The Asus Zenfone 2 was a budget darling back in its day, offering impressive specs for its price. Now, let's see how it stacks up against the modern Samsung Galaxy A54, a mid-range powerhouse. This comparison will help you decide which phone best suits your needs and budget.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A54 is the clear winner. While the Zenfone 2 was a great value in its time, the A54's superior performance, camera, display, and battery life make it a much better choice for today's users. It's a significant upgrade across the board.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 28 - Taiwan | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | 1, 3, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China & India | 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, March. Released 2015, March | 2023, March 15 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2023, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 152.5 x 77.2 x 10.9 mm (6.00 x 3.04 x 0.43 in) | 158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 170 g (6.00 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| | - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~267 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~70.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.8 GHz | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Intel Atom Z3560 | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR G6430 | Mali-G68 MP5 |
| OS | Android 5.0 (Lollipop), upgradable to 6.0 (Marshmallow), ZenUI | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0, AF | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS
12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.X", 1.12µm
5 MP (macro) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.0 | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | - | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, EDR | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 25W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 3000 mAh, non-removable | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Osmium Black, Glamor Red, Ceramic White | Lime, Graphite, Violet, White |
| Models | Z008D, Z008 | SM-A546V, SM-A546U, SM-A546U1, SM-A546B, SM-A546B/DS, SM-A546E, SM-A546E/DS, SM-A5460, SM-A546M, SM-A546M/DS, SM-A546W |
| Price | About 250 EUR | € 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999 |
| SAR | - | 0.81 W/kg (head) 0.67 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.35 W/kg (head) | 0.69 W/kg (head) 1.34 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 119h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-26.6 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 506678 (v9)
GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6)
GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
| OUR TESTS |
|---|
| Battery | - | Active use score 11:15h |
| Battery (old) | - | Endurance rating 119h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | 980 nits max brightness (measured) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -26.6 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 506678 (v9)
GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6)
GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Asus Zenfone 2 ZE550ML
- Very affordable
- Compact size
- Decent battery life for its time
- Outdated processor
- Low-resolution display
- Poor camera quality
- Limited app compatibility
Samsung Galaxy A54
- Excellent camera
- Long battery life
- Bright and vibrant display
- Powerful processor
- Modern design
- 5G Connectivity
- Charging speed could be faster
- Price is higher than older budget phones
Display Comparison
The Galaxy A54 boasts a significantly brighter and more vibrant display with a peak brightness of 980 nits and an infinite contrast ratio. The Zenfone 2's display, while adequate for its time, simply can't compete with the A54's modern panel. The A54 also offers a higher resolution, resulting in sharper visuals.
Camera Comparison
The Galaxy A54's camera system is a major upgrade. It offers superior image quality, better low-light performance, and more advanced features. The Zenfone 2's camera is adequate for basic snapshots, but it's no match for the A54's capabilities.
Performance
The Exynos 1380 in the Galaxy A54 is a vastly more powerful chipset than the Intel Atom Z3560 in the Zenfone 2. The A54's octa-core processor and 5nm architecture provide significantly faster performance for multitasking, gaming, and demanding applications. The Zenfone 2 will struggle with modern apps and games.
Battery Life
The Galaxy A54 excels in battery life, offering an endurance rating of 119 hours and active use lasting over 11 hours. The Zenfone 2's battery life was decent for its time, but the A54's larger battery and more efficient processor provide significantly longer usage.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Asus Zenfone 2 ZE550ML? Primarily those seeking a very inexpensive, basic phone for light tasks and nostalgia. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A54? Anyone looking for a reliable, modern Android phone with a great camera, long battery life, and a vibrant display, all at a reasonable price.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Zenfone 2 still usable in 2024?
Yes, the Zenfone 2 can still be used for basic tasks like calling, texting, and light web browsing. However, its outdated hardware means it will struggle with modern apps and games.
❓ Why is the Galaxy A54 so much better?
The Galaxy A54 features a significantly more powerful processor, a better camera, a brighter display, and longer battery life. It also benefits from modern software features and security updates.
