Looking for a budget-friendly smartphone? The Asus Zenfone 2 Laser and the Realme C21Y are popular contenders. But which one offers the best value for your money? We'll break down their specs, performance, and features to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Realme C21Y is the clear winner. While the Zenfone 2 Laser was a strong contender in its time, the C21Y's newer chipset, improved efficiency, and reverse charging provide a significantly better user experience for today's needs.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - Global | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 - Global | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 3, 38, 40, 41 - India | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, August. Released 2015, August | 2021, June 21 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, July 02 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 143.7 x 71.5 x 10.5 mm (5.66 x 2.81 x 0.41 in) | 164.5 x 76 x 9.1 mm (6.48 x 2.99 x 0.36 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 140 g (4.94 oz) | 200 g (7.05 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | - |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~294 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~67.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT | IPS LCD, 400 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core (2x1.8 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8916 Snapdragon 410 (28 nm) | Unisoc T610 (12 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 306 | Mali-G52 MP2 |
| OS | Android 5.0 (Lollipop), upgradable to 6.0 (Marshmallow), ZenUI | Android 10/ Android 11 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 8GB 2GB RAM, 16GB 2GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 4.5 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 13 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Features | Laser AF, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0 | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.0, AF | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, EDR | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | Unspecified |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | Reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 2400 mAh, removable | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black/Ceramic White/Silver/Purple/Aqua Blue/Sheer Gold/Glamour Red | Cross Black, Cross Blue |
| Models | Z00ED | RMX3261, RMX3263 |
| Price | About 210 EUR | About 130 EUR |
Asus Zenfone 2 Laser ZE500KL
- Compact size
- Affordable price (when found used)
- Outdated chipset
- Limited performance
- Short battery life
- Older software
Realme C21Y
- Modern chipset
- Good performance for the price
- Long battery life
- Reverse charging
- Larger display
- Plastic build quality
- Basic camera features beyond main lens
Display Comparison
The Zenfone 2 Laser features a 5.0-inch 720p display, offering adequate clarity for basic use. The Realme C21Y boasts a larger 6.5-inch 720p display, providing a more immersive viewing experience and better for media consumption. The Realme's larger size is a significant advantage.
Camera Comparison
The Zenfone 2 Laser has a 13MP rear camera. The Realme C21Y features a 13MP main camera, but with improved image processing thanks to its newer chipset. The Realme also includes macro and depth sensors, offering more versatility. While both are budget cameras, the Realme generally produces better results.
Performance
Here's where the Realme C21Y shines. The Unisoc T610 with its octa-core architecture and 12nm process is considerably more powerful and efficient than the Zenfone 2 Laser's Snapdragon 410. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better overall responsiveness on the Realme.
Battery Life
The Realme C21Y typically offers longer battery life due to its more efficient chipset and a larger battery capacity (5000mAh vs Zenfone 2 Laser's ~2400mAh). The reverse charging capability on the Realme is a bonus, allowing it to charge other devices.
Buying Guide
The Asus Zenfone 2 Laser ZE500KL is best suited for users seeking a very basic, ultra-budget phone for simple tasks like calls and messaging, and who are comfortable with an older device. The Realme C21Y is ideal for users who want a reliable, modern budget phone with decent performance, a good camera, and longer battery life for everyday use.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Zenfone 2 Laser still usable in 2024?
Yes, it can still handle basic tasks, but its performance is significantly limited compared to modern smartphones. Software updates are no longer available, posing a security risk.
❓ Which phone has better gaming performance?
The Realme C21Y offers considerably better gaming performance due to its more powerful chipset and efficient processing.
