It's fair to say that there aren't many compact flagships to choose from if you don't fancy the size of phones such as the OnePlus 11 5G or the Galaxy S23 Ultra, especially since Sony called it quits on making smaller versions of its high-end phones. Asus is a brand that is carrying the flag in recent times with the launch of its high-specced Zenfone 9 in 2022 as well as today's unveiling of the new Zenfone 10 which packs in the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and a comfy 5.9-inch AMOLED display.
Accompanying the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM as well as up to 512GB of speedy UFS 4.0 storage, all of which are flagship specifications. The 5.9-inch AMOLED display sports a FHD+ resolution and has been upgraded to a 144Hz refresh rate.
When it comes to the photography department the Zenfone 10 carries on with the venerable 50MP IMX766 sensor which at least benefits from upgraded 6-axis gimbal stabilization along with OIS. The secondary camera has 13-megapixels and is of the ultrawide variety. While the Zenfone isn't going to be taking on the likes of the Magic Pro 5 it should still be capable of taking photos for social media purposes. The 32MP front-facing camera is housed in a punch-hole cutout on the top left corner of the display.
As you might expect from the compact phone, battery capacity is reduced when compared to its larger rivals with 4,300mAh. Wired charging speed is still limited to just 30W but Asus has added 15W wireless charging into the mix. And, unlike virtually every other 2023 flagship, the Zenfone 10 still has a 3.5mm audio jack. IP68 dust and water resistance is also present, as is the ZenTouch customizable unlock button.
Asus's “Connex” modular case system features on the Zenfone 10 which lets you attack a kickstand or cardholder on to the grid of holes on the rear of the case. When the kickstand is activated, an app of your choosing (such as YouTube) will open up automatically.
The Zenfone 10 is already available to pre-order in Europe from €799 (~$870) in Aurora Green, Midnight Black, Comet White, Eclipse Red, and Starry Blue colorways. For the moment, we are still waiting for Asus to confirm availability and pricing details for the US other than saying ‘coming soon' on its website.
