Asus Zenfone 9: A Small but Mighty Compact Flagship

Small phones are hard to come by, but they're not completely extinct yet. If you're tired of straining your fingers to reach parts of a screen, then the Asus Zenfone 9 is your friend. This small but mighty Android smartphone will do the job, and it has a headphone jack. Tiny! It offers great performance and battery life in a package that is increasingly rare in today's market.

Compact Design and Display

It all starts with its size—at just 5.9 inches, it's easy to wrap your fingers around. It's not as small as the iPhone 13 Mini (5.4 inches), but it's still one of the smallest screens out there today. Size isn't the only thing that makes this phone so nice to hold; it's also the lovely texture Asus uses on the back of the device. It's soft and feels kind of like the rubber mats on a playground. I like when phone manufacturers play around with designs and textures; props to Asus for making this phone feel distinct. Just know that this rear material can scuff up; it's easy to clean, but you'll still see some light marks.

This 120-Hz AMOLED screen never felt too cramped with everyday tasks, though it did feel limiting when watching episodes of Love, Death & Robots while on the exercise bike at the gym. Otherwise, the screen is sharp, looks colorful, and manages to get just bright enough to use on sunny days. Every swipe and scroll feels smooth. The screen is protected by Corning's Gorilla Glass Victus, and the device has IP68-rated water and dust resistance, which is as good as you'll find on most high-end phones these days.

Flagship Performance and Features

The Zenfone 9 is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, which is the absolute best you'll find on Android right now. I never once saw this phone stutter, whether I was playing a game, scrolling through Twitter, or responding to an email. It packs perks that are hard to find: a compact screen with flagship performance, plus a headphone jack. A headphone jack sits at the top if you prefer to wear corded earbuds—this port is a rarity on flagship phones these days. There is also a side-mounted fingerprint sensor embedded in the power button, and it's a quick and reliable way to unlock the device. The Zenfone 9 has stereo speakers that get loud and sound pretty great, and it includes an NFC sensor for tap-to-pay payments.

Battery Life and Charging

Asus has managed to fit a 4,300-mAh battery into this small phone, which comfortably lasts a full day. Actually, it usually gets me through a day and a half with average use. It's pretty great! You can only recharge this phone with a cable as there is no wireless charging. However, Asus is one of the few phone makers these days that still includes a charging adapter along with the USB-C cable in the box. It even comes with a case, though it's not terribly protective.

Cameras and Stabilization

What helps make the Zenfone 9 look distinct are the two massive camera circles on the back. Both the primary 50-megapixel camera and the 12-megapixel ultrawide have a unique six-axis gimbal to help stabilize video footage so it doesn't look janky. Good video stabilization is a hallmark of this system. Cameras are OK but not as good as the competition, but I like the Portrait mode; it's colorful, there's solid detail, and the blur accuracy around the subject is near impeccable.

Software and Significant Limitations

I have to mention a few major caveats before you read any further. This Android smartphone is available in the US, but it will not work on Verizon's network at all. It works best on T-Mobile and AT&T. Asus also doesn't support its smartphones for a long time. Most Android phone makers now offer three to five years of software support, but Asus is sticking with a paltry two. Despite launching with Android 12, the Zenfone 9 is the latest Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1-powered smartphone to get an Android 13 beta program. Prospective testers can download it via their new phone's settings. However, it's just a shame the support window is so short—it likely won't get Android 15 in 2024.

Key Specifications

  • Display: 5.9-inch 120-Hz AMOLED
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
  • Battery: 4,300-mAh (up to 1.5 days use)
  • Main Camera: 50-megapixel with six-axis gimbal
  • Durability: IP68 water/dust resistance
  • Audio: 3.5mm Headphone Jack and Stereo Speakers
  • Charging: Cable only (Charger included in box)