Asus Zenfone 10:
Rating: 8 /10 (Legacy rating)
This Android smartphone demonstrates that indeed, great things can come in small packages.
Wired Up
Compact design!
Stellar performance.
Impressive battery life of over a day.
Features a headphone jack, wireless charging, and IP68 rating.
Smooth display.
Four years of security updates.
Comes bundled with a charger.
Wired Down
Display could use more brightness.
Cameras are average.
Limited to two major OS updates.
No support for Verizon.
Feeling Asus Zenfone 10:
A sense of disappointment tingled through me a few weeks back. There I was, casually scrolling through Twitter, when I stumbled upon a post claiming that Asus was bidding farewell to its Zenfone 10 smartphone line—the very Zenfone 10 that lay in my hand was purportedly the swan song. But lo and behold! A quick fact-check dispelled the rumor. Asus assured me, “It won’t be the last Zenfone 10”
And rightly so, for that initial wave of gloom was not unwarranted. Small smartphones are a rare breed nowadays, especially ones equipped with a precious headphone jack. For those who scoff at the notion, I understand. Wireless earbuds have become commonplace, and dongles can provide a tethered connection if desired. Yet, the option to plug in remains a comfort. Though not flawless, if you’re in the market for a compact, visually appealing phone, and you value the endangered jack, the Zenfone 10 is your answer. Who knows when it might vanish from the scene.
Zen Phone:
Asus struck gold with the design language of the Zenfone 9, and they’ve seamlessly transitioned it to the Zenfone 10. My unit sports the vibrant red hue, but it’s also available in white, blue, black, and green. It’s quite the looker! The rear panel, crafted from bio-based plastic, boasts a delightful texture reminiscent of construction paper. True, it may lack the opulent feel of a glass-backed device, but in my view, it’s one less surface to worry about cracking upon impact. (And yes, I tested this theory with an accidental drop—minor scratches were the only aftermath.)
Before delving into specifics, a caveat: this phone operates solely on AT&T and T-Mobile networks in the US. (You can verify its band compatibility for your carrier or MVNO here.) As has been the case in previous years, Verizon compatibility remains absent.
Asus’ track record with software updates has been less than stellar, but there’s been a glimmer of improvement this time around. Instead of a meager two-year commitment to updates, the Zenfone 10 pledges four years of security patches, albeit still capped at two Android OS upgrades. (It ships with Android 13, implying a cutoff at Android 15.) While not quite on par with its counterparts, this extended software support mitigates the need for frequent upgrades.
Zen Dimensions:
This device is compact! With a 5.9-inch screen, it stands as one of the smallest smartphones on the market, though alternatives do exist. The 6.1-inch Samsung Galaxy S23 and the Google Pixel 7A, alongside the upcoming Sony Xperia 5 V and iPhone 14, offer comparable sizes. Yet, the Zenfone 10 feels notably more petite in hand, primarily due to its narrower build.
Despite its diminutive stature, the Zenfone 10 outlasts its competitors in an endurance test. While similar-sized rivals typically endure a full day on a single charge with moderate usage, the Zenfone 10, bolstered by its 4,300-mAh battery capacity, sails through a full day and well into the next, clocking out around 6 pm. It may not quite achieve the elusive two-day mark, but it comes close without necessitating battery-saving measures. If a compact phone with enduring battery life tops your Wishlist, this one’s a winner. Plus, it includes a charging brick—an increasingly rare inclusion these days.
Zen Extras:
At the phone’s apex sits the beloved headphone jack, constituting the third compelling reason to invest in it. The 3.5-mm port, all but extinct in premium smartphones, is a boon for analog enthusiasts averse to carrying dongles. Alas, there’s no microSD card slot to supplement the 128 GB of onboard storage, though 256- and 512-GB variants are available for storage-hungry users.
A novel addition this year is wireless charging support, a feature I personally appreciate. However, due to the device’s compact nature, the charging coil may not align perfectly with certain wireless charging stands. While I encountered issues with the second-gen Google Pixel Stand, other wireless charging pads posed no such problem.
Upon setup, users are presented with the option to opt for ASUS custom interface or stock Android. While the latter boasts a cleaner design, I commend the company for affording customers the freedom to choose. Neither option overwhelms with superfluous software gimmicks, making it an ideal choice for those seeking simplicity amidst the smartphone landscape’s clutter. At times, I find Samsung devices inundated with features, whereas Asus offers a refreshing palette cleanser.
Under the hood, Asus harnesses the power of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset paired with 8 gigs of RAM, delivering a performance akin to other flagship smartphones. Apps launch swiftly, scrolling remains buttery smooth, and even prolonged gaming sessions, such as those with Dead Cells, fail to overheat the device.
Display:
The AMOLED display boasts a 144-Hz refresh rate, although this feature requires activation through ASUS Game Genie software in compatible mobile games. Alternatively, users can opt for automatic refresh rate adjustment based on on-screen activity. I opted for a consistent 120 Hz refresh rate for seamless action across the board, albeit at the cost of slightly diminished battery life. While the screen itself exhibits sharpness and vibrancy, visibility under direct sunlight proves challenging, necessitating some squinting.
Zen cameras:
Equipped with two rear cameras—a 50-MP main sensor alongside a 13-MP ultrawide—the Zenfone 10 introduces a six-axis gimbal stabilizer system akin to its predecessor. This feature promises buttery-smooth video footage, even during dynamic movement.
In a head-to-head comparison with the Google Pixel 7, the Zenfone 10 emerges victorious, particularly in standard stabilization mode at 4K resolution. While colors may lack the richness of the Pixel’s footage, the Asus device delivers markedly steadier clips. Even during vigorous activity, the Zenfone 10 maintains stability, resulting in less jittery video output.
Resolution:
However, activating Hyper Steady stabilization necessitates a resolution downgrade to 1080p. The resultant video quality dip places the Pixel’s active stabilization mode ahead in terms of stability, albeit at the expense of video quality. For optimal stability, integrating the Zenfone 10 with Insta360’s Flow gimbal proves superior, yielding better image quality and stabilization. Notably, the Zenfone 10 struggles with HDR, resulting in fluctuating exposure levels. Ultimately, for truly stable footage, investing in a gimbal system may be the wiser choice. Nevertheless, standard stabilization at 4K resolution proves more than satisfactory for most scenarios.
In the realm of photography, the Zenfone 10 impresses. Night mode captures detailed low-light shots, albeit susceptible to blurring with movement. High-contrast scenes may pose challenges, occasionally resulting in blown-out skies or excessively dark shadows. In well-lit conditions, the Zenfone 10 tends towards oversaturation a trait mirrored in.
