If it weren’t so compact, the Asus Zenfone 9 would look like a ‘candy bar’ smartphone by the numbers.
The phone features a USB-C connector and a 3.5mm headphone jack, which will please wired audio enthusiasts.
Plus, there’s a volume button and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner on the right edge, which is relatively quick and easy to use, working nine out of 10 times, which is better than other phones.
The massive array of rear cameras is a distinctive feature, as each lens has its own large circular bump. The Zenfone, unlike many similarly priced phones, has a plastic casing instead of glass. However, it feels sturdy and has a textured grip that makes it comfortable to hold. It comes in four colors: black, red, blue, and white.
Asus Zenfone 9 price and availability
The Asus Zenfone 9 costs $699 with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage and $799 with 16GB/256GB. The Zenfone 9 launched in late July 2022, much later than the Zenfone 8’s May 2021 release date, arriving in the US and Australia much later.
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Asus Zenfone 9 camera feature
The two colossal camera circles on the rear help set the Asus Zenfone 9 apart from its competitors. They are huge. This is due to the use of a unique six-axis gimbal on both the 50-megapixel main camera and the 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera to help stabilize video and prevent it from looking jerky.
There’s no zoom camera, though many competitors at the same price point have one; so if you want to get closer to a subject, you have to use digital zoom or crop. If you zoom in too far this rarely looks good and quickly results in grainy images.
When it comes to video, the phone supports recording up to 4K and 60fps, which many phones do, but you’d be surprised to see a Pro Video option, which only some smartphones offer.
Beyond that, there are a few more settings, but nothing particularly noteworthy; Standard modes like light trails, slow motion, panorama, and time lapse are available.
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Performance
The Zenfone 9 performs beautifully thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 processor. It is one of the most efficient Android phones available right now. Unfortunately, however, with a 5.9-inch screen, the Zenfone isn’t designed for gaming.
Sure, it’s powerful, but there’s not enough screen real estate: with your hands in place, you effectively cover half the screen and you can barely see any of the action.
Similarly, the screen makes video editing too imprecise to be worth it. Then power is superfluous; Qualcomm 8-series chipsets overheat quickly, even when not performing a demanding task.
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Battery duration
Even though the Zenfone’s 4300 mAh battery is smaller than the average phone, this is not a problem due to its small screen. That’s not to say Asus’ battery life is terrible; it’s just average.
According to Asus, the phone has a battery life of 1.9 days. Charging requires 30W, which is a bit slow for a premium phone, but Apple and Samsung have yet to embrace fast charging, so we can’t be too disappointed. That implies that this phone requires charging overnight.
Verdict
The Asus Zenfone 9 offers fast and flawless performance thanks to its powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset and 8GB of RAM. To top it off, there’s a 4300 mAh battery that supports fast charging. However, when it comes to pricing, Asus only offers dual cameras on the back.
