Asus Zenfone 9 Overview: Small however Mighty

There is no scarcity of massive telephones lately. Apple even went as far as to nix a successor to final yr’s iPhone 13 Mini and as an alternative changed it with the iPhone 14 Plus. Small telephones are onerous to come back by, however they are not fully extinct but. For those who’re uninterested in straining your fingers to achieve components of a display, then the Asus Zenfone 9 is your buddy.

I’ve to say a couple of main caveats earlier than you learn any additional. This Android smartphone is obtainable within the US, nevertheless it is not going to work on Verizon’s community in any respect. It really works finest on T-Cell and AT&T. Asus additionally does not help its smartphones for a very long time. Most Android cellphone makers now provide three to 5 years of software program help, however Asus is sticking with a paltry two. Get with the instances! It is a disgrace, as a result of the Zenfone 9 has perks which might be onerous to seek out: a compact display with flagship efficiency, plus a headphone jack. That is tremendous uncommon. 

Small however Mighty

It may not appear to be a glitzy flagship cellphone, however there are a whole lot of goodies on this little package deal. All of it begins with its dimension—at simply 5.9 inches, it is easy to wrap my fingers round. It isn’t as small because the iPhone 13 Mini (5.4 inches), nevertheless it’s nonetheless one of many smallest screens on the market at present. 

This AMOLED show by no means felt too cramped with on a regular basis duties, nevertheless it did really feel limiting after I watched episodes of Love, Loss of life & Robots whereas on the train bike on the health club. I needed to carry the cellphone near my eyes to catch particulars within the “Night time of the Mini Useless” episode (becoming). In any other case, the display is sharp, seems colourful, and manages to get simply shiny sufficient to make use of on sunny days. The 120-Hz refresh fee is a deal with too, and a characteristic you will not discover on the iPhone 13 Mini—each swipe and scroll feels easy.

{Photograph}: Asus

Dimension is not the one factor that makes this cellphone so good to carry; it is also the feel Asus makes use of on the again of the machine. It is mushy and feels type of just like the rubber mats on a playground. I like when cellphone producers mess around with designs and textures (RIP LG)—props to Asus for making this cellphone really feel distinct, in contrast to its predecessor. Simply know that this rear materials can scuff up; it is easy to wash, however you may nonetheless see some gentle marks.

There is a side-mounted fingerprint sensor embedded within the energy button, and it is a fast and dependable method to unlock the machine. A headphone jack sits on the prime when you favor to put on corded earbuds—this port is a rarity on flagship telephones lately—and the Zenfone 9 has stereo audio system that get loud and sound fairly nice. It additionally packs a near-field communication (NFC) sensor so you can also make tap-to-pay funds. The display is protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus, and it has IP68-rated water and mud resistance, which is pretty much as good as you may discover on most high-end telephones lately. 

What’s lacking? Wi-fi charging. You’ll be able to solely recharge this cellphone with a cable, however there’s excellent news right here too: Asus is without doubt one of the few cellphone makers lately that also features a charging adapter together with the USB-C cable. (It even comes with a case, although it is not terribly protecting.) Talking of charging, Asus has managed to suit a 4,300-mAh battery into this small cellphone, which comfortably lasts a full day. Really, it often will get me via a day and a half with common use. It is fairly nice!