Android

Asus Zenfone 9 official: compact and (almost) without sacrifices

July 30, 2022

Asus has officially unveiled the new Zenfone 9, its top-of-the-range smartphone that aims to offer a complete and very rich package even for those who love compact devices. Yes, because, with Zenfone 9, Asus has chosen to continue to pursue the philosophy embraced with his Zenfone 8 (we reviewed it at the time) and improved it with all the latest technologies available on the market. Let’s take a look at its main features.

Before starting we point out that, together with the official presentation, we have also publishedand our Zenfone 9 review Since we have been testing the smartphone for several days nowso we’re ready to tell you about it.

WHAT’S NEW IN ZENFONE 9

As anticipated, the winning team does not change, and also in this round Asus has chosen to equip its Zenfone 9 with a display 5.9 “Samsung AMOLEDwith resolution FHD + 2,400 x 1080 pixelstechnology support HDR10 + and update frequency a 120 Hz (touch sampling at 240 Hz) with the possibility of setting the panel also at 90, 60 Hz or in Auto mode (it shouldn’t be an LTPO).

Under the body we find the new one instead Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoCassisted by 8 or 16 GB of LPDDR5 RAM (yes, there is no middle ground), 128/256 GB UFS 3.1 memory and a 4,300 mAh with fast charging support from 30 W. The battery capacity is not very high in absolute terms but, thanks to the compact size of the display and the optimizations introduced by Asus, the company confirms that its new top of the range is able to offer just under two days of autonomy with a charging only. On the charging front, we point out the absence of the induction one.

The back of the smartphone, in fact, is not equipped with a rear glass, but we find a slightly rubberized finish that aims to improve the grip of Zenfone 9 and, overall, guarantees an excellent overall resistance of the device, also thanks to the adoption of a Gorilla Glass Victus panel on the front and the presence of certification IP68.

The main news in brief

The other innovations of Zenfone 9 concern the photographic sector, where we find a main camera from 50 MegaPixel and a 12 MP wide-angle with autofocus that allows you to also take macro shots.

Going into the details, we find a sensor Sony IMX766 50MP accompanied by a type optical stabilization system 6-axis gimbalwhile the wide-angle lens offers a 113 ° field and is mounted on a 12 MP IMX363 sensor, with an f / 2.2 aperture and support for video recording in 4K up to 60 fps (8K at 24 fps on the main cam) . Frontally we always find a sensor from 12 MP, but this time it is an IMX663 with autofocusf / 2.45 and support for video recording in 4K at 30 fps or in FullHD at 60 fps, all positioned in the hole on the display.

Among the other features of Zenfone 9 we find all the typical features of the top of the Asus range, including double stereo speakersa High quality OZO dual microphonesconnectivity 5G Dual SIM complete, Wi-FI 6e and support for the Game Genie suite dedicated to gaming, which we also find on the Rog Phone series. Zenfone 9’s operating system is based on Android 12 with Zen UI interface, so it offers a look very similar to that of Android Stock

News also on the accessories front, given that Zenfone 9 is the first phone to use the brand new Connex modular accessory system. The system is based on the Connex cover which can be customized by attaching the other accessories to the lower half of the cover. Among these we find:

Connex Smart Stand: Provides a convenient stand to place the Zenfone horizontally and can be customized to launch an app or game of your choice when you open it
Connex Card Holder: allows you to always keep your credit cards or business cards at hand.
Smart Backpack Mount Support: Attaches Zenfone 9 to the shoulder strap of a backpack at the perfect height and angle for travel use. Users can insert or remove the phone from the magnetic holder, which is also protected by a security cable.

DATA SHEET

SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
Display: 5.9 “20: 9 2400 x 1080 (445ppi) AMOLED made by Samsung, HDR10 +, 120 Hz, 240 Hz touch sampling, maximum brightness 1,100 nits (HDR) or 800 nits (standard use), Gorilla Glass Victus
Memory:
- 8/16 GB of LPDDR5 RAM
- 128/256 GB of UFS 3.1 storage memory
Camera:
- Rear
  - Principal 50MP Sony IMX766, f / 1.9, with 6-axis OIS gimbal stabilization,
  - Ultra wide angle 113 ° 12MP IMX 363, f / 2.2, 4cm macro support.
  - Video up to 8K at 24 fps and 4K at 30/60 fps, slow motion up to 4K at 120 fps, FHD at 240 fps and 720p at 480 fps.
- Front: 12 MP Sony IMX663, autofocus, f / 2.45, 4K video shooting 30/60 fps
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 6E, USB-C 2.0, NFC, Dual SIM, GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, NavIC
Audio: Stereo speakers, 3.5mm jack
Sensors: Side fingerprint sensor, gyroscope, accelerometer, digital compass, light sensor, proximity sensor
Battery: 4.300 mAh, support for fast charging up to 30 W (charger included in the package)
Dimensions And weight:
- 146.5 x 68.1 x 9.1 mm
- 169 grams
Colors: Midnight Black, Moonlight White, Starry Blue, Sunset Red
Other: OZO dual microphone, IP68 certification
Operating system: Android 12 with Zen UI

ZENFONE 9: PRICES AND AVAILABILITY

The new Zenfone 9 will be available on sale from the first half of August at Asus ESHOP, Gold Store and Unieuro, while i pre-orders are already active from today 28 July on the Asus ESHOP where you can take advantage of a promotion that allows you to purchase the basic model 8/128 GB at a reduced price for 2 weeks.

On this occasion it will be possible to buy Zenfone 9 8/128 GB at 729 euros, against the 799 euros of the list. Zenfone 9 will also be available in variants 8/256 GB at the suggested price of 849 euros and in the top configuration 16/256 GB for 899 euros. The package includes the 30W charger and a Bumper Case.

ZENFONE PRICES 9