Asus Zenfone 9: The New Compact King! 

1st

Yooo I am this early

Let me make my 3rd comment

💯

Please stop Ur video cc

To be fair, the camera is still underperforming. The smallest Android worth buying is 6 inch, something like S22, it does zoom lense as well + amazing software support. I went with Iphone 13 mini and it's insane, the only downside being lacking the 3rd camera :(

@MrBeast Secret Channel shut up

Yeah I was looking for one but couldn't pull the trigger on any. Ended up going slightly bigger. I'm curious if they will keep this up. Tempted by zen phone especially if they keep making a compact option.

Agree

Just get a LG V60 sry I meant V40 😳

No SD card -1

u forgot the free case!

Its not a flagship phone. It can be classified as a budget phone

@@veryinterestingpersonaliti8321 Sony is the only one with that now for flagships and they are hitting crazy price levels.

@@Sami_WTF No. 800 euros is not "budget". "Oh, look at me I'm rich".

After iPhone deleted the mini, and my S10e gets slower with each update, its refreshing to see a sub 6 inch flagship - OLED, 120hz etc...+ stereo + jack!!!!!

😊

This is almost like the first Zenfone right down to the faded red case. That's right the speakers last 6 months. I have had Zenfone 1 to 4 everyone needed speakers replaced in 6 months. This problem to date has not been changed. Watching movies could be good due to gaming but no 4k. In all this phone has really only changed shape and dumped some blotwear. You need to get the extended warranty too. Customer service is crap with out it. Guaranteed you will use it several times Plus Asus will only accept broken phones for service in a large UPS BOX yes it's specified. My last service on warrenty was 75.00 to ship.

@@danialchiuppi8083 good to know this. thanks

LOL. Probably won't sell. This is for very specific markets.

So buy it

Zenfone 8 was the same compact phone and it sold good, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing Zenfone 9.

@@ev.c6 it's a great phone, it definitely will.

I've got the zenfone 8, loving it! If they continue to make these the zenfone 10 might be my next phone (if they keep it in the "compact" size) As of now no reason to upgrade.

I noticed that like a minute in, was wondering if anyone else caught it

High probability MKBHD will like that comment

100% international. Nice touch like you said

Haha I'm so happy that I don't notice it

Searching for this comment, sharp👏

This Mr Steve Jobs was preaching back his days.. smaller phones

and headphone jack

sadly, i just don't think companies going for compact phone now simply cuz not a lot of people buy them. just take apple for eg, they tried mini phones for 2 years but they gave up on the upcoming series cuz of the poor sales of those mini phones. and we r talking about apple, which sells like 150 million devices in year, can't get good sales out of their mini phones, so there is no way an android brand would be confident to make such phones. asus is an exception, i know but then again zenfone aren't exactly known for their sale figures. asus just picked up a niche of small phone market, and tried to satisfy the customers of that niche, just like with their rog phones which i think is respectable.

Me too. Just fed up and annoyed of all those huge 6.5" slabs.

noo please no.i hate small phones

fr, perfect phone imo

@@TheLeisku did you say that the sound quality on Bluetooth is better than wired?

Completely agree, and not only in the phone space, but laptops too for example!

@@aquaposeidon9464 yes 20-40 euros base earphones (no gaming) shit

@@aquaposeidon9464 enough to make me didn't trust him lmao. No Bluetooth headphones can compare with wired monitoring headphone

It doesn't help their devices price out mid-range buyers. Those are the ones who love and look out for features other than enthusiast crowd and Asus have excluded them from their product.

@@sanku1999 You may forget Rog phone

@@sanku1999 Buddy there are those that still want flagship spec devices but don't want one the size of a flat brick. Also, Asus ROG dude. If you want an enthusiast device get a Sony Xperia lol

@@蘿莉至上 Looks like he did. He just was a brand and phone and decided to talk to a wall. Lol

Except software update

same I got so spooked lmfao

What is it saying??

Seeing how far I had to scroll to see this makes me wonder how many of these commenters even watched the whole video...

I'm wondering if that was a legit error or intentional. But I don't know what that robotic voice was saying anyway lol

I had my AirPods in. Freaked me out. Thought someone was talking to me lol

Idid 😅

Did it win?

@@naytharwin3807 yep

😅

I did

not just that, I think the large earbud in the second shelf on the left looks like a "9". I could be over-analyzing though haha

@@twisted1774 I didn't even see that! I see it now though!

@@twisted1774 man i thought that a black colored toilet paper

It's for the size of cameras

I just love how cute they look, they're so fun

100% agree. You would think Google, having all the data and money in the world, would be able to see the info and feedback that people want on their phones (Full disclosure, I paraphrased that line from another commentor) but instead they send out half baked software, useless fingerprint sensor, etc. Unfortunately, I think the limited two-year software updates on the ZF9 will turn a lot of people off. I always wonder why they can’t give more, maybe politics or money?

@@hhhmmmmmmmm Money and many other factors one of them would be like going more or less hand in hand with their rivalry...

Asus is starting to seem like a very interesting player

I think sony was on a similar train with limited success. It is great to have this though, hopefully people find it when they shop around

They could do a bit better with software updates though. 2 years of support is awful and I bet that’ll be the real deciding factor for whether I’ll be forced to upgrade early

This exactly. I love that it shares so much with the Nexus 5, the camera, the soft touch plastic, the sharper screen edges...

Dbrand skin with Nexus lettering when?

That's exactly what I thought. I had a Nexus 5 n can't stop thinking of it after seeing this 👌🏼.

I was just about to type this lol I even had a dbrand skin on mine that was the exact same red

Hi, I know I'm 1 year late😅, but I am typing this on my s10e. I just wanted to support your comment. It still is a great phone, and compact, one of my favourites. Too bad I dropped it soooo many times that eventually I shattered its camera on a rock (pockets on girls' pants are absurdly small). It was very durable though, and I really regret breaking it....

On this exact same boat

Same here. Bought a new phone in May 2022

Same here. I think the down sides of this phone is like the easiest to forgive that I've seen in any phone.

What about software updates? As excited as I am about this compact phone, I've read Asus doesn't give software updates after 2 years.. is it going to be the same with this?

Same here. Rocking the 13 pro max still. But it’s super tempting. I flip between android and iPhone all the time, not committed to either or…

Moto X was super cool. Too bad did not last long

It’s a shame that Asus will provide only 2 years of software updates to this phone. That’s the only real downside I can see about it. Makes me wanna buy the iPhone 13 Mini instead.

Ah Moto x nostalgia

@@ricardorezende9991 they said 2+ maybe if enough people buy it they will keep updating it.

@@ricardorezende9991 it depends on the no if products being purchased..if enough people buys them, then company may change the policies to 3-4 years of update also.

they all pay attention in the beginning hey

Yooooo. I had to pause the video to come check the comments

I saw your comment exactly as I heard this in the video 😅

bruh i thought it was a fire alarm

How is it?

Same here! Can't wait to get mine!

@@igor240898433 Me too, I will get this in Black Friday or whenever they have a discount. Seems like a good phone, and much better than samsung's

Any updates guys? How's this phone?

I've read reviews online about it not working well for carriers in the U.S. I'm also waiting for a black Friday type promotion... However, I am concerned about committing to the phone with the reviews

With a HEADPHONE JACK! 🎉🍻👍🏼😎

I k ew the design looked familiar. Oh how I miss the nexus 5

Asus made the Nexus 5 too didnt they? (Edit: was LG nvm)

Damn do I miss my nexus 5...

My all-time favorite phone

haha, nice man, I am thinking about this one too, replacing my s10e, the 10 is quite expensive, but yeah, 9's price is lower now

That is exactly what I was going to write. But you already did 😊😉

Also the 9 on its side/horizontal

Haha I thought it was trying to say it was a ZenFone 8 Lite

@@pointservicephone1049 me too..😂😂

How does it taste?

My same thoughts!

I think Dave2D said it's around $700 or something similar, with 2-year support?? That would rule it out in my mind.

That was exactly what I was going to say. This seems like the perfect upgrade.

A microSD slot is missing to make it a true spiritual successor to the S10e

@@HNedel exactly

Not really. Phones now just have much small bezels and the screens are really skinny compared to 10 years ago.

5.9 isn’t compact it’s just normal size

@@lifeisshrt7929 compared to the 6.5 inch+ phones nowadays it's definitely compact

@@lifeisshrt7929 find me another flagship that size then. Even the base s22 is significantly bigger and that has s22+ and ultra above it. Same with pixel 6a, 6 and 6 pro

@@logitech12345678910 he said in 2011

Yea I noticed too, this channel is no joke.

Yeah, I wonder what that's about

Me too! What was that??

I kept scrolling through the comments to see if anyone heard it too

It’s JerryRigEverything’s famous "glass is glass. And glass breaks" cleverly placed

@@MataNataM i see! Thanks 👌

What in the world was that??? I thought someone had broken in my house. Took my headphones out real fast.

Just for info, this phone is exactly the same size are the regular iPhone 13 but with bigger bezels and a slightly smaller screen.

noise - its our beloved Zack with "Glass is glass..." phrase with robovoice touch

9:24 Can't quite make out what is said but I thought the aliens had arrived. Cool.

Was searching a comment about it, what the heck was that? Scared the crap out of me

this^

OnePlus used to be the staple for good budget phone

Just gave up my oneplus7t pro for Zenfone 8

@@joemukama1680 Damn for real? That had to be a tough move..

@@TsunaXZ Eh, they still have some solid models, mid ranges too. Zen phone has been around for a hot minute, but with the fact that the 10T is close to release with the same SoC as the ZF9... It's now either bigger screen cheaper phone with same specs, or smaller phone smaller screen for almost $300 more.

Everybody shitting on the Pixel 6a for not having the wireless charging, while barely mentioning with the Zenfone, talking about double standards...

@@pedroloto at least the Zenphone has longer battery life PLUS faster charging.

@@brendonspencer5788 headphone jack also

@@brendonspencer5788 yeah, but the price is 250$ more than the Pixel 6a, not a small difference

@@brendonspencer5788 faster charging kills battery

@Michael Estwik which country are you from?

Price so nice had to say it twice

Only cameras are a let down

@@TechTokeMaster lmao just realized

@@adt007ad why would you do that?

Huh

So, is it fix? I really wanna buy this phone, but I just don't really wanna have a "bad" camera with good specs.

@@sparklingcats Hi, no, nothing changed 🫤

I’m considering this phone, but I too am allergic to what you’re describing. As a work around I’ve used Lightroom for photos on my iPhone, and this fixes everything. I liked it so much I bought a mirrorless camera.

I have been using the Zenfone 9 for 4 months and despite there's still sharpening, it wasn't as oversharpening as what it was when I first got it out of the box back in late August 2022, and the colors do look a bit more natural (less saturated). So yeah, it's better, but probably not as good as something like an Iphone

oh that makes more sense. I wondered why there was an 8 in the background when the phonenumber is 9

I was looking for this comment

Yh let's stop talking about OnePlus. That era is certainly dead

OnePlus hasn't been relevant in years.

OnePlus been shit since 7 series

OnePlus settled!

@@nazmulfahad3044 I'd say since 8T. I'm still using it. It's awesome.

ummm sorry but it's as ugly as it gets.

Hey Alexander tell me one thing you use which Phone

@@shahidqureshixch8397 iPhone 11 Pro

@@alexanderb3340 ummm, sorry but that’s as boring as it gets

@@bobbyjeff32 At least it's not ugly. These are not toys they are tools. I like Asus though, especially their ROG line.

Is that camera and video difference big? And what about battery life as well thinking about switching too

@@renelicea6051 battery life is insanely much better! Camera is good! Not A+ but still good for everything. Or. It's good of you're not Mkbhd. 😂😂😂😂 But! The video stabilizer! That is A+++++. So if you video a lot you'll love it just for that alone! You can run and film and it will be stable! 😱

Exactly the same here! My S10e has been great and even at 4 years old no issues, this is the first phone since I've considered.

I was thinking the same, but the camera system doesnt feel like an upgrade from my s10e and thats a shame :/ im now considering s21 ultra, but the size scares me

Same for me keeping an S10. Only camera seems a downgrade :(

I had an s10e, absolutely loved it, and then upgraded to the base model s22 when it released. Overall, I'm super happy; everything's an upgrade except the battery, which I kinda understand but still grates a little.

@@AltamashSayed I heard the Z9 sensor should be way better than the S10e. But whenever I saw photos from reviews I don't really see it.

I wouldn’t hold my breath for it. Most polls I see on sites about smartphones show very low usage of the headphone jack, and Asus does similar polls with users(my brother showed me the one he got for his ROG 4) to evaluate certain features of the phone. With cooling needs increasing, most companies are having a hard time justifying the extra internal space for the headphone jack. Most people around me, even those that are not tech people, are switching to Bluetooth headphones for the extra comfort.

Honestly Id like more companies to go to the fingerprint reader/power button. My cheap Motorola phone just naturally unlocks when I grab it

@@mikalokasso They just want to sell their tws and nothing else. The headphone jack doesn't take as much space as you think that it would cause heating.

Headphone jacks are awesome, that's what made me decide on the last phone I bought, even though the other one I was considering was better in other aspects

The Jack is convenient but I like that I am not stuck to a cord when I use Bluetooth.

That's the problem with most androids 😥

Absolutely. They're asking us to pay 699 dollars for essentially the size. Because all the other features can be found in literally every Moto phone.

Lack of wireless charging is a dealbreaker for me unfortunately

@@trevorjmaendel i never understood why people are so horny for slower, less efficient charging which requires additional hardware.

@@Alias_Anybody Every phone I've had before wireless charging died because of a damaged charging port. I know there's magnetic options and USB C is far better than micro/mini USB but still. It just extends the life of my phones by 2-3 years easily

Didnt notice that wow He did say in one of his videos that he intentionally places easter eggs

Can't we just have GIGANTIC pockets on all our clothes? 🤔😉😅✌🏼

Sony xz2 compact was the perfect sized phone. Big enough, but you could still use it with one hand.

Honestly the only reason I want the iPhone Mini line-up to succeed is so that other manufacturers realise that there's a market for smaller phones.

@@jeremycorbett9085 I still use xperia XZ2 compact for my secondary phone, yeah the size is perfect and comfortable to use with one hand but if I use for watching RU-vid or playing the game it still feel so small so I will switched to my main phone S22 for media consumption

@@gus473 wear baggy jeans to office

Looking to replace my S10E as well, didn't realize how many phones gave up the headphone jack at this point.

The zenfone 8 was also a nice compact phone. The IPhone 13 mini is great too if you are willing to switch to IOS.

This is the greatest downside and is something that everyone needs to consider. It is anti consumer and makes the phone a no go for anyone who wants to keep their phone for an extended period of time.

Yep, I wish Marques had mentioned this, it's the #1 biggest downside. Google and Samsung are up to 5 years, so 2 years makes it a no go for me. If at least it was 3, I'd consider it.

Asus's sales don't exactly allow them more than 2 years of support

This thing isn't even in the same league as an iPhone

It’s only missing a microSD and it would be perfect

@@ILoveGrilledCheese it's far above lol the only thing that I would buy before this, is an iPad mini

Apple living rent free in ur head. Stop comparing android to iOS

This have nothing to do with iphones or apple

Good joke about their latest laptops being great.

@@scscyou i m using tuf series thats really great ones.

@@ambi-g4642 Really good in terms of good specs, or relatively compared to other laptops? So you haven't ever been pushed a BIOS driver via Windows Update that broke your compatibility, thermals & started giving you BSODs? You didn't have artificially limited GPU overclocking capabilities and throttling issues? Was it build with good materials that don't break after 4 years of usage? When it gets stuck on a black screen during workflow, did your warranty let you change the laptop model, or have you also had to send the laptop for repair for 30 days, only for the same problem to return later, having to send it back 3 times again? Well, I'm glad this hasn't been your experience ;) But then again, most laptop manufacturers have plenty of issues.

@@scscyou ever tried rog's?

i have a rog laptop which i burned the cpu of it altho its not really new

👆👆👆 message for your

exactly my feelings! I only had an iPhone for 2 years, but this one is tempting me to go back to the light side.

Yeah, I know not a single underscreen sensor which is at least close to a true sensor. Even if they are okay, they don't work in so many situations and are waay slower. And I don't know why it is so hard to combine power button and fps for so many companies. It will be my next phone too. I'm stuck with my current phone since almost 5 years cause there was no phone which combined everything I wanted and finally it's here :)

Yep, should something disastrous happen to my S22, this is next in line for sure.

I bought my mom the Zenfone 8 right around launch. It's been a year and she still loves it. No issues. I really hope Asus keeps going with this design because it's a great option for people who don't want a giant phone, but still want good performance.

Yup, side/back fps is better. I wonder who started this stupid trend of premium/high end phones adopting on-screen fps. Side-mounted quality fps is not just reliable and fast but feels really good and also just makes sense.

In-display is much slower than side-/rear-mounted fingerprint scanner. I still prefer my rear-mounted bcs it unlocks immediately whenever i pick up my phone

Sadly my girlfriend doesn’t agree

It’s not even small…

I hate big phones, I want to be able to reach every part of the screen without having to reach or even use 2 hands

Agreed. I really miss how comfortable older smartphones were compared to what we have now. Bring back them small flagships!

@@jtt99 haha dirty mind

The s22 is actually smaller than the Asus.... The screen size is 6.1 but the overall dimensions are smaller due to the thinner bezels

Same, using S10e for 3 years now. Recently got a message saying your battery is draining more than expected, visit a Samsung store to replace the battery..was wondering if other users are also getting the same thing. S10e has been such an insane phone for usage but I feel so content with it.

vanced it's the only thing that keep me from switching to iphone

Yt vanced is LIFE

@@gagginaspinnata once you try it you can't go back

I ve been using zenfone 5z too But it fell down recently actually from a little bit long height broke the screen but it was still working fine But now I have to replace it. While it lasted I had a wonderful experience

using the Zenfone 7 pro... well not really, currently I'm using a Galaxy A10s(I HATE this phone with a passion), cos right now I am sending the 7 pro for flip camera repairs, and it's fine the returns process was easy and I was expecting the camera to break eventually anyway - it is a moving part after all I'm just very glad that I managed to get my hands on one and can continue to use it for maybe a good 2 more years, it is kind of a low production phone anyway and I really love it

I’m also using Zenfone 5z and it’s been almost 5 years with no issues. I have an iPhone 13 as well which lags sometime but Zenfone 5z is working absolutely fine. Unexpectedly solid performance (Hardware and Software)

And The S8 had it too!

Used that feature in Nexus 6P. Huawei ftw.

The Samsung a7 (2018) had it too! Wish more phones would have this, it's just so useful

Xiaomi mi a2 lite had this!

People tend to notice and praise certain features when companies go ahead and market them, which i find interesting because this fingerprint feature is found on a lot of devices even budget ones. Usually it's disabled and you have to enable it in gesture settings. I don't find it groundbreaking because I find it on a lot of devices and am surprised when devices don't include them.

Nah 2 years is the standard

@@truthwatcher2096 no. Nothing giving 3 years update same goes for oppo vivo oneplus and other major brands

@@truthwatcher2096 Not anymore. For high-end phones Sony is the only other one with such a short support promise.

Considering the new Android 13 is just around the corner, this beast of a phone is missing out on the future OS and security upgrades, don't you think?

Asus has said it will receive 4 years of software support. 2 years of upgrades plus an additional 2 years of security updates.

The S22 Is actually smaller than the Zenfone 9 while also giving you a larger display. which is nice

Yeah I'm not sure why he declared the ZenPhone 9 the king of compact. It really isn't and the s22 clearly keeps its title with wireless charging, a third camera, better cameras and a different league screen. The battery is the only area is has the s22 beat and even that its not by much as the variable refresh rate screen compinsates big time for smaller battery. Not sure about you but after a week or so when my phone "learnt" my regular usage, I easily go a day and a half.

thats something that should have been touched on in the video. the lack of updates this phone will be getting. 2 years is it? its on the complete opposite end of the spectrum compared to the pixel phones

@@LaidBackDeveloper And half of the battery life compares to Zenfone 9

@@mackrev Pixel 3 years only. Nice try

What does that even mean?

The big phones are great and easily usable with one hand. Well, Samsung phones at least. Iphone is strictly a two hand device which is why I don't like them. Their gestures are just not intuitive for one hand use.

@@hobosnake1 Maybe for people with big hands. Most big phones are not fully functional with one hand. And certainly no easily. There's pleeeenty of small / small handed people that lost one hand ability after the iphone 4/5. I guess it also depends on what you prioritise in life. Living or being stuck on your phone. The less I'm on my phone the better I feel and the better quality my life is. When I use my phone I want to easily use it and quickly..and not necessarily needing two hands...like carrying something and navigating or replying to a text etc. Each to their own..but I'd argue your statement that big phones are easily useable with one hand.

@Luke Farrugia have you used a Samsung phone? I'm not saying a big phone is for everybody. I'm simply saying, one handed operation can be done with ease with the options on Samsung. Iphone literally makes you go to the top and bottom of the screen often and doesn't give a one handed mode. That's all I'm saying. I'm one of those people who never preferred a big phone, but I'm good with it now and I go with the ultra now.

@@hobosnake1 I've got an oppo ...6.5inch. And if I want to try and use that in one hand i have to essentially not 'grasp' the phone and barely balance it on the fingers without griping and even then I can't reach the end of the keyboard. They do have a smaller keyboard option but thats just the opposite end and too small...and my ocd kicks in. Granted now with nfc theres's no need for a physical wallet keys in one back pocket phone in the other is nice. I don't mind apps that require two hands if you need to use the whole screen...more about general keyboard layout. Like I said...I go from too big to too small. But I accept I'm an enigma. short/small stubby hands lol Just having a whinge I guess. Gottta make the phones to suit the majority...and seems bigger is better. The bigger they are the more you'll use them is my thinking. And I reackon thats not where we should be heading vs actually living life

@Luke Farrugia compact phones are underrated. I say that even the guy going to bat for the bigger phones. Obviously it's just preference. There should be more top spec'd smaller phones.

Snapdragon 888 is fire that shet gets hot

@@veryinterestingpersonaliti8321 hot like the phone gets hot or hot like the chips getting really good?

Michael here and uhhhhh

@@Moris2305 the SD888 was infamous for getting very literally hot & thermal throttling (which ended up making it not a significant step up ftom SD865 iirc), let alone feeling physically warm to touch. The SD 8 Gen 1 had much the same issue. Most people attribute a lot of this to Samsung's manufacturing. Since switching back to TSMC for the 8+ Gen 1 (or whatever dumb name it has) the thermal results seem to have improved.

How is the software support from Asus?

Did you get it?

To be honest this is the general state of the android market when it comes to software. Google taking on the big part of development for Android has made companies lazy, only investing the bare minimum to release the phones and then having little long-term support for what they release. Maybe Samsung is the exception but even with them it's not perfect since they have so many devices launching constantly.

Still loving my 9T. It's been the best phone ever. However, with no further updates from Xiaomi, this Asus is looking like my next phone.

Are you in the US? Purchased a global unlocked model from Taiwan, but wondering if it’s even going to work for me on AT&T when it gets here. Can’t wait for the US Version, but maybe I should have.

@@tyler_ I have a global 9T pro, I've been in the US last weeks, bought an at&t prepaid sim and at&t woudn't let my imei register. had to buy a prepaidphone and use it as hotspot...

@@eduardomcp00 thanks for the reply, but it did not end up working for me. sent it back and patiently waiting for the us version to ship. thanks.

same here

LG rip

Actually went from LG G8 to Zenfone 8

@@GreatGrandmasterWang how is the experience with zenfone. i really liked the zenfone 7 with flip camera but couldn't get it. im using the lg g8x right now.

@@TheForgottensands its a good upgrade. I miss the more reliable fingerprint scanner of the G8. the color of the oled screen I feel is also better with the G8. but aside from that everything else is better, except for battery life which is almost the same

Exact same situation here. As soon as my 4a breaks, Ill probably buy one of these.

Exact same thinking I have. Those are the main reasons I used the pixel A line

Now only Sony and Asus remain the only ones with those features

Have had the phone for a little over a month now and I enjoy it so far! Pictures are good, heaphone jack comes in handy and the touch sensor is good. Got the 256gb 16gb ram version. I plan on keeping this phone as long as I can :D

Wow, you are a pretty rare person & a good one, props to when you buy it👍🏻

Same … it looks cool and I really like the red color

Do yourself a favor, just buy the iPhone. Android phones have a year maybe two of life

I was veeery tempted to change to iPhone because of this very same reason

@@Skarpo89 Yeah, in my cohort, nobody wants a big phone anymore. Everybody is wanting small now. Naturally I have the iPhone Mini 13 and I love it.

@@billymania11 but 5he sales show the opposite, a lot of people still want bigger phone so that is the reason why Apple discontinued the mini from 14 series

Yeah, I went 13 mini as well because the pixel 6 is huge. Hopefully we get a compact-ish Pixel again at some point because that’s the only route I really want to go if I go back to Android.

Then there's me who's still holding onto my S10e and trying to decide between the 13 mini and Zenfone 9. I'd like to give iOS a go, but I'm worried about the 13 mini's battery life over time, whereas I heard that ASUS will only provide the Zenfone 9 with 2 years of software/security updates at this point in time. I guess I've still got some time to figure it out.

As I see you (and I) are one of few people actually recognizing what that sound was 😃

What's the strange fixation on the headphone jack? I have a phone with a headphone jack that I used like once to see if it works. BT connection always after that. Wireless charging would have been more useful in todays world.

@@alternatereality7713 some people loves having the option to experience the best audio content available, which missing without the jack.

@@alternatereality7713you can't use a wireless headset when it doesn't have any charge left and you need to take or make a call, can you?

@@alternatereality7713 Speaking from my experience, I use wired earbuds all the time when I’m at home to not disturb my room mates while listening to music or watching videos. I like wired headphones more than Bluetooth because they don’t need to be charged and are fairly inexpensive. Plus, I would be constantly misplacing my wireless buds since they’re quite easy to lose track off if you forget to place them back in the charging case.

@@dhilsiva If the headset has no charge left I just lift the phone to my ear and I still can make a call. But I get it - the headphone jack is important if your are using your cellphone for long time with the wired headset.

I own a Zenfone 3 and have been watching the lineup evolve over the years since that same intel cpu Zenfone 2! Really impressed to see Asus not only competing but doing exceptionally well with each generation. While they each had their downsides and drawbacks they all had something worthwile to offer while being competitive with the price and function.

I had a zenfone 2... It was... Not great lol. Looks like they have really come correct in the past few generations

@@iletyoucallmestevesy They always had decent hardware and mediocre software packaged with it, believe me the Zenfone 3 was no flagship or pure stock android phone, but the package was great. The fingerprint reader still rivals my S20FE one and I do miss it, and the camera while not great, with some light and stillness got decent shots. Generational improvements and changes are what you want to see from a smartphone maker, and even if they are small like Asus does, it's welcome to see. The ROG phone was a meme of a gaming phone at its inception, but now its a worthy daily for even someone who doesnt game with it.

Its all depends on your priority, if you care about camera, build quality and software support so the S22 actually better than Zenfone 9, but if you care about battery life and performance so Zenfone 9 should be your choice

I concur with the above commentor! S22 for better (subjective) & clean look/design, build & cameras (including an extra telephoto and better videos), better after sales software (& h/w) support & a more customisable (& now arguably more polished) UI, and probably better haptics too! ZF9 for better performance (especially sustained), way less heating, way more battery life (going by reviews obviously), >8GB RAM (if for some reason anyone even needs that), a more stock (or "close to Pixel") UI, decent/good enough cameras & most importantly a 3.5mm headphone jack! Also 6a is not as compelling as the previous 'a' Pixels imo. But if your current device has a 60Hz panel & you don't use your phone heavily, then I think you could make a case for the 6a. But the buggy FPS (for some), heating even under relatively light/medium loads, and a not so smooth, stuttery 60Hz UI (not HRR, but rather the 60Hz itself isn't as smooth as it could be)

S22 has major battery issues. It's a great phone, arguably better display and cameras. But battery life isn't gonna be good. Plus the performance is nothing to write home about either. The zenfone is much more well rounded

Yeah this also reminded me of my OPX, great phone at the time and glad to see it getting a spiritual successor

My Z2 Plus was also technically a compact with a flagship chipset (SD820), though everything else was about average

Even I found that funny. Samsung releases a refresh of their S series mid every year and that often has a red option too. But obviously iPhone and product red is the first thought 😂