus and a dual-tone LED flash and the FFC is 5MP for excellent social selfies and video chatting.  The M2 Note’s camera can take some very nice pictures and the software gives you plenty of options like Auto, Manual, Beauty, Panorama, Light Field, Scan and Slow Motion.  Even at night, the camera took some beautiful pictures (see our review).  The battery on the M2 Note is a non-removable 3100mAh  and is just a little larger than the non-removable 3000mAh battery in the ZenFone 2.

This is a dual-SIM device does not have any extra’s, but it is a solid device that is running Android 5.1 Lollipop with their own Flyme OS on top.  The colors are Gray, White, Blue or Pink and it comes in either a 16GB or 32GB model – I picked the 32GB at $160 to compare.  The 16GB model is only $130 and either way it is quite a deal.

…And The Winner Is…

Summary

This was a tough one, but considering all things, I am picking the Meizu M2 Note as the winner of this comparison.  With the same size and resolution display, an Octa-core processor, equal camera specs on both the main camera and the FFC, the availability of the 128GB memory expansion and a larger battery – all for only $160.  It is just too a good a bargain to pass up.  Is it perfect, of course not, but what device is – there is no NFC or quick charge option, but you certainly get your money’s worth.

The ASUS ZenFone 2 is a terrific device, but the 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal memory, while better than the 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal memory in the Meizu M2 Note, is it really necessary or worth the extra $139?  That is a question only you can answer.

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