Asus Zenfone 9 long-term review
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- Electra
- 0Vm
- 26 Jul 2024
I've had my zenfone 9 for 8 months now. My first OhNo surprise was that the sdcard slot was gone, it used to have one in the reviews I read before I bought it, and I would never had bought it if I knew. Another issue is the camera. Well as it doesn't have sdcard, then why have 50 MP, without sdcard I can't use 50 MP anyway. But the quality is so bad, the colours never get right. Selfie camera is just a white screen, and yes I did the updates. It can't also connect with my laptop or my old Samsung s21 with bluetooth. Screen keeps changing brightness but in my settings it's off. Just a few of the issues are mentioned here.
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- rohitmishra
- Dkx
- 09 Jul 2023
davisrases , 05 Feb 2023I'm all in for compact phones and very badly want to b... moreHey, I'm on the same boat as you. I wanted to get the Zenfone 9 but it never came to India and I'm not really hopeful about the 10 either. Where did you manage to get the Xperia? I'm looking to get one new from Amazon UK. Found a seller that ships here. How's your experience been with it, apart from what you've mentioned already? Thanks.
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- Mr. Anonymous
- 3SL
- 02 Jul 2023
Lord of Good Phones, 01 Jul 2023My Zenfone 6 is still on Android 10 and can still runs all ... moreSecurity updates are important to me, but I don't like iphones.
So I'm happy whenever an Android vendor extends their support, this means I have more choice.
Since I also like compact phones, it looks like this year it's either s23, Zenfone 10 or pixel 8. (Xperia 5 is too tall by my standards)
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- Lord of Good Phones
- sR1
- 01 Jul 2023
Mr. Anonymous, 17 Jun 2023I need even more than that. The hardware on flagship phones... moreMy Zenfone 6 is still on Android 10 and can still runs all the latest Apps. So can my Zenfone 4 that's on Android 8. Never been hacked. If software update is that important just get an iPhone.
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- Mr. Anonymous
- 3SL
- 17 Jun 2023
Stratospheric, 17 Jun 2023Why you need the stupid 4 years support? I need even more than that. The hardware on flagship phones can easily last 5+ years.
This is of great help to environment, since one can keep the phone for more years before having to buy a new one for reasons of software support of current apps and security patches. This also helps someone get hands on a cheaper flagship device one year later (could be still bought new a year later) and still get many years of support.
If anything is stupid, it is offering only 2 android updates.
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- Stratospheric
- gLL
- 17 Jun 2023
Mr. Anonymous, 28 Jan 2023Biggest problem of this phone is very short software suppor... moreWhy you need the stupid 4 years support?
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- Stratospheric
- gLL
- 17 Jun 2023
davisrases , 05 Feb 2023I'm all in for compact phones and very badly want to b... moreThere is no flickering issues with the XZ1?
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- Nemyo
- raQ
- 10 Jun 2023
I'm very happy with one handed Asus Zenfone 9. Nice unique design and awesome audio system made me happy.
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- Anonymous
- uSg
- 13 Apr 2023
Anonymous, 03 Feb 2023LOL There is no "improved" sound quality. The pho... moreYou may see that this phone has an audio tuning by Dirac. Whether it has a dedicated sound card/board or not, at least the sound output got a magical touch that makes sound hear better
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- Pedro
- 8Iq
- 07 Mar 2023
Very Accurate on the bugs section, I have a zenfone 8 with almost all the same bugs. It is a waste from asus to make such a good smartphone in paper but an irritating experience in practice. Specially changing the output device during call. (If i use any headphone wireless or wired during a call it automatically changes back to earphone after some time)
I maybe will try to change the OSto fix it, but i shouldn't have to.
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- MindeDevill
- pLP
- 21 Feb 2023
First, its nice device, but price ir to high, same as sony phones overpriced, sale market depending, so sad, but many people will get something else.
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- Tokone
- SXe
- 12 Feb 2023
Anonymous, 05 Feb 2023Headphone jack is mainly for convenience rather than audio ... moreExactly!
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- Woohoo
- U@K
- 06 Feb 2023
Does it have USB 3.1 or not?
And better yet, is it possible to hack (solder) a USB 3.1 port into a phone with an ancient USB 2.0 port?
I'm contemplating that since it's a royal pita to move my photos & videos to my laptop. Forget transferring alone, even loading all of it simply hangs the (File) Explorer on the computer!!
Since my phone didn't have a microSD slot, I have to suffer every time I try to back up!
I just wish if OEMs really do want to take out the microSD slot (which they really shouldn't, since there's enough space for a hybrid slot), at least bloody implement USB 3.1 on the frigging type-C port!
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- Anonymous
- n1c
- 05 Feb 2023
Anonymous, 04 Feb 2023if you cared about audio quality you'd never seriously... moreBluetooth nowadays supposedly support lossless transmission, but then it will drain lot of battery and if you're gaming, latency is just basic physics. Not worth at all. Wireless should be limited to where it belongs: convenience on the go with acceptable quality, not necessarily high quality. This technology should be developed with this as main priority.
3.5mm jack is for convenience at home, ease of use, affordability, simplicity, longevity and good quality.
USB C output for ultimate quality.
All these technologies have their purpose and are best at their respective time, place and situation. All of them should be made available to user rather than being taken away.
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- Anonymous
- n1c
- 05 Feb 2023
Anonymous, 04 Feb 2023if you cared about audio quality you'd never seriously... moreHeadphone jack is mainly for convenience rather than audio quality. There's no denial that for regular use at home, nothing beats it, no matter how much they pretend. Direct output from USB C can be better. But 3.5mm jack quality is very adequate and is still better than any wireless.
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- davisrases
- utf
- 05 Feb 2023
I'm all in for compact phones and very badly want to buy a Zenfone 9. Sadly, it isn't available in India and finally bought a Xperia XZ1 compact from the refurbished scene, a really great device, perfect for every requirement of mine including some gaming. I didn't choose S22 due to lack of 3.5mm port which is a deal breaker for me. Could've got the S10e or the Zenfone 8, but those 2 weren't readily available in the used market though one S10e popped up after a month I bought the Sony. Probably will stick with Sony until Zenfone 9 enters the used phone market.
- jrharbort
- 4V@
- 05 Feb 2023
"but who cares, since you never took advantage of that extra 20% anyway, by having the setting at 80% to begin with?"
The people who plan to use the phone beyond 2 years.
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- Anonymous
- 4Iy
- 04 Feb 2023
Anonymous, 03 Feb 2023LOL There is no "improved" sound quality. The pho... moreif you cared about audio quality you'd never seriously suggest a dongle in the first place
eliminating things for the sake of it is regressive. there's no defense for the removal of 3.5mm jack, or microSD for that matter
a dongle just up-samples whatever stinking mess the phone is spewing out. it's too far in the pipeline and there's no way around it. nothing good is really happening. phones with no chip sound the same as phones with chip anyways. it's all crap compared to even onboard audio on budget laptop mb, let alone anything relevant.
idk how a bluetooth dac treats things but I imagine still badly
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- Anonymous
- H5K
- 03 Feb 2023
RZ, 13 Jan 2023I was super excited when zenfone 9 was introduced and trade... moreThat's interesting.
One of the things that temps me to buy this over the 8 is the plastic back panel.