The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Today, we're pitting two popular contenders against each other: the Asus Zenfone 2 Laser ZE500KL and the Xiaomi Redmi 5A. Both promise a lot, but which one delivers the best experience?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xiaomi Redmi 5A edges out the Zenfone 2 Laser due to its slightly more powerful processor, improved battery life, and generally more modern software experience. While the Zenfone 2 Laser boasts more RAM, the Redmi 5A's overall package is more compelling for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - Global | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 - Global | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 3, 38, 40, 41 - India | CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, August. Released 2015, August | 2017, November. Released 2017, December |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 143.7 x 71.5 x 10.5 mm (5.66 x 2.81 x 0.41 in) | 140.4 x 70.1 x 8.4 mm (5.53 x 2.76 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 140 g (4.94 oz) | 137 g (4.83 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | - |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~294 ppi density) | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~296 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~67.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.0 inches, 68.0 cm2 (~69.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 | Quad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8916 Snapdragon 410 (28 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8917 Snapdragon 425 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 306 | Adreno 308 |
| OS | Android 5.0 (Lollipop), upgradable to 6.0 (Marshmallow), ZenUI | Android 7.1.2 (Nougat), upgradable to Android 8.1, MIUI 12 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 8GB 2GB RAM, 16GB 2GB RAM | 16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM |
| | eMMC 4.5 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Laser AF, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0 | 13 MP, f/2.2, 22mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm, PDAF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.0, AF | 5 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (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 | 4.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Type | Li-Po 2400 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black/Ceramic White/Silver/Purple/Aqua Blue/Sheer Gold/Glamour Red | Gold, Dark Gray, Rose Gold, Blue |
| Models | Z00ED | MCG3B, MCI3B |
| Price | About 210 EUR | About 100 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.53 W/kg (head) 1.23 W/kg (body) |
Asus Zenfone 2 Laser ZE500KL
- Larger Display
- Potentially more RAM (4GB variant)
- Competitive price (when discounted)
- Weaker Processor
- Shorter Battery Life
- Older Software
Xiaomi Redmi 5A
- Better Performance
- Longer Battery Life
- Clean Android Experience
- More Modern Design
- Smaller Display
- Limited Storage (base model)
Display Comparison
The Zenfone 2 Laser features a 5.5-inch 720p display, offering a larger viewing area. The Redmi 5A has a 5.0-inch 720p display. While both are adequate, the Zenfone 2 Laser's larger size might be preferable for media consumption, but the smaller size of the Redmi 5A makes it more pocketable and easier to handle.
Camera Comparison
The Redmi 5A generally takes better photos, especially in low light, thanks to software optimizations and a slightly better sensor. Both phones feature a 13MP main camera, but the Redmi 5A's image processing tends to be more consistent. The Zenfone 2 Laser's camera can sometimes produce over-saturated colors.
Performance
The Redmi 5A's Snapdragon 425 offers a slight performance advantage over the Zenfone 2 Laser's Snapdragon 410. The 1.4 GHz CPU in the Redmi 5A provides a bit more processing power, resulting in smoother app launches and overall responsiveness. The Zenfone 2 Laser's 2GB/4GB RAM (depending on the variant) can help with multitasking, but the Snapdragon 410 is a less efficient chipset.
Battery Life
The Redmi 5A's 3000mAh battery consistently outperforms the Zenfone 2 Laser's 2070mAh battery in real-world usage. Expect a full day of moderate use from the Redmi 5A, while the Zenfone 2 Laser might require a midday top-up.
Buying Guide
The Asus Zenfone 2 Laser ZE500KL is a good choice for users prioritizing a larger screen and more RAM for multitasking, especially if found at a significantly discounted price. The Xiaomi Redmi 5A is ideal for first-time smartphone users, those needing reliable battery life, and those seeking a clean and efficient Android experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Xiaomi Redmi 5A is slightly better for casual gaming due to its more powerful processor, although neither phone is a gaming powerhouse.
❓ Is the Zenfone 2 Laser still worth buying?
Only if you find it at a significantly discounted price and prioritize a larger screen. Otherwise, the Redmi 5A offers a better overall experience.
