(upbeat music)
(upbeat music)

- Hey, what's up? MKBHD here.
- Hey, what's up? MKBHD here.

So if you're one of those people who has ever thought,
So if you're one of those people who has ever thought,

"Wow, it seems like all the phones coming out these days
"Wow, it seems like all the phones coming out these days

"look and feel the same," well, this one's for you.
"look and feel the same," well, this one's for you.

Because this is one of the most contrarian,
Because this is one of the most contrarian,

against-the-grain set of features I've seen in a new phone
against-the-grain set of features I've seen in a new phone

in a long time.
in a long time.

So this is the Asus Zenfone 9.
So this is the Asus Zenfone 9.

And the more you look around this phone,
And the more you look around this phone,

the more you see it's just not like very many other phones.
the more you see it's just not like very many other phones.

First of all, flagship phones these days
First of all, flagship phones these days

are getting bigger and bigger than ever, we know this.
are getting bigger and bigger than ever, we know this.

This phone is actually refreshingly compact.
This phone is actually refreshingly compact.

It has slightly bigger bezels,
It has slightly bigger bezels,

but those are around a 5.9-inch display.
but those are around a 5.9-inch display.

So maybe not mini, but pretty close,
So maybe not mini, but pretty close,

and that translates to so many little things.
and that translates to so many little things.

Just feeling smaller in the pocket.
Just feeling smaller in the pocket.

Smaller in the hand, obviously.
Smaller in the hand, obviously.

Reachability of the whole display is easier. It's great.
Reachability of the whole display is easier. It's great.

And then you already know most flagships these days
And then you already know most flagships these days

are working with glass.
are working with glass.

They're usually pretty shiny and glossy backs.
They're usually pretty shiny and glossy backs.

This one is plastic, but it is a sort of a nice, textured,
This one is plastic, but it is a sort of a nice, textured,

softer touch plastic back.
softer touch plastic back.

It's not quite the rough sandstone
It's not quite the rough sandstone

of the classic OnePlus phones,
of the classic OnePlus phones,

but it is somewhere in between.
but it is somewhere in between.

It's got a little more grip,
It's got a little more grip,

which, combined with the flat aluminum sides of this phone
which, combined with the flat aluminum sides of this phone

are quite nice to hold.
are quite nice to hold.

Plus, it has all these little design cues.
Plus, it has all these little design cues.

The little notch cut-out
The little notch cut-out

around the metal of the power button,
around the metal of the power button,

the little bits of text on the back of the phone.
the little bits of text on the back of the phone.

Not full-on ROG Phone levels of text,
Not full-on ROG Phone levels of text,

but it is something.
but it is something.

And the notch cut out around...
And the notch cut out around...

What is that?
What is that?

Oh, yes. A headphone jack.
Oh, yes. A headphone jack.

Yet another piece of this phone
Yet another piece of this phone

that you just don't see very often
that you just don't see very often

in many new phones out there.
in many new phones out there.

Plus, just when's the last time you saw red phone?
Plus, just when's the last time you saw red phone?

The only thing I don't like about this design
The only thing I don't like about this design

might just be that the size of the camera bumps
might just be that the size of the camera bumps

makes the whole thing rock when it's flat on a table,
makes the whole thing rock when it's flat on a table,

but we'll get to those cameras in a second.
but we'll get to those cameras in a second.

A lot of phones have been moving their fingerprint readers
A lot of phones have been moving their fingerprint readers

to underneath the display,
to underneath the display,

which, fair, they've gotten pretty good lately,
which, fair, they've gotten pretty good lately,

maybe haven't improved that much in the last year or two.
maybe haven't improved that much in the last year or two.

Asus said, "You know what?
Asus said, "You know what?

"We're gonna take this power button
"We're gonna take this power button

"and we're gonna double it as our fingerprint reader.
"and we're gonna double it as our fingerprint reader.

"But not only that, we're gonna have it triple
"But not only that, we're gonna have it triple

"as a smart key so you can customize both a double press
"as a smart key so you can customize both a double press

"and a long press to start a quick action.
"and a long press to start a quick action.

You can start Google Assistant with it
You can start Google Assistant with it

or open literally whatever app you want.
or open literally whatever app you want.

"And then not only that, we're also gonna have it
"And then not only that, we're also gonna have it

"quadruple has a reachability hack,
"quadruple has a reachability hack,

"where you can swipe the button down
"where you can swipe the button down

"to pull the notification shade down at any time, anywhere,
"to pull the notification shade down at any time, anywhere,

"from any screen,"
"from any screen,"

just like Samsung did back in the day with the Galaxy S10e,
just like Samsung did back in the day with the Galaxy S10e,

I think it was.
I think it was.

And Asus has really gone the extra mile
And Asus has really gone the extra mile

just to make sure you can reach everything on the phone
just to make sure you can reach everything on the phone

with one hand.
with one hand.

They've also got a little edge tool
They've also got a little edge tool

to let you quickly launch apps
to let you quickly launch apps

with your thumb from the side.
with your thumb from the side.

What else do most normal flagship phones have these days?
What else do most normal flagship phones have these days?

I think you could argue
I think you could argue

a pretty heavily customized software experience
a pretty heavily customized software experience

is pretty common.
is pretty common.

I'm happy to report though that Asus
I'm happy to report though that Asus

is taking the opposite approach with a fairly lightweight,
is taking the opposite approach with a fairly lightweight,

just couple of additions on top of nearly stock Android.
just couple of additions on top of nearly stock Android.

So ZenUI, which is what it's called,
So ZenUI, which is what it's called,

just adds a couple things here and there,
just adds a couple things here and there,

and it's doing wonders for this phone.
and it's doing wonders for this phone.

First of all, for performance,
First of all, for performance,

I mean, there's no real bloatware here.
I mean, there's no real bloatware here.

Things are pretty light.
Things are pretty light.

This phone also has 120Hz display
This phone also has 120Hz display

and combined with the top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1,
and combined with the top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1,

and eight to 16 gigs of RAM, things have been very smooth
and eight to 16 gigs of RAM, things have been very smooth

pretty much all the time, which is awesome.
pretty much all the time, which is awesome.

And for usability,
And for usability,

they just find a couple places to tuck some extra features
they just find a couple places to tuck some extra features

into the settings, around the Material You elements
into the settings, around the Material You elements

that are smart,
that are smart,

like little thoughtful additions here and there.
like little thoughtful additions here and there.

I like that they lifted the display animation speeds
I like that they lifted the display animation speeds

that are usually buried in developer settings,
that are usually buried in developer settings,

and just put it right into the display settings.
and just put it right into the display settings.

The always-on display
The always-on display

you can customize a little bit to look differently.
you can customize a little bit to look differently.

And they put a bunch of stuff in the advanced section,
And they put a bunch of stuff in the advanced section,

including mapping a double back tap to a custom action
including mapping a double back tap to a custom action

or a custom one-handed mode for even better reachability.
or a custom one-handed mode for even better reachability.

And actually, one of my favorites,
And actually, one of my favorites,

you can super easily customize which camera modes
you can super easily customize which camera modes

show up at the bottom,
show up at the bottom,

so you aren't always scrolling around
so you aren't always scrolling around

looking for the option you want, no matter which one it is.
looking for the option you want, no matter which one it is.

So then, battery life.
So then, battery life.

Yo, let me talk to you about the battery life on this phone.
Yo, let me talk to you about the battery life on this phone.

So typically, on a smaller phone,
So typically, on a smaller phone,

especially a small flagship phone,
especially a small flagship phone,

that's one of the weakest parts of the phone.
that's one of the weakest parts of the phone.

Which makes perfect sense.
Which makes perfect sense.

There's a lot going on in a small space
There's a lot going on in a small space

so there's not a lot of room for much battery.
so there's not a lot of room for much battery.

This Zenfone 9 has a 4,300mAh battery,
This Zenfone 9 has a 4,300mAh battery,

which is pretty big for the small size of this phone.
which is pretty big for the small size of this phone.

And when I put my SIM card in it,
And when I put my SIM card in it,

honestly, I was expecting about the status quo.
honestly, I was expecting about the status quo.

You know, I set the 120Hz refresh rate
You know, I set the 120Hz refresh rate

'cause that's what I'm into,
'cause that's what I'm into,

and I got way, way more than I was expecting.
and I got way, way more than I was expecting.

This phone actually has seriously incredible battery life.
This phone actually has seriously incredible battery life.

It sips power.
It sips power.

Turns out this is actually a really good phone
Turns out this is actually a really good phone

to put the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in
to put the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in

because not only is it more powerful at the highest end
because not only is it more powerful at the highest end

but it's also more efficient than the previous chip.
but it's also more efficient than the previous chip.

So great standby time.
So great standby time.

And a lot of quick bursty stuff is handled no problem.
And a lot of quick bursty stuff is handled no problem.

But I was having heavy days of using
But I was having heavy days of using

a lot of high-brightness screen-on time, navigation,
a lot of high-brightness screen-on time, navigation,

playing some games,
playing some games,

just doing a bunch of stuff that typically drains phones,
just doing a bunch of stuff that typically drains phones,

and it just lasted for a long time.
and it just lasted for a long time.

I was having seven-plus hour screen-on time days
I was having seven-plus hour screen-on time days

and ending with 10, 20% left.
and ending with 10, 20% left.

Really great battery on this phone.
Really great battery on this phone.

And hey, while we're at things
And hey, while we're at things

that punch above their weight class, the cameras back here.
that punch above their weight class, the cameras back here.

The cameras are probably better than what you're expecting.
The cameras are probably better than what you're expecting.

Now, the main sensor here is actually the same one
Now, the main sensor here is actually the same one

that was in the Nothing Phone and the ROG Phone 6,
that was in the Nothing Phone and the ROG Phone 6,

both of which took B to B-plus quality photos at best
both of which took B to B-plus quality photos at best

and were a noticeable step behind the flagships
and were a noticeable step behind the flagships

in pretty much every way.
in pretty much every way.

So same chip in here, but two things are different.
So same chip in here, but two things are different.

One, they put this entire sensor in this huge
One, they put this entire sensor in this huge

six-axis hybrid gimbal stabilization setup.
six-axis hybrid gimbal stabilization setup.

And two, we know a lot of what makes
And two, we know a lot of what makes

a good smartphone camera these days, is software.
a good smartphone camera these days, is software.

So the Zenfone 9 takes photos that look very different
So the Zenfone 9 takes photos that look very different

from, say, the ROG Phone, which, actually, Asus also makes,
from, say, the ROG Phone, which, actually, Asus also makes,

or the Nothing Phone.
or the Nothing Phone.

Basically, if you've watched
Basically, if you've watched

my blind smartphone camera tests in the past,
my blind smartphone camera tests in the past,

this statement won't shock you,
this statement won't shock you,

but the Zenfone 9 has the closest look of a Pixel phone
but the Zenfone 9 has the closest look of a Pixel phone

of any non-Pixel camera.
of any non-Pixel camera.

So a typical Zenfone 9 photo is very bold
So a typical Zenfone 9 photo is very bold

and contrasty, and saturated.
and contrasty, and saturated.

So straight off the rip, it's pretty nice.
So straight off the rip, it's pretty nice.

If anything, it can have the tendency to go over the top
If anything, it can have the tendency to go over the top

and really over-process and over-HDR things,
and really over-process and over-HDR things,

that looks kind of harsh and you can really see that
that looks kind of harsh and you can really see that

in higher dynamic range situations.
in higher dynamic range situations.

But the extra stabilization does help, not just for video
But the extra stabilization does help, not just for video

but also for taking less noisy photos in the dark,
but also for taking less noisy photos in the dark,

at least on the main camera.
at least on the main camera.

It's still not freezing moving subjects very well
It's still not freezing moving subjects very well

'cause you need a fast shutter speed
'cause you need a fast shutter speed

and a bigger sensor to do that reliably.
and a bigger sensor to do that reliably.

But out of all the phones with this sensor,
But out of all the phones with this sensor,

I think this one looks the best.
I think this one looks the best.

The ultra-wide is also pretty consistent with color
The ultra-wide is also pretty consistent with color

to match the main camera.
to match the main camera.

So shout out to ASUS for their software processing
So shout out to ASUS for their software processing

in the Zenfone cameras over the years.
in the Zenfone cameras over the years.

Maybe pass some of that along
Maybe pass some of that along

to the ROG Phone team, you know?
to the ROG Phone team, you know?

Maybe have a meeting or two.
Maybe have a meeting or two.

So I've said a lot of positive things about this phone.
So I've said a lot of positive things about this phone.

So I'm just gonna say one more,
So I'm just gonna say one more,

which is I think the price is really good.
which is I think the price is really good.

It starts at 699, which, actually, when I first started...
It starts at 699, which, actually, when I first started...

I put my SIM card in this phone two weeks ago,
I put my SIM card in this phone two weeks ago,

didn't really know much about it,
didn't really know much about it,

and I hadn't been told the price yet,
and I hadn't been told the price yet,

and I would've guessed higher than that.
and I would've guessed higher than that.

It kind of reminds me of when Pixel 5 came out,
It kind of reminds me of when Pixel 5 came out,

and it was the best Pixel at the time,
and it was the best Pixel at the time,

but it was a Snapdragon 7 series, and it was 90Hz,
but it was a Snapdragon 7 series, and it was 90Hz,

and we were hoping for like a full flagship Pixel.
and we were hoping for like a full flagship Pixel.

This feels like a Pixel 5 Pro, two years later.
This feels like a Pixel 5 Pro, two years later.

It's got the highest-end chip.
It's got the highest-end chip.

It's got a nice screen. An incredible battery life.
It's got a nice screen. An incredible battery life.

Not a whole lot of downside.
Not a whole lot of downside.

I'm gonna say, actually, this phone, at this price,
I'm gonna say, actually, this phone, at this price,

is my favorite release this year.
is my favorite release this year.

I am very impressed with it.
I am very impressed with it.

Now, it's not perfect.
Now, it's not perfect.

And we already know no phone is perfect.
And we already know no phone is perfect.

It's got a few key trade-offs.
It's got a few key trade-offs.

And so I'm gonna nitpick 'cause that's what I have to do,
And so I'm gonna nitpick 'cause that's what I have to do,

but here's what's wrong with this phone.
but here's what's wrong with this phone.

So battery life is incredible like I said,
So battery life is incredible like I said,

but the max charging speed, 30 watts, that's decent,
but the max charging speed, 30 watts, that's decent,

but there is no wireless charging.
but there is no wireless charging.

That's missing.
That's missing.

Lots of people love reminding me
Lots of people love reminding me

that they don't really care about wireless charging.
that they don't really care about wireless charging.

But, hey, almost every other phone at this price
But, hey, almost every other phone at this price

is gonna at least have the option.
is gonna at least have the option.

So that's something to note.
So that's something to note.

And then this display that I was telling you about,
And then this display that I was telling you about,

it is definitely super responsive at 120Hz,
it is definitely super responsive at 120Hz,

with a 240Hz touch sample rate.
with a 240Hz touch sample rate.

But it is a slight step below the flagships visually.
But it is a slight step below the flagships visually.

And it maxes out at 800 knits when not showing HDR content,
And it maxes out at 800 knits when not showing HDR content,

which can get washed out in direct sunlight.
which can get washed out in direct sunlight.

Also, the corner cutout for the selfie camera
Also, the corner cutout for the selfie camera

has this little ring around it
has this little ring around it

that might be a little more distracting
that might be a little more distracting

than some people might like.
than some people might like.

Also, the speakers in small phones have never been great
Also, the speakers in small phones have never been great

because physics, and these aren't really an exception.
because physics, and these aren't really an exception.

They're fine, but they're semi-easily blocked.
They're fine, but they're semi-easily blocked.

And then probably the biggest thing I've noticed
And then probably the biggest thing I've noticed

is this soft-touch red color is very cool
is this soft-touch red color is very cool

and I really like it,
and I really like it,

but I am concerned about how this will wear.
but I am concerned about how this will wear.

You can see the edges in the corners of mine
You can see the edges in the corners of mine

are already starting to fade and turn darker,
are already starting to fade and turn darker,

and that the Sunset Red color is slightly less vibrant
and that the Sunset Red color is slightly less vibrant

than it was when I first got the phone.
than it was when I first got the phone.

And this is only two weeks.
And this is only two weeks.

I haven't really had the phone for that long.
I haven't really had the phone for that long.

So while I haven't seen a phone
So while I haven't seen a phone

with quite this finish of plastic before,
with quite this finish of plastic before,

I can't vouch for it aging well.
I can't vouch for it aging well.

Now, just to get ahead of the comments
Now, just to get ahead of the comments

that I can already see you typing,
that I can already see you typing,

yes, most people just put a case
yes, most people just put a case

on their phone already by default.
on their phone already by default.

So it does actually come with this
So it does actually come with this

decidedly more plastic-feeling case in the box.
decidedly more plastic-feeling case in the box.

But, yeah, I don't know.
But, yeah, I don't know.

I feel like a phone that has a soft-touch plastic back
I feel like a phone that has a soft-touch plastic back

shouldn't have to always have a case on it
shouldn't have to always have a case on it

the way maybe a fragile glass one might.
the way maybe a fragile glass one might.

So, yeah, that's something to note.
So, yeah, that's something to note.

And then all of the power button features
And then all of the power button features

I was just telling you about, super...
I was just telling you about, super...

First of all, this is one of the fastest fingerprint readers
First of all, this is one of the fastest fingerprint readers

in any phone.
in any phone.

You just graze it for a second, and it unlocks.
You just graze it for a second, and it unlocks.

Super sensitive.
Super sensitive.

But then the pull-down notification feature
But then the pull-down notification feature

I was accidentally triggering all the time.
I was accidentally triggering all the time.

It kind of got annoying.
It kind of got annoying.

So I ended up turning it off
So I ended up turning it off

because it was getting in the way.
because it was getting in the way.

Kind of like on the S10e, I think I also had disabled it.
Kind of like on the S10e, I think I also had disabled it.

So cool for a few days, then I turned it off.
So cool for a few days, then I turned it off.

But, yeah, this power button, this is something.
But, yeah, this power button, this is something.

Sustainability note.
Sustainability note.

This phone isn't particularly repairable,
This phone isn't particularly repairable,

but it does come in 100% fully recyclable packaging.
but it does come in 100% fully recyclable packaging.

And it does come with the 30-watt charging brick.
And it does come with the 30-watt charging brick.

But yeah, as far as downsides, that's pretty much it.
But yeah, as far as downsides, that's pretty much it.

I think I can confidently say this is the most well-rounded
I think I can confidently say this is the most well-rounded

compact phone in the world, if you can consider it compact.
compact phone in the world, if you can consider it compact.

I think there's a lot of really
I think there's a lot of really

great things about this phone
great things about this phone

and I'm very happy to keep using it.
and I'm very happy to keep using it.

This is probably gonna end up extremely underrated in the US
This is probably gonna end up extremely underrated in the US

because you don't really see Zenfones in carrier stores,
because you don't really see Zenfones in carrier stores,

so most people don't end up buying these.
so most people don't end up buying these.

But if you're looking around,
But if you're looking around,

shopping for a great compact Android phone around 700 bucks,
shopping for a great compact Android phone around 700 bucks,

don't even think twice.
don't even think twice.

This is a great one to get.
This is a great one to get.

Yeah. Easy as that.
Yeah. Easy as that.

Okay. That's pretty much it.
Okay. That's pretty much it.

Thanks for watching.
Thanks for watching.

Catch you guys in the next one. Peace.
Catch you guys in the next one. Peace.

(upbeat music)
(upbeat music)