Asus Zenfone 9 review

28 July 2022


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  • m
  • marksjc
  • qy{
  • 31 Oct 2022

Headphone jack + but no removable storage a deal breaker. But very low on value, maybe they hired some ex-Sony guys that overpriced their own value as well. The best way to knock down inflation is to restrict discretional spending until prices go down.

    • L
    • Luka
    • JFk
    • 05 Oct 2022

    You're cool...
    EXCEPT idiotic comment on 3.5mm jack...

      It's good to see that Asus listen to their users. The button fingerprint reader is a much better idea.
      The screen fingerprint reader on the 8 was awkwardly placed. I could never get it to work one handed, couldn't get my thumb to it consistently even trying for 2 weeks of use. Dropped it and went back to passcode as I could just do that one handed (after they moved the lock keyboad back down at user request on the next OS update)

      I've found their support to be very helpful, whether it's a simple stupid question about the ever increasingly complex settings pages (and changing where the settings are) in Android or technical questions such as how to remove even Asus limited bloatware apps.

      Even after a year of ownership (I run most tech into the ground) I'm tempted to upgrade as thier compromises are absolutely fine with me. Who needs (not wants/likes) wireless charging? Who needs something to look glossy and sleek, I'd rather it worked well, didn't scratch, helps me to not drop it and if I do then nothing creaks or cracks as it hits the pavement or tiled kitchen floor. It's a tool. Yes I'd like it to be presentable but I'd much rather it did it's job forever.

        • S
        • Sielki
        • gJT
        • 29 Sep 2022

        Did somebody can tell if zenfone 9 Support LDAC&LHDC Audio Codec?

          • d
          • derrr
          • GTn
          • 20 Sep 2022

          updatequestion, 01 Aug 2022@gsmarena: where did you get your info reg. the 2+2 years w... moregood pick-up as I found also that most sites relate to 2 android updates/2 years ...
          and while your at it @gsmarena; what does "Daylight samples from the Zenfone 9's main camera have great global properties" actually mean in relation to the samples huh! There is no relative reference to be easily found via google...

            • ?
            • Anonymous
            • gLT
            • 06 Sep 2022

            AnoM, 08 Aug 2022I could agree and disagree to what you are complaining, but... more$700 is not "budget".

              • N
              • Nahid
              • XWG
              • 27 Aug 2022

              Android update status of this phone?

                Oof, no telelens whatsoever? THat's tough @ €800. People get used to using zoom zoom and with good reasons!

                The main camera looks to be better then the one in the zenfone 8 and includes a gimbal! The housing for the camera's is a very nice design and way better then the ultra-budget look the predecessor had.

                  • m
                  • mtrantalainen
                  • niL
                  • 22 Aug 2022

                  I wish you started to publish to thickness specs for every phone. One measurement that probably matches then manufacturer number that actually measures the thinnest part of the phone and another measurent that matches the engineering standard where thickness means how much space you would need between two glass planes to fit the item in between. That obviously requires measuring the camera lens, too.

                    • F
                    • Fliplife
                    • vCL
                    • 22 Aug 2022

                    What a little beast!! Nice work Asus

                      • ?
                      • Anonymous
                      • 7Ar
                      • 21 Aug 2022

                      Anonymous, 20 Aug 2022Man, i want to get this phone but still debating whether to... moreI'd recommend waiting for the 5 IV. I've been using the 1 III since release and it's been running flawlessly.

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • KiS
                        • 20 Aug 2022

                        Man, i want to get this phone but still debating whether to wait for Xperia 5 IV or not since its rumored to have 8+ gen 1 as well

                          • o
                          • observer
                          • vaS
                          • 14 Aug 2022

                          Debatreyo, 04 Aug 2022What if this phone came out with the 6.1" panel used f... moreYou are more likely to get these on the upcoming Galaxy S23 so if you're not really in dire need of a new phone anytime soon, I'd say wait and see what S23 brings.

                            • A
                            • AtomicFillet
                            • 6rH
                            • 12 Aug 2022

                            How's the aptic feedback?

                              • D
                              • Debatreyo
                              • Dkx
                              • 11 Aug 2022

                              Anonymous, 11 Aug 2022Only if they increased the display size by minimizing the &... moreThe more focal length a camera has, the more stability it requires. So a telephoto camera need more stabilization than a primary camera which needs more than an UW. Also larger the sensor, lesser stabilization it requires. As for the size of the phone, S22 is also good for one handed purposes. When you use a phone for entertainment/gaming purposes, it needs some screen real estate. S22's display supports more screen refreshing frequencies which makes the display more power efficient while making it smoother.

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • n1u
                                • 11 Aug 2022

                                Debatreyo, 04 Aug 2022What if this phone came out with the 6.1" panel used f... moreOnly if they increased the display size by minimizing the "chin", without any increase in overall dimensions of the phone. Making the phone any bigger will hinder one hand usability which is a main selling point.

                                As for telephoto, it will only make the phone bigger which again goes against the intended purpose. Also the gimbal shouldn't be wasted on a small telephoto camera. Instead, they could use the 1/1.33" Isocell HMX as main sensor, which produces 27mp images by default, which means rather good quality even at 3x digital zoom, not to mention even better if a crop from 108mp is used! Honestly, these 2x or even 3x 8mp or 10mp telephotos feel gimmicky in such case.

                                Also, they could probably make space for a microSD slot by making the phone slightly thicker, but that could be made unnoticeable by minimizing this rather unnecessarily big and weird looking camera bump. Phones with bigger and more number of camera sensors have less noticeable camera bump than this phone!

                                  • I
                                  • Ibbdoo
                                  • AWk
                                  • 10 Aug 2022

                                  This price for that looking phone isn't acceptable to be honest.

                                  Nothing phone has no chin all symmetrical from front half the price. This phone looks like came out in 2017 2018... This big chin??? Seriously? People dissed pixel3xl for that notch which has dual camera but now look at that thick usless chin on front and asking £700??

                                    • A
                                    • AnoM
                                    • ibc
                                    • 08 Aug 2022

                                    Miex, 07 Aug 2022I owned a Zenfone 8 for ard 9months, sold it afterwards due... moreI could agree and disagree to what you are complaining, but since Zenfone 8 is still considered a budget flagship, I won't surprise if the selfie camera performed badly.
                                    That's the common problem with these budget flagship where it can't get full fledged performance on everything, price is the main factor.

                                      • A
                                      • Anonymous
                                      • g3X
                                      • 08 Aug 2022

                                      Miex, 07 Aug 2022I owned a Zenfone 8 for ard 9months, sold it afterwards due... moreThank god I never expect any quality from smartphone camera especially the front facing camera, so it's never a deal breaker for me to begin with.

                                        • M
                                        • Miex
                                        • w4L
                                        • 07 Aug 2022

                                        I owned a Zenfone 8 for ard 9months, sold it afterwards due to terrible front camera performance. Specifically speaking, low to no natural light selfie picture and video performance. Which is specifically not covered in all GSM reviews. There's a lotta folks out there that video calls their love ones at night, or even take night selfies in the pub with mates. For you folks, dont ever get a zenfone, its muddy and blurred looking like a 2014 phone, asked a youtube reviewer how was it at night. Yeah same exact setup as the zenfone 8, unacceptable. PS. Low light doesnt mean stepping away from an office window at daytime lol.

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