These are the top Asus phones you need to know

This is the best that Asus has to offer.

In years past when Asus was making phones that docked into tablets that docked into keyboards, all a lot of people wanted the Taiwanese manufacturer to do was just make a phone. No docking, just a regular Android phone. That changed first in 2014, and then in 2015 things really kicked up a gear with a whole range of competitively priced smartphones.

One thing, though, is that Asus' range of phones can be a little confusing to navigate. There are multiple models, some limited by region, but all very similar in a lot of ways. That's where we come come in. We've done the hard work for you and this little lot is the current list of the best phones Asus makes that you need to know about.

1. Asus Zenfone 2

Launched January 2015: The Zenfone 2 was launched to the world at CES 2015 in Las Vegas as the initial successor to the original Zenfone lineup of Android smartphones. Once again it would see Asus partnering with Intel for its mobile products but the Zenfone 2 had a lot more to shout about. It was the first Android phone to be announced with a 4GB RAM option, for instance, and there was a lot being said about the camera capabilities. Particularly in low light.

What we ended up getting was a very good value for money phone. The top end model came in at just $300 with 64GB of internal storage to back up that 4GB of RAM. There was also a cheaper, 2GB of RAM version released at $199 which offers a similar experience with a good cost saving. The buttons moving to the back of the phone will never suit everyone, but the Zenfone 2 was a distinct step forward from its predecessors. And with every part of the software on top of the core operating system available through the Google Play Store, waiting for system updates to provide fixes is a thing of the past.

Read more: The Asus Zenfone 2 review

2. Asus Zenfone Selfie

Launched Summer 2015: During its traditional Computex showpiece in its home city of Taipei, Asus pulled the wraps off the Zenfone Selfie. While much of it the same as the previously launched Zenfone 2, the big feature is in the name. The selfie camera on the front of the phone is a matching 13MP unit to the one on the back, meaning great quality, high resolution self portraits of you and your friends. It's also available in a few different colors to the regular Zenfone 2, including pink and a Tiffany inspired greeny blue.

The Zenfone Selfie also has some additional accessories to take your snaps to the next level. If you ever need both hands free, there's the aptly named Selfie Swing that'll prop the phone up at just the right angle to catch your pose.

Read more: Hands-on with the Asus Zenfone Selfie

3. Asus Zenfone Laser

Launched November 2015: The Zenfone Laser has enjoyed two launches, the most recent coming in North America with some mild hardware refreshes over the original. Again, for the most part you're looking at a Zenfone 2, with similar design, hardware and the same software features. The focus here is the rear camera which has a laser autofocus system. To see such a thing on a mid-range smartphone with a mid-range price is impressive, since it's previously been seen on the likes of LGs high end G series.

The North American model is mildly better on the hardware front compared to the previously launched Asian model. A higher resolution screen and slightly beefier CPU give it a little more under the hood, but the focus is still the same. That camera.

Read more: Hands-on with the Asus Zenfone Laser

4. Asus Zenfone Max

Launched September 2015: If extreme battery life is your bag then the Zenfone Max is the one for you. What is loses in raw specs compared to some of the other phones on this list it more than makes up for with what's crammed inside the back. Because it's a staggering 5000mAh. When it's powering a phone with a Snapdragon 410 CPU and a 720p display, that adds up to longevity that's hard to beat. It's so good in fact that you'll be able to use the Zenfone Max to charge other phones with lesser batteries if you wish.

Around the front the software you're using is on par with everything else here, and that in itself is a good thing. There's consistency across the whole range in terms of user experience, with different hardware configurations to suit different needs.

Read more: Hands-on with the Asus Zenfone Max

5. Coming soon: Asus Zenfone Zoom

Announced January 2015: We've been waiting on this one since CES 2015 way back. And while we're still waiting to see it virtually everywhere (there was a local launch event in Hong Kong) that doesn't temper our excitement. If mobile photography is your thing then the Zenfone Zoom is going to be something you have to take a look at. Boasting a 3x optical zoom on the back without the need for a physically moving lens (think Samsung Galaxy K Zoom) the Zenfone Zoom is technically brilliant as much as it is visually impressive.

It's a fairly sizeable phone with a metal frame, the same Zen UI software experience as everything else in Asus' lineup and the promise of a very affordable price point. How good it really is will have to wait, but for the photographers out there, it might be worth hanging on for.

Read more: Hands-on with the Asus Zenfone Zoom

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