Zenfone 9 in mid 2023 - This is still the best compact stock Android flagship today

Revisiting the Zenfone 9 in mid 2023! Spoiler: It's still the best and only Stock Android compact flagship.

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[marbletech]

Youtube seems to have automatically segmented the video into chapters using AI. Pretty cool!

Edit: Looks like I speculated based on the rumours that the Zenfone 10 was going to be larger - it isn't! Zenfone 10 is also 5.9" so if you can afford that, definitely get that! Otherwise the Zenfone 9 is selling for much cheaper so if you're not fussed about software updates, it's also a great buy! (for the right price)

[fatbloke]

Have had mine for several months and am more than pleased with it. I swapped the sim out into my galaxy s21 a few weeks ago and soon swapped it back. The performance of the zenfone is light years ahead.

[Gengh]

It's definitely on my list, I'm going to wait for the zenfone 10 that is supposedly being announced in the next days/weeks before changing my phone but this is a nice option.

My Xperia X compact lasted me long enough.

[ahmedshams]

Completely agree with the notification pill and the navigation bar thing as I am also a long term Samsung user.

I find the accidental touch inside pocket to be a bit annoying, because I believe the pocket mode doesn't work well at all.

Other than that, superb device.

[paralelmind]

Hi!
Thanks for talking about haptics.. most of the reviews don't even mention haptics at all!
I think haptics is very crucial for the best UX experience.
For eg, Google did a well job by subtle implementing haptics across all UI.

How does it compare to Pixel haptics? Or iPhones?

[pedrosanciny]

I would like to buy one but many people report autofocus issues with main cam, so I am concerned.

[TechNomadUK]

So, is the ZenFone 9 now have Android 14? Security updates all up to date to at least October 2023? Any other improvements updates to the the cameras, performance and battery life?
Speakers any good?

[kramshiron]

What about software and security updates….normally very slow .thats the killer for me.

[AurikSarker]

Have you experienced any bugs with this phone after a few months of using it? Has performance and/or battery life deteriorated at all?

[yots]

Planning to buy zenfone, should I go for 10 or 9?

[jhantughosh]

Need complete phone with low cost don't need that much powerful phone need compact phone😊

[aswinpanembrama]

gimbal make it stable but the processing is not good, make it jitter, sad fact

Is the 16 GB ram version only needed for gaming? I was just looking for something newer pocket size to replace my trusty Sony xperia XZ S at a reasonable price. But it seems people has gone crazy throwing gold for these pocket computers. I am so going to miss the camera button and SD card. I have no use for something that is too nice and expesive to be used in a case as flashlight with dirty hands under a car or working away with multible apps on my handlebars on a bicycle tour whilst beeing knocked about, dropped and totally burned by the sun. That is the life of this still working 2017 phone bought used this is written from. Even the used xperias in my refurb shop is crazy money now and the 1 is too big to live in the pocket and no phone seem to be working good and stable any more from what I can gather from YouTube the past month trying to find something reasonable. So, I might feel forced to buy the zenfone 9 new or the pixel 7 new wich also finally gets me into wireless charging 🤔 🤔 🤔 🤔 sorry for rambling 😅

[Vatsal]

Hey will you be doing a give away for zenfone 9 😂 nice review tho I like that u covered the blind camera test 💯