Asus Zenfone 10 is a popular phone – most people in last week’s poll liked it, even if only some of them could actually buy it it. We’ll talk about why later, but let’s start by looking at why you’ll love this phone.
Its size is definitely a plus – it’s not the smallest smartphone around, but small smartphones don’t usually sell well. People also like the flat screen and 3.5mm headphone jack (although a microSD slot would be nice). The wireless charging feature is also welcome.
Some people want this feature in software, they are attracted by the Android UI with ASUS enhancements that provide deep performance tuning options, which you can usually find on ROG devices.
The interest in the Zenfone 10 is mostly from new users, most of them don’t think it’s a big enough upgrade over the Zenfone 9.
We have to go back to the software as it is also a weakness, especially limited software support. Google and Samsung are offering one and two additional updates, respectively. The Zenfone will get 4 years of security patches, which is better than what Sony offers, but still a year shorter than Google and Samsung.
That said, Pixel phones are only available in select regions. The Zenfone 10 itself is not yet available everywhere. For example, there’s no word on an India launch (the Zenfone 9 was never listed there).
Anyway, ASUS needs to do more. People expect a way to take zoomed-in photos with their flagship phones — preferably with a dedicated zoom lens or (failing that) a higher-resolution main camera. 50 The MP sensor is good (though not great) at 2x, but you can’t go much further than that.
The display is nice, but only a few games support 144Hz mode. Rather than paying extra for a 50Hz panel, spend your budget elsewhere.
Of course, price is also an issue. Especially when you look at the relatively short support period for this phone, which will only get 2 OS updates. For those who want a compact device, there is the option to buy a foldable, but let’s just say it’s not a very popular option.
