Cheap and powerful—these are the two aspects epitomized by the latest smartphone releases of Xiaomi and Asus. That said, the former’s Mi Note and the latter’s ZenFone 2 are just begging to be compared. Check out their features side by side here.

DescriptionXiaomi Mi NoteAsus ZenFone 2 (ZE551ML)
Operating SystemAndroid 4.4.4 KitKat
MIUI 6
Android 5.0 Lollipop
Asus ZenUI
Display5.7-inch Sharp/JDI LCD
1080p Full HD
~386ppi
Gorilla Glass 3
5.5-inch IPS LCD
1080p Full HD
~403ppi
Gorilla Glass 3
CPU2.5GHz quad-core
Qualcomm Snapdragon 801
1.8/2.3GHz quad-core
Intel Atom Z3560/Z3580
64-bit
GPUAdreno 330PowerVR G6430
RAM3GB2/4GB
Internal Storage16/64GB16/32/64GB
5GB lifetime cloud storage
microSD supportn/a64GB
Rear Camera13-megapixel
auto-focus, dual LED flash
13-megapixel
auto-focus, dual LED flash
Front Camera4-megapixel5-megapixel
ConnectivityWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
3G HSPA+, 4G LTE
Bluetooth 4.0
GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
Dual 4G SIM
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
3G HSPA+, 4G LTE
Bluetooth 4.0
GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
Dual SIM
Dimensions155.1 x 77.6 x 6.95 mm152.5 x 77.2 x 10.9-3.9mm
BatteryLi-Ion 3000mAhLi-Po 3000mAh
Starting Price$370$199

Xiaomi Mi Note

Of the two, the Xiaomi Mi Note is clearly the superior smartphone. It sports a faster processor and graphics chip. Users wanting a bigger screen real estate will find it in the Mi Note. That, and it still managed to be thinner and lighter too.

But as always, it boils down to availability – which Xiaomi is having a hard time with. It’s also important to note that the Note is more expensive. In fact, it’s almost 2X  the price of the Zenfone.

According to the company’s official Facebook page, it will be available in the Philippines Q2 of 2015.

Asus ZenFone 2

The ZenFone 2 doesn’t fall too far behind in terms of performance, thanks to its decent Atom CPU. It also has more RAM and microSD support and runs a more recent version of Android. With 5-megapixel resolution and the Selfie Panorama feature, the ZenFone 2 also boasts a better front-camera. For $199 starting price, the ZenFone 2 is a cheap entry to a great Android experience. Just like its first generation, the Zenfone line focuses on value for money and they’re continuing the trend this year.

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  1. I’m disappointed that they remove the expandable microSD slot on the new Mi Note and knowing Mi Philippines will mostly sell the 16gb version only here, I’ll pick the zenfone 2 instead. Their new products are much more expensive than before, but compared to other international brands its still affordable.

  2. kamusta ang voice quality ng Mi phones? malinaw ba? kasi madalas kapag ang mga kausap ko sa phone is mga local brands ang gamit, specially cherry mobile, parang muffled ang voice nila (parang merong takip ung mic nila).. ganun din ba sa xiaomi or clear nmn?