As a post-birthday gift to myself, getting a new smartphone sounds like a good idea. It is a need I’ve been putting off for so long. Being stuck at Android OS 4.3 is no fun! I never really bought any techie device because more often than not it was given to me as a gift. Anyway, with eyes closed and a little moolah saved for this sole purpose, I ordered Asus Zenfone Selfie Deluxe from Aliexpress at $220 total. The parcel arrived 7 days after and I paid Php840 for the customs fees and taxes.
Note: Unit price is $200 plus extra charge of $20 for the expedited shipping fee via DHL. Free shipping via China Air Mail is okay too but ETA is approximately 3 weeks.
I understand many online shoppers are quite hesitant to buy big ticket items but shopping at Aliexpress gives you a sense of security. Why? Well, there’s a money-back option for unexpected cases like failure of merchants to ship the item on the said date or shipping the wrong item. Other solutions including opening a dispute for any order discrepancies. Giving a feedback/review of the seller is also encouraged.
Prefer to shop locally? Asus Philippines retail price is at Php11,995 which is more or less $250. A bit pricey plus my preferred deluxe version (polygon cover) unavailable.
MY THOUGHTS
First techie purchase done. I could attest that it is worth every buck spent! Where else can you find a phone with 13MP front camera and flash? Aside from the specs, what got me sold is its iridescent purple polygon cover which kinda reminds me of amethyst geodes. Sweet!
Pros:
- Dual-sim
- 13 MP rear and front camera both with flash (Yes, you read that right!))
- Smart options in camera like HDR, Beautification, Night/Low Light, GIF Animation, Panorama, Miniature, Slow Motion, Time Lapse, etc.
- Fast and easy navigation
- Selection of power saving options including customized setting (to suit user’s preferences)
- Volume rocker is located at the back
Cons:
- Bit too big in size
- Heats up easily with prolonged use
- Asus native apps eats up storage space
Not convinced yet? For a full list of Asus Zenfone Selfie ZD551KL specifications, go here!
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