Phones like the ASUS ZenFone 2 mean that you don't have to visit your carrier to find a great Android phone. 2015 is the year of unlocked phones that won't break the bank, but perform like they should. And we love it. Having more than one choice when buying a new phone is great for us. It's especially great when many of the choices deliver when it comes to performance while staying friendly to your wallet. The ZenFone 2 is one of those gems that does both.

The internal hardware

For starters, we really have to recommend anyone shopping for a new ZenFone 2 look at the "premium" model with 64GB of storage and 4GB of RAM. We're not knocking the other model, but the higher-end version is a much better bargain. Verizon is offering the Pixel 4a for just $10/mo on new Unlimited lines The Intel ATOM CPU paired with the 4GB of RAM means that most everything you want to do on the ZenFone 2 is going to be fast. Forget benchmarks, we mean actually doing things like playing games or rendering video or even browsing the web. Apps open fast and are responsive — easily as fast and responsive as any 2015 Android phone. The ZenFone outperforms its bargain price point.

Solid wireless connections

Be it Bluetooth, Wifi or a cellular connection, the ZenFone 2 wireless radios are some of the best we've ever seen. You'll stay connected to your carrier longer, have a better range, and have higher data transfer rates with the ZenFone 2 than you will with most other Android phones out there. We don't know what kind of magic dust Intel sprinkled into the hardware, but we're glad they did it. Add in the fact that the ZenFone 2 is unlocked and works on every North American GSM carrier, and you have a great phone that does the "phone" things well.

The curved back

ASUS might have put the power button in an awkward place, but they did a solid when it comes to making the phone comfortable to hold. The rear of the ZenFone 2 has a curve where the center is thicker than the edges, and it makes holding the phone in your hand comfortable — even during long calls. You'll also be able to easily adjust the volume by feel because of the back-mounted volume rocker. You'll not have the feeling that you're going to drop it because you're only holding the edges. For folks who talk on the phone a good bit, little things like this can mean a lot.

The Flip case

Love them or hate them, the "smart" Flip case for the ZenFone 2 works very well. The circular window and settings make for a quick way to get information about calls and messages you have missed, or get a detailed weather forecast, and even a quick way to fire off the LED flashlight. We've see interactive folio covers from all the "big" names in Android, and it's nice seeing the same level of detail (and functionality) in a phone that doesn't crush your wallet.

It won't break the bank