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Anonymous Coward writes:

The recently released ASUS smartphone zenfone 2 has hit a new price/perf benchmark point with an MSRP of $199 but mid-high range specs:

-4G LTE
-Quadcore x86 processor
-5.5 inch IPS 1080P screen with gorilla glass
-2GB of RAM
-16GB storage
-3000 mAh battery

The low price is in part because Intel has been desperately trying to get a foothold in the mobile market and likely playing contra-revenue games. Unlike past low cost options like the oneplus phone, this phone has wide release being sold at online retailers like Amazon. Is this setting a new standard in low cost high performance phones, or is this a temporary ploy until Intel starts charging for their SoCs? Will this lead to a pricewar between Mediatek, Qualcomm, and Intel? All of which have already released phones this year for the N. America marketplace supporting the 4G spectrum.

How low can these smartphones with laptop like specs go?

Reviewed here:

http://anandtech.com/show/9251/the-asus-zenfone-2-review [anandtech.com]

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