Having already sold 8.5 million phones last year, it seems that the Chinese tech manufacturer Asus is planning bigger things for 2015. Now, the company aims to sell more smartphones and to achieve this Asus requires an attractive smartphone line-up and reports say that it is already working on it.

According to IB Times, while Asus has yet to make any official announcement regarding its upcoming ZenFone 2 smartphone, there are reports that the device will be launched in two variants. While Asus has already showcased the premium ZenFone 2 sporting a 5.5-inch display at the CES 2015 in January this year, the other new model is expected to feature somewhat relegated specs and with a view to target the mid-range smartphone market.

Some images leaked at the unofficial Asus blog hints that the Zenfone 2 may come with a 5-inch HD display compared to the premium ZenFone 2 model, which will sport a 5.5-inch Full HD display. It is expected that the smaller ZenFone 2 variant will pack an Intel Atom Z3560 processor and run with Android 5.0 Lollipop, in addition to sporting a ZenUI interface. According to reports, the upcoming handset will support 4G LTE networks for high-speed data connections.

Based on the photo leaks and a report in Android Soul, the other specs of the device will include an 8MP rear-facing camera, while the handset will have a 2MP front snapper. It is also likely to pack a 2,500mAh battery.

The high-en ZenFone 2 is powered by a 2.3GHz quad-core Intel Atom Z3580 processor. It boasts a 13MP rear camera, a 5Mp front snapper and three different storage options - 16GB, 32GB and 64GB. The original ZenFone packs a 3,000mAh battery and a microSD slot.

While the Chinese smartphone manufacturer has confirmed that the base price for its ZenFone 2 will be $199, the high-end specs of the 5.5-inch Zenfone 2 actually do not match the device's low price tag. Hence, it is believed that the $199 price tag is meant for the mid-range variant of the Zenfone 2, which will come with a 5-inch screen display.

It is expected that the 5-inch ZenFone 2 will be competing with the existing budget smartphones like Yu Yureka, Moto G and others.