ASUS made loads of adjustments to its Zenfone collection over the past 4 years, and the present iteration of the portfolio is all about dimension. While different producers are turning to bigger and taller telephones, ASUS is doubling right down to ship a cellphone that is designed for one-handed use. That was the important thing differentiator with the Zenfone 9 final yr, and ASUS is continuous down the identical path with the Zenfone 10.Therefore, the Zenfone 10 maintains the identical diminutive dimension as its predecessor, coming in a peak of beneath 150mm and width of beneath 70mm, giving it a definite edge over nearly each different cellphone I’ve used this yr. While ASUS did not tweak the size, there’s wi-fi charging on provide right here — some of the requested options, in keeping with the model.And whereas gargantuan gadgets just like the Galaxy S23 Ultra and Xiaomi 13 Ultra miss out on the function, you may discover a 3.5mm jack on the Zenfone 10. There’s additionally IP68 ingress safety — similar as final yr — and a decent-sized battery that manages to final effectively over a day. There’s higher customizability to the software program as effectively, and ASUS continues to ship a clear and uncluttered interface that is a delight to make use of.The one factor lacking on the Zenfone 9 was a zoom lens, and I used to be holding out for ASUS to introduce that this yr. However, that is not the case, and the Zenfone 10 retains a twin digital camera array that is largely unchanged from final yr; it appears to be like like we’ll have to attend one other era to see noticeable upgrades on the digital camera {hardware} aspect of issues.I used the Zenfone 10 for the higher a part of a month now, and I feel it’s the greatest small cellphone presently accessible — there actually is not one other machine that provides the identical feature-set in such a small dimension.ASUS Zenfone 10: Specs, pricing, and availability(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)ASUS unveiled the Zenfone 10 on June 29, and the cellphone is now accessible in choose nations in Europe, beginning at €799 within the area. It can also be debuting in Taiwan and Hong Kong, with a launch in North America slated for later within the yr.The Zenfone 10 is offered in a couple of storage configurations: the bottom model has 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, and there is an 8GB/256GB mannequin, together with 16GB/256GB and 16GB/512GB editions. Like final yr, there is not any point out of whether or not the Zenfone 10 will make its debut in India, and that is a puzzling transfer contemplating the nation is one in all ASUS’s largest markets.Swipe to scroll horizontallyCategoryASUS Zenfone 10OSZen UI 10 primarily based on Android 13Display5.92-inch FHD+ (2400×1080) AMOLED, 120Hz (144Hz in video games), HDR10+, Gorilla Glass VictusChipsetQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 1 x 3.2GHz Cortex X3, 2 x 2.8GHz Cortex A715, 2 x 2.8GHz Cortex A710, 3 x 2.0GHz Cortex A510, Adreno 740, 4nmRAM8GB/12GB LPDDR5XStorage256GB/512GB UFS 4.0Rear digital camera 150MP f/1.9 Sony IMX766, 1.0um pixels, OIS, gimbal stabilization, 8K at 24fps, 4K at 60fpsRear digital camera 213MP f/2.2 wide-angle, 1.12um pixlsFront digital camera32MP fastened focus, 1080p videoIngress protectionIP68 mud and water resistanceSecuritySide-mounted fingerprint module, face unlockAudioStereo sound, 3.5mm jack, AptX suite, 24-bit/192kHz audioConnectivityGlobal Sub-6 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, NFCBattery4300mAh battery, 30W USB PD charging, 15W Qi wi-fi chargingDimensions146.5 x 68.1 x 9.4mm, 172gColorsGreen, Red, Black, WhiteASUS Zenfone 10: Design(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)I actually favored what ASUS with the design of the Zenfone 9, so it is good to see that the model did not make any main adjustments to the general aesthetic with the Zenfone 10. The cellphone shares a design that is similar to its predecessor, with the identical giant rings adorning the cameras on the again, and the identical polymer end on the again that feels nice to carry.Although ASUS did not change the design, there are refined tweaks right here: the rings across the cameras have a cleaner design, and there is not as a lot textual content on the again, resulting in a extra minimalist look. The ASUS Zenfone branding is now positioned under the digital camera housing, and also you get a stylized monogram brand on the backside to have a good time ten years of the Zenfone collection. I just like the adjustments because it makes the Zenfone 10 look slightly extra elegant.Image 1 of 6(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)ASUS is sticking with the identical set of shade combos as final yr — black, blue, pink, and white — and is introducing a vibrant inexperienced mannequin that appears fabulous. The again of the cellphone retains the bio-based polycarbonate again, and ASUS notes it went this route as there are fewer CO2 emissions versus a normal glass again. Furthermore, the packaging itself is made out of recycled supplies and sues soy-based inks.As for the in-hand really feel, the Zenfone 10 is in a league of its personal. The cellphone weighs 172g and has a peak of146.5mm and width of 68.1mm, and that results in a tool that feels excellent. ASUS nailed the burden distribution as effectively, and coming from the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, the Zenfone 10 seems like a breath of contemporary air.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)On that word, there is a 3.5mm jack right here, and also you get IP68 mud and water ingress, giving the Zenfone 10 the power to climate the weather. ASUS eschewed the usual in-screen fingerprint module for a side-mounted sensor, and it does an excellent job in day by day use. This time round, the ZenTouch button picks up loads of extra options, together with the power to tug down the notification pane with a gesture, and even YouTube playback controls. But extra on that later.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)There’s little to fault on the design entrance of the Zenfone 10. The dimension of the cellphone mixed with the placing shade choices, aluminum mid-frame, and IP68 ingress safety means the Zenfone 10 is not lacking out in any key areas, and it’s the best choice if you’d like a small cellphone.ASUS Zenfone 10: Display(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)ASUS is utilizing the identical panel as final yr, and as such you get a 5.9-inch Samsung AMOLED display screen with 120Hz refresh. You can manually set the refresh charge to 60, 90, or 120Hz, and there is an overclock possibility that kicks it as much as 144Hz, however that is solely accessible in video games.Like final yr, the display screen itself is vibrant and has no points with out of doors visibility or distinction ranges. Auto mode was greater than ample in my use case, and there is a first rate quantity of customizability relating to adjusting the colour steadiness. There’s a layer of Gorilla Glass Victus masking the display screen, and having examined its efficacy on the Zenfone 9 to an excellent extent final yr, I can say with some confidence that it does a stellar job in defending the AMOLED panel.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)What I like probably the most in regards to the Zenfone 10 is that it helps you to play video games at 144Hz; there aren’t any limitations such as you get with most Chinese telephones — the place video games are locked to 60Hz whatever the {hardware} — and ASUS’s Game Genie utility has an in depth set of options to get probably the most out of the {hardware}.Another space the place ASUS does issues effectively is audio; you get a 3.5mm jack and stereo sound with similar channels. The sound is tuned by Dirac, and the AudioWizard utility is among the many greatest relating to configuring the onboard audio, providing a very good vary of presets in addition to a 10-band EQ. You additionally get the complete suite of AptX codecs, and the onboard sound is nice for enjoying video games or streaming content material.ASUS Zenfone 10: Performance and battery(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Like the perfect Android telephones, the Zenfone 10 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Qualcomm made a number of adjustments to its platform this yr, and the result’s that the 8 Gen 2 consumes much less energy whereas delivering a lot better efficiency in nearly any scenario.As you’d think about, the Zenfone 10 has zero points on the efficiency entrance; the software program is optimized to take full benefit of the {hardware}, and I did not see any slowdowns in anyway within the month I used the machine. As famous above, the Zenfone 10 is especially nice for gaming, and you will not run into any body charge limitations on this cellphone. That’s nice to see on such a small machine, and whereas you aren’t getting an enormous display screen, it does not miss out on any {hardware} options. On that entrance, the Zenfone 10 has 256GB of storage as normal, and there is a 16GB/512GB mannequin on provide this time round. All storage configurations function UFS 4.0 modules as normal, and that is one other optimistic for the model.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Switching to the battery aspect of issues, the Zenfone 10 has the identical 4300mAh battery as final yr, and I did not see a complete load of distinction by way of battery longevity. Considering I received over a day’s price of use out of the Zenfone 9, that is a very good factor. There’s zero want for any battery anxiousness in anyway, and even on days with heavy use, I by no means needed to fear in regards to the battery working out earlier than I received to mattress.An fascinating addition this yr is wi-fi charging, with the Zenfone 10 providing 15W charging over the Qi protocol. I’m not a giant fan of the function because it takes too lengthy — over two hours on this case — however there’s clearly loads of customers that want the function, and it is nice to see ASUS including it on the machine. The wired charging tech is unchanged, and also you get a 30W charger within the field together with a set of software program options to extend battery longevity.ASUS Zenfone 10: Cameras(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Similar to the design, ASUS is not making many adjustments to the cameras, and the Zenfone 10 has the identical 50MP Sony IMX766 f/1.9 lens on the again. It’s joined by a 13MP wide-angle lens with a 120-degree FoV, and on the entrance, you now get a 32MP digital camera with 1.6um pixels. The gimbal stabilization tech that debuted final yr has been tweaked for this era, with ASUS noting higher stabilization whereas taking pictures movies.There’s additionally AI-based scene recognition this time round, and the function routinely adjusts the colour steadiness primarily based on the situation. Rounding out the adjustments, you get OZO audio recording, a real-time stabilization mode that dynamically adjusts the sphere of view in keeping with shakiness of the scene, and the Light Trail mode can now be used handheld.The 32MP digital camera on the entrance options an RGBW module with a lot better gentle consumption, and ASUS is touting important positive aspects on this space — significantly in low-light conditions. That mentioned, the module misses out on autofocus, and there is not any autofocus on the wide-angle lens as effectively. I actually wished to see a zoom lens on the machine, however ASUS says there wasn’t sufficient room so as to add one, and that it needed to steadiness consumer necessities when it got here to designing the cellphone, so it disregarded the zoom lens and went with a bigger battery and 3.5mm jack.The digital camera interface itself hasn’t modified, with all of the taking pictures modes arrayed in a ribbon and toggles for the lenses, night time mode, results, flash, and Google Lens simply accessible. The Pro mode helps you to unlock larger management over pictures, and there is a comparable mode this time aimed toward movies too.Image 1 of 7(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The IMX766 has been a mainstay on telephones for effectively over three years in the past, and whereas there are newer and higher sensors accessible, it has confirmed to be a dependable workhorse. For its half, the Zenfone 10 manages to take vibrant pictures in daylight situations, providing loads of element and dynamic vary with out oversaturating the colours. ASUS made tweaks to its digital camera algorithms with this era, and it makes the Zenfone 10 take higher pictures in nearly any scenario over its predecessor.That mentioned, it tends to be a bit conservative with publicity ranges in low-light conditions, and this may very well be a measure to restrict noise in scenes with little to no synthetic lighting. You nonetheless get usable pictures in difficult situations, but it surely is not fairly on the identical degree because the Pixel 7a. The wide-angle lens is first rate sufficient in its personal proper, but it surely misses out on autofocus with this era, and that makes it rather less versatile. The addition of a zoom lens would have made the Zenfone 10 that rather more attractive, however because it stands, you get an honest set of cameras. Sure, it is not going to win any awards on this space, but it surely has confirmed to be a dependable shooter, and should you want a cellphone with best-in-class cameras, there are different selections accessible. ASUS Zenfone 10: Software(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The Zenfone 10 runs Zen UI primarily based on Android 13, and it has a clear interface with none overt customization. ASUS did a terrific job preserving all of the options Google launched in Android 13, and also you get the same set of Material You styling choices as a Pixel cellphone. On high of that, ASUS has a set of unique options that find yourself being fairly helpful, together with the likes of the ZenTouch button.You can simply pull down the notification shade by sliding down together with your finger on the facility button, and also you get the power to launch the digital camera, take a screenshot, make a name, toggle Wi-Fi or Bluetooth or on off, and a lot extra. The sheer quantity of options accessible right here makes the button much more versatile than the usual energy key you may discover on most telephones, and ASUS deserves credit score on this space.In the same vein, you may discover loads of gesture shortcuts, a sidebar that slides out from the sting of the display screen, a one-handed mode that shrinks the display screen even additional, and a again faucet gesture that is significantly helpful for screenshots. In quick, there’s a lot to love right here, and utilizing Zen UI jogs my memory of the legacy days of OxygenOS; the interface itself is as near vanilla Android as potential, and also you get an unlimited suite of customization choices tailor-made for energy customers — extra of this, please!(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)This customizability extends to different areas of the interface as effectively; you possibly can select between the Android 13 power-off menu or the ASUS possibility, which switches to the older format. The similar is true with the notification pane as effectively, with the power to decide on between the bigger rounded tiles that Google launched with Android 12, or going again to the Android 11-esque six-tile format. These are all small issues, however they make a tangible distinction whereas utilizing the cellphone.Elsewhere, the gallery now makes use of on-device machine studying to ship higher search outcomes, and it surfaces highlights primarily based on content material saved on the machine. ASUS additionally made adjustments to the always-on mode, introducing new clock kinds and the power to make use of your individual picture or textual content. To spherical issues off, there’s now a scrolling screenshot mode baked into Zen UI.As you possibly can most likely inform, I actually like what ASUS has carried out with Zen UI, and it’s one in all my favourite Android interfaces for the time being. The solely disadvantage on this space is the software program replace scenario; the Zenfone 10 will solely get two platform updates and 4 years of safety updates, and that simply does not reduce it in 2023. Most Android producers have made tangible positive aspects on this space over the past 12 months, and we’re at a degree the place most telephones on this class will get at the least three assured Android OS updates.ASUS says it is not capable of present long-term updates to its telephones because it has restricted software program assets, however that excuse does not work when you think about the state of the business and the way a lot the Zenfone 10 prices. Sure, there are funds Android telephones that also solely get two Android OS updates, however most telephones that retail for over $500 are getting long-term updates, and I am unable to assist however really feel that the Zenfone 10 is hobbled by this transfer.ASUS Zenfone 10: The competitors(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)There aren’t many selections if you’d like a small cellphone in 2023. The normal Galaxy S23 is an honest sufficient possibility, and whereas it is not fairly as small because the Zenfone 10, you get a tool that feels extra premium in-hand, and it’ll choose up double the variety of platform updates.There’s additionally final yr’s Zenfone 9 to contemplate. The cellphone remains to be going sturdy a yr after its launch, and contemplating the dearth of main adjustments on the Zenfone 10, the Zenfone 9 could be the higher possibility provided that it has the identical design and cameras.I additionally just like the Pixel 7a, and whereas Google does not cater to the small cellphone market, there is not any denying that the 7a is an absolute beast of a cellphone.ASUS Zenfone 10: Should you purchase it?(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)You can buy this if:You desire a small cellphone that does not miss out on any optionsYou want all of the extras like wi-fi charging and ingress safetyYou desire a clear interface with a excessive diploma of customizabilityYou should not purchase this if:You want long-term software program updatesASUS is not reinventing the wheel with the Zenfone 10. The cellphone makes use of the identical basis as final yr’s mannequin, however you get a couple of tweaks that give it a slight benefit. You’re nonetheless getting the identical nice display screen, cameras, and battery life, all in a package deal that is designed for one-handed use.While ASUS did a stellar job retaining the Zenfone 9’s greatest options, its shortcomings are intact as effectively. The software program scenario hasn’t modified to any significant diploma, and that places the Zenfone 10 at a transparent drawback over its Android rivals. Most Chinese manufacturers made large positive aspects on this space over the past 12 months, and because of this, we’re now in a scenario the place the Zenfone 10 will get fewer platform updates than most different telephones in its class.ASUS actually wants to vary its place on long-term updates, as a result of the {hardware} itself can simply final over 5 years. There’s no limitation on that entrance in anyway, and the truth that the machine will solely get two assured Android OS updates takes the shine off an in any other case faultless package deal.Nevertheless, there actually is not another should you’re out there for a small cellphone — until you choose up final yr’s Zenfone 9.
Today’s greatest Asus ZenFone 10 offers
It’s simple to sum up the Zenfone 10; that is the perfect small cellphone you will get for the time being, so should you want a tool that is designed for one-handed use, it’s the apparent selection. For the second yr in a row, ASUS did a powerful job retaining all of the options of a flagship in a small chassis.