Asus Zenfone 10 Review: A Small Package With A Big Punch!

Asus first ventured into the world of compact phones with the Zenfone 8 in 2021, impressing users with its robust internals and long-lasting battery in a smaller package. The Zenfone 9 took it a step further, boasting an improved design and flagship performance.

Now, with the Zenfone 10 in 2023, Asus reaffirms its commitment to delivering a top-notch user experience that comfortably fits in everyone’s hands. Equipped with a powerful Qualcomm chipset and a higher refresh rate that delights gamers, the Zenfone 10 keeps the compact phone market fiercely competitive.

With its familiar design and unwavering dedication to performance, the Asus Zenfone 10 raises the bar for compact flagship smartphones, ensuring a delightful experience for tech enthusiasts and casual users alike.

In today’s Asus Zenfone 10 Review let’s dive into all the exciting details that Asus has packed into their new compact device. 

Table of Contents

• What’s New?
• Pros & Cons
• Design & Build
• Display
• Camera
• Performance
• Software
• Battery Life
• Specifications
• Verdict

1. Asus Zenfone 10:  What’s NEW?

Asus Zenfone 10

Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm)

New 144Hz Refresh Rate

UFS 4.0 Storage

2. Asus Zenfone 10: Pros & Cons

Before jumping into the overall Asus Zenfone 10 review, here’s a quick heads up about Asus Zenfone 10’s good and bad sites:

Pros:	Cons:
👍 Compact design; 👍 Flagship processor from Qualcomm; 👍 All-day 4300mAh battery; 👍  144Hz Refresh rate gives a smoother performance.	👎 Similar design as last year; 👎 No Autofocus for Front or Ultrawide Camera.

Check Latest Price of Asus Zenfone 10

3. Asus Zenfone 10: Design & Build

• Upgraded Glyph Stripes
• IP68 Dust/Water Resistance

Design

The Asus Zenfone 10 boasts a sleek and elegant design that builds upon its predecessor’s aesthetics. Although the changes may seem minor when compared to the Zenfone 9, there are enough improvements to catch the eye of tech enthusiasts. The phone retains its familiar shape and distinctive markings, but Asus has made a few subtle tweaks that enhance its overall appearance.

The device features a curved design all around its body, providing a comfortable grip and a premium feel. The camera bump remains, with the main camera sporting a slightly thicker bump for better optics. Notably, the “Asus Zenfone” logo has been replaced with the brand’s iconic “A” sign, adding a touch of sophistication.

In terms of practicality, Asus has thoughtfully positioned the power button, which doubles as a fast fingerprint scanner, and a volume rocker on the side for easy access. The inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack on top sets the Zenfone 10 apart from many modern smartphones, catering to users who still prefer wired audio options.

Colors

Asus offers a refreshing range of color choices, including the new Aurora Green, which exudes a calming aura. The other options include Starry Blue, Midnight Black, Eclipse Red, and Comet White, giving users ample choices to suit their preferences.

Build

Build quality remains robust, with Gorilla Glass Victus protecting the display and an aluminum frame providing durability. The matte finish on the back enhances grip and resists fingerprints, making it a practical choice for daily use.

Despite some minor additions and improvements, the Zenfone 10 has gained a little weight at 172 grams and increased in thickness to 9.4mm. However, this slight change is unlikely to be a deal-breaker for most users.

One of the notable features of the Zenfone 10 is its water protection. With an IP68 dust/water resistance rating, the device can withstand being submerged up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes, making it suitable for accidental splashes and protection against dust.

4. Asus Zenfone 10: Display

• 5.92’’ Super AMOLED
• 144Hz Refresh Rate
• 1100 Nits Peak Brightness

When it comes to display, Asus brought no new changes, it packs the same display found in their previous Zenfone 9. With a 5.92-inch Super AMOLED panel and a resolution of 1080×2400, the screen delivers an astounding 445 pixels per inch, resulting in remarkably crisp and vibrant visuals that are sure to captivate your senses. 

When it comes to display quality, this device stands out as one of the market’s crispiest and most vivid options. Gaming enthusiasts will find joy in the Zenfone 10’s 144Hz fast refresh rate, which ensures ultra-smooth gameplay for compatible games. This feature takes gaming immersion to a whole new level, providing a fluid and responsive experience that enhances your competitive edge.

Furthermore, the HDR10+ support enhances color reproduction and contrast, making content viewing a treat. Watching Netflix movies becomes an engaging journey into vibrant worlds, where every detail stands out with clarity.

To protect this stunning display, Asus has incorporated Gorilla Glass Victus, safeguarding it against accidental drops and bumps. While this ensures durability, it’s essential to remember that glass can break, so some care is still necessary.

While the Zenfone 10 offers 1100 nits of peak brightness for outdoor visibility, it falls slightly behind some competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S23 or Nothing Phone 2, which gives even higher brightness levels. 

Nevertheless, the display remains vivid and productive with the Always-On display feature. And thanks to good resolution and a smaller display footprint it brings visual excellence to the palm of your hand.

  5. Asus Zenfone 10: Camera

• 50MP Main Camera
• 32MP Selfie Cam
• 8K Recording

The Asus Zenfone 10’s camera is a standout feature of the phone, offering impressive capabilities that elevate your photography and videography experiences. With a 50MP main camera and a slightly upgraded 13MP Ultra Wide camera, the Zenfone 10 delivers enhanced image quality compared to its predecessor.

The 50MP main camera with an f/1.9 aperture captures images with rich colors and excellent contrast. It excels in bringing out vibrant colors, especially in green landscapes, and providing sharp details in your shots. The Portrait mode is commendable, offering good background separation from the subject, resulting in clear and visually appealing portraits, even in busy backgrounds.

The 13MP Ultrawide camera with f/2.2 aperture features a 120-degree field of view, allowing you to capture expansive shots with good sharpness and decent dynamic range. However, it lacks autofocus, making close-up shots less favorable compared to the previous Zenfone 9.

Nightography

For nighttime photography, the Main 50MP shooter performs well with automatic night mode producing good colors and sharpness. Even if you toggle the night mode on manually it produces good colors outdoors during the night.

Recording

The Asus Zenfone 10 offers impressive video capabilities with up to 8K recording at 24fps and 4K at 30fps. Shooting with 50MP main camera with Gimbal stabilization and EIS delivers smooth, tripod-like videos that have good details and balanced contrast. Though some nighttime 4K recordings may have minor noise and reduced sharpness. Ultrawide 4K mode provides good details and colors.

Front Camera

On the front, the 32MP camera with an f/2.5 aperture delivers good-quality selfies with pleasing colors and sharpness. Nevertheless, the absence of autofocus and 4K recording options is a drawback compared to the previous Zenfone 9.

6. Asus Zenfone 10: Performance

• Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2
• Up to 512GB storage
• 16GB RAM
• UFS 4.0

The Asus Zenfone 10 boasts exceptional performance, making it a top contender in the smartphone market. Powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, a 4-nanometer Octa-Core powerhouse, the phone delivers smooth multitasking and lag-free operation, ensuring a seamless user experience.

For memory options, users have the luxury of choosing up to 16GB LPDDR5X RAM, coupled with the high-end 512GB UFS 4.0 storage, one of the fastest storage systems available. However, it’s worth noting that the 16GB RAM option is exclusively available for the 256GB and 512GB variants. 

But thanks to Asus, for providing faster storage to its all variants from 128GB option to even 512GB all will have UFS 4.0.  Compared to Samsung Galaxy S23, which only offers 3.1 to its base 128GB model.

Gaming

Gamers will be pleased with the dedicated Game Mode and the 144Hz refresh rate, featuring the “Game Genie Mode” that allows real-time device status tracking and quick access to game settings. 

With the buttery-smooth 144Hz refresh rate, gaming experiences are immersive and lag-free, although it is currently supported only for certain games which you can play with higher refresh rates like Minecraft Mobile, Alto’s Adventure, and Bombsquad.

Audio & Video

Audio enthusiasts will appreciate the dual stereo speakers with Dirac HD Sound and Qualcomm audio codec, offering an immersive audio output. The inclusion of Dirac Virtuo further enhances spatial sound when using headphones, utilizing the 3.5mm headphone jack. Moreover, the Zenfone 10 features two microphones with OZO audio noise reduction technology, ensuring clear sound quality for video recordings.

Regarding video capabilities, the Zenfone 10 supports HDR10+ but lacks Dolby Vision, providing a great viewing experience for content on platforms like YouTube and Netflix, but missing out on a cinematic experience.

Connectivity

Connectivity options are equally impressive, with 5G compatibility and the latest Wi-Fi standards, including Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6e, and even Wi-Fi 7 (depending on regional availability). This ensures fast and reliable internet access for an overall seamless digital experience.

  7. Asus Zenfone 10: UI & OS

• Zen UI 2.0
• Android 13
• Shortcuts + Quick Gestures

The Asus Zenfone 10 boasts an exceptional OS & UI experience, making it a delight for users seeking a seamless and efficient smartphone interface. Running on the latest Zen UI atop Android 13, the device offers a plethora of new features that elevate the user experience to new heights, all while maintaining a cool and lag-free performance, thanks to a 144Hz high refresh rate.

ZenTouch 2.0 takes user convenience to the next level with its “Touch to Go” feature. Swiping the side-mounted ZenTouch key provides instant access to favorite actions, such as unlocking the phone, controlling video playback, browsing the web, and checking notifications, simplifying multitasking and navigation.

One standout feature is the convenient and intuitive shortcuts accessible through a simple swipe from the right edges. This allows users to quickly access custom apps, leverage the fingerprint reader, and utilize map functions, streamlining everyday tasks with ease.

An exciting addition to the Zenfone 10’s UI is the innovative “Edge Tool,” which provides thumb-friendly access to the control panel and favorite apps, further enhancing efficiency and making one-handed usage effortless.

The “Quick Shot” option is perfect for capturing spontaneous moments. With just a double press of the volume key, the camera springs to life, ensuring that you never miss a photo-worthy opportunity again.

Voice assistants are a crucial part of modern smartphones, and the Asus Zenfone 10 understands this well. With the “Long Press” option, users can easily wake up Google Assistant and issue commands with minimal effort.

Security

For added security, Asus promises to provide at least 2 years of OS upgrades and 4 years of security patches, to keep your phone secure. It’s not too much and not too less either, cause eventually most users feel like switching if there is backdated OS, although thanks for at least giving two os updates.

 8. Asus Zenfone 10: Battery

• 4300mAh Battery
• 30W Wired
• 5W Reverse Charging

The Asus Zenfone 10 boasts an impressive battery life, making it a reliable companion for users with demanding usage patterns. Sporting a 4300mAh battery, identical to its predecessor, the Zenfone 9, this device has the capacity to withstand intensive tasks such as heavy gaming and FHD content viewing throughout the day. 

Even after a day of intense usage, the Zenfone 10 manages to leave users with a little charge left, ensuring it won’t run out of power at crucial moments. Asus takes user convenience seriously and has thoughtfully included a 30W charger in the box, a feature that sets it apart from certain competitors like Apple and Samsung flagship Galaxies, which no longer provide chargers with their devices. 

With this 30W charger, the Zenfone 10 achieves a 50% charge in an astonishingly fast 30 to 40 minutes, making quick top-ups incredibly efficient. For those who prefer wireless charging, the Zenfone 10 delivers a satisfying 15W wireless charging option, allowing users to power up their devices without the hassle of cords. 

Furthermore, the phone offers a handy 5W reverse charging capability, enabling users to charge other gadgets that support reverse charging, making it a versatile power hub.

9. Overall Specs

Here is a more detailed overview of the Asus Zenfone 10 technical specifications down below for your further speculation-

Specs	Asus Zenfone 10
Display	5.92 inch, Super AMOLED, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1100 nits peak, Always-On Display
Protection	Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame IP68 – dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Camera	Main: 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm Wide, Gimbal 2.0 OIS, EIS           13 MP, f/2.2, Ultrawide Features: LED Flash, panorama, HDR Video: 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080@30/60fps, Front: 32MP, f/2.5 (WIDE) Video: 1080@30fps
Platform	OS: Android 13 (ZenUI) CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2 (4 nm) GPU: Adreno 740
Ram-ROM	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM UFS: 4.0
Battery	4,300, 30W Wired, 15W Wireless, 5W reverse wired
Audio	Built‑in stereo speaker 3.5mm headphone jack
Features	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, 5G, LTE, Bluetooth 5.3
Colors	Starry Blue, Midnight Black, Aurora Green, Eclipse Red, Comet White

 

10. Verdict

In conclusion, the Asus Zenfone 10 offers a good deal for users seeking upgraded performance and a compact, handy feel. The phone impresses with its upgraded chipset, a high refresh rate of 144Hz is your top priority, then the Asus Zenfone 10 presents itself as the perfect choice. Don’t forget its remarkable camera equipped with gimbal capabilities, all while providing a reliable all-day battery life.

However, there are some drawbacks to consider. The lack of auto-focus on the ultrawide camera and the absence of auto-focus on the front camera may be a downside for photography enthusiasts. Additionally, the cutdowns of an external micro-SD card slot restrict the potential for expanding storage. Moreover, it’s worth noting that the front camera resolution has been reduced to 1080p from last year’s 4K capability.

Nevertheless, if you prioritize a compact phone with solid internals, the Asus Zenfone 10 remains a good deal worth considering.

Get the Asus Zenfone 10, if:

> You need the flagship processor in a compact package;
> You require a faster refresh rate for high fps gaming ;
> You want a smartphone camera that has gimbal capabilities.

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