ASUS continues to cater to the niche market of compact smartphones with its latest offering, the Zenfone 10. While the design closely resembles its predecessor, this new device boasts several upgrades, including an improved camera stabilization system and wireless charging. The 50-megapixel main camera remains unchanged but now incorporates a new version of 6-axis gimbal stabilization. This enhanced feature combines hardware optical stabilization, an upgraded electronic stabilization algorithm, and fast auto-focus, resulting in smoother videos and sharper photos even while on the move.
The Zenfone 10 is equipped with Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, ensuring powerful performance. It also introduces faster LPDDR5X RAM of up to 16GB and offers an upgraded UFS 4.0 storage option of up to 512GB, doubling the capacity of the previous generation. The battery remains impressive at 4,300mAh and now supports 15W wireless charging in addition to the existing 30W wired charging. While this has resulted in a slight increase in thickness from 9.1mm to 9.4mm, the device’s overall footprint remains compact at 146.5 x 68.1mm. The AMOLED display retains its 5.9-inch size with a 2,400 x 1,080 resolution, but the top refresh rate has been boosted to 144Hz, enhancing the gaming experience.
Changes have been made to the camera setup as well. The ultra-wide camera has been replaced with a 13-megapixel sensor, offering a wider field of view of 120 degrees compared to the previous 113 degrees. The front punch-hole camera has also undergone an upgrade, now featuring a 32-megapixel RGBW sensor instead of the previous 12-megapixel sensor. This enhancement delivers 8-megapixel output with significantly improved low-light selfies, thanks to the additional white sub-pixels on the sensor.
The Zenfone 10 retains several popular features, including stereo speakers, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and dual microphones with support for Nokia’s OZO Audio spatial capture and wind noise reduction. It also maintains its IP68 rating for resistance against dust and liquids. ASUS has introduced the “Connex” modular case system to the Zenfone 10, allowing users to attach a kickstand or a silicone cardholder to the grid of holes on the back of the case. The kickstand can be set to auto-launch a designated app, such as YouTube. Additionally, ASUS has partnered with Rhinoshield and DevilCase to offer rugged case options for those seeking added protection.
The Zenfone 10 will be available for pre-order in Europe starting from June 29, with prices starting at €799 (approximately $870). Color options include “Aurora Green,” “Midnight Black,” “Comet White,” “Eclipse Red,” and “Starry Blue.” Availability in the US will follow at a later date. Stay tuned for further updates.
